What did you do today?

[Blue Chips 806]

On 7/11/2026 at 8:08 PM, ebinmaine said:

We'll keep the search going for the next few weeks and see what pops up.  

 

What are your "ideal" property characteristics? I keep fairly close tabs on the real estate market---not because we're looking, but just because it's an interest of mine. If I hear of something that might fit the bill, I'd be happy to pass it on to you. Feel free to PM me.

[Blue Chips 806]

I've been tuning up the oil pump for my Dodge M37, per some recommendations from Tony Smith, a gentleman who is well versed in rebuilding and modifying these flathead sixes.

 

I have an NOS oil pump and the original oil pump, which has VERY low miles on it. I compared several parameters, and found that the original pump was in great shape and actually had even better measurements/clearances than the NOS pump. Here's a photo comparing them (BTW, they are not clamped in the vise. I always use copper or aluminum jaw covers when clamping things like this.)

 

 

This pump has the cloverleaf-style rotors, which should put out about 10% more volume than the star-type rotors for this engine, according to what I've read.

 

I purchased a custom oil pump cover plate from Tony Smith that is flat within .0002" and thicker and more rigid than the original plate (original plate shown to the left of the new plate), along with a set of ARP bolts and washers of the appropriate length for use with the thicker plate. I gave the rotors and the end of the pump a very light dressing with a diamond hone plate, just to remove any high spots, and I ended up with .002" of end play, which should be about right. As with almost anything that I assemble, I cleaned the threads in the pump casting with a thread-chasing tool, solvent, and compressed air.

 

 

 

You can see that the new cover plate is at least twice as thick as the original plate:

 

 

I'm also considering drilling an oil hole near the top of the casting to improve lubrication to the shaft. I'll try it first on the NOS pump to make sure it goes smoothly before doing it to the pump that I'll be installing.

 

As mentioned, I'm also planning to convert the engine to full-flow oil filtration, and I'll be using the 'green' (heavy) spring in the pressure relief valve. I might even consider converting the pressure relief valve to an adjustable version, which I've done with a couple of antique tractor engines.

 

The pump will be completely filled/flooded with lubricant prior to final assembly, as it's a bad idea to run these pumps dry, even for a few seconds.

 

 

Edited Thursday at 07:18 PM by Blue Chips

[adsm08 4,778]

I don't really remember what I did today, but I got paid for 14 hours for it.

[ebinmaine 79,626]

Crane work this morning. Flatbed with demountable forklift after. 

 

I managed to stay low carb today. Now we'll see how tomorrow goes...

[MainelyWheelhorse 2,853]

It was a short 5 hr shift at work today that about halfway through, we had a freak rainstorm that was snapping trees off and moving anything that wasn’t bolted down. Then, I mowed the fire station lawn, and my lawn as well. The new lock tited mule drive knob worked like a charm with no issues. Now just relaxing and browsing the internet. The next two days I have off and I have a bathroom that needs to have tile that needs to be finished up being taken out. At least it is supposed to get cooler.

[Brockport Bill 2,425]

came across a couple oldies today -- inlcuding an old horse - I have little knowledge of the early era models - What is this Tractor? - -

Also found this belly grader under a 416 horse - is grader OEM ? Hopefully, I will get a better view in the future of both the oldie model tractor as well as the grader blade -- but in the mean time, any preliminary info would be appreciated ? Also, hoping to establish their approximate value ? thanks, Bill

[8ntruck 9,037]

We got home Monday evening from the driving tour we took the family of the Finnish exchange student we hosted at the turn of the century. 

 

They were here for 2 weeks.  We traveled just over 1800 miles with stops in Chicago (Art and Field museums), our lake house here in MI. to celebrate July 4, Dayton, Oh. for the Air Force Museum, Williamstown, Ky. for the Ark Encouter, Bowling Green, Ky. to show his family where he stayed with us, then back to Chicago.

 

Yesterday was a down day.  Today, we started picking up and getting ready for more guests we are expecting this weekend. Many loads for the washing machine with bedding and towels.  While I was working on our travel trailer, the smoke alarm went off - courtesy of the smoke cloud from forest fires in Canada that has settled on us.

 

Also got my new grease gun assembled and loaded up.  When I went to grease the spindles on my 42" SD deck, I discovered I will need a flexible hose to grease the center and LH spindles.

[ebinmaine 79,626]

13 hours ago, Blue Chips said:

 

What are your "ideal" property characteristics? I keep fairly close tabs on the real estate market---not because we're looking, but just because it's an interest of mine. If I hear of something that might fit the bill, I'd be happy to pass it on to you. Feel free to PM me.

 

Very much appreciated.   I'll talk to Trina about a list of wants/needs etc.  

[ebinmaine 79,626]

6 hours ago, Brockport Bill said:

the oldie model tractor

 

Engine has bee swapped. 

Tractor appears to be late 60s/ early 70s like a Raider or Charger. 

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Brockport Bill said:

 the grader blade

 

Looks original. Obviously needs a clean up but has value. A LOT of value.  

 

 

 

 

[ebinmaine 79,626]

Reasonably productive weekend here. 

Saturday we set out to look at two pieces of land. 

28 acres with very limited access. No cars. Larger 4WD trucks or ATV only. Nice. Very nice... but the access is an issue. 

Another piece is 10 acres. Good road access but very hilly where the driveway needs to be. HUGE expense to have a road put in because of super rocky mountain terrain.  

 

After that we had a great dinner with friends.  

 

Sunday morning Trina got our friend @Natejc_98's tractor all together ..then  set to firewood production. 

 

I got my Echo CS490 saw chain sharpened and reinstalled. 

Tested that on some red oak. Went great.  

This saw has now had the adjuster caps removed and a muffler modification done. 

Excellent difference. I've ordered an aftermarket air filter set up for it as well. 

 

After that I cut some beech wood to 14 ish length amd tossed it towards the splitter. 

Trina and her momma processed that and stacked it. 

This afternoon I went out to the forest looking for a Peavey. Trina found that. I found a cable and two chains. Win!

[8ntruck 9,037]

Peavey, cable, and 2 chains - yours, or found items left by previous workers?  I've noticed a langth of 5/8 or maybe 3/4 cable out in our Ky. property.  One end is broken. I'll assume it was left by whoever logged the property maybe 10 or 15 years ago.

 

Our series of guests have all gone now.  Will be a week before the next batch arrive.  I've been futzing around doing small projects today.  Sat down for a brief water break and the dog climbed into my lap.  Guess he was making sure I took a proper length break.

Edited 22 hours ago by 8ntruck

[ebinmaine 79,626]

20 minutes ago, 8ntruck said:

Peavey, cable, and 2 chains - yours, or found items left by previous workers?

 

 

All ours.  Items we've inherited or accumulated over the years. 

Quite an assortment of log/tree pulling tools here.  

3 Peavey brand cant hooks. 1 with a foot. 

Several chains of various lengths and capacities. 

Same for cables. 

3 or 4 hand winches. 

A rope winch. 

200 feet of thick rope. 

Tractors make great ballast occasionally but we usually try to tie off any winches to another tree.