Frame Plate and Diagonal Braces Installed on the C81

[ri702bill 9,174]

Some of you may recall several recent posts about Frame Reinforcing Plates or Angles and Diagonal Braces. Yesterday I installed the ones I made this summer for the C series. I was a bit concerned about unbolting all 4 Unidrive attaching bolts at once - working alone I did not want to have it shift. Removed the seat, rear pan and footrests - side metal. Jacked it up, placed 2 automotive jackstands at the outer ends of the rear foot rest mounts and set it down. Used 2 devices to hold the 8 speed - The floor jack under the front (shown) and a strap / comealong (not shown) to support the transaxle from above. No issues - parts are now installed. @Maxwell-8 - this is what we chatted about - all bolt in items.

Bill

[Maxwell-8 4,367]

That is a very beefy frame support! for sure a good idea to I could do on my C141 with such a heavy and torque engine! thanks!!

Edited December 2, 2021 by Maxwell-8

[peter lena 9,184]

@ri702bill , that's what I am  talking about ! enhancing an original design set up , why not ? personally a good opportunity to upgrade related belt pulleys , that flat belt idler pully failure with those tiny bearings , industrial supply , do a match up on their swing out wall boards , same size / type pulley, with a larger 5/8 or 3/4 " bearing , wide rubber side shields , for easy lucas xtra heavy duty grease , change out , get the matching 3/8" ID  bronze bushing for that pulley , bolt right on ,an exact fit , no noise or failures , lubricate all related linkage , make the rust run out !  looking at what I  have done at same trouble spot , pete    

[ri702bill 9,174]

@peter lena Today I go thru all the brake and clutch pivots - disassemble, clean, use Pete's favorite green grease and reassemble with either nylon or copper thin washers to tighten up the joints - NEW stainless cotter pins. Do it once, do it right.

[peter lena 9,184]

@Maxwell-8  opportunity , is the word , very often a problem exposes the opportunity while in a related area to correct anything else , could be a wiring / ground issue , or a rusted  sloppy linkage point , if I  am looking at it , you are too. regular bearing failures , put me on the lubrication change that I  have done , no more failures or related noise . electrical problems , made me change and upgrade ALL WIRE ROUTING  AND ELECTRICAL CABLE LUG MOUNTING POINTS . free up tight chafing / binding wires , use serated washers and dielectric grease at every connection point . use your battery ground cable bolt mount as a starting point , to engine corner , clutch pedal side , 4 ga cable to electrical lug , reduce to 10-12 gauge wire to engine charging bolt on rectifier point ground , continue to head light grounding . this set up works , on my 3 horses , GET FED UP , FIX IT !   Pete 

[ebinmaine 71,713]

Excellent work Bill.  

[ri702bill 9,174]

Thanks.

[Handy Don 13,612]

On 12/2/2021 at 8:33 AM, ri702bill said:

Some of you may recall several recent posts about Frame Reinforcing Plates or Angles and Diagonal Braces. Yesterday I installed the ones I made this summer for the C series. I was a bit concerned about unbolting all 4 Unidrive attaching bolts at once - working alone I did not want to have it shift. Removed the seat, rear pan and footrests - side metal. Jacked it up, placed 2 automotive jackstands at the outer ends of the rear foot rest mounts and set it down. Used 2 devices to hold the 8 speed - The floor jack under the front (shown) and a strap / comealong (not shown) to support the transaxle from above. No issues - parts are now installed. @Maxwell-8 - this is what we chatted about - all bolt in items.

Bill

Elegant, well planned, and nicely executed. I especially like the "just bolt it in" aspect. Kudos. 

[Sparky-(Admin) 22,739]

Real nice modification! Probably should crawl under my dedicated snow plow tractor to make sure it isn’t “busted”. 

[ebinmaine 71,713]

15 minutes ago, Sparky said:

Real nice modification! Probably should crawl under my dedicated snow plow tractor to make sure it isn’t “busted”. 

Definitely a good idea.

Really not a bad fix to do and the bracing is certainly worth the investment of time to save a breakage later.