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16

'round the pot-bellied stove / Big Forklifts

« on: April 07, 2009, 02:21:11 PM »

Interesting that George is talking about needing a large forklift to move some of his engines around.
Last Friday I bought a JLG Gradall at an auction I attended in Vallejo Ca.
Evidently some of the major construction equipment rental yards are in some serious financial trouble. I had no intention of buying anything there other than a pole digger/derrick truck to rent to a financially strapped Electrical Contractor for a pole line project he had.
California emission laws are weird/stupid and excessive. Pacific Gas and Electric is one of the largest electrical companies on the west coast and most of their entire fleet was for sale as when the new law takes effect they cannot pass the emission standards. Posted on the windshields were stickers saying OUT OF STATE BIDDERS ONLY. When registering they gave me a bidders card with green lettering that denoted I was from out of state. The truck is a 2001 International with a cat D3206 engine, digging auger and boom, with rear control for each side. 4 wheel drive, new tires all around, 55K miles. Bought it for $15K.
Meanwhile there was a whole string of these Gradall telehandlers from Hertz rental. About middle way through the line they were selling so cheap I could not resist. As to the market value, I paid less than $.50 cents on the dollar, and no sales comission. Evidently Hertz pays that.  It is a 2003 model year and has only 2,450 hours on the John Deere turbo charged engine.

17

ATIS General Tractor Discussion / Tulare California Antique Tractor Show

« on: April 06, 2009, 10:13:45 AM »

Anybody here or know of anybody going to the show on the 18th of this month?
This year I'm leaving the Titan home and taking my 1928 John Deere model D.

18

'round the pot-bellied stove / Spring Winder

« on: April 04, 2009, 11:52:47 AM »

George,

A DiAcro spring winder finally appeared on Ebay. I bid to around $225 and had enough. It went for around $250. Did you pay that much for yours?

19

SEL General Stationary Engine Discussion Forum / Stover 4 HP

« on: April 02, 2009, 11:42:54 AM »

Here is a couple of pictures of a 4HP vertical Stover we just finished.

20

SEL General Stationary Engine Discussion Forum / John Deere 1 1/2 E

« on: February 28, 2009, 10:24:38 AM »

Currently there are 2 of these thiings in my shop, neither belong to me. One has barely enough compression to run, but it will start and runs about as quiet as they ever get.
The other has lots of compression, starts very easily and runs quite well if you didn't listen to the cam gear noise and the terrible knock.
The agreement was I would get them running for them, after all that's what friends are for. Maybe. When the owner heard the knock, he made a pleading look along with the question can you fix it? Now I'm stuck, what began as a nice guy favor becomes a headache. I don't like these green things to begin with.
Don't now anything about the history, but the piston slapped in the bore long enough to break it. The missing piece went through the timing gears and did considerable damage. Priced replacement parts along with a bore job and he's the one squealing!

21

'round the pot-bellied stove / Tulare Farm Show

« on: February 13, 2009, 09:39:50 AM »

Just a couple of pictures. One indicating the amount of people, the other showing the speed readout of my Garmin GPS while in route.

22

'round the pot-bellied stove / Spring Winder

« on: January 18, 2009, 03:35:23 PM »

I gave up trying to find a Di Acro spring winder like George has. So at a recent yard sale I spotted this old Ward's wood lathe and thought it would work. I threaded the lathe spindle to take this old 3 jaw chuck and made a tensioner. The first try is in the photos, and with a little practice I should be able to make good looking springs.

23

SEL General Stationary Engine Discussion Forum / 3 Hp Novo

« on: December 20, 2008, 02:02:48 PM »

Latest cold weather project. The 1 1/2 HP Novo on the table is next. The one in the background is for parts.

24

John Deere / 40 Crawler

« on: December 17, 2008, 10:25:27 AM »

Any project that involves John Deere is a headache.
A couple of years ago I decided to restore a crawler. I have a Cat 30, but wanted something a bit more modern and that could be of use around here at the farm.
Saw the first JD 40 at a guys house with the engine disasssembled, crankshaft laying on the track, and a broken block. Tried to buy it but he wouldn't sell. Six months or so later he shows up and says $600. So the thing arrived. I started looking for an engine and meanwhile dove into the remainder of the carcass with the intention of beginning the restoration. The first thing I found was the left bull gear case was broken and welded and broken again due to failure of the main differential carrier bearing. STOP. Out of the shop it went. Last fall I heard of another complete running crawler for sale outside of Las Vegas. Same model, only a few serial numbers apart. Negotiated and bought it for $1000. 600 mile round trip and then it was here.
The first crawler has a 3 roller undercarriage. The latest is a 4 roller undercarriage. 1st oops! The guy told me the tracks were shot and he was correct, as they spun the sprockets in the rails so that omitted using them. The plan was to use it as a parts source for the 1st (3 roller) tractor. Well I cut off the track on the left side to access the bull gear case and lo and behold! Uncle Deere changed the casting sometime between the serial numbers of the two tractors. STOP. Out of the shop it went.
Now I got two of the **** things and over $1600 invested.
A couple of months later I got to thinking and looking at both of them and figured I need to reverse the proceedure. Use the 2nd one as the base tractor, install the 3 roller track frame under it and junk the 1st one.
So I stuck my neck out again for another $610 for new engine parts.
Gonna be a pricy project. I'll keep this updated.
Dave

