Workin' on the Old Tractors

[MFDAC]

That video is very cool documentation of your family at work, CJet! Was interesting to watch. I enjoy reading about the "New" work area you are creating. Guess I should start calling my crane a bridge crane too. Makes more sense than calling it an overhead crane. Been calling it that since I built it over 20 years ago.

DAC

 

[chieffan]

Wonder what I should call mine? Old cable operated wagon hoist with a chin hoist chained to the cross beam.

 

[cjet69]

Today was a lose a little to gain a little day. Pulled the Datsun engines out of the corner, scraped some crud and swept the floor, and then rolled the welders into their new home. Now the engines are out in the way but I think I have a plan for them. It will take some more cleaning and organizing in the shipping container lean-to.



In this last pic the plywood box, 3 datsun engines, engine on engine stand(black Bag), floor jack, and vacuum will all go. The only stuff left is what will be stored along the walls. Getting closer.

 

[cjet69]

The engine on the stand in the last pic above is for our Minneapolis Moline RTU. With it out in the open I wanted to refresh my memory on just where we got to with it and locate the other parts. The block is painted ready for assembly but will need cleaning up again. We have new rod bearings, new front main roller bearing, and a good used rear main plus seals. The cylinder assy's have new valve seats but I will need to check the bores to see if we can get by with new rings or if I need to bore it. Oversize Pistons are hard to find so we may need to sleeve it back to standard. We won't be working on this anytime soon but wanted to make a list of what we need before storing it away again.

 

[cjet69]

Fired the Cub Cadet 1450 up and moved it out of the Shipping container lean-to. Had a couple bagger's for lawn mowers that got hung up and made room for a pallet to set the Datsun engines on. Then went to the farm to get the Yanmar to move the engines. It had a low rear tire so I tried to add some air and the valve stem broke off. These are regular automotive type stems but the tires have calcium in them. I was able to limp the tractor to the shop where I now have the rear wheel pulled and letting it drain outside. I'll break it down tomorrow and see if I can get a new tube locally. If not I may have some replacement tractor style stem that could be put on the old tube if its in good enough shape. Didn't get done what I wanted to but it was nice to be able to pull the Yanmar inside to work on it.

 

[cjet69]

Broke the wheel down this morning. Found some thick scale around the valve stem hole in the rim. I hit it with a hammer and the hole is now 3 times the size. Went through the junk pile and found an 18" rim that can be the donor for a patch. Its has a slightly different shape but with a little heat I can make it work. Other than the stem the tube looks to be in good shape so I will vulcanize a new stem on it. I won't be putting calcium back in.

All I wanted to do was move a couple engines but I guess no good deed goes unpunished.

 

[4getgto]

I used calcium once and would never use it again. They say beet juice is good and more forgiving but never tried it. Have you Cjet ?

 

[cjet69]

We use calcium in our working tractors that need weight which is mainly the loader tractors. Calcium is far cheaper and we have lots on hand that we have drained out of the Antique tractors. You can PH balance with lime to make it less corrosive but only to a point. Never put calcium in a tubeless tire and with tubes if you see any little weep leaking out you need to get on it. Also the tubes need to have the correct valve stem to use it. We have never used any beet juice because of cost.

On the tractors with calcium when rust starts to show we try to break them down, sandblast , and paint before it gets too bad.

 

[JDJake]

I used calcium once and would never use it again. They say beet juice is good and more forgiving but never tried it. Have you Cjet ?

Beet juice is ok, but messy when it leaks, pretty sticky.

 

[chieffan]

I use windshield washer fluid. Try to catch it when it is on sale. If it won't hurt the paint on a vehicle, it should hurt the rim of a tire. May not be quite as heavy but will save the calcium for dust control.

 

[Cvans]

For the JD I spent extra for rear wheel weights. Neighbor told me the tractor would ride better with weights instead of calcium so went that way. Think he's right.
That blasted calcium can create a lot of work if you don't catch the leaks right away.

 

[cjet69]

Cleaned up most of the inside of the yanmar wheel. Decided to stick it in the electrolysis tank overnight to get into some of the tight spots.

 

[cjet69]

Pulled the Yanmar wheel out of the E-tank and blew some of the paint off with the hose. The wire wheel on a grinder took care of the rest. Got it treated with Ospho. Hope to finish this up this weekend but I need to lock the cows up for winter and that will take a bunch of feedlot prep work. We'll see how it goes.

 

[4getgto]

Pulled the Yanmar wheel out of the E-tank and blew some of the paint off with the hose. The wire wheel on a grinder took care of the rest. Got it treated with Ospho. Hope to finish this up this weekend but I need to lock the cows up for winter and that will take a bunch of feedlot prep work. We'll see how it goes.

Well your rim could look like Nick's on his 8n..
Shouldn't have to go to far out the sides to catch good metal.

 

[cjet69]

Well your rim could look like Nick's on his 8n..
Shouldn't have to go to far out the sides to catch good metal.

Its a little thin for an inch or two on each side of the rust out.

 

[cjet69]

Didn't get to the Yanmar wheel this weekend. Had some starting trouble with the Case IH 485. Load tested the battery and it was a little weak but not terrible. Charged the battery overnight and it tests good now. The starter still has trouble turning the engine over but it will start with a few tries. Thinking the brushes may be going in the starter. Brought it down to the shop where it can be worked on

 

[Cvans]

With all the tractors you have around there I’d think you would have a full time job trying to keep them running.

 

[cjet69]

With all the tractors you have around there I’d think you would have a full time job trying to keep them running.

It seems to go in waves. Right now everything needs something done then I may go months or years without having to touch them other than routine maintenance.

 

[cjet69]

Started welding the patch in the Yanmar wheel. I need to do a little reshaping in the bead area before I finish welding.

 

[MNGB]

The patch is looking good Chris I had do a repair like that on my 8N a few years back.