madison069
Well-known member
If it’s any comfort , my welds are crappy and I’ve posted pictures of them. Figured they would be good progress photos. We got to start somewhere!
Eastern PA shop addition
- Thread starter tweidman
- Start date
I have been welding for years, although not that often, and usually my welds are okay, but not on this occasion. It may be that I was using argon as I was out of mixed, or just the relatively thin metal I was working with. I might be able to come up with a few more excuses if you give me a little while.
In any case, I ground them down, they hold, don't leak and are largely hidden... good enough.
madison069
Well-known member
I took welding shop in high school. Unfortunately it’s been too long ago since I’ve took that class. I remember a lot but I’m having to learn on the new machine and welding different metal compare to the 1/4” we were welding back then.
Over the last couple of weekends, I have been messing with putting the last few parts on this tractor. The one task I have been skipping, was the choke and throttle cable hook up. I thought this would be a few minute tasks and no big deal. Boy, was I wrong, the throttle was a little finicky to get in a position where it ran smoothly, but finding a way to anchor the housing was a total pain. If the original cable was still available, it probably would have been fine, but it is not. Then came the choke cable, this took hours. You are probably wondering how I could possibly kill hours on a choke cable. Well, since this engine was not built specifically for this application, the choke pulls from the front. When you try to make the choke cable do a "U" turn, it basically won't move. So, I needed to engineer a way to pull the choke closed from the opposite direction. I ended up creating a bracket and lever to reverse the direction of the pull. When it was all done, it worked fine, but what a long road to get there.
When I went to install the lower dash panel, I realized that I never drilled the mounting holes. It's always a great feeling when you have to start drilling your finished parts. I only drilled two of the four holes, the plastic part may have needed 4 bolts to secure it, but my fabricated steel part was plenty secure with two.
In the end, I was able to get the side panels installed, the floorboards, the lower and upper dash.
I started it and ran it, everything worked well. I put a board across the support for the rear fenders so that I could sit on it, and I took it for my first test drive, while actually on the machine. My other tests were walking next to it. However, my test drive also revealed that the spool valve assembly is still leaking. This leaves me no choice but to remove it and see if I can get it sealed up so that I can put the final parts on this tractor.
Once I stop the leak, the only other major hurtle is the hood. The hood I had powder coated turned out to be a mess. The other hood I have, I body worked, and it will need paint. I am hesitant to try and paint it myself.
In other news, my wife and I decided to retire our current tandem and get a custom tandem built that is designed for gravel. We were told it would take 2 to 4 months for the build and shipping. I contacted the builder at 6 weeks to ask them a question about the components and he told me the tandem is already painted and in assembly. It looks like our current ride will be on the market soon.
This pic was from last Fall, on a trip where we road three full days of gravel, covering 130 miles in the PA Grand Canyon, near Wellsboro.
When I went to install the lower dash panel, I realized that I never drilled the mounting holes. It's always a great feeling when you have to start drilling your finished parts. I only drilled two of the four holes, the plastic part may have needed 4 bolts to secure it, but my fabricated steel part was plenty secure with two.
In the end, I was able to get the side panels installed, the floorboards, the lower and upper dash.
I started it and ran it, everything worked well. I put a board across the support for the rear fenders so that I could sit on it, and I took it for my first test drive, while actually on the machine. My other tests were walking next to it. However, my test drive also revealed that the spool valve assembly is still leaking. This leaves me no choice but to remove it and see if I can get it sealed up so that I can put the final parts on this tractor.
Once I stop the leak, the only other major hurtle is the hood. The hood I had powder coated turned out to be a mess. The other hood I have, I body worked, and it will need paint. I am hesitant to try and paint it myself.
In other news, my wife and I decided to retire our current tandem and get a custom tandem built that is designed for gravel. We were told it would take 2 to 4 months for the build and shipping. I contacted the builder at 6 weeks to ask them a question about the components and he told me the tandem is already painted and in assembly. It looks like our current ride will be on the market soon.
This pic was from last Fall, on a trip where we road three full days of gravel, covering 130 miles in the PA Grand Canyon, near Wellsboro.
The weather warmed up enough that I could paint. So, I painted the exhaust and ordered some new clamps and installed them.
I also worked on my leaky spool sections. Removed the spools from the machine, I bought some o-rings and then tried to fix it. My o-ring purchases were a total fail. I bought them all slightly too large. I took the little plastic washers out from between the sections to see if that would seal things up. Still leaks. Took it back off and replaced the one o-ring that seemed to be leaking the most, and that appeared to fix it. So, I installed the fenders, hooked up the taillights, cleaned up the seat adjuster and installed the seat mount and adjustment slides.
