Shade tree mechanic! Whatcha workin on.

doc henderson · June 23, 2024, 10:24:13 PM

So, wanting to clean up the yard, so planning to use my 1976 ford dump truck. thought, it is time to pull off the right rear brakes and fix a wheel cylinder that has been leaking for years. If it sits for a half year, then you have to bleed the brakes. My Dad was a truck driver and home mechanic, so he was always strict about brakes and tires. Went out to move it up to the shop but had to bleed the brakes. looked under the hood and had a significant gas leak. so thought that looks like the accelerator pump. got parts etc. and fixed that so it set me back a few days. started to pull the wheels off and had to get a bud wheel socket and my batt DeWalt half inch impact would not budge the nuts. so got a 3/4 break over and got those off. got to the drum and could not get it off, so tried heat, a porta power, a puller... Oh, the hub and the brake drum s all in one.

had to call a few friends, and found I needed to open the hub, and pull the axle and bearings. got the drum/hub assembly off and found I had a broken spring. also, my brother broke off a bolt, I had to drill out and run a tap in. found the springs 45 minutes away, and the wheel cylinders in town at Rose motor. Had to free up the adjustors and remake several brake lines that twisted of. So went to HF and bought a variety of tubing benders.

now found that the store-bought brake lines are the right overall length, but one needed a larger nut to fit the threads. been stuck on that but have all I need to replace the small nut and relace with the larger, refill the diff. and bleed the brakes. This is why I am feeling old.

doc henderson · June 23, 2024, 10:28:49 PM

doc henderson · June 23, 2024, 10:43:51 PM

So we trimmed some branches after high winds, and a few that had grown and hung in the way to mow. so, I trimmed and my wife and son drug them over and put them in the track loader bucket. It took a while the second time so i went to see if my son was having trouble. he said it would not do anything, and sure enough it ran fine going back but none of the hydraulics would work. I had never lifted the cab up and could not raise the arms which is the easiest way to get to the tank etc. so got the cab up, then put 10 gallon in and fluid back on the sight glass. raised and locked the arms. my buddy Dallas that you have all heard about, came down to help me find the hose. the belly was full of dirt, oil and some water after the rain we had. the leak was under the water and oil. had to pull the belly access panels. clean with a pressure washer, got the hose found and removed Saturday at 3 pm. No one open to make a new one...

things are cleaned up and will get a hose in the am. put it back together. It is good my wife seeing why things do not always get done in one day.

Dallas was a big help as we lower the cab onto a block of wood so he could look and find the leak, as I just bumped the movement forward and cause a spray of fluid. got the hose off and ready to drop off in am.

Wlmedley · June 23, 2024, 10:46:56 PM

Doc, if you washed those wheel bearings make sure you pack some grease in them when you reassemble the hub.Even though they get oil from the differential it takes a while to work its way into them and I have saw several sets of wheel bearings burnt up before getting oil.My experience is mostly with IH trucks but yours is probably similar.

barbender · June 23, 2024, 10:48:34 PM

Yep sometimes I hit a stretch where everything is a fight. I tend to sleep in on those days😊

doc henderson · June 23, 2024, 10:56:36 PM

we kept them clean and did squirt well with 80/90 oil putting back together. This has been my "hobby" the past few weeks. My muscles and joints, combined with the heat and lying and crawling on the ground, then getting up... this is why I feel old.

Wlmedley · June 23, 2024, 11:22:15 PM

I was walking through the shop where I worked several years ago and a fellow was putting brakes on his service truck. I noticed he had washed the wheel bearings and stopped and told him he might want to pack some grease in them. He said they run in oil and implied that I was a little dim. I found him along the interstate that evening with smoke coming from both rear wheels. I pulled in behind him and offered to call the boss and tell him to send a wrecker

beenthere · June 24, 2024, 01:15:09 AM

But you are winning the battle and it will feel great when it is done from your efforts.

SwampDonkey · June 24, 2024, 02:37:42 AM

I'm all smiles. You'll get'r done Doc.

Nebraska · June 24, 2024, 08:11:03 AM

I have been trying to put up hay between rainstorms and my mower loosing its bearings. Main drum bearings let go. I just did all of them since I had to stop and have the parts sipped in. Just decided to stop and rebuild all of it and be done.

Got it done Saturday waited for a little rain cut it last night supposed to have no rain for 3 days so hopefully will bale Wednesday evening. Hope this project gets done need to go back to others on going.

Don P · June 24, 2024, 08:14:10 AM

I pulled this old truck outta the weeds a few weeks ago, from the inspection sticker I had parked it 12 years ago. The engine was fine but the electrical gremlins had won. It also has over a half million miles on it and it is beyond "public work". It is too tight back at the cliff to get a truck and trailer turned around, I've made hundreds of trips with a bucketful of rocks or dirt at a time. I need a mini dump.

