doing a partial resto on my 57 rj

[Jake Kuhn 1,547]

Here's a little update on the 57. Sunday I put the engine back together as a short block. It ended up just getting new gaskets/seals, a valve job and a new set of rings/ the cylinder honed. It should be a good engine as there was nothing wrong with it before I tore it apart. I got the shroud/hood done and ready for paint. Also, made a new speed selector rod and started making a speed selector arm, just have to pick up a piece of bar stock. Picked up a repop belt guard for it at the show, it is going to take some work to make it nice, but its better than nothing.  I have a couple more brackets to finish sanding, and still have to fill some rust pits on the lift lever, but this is getting close to a last batch of paint. I don't see it being an issue on finishing this for the show in september. Anyways, here's a couple photos. Thanks, Jake

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 23, 2014 by Jake Kuhn

[rwilson 128]

looks like it is coming along

[Jake Kuhn 1,547]

The fun part has began! Got the hood and frame painted on sunday. Tonight I put the drive system and the steering together, it is as far as I can go for now, but was glad to start assembling it. Still have the get the wheels and speed selector arm done, but everything else is done. I am going to get some bolts plated, and then I can put it most of the rest of the way together. Anyways, heres a couple pictures, going together very easy so far, very happy with how its turning out. Thanks, Jake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[woodchuckfarmer 333]

Looks great so far Jake . Are you going to bring it to the big show in June ?

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,034]

Nice Jake. This is the fun part for sure. It has been a long time since I did a full restore..... Kinda want to do one but I have zero time to do it now.

[Jake Kuhn 1,547]

Looks great so far Jake . Are you going to bring it to the big show in June ?

Thanks Wayne, I would sure like to, but it probably wont be making it. Don't think my dad wants to haul a trailer up there, and would like to have the back of the truck empty in case we find something to bring home.

[Ken B 3,116]

As always Jake, very nice!

[Racinbob 10,256]

Beautiful job Jake

[Fun Engineer 859]

Looking good Jake. This is the time when all your hard work pays off. It's very gratifying to see it resemble a tractor again.

What's the story behind those fenders in picture #3? Is that a new project?

Sent from my tractor seat.

[HorseHead1089 99]

Finally got some stuff painted. The fenders and belt shield go to the 401, the rest is to this. Frame is just about ready for primer now too.

DSCN2003.JPG

How did you not get paint every where with such a nice even cover. Need to figure out a way to control my paint situation as last time it ended up all over the garage

[Jake Kuhn 1,547]

Thanks all for the comments! 

 

Dave, the fenders sadly are not for wheel horses...lol My dad builds fenders for the John Deere Orchard tractors as they do not offer fenders on there tractors now, those will be a set of front fenders. He's been building them for about 10 years now, and usually does about 15 tractors a year, the local dealer around here just makes that an option now on the new tractors and buys them from him

 

Here's a couple he did about a couple months ago, don't have a picture with rears mounted.

 

 

Horsehead, as far as not making a mess, it was not painted where its sitting now, It was painted over at the body shop in the spray booth there,

 

 

[Jake Kuhn 1,547]

Got the engine running yesterday...seems to run pretty decent, and not smoke.

 

Also, got the front wheels sanded and rears beadblasted, those are now ready for paint, I need to put a freeze plug in the oil bath and paint them black.

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Jake

[953 nut 51,497]

              Great body and paint work! I presume you are using a quality automotive paint, no way would hardware store enamel  come out that good.     

[Pullstart 59,543]

Great progress!

[zanepetty 117]

This "partial" resto is killing me. Some of the nicest work I've ever seen. Great job.

[Martin 2,130]

Looking good Jake.

 

 

You know Jake, i try to fool myself by starting off saying that it will be a 'partial resto' when i do one of mine and we all know how that goes. Turns into doing over everything as it just will be better that way. looks like you have the same problem........

 

'doing a partial resto on my 57 RJ'..............  man, thats funny........

[Jake Kuhn 1,547]

thanks all for the comments!

 

This did start out as a partial redo, but part way through I decided to switch gears....I was just going to prime it and mechanically make it right, but ended up going for a full resto....wanted to do it right the first time. I may suffer under the same disease as you martin, but I'm not that good with details yet....maybe someday. 