I also painted the plastic cover for the right fender. It's just setting there in the pic, I still need to bolt it down.
Then I went in to eat dinner. The next morning, I went out and found more hydraulic fluid on the ground. Uggg.
I'm not sure why it would run for 15 minutes and not leak, then sit in the shop for a few hours after that and not leak, then overnight... leak.
WTH. I will have to run it again and see what happens. Maybe I spilled the fluid when I removed the spools and didn't notice? IDK?
We will see. I really don't want to take it all back apart again.
I also worked on my leaky spool sections. Removed the spools from the machine, I bought some o-rings and then tried to fix it. My o-ring purchases were a total fail. I bought them all slightly too large. I took the little plastic washers out from between the sections to see if that would seal things up. Still leaks. Took it back off and replaced the one o-ring that seemed to be leaking the most, and that appeared to fix it. So, I installed the fenders, hooked up the taillights, cleaned up the seat adjuster and installed the seat mount and adjustment slides.
I also painted the plastic cover for the right fender. It's just setting there in the pic, I still need to bolt it down.
Then I went in to eat dinner. The next morning, I went out and found more hydraulic fluid on the ground. Uggg.
I'm not sure why it would run for 15 minutes and not leak, then sit in the shop for a few hours after that and not leak, then overnight... leak.
WTH. I will have to run it again and see what happens. Maybe I spilled the fluid when I removed the spools and didn't notice? IDK?
We will see. I really don't want to take it all back apart again.
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This past weekend I got the tractor out and gave it a proper drive, went up some steep grades and got it fully up to temperature. It ran great with no leaks. I let it sit overnight and I only found a slight bit of wetness below the valves, but not a single drop of fluid. Go figure.
I will call that a win. With that out of the way, I installed the freshly painted fender cover and then installed the levers and knobs.
I cleaned up the knobs, but they still look fairly dull, I might try painting them to spruce them up?
One of the only things left to finish this thing up was the grille and hood. The hood I had powder coated is a complete disaster. I had no idea the old paint was hiding so many dents and the crazy rust pitting. Painted it looked great other than faded and scratched paint.
Just to see how things would look, and fit up, I assembled the grille, installed the headlights, then attached it to the hood assembly.
My other hood still needs to be painted, so I will keep this one on there in the meantime.
Only a few items left:
I need to either fix or replace the seat and install it.
Install grip tape on the steps.
Wire the headlights.
Install the rest of the decals, after I paint the other hood.
There might be a few other small details, but that should complete the project. Then on to the next restoration. I have many waiting in the wings.
After that I spent some time getting my MTB up and running again. It has been so long since I have ridden it, I even had to bleed the brakes.
Then I took it out for a ride. It was good to be back out on the trails. I had to take a pic at the "gnome home", as labelled on the trail map.
I will call that a win. With that out of the way, I installed the freshly painted fender cover and then installed the levers and knobs.
I cleaned up the knobs, but they still look fairly dull, I might try painting them to spruce them up?
One of the only things left to finish this thing up was the grille and hood. The hood I had powder coated is a complete disaster. I had no idea the old paint was hiding so many dents and the crazy rust pitting. Painted it looked great other than faded and scratched paint.
Just to see how things would look, and fit up, I assembled the grille, installed the headlights, then attached it to the hood assembly.
My other hood still needs to be painted, so I will keep this one on there in the meantime.
Only a few items left:
I need to either fix or replace the seat and install it.
Install grip tape on the steps.
Wire the headlights.
Install the rest of the decals, after I paint the other hood.
There might be a few other small details, but that should complete the project. Then on to the next restoration. I have many waiting in the wings.
After that I spent some time getting my MTB up and running again. It has been so long since I have ridden it, I even had to bleed the brakes.
Then I took it out for a ride. It was good to be back out on the trails. I had to take a pic at the "gnome home", as labelled on the trail map.
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I'm sitting here shaking my head at the leak/no leak issue. 
Glad that's behind you. That tractor seems like it was a lot of work. Are you planning on selling it?
Glad that's behind you. That tractor seems like it was a lot of work. Are you planning on selling it?
With the leak... I have stopped questioning it.I'm sitting here shaking my head at the leak/no leak issue.
Glad that's behind you. That tractor seems like it was a lot of work. Are you planning on selling it?
It was so much more work than you know. The money I have invested is also ridiculous. I could never sell this machine.
I want to modify a two stage snow blower to fit up to it and then make it do some work.
No progress on the Massey rebuild. I did pull out the seat I thought that I would fix and install. After looking at it more carefully, I don't think it will match the quality of the rest of the build, so I think I will just buy new.
On other news, I have been looking at buying a rigid single speed mountain bike, as I sold my last one and have always regretted that sale.
Since I have been riding mainly gravel and road the last 8 years since I moved to PA, I did not realize that single speeds seemed to have really lost their appeal and the market has responded (by not producing them).
This left me a few options, have a custom builder build one for me. This is not in my budget right now, as you may remember I just ordered a custom gravel tandem, which has destroyed my bike budget for the year.
The other option was to look for one of the last mass-produced SS bikes. I discovered Trek made a SS with most of the more modern tech, like thru axles and tapered headtubes. The last year of production was 2016. I found one on Marketplace and grabbed it. The frame was scuffed up, had a few chips and had something splattered on the paint that would wipe off. I completely disassembled the bike and spent some time buffing and polishing and ended up with this....
It had a few other problems including bent brake levers and a trashed set of headset bearings. I ordered some upgraded brakes and bearings. I also need a longer stem and I am not a fan of the handlebars; I will probably swap those out too.
On other news, I have been looking at buying a rigid single speed mountain bike, as I sold my last one and have always regretted that sale.
Since I have been riding mainly gravel and road the last 8 years since I moved to PA, I did not realize that single speeds seemed to have really lost their appeal and the market has responded (by not producing them).
This left me a few options, have a custom builder build one for me. This is not in my budget right now, as you may remember I just ordered a custom gravel tandem, which has destroyed my bike budget for the year.
The other option was to look for one of the last mass-produced SS bikes. I discovered Trek made a SS with most of the more modern tech, like thru axles and tapered headtubes. The last year of production was 2016. I found one on Marketplace and grabbed it. The frame was scuffed up, had a few chips and had something splattered on the paint that would wipe off. I completely disassembled the bike and spent some time buffing and polishing and ended up with this....
It had a few other problems including bent brake levers and a trashed set of headset bearings. I ordered some upgraded brakes and bearings. I also need a longer stem and I am not a fan of the handlebars; I will probably swap those out too.
My garage has been in full bike shop mode this past week. We picked up our new custom tandem this past weekend. I asked that they not finish the build so that I could put some custom touches on it. I really wanted to have them just give it to me in the box, but they did not want to do that for some reason. As a long time, bike industry guy, most shops are more than happy to not build another bike. Oh well.
My parts for the single speed also came it and I was excited to get that bike together. I also had to transfer some parts from the old tandem and then get the old tandem put back together and ready to put on the market. With two tandems and two mountain bikes and my gravel bike all in the shop at one time, it was a bit of a juggling act.
I was able to get the new tandem set up for its maiden voyage on Saturday. Here are a couple pics from the first ride. I left the gravel tires, that it came with, on it, and we did a bit of a mixed terrain ride.
We found a few things that needed to be changed and adjusted. The bars are too high for me, and I need to re-cut the fork steerer tube and lower the stem. It's always better to start high, going lower is not a problem, going higher after you cut the steer tube can be an issue. The front derailleur was off, I did not re-check the builder's settings. I also had a pedal issue, because I threw on some used pedals I had bought at a swap for parts and did not realize that the pedal body was worn at an angle and was making my shoe cleat wobble around and constantly click (super annoying). An easy fix, I just swap them for my pedals on the old tandem.
It will be interesting to see how it rides with the road tire I bought (700 x 35), this will be the widest road tire I have ever ridden. All the test I am reading seem to indicate that the wider tires at lower pressure will not be any slower than my narrower/higher pressure tires (700 x 28) on the old tandem. Plus, these new rims are designed to run a wider tire, as is the whole tandem.
My parts for the single speed also came it and I was excited to get that bike together. I also had to transfer some parts from the old tandem and then get the old tandem put back together and ready to put on the market. With two tandems and two mountain bikes and my gravel bike all in the shop at one time, it was a bit of a juggling act.
I was able to get the new tandem set up for its maiden voyage on Saturday. Here are a couple pics from the first ride. I left the gravel tires, that it came with, on it, and we did a bit of a mixed terrain ride.
