Carson's C-121

These pics are from Monday, day before yesterday.  The dash holder I have is not perfect but a lot nicer than the original, it won't show things as glaring as the original and has no huge pits in it.  This part is rare even for me, I only have 3 of them including this one.  This one is the best one I have.  It can still be blasted a little more and smoothed out even further with my DA sander.  

Things are starting to go together to check fit and function.  The only 3 parts replaced in the last two pics are the frame, lower steering shaft, and front bearing that holds the front of the lower steering shaft.  I don't count bushings, nuts, bolts, clips, and things like that, they always get replaced.  The rest of the parts are all from the original grandpa tractor.  

All of the lift setup was blasted and smoothed up and was ok to use so I decided to save the original center rod for the lift as well.  It's pretty rough but only where it can not be seen.  It was straightened out and the the damage at the bottom was welded up and brought back to 1/2" round like new and will be even stronger now, weld is much stronger than hot rolled steel.  Now the entire lift setup is from the original tractor.  The rough stuff won't be seen (those parts are under panels) and what will be seen will look fine when painted.  

 

Had some morning stuff to do then peeps were in all afternoon today buying parts and last one just left so didn't get much done today.  I am behind on pics so there's still an update today.  

The front end was finished so it was put on and the tach-a-matic was all blasted and put on.  The front pin worked out perfect and groove for the clip is right where it should be, and the rest of the front parts look good minus the main hood rod.  I will do a little more smoothing up on the main front bracket before it's painted though.  I'll start on the rest of the front steering next week.

The rear brake drum looked pretty rough so it got put on the lathe and redone and came out good.  There's a lot of pits on the inside but you won't see them after it's painted where it's down low and in a dark spot being covered by the brake band.  It will also be satin black which will help even more.   

 

I still can't believe the like new condition of this trans, factory paint still on the shifter even on the inside.  A lot of time spent on clean up and mostly done minus a few spots here and there but I want to get moving on to the fitment of everything.  I can do a final cleaning and inspection when I take everything back apart to actually paint it all.   

 

Been a lot of phone calls and someone else in today but I started on a new project yesterday.  I figured since Carson's tractor was on the bench mostly apart it would be easy to do this project I've been wanting to do for years so now was the best time.  Plus Carson needs them for his and it was the next step in doing the chassis anyway.  I'll start a post on these in the WHS new products section in the Wheel Horse section later.  

And they are,,, tie rod ends and assemblies.  It reminded me of building the WHS Tricycle kit on Bethie Ponds tractor while doing all the geometry work for what I liked the best, being the 2nd one with the adjustable heim joints on each end.  They are bearing steel, can be lubed, won't hold water, and will last a long long time.  I'll go more into detail in the product post later and will put a link in here as well.  Below are just a few shots of the 1st and 2nd design.  The 2nd design with the heim joints took a lot longer getting all the clearances right when turning or when the front axle tilted, or both at the same time.   

Don't think I forgot about you Carson, just making something new, one of a kind (for now but you'll be the first), and cool for you lol...  

 

Too many phone calls to deal with again today but I managed to get the other prototype tie rod made and enough stuff cut to make 3 more sets plus a piece for a pattern.  Once a final design is figured out it makes no sense to not take a few minutes to make more when the metal is out and the cutting stops are all set up.  I'll do the others later as time allows.  So far there's plenty of clearance but it's hard to keep everything together to check.  Tomorrow the center pieces will get chamfered, welded and smoothed out to see what the final pieces will be when done.  After that I can bolt everything up tight and do a better check but I don't see a problem.  

The prototypes are made from hot rolled steel but if you look closely the final design the pipe I made the spacers from and the 5/8" rod are all clean and smooth, no slag.  I decided to make everything for these from cold rolled steel to have a super nice finish like the heim joints, and will make a super nice and crazy strong part when done.  First class and nothing else out there will even come close for sure.  

 

Geno wrote:

Too many phone calls to deal with again today but I managed to get the other prototype tie rod made and enough stuff cut to make 3 more sets plus a piece for a pattern.  Once a final design is figured out it makes no sense to not take a few minutes to make more when the metal is out and the cutting stops are all set up.  I'll do the others later as time allows.  So far there's plenty of clearance but it's hard to keep everything together to check.  Tomorrow the center pieces will get chamfered, welded and smoothed out to see what the final pieces will be when done.  After that I can bolt everything up tight and do a better check but I don't see a problem.  

The prototypes are made from hot rolled steel but if you look closely the final design the pipe I made the spacers from and the 5/8" rod are all clean and smooth, no slag.  I decided to make everything for these from cold rolled steel to have a super nice finish like the heim joints, and will make a super nice and crazy strong part when done.  First class and nothing else out there will even come close for sure.  

Very Very Nice........

 

Thanks Nappy.  

Finished these up today,  I'm pretty happy with them.  

 

The ceiling work in the waiting area is done till my friend Kevin comes up Sat to help me finish the black panel cutting around the lights and outside edge so now I can play tractors a little again.  

The rear wheels are blasted and the dash cover took a lot of scrubbing but I think it will still look new when dyed and lettered.  My plastic cleaner is pretty strong and it got most of the primer overspray off of it, enough where there's not a sharp edge.  I have stronger cleaners but they tend to melt plastic.  

Only thing left before it comes back apart to get the rolling chassis done, painted, and ready to put back together are the front wheels I think.