pettibone skidders

[barbender]

Logman, you have to figure out how to post pictures, I want to see some drags behind that beast. You can figure it out- I only post pictures once every 5-6 months, I always forget how to do it so I have to relearn every time. That means I've learned how to post pictures about 15 times, if it can get through my thick skull, it can get through yours too ;) We've got 17 pages of posts on your Pettibone, I think I only got 2 pages of posts out of mine, and mine already had pictures. Maybe Jeff should make a rule that you can only post so many times without pictures ;D For instance, on post 100 you are barred from posting anymore until you go through the picture posting tutorial and post a few pictures. :D

[Ed_K]

Center pins=concrete floor don'tttttt do it in the woods  :D .

[logman81]

Well guys more bad news! :( After replacing the gland cap and swivel joint with all new parts I still have a fluid leak. >:( went to try it out before putting it on the job I just got and it started to winch in and then the lever started to slowly move forward when I was pushing on it and saw brake fluid coming out of the clutch cover. I took the tear drop cover off and found that it wasn't leaking from the out side of the new glad cap but was leaking from the inside from were it goes inside the shaft that the winch drum sits on.  So if I am thinking right the shaft that goes from one side to the other side of the winch has to be replaced. ??? Begining to think that this purchase was a bad one I really don't think I want to spend the money or time into this winch. Seems to me that the winch will have to removed from the skidder and totally taken apart to replace the shaft. Thinking about giving the machine back to the owner and saying NO DEAL!

[lumberjack48]

logman81 take it easy, don't jump off the bridge. This should be a easy fix.
When you fixed it, what exactly what did you fix ? Did you put a live swivel on it ?

I've never had to replace the main shaft.

[lumberjack48]

My main shaft was bent a little from pulling on a truck. This is why the  gland cap would not work, i'd have to put a new one every 2 days.

This is why we all change it over to a live swivel, gland cap will not work. 

[Ed_K]

The main shaft on mine is bent a little too.Tap the hole in the end to 1/4"npt and put the live swivel in.you'll have to rework the tear drop cover to accept the swivle. I have to have a little extre opening on the clutch bands so it doesn't draw in while it's in free spooling.

[Tramp Bushler]

Logman ; my goodness , I just read all 17 pages . Don't you dare get rid of it . . Golly youve been thru all this time $ and learning . Worse comes to worse just put a different winch on it . . .
You'll be ok .
Its what swet equity is all about . Just keep leanin intoer .

Jocco ,Lumberjack, Barbender, Ed K ,Mad Murdock ,Snowstorm and anyone I may have missed . Thank you for all the edjucation .  !!!
Bein a gypo skidder logger is alot different than bein a timber faller or a hand on a tower show . Lots of learning .  Thanks again .

[logman81]

Lumberjack48 I replaced the gland cap with a new double bearing gland cap mine was still the old single bearing glang cap. Also replaced the swivel joint as well with new o-ring and U-cup. It fixed part of the problem as it was leaking past the old gland cap before I replaced it. Now it is leaking behind the gland cap were it seals inside the main shaft. So I think the main shaft is worn out, to big in diameter to make a tight seal even with a new o- ring and gland cap. When I first tryed to fix it there was some rust inside the main shaft were the gland cap pushes into and some light pitting. Hope you can understand how I'm trying to exsplain this. :D Seems that if the main shaft is to big in out side diameter that it will need replacing for it to have a tight seal, Also noticed that it is missing the shims not sure if that is a big deal though ???

[lumberjack48]

Is leaking out the center of the gland cap or out the sides of the cap ?

[Ed_K]

 The shims are there to keep the bearing from pushing the drum up against the inside of the housing.Don't ask how I know that ;D .

[logman81]

It is leaking were the part with the o-ring goes inside the main shaft. I'm looking around for either a replacement winch or someone that knows these winches good that can come and look at it and help fix it. Not alot of guys around here know about these winches but I do have a friend of the familys that works on heavy equipment that may be able to help will see. ;)

[logman81]

Thanks Ed-K looks like I will need thoughs shims if I decided to fix it?

