peter lena 9,184 #26 Posted May 26 @kpinnc lovin it , just the fact that you are looking at original , INTENDEND FUNCTION , IS PERFECT IMPROVEMENT POINT ! another very common fault is original sloppiness , no definite guidance to function , more often than not , washers , and lubrication , shoulder bolts for hold / movement / washers for smooth , solid function and elastic lock nut to hold that setting , thats a key area on plow frame lever quadrant area , @BillD 1/2 " rod with heim joints ? thats going home for me , been using that for years on my plows . most of my changes were found on a roller stool function check , with a helper to try original intention , that usually highlights every flaw . glad for your " why not " ? approach to a chronic problem . think I have a rear end transition hitch mount I made up , be snoopin around for it , shoot you a picture , pete 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 14,208 #27 Posted May 31 (edited) Well I finished the reinforcements and gave this thing some color. I also took the advice of using Heim joints. I had some 1/2 inch ones and threaded rod, and I put it in a 0.080 walled black pipe. Nothing I can physically lift should bend this thing. I made both sides of the lift arm pivot reach down to the frame with 1/4 steel. I made the reinforcement on the left on the outside and the right on the inside to clear the drive belt. Both sides tie into the runners down the inside of the seat stand. I don't know much, but this thing is as strong as the frame it rides on. There won't be any cracks forming on this one. Odd how the exact same paint looks so different when it's first sprayed compared to the frame being cured out. Just thinking out loud... Edited May 31 by kpinnc 3 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 71,748 #28 Posted May 31 SUPER nice fab work. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill D 2,200 #29 Posted May 31 Glad you liked my idea. Amazing fab work as always. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 14,208 #30 Posted May 31 I decided to do a couple more reinforcement mods. One was simple: added a backing plate to the lift arm lock. The other I borrowed from the 701 design. I braced the upper column just for giggles. The pic below showing the full rod length has the shifters as far left as they go with no contact. Hopefully I can get this one done so I can get back on my 701 and some engine work. The hard part is over on this one. 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 9,184 #31 Posted June 1 @kpinnc had to put on a bib and drool cup , to look at your work ! terrific pick up on FUNCTIONAL DETAILING , often refer to the actual total ease of motion difference from original to improved , like shoulder bolts to allow solid / smooth , controlled function then flat washer and elastic lock nut to dial in perfect set up . as you know , once you start doing this, you regularly look for improvements , and make them ! recently changed the squeeze lever to plow quadrant , over to a brass down rod , to try smoother function . the brass was much smoother, forgiving , does not hang up or drag in any way , very light hand squeeze , and forward / back plow swing , is ridiculous , in its function , there would be hell to pay , if we were closer , thank you for your approach , pete 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 14,208 #32 Posted June 2 I said I was done modding this one. I wasn't lying, I just didn't think it through. Actually that would make a good t-shirt... Anyway, since this thing is as straight up Johnny Cash level build- I want it to do pretty much everything I need. That also includes good lights. My LEDs have worked well, but I've had this thing for two years and never used it. It is stupid bright! So even though it doesn't bolt right up, that never stopped me from using something before. First I cobbled up a bracket from and old battery box. Then I made an plate to fill out the lens plate cut out. And tomorrow I'll paint the hood. So I got it stripped and primed. No sense wasting daylight... 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 14,208 #33 Posted June 2 (edited) Looks ok from a few feet away. I'm struggling with paint lately... But the light looks pretty good, if I do say so! Edited June 2 by kpinnc 2 6 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 71,748 #34 Posted June 2 If it wasn't for the hood of that tractor being 55 plus years old that light would look Factory. Nicely done. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 14,208 #35 Posted June 3 12 hours ago, ebinmaine said: If it wasn't for the hood of that tractor being 55 plus years old that light would look Factory. Nicely done. Oddly this hood has no holes for a hood ornament. Dunno what it came from. Long hood like a Charger or Electro with no ornament? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 71,748 #36 Posted June 3 2 hours ago, kpinnc said: Oddly this hood has no holes for a hood ornament. Dunno what it came from. Long hood like a Charger or Electro with no ornament? I'm not sure when the hood ornaments started. I thought once they did they were on all the standard sized models. Maybe an NOS hood bought for a dealer repair that never got punched? 