 

Anyways, not much new progress on the rj, I did go through the recoil today, as it was not catching, put new pauls, and felts inside it, and it now works good, and got it mounted, looks good on there.

 

 

And also, while I was going to paint the rims black for this, I wanted to paint the rims on the 55 I picked up a couple weeks ago, blasted them, and hope to spray these parts black tomorrow.

 

 

 

And while the rj was sitting there with no wheels, I wanted to fix the leaking rear end, turns out the  axle has a lot of slop in it, I didn't mess with it much today just ripped it apart, hopefully I can just change the bushings, and seal and it will be ok, but not sure yet.  Anyways, here's a couple pics of it as it sits

 

 

 

 

Have no school tomorrow from the snow, so hope to work on the rear end on the 55 tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Martin 2,130]

 

I may suffer under the same disease as you martin, but I'm not that good with details yet....maybe someday. 

 

 

 

 

 

Have no school tomorrow from the snow, so hope to work on the rear end on the 55 tomorrow.

 

Jake, looking at your work both on the forum and in person, i got to disagree with that statement you made on the details. I think you are right up there with the details on your work as much as anyone on the forum who goes the extra mile on these tractors. Don't ever think that any of us who like to go all out can't see the work and effort you put into your builds. You should be very proud of your accomplishments, especially since you are still of a young age. I put that last line in the quote as it just reinforces what I'm trying to get across, normally you wouldn't look at work like this that is the result of somebody still in school.

You also floor me with your knowledge on the round hood tractors. I just thought i needed to mention all of the above as it is truly not the norm for somebody your age to be at the level you are.

I think it is very refreshing these days to see such a passion for a hobby from somebody your age.

[19richie66 16,877]

Well said Martin, i agree totally. Great job Jake!

[Fun Engineer 859]

Well said Martin, i agree totally. Great job Jake!

Me too.

Sent from my tractor seat.

[dclarke 4,011]

Well said Martin, i agree totally. Great job Jake!

Me Too!

[Pullstart 59,543]

Jake, looking at your work both on the forum and in person, i got to disagree with that statement you made on the details. I think you are right up there with the details on your work as much as anyone on the forum who goes the extra mile on these tractors. Don't ever think that any of us who like to go all out can't see the work and effort you put into your builds. You should be very proud of your accomplishments, especially since you are still of a young age. I put that last line in the quote as it just reinforces what I'm trying to get across, normally you wouldn't look at work like this that is the result of somebody still in school.

You also floor me with your knowledge on the round hood tractors. I just thought i needed to mention all of the above as it is truly not the norm for somebody your age to be at the level you are.

I think it is very refreshing these days to see such a passion for a hobby from somebody your age.

 

very well said, Jake's humbleness might fool one, until they see his work and meet him at a show. 

[Jake Kuhn 1,547]

Go it back together today...rear end actually ended up being pretty bad., one of the bushings was badly worn, which made the axle move up and down which just about destroyed the axle/gear as well as the other gear. Luckily I had a parts tractor I bought at the big show that had gears in it I used to fix this one. Also noticed it only drove from one wheel, it looks this one was messed up from the factory as they welded the plate on backwards that cause the pauls to engage, the hub is however in great shape on that side which is a plug, to get it driving again just ended up welding where the dimples were and now it guides the springs and the paul engages driving the wheel! Also cleaned up the spindles old dried up grease and got everything nice and smooth, also added a set of the pins that go in the tie bar which helped tighten it up some. Here's a few pictures of it in progress and back together, 

 

Gear case cover cleaned up...

 

 

where the plate was installed wrong

 

 

and welded

 

hubs/pauls cleaned up

 

 

and back side of the case

 

and finally a shot before the cover was installed

 

Back on all 4's

 

 

[Jake Kuhn 1,547]

Got some parts back today, can finally start putting it together a little more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[newt 14]

hi, Jake, nice work! if I ever restore my rj like this, it will be parked in the living room, never see sun again!!

what kind of plating or coating did you use on all that hardware? and where do you get it done? it really looks good!

thanks - newt