I had been playing with the dump end, Surplus Center cylinders and a Vevor power pack should be here this week for behind the seat, hopefully it'll work, making it up as I go;

The wiring harness was shot, yesterday I just ripped it all out and started over putting in "just the facts ma'am" wiring. There's a switch on the dash and a pushbutton for the starter. Chevy HEI on the fender for the firing orders and got the charging system hooked back up. Electric was not Dodge's strong suit.

I need to do some tidy up but it went down the driveway last night. Brakes would be nice, I need to pick up some new lines. The only windows I could get open were the vents, so that needs some love too.

doc henderson · June 24, 2024, 08:27:57 AM

@Nebraska looks like you got the right hammer.

Don look like a fair amount of work ahead!

scsmith42 · June 24, 2024, 09:19:05 AM

Doc, reading that brought a smile to my face! You and I live in similar worlds (at least part of the week - the rest of it you and my wife are in similar worlds).

doc henderson · June 24, 2024, 09:37:31 AM

Paid 3K for the truck 30 years ago. It is very handy, Ford Alison automatic transmission and single axle duels. My wife can drive it, if she has to.

NewYankeeSawmill · June 24, 2024, 10:07:37 AM

Jeeze louise, I was gonna complain about having to swap the alternator this weekend! I'll just keep quiet I guess!

Nebraska · June 24, 2024, 10:14:49 AM

Yes the direction I got called for a piece of inch and a half pipe to protect the 1 inch threaded part of the shaft everything rides on then beat away. My 2 pound hammer didn't work. I was told by the dealer they set them on their forklift forks with blocking so I used my small set of forks and did the same. Took two pieces of pipe to manage.

doc henderson · June 24, 2024, 11:55:48 AM

what was the Jaws quote by sheriff Brody? "I think you're gonna need a bigger hammer'!

hedgerow · June 24, 2024, 12:38:45 PM

Been pretty lucky around the farm this spring and summer so far, equipment have just been working. I am probably due for bad things to start happing with some equipment. I sure don't miss the old hyd brakes on the old grain trucks. Air brakes are a god sent for farm trucks that don't get used everyday. Doc glad you got back up and running. Nebraska. Lot of grass hay got put down in this area over the weekend. We could use a rain down here.

Nebraska · June 24, 2024, 01:44:18 PM

I could spare a little for a while. See if I can send some 70 miles or south. Left some tracks cutting hay a few times.

JD Guy · June 24, 2024, 05:15:28 PM

Quote from: Nebraska on June 24, 2024, 10:14:49 AMYes the direction I got called for a piece of inch and a half pipe to protect the 1 inch threaded part of the shaft everything rides on then beat away. My 2 pound hammer didn't work. I was told by the dealer they set them on their forklift forks with blocking so I used my small set of forks and did the same. Took two pieces of pipe to manage.

That looks similar to a Deutz-Fahr drum mower I had years ago. Bought it from a barn for $150. PO said it needed "a bearing"

Well, it needed not only bearings but the spindles rebuilt and machined because they ran it so long with bad bearings. Completely rebuilt that sucker and while just two drums it cut great! Sounded like a big turbine spinning up.

Ran it for a couple years and upgraded to a Krone 8' disc cutter when upgraded tractor and started making 5x6 bales.

Yes, it's a lot of work but gratifying when you're finished and all is working well

doc henderson · June 24, 2024, 06:17:51 PM

zzzzzzzzzzzzit was hot today, but as the title implies, I was in the shade under some trees and as the state I am from implies, had a nice 10 mph breeze. had on the safety shirt so when the sweat lines meet in the middle it is time for a break. got the hose on and the compartments buttoned up just in time.

gspren · June 24, 2024, 09:54:46 PM

We had a saying at work that covered those times when a 10 minute job led into 3-4 other things that shot your day or worse, "I got stuck in a sequential vortex". Happens too often.

SwampDonkey · June 24, 2024, 10:02:02 PM

That's like my shirt once the first tank of gas has burned through the clearing saw in the 90 degree stuff. Only there ain't no dry spots.

barbender · June 24, 2024, 10:09:50 PM

Pat McManus devoted a story to sequences, and the vortex. He knew of that which he spoke😊

Stephen1 · June 25, 2024, 08:00:04 AM

I had the oil in my bobcat turning milky grey, thinking head gasket. My forklift repair dropped in to look at and says, nope not a head gasket, then it wouldn't start, so while he was there he changed the points which were burnt out , started and then I changed the oil ...man that water pump is kind of grinding,
I called the local shop, 1200$ oh my poor heart. I called the bobcat guy an hour away...$800 ..getting better. Looked up eBay and ended up with a Tractor supply # 2 hours away. Chatted with this great lady who says leave the info with me and I'll get back to you. Well she called me back 1hr later, $300 delivered to your door with a gasket and it will be there Monday. Pays to shop around. 4 hrs to change the water pump and my little kitty is purring again.
I've been running the bobcat a few hours a week and no more milky oil..Bonus. My buddy thinks it was just condensation from the cold and warm where it's stored. The sun warms up the shed pretty warm in the cold weather.