Is it just me?

[johmarq]

I've just had 2 days of total nightmares.
I started working on my newly acquired 1968 MF135 yesterday
I've been soaking the steering wheel taper for about a week
and yesterday was the day to remove the wheel, or so I thought
After using several different pullers, hammers, Heat... nothing
except for a stuffed wheel, so out comes the angle grinder, 5 minutes later, presto!
Luckily I had a spare wheel ready. I must have know something.
Next I started to replace the Gauges, First the Temp gauge...what do I find the Temp sensor nut is only 1/3 there (broken)
and the sensor is glued into the head (only god knows what they used but it was hard, I mean really hard, 3 hours later drilling and drilling and tapping out the tread
the new sensor is in.
So this afternoon I started replacing the Ammeter and Fuel Gauge, I mean this cant be hard.
Installed the Ammeter only to find the Generator is stuffed ( more Money), then the Fuel gauge, put it in, wired it up and presto, nothing!
After tracing the wiring and measuring everything with a meter I think the sender is stuffed ( still not sure as it seems to test ok, I mean the resistance rises as the float rises, but I don't know what it should read, (into the service manual tonight, maybe it has some answers)

I'm totally stuffed, I've just spent 20+ hours over two days doing what should have taken me 3-4 hours.

Bloody old tractors, you gotta love em

Had my rant feeling a little better now

HooRoo from Oz, John

 

[bcp]

Would some of this help?



Bruce

 

[johmarq]

Yes Please!!!!
I'm sitting on the Verandah watching the sunset,on my 3rd beer.
Feeling better. A few more and all will be good

 

[Ed of all trades]

You are looking at it backwards. If it had gone in easy you would have had to be doing something else and instead you got to spend 20 hrs doing what you love, working on your tractor! Ed

 

[Argonne]

The gremlin is here too. I have the better part of 4 days into fixing one stupid rear tire on a JD2210. The latest challenge is getting the bead to seat. Even had the wife standing by with a cell phone while I gave it the ether and match treatment tonight...no dice. It's out there now stretched apart with 2x4s, and in the morning I'll cook it into that shape with a salamander and try to seat it one-more-time. If that doesn't work, I guess I'll spend $30 at TSC for a very expensive inner tube.

 

[sidecarist]

The gremlin is here too. I have the better part of 4 days into fixing one stupid rear tire on a JD2210. The latest challenge is getting the bead to seat. Even had the wife standing by with a cell phone while I gave it the ether and match treatment tonight...no dice. It's out there now stretched apart with 2x4s, and in the morning I'll cook it into that shape with a salamander and try to seat it one-more-time. If that doesn't work, I guess I'll spend $30 at TSC for a very expensive inner tube.

I've had luck using a ratchet strap around the center of the tire. get some good tension on it, and it helps the bead spread. This works better with R1 ag tires than the stiffer R4''s

Good luck

 

[oldpilgrim]

'stuffed' must be an Aussie word, yes?

 

[dickfoster]

I've just had 2 days of total nightmares.
I started working on my newly acquired 1968 MF135 yesterday
I've been soaking the steering wheel taper for about a week
and yesterday was the day to remove the wheel, or so I thought
After using several different pullers, hammers, Heat... nothing
except for a stuffed wheel, so out comes the angle grinder, 5 minutes later, presto!
Luckily I had a spare wheel ready. I must have know something.
Next I started to replace the Gauges, First the Temp gauge...what do I find the Temp sensor nut is only 1/3 there (broken)
and the sensor is glued into the head (only god knows what they used but it was hard, I mean really hard, 3 hours later drilling and drilling and tapping out the tread
the new sensor is in.
So this afternoon I started replacing the Ammeter and Fuel Gauge, I mean this cant be hard.
Installed the Ammeter only to find the Generator is stuffed ( more Money), then the Fuel gauge, put it in, wired it up and presto, nothing!
After tracing the wiring and measuring everything with a meter I think the sender is stuffed ( still not sure as it seems to test ok, I mean the resistance rises as the float rises, but I don't know what it should read, (into the service manual tonight, maybe it has some answers)

I'm totally stuffed, I've just spent 20+ hours over two days doing what should have taken me 3-4 hours.

Bloody old tractors, you gotta love em

Had my rant feeling a little better now

HooRoo from Oz, John

Clearly you're not throwing enough tools hard or far enough and you're not using enough swear words.

 

[Argonne]

I've had luck using a ratchet strap around the center of the tire. get some good tension on it, and it helps the bead spread. This works better with R1 ag tires than the stiffer R4''s

Good luck

Did so several times, even tried 2, one near each sidewall. Never had such a time with a tire.

This cloud has a silver lining though. My frustration led me to buy one of those manual tire machines from TSC, and that thing works pretty nice, so now I can focus my frustration on parts of the process that bedevil everyone from time-to-time. (Actually, my wife told me to go buy the machine, probably to get me and my sparkling personality off the property for a couple of hours).

 

[johmarq]

Clearly you're not throwing enough tools hard or far enough and you're not using enough swear words.

Oh Yes I am! Still can't find my 9/16 spanner I tossed.

