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953 nut

953 from Gully to glistening

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WHX??

Oh my... I am really gonna watch this one! Get that camera tuned up! :handgestures-thumbupright:

BTW good title to your thread Richard!

Edited by WHX12
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TravelinJavelin

awesome can't wait to see the out come of this!

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Aldon

Nice backstory for a tractor resurrection.

 

I look forward to following this one.

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JC 1965

Great story behind that little tractor Richard. I can't wait to see the restoration. I can see why you like the 953 tractors. Keep us up to date with the restoration. Thanks for the photos.      :thumbs2:

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953 nut

Prior to beginning the disassembly I introduced the 953 in the foreground to the other 953s in the herd. The street rod 953 on the left accompanied me to this year's Big Show, to the right is the original worker that I brought to last year's show and far right is another early production 953 with snow cab frame that I bought from @A-Z Tractor at this year's show. The two early production 953s were probably on the assembly line at the same time, serial numbers are 62-780 and 62-829.

59b9788b1c357_953restoration002.JPG.9a75fe0e76d3dfb5d3bb09b0b4cb86b7.JPG

One of the biggest challanges will be some rust through on both sides of the seat. Apparently the seat cushion was in place and wet leaves or debris accumulated there causing the rust.

59b97cf18f7dc_953restoration002.JPG.8d55857cbb32a37db27bcabb1d2fc721.JPG59b97d0e63223_953restoration001.JPG.13b06b6210b3b4e1e21fda0e374113b1.JPG

The rest of the sheet metal is in good shape and once I have inspected it closely I'll come up with a game plan. Haven't used my mig welder in a while, but shouldn't be too hard get accustom to it again. 

This morning I began to take it apart, nose, grill, hood and engine are off. Once I remove the front axle and transaxle I will fabricate a rotisserie which will allow me to work on it at a comfortable height and body position.

59b97f8c95994_953restoration004.JPG.4ba115f75b40b767e82558b4a2f263c9.JPG

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19richie66

Definitely have to watch this. Richard, when you build the rotisserie, keep in mind the air brake slack adjuster assy for the rotation mechanism. Works great. You can overhaul a transmission on it or bolt the back end of a frame to it and spin it where you want it and it wont move on you. Kinda has it's own brake lock.

IMG_5310.JPG

Edited by 19richie66
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953 nut
6 minutes ago, 19richie66 said:

air brake slack adjuster assy

:thanks:    The only thing on the rotisserie will be the frame, dash tower and rear sheet metal, not enough weight to worry about.

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19richie66

You got me wanting a 953 or a 1054 now. Also is the frame,front axle and steering pretty much the same as a gt14. They look similar.

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953 nut
5 minutes ago, 19richie66 said:

front axle and steering pretty much the same as a gt14.

Frame is a little shorter than the GT-14, but the front end is all identical.

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Texas Todd

Looking forward to watching this resto!

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953 nut

Got back out to the shop today and fabricated the rotisserie and mounted the 953 frame. One support is an old home built engine stand and the other is just an angle iron lagged to the wall with a pipe welded to it, nothing fancy, but functional.

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I used a hydraulic lift table to bring it up to the proper height.

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This will save a lot of bending and crawling on the floor.

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Easy access for removing the stuff from below

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I used a contour gauge duplicator to get the shape and contour of the fender area to be replaced, then I made a template out of MDF so I can check the pieces as they are bent. Some laborious cleaning is next, Image result for yuck!

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19richie66

That'll work just fine. I have my transmission on the rotisserie at the moment. Makes it nice being able to sit on a stool and work on it.  :popcorn:

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JPWH

Looks like you're making good progress. I like the contour gauge duplicator. I will be looking for one.

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ebinmaine

:popcorn:patiently watching... great thread !! 

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953 nut

Past couple of weeks work has been primarily removing components to get down to the frame and body. I managed to get back out to the shop today and began the rust repair process. I made up a bending device that would replicate the curvature of the metal to be replaced. The base is two pieces of 2" angel iron welded together to form a "V". The upper portion is a piece of 1/2" black iron pipe with bracing to allow the hydraulic press to form the metal to the desired shape. The bracing I did is probably over-kill, but it worked well. 

59dd3a8675e1a_953fenderrepair005.JPG.e794a6af97a3f2f27751f9ec9558f539.JPG

Used the template to check the pieces as they were being shaped.

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Then the fun began; removing the rusted material and fitting the new material allowing a margin for filling with the MIG welder.

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These clamps provide a 1/16" gap and firmly grip both pieces to allow the MIG to fill the gap and result in a smooth surface on both sides once the grinding is done. They are from Eastwood. http://www.eastwood.com/intergrip-panel-clamps-set-of-4.html

p19016_1.jpg

Plan to fit up the other side and weld both Thursday. (Got stuff to do tomarow)

Edited by 953 nut
fat finger spelling
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Aldon

I need to get some of those clamps. Thanks

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ohiofarmer

Time to get out the popcorn..............   Thanks for showing us some tricks of the trade:text-thankyoublue:

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JPWH

Nice job on the bending jig. :bow-blue:I like it. I also use clamps like that. They sure make welding up easier.

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19richie66
43 minutes ago, Aldon said:

I need to get some of those clamps. Thanks

Don't skimp and get the harbor freight ones. I got them to try and they didn't work. I just use very strong magnets and stick a feeler guage or thin piece of metal between them before I attach the magnet. That gives me a good gap to work with. Tack it, move the magnet and keep going.

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ACman

Harbor Freight clamps didn't work well for my sons project either. :twocents-02cents: buy the ones from Eastwood .

Edited by ACman
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953 nut
1 hour ago, 19richie66 said:

I just use very strong magnets and stick a feeler guage or thin piece of metal between them before I attach the magnet.

That is my plan for the rust through areas in the tool box area where I can't clamp.    :handgestures-thumbupright:

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ebinmaine
2 hours ago, ohiofarmer said:

.....Thanks for showing us some tricks of the trade....

:text-yeahthat:

Cool stuff !!

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oliver2-44

Great "Basket Case Save", my kind of project :woohoo:

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R. L. Addison

This old dog is learning some new tricks. I try to follow all this type posts for this reason. I have great admiration for highly conscientious work of the type I have seen on so many projects, restorations, customizations & alterations.

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