Happy new year !
Wow, the wheels stoppers that doesn't touch the wheels hub, this is scary! If you hit a stub like that, you can damage your steering box greatly (most likely what happened on your poor little tractor)
But talking about that, let me summarize what I did since my last post.
So obviously, my half *** rebuild didn't work. the combination of bad valve sits, and worn out pistons and cylinders, that couldn't work. So I assume the fact that I just did burn money here...
Oh well, lesson learned.
I went for purchasing a used block, from Diesel repower (Dennis), and after talking to him on the phone, I did pull the trigger on one bloc he had in stock.
Got the bloc a few days later (super fast actually). This other engine was obviously coming from something totally different than a tractor! it had no hydraulic pump mounting hole, and the flywheel was not made to receive a clutch. So My guess is this engine was used on a backup generator probably. (sweet ! those usually have a good life !)
I had to put every single timing gear out (pain in the @#$#%) to replace the back cover, that receives the hydraulic pump. Reinstall timing gearsthen, I replaced the flywheel from my old motor, and put the new clutch on it. adjusted the valve lifting, and I could cloase this engine, and slide it on the tractor rear end.
In the mean time (several weeks!) I had brought the front end frame and axle to a welding company, to redo the king pin of the front axle that had been hacked badly ! the previous owner did put a trailer hitch pin in the hole, had 1/2 gaps everywhere, and the axle would take almost 10 degree angle when you would be steering... So I took it appart to take measurements to do a new pin and brass bushing (that was my original idea), but when I started taking it appart, I realized, that the pin bore had been cracked in half and rewelded on the same spot... EEEEeeerk... I loaded the **** thing on my trailer, and brought everything to the shop !
Guys did an amazing job, new bore, new pin (with a greaser yaay) , new bronze bushing in the new bore that they welded back on the axle. They actually took a chance, and found some crack repairs, that they could have grinded and filled up with cast weld.
So I came back last week end with a beautiful front end for my little Mitsubishi.
After I installed the engine back on the rear end (it's super easy to line up the drive shaft to the clutch when it is just the engine that you have to play with !) then I reinstalled the frame, and the loader frame, lined up all the bolts and bolted the all thing down ! Now this thing was looking more like a tractor !
once I connected the wire harness on it, and fuel lines, hydraulic lines, filled hydraulic back up, and I figured I'll check the proper connection and rotations of this thing before I start to bleed all the high pressure lines.
Turned the key, starter kicks in, and Brrroooooaaaaap right away ! I got so surprised that it started right up, with air in the fuel lines, and no pre-heating !!
Very happy with my beautiful day (new years eve !) I got it out, to spin the wheels a little, and to proudly show my wife, that this blue thing in the barn was not just there to throw oil at everything that will come close to it...
Well, it did indeed... When I arrived in front of the house with the big smile on my face, I realized my feets were wet... Hydraulic oil was pouring down from the top of the steering column !
That didn't impress my wife, and I had to drive back to the barn with a big trace of hydraulic fluid following me there.
Dang it, I'm up to have some fun with a hydraulic power steering unit now. I imagine it's just a shaft seal from the steering shaft to the steering unit, since the power steering function great.
Anybody has an idea about that ? here are some pictures of this proud little dork.
