Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New media
New media comments
New profile posts
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Other Brand Skidsteer Forums
GEHL Skidsteer Forum
Hydra Mac 8A (Gehl 2500) restoration... or "Oh No... What have I done?"
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Help Support SkidSteer Forum:
Message
<blockquote data-quote="vinito" data-source="post: 93690" data-attributes="member: 12954"><p>Not much of an update but I was jonesing to write <em>something</em>.</p><p>The machine is as apart as I want to get it so far, which is almost as much as I <em>can</em> get it. The only two bits unscathed are the engine (next winter's project... I hope) and the gear reduction boxes which seem to be in pretty good shape.</p><p>I ordered all the axle and idler bearings today totaling $200 which doesn't seem too bad for Timken rather than Chinese, that is, as long as Timken isn't Chinese now which isn't clear anymore. Back in the day those bearings would only have been $40 but I was bracing for $400 so I feel OK. I have all the parts for the hydrostats and they totaled similar but a little less. The valve and swash plates are OK but not perfect so I want to go ahead and lap them. Once that's done it's just a matter of making sure everythings nice and clean then lubed for assembling them back together. A complete set of sprocket blanks and chain will also cost another $200 which seems pretty good to me really. Of course if I couldn't do my own machining and welding to reuse the hubs & shafts that would be a bigger problem, but it's not, so...</p><p>I have a friend who has a pretty high pressure washer he uses to prep his big machinery to paint them and I'm hoping he doesn't mind if I use it to prep mine. That would be easier and more convenient than hauling it to the car wash to rush through. It's higher pressure than a car wash too so should do a better job of it. I've picked a color and type of paint. This machine will be stored inside most of the time and though I'm sure I'll use it often, it won't be anything near "professional" use so I'm just going to use Sunburst Yellow Rustoleum. It's not a show car so doesn't need $300 paint, and with the use it will see, even Rustoleum should look OK for at least a decade and maybe two.</p><p>I've been considering a couple upgrades but I'm not sure it would be worth it. I'd like to move the fuel filler to the side of the machine instead of straight up the middle of the cab. The fuel tank is welded into the thing though, all the way around every edge and corner, so the best way I figure I could do that is to cut a hole large enough to fit my hand through and close it back up with a cover plate & gasket I could attach stuff to, such as a rubber hose connecting the tank to the filler cap. If I did that, I could also get into the tank and clean it if necessary, which is impossible the way it is. I could also maybe find some kind of sending unit to put in it so I could put a fuel gauge on the ROPS somewhere. I think that would be very handy rather than just having it run dry in the wrong place and time every few starts. But like I said, I'm not sure that would be worth it or not, I mean it <em>works</em> now it just doesn't have any bells & whistles.</p><p>Well we'll see what I can get done in the next few days as long as the family stays relatively healthy and no other surprises pop up. There's been a whole lotta that recently.</p><p>Oh yea, I've been pretty good at taking the first hour in the shop to just pick an area to clean up and put stuff away, so I've been claiming more and more working space as I go. There'a s <em>looong</em> way to go with that but it's a TON better than it was a couple weeks ago.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="vinito, post: 93690, member: 12954"] Not much of an update but I was jonesing to write [I]something[/I]. The machine is as apart as I want to get it so far, which is almost as much as I [I]can[/I] get it. The only two bits unscathed are the engine (next winter's project... I hope) and the gear reduction boxes which seem to be in pretty good shape. I ordered all the axle and idler bearings today totaling $200 which doesn't seem too bad for Timken rather than Chinese, that is, as long as Timken isn't Chinese now which isn't clear anymore. Back in the day those bearings would only have been $40 but I was bracing for $400 so I feel OK. I have all the parts for the hydrostats and they totaled similar but a little less. The valve and swash plates are OK but not perfect so I want to go ahead and lap them. Once that's done it's just a matter of making sure everythings nice and clean then lubed for assembling them back together. A complete set of sprocket blanks and chain will also cost another $200 which seems pretty good to me really. Of course if I couldn't do my own machining and welding to reuse the hubs & shafts that would be a bigger problem, but it's not, so... I have a friend who has a pretty high pressure washer he uses to prep his big machinery to paint them and I'm hoping he doesn't mind if I use it to prep mine. That would be easier and more convenient than hauling it to the car wash to rush through. It's higher pressure than a car wash too so should do a better job of it. I've picked a color and type of paint. This machine will be stored inside most of the time and though I'm sure I'll use it often, it won't be anything near “professional“ use so I'm just going to use Sunburst Yellow Rustoleum. It's not a show car so doesn't need $300 paint, and with the use it will see, even Rustoleum should look OK for at least a decade and maybe two. I've been considering a couple upgrades but I'm not sure it would be worth it. I'd like to move the fuel filler to the side of the machine instead of straight up the middle of the cab. The fuel tank is welded into the thing though, all the way around every edge and corner, so the best way I figure I could do that is to cut a hole large enough to fit my hand through and close it back up with a cover plate & gasket I could attach stuff to, such as a rubber hose connecting the tank to the filler cap. If I did that, I could also get into the tank and clean it if necessary, which is impossible the way it is. I could also maybe find some kind of sending unit to put in it so I could put a fuel gauge on the ROPS somewhere. I think that would be very handy rather than just having it run dry in the wrong place and time every few starts. But like I said, I'm not sure that would be worth it or not, I mean it [I]works[/I] now it just doesn't have any bells & whistles. Well we'll see what I can get done in the next few days as long as the family stays relatively healthy and no other surprises pop up. There's been a whole lotta that recently. Oh yea, I've been pretty good at taking the first hour in the shop to just pick an area to clean up and put stuff away, so I've been claiming more and more working space as I go. There'a s [I]looong[/I] way to go with that but it's a TON better than it was a couple weeks ago. [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Other Brand Skidsteer Forums
GEHL Skidsteer Forum
Hydra Mac 8A (Gehl 2500) restoration... or "Oh No... What have I done?"
Top