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ebinmaine

'74 C160 Tecumseh engine tractor. Let's put it to use!

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ebinmaine

@kpinnc

 

I had an order for McMaster Carr to place. 

Found them there.  

Thanks for the size reference.  

I also ordered a couple different thicknesses of washers.  

 

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ebinmaine

Today I separated out all the new parts and continued clean up.  

20250706_143850.jpg.e0668e73f6ea2f75bd50a36ad3097a18.jpg

 

 

 

Replaced all 3 axle grease fittings. 

Mounted the axle. Installed new nyloc nuts on the frame to attach-o-matic mount bolts 🔩.

 

20250706_144111.jpg.8fbcf5897e7661ae0ef6d71c063eb93f.jpg

 

20250706_144142.jpg.22271af3e3399bfd2926d2995919b911.jpg

 

 

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ebinmaine

As explained in this video the hub was going to be out a hair to far. 

I needed to cut the spacer that the seal is going to ride on.

 

 

I used what I had to get the job done. 

Not exactly neat and clean...

but effective. 

 

20250706_151546.jpg.e06954e46cca3e8b2fa0c33c26d89c76.jpg

 

 

After mounting the wheel on the hub on the axle I found I needed a wheel spacer.  

That's not at all surprising considering these wheels are universal camper or go-kart with a centered backspacing.

20250706_160055.jpg.afb34600aa9e7bc159784b8cde25e817.jpg

 

20250706_161527.jpg.2a038885e755f0789ec63bfe0198c84f.jpg

 

 

 

Here's a trial fit with the wheel on the spacer on the hub. 

20250706_161509.jpg.e6e76782065a260fb691df38b2a46ca0.jpg

 

 

That photo angle is a little misleading on the width. I can't get it too accurate yet but I think the front is going to be around 42", 43" across. The back is about 41".

 

 

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Handy Don
19 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

I think the front is going to be around 42", 43" across

With the stock wheels/tires, the track for the swept axle is 42"

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ebinmaine
8 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

With the stock wheels/tires, the track for the swept axle is 42"

 

I thought it was around that range somewhere. This definitely looks like it's going to be wider than that by a fair margin.

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Handy Don
58 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

I thought it was around that range somewhere. This definitely looks like it's going to be wider than that by a fair margin.

I just happen to have a swept axle with stock tires sitting in my storage area....;)

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ebinmaine
7 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

I just happen to have a swept axle with stock tires sitting in my storage area....;)

 

Imagine that....

 

:)

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ebinmaine

I've had a hankerin'  to see the set of wiiide front tires on this beast but they just didn't quite do it for me.  

 

Well I have a set of 5  x 4.5 narrow wheels with tri ribs. 

Those look good! 

 

This evening I got the test fitted hubs and wheel spacers back off. 

Removed the dry fitted LH spindle. 

 

Got some grease in both spindles and installed them.  

 

I also used a tool I don't recall getting but it's super handy. A Bearing Packer.  

 

 

Also, I did some poking around here on the site because I should get new tie rods. 

I found an old post showing that I'll need to build some heim joint rods. 

The stock C160-8 steering plate won't clear the 520H tie rods. 

I'll check the threads another day and order from McMaster Carr.  

May have been @JAinVA that had that info years ago...

 

 

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ebinmaine

Mission this morning is to get the adapter bushings held in place with a little J. B. Weld. 

 

20250719_072006.jpg.9620381d704da095ae79308041246b5e.jpg

 

 

 

Here's the 2,000 pound rated trailer hubs all set out and ready for installation. 

 

20250719_071951.jpg.51f77b7a6c1316039bca199aa6f4640c.jpg

 

 

 

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ebinmaine

Bushings are in place. 

20250719_090310.jpg.351d57e8aa8196328701d3418a1dfd43.jpg

 

Here's a wheel installed. 

 

20250719_111056.jpg.d5c3fe42c3ad1714875caa5b8f8d81c8.jpg

 

20250719_090321.jpg.a96bd3e0d020bbb8ce97eb9924ebcb19.jpg

 

 

Next project is to build tie rods. 

20250719_090801.jpg.6f13cffe7f8282a625b7ab346af2d12b.jpg

 

 

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ebinmaine

Tie rods done. 

7/16 male/female brass colored from McMaster Carr. 

Center rod is threaded rod medium strength (much better than local hardware stores) 

20250719_121710.jpg.b47f604a47104f8cc6464924c1ec26de.jpg

 

 

Steering wheel held as close to center as my eyecrometer could get. 

20250719_142902.jpg.e70fb20b28c5831691713cf8098455ed.jpg

 

 

Tie rod installation complete. Awaiting proper lineup.  

20250719_142913.jpg.b9d1c60aaaa123813a5dc1678d5ea59a.jpg

 

 

I used a piece of 6' long threaded rod for an "almost straight edge".

I then adjusted each side individually. 

 

I've come out about 3/4" total toe/tow in across the tires.  

 

20250719_151535.jpg.b0b4a5555fd1c48c9003cab7c20d38f4.jpg

 

 

20250719_151612.jpg.892549aa44f47039d195e8a25c0ed54e.jpg

 

 

 

Next is to get a @76c12091520h 2" receiver hitch installed.  

 

 

20250719_143346.jpg

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AlexR

That looks awesome good work!!! 

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ebinmaine

Well after an inaugural run yesterday to get some logs outta the forest I've found there are some changes to be made. 

 

On the plus side I really like the stability of the wider & longer wheelbase and ease of steering the tri rib tires. 

 

 

Belt. I've known for awhile there may be an issue with the drive belt. It "slaps." 

Yesterday I tried hauling a heavy load uphill and the belt slips too. There's a bent/kinked spot in the belt from shelf setting over time.  

I may swap another heavy duty spring on and see if it's better before swapping for another belt.  

 

Axle stops. The top of the axle has cast in stop bumps to prevent the axle from twisting too far. These are a LOT bigger than on a standard straight axle. Going through the forest there were several times that one of the front wheels was off the ground. 😬

 

 

Engine..... well.....   several things.  

A. It lacks RPM. Likely fixable. 

B. Carb adjustment is VERY tricky. 

C. Most important... there's a near constant ticking noise. Valve adjustment has been verified correct. Is it a normal noise?? I dunno.  I don't think so. At whatever upper RPM I can get it's very concerning. And I'm nowhere near full 3600 yet.  

Is it a good reason to swap in a Briggs Vanguard 20 HP V twin?  Yes.  

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_20250726_123347.jpg

IMG_20250726_123342.jpg

20250726_111057.jpg

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kpinnc
1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

Is it a good reason to swap in a Briggs Vanguard 20 HP V twin?  Yes.  

 

:banana-rock: :banana-dance:

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Bill D

Swap in a K341.

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