Snowmobileaddict 403 #176 Posted January 16, 2016 Yep, I thought about it for a while, and having the ability to keep the loader in "storage mode" without the pump carrier and hoses hanging around became a priority. This way I can stash the pump and hoses in big Rubbermaid tub with a lid under my workbench. I have about $50 into the couplers with shipping from universalhoseandfitting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 4,983 #177 Posted January 16, 2016 Good build. Your paint looks like it lays on nice, almost looks professionally done. Cleat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowmobileaddict 403 #178 Posted January 16, 2016 1 hour ago, cleat said: Good build. Your paint looks like it lays on nice, almost looks professionally done. Cleat Thanks! The photos might be deceiving. But it does look pretty nice. The trick with Rustoleum rattle can is the recoat times. Its 15 mins, or 5 days! The label might say 15 mins or 48 hours, but the paint will still eat itself because of all the thinners in the rattle can. The recoat has to be applied to really dried, cured paint. Anything less and the recoat will wrinkle and look like someone brushed on zip strip after you put the rattle can down and walked away for an hour! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowmobileaddict 403 #179 Posted January 17, 2016 (edited) Got last of the priming done before the arctic air retned, did some hose mockup to see quick connect clearance and got the control valve decal applied. Can't wait to see this thing done and ready to work. Edited July 12, 2017 by Snowmobileaddict 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowmobileaddict 403 #180 Posted January 25, 2016 (edited) Finally done with painting! This weekend will be final assembly and plumbing. Edited July 12, 2017 by Snowmobileaddict 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 46,739 #181 Posted January 25, 2016 Looking good Andy, plumbing looks nice. I would use leak lock or someting like it on the threads... http://www.highsidechem.com/leaklock.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowmobileaddict 403 #182 Posted January 25, 2016 13 minutes ago, WHX6 said: Looking good Andy, plumbing looks nice. I would use leak lock or someting like it on the threads... http://www.highsidechem.com/leaklock.html Yep, I bought a can of pipe dope just for this project. I forget the brand, but it is a slow set, flexible, pipe dope thread lube that met the specs I was working with for this hydraulics application. I read lots of posts on Teflon tape being fine and Teflon tape being terrible no how careful you are with the first couple threads. In the end I think I read more about not using tape than using tape. So, high performance pipe dope won out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 4,983 #183 Posted January 25, 2016 Of course, pipe dope only on pipe fittings, none on any other type. Tape will work but you need to make sure no loose bits get into the system. Even with dope, just lightly coat the male threads almost to the end making sure none gets into fitting where it can contaminate your system. Cleat 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowmobileaddict 403 #184 Posted January 31, 2016 (edited) Got some time in the shop today. It's a pretty mild thaw kind of day as well. Over 40F so no need to fire up the wood stove. I worked on a bunch of plumbing but ran out of steam in a hurry. Feeling like death warmed over with a head cold since Friday night. Blechhhhh. Some progress photos. I'm going to take a nap. Edited July 12, 2017 by Snowmobileaddict 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elcamino/wheelhorse 9,043 #185 Posted January 31, 2016 You are getting close to making a video of the FEL in action. Great work. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slammer302 2,154 #186 Posted January 31, 2016 You seem to have good fab skills you should make your own custom grill guard for the front of ur xi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowmobileaddict 403 #187 Posted February 1, 2016 (edited) Been looking forward to this showing up in the mail. Might have to skip shop time tonight and dig into this Edited July 12, 2017 by Snowmobileaddict Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vinylguy 4,666 #188 Posted February 1, 2016 I love mine. Great read and a great reference tool. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowmobileaddict 403 #189 Posted February 1, 2016 (edited) Fully plumbed! Picking up a jug of hyd fluid tomorrow for proving trials. Then the decal goes on the boom... Edited July 12, 2017 by Snowmobileaddict 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowmobileaddict 403 #190 Posted February 1, 2016 (edited) I'm also seriously rethinking ballast. Going to likely load 6 gallons of washer fluid in each rear tire. That's 50 lbs in each tire. Then I've got a line on a set of cast iron rear wheel weights at 50# each for $100. For the last 80-100# I'll rig up a 2" drawbar for my receiver hitch to hang some old Cast iron exercise weights off the very back of the tractor. Edited July 12, 2017 by Snowmobileaddict Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shallowwatersailor 3,213 #191 Posted February 2, 2016 Miss going to Menards. They should expand to the East Coast! