That’s a nice little tractor, sounds very healthy. Nice that you saved it from a rusty death. 
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Ya can't teach an old packrat new tricks...
- Thread starter Downeaster
- Start date
Whilst waiting around for a contractor that said he'd be here "this morning" and finally showed up at 4pm, I worked on Sadie the Satoh some more.
Got both front kingpins cleaned up and relubed and both sets of front wheel bearings replaced. Steering still stiffer than a June Groom so decided to bite the bullet and tear into that. That involved removing the dash which involved removing the gas tank, a bunch of wiring, the tach cable and the throttle cable which I REALLY would rather have avoided, but I've been around that block more than once and have wasted DAYS trying to save a few minutes.
So anyway, got the steering column separated from the steering box and VOILA...box is full of nice grease, steering without the column attached is nice and smooth. Being the Mechanical Geenyus that I are, it occurred to me that the problem must then be in the steering column itself. Nothin' gets past me, I'll tell ya!
Commenced to disassemble the column and rapidly discovered that it bore no resemblance whatever to the pictures/drawings in the PDF of the shop manual I downloaded. I think there's some parts missing like some OTHER ham-fisted shade tree wrench bender has been in there. I'd guess there should be a cap on top of the column tube that was missing, and the seal at the top was installed down side up to my thinking. Under that there wasn't a bearing, just a reinforced rubber bushing about an inch and a half long. Due to the missing cap and the incorrectly installed seal, water had gotten in and that portion of the steering shaft that passes through the bushing is severely rusted and pitted.
Tomorrow I'll chuck that puppy up in the lathe and polish it enough to smooth things out and schmear a little rubber-safe lube on that section and reassemble everything.
AFAIK, that's the last of the issues with it, now I'll go play with it a bit and decide whether to keep it or sell it.
Got both front kingpins cleaned up and relubed and both sets of front wheel bearings replaced. Steering still stiffer than a June Groom so decided to bite the bullet and tear into that. That involved removing the dash which involved removing the gas tank, a bunch of wiring, the tach cable and the throttle cable which I REALLY would rather have avoided, but I've been around that block more than once and have wasted DAYS trying to save a few minutes.
So anyway, got the steering column separated from the steering box and VOILA...box is full of nice grease, steering without the column attached is nice and smooth. Being the Mechanical Geenyus that I are, it occurred to me that the problem must then be in the steering column itself. Nothin' gets past me, I'll tell ya!
Commenced to disassemble the column and rapidly discovered that it bore no resemblance whatever to the pictures/drawings in the PDF of the shop manual I downloaded. I think there's some parts missing like some OTHER ham-fisted shade tree wrench bender has been in there. I'd guess there should be a cap on top of the column tube that was missing, and the seal at the top was installed down side up to my thinking. Under that there wasn't a bearing, just a reinforced rubber bushing about an inch and a half long. Due to the missing cap and the incorrectly installed seal, water had gotten in and that portion of the steering shaft that passes through the bushing is severely rusted and pitted.
Tomorrow I'll chuck that puppy up in the lathe and polish it enough to smooth things out and schmear a little rubber-safe lube on that section and reassemble everything.
AFAIK, that's the last of the issues with it, now I'll go play with it a bit and decide whether to keep it or sell it.
That rubber bushing reminded of bodge someone who will go unnamed did many years ago.
It was a dark and stormy night and one of the ball bearings on the auger of the Ariens Snow-Blower was seized.
No time to order one so I ( dang it slipped and said I) someone came up with a quick and dirty fix. Went down in the wood working shop and hauled out a scrap oak left over from the kitchen cupboards I had built a couple years back. Set the seized up ball bearing on the scrap of oak and traced a circle around it. Then over to the band saw and cut of the line. Marked center and bored a nice 3/4 inch hole through the center. Tuned out the seized bearing was a bit thinner so a little time on belt sander and it was ready to go.
Good heavy coat of axle grease on the oak "bearing" and a few minutes latter the blower was reassembled and blowing snow! Think it was a couple years latter while working on the blower for something else I did finally slip a nice new ball bearing in there but the oak was still doing the job.
Disk harrows used wooden bearings for years. In fact, I built a set out of marine plywood for a disk I had for a while. Worked fine.
Finished 'er up today and put it on Craigslist. No way no how I need (or even want) another tractor. If I can't get what I want for it, I'll keep it. Otherwise it goes down the road.
Finished 'er up today and put it on Craigslist. No way no how I need (or even want) another tractor. If I can't get what I want for it, I'll keep it. Otherwise it goes down the road.
Man! That came out really nice! Good luck with your sale.
After you get that sold would you be interested in a Ford 8N that hasn't run in 20 years? It has had inside storage during the whole time.
That's a good choice. If you wouldn't buy it as it sits, it needs to go. It should be a fine tractor for someone who needs it. I hope you get some money back on your time.
It's a classic example of the "20 yard tractor". Looks a WHOLE lot better from 20 yards that it does from 20 inches...
Mechanically sound but the tin is beat to shit and the paint is just a quick-and-dirty spraybomb job.
....but....the drag races in downtown PH.....chick magnet and all that....
Geeezzzz - opportunity lost.
Geeezzzz - opportunity lost.
....but....the drag races in downtown PH.....chick magnet and all that....
Geeezzzz - opportunity lost.
I've got Guido for that. 3x3 transmission and WFO in 9th he'll do nearly 25 MPH...if you have the huevos...
I've got Guido for that. 3x3 transmission and WFO in 9th he'll do nearly 25 MPH...if you have the huevos...
OK - looks pretty good - but can it wheelie like the blue and white one?
No, but put it in low-low and lock the differentials, it'll climb a cow's face...
If I don't get my price and decide to keep the tractor, I'm gonna name it "Kevin" and get my daughter to do a little painting for me...
Awww.....he’s a friendly little fella! 
Sold Kevin and delivered him to his new owner today.
Between the tractor and the log splitter that came with it, I came out $1500 ahead. Not quite sure what to think about that, I usually lose my shirt on these deals.
Now I got money burning a hole in my pocket. Craigslist, here I come!
Between the tractor and the log splitter that came with it, I came out $1500 ahead. Not quite sure what to think about that, I usually lose my shirt on these deals.
Now I got money burning a hole in my pocket. Craigslist, here I come!
Out'a the frying pan into...
Out'a the frying pan into...
Apparently, we went to the same School of Economics...
