buckrancher 2,675 #1 Posted December 4, 2011 Some times life kicks your feet out from under you and you lose everything that happened to many people this year with the great flood of 2011 in southern New york when the mighty susquehanna river rose 48 feet This is a story of healing and redemption for two old horses that found themselves 10 feet under water I acquired these tractors from snyder's fix-it shop in Endicot, NY and hopfully I will have them both up and running by next spring my god it looked like a bomb went off inside the building RJ35 RJ35 854 854 loading up the ride home Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smoreau 658 #2 Posted December 4, 2011 I know there in good hands Know Brian :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HorseFixer 2,012 #3 Posted December 4, 2011 Instantly they will be turned to Stainless! Nice haul Brian, I heard you recued those with a Submarine! ~Duke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
perry 82 #4 Posted December 4, 2011 I know there in good hands Know Brian yep, in good hands now . nice save Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JimD 3,345 #5 Posted December 4, 2011 You'll have them in fine shape by spring Brian. :handgestures-thumbup: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,011 #6 Posted December 4, 2011 Nice haul Brian! :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VinsRJ 721 #7 Posted December 4, 2011 Very nice haul Brian..... Darn, that RJ looks complete! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stigian 1,234 #8 Posted December 4, 2011 Nice rescue Brian, any idea how much damage the water has done to them? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 14,923 #9 Posted December 4, 2011 Brian, If anyone can bring these horses back it's you. Anxious to see what kind of magic the "man of stainless steel" can do. Bob PM Sent Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suburban 550 28 #10 Posted December 4, 2011 Nice haul and a great save, Brian. Sure wouldn't mind ownin' that 854. If you ever want to part with it, I wouldn't mind given' it a new home. Went through that same flood up at the campground in September and got to see the devastation it left behind, fortunately I was one of the lucky ones. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckrancher 2,675 #11 Posted December 4, 2011 First stop was at the car wash with a bag of quarters then on to my work place to unload I'm lucky that I can use the shop for tractor stuff 854 after bath RJ35 after bath this also came along for the ride an original noise weight Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
varosd 1,185 #12 Posted December 4, 2011 wow! they look like they were in great condition, pre-flood, at least you are starting out with good equipment. Can you start a work in progress thread? good luck and hats off to you for saving them from someone just throwing them into the crap heap! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC9KAS 4,741 #13 Posted December 4, 2011 Looks like they cleaned up pretty good. I guess you will have to tear down the transmissions & engines to clean out the mud. Actually maybe you can get by with just flushing them with kerosene several times then use an oil flush. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckrancher 2,675 #14 Posted December 4, 2011 It's my understanding that this was the second time both of these tractors were under water five years before there was another flood in that area neither of them were ever started up afterward just drained and not an overly great job of doing that. The 854 engine was seized up the RJ engine would turn over by hand but the recoil was not working. Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JC 1965 1,528 #15 Posted December 4, 2011 They look really good now. I know you still have engine and trans work ahead, I hope they're isn't too much damage. Good luck with it. Sure would like to see them when they're all finished. :eusa-whistle: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,954 #16 Posted December 4, 2011 I bet the mold in the building they came out of is deadly to humans. Hard to believe the Horses survived in such good shape. Two beautiful machines, you were definitely in the right place at the right time that day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevebo-(Moderator) 8,045 #17 Posted December 4, 2011 Brian, I would love to find an 854 like that... Good luck with them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Martin 2,130 #18 Posted December 5, 2011 so brian, now that these two are cleaned up a bit, can you see damage done to them. you mentioned that one of the engines are seized, but is there much rust that you can see anywhere? looks like they both have a decent amount of paint on them, im suprised they look as good as they do, considering this is the second time underwater and there has been 5 years between 'bathing'...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckrancher 2,675 #19 Posted December 5, 2011 I bet the mold in the building they came out of is deadly to humans. Hard to believe the Horses survived in such good shape. Two beautiful machines, you were definitely in the right place at the right time that day. Yes had we been there for a couple of hours we would have been wearing masks the mud that covered everything is toxic (raw sewage ,feul oil etc). this was a in and out job but you still get it all over yourself it's just like talcum powder and it's every where and in everything Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
speedyleedy 205 #20 Posted December 5, 2011 :) good find brian, i think you should have no problem bringing them back to life ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckrancher 2,675 #21 Posted December 5, 2011 First order of business is to remove and tear down both engines the 854 engine was stuck but not as bad as I first thought the starter generator was froze solid so once it was removed I added some oil in the cylinder and was able work the piston up and down with the flywheel 854 piston and rings corroded to each other quick clean out of the S/G armature cleaned up brush springs were rusted in two float hinge rotted off all parts were checked and mic'ed for wear The parts I bought to replace are: .01 oversize piston and rings( and bore cylinder .01 oversize) STD rod crankshaft bearings&gasket kit intake & exhaust valves carburator float & rebuild Kit fuel pump (one on motor was missing check valves) starter/generator rebuild Kit air filter tune up kit also had too replace the check valve on the inner valve cover plate Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckrancher 2,675 #22 Posted December 7, 2011 RJ35 engine mud inside flywheel cover parts all cleaned and checked for size after checking all parts I see that I will need to bore engine oversize and replace the crankshaft, rod ,crank bearings ,piston rings and a valve job,carb.rebuild kit, tune up now comes the hard part finding all the motor parts . I have some of them But if anyone has a Clinton NOS crankshaft (12100/46-207) they would like to sell or trade for a NOS crankshaft for a Clinton B1290 (12132/46-239) please send me a PM Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevebo-(Moderator) 8,045 #23 Posted December 7, 2011 Charlie is your man for clinton parts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikesRJ 552 #24 Posted December 8, 2011 Looking good so far Brian. :notworthy: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckrancher 2,675 #25 Posted December 11, 2011 after taking both motors apart and it's going to take some time to find the parts for the clinton I'm going to finish the 854 first motor rebuilt and back together then on to the transmission replaced both axle needle bearings all seals and one axle shaft shift boot Brian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
