Suburban 550 28 #26 Posted January 25, 2008 Hey Stephen, Nice old tractors. Good luck with the restoration and can't wait to see them finished. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,337 #27 Posted January 25, 2008 Stephen, That is a nice find, but now, all finds will be judged by Ken's Jackpot Thread. You just gotta look harder, man. :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rollerman 290 #28 Posted January 25, 2008 Now Terry are we talking qauntity or historical qaulity. For now I'm just concentrateing on one..I may find a new home for the other. Only so much room in my shop for show queens & the Levers a lot like a D with no attachments...takes up a lot of space. :P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,337 #29 Posted January 25, 2008 You got a point there. Okay, Ken wins for quantity and you win for the historical find. I can't wait to see the pictures of the "one" when you're finished. As for the other one, why not keep it and just cover it up if you don't have room. But, I guess, it would make sense to let someone else restore it. It would be a waste to let it just sit there. :P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rollerman 290 #30 Posted January 25, 2008 The other one is sitting in the shop nice & dry....preserved at this point preventing further rust or rot. I'm not in a hurry to send it packing either. Hopefully I pick up my gear sometime next week & start makeing progress on the 1st one again. :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rollerman 290 #31 Posted January 30, 2008 Another update with pics this time! I picked up my new gear today at Friskney Gear & Machine Corp. in Corunna, IN. I want to give my compliments to Randy Thomas at Friskney...I doubt he will read this thread but want to voice my appreciation for the work he did. I would highley recomend them for anyone needing machine/gear work in the tri state area. Anyways I'm back on track & in the process of primeing & painting. I hope to have it back on 4 tires soon. The next step will be the engine....I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that this B&S ZZP has the same reputaiton as a Kohler. "New gear" "New gear along side the good original" "Progress so far...primeing & painting the small parts" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
combatmp29r 27 #32 Posted January 30, 2008 Stephen, It looks good, the new gear looks like it will work great. I am curiouse though, The primed and painted parts don't looklike enough to build a pond You should have had them all ready for paint waiting on the gear right? :P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg B. 1 #33 Posted January 30, 2008 Stephen, Congrats on your progress on these unusual machines. Are you going to mill the web of the new gear to match the original? Greg B. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rollerman 290 #34 Posted January 30, 2008 Greg there were 2 differant types of Gears used in the Pond Levers...one was cast like my original...other Ponds had them made out of plate steel much like the duplicate I had made. It was more a matter of what was available for the cheapest price I'd guess? This weekend I will weld it to the axle & hope to have the tractor painted by then so I can put the gears back on. Ones the bull gear covers are on it won't make any differance. Joel there really isn't a lot to a Lever Steer & I did put it on the back burner for a bit while I waited on parts. With the parts in I am motivated to get it on all fours again. :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
combatmp29r 27 #35 Posted January 30, 2008 I remembered you saying that you were taking abreak from it while you waited on the gear, but I had to poke at something :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chevelletown 37 #36 Posted January 30, 2008 It looks like they did one heck of a job on that gear. Was it expensive? Did they machine each tooth or did they cut it with some hi-tech system? A buddy of mine works in a machine shop and they have a water jet system that cut up to 3" thick steel May be you'll have it on all fours by the time I stop back trough with that D250 Great project (just for the record I think it was a better find than mine ) Keep us posted. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rollerman 290 #37 Posted January 30, 2008 Ken to be honest my heart sank when I pulled the bull gear cover off the 1st time. I just thought it was gonna be crazy expensive to have one made...& I'd heard a few stories of other guys restoreing levers with broke or missing gears. Anyways I made some phone calls includeing Schafer Gear where the Ponds had the originals made..."yes there still in business"...they quoted me close to $5000...yep thats right a 5 with 3 zeros. I stoped in at a local "Amish" tractor repair place asking if they knew of anyone. They gave me Friskney's number...after talking to Randy "owner" on the phone & telling him what I had & was doing he told me $150!!!!!! Friskney Gear is an interesting place with old school equipment...no CNC or water jet stuff. Randy ordered the blank to size & hand cut each tooth. :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rollerman 290 #38 Posted January 30, 2008 Been busy tonight...seem to have Pond insomnia. Here's a shot of the frame being painted tonight....just so Joel won't poke at something. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,337 #39 Posted January 30, 2008 Stephen, That new gear looks real good. Sometimes the old shops are the ones to go to. Don't have as much overhead. They might be slower and have work pile up in front of them, but they're less expensive. Your last post, that is starting to look nice. Not having much experience with Ponds, I'm curious on it's set up. With this picture I'm starting to get a better idea on their build. :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WheelHorse_of_course 99 #40 Posted January 30, 2008 Amen Treed, I am learning a lot too. Now that I see that most recent picture I understand what the bull gear is! This will be highly edumacational for me :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg B. 1 #41 Posted January 30, 2008 Stephen, Is that a Model A Ford rear end? Greg B. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 10,662 #42 Posted January 31, 2008 Stephen, Beautiful work on the Pond! Can't wait to see the rest! Kevin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rollerman 290 #43 Posted January 31, 2008 Thanks guys for the comps. Greg it is a Ford Model A rear end...cut down drive shaft & transmission too Little bit of history...the Speedex company were able to obtain the same parts right from the Ford factory untill Ford stepped into the tractor business & cut them off. Where as the Ponds "Cecil & Elmer" sourced there parts used in junk yards around South Bend....so there were a lot of various combinations. Both of my 2 Pond Levers have a differant type of Ford Model A tranmission even though they were both produced in 1946. Okay here's tonights teaser pic of todays progress....the steering is back together & I will have the rear end back together tommorrow. Those tires are just temporary. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 10,662 #44 Posted January 31, 2008 Stephen, what kind of paint are you using? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rollerman 290 #45 Posted January 31, 2008 Valspar IH Red Restoration series...rattle can. I'm still gun shy. :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 10,662 #46 Posted January 31, 2008 Looks good in my book. Nothing wrong with being gun shy. I hear good things about the Valspar. I got some Valspar- both mix to use and a rattle can for touch ups. I haven't used it yet, but am itching to do so. Got a couple gift cards to TSC for Christmas, so I had to get some! Keep the pictures coming! Kevin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,337 #47 Posted January 31, 2008 Stephen, Rattle can or not, it looks good. It wouldn't make any difference what kind of paint I was using, quality or not, as I'm a poor painter, even with the rattle cans. I like to see a project like this, in it's stages. It almost makes me think I can do it. :P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rollerman 290 #48 Posted January 31, 2008 A little more of last nights progress. Installed the bell housing, grease zerks, painted the bull gear covers & started tearing into the Briggs ZZP engine. I don't suppose anyone here knows the specs for the valves on a Briggs ZZP engine? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buzz 502 #49 Posted January 31, 2008 A little more of last nights progress. Installed the bell housing, grease zerks, painted the bull gear covers & started tearing into the Briggs ZZP engine. I don't suppose anyone here knows the specs for the valves on a Briggs ZZP engine? Is this what you're looking for? Tractor looks great , all the Deeres are turning green with envy.............. http://www.brownandwiser.com/pdf/antique_e..._spec_chart.pdf Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nylyon-(Admin) 7,114 #50 Posted January 31, 2008 I would have said we can take a good guess on the valves, and my guess would have been WAY wrong! Great find Buzz. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
