"Fred", the 129 Reserection

[kopeck]

I've started a few threads with questions, I thought instead of yet another one I would create a catch all and show you fellows what I'm up to.

Anyway, 1973 129 with a 38" deck. It was my Grandfather's tractor hence it's name. This isn't going to be a restoration as the 129 is going to end up going to my sister and she needs something that work sooner rather then later. Maybe someday I'll shoot some paint, until then it's in it's working clothes.



Maybe not a real "looker" but more or less solid.

The "big problem" with it is it blew a head gasket and took the head with it. Nice big groove in the head so now it's aluminum scrap. A forum member here set me up with a good looking used one and new tin to go on top as that was trashed as well (heat?)

So then it was tearing things down:



Engine is out and ready to be dismantled:



Time to measure things up:



All in all it was in better shape then I had thought. The bore was still in spec but just barely as was the crank pin. I suspect if I bolted a new head on it would have ran. That's not the goal here though, I want to make something that's going to give my sister good service so off the machine shop it went.

In the mean time I found this:



One corner is almost though. Little bit of wear? Also the left hand axle carrier's gasket was leaking so that lead to this:



and then:



So we could get here:



and here:



And that's where the pictures run out for the moment. I've got to go take some new ones I have done some work today.

[kopeck]

So...

That leads me to my question of the day!

I got the trunnion welded up and it filed nice and square.

I put it all back together but the damper plate has more slop in it then it seems it should.

The back side of the damper plate looks like it might have had some sort of washer in it (it's recessed) but there's none there now.

The parts look up doesn't like anything, is there suppose to be something in there?

Thanks,

K

[jimbob200521]

Are you talking side to side slop in the plates? If so, this is a good solution; find a washer thin/thick enough to take up the slack and install it like I did below:

[Alvy]

Great job. Where and what brand of bore micrometer is that? I'm looking to get one. Your sister will have quite the tractor when you're done. Sweet

[cc_bob]

Looks like a decent tractor to start with. Nice square body in the back ground too

[drglinski]

Looks like fun!

[kopeck]

Originally Posted by jimbob200521

Are you talking side to side slop in the plates? If so, this is a good solution; find a washer thin/thick enough to take up the slack and install it like I did below:

I'm talking about the damper plate, the one that slides over the trunnion.

As you can see in the picture above the damper plate doesn't really site int he center of the spring. I bent the trunnion a smidge to get it to sit more senter but there's still some slop.

I could put a washer, or if I can find one a machinist washer on the out side to remove some slop. The back side of the plate is recessed, I was thinking there might have been a nylon spacer in there or something. Now I'm think it's just the way they are.

K

[kopeck]

Originally Posted by Alvy

Great job. Where and what brand of bore micrometer is that? I'm looking to get one. Your sister will have quite the tractor when you're done. Sweet

It's an inexpensive Shars. It's a little funky to setup, it uses different sized rods and spacers. Pretty much you make it a hair over what the bore is, measure it with a mic to get your starting point, measure the bore then do the math.

I've used the type to you can adjust to any size in the past, those are really nice but a lot more money. I had the machine shop verify my measurements and were were the same so I'm happy with it.

K

[kopeck]

Originally Posted by cc_bob

Looks like a decent tractor to start with. Nice square body in the back ground too

Thanks,

1979 Custom Deluxe C10 - BIG 10.

Nothing fancy but each year it get older the cooler it gets! :-)

K

[kopeck]

Today's work.

Good as new:



New axle carrier gasket & axle seal + new cork hydro gasket:



Just a new axle seal on this side:



Just need to scrape the old gasket of the back, install a new one and it's ready to go back in.