🤔 💭 🤔 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 14,208 #37 Posted June 4 (edited) Got the steering support cleaned up, painted, and installed. Mocked the hood up just for giggles. I still have to make a new hood stand bracket but it looks sorta mean! Edited June 4 by kpinnc 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 14,208 #38 Posted June 4 (edited) Got the hood stand made up and installed. Looks OK for a worker. Engine mounting is next. Edited June 4 by kpinnc 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 71,748 #39 Posted June 4 7 minutes ago, kpinnc said: . Looks OK for a worker Looks EXCELLENT Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 14,208 #40 Posted June 4 5 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: Looks EXCELLENT Thank you sir. Unfortunately like most things, it looks way better online! But I do like it so far! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 13,643 #41 Posted June 4 17 minutes ago, kpinnc said: Looks OK for a worker. I think of a finish that shows its “experience” as a suit of “work clothes”. I don’t own any tractors that need ‘Sunday go to meetin’ clothes”. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ineedanother 1,657 #42 Posted June 5 3 hours ago, kpinnc said: Got the hood stand made up and installed. Looks OK for a worker. Engine mounting is next. Hey @kpinnc, I look forward to seeing your work every time I log in, truly, and your humility is beyond reproach (army speak), but damn man, don't you have a push mower or something to knock the clover down beside your garage? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee1977 7,113 #43 Posted June 5 (edited) 9 minutes ago, ineedanother said: Hey @kpinnc, I look forward to seeing your work every time I log in, truly, and your humility is beyond reproach (army speak), but damn man, don't you have a push mower or something to knock the clover down beside your garage? As much rain that we have had in the last week or so, he most likely mowed it yesterday.. Edited June 5 by Lee1977 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 14,208 #44 Posted June 5 (edited) 1 hour ago, ineedanother said: but damn man, don't you have a push mower or something to knock the clover down beside your garage? It did look awful! I actually mowed about two hours after that pic was taken. We got a boatload of rain (bad flooding all around here) over the last few days and it was too wet to mow. I broke out the Scag and cut everything this evening. She was panting and sweaty when I put her up. And so was I! ...and I was pretty lazy last weekend and just tinkered instead of mowing. Edited June 5 by kpinnc 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ineedanother 1,657 #45 Posted June 5 4 minutes ago, kpinnc said: ...and I was pretty lazy last weekend and just tinkered instead of mowing. Alright. I don't see lazy in your repertoire, but okay, you get a pass by me Go ahead and tinker and I'll check in tomorrow after work 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 14,208 #46 Posted June 7 (edited) Got the engine mount fabbed up and installed. Plopped a Vanguard on just for test fitting. I bought an early style 16hp air cleaner a couple years back, and it clears the hood no issues at all. This engine is a 14hp. Gotta put all the covers and linkages back on tomorrow... Edited June 7 by kpinnc 2 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 14,208 #47 Posted June 8 (edited) I must have some form of obsessive compulsive attention deficit hyperactive disorder. My plan last night was to paint the engine blower cover to match the red paint I'm using, and touch up the valve covers (and adjust the valves), and get the engine back on the tractor. Unfortunately the engine that I was thinking of using is gonna need a complete teardown and cleaning up. Probably new rings as well. That engine came from a friend's stuff and it has water in the heads. So I had another Vanguard that was partially disassembled, so I went through it and built it up. I started last night and before I knew it the bleeping birds were singing this morning. But now I have an engine ready to run. Just needs two quarts of oil and it's ready to go! And my sorry behind is gonna take a nap. I'm too old for this silliness! The pic of the piston below is just to show how clean these engines are. Forgive the sharpie marks I had on it. They originally ran on propane, and they are very clean internally. For now at least! Edited June 8 by kpinnc 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlexR 1,686 #48 Posted Monday at 04:21 PM Man this is going to be a Sweet tractor when you are done!! It's all beefed up and a v-twin engine. If you aren't going to keep it original, this is definitely the way to go. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 14,208 #49 Posted Monday at 06:41 PM 2 hours ago, AlexR said: If you aren't going to keep it original, this is definitely the way to go. Thank you! I hope this will be the beeefiest tractor I have. At least that is the plan. So far as original- what you said could be said for every tractor I have! Try as I might, none of my machines can claim 100% originality. A couple get close, but not all the way. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 14,208 #50 Posted Monday at 06:44 PM (edited) Got the engine finished (static governor set, new carb installed), filled with oil and mounted up. PTO and side steps next on the list. Still trying to make up my mind on wheel color. Kinda on the fence between silver or @Sparky Mike's medium grey... Edited Monday at 07:18 PM by kpinnc 1 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
