Carson's C-121

Here is the 2nd post for today, the rear hitch work.  It was grandpas hitch on the tractor when it got here.  It will look good when done.

The first pic with the new pulleys I took Monday so I wouldn't forget to get some kind of before pic.  The pulleys had just come in because I had only 2 left in stock.  It's also the idler pulley that goes on your main drive belt Carson. 

I did the rear hitch yesterday.  It was cleaned up in all the spots where it needed to be welded then welded back together.  The center bar had been replaced before but only welded on one side, big no no.  When you do that you can just fold it in and break a weld that small by hand.  It also never got any real penetration as you can see in the cross bar pic.   Everything was cleaned up, squared up, and welded on all sides, it wont break again...

After that all the parts were blasted and it's all ready for paint.  

Today was getting dash and side panels that would work, will get those pics up tomorrow.

 

Spent a lot of time saving the original panel that holds the ammeter and ID tag.  I didn't have much choice, it's another piece that was only on 78-79 C series and I didn't have one any better.  Most of it done with the DA and a lot of sanding.  The 2nd pic shows just how fine the metal is the DA takes off, it's like metal dust, lots of work, time, and sand paper to take that much off...

The bottom shift plate faces up and it would take all day to save it so it was replaced, 3rd pic.  The replacement is shorter but still goes under the rear fender, just not as much.  The longer panel went way under the rear fender.  It's one of the things they changed after 79 to make it easier to get out.  I went over it with the DA also so it wouldn't show the really smooth places where the decals were because the decal kit is different for the 79.  

Spent a lot of time yesterday and today looking for really nice side panels and found some super nice ones.  Will get them ready and post more on that tomorrow. 

 

2 posts today, this is #1.  1st pic is just a bunch more hours spent fixing and getting the next pile of parts ready to paint.  

Spent all day yesterday pulling side covers from all over and blasting them to find some really nice ones.  The 7th belt guard and 5th lift arm cover was the charm.     

This tractor is supposed to be of show quality as possible without getting too crazy so I also needed a belt guard that looked good looking at it from the inside at least where it shows when looking between the motor and battery.  

This is the 2nd post.

Today was front wheel day all day long and didn't get anywhere.  I had one nice one in the shop I blasted, but couldn't find another like it that was easy to get to get to match.  Most peeps don't know there are over 10 different types of front deep dish wheels.  If they're getting replaced and a nice wheel costs what it costs no matter the variation they should both match.  The one blasted in the pic is the same as original minus the extra inset from the outside and bump on the inside to make a better seal on the tire, make them stronger, and they have a wider cone in the center. 

 There are differences in how deep the dish is, how much the center protrudes (a few variations), bumps or no bumps, angle of the wheel near the center (a few variations), how far the center bearing pipe sticks out per side (a few variations), the curl on the outside of the rim (3 variations).  I started pulling tractors in with the forklift with really nice looking rims on the outside but never found anything decent on the inside.  Most of them had fix-a-flat in them at some time that will eat up a rim faster than anything.  So I didn't get anywhere today and don't have days on end to do this anymore.  I knew it would be tough is why I didn't do it in the beginning when I did the rear wheels.  If the insides aren't a concern I have a lot of options.

If the insides are a concern I have some HD NOS tire and wheel assemblies in the back.  I got one set out that matched, removed the tires and the wheels are in the last pics.  They are dirty and dusty and a few marks were made getting the tires off, and the inside black is just really thin rubber debris from where the tire was on it but they are new.  They are expensive but I'm not sure what else to do at this point.  I'm open to whatever you would like to do but rims don't exist hardly anywhere at all (other than here) let alone something really nice.  They are actually a HD rim with a thicker metal, thicker bearing pