Resurrecting a Melroe Bobcat M444

[Farmall450]

Figured I'd start a thread for all the little projects I've done thus far. Still isn't running, just took the distributor off to put new points in/a condenser on. The engine has been swapped to a Wisconsin THD. Just today I plasma cut the 2 footplates for it; got them primed a few minutes ago.

Here's the original thread: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5746572#post5746572

 

[Farmall450]

The footplates (1/8" Steel). I had to add that piece of angle for them to rest on as the original lip got pretty beat up previously. I welded 2 short pieces on the inside so the longer piece rests on them and can be removed (to change hyd. oil filter, etc). (the floor plates were rotted plywood when I got it).

 

[Farmall450]

I also made a battery tray, hooked up a new ground, and got a new battery.
Prior to this I changed hydraulic and engine fluid, hyd. filter, etc. Sandblasted the head after my dad broke it free, fixed a stuck valve, and he added a helicoil. All bolted down w/ grade 8 and a new headgasket now.

TIG'd the one breather and painted them both after a good wire wheeling. Working through the electrical system now that I found a working starter, wish me luck.

 

[Farmall450]

Welded up a pulley and put new points and condenser in the distributor. Maybe she'll go today!

 

[bimmer1980]

Sounds like you are making progress.

Just a heads up.....(pun intended...) we had some issues with the Wisconsin engine blowing head gaskets here and there... They have a tendency to blow out between the two cylinders. We would always try to have a spare just in case.... I personally thought the head bolt torque spec was really low.....

Regardless, I hope it goes well for you. They are a handy little machine.

 

[madoc1]

neat project! will following for sure. good luck. found a starter yet?

jim

 

[homebuilt burner]

One note on the cylinder head gasket topic. If it does blow out the gasket do not put off fixing it as it does not take very long for the exhaust to erode the head and block surface.

 

[TheEquineFencer]

Welded up a pulley and put new points and condenser in the distributor. Maybe she'll go today!

I'd switch it to an HEI. If you google "using a points distributor to trigger a HEI module" you'll see it pretty easy.

http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/points-to-electronic-ignition-cheap-easy.417099/

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/gm-hei-module-for-points.735759/

http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46672&sid=ee54343e9dd66f27ba6b39aaa6d3c2aa

http://www.junkyardgenius.com/jeep/cj503.html

 

[Farmall450]

One note on the cylinder head gasket topic. If it does blow out the gasket do not put off fixing it as it does not take very long for the exhaust to erode the head and block surface.

Duly noted.

Sounds like you are making progress.

Just a heads up.....(pun intended...) we had some issues with the Wisconsin engine blowing head gaskets here and there... They have a tendency to blow out between the two cylinders. We would always try to have a spare just in case.... I personally thought the head bolt torque spec was really low.....

Regardless, I hope it goes well for you. They are a handy little machine.

I'll keep this in mind. Since I'm not making money off it I doubt I'll keep a spare around but I will be sure to keep it in mind. I've just been painting the footplates lately.

Thanks!

 

[Farmall450]

I'd switch it to an HEI. If you google "using a points distributor to trigger a HEI module" you'll see it pretty easy.

http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/points-to-electronic-ignition-cheap-easy.417099/

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/gm-hei-module-for-points.735759/

http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46672&sid=ee54343e9dd66f27ba6b39aaa6d3c2aa

http://www.junkyardgenius.com/jeep/cj503.html

I saw this, but they should last as is. These are the actual points for the engine not the integral distributor ones if that makes sense.

 

[Farmall450]

neat project! will following for sure. good luck. found a starter yet?

jim

Yes sir I did, cranks like a champ when I jumper it

Tomorrow I'm gonna get it timed again and see if she'll go. Will probably need a carb kit too

 

[madoc1]

great on the starter. you might check amazon for carbs, they have some new owns cheaper that a gallon of berryman's carb cleaner. good luck.

jim

 

[Farmall450]

great on the starter. you might check amazon for carbs, they have some new owns cheaper that a gallon of berryman's carb cleaner. good luck.

jim

Not a bad idea, I got one on ebay for a snowblower that was less that a rebuild kit.

 

[Farmall450]

Got the carb cleaned and back together after getting it to run off ether yesterday. Also made some progress on the seat, just waiting for white paint now. All welded and primed.

 

[RickP]

Wow, I can't believe you were able to bring that machine back from the dead! Your progress looks good so far - hope it runs for you.

 

[Farmall450]

Got her to run good now, drove it around a bit but I still need to hook up the governor and throttle. The choke might be handy in a few months.

We sprung a few hydraulic leaks so it looks like some lines and cylinder rebuilds are in the future.

 

[Farmall450]

Tilt has a hydraulic leak somewhere but the lift is doing good (besides the actual leak lol).

24 hours later.

 

[Farmall450]

As luck would have it the Melroe Bobcat and I have parted ways. I realized the prior 'modifications' made it too far gone for a proper restoration, and with a diesel Case around it wouldn't see any use. When I sold it the unit ran great, was free of hydraulic leaks and fully functional. Kind of sad to see it go but glad that I saved it from the scrapyard (and I already have a line on a slightly bigger, much less hacked brother to it (M500)).