And yes I guess " Stuffed" must be an Aussie word, maybe Pommie origin, means totally worn out.

My woes continue, I spent all day Yesterday working on my generator, I pulled the cover off to check the brushes and all the tiny armature segments fell out.
Well I was right this thing is stuffed. Time to do a Generator to Alternator conversion...
So on the phone to Auto shops and Auto wreckers, Of course it's Saturday 10:30 and they all close at Noon, I race into town ( 45Min Drive) None of the Auto shops have one, so I go to the First nearest auto wrecker ( Closed early ) off to the second wrecker ( and last one in town) Hey there still open...
I was after a one wire Alternator, Don't have any, settled for a 3 wire one.
Back home again, try to fit it, of course it doesn't fit, make new brackets.... finally on, Start up the Tractor to test, and of course no volts, I mean it's me what was I expecting?
On the Net and found I'd wired it up wrong, Hey, 14.4 volts It works!!!!
3 hours later and after much more swearing and scratching my head I figure out the wiring, ripped out all the redundant stuff (Voltage Regulator, Wiring etc)
All done Happy Camper! Another 10 Hours, Glad I'm not paying myself by the Hour for this work, And I certainly wouldn't employ Me and a Tractor repairer,

And good luck Argonne with your Tire, If I was closer I would come over and help, But with my luck lately you probably wouldn't want that.

HooRoo from Oz, John

 

[PatrickS2222]

Mate, you've just just summarised almost all the things that give problems in these tractors. :laughing: Just about everything else is at least nearly bullet-proof!

Removing the steering wheel: - Did you see my post (No 3) in this recent thread?
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ge/370487-replacing-gauges-my-165-diesel.html

Temperature sensor bulb: -
yes, 5/8" hex, very thin hollow retaining collar-nut that doesn't know what anti-seize nor grease is, and is tightened to 10 times what torque is needed! A flare-nut spanner is best so it doesn't distort too much. but that does little to stop it breaking.

Generator: - Almost none of them work anymore, although the regulator is more likely to be the culprit (including mine, until I gave it a stern talking-to, now it puts out only about 8 amps) so a periodic charge for the battery is the most cost-effective remedy. You can still buy complete generators and various parts for them and regulators are also available from Bepco agents and others. An older and more experienced auto-electrician should be capable of repairing them, almost anyone can retro-fit an alternator to it - including me to our MF40 loader - a huge improvement! Here's a pic so you can mount it properly:

Look closely at the upper mounting plate - to mount a garden-variety Bosch alternator, redrill the holes to bolt it to the timing case so the pulleys line up, and you don't have to grind any of the mount away to accommodate the alternator. A piece of threaded bar, a couple of nuts and washers, the original belt and adjuster strap - all fitted. The wiring requires a bit more know-how. Let me know if you want better pics or info. Sounds like it's time for a cool :drink: We're now getting into some real summer temperatures!

Fuel gauge: - I reckon none of the senders work - ours gave up 30 years ago, we haven't missed it because our 35 didn't have one!

Was just having a grin at the replies posted so far ..... glad I'm not the only one gets frustrated at times - but I just think of how much more drama I've encountered over 26 years of repairing European cars! :confused2:

 

[johmarq]

Mate, that's funny, Here's my solution for mounting the Alternator, Look Familiar?

What do they say about great minds?

View attachment 486998

Had a good day yesterday, The HooDoo has lifted, Hooray!!! Replaced all the Gauges and rewired all the lights and they all worked first time!
and yes my sender still work fine (.5 ohms empty - 32 ohms Full).

Then rebuilt the Fuel lift pump, straight forward, doesn't leak anymore!

I think I'm finally at a point where everything works, so I started on the body work , removed and dis assembled the Bonnet , and removed the guards.
Hopefully it should be plain sailing from here on.

I too am glad I'm not the only one gets frustrated at times - I know what your talking about drama and repairing European cars!

I've had several, currently only a 1974 280E Merc (had it since New) Biggest mistake/Nightmare 1976 Alfa Sud Horrible!

I mainly stick to Pommie Cars, Currently have a 1979 MGB and a 1970 Mini K, Dead easy to work on and like you after 30+ years owning several MGs and Minis
I pretty well know how to fix most things.

HooRoo, John

 

[oldpilgrim]

Pommie Cars

????????????????

 

[bcp]

Pommie cars:

pommy car - Google Search



Bruce

 

[Wagtail]

????????????????

Mate, give it time and you'll be dinky-di in no time flat. Fair dinkum.

 

[Citydude]

Mate, give it time and you'll be dinky-di in no time flat. Fair dinkum.

.???????..

 

[johmarq]

Mate, give it time and you'll be dinky-di in no time flat. Fair dinkum.

Ta Cobber? Ya Reckon, a bit more hard yakka and she'll be right.
But sometimes it makes me a mad as a cut snake!
Hooroo

 

[prichard]

I sure wish those folks down under spoke English.

 

[Jim Shooz]

Ya need to get out and rattle your dags.

 

[smilinjak]

I sure wish those folks down under spoke English.

I saw a list of English speaking countries that included Australia, I think that was a misprint. :laughing:

Smiinjak