[lumberjack48]

All you have to do is thread the gland cap, and screw a live swivel in to it, no more leaks, its a very simple fix, take about to hrs, thats fixing the tear drop cover to.
If you miss placed the shims, no problem, get used or new or made-em.

I sure wish i was there to help you.

If i was on my feet, I'd be setting in your yard

Ed-K did this fix to his, have him walk you thought

[logman81]

I replaced the gland cap and the swivel with new parts and it isn't leaking there it is leaking in the inside were the gland cap with male part with the o-ring slides inside the main shaft. My thinking is that the main shaft from years of rust and pitting of the metal has caused enough damage that even with new glad cap and o-ring and u-cup that the fit is no longer tight enough to make a possitive seal inside the main shaft.

[lumberjack48]

I believe Ed taped the main shaft on his

The main shaft on mine is bent a little too.Tap the hole in the end to 1/4"npt and put the live swivel in.you'll have to rework the tear drop cover to accept the swivle. I have to have a little extre opening on the clutch bands so it doesn't draw in while it's in free spooling.

[Ed_K]

My gland cap was also leaking on the inside,it's not hard to fix.The hole inside the main shaft is already the right size for a 1/4 npt tap to start.Just get the tap started in,turn it in a 1/2 turn then back it out a little to break the scrap metal the tap is cutting then repeat,till you have 3/4" to an1"of thread.You will have to drill out the hole in the end cap to let the iron pipe slide thru.then attach the swivel to the pipe.You can get a live swivel at any auto supply.Mine was only $70.
As to the shims,I cut some out of brass sheet .020 thick.

[logman81]

I'm starting to understand this but need some more info from the experts :D So I tap the center hole in the main shaft with 1/4 tap so that I have about 3/4 to 1'' of thread. What type of pipe do I need and what demensions? Then drill the center hole in the gland cap so the pipe can pass through it. Do I thread one end of the pipe into the main shaft? How do I attach the live swivel does it screw onto the other end of the pipe? Will the tear drop cover have to be modified? Sorry for all the questions just want to make sure I get all the facts right before going fourth with this I'm new to these machines.

[logman81]

I just measured the main shaft hole and it looks to be 3/8 not 1/4?

[Ed_K]

The 1/4 npt tap is close to 1/2" when you measure to the outsides of the thread.You can buy black iron pipe with threads on both sides at a hardware store,mine is 4" long and the swivel is outside the teardrop cover.I also drilled a hole thru it too,and just hooked the hydraulic hose to the swivel.So far I haven't droped anything to break it off  ;D .
I should explain that NPT stands for (National Pipe Tap) thats why it looks bigger than 1/4".
Hope this sound ok.

[logman81]

It's fixed ;D I went and got a live swivel from local hydraulics place and some black pipe and now no leaks! The problem I have now is brake fluid soaked clutch bands so she don't want to winch in very good. :( I'm going to get a bunch of brake clean and spray the hell out of it and then blow it out with compressed air and hope that fixes the slipping. I want to thank all of you that helped me through this problem and if anyone has this same problem on thier machine I will pass along the info. Thanks a bunch ;)

[lumberjack48]

I'm glad you got it fixed, now i'll sleep better to night.

Take a fire extinguisher, the one with the white powder, give the bands a little blast. This will stop it from slipping, or blow some baby powder on the bands. This is quick way to dry the bands up, i did this many times.

[Ed_K]

Yrs ago I ran a LS 78 linkbelt dragline and I used spic&span on the drums.When I soaked the clutch bands I covered them in speedy dry and put them in the oven at 350 for an hour,just don't do it when moma's around  :D .
Glad you got the leak fixed.

[Tramp Bushler]

I'm really glad you got er . If you cab post some pics if thee fix I'll print then and put then in my skidder fix binder . I've been worried about it for the last 3 days .

Pretty bad when a guy worries about someone elses skidder 5,000 miles away .

Glad you goter !!!

[logman81]

Everything on the winch is fixed now. Free spools nice, and winches like a bear and no more leaks. I wound up buying alot of cheap brake cleaner and spraying it real good with that then using compressed air and dried it real good with that. Now to put this on a my job and pull some firewood. ;D

[barbender]

After all of the headaches won't it be awesome to winch in that first drag on a real job? 8)