25

'round the pot-bellied stove / Ford Flathead

« on: December 17, 2008, 09:48:36 AM »

I'm swapping out engines in my old (1949) forklift and ran into a waterpump problem. The engine is a 6 cylinder flathead with the distributor mounted on the front timing gear cover which makes the water pump a unique casting. The original Ford engine had the distributor in the side of the block in the old typical style, with a differently styled pump.
Napa said yep, we'll send it off. It went away before Thanksgiving and I finally put my foot down and had them return it unrepaired. Antique Power mag had an ad from a guy that turns out to be close by in Arizona. Called him and he says he can rebuild it within a couple of days. Wants $130 and postage. Napa can't do it in over a month, yet this guy can. I wonder how much Napa would have charged it they eventually repaired it?
The guys name is Mark Stout in Glendale Arizona. Anyone heard about or done any business with him?

Dave

26

John Deere / Jon Dear?

« on: December 03, 2008, 06:21:16 PM »

The latest and greatest machine delivered here for compensation of past due rent is this home made butt buggy. Ain't sure who got the best deal, me or the renter.
Looks to be a LUC engine and Model A transmission. The rear end has been narrowed and installed upside down, probably because of a rotation issue.
Frame is channel iron, front axle looks to be a 3" tube. Can't identify the spindles. But it runs! The carb is off a Briggs and the mounting holes don't match so one end of the carb is held on the manifold by a c-clamp. When the light is better I'll post pictures of it and the spindles.
Dave

27

'round the pot-bellied stove / Old Machinists

« on: November 29, 2008, 10:39:40 AM »

I have an old friend that is one of a declining breed. He owns a salvage business and is an "old school" machinist. His shop is beneath a two story home built of WWII ammunition boxes, with a full array of lathes, mills, you name it and he probably has it. The newest machine is probably at least 50 years old. Dirt floors, winding pathways to work areas, single light bulb on a chain switch for light at each spot needing light to see, and so on. He has nothing for sale, but if you are his friend he will give it to you. Strangers get run off promptly and he's not interested in making new friends either.
I took this picture of him and his dog sitting in front of my computer in the shop office, and would like to share a little info about him.
Dave

28

John Deere / JD Model L "Frankenstein"

« on: October 12, 2008, 11:03:40 AM »

Mounted a stationary LUC engine with the hood, gathered up a
bell housing that has the clutch fork lever out the top, bought a fender and
drive line from John Boehm and put the thing together. Had to make a
throttle cable and clutch linkage to suit. Expanded metal for a grill, 20 ga
sheetmetal for a driveline cover and she's an extremely ugly running
machine. Expecially with two left fenders and a home made hand crank. I
bought the wrong side fender not knowing how the thing went together, but
that kind of fits with the rear tires someone mounted backward.
John Hall named it "Frankenstein".

29

IHC / Titan & Grader

« on: September 02, 2008, 10:06:18 AM »

1924 or so Russell Badger grader, later called a Standard #1.  Book says 6 to 8 horses or an 8 to 10 HP tractor to pull it. Check out the operator.

30

Antique Tractors and related items / John Deere H

« on: July 02, 2008, 10:41:31 AM »

1945 year John Deere model HN, electric start. The HN means a single front wheel, the JD archives say only 1,100 were made. This can be a restorers dream. The tractor is in pieces, Transmission,frame and front pedistal in one piece, although the transmission is rusted solid and useless. A complete transmission and rear end from a running tractor comes with the deal (I was going to switch serial plates). 3 pallets of parts is included, including cylinders(2), heads(2), valves, springs, new rings, fans, fan shaft, governor. 2 radiators, one complete, (will need a core) and castings for the other, upper and lower water pipes, ect. There are enough parts to build one complete tractor and have parts left over. Not included are sheetmetal parts like hood, plug wire loom/bent pipe and rear tank mount. The grills are rough but could be repaired, and it will need rear rims and tires. The front tire is in god shape and very useable.
Reason for selling is I just finished a 1939 H and had enough of them for awhile.
Asking $750 or will trade for a complete running JD model 40 or 420 engine.
Tractor located in Fallon, Nevada
Dave