Another Restoration Project

[can do]

I didn't know that there was a place that would make the decals for you. I always thought you had to hunt and search all over to hopefully find them somewhere!!!!

There is a place called Dan's Decals that makes decals & reproductions for just about anything.

 

[EddieWalker]

There is a place called Dan's Decals that makes decals & reproductions for just about anything.

I found his FB page, but I haven't found a website. Have you used him before? I'm thinking that I might like to get some decals made of our Dog Kennel logo

 

[can do]

I found his FB page, but I haven't found a website. Have you used him before? I'm thinking that I might like to get some decals made of our Dog Kennel logo

Yes I have used them before & I recommended to one other person for decals for his Snapper rear engine riding mower & I bought a decal set for my 1974 Snapper Comet & they are a high quality reproduction & I'm happy with them even though I have yet to complete the restoration & it was the only place I could find them on ebay! His email-- PJDANNY@GMAIL.COM & the address is DAN'S DECALS 22527 Fawn River Rd. Sturgis, MI 49091 You will need to email him & let him know what You want as far as dimensions & He will let You know if he can make them for You as he does do custom decals as well.I hope he can help You.

 

[EddieWalker]

Thank you. I'll email him tonight or tomorrow and see what he says.

 

[aircommuter]

Well it has been a while since an update. I haven’t had a lot of time to devote to this project but I am back on it now. I finished installing the brakes and adjusted them except for the left one which was missing the support bolt so I have to make one. I also adjusted the steering clutches. They show using a turnbuckle which is a MF tool to spread the clutch levers which have a stop adjustment and a given clearance. The left one went OK although it takes a lot force to actuate the lever with a turnbuckle. Mine had fine threads but the tool version may be finer. The right side clutch wouldn’t budge with the turnbuckle, then I put the Porta-Power on it and it still wouldn’t move so I put my heat gun in the housing for 8 hours and still stuck. So I kept going on and off with the Porta-Power and it finally started moving.

Now that I was done with all that I could paint inside that operator area so I could install the battery box which is also the seat mount. I have a board on it in the picture so I can sit low and work on the wiring and dashboard connections.
Once I get that done I can start it. Then I can position the loader and ripper so I can prep and paint them.

I also fabricated some brackets to allow for locks over the fuel and hydraulic caps.

One of my other projects was to upgrade my prewar lathe to a newer machine that can hold tolerance better and also do metric threads. While I had the machine out I moved the mill and some other items and put a new coating of a darker color on the floor, I am still setting up the lathe, cleaning it up and making sure all the oil systems are working.

 

[fried1765]

Well it has been a while since an update. I haven’t had a lot of time to devote to this project but I am back on it now. I finished installing the brakes and adjusted them except for the left one which was missing the support bolt so I have to make one. I also adjusted the steering clutches. They show using a turnbuckle which is a MF tool to spread the clutch levers which have a stop adjustment and a given clearance. The left one went OK although it takes a lot force to actuate the lever with a turnbuckle. Mine had fine threads but the tool version may be finer. The right side clutch wouldn’t budge with the turnbuckle, then I put the Porta-Power on it and it still wouldn’t move so I put my heat gun in the housing for 8 hours and still stuck. So I kept going on and off with the Porta-Power and it finally started moving.

Now that I was done with all that I could paint inside that operator area so I could install the battery box which is also the seat mount. I have a board on it in the picture so I can sit low and work on the wiring and dashboard connections.
Once I get that done I can start it. Then I can position the loader and ripper so I can prep and paint them.

I also fabricated some brackets to allow for locks over the fuel and hydraulic caps.

One of my other projects was to upgrade my prewar lathe to a newer machine that can hold tolerance better and also do metric threads. While I had the machine out I moved the mill and some other items and put a new coating of a darker color on the floor, I am still setting up the lathe, cleaning it up and making sure all the oil systems are working.

NICE STUFF !!!!!

 

[EddieWalker]

Are you a Machinist? Your attention to detail is far higher then most people have. It makes sense that you are a Machinist to do this level of work on an old machine, and making it better then it was the day it was first built.