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WNYPCRepair 1,875 #192 Posted February 2, 2016 5 hours ago, Snowmobileaddict said: Fully plumbed! Picking up a jug of hyd fluid tomorrow for proving trials. Then the decal goes on the boom... You can certainly be proud of that job. That is some beautiful work. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowmobileaddict 403 #193 Posted February 4, 2016 (edited) Well, It works! I got it loaded up with hydraulic fluid Tuesday night and ran it a bit. The only problem that I'm having is a drip at the pump output port. The pump has 3/4" NPT ports. So at the output side it goes 3/4" port to 1/2" NPT bushing. Then a 1/2" street elbow. Then a 2" long nipple in 1/2" pipe. Then a reducer elbow that goes from 1/2" to 3/8" and onto the hydraulic hose. The drip/leak is right at the that first bushing (the bushing to the pump mating surface/threads). I tore it down, put some more pipe dope on it and put it back together but its still dripping at that same spot. I know bushings are kind of troublesome for leaks, so I think I'm going to pick up a different one. There is a store nearby that has stainless steel ones that appear to be of better quality. I'll give that a try and maybe try a different band of pipe dope. With a little luck I'll have a leak free system. I was happy to see that after I parked it on Tuesday night with the boom off the ground, it hardly moved at all between then and Wednesday afternoon. That means little to no internal leakage at the spool valve or at the hydraulic pistons I rebuilt. After I get this leak squared away I'll get a video posted up of the final product. Edited February 4, 2016 by Snowmobileaddict 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowmobileaddict 403 #194 Posted February 5, 2016 I bought a new reducer bushing and re-plumbed the output side of the pump tonight. NO LEAKS! Here's a video of the running 1982 Kwik-Way loader on my 2003 522xi. YouTube Link to Video of Running Loader 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WNYPCRepair 1,875 #195 Posted February 5, 2016 13 minutes ago, Snowmobileaddict said: I bought a new reducer bushing and re-plumbed the output side of the pump tonight. NO LEAKS! Here's a video of the running 1982 Kwik-Way loader on my 2003 522xi. YouTube Link to Video of Running Loader Very impressive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowmobileaddict 403 #196 Posted February 5, 2016 (edited) Thanks WNYPCRepair! I'm really happy with how it turned out. I'm going to wait for some milder weather to get the Kwik-Way decal on the boom. I also got a whole sheet of replacement safety decals from an implement dealer near my house. These will make my loader really look legit. The Rhino company makes loader attachments too and they used to make a smaller loader that was about the size of my Kwik-Way. When I was breezing through a Rhino manual I noticed that the manufacturer will provide replacement safety decals free of charge through their dealer network. You just have to pay shipping. Any who, I ordered these last week and they came in today. I probably won't use them all, but several of them aren't specific to any one model or size of loader. Edited July 12, 2017 by Snowmobileaddict 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roadapples 6,981 #197 Posted February 5, 2016 All your work has paid off, a job to be proud of... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 4,983 #198 Posted February 5, 2016 Looks very good. One of the first things I added to the loader on my larger diesel tractor was a bucket level indicator. That will make it very easy to ensure the bottom of the bucket is flat to the ground. This is very useful for getting a nice flat surface scraping up gravel, snow, dirt etc. Maybe you can see your bucket good enough to tell but I could not with the cab etc in the way. This is what I made after copying the factory setup on a Ford loader. The other thing I use a lot is the two hooks for lifting things. With the loader around, no use pulling out your back lifting. You are going to love having that loader around, I use mine all the time. Cleat 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WNYPCRepair 1,875 #199 Posted February 19, 2016 Just read through this whole thread again. I started last night, after going through the PF Engineering plans. After the subframe, I was surprised to see there isn't a lot of steel left to buy. I'm going to price everything up and see if it makes sense to build one, or keep looking for a used one, or build a Johnny Bucket. No video yet? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowmobileaddict 403 #200 Posted February 19, 2016 The only video I have is the one of it running inside my outbuilding. Its been somewhat of a low/no-snow winter here in SE WI. No real snow to clear up since I finished the loader and really not much for me to do with it in the yard till spring rolls around. 55F and chance rain today. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
