Luckydog
New member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2011
- Messages
- 1
- Location
- Portland, Oregon USA
- Tractor
- Dig-It 198T Tractor Loader Backhoe. McGrewEquipmentCo
Hi, I'm new to the forum but I have been reading for quite a while. I own a Dig-It 198T Tractor, Loader Backhoe made by McGrew Equipment Co. age unknown. The company went bankrupt in the early 2000's but there are still quite a few of these little workhorses around. Mine is an older model with an M18 Kohler engine in it. The tractor was purchased at an auction pretty cheap and is in pretty used condition with worn out everything and not more than a few hydraulic leaks. I plan on refurbing everything over the next year.
The tractor was a gift/curse from my younger brother. I needed a front loader and backhoe to do some work on my house and help me build a new one next year. I actually traded him a great little JD garden tractor that I picked up for $50 at a recycling center. It looked to be in great shape and only needed a new key switch. Someone was obviously needing an excuse to buy a new tractor.
Last winter I was using the Dig-it to move some snow around in my driveway. It was getting late and was dark outside. I didn't notice that the oil filter had spun off until the engine was making some rather distressing sounds. Needless to say, the engine took quite a beating and I was impressed that it lasted as long as it did, making it 90% through my front yard remodel. Too bad it finally threw a rod right in front of my new front steps.
The Dig-It has a hydro-drive which meant that no engine, no movement. I have had this heavy hunk of dead equipment blocking my front steps for about 3 weeks now. Finally, the other day, I installed a honkin big, 5hp electric motor and attached it to the hydro-transmission pump. I added a 100 foot 220v extension cord, pumped up the rams on the scoop (to raise it off the ground) using a HF air powered hydraulic Port-a-Power pump and drove it off the front lawn and into my driveway. I parked the tractor in front of my shop so I could do an engine transplant on it.
I am going to install a 40hp Honda CX500 water cooled, shaft driven, motorcycle engine in the tractor. I will post complete pictures and narrative in the appropriate forum section shortly, if anyone is interested.
Good to meet you all. I hope that I can be of assistance to the group as well as a recipient of what probably amounts to many, many lifetimes of knowledge acquired by the members of this forum.
The tractor was a gift/curse from my younger brother. I needed a front loader and backhoe to do some work on my house and help me build a new one next year. I actually traded him a great little JD garden tractor that I picked up for $50 at a recycling center. It looked to be in great shape and only needed a new key switch. Someone was obviously needing an excuse to buy a new tractor.
Last winter I was using the Dig-it to move some snow around in my driveway. It was getting late and was dark outside. I didn't notice that the oil filter had spun off until the engine was making some rather distressing sounds. Needless to say, the engine took quite a beating and I was impressed that it lasted as long as it did, making it 90% through my front yard remodel. Too bad it finally threw a rod right in front of my new front steps.
The Dig-It has a hydro-drive which meant that no engine, no movement. I have had this heavy hunk of dead equipment blocking my front steps for about 3 weeks now. Finally, the other day, I installed a honkin big, 5hp electric motor and attached it to the hydro-transmission pump. I added a 100 foot 220v extension cord, pumped up the rams on the scoop (to raise it off the ground) using a HF air powered hydraulic Port-a-Power pump and drove it off the front lawn and into my driveway. I parked the tractor in front of my shop so I could do an engine transplant on it.
I am going to install a 40hp Honda CX500 water cooled, shaft driven, motorcycle engine in the tractor. I will post complete pictures and narrative in the appropriate forum section shortly, if anyone is interested.
Good to meet you all. I hope that I can be of assistance to the group as well as a recipient of what probably amounts to many, many lifetimes of knowledge acquired by the members of this forum.
