"Weird" website is due to Ultra old software. They are in the process of updating but it cost money and takes time. As far as the machine is concerned…….hopefully there is someone on here that can help you ……. I have zero knowledge on this one.
I had some time to play with the toy today. Since it needs a paint job eventually, I think it would be fun to paint "Tonka" on it instead of "Mitey Mac".
Turns out it works really well !!! I tested the lifting with some large tree trunks I have in the yard and it picked them up quickly with no effort. The biggest probably only weighed 400lbs.
I started getting used to the controls a little. "Stick time" obviously makes such a huge difference.
I can tell already that I will need some forks often and I can build that. I did the same for a neighbor's loader earlier this year in fact. So I took some paper and a tape measure out to make a dimensioned cartoon of the mount. Looks like it will be pretty easy to fabricate. Craiglist often has pairs of loose forks for sale here so I can pick some up and then make the mounting plate to suit them. I'm kind of torn between hacking into this machine so it has a standard quick attach, but I already have two buckets to fit it and it's a pretty simple and fairly quick system already. Any thoughts on this are welcome.
And I'm already of dreaming about adding some auxiliary hydraulics someday, so if anybody can steer me the right direction for hacking this machine to have that, I would really appreciate it. I know Geihl made a kit for the 2500 (same machine) but I would guess those a pretty rare find these days. I may be able to add a belt and have a completely separate system for that I guess. Otherwise, does anybody know if the valves on this thing are something I could add another, or can you just tap into the hydraulic system somehow ???
So I can see that
if this machine turns out to be in good shape after I do a bunch of preventive maintenance (replacing hoses, inspecting the engine, going through the pumps, motors and valves and restoring to new specs) and in general making sure everything on it is in very good working order, I will probably make a hobby out of building a few attachments and hacking it to make it better and better over time. I am a machinist by trade so doing this kind of stuff is within my skill set. But of course I'm getting ahead of myself.
First order of business is to replace the hoses. All of them but one just look bad. They are cracked and worn through the rubber. Not sure what that will set me back, but I can do a pair or so at a time I guess until I get them all done. I would like to make sure the pump and motors are in very good shape. I'm not afraid of taking them all apart to inspect and re-work if necessary. Depends on whether it's esoteric enough that I ought to farm that out to a hydraulic shop instead. At least once all that is done, I should be able to count on being able to use the machine without it breaking and being stuck just when and where I don't want that to happen. I know that at least one of the motors is leaking fluid, so minimum I'm looking at is replacing a seal or two.
Oh well. I've reached the rambling point now. Any advice is appreciated. Maybe first you could tell me if this is better discussed in a different sub-forum or not. Thanks.