We found a few things that needed to be changed and adjusted. The bars are too high for me, and I need to re-cut the fork steerer tube and lower the stem. It's always better to start high, going lower is not a problem, going higher after you cut the steer tube can be an issue. The front derailleur was off, I did not re-check the builder's settings. I also had a pedal issue, because I threw on some used pedals I had bought at a swap for parts and did not realize that the pedal body was worn at an angle and was making my shoe cleat wobble around and constantly click (super annoying). An easy fix, I just swap them for my pedals on the old tandem.
It will be interesting to see how it rides with the road tire I bought (700 x 35), this will be the widest road tire I have ever ridden. All the test I am reading seem to indicate that the wider tires at lower pressure will not be any slower than my narrower/higher pressure tires (700 x 28) on the old tandem. Plus, these new rims are designed to run a wider tire, as is the whole tandem.
I got a few more things done on the tractor over the last few weeks.
I mounted a seat, it's not the seat that will ultimately be on this tractor, but it works for now.
I also found the rubberized step material I was looking for and got templates made for the floorboards. Then, I cut the material to match the templates and got that put down. It came out well, not perfect but good enough.
I also drug out my MF-12 tractor project that needs some engine work. I decided to steal the wheel weights off of the 12 and install them on the 1855. I gave them a fresh coat of paint, with an IH red, which seems to be a better match to the powder coat. I color tested the IH red on the correct hood and I am not sure if it is the red I want to use on the hood? It still looks a little off to me.
Most of my free time has been spent riding our new tandem and getting ready for the eastern tandem rally this coming weekend.
One of the rainy days, I was able to clean up the old tandem and get it listed for sale. No bites, so far.
I mounted a seat, it's not the seat that will ultimately be on this tractor, but it works for now.
I also found the rubberized step material I was looking for and got templates made for the floorboards. Then, I cut the material to match the templates and got that put down. It came out well, not perfect but good enough.
I also drug out my MF-12 tractor project that needs some engine work. I decided to steal the wheel weights off of the 12 and install them on the 1855. I gave them a fresh coat of paint, with an IH red, which seems to be a better match to the powder coat. I color tested the IH red on the correct hood and I am not sure if it is the red I want to use on the hood? It still looks a little off to me.
Most of my free time has been spent riding our new tandem and getting ready for the eastern tandem rally this coming weekend.
One of the rainy days, I was able to clean up the old tandem and get it listed for sale. No bites, so far.
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The tractor looks great, good job!
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Thanks Dan, now if I can just get the "good" hood painted the decal installed, it will look even better.The tractor look great, good job!
I have been using it a little. Hauled a trailer to cut up some branches and haul them to the pile, and another day I moved my log splitter around to store it for the summer. It works great.
It's been a while since I last updated this thread. I have not made any progress on the MF 1855. The hood is still sitting in primer waiting for me to do something.
The old tandem sold to a young team new to tandems. The new tandem has been great and we have taken it many places this summer and put a bunch of miles on it. I purchased a set of dedicated gravel wheels for it and set up the carbon rolf wheels for road. Here are a few pics of the trip highlights.
Gettysburg at the Eastern tandem rally
Catskills NY
Yorktown, Jamestown and Williamsburg VA
I did find some time to get the MF-12 engine swapped over and now that tractor runs well again. I did not take any pics of the process.
I did work on the shop a little. My bicycle storage corner, where I keep the bike(s) I ride most often. I installed some PVC slat wall to get gravel wheels off of the floor and I did fabricate and adapter for my bike wall mount to fit on the slat wall (not shown). I have a large hanging rack in the other garage where I keep the rest of the two-wheel fleet.
The old tandem sold to a young team new to tandems. The new tandem has been great and we have taken it many places this summer and put a bunch of miles on it. I purchased a set of dedicated gravel wheels for it and set up the carbon rolf wheels for road. Here are a few pics of the trip highlights.
Gettysburg at the Eastern tandem rally
Catskills NY
Yorktown, Jamestown and Williamsburg VA
I did find some time to get the MF-12 engine swapped over and now that tractor runs well again. I did not take any pics of the process.
I did work on the shop a little. My bicycle storage corner, where I keep the bike(s) I ride most often. I installed some PVC slat wall to get gravel wheels off of the floor and I did fabricate and adapter for my bike wall mount to fit on the slat wall (not shown). I have a large hanging rack in the other garage where I keep the rest of the two-wheel fleet.
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Those are/were very nice machines.