 

[aircommuter]

I am not sure if I am still a machinist. I was boring engines with a Kwik Way boring bar when I was 16, never liked the work from the local automotive machine shops. I still have a Van Norman boring machine. Maybe I will pull it out when I do the engine on my Ford 445A. My dad taught me mechanical and body. He liked body because there wasn’t a flatrate for it in those days. So I did the mechanical. I like making things on the machines, I don’t have anything to stop me from making what I need or want.

Ok for a small up date. This is dashboard and battery install. Also fuse holder. This machine has a bracket that is sandwiched between the dash and the frame to hold the fuse holder. It protrudes about 6” to the front so it lines up with an access opening. It is like some car things where they had an advantage we don’t have in the field. Trying to hold it up while putting in the dash and while tucking wires and pressure tubes just didn’t seem like a good plan. That explains one of the pictures with a small screw that I drilled and tapped to hold it up.
I lined the battery box with 1/4” rubber and fabricated the hold down. The cables were pressed with my 6 ton crimper. The bottle in the picture is what the terminals were coated with. I didn’t like the little plastic tube for the air filter restriction gauge so I put in a better one for the heat in there. The pile of rusty bolts is what came out of the dash and the grab bar. Now stainless. If I forgot to explain a picture just let me know.

 

[aircommuter]

I had too many photos so here are the rest. Another thing, there is a picture with the ground cables disconnected and a clamp with a jumper wire and a fuse. When ever I do a lot of electrical work that is how I proof test the system so if there is a pinched wire or other fault the fuse blows without system damage.

 

[kenmbz]

Amazing work, this project really shows how minor improvements and getting the details right can make a huge difference. Also thinking through problems to come up with solutions since you don't have an assembly line and team to help.
That Lathe is a tank, it must weigh more than my truck, and your shop is so clean, NASA of the 1960's would be proud!

 

[aircommuter]

The lathe is an Okuma LS 6000lbs. Very precision. I had to get from Connecticut. Thanks fo the feedback!
Here are few more of the shop.
I also do wood machining when I have time.

 

[EddieWalker]

When I win the Lottery, I'm building my shop to look just like yours!!!!!!

 

[aircommuter]

Update. Started the engine today. I don’t see a way to put a video on this forum though.

 

[MickeyDBC]

The lathe is an Okuma LS 6000lbs. Very precision. I had to get from Connecticut. Thanks fo the feedback!
Here are few more of the shop.
I also do wood machining when I have time.

I have a couple of Okuma mills and an Okuma lathe and they easily hold half a thou all day every day. Great machines. Finally retired my old ones a couple of years ago (electronics got flaky after 25 years but the iron was still good) that had over 25,000 hours of runtime on them and they still held half a thou. Okuma is top notch. BTY, they have a lathe like yours in their Charlotte facility that is old as dirt but still does beautiful work. I would love to find one for my farm shop to go with the Hardinge HLV-H.

 

[aircommuter]

Yes that Okuma can get the job done. The mill as you can see is a Lagun. Really solid machine.

 

[aircommuter]

Now that is is running I can do some bucket work and remove all the ripper pins one by one and get the grease holes cleaned out. Even though I was putting it together I am taking the ROPS off so I can do a decent prep and paint job.

 

[aircommuter]

Time for an update. Lots of projects going on but still getting some work done on the Massey. I gave it stage 2 of yellow paint and continue to drill out broken bolts and clean other holes with a tap as needed. I had the ripper partially disassembled for painting. I replaced the ripper hoses since painting back there is done. I changed the fittings to accept JIC instead of the metric.
Next is some work on the bucket to fix a couple ripped spots where someone hooked a chain, not once but twice! What ever they were pulling or lifting must have been heavy as that metal is 3/8”.
I have to make new lower pins for the clam cylinders also. Eventually I have to make some ripper teeth and weld bars on the track plates.
Seems like the paint makes it look bigger? After the next paint round I can put the ROPS back on.

 

[kenmbz]

You made a lot of progress. It's looking like it's getting ready for the days work!

 

[EddieWalker]

Sounds like you need to add some chain hooks to the bucket.

I'm enjoying the updates.

 

[aircommuter]

I actually have a good size D ring for it. The swiveling and self centering capabilities have always worked for me in the past.