Got back to working on the tractor again:
Cooling system:
Got the radiator back from the radiator place, no leaks found, it was steamed out and ready to go.
New thermostat is installed and the housing is back together.
Radiator is now installed and plumbed in with new hoses (including the little hose from the top of the water pump to the head), also installed a blow off hose and a breather hose from the valve cover to the intake using some leftover clear hose from another project:
Air cleaner: Replaced the falling apart bungee cords with a new rubber one, 34" long, using 4 hooks to hold it to the 3 points on the bottom part and one to keep the top parts from falling off of the side:
Exhaust manifold: Now flipped so that the exhaust will go up and not start a fire when we drive over hay, this also gets the exhaust away from the starter, it was about 1/2" away before.
Can't remember if I mentioned it, but flipping the manifold required moving the alternator out a little.
Have to stop at the shop down the road and have them bend me a short piece of 1 5/8" OD exhaust tubing to a 30 degree angle so I can remove the old exhaust pipe from the flange and weld in the new one so it sticks straight up:
Alternator: Was found to be bad, have a rebuilt GM 3 wire alternator on the way from Amazon for $37, I lengthened the tensioner bracket with a pair of bolts so that it can move out to clear the exhaust, it's redneck, but it works.
Also got a new (longer) belt and replaced the power steering belt while I had the front pump off:
Transmission: Top cover is back on, used black Permatex gasket maker to seal it up, then installed 5 gallons of UTF.
Started on the plate that the steering column will mount to, got it roughed out and drilled the 6 bolt holes:
Next I need to clean up the sides and start building the steering column bracket:
Steering:
All parts are here, I installed the tie rod end, ended up just putting a wrap of tin around the tie rod end and tightening it up with the impact, will watch to see if it stays tight.
Loader: Straightened and welded the pump bracket, clearanced the front frame to clear the pump, installed new UTF.
Engine: Replaced oil and fuel filters, bled fuel system, drained and replaced oil. Will need to plug the hole that they put in the oil cap (probably when they crimped the valve cover breather shut so that the filler would stop popping out)
Current to-do list:
1. Clean up steering column base plate (flap wheel on grinder)
2. Built steering column mounting bracket
3. Built hand throttle lever and linkage
4. Paint steering column base and brackets (rattle can black?)
5. Plumb steering column (including temporary pressure gauge to verify system pressure, the valve is only good for 1500PSI)
6. Start and verify all functions work (including 3 point which wasn't working, possibly due to the pump not being able to suck the sludge through the screen)
7. Drive around and put a load on it
8. Order and install ROPS
9. Install canopy on ROPS
10. Completely rewire the tractor, switching to electric gauges and adding lights
11. Replace all of the loader hoses with new ones (switching to power beyond) and add another valve off of the loader pump for rear remotes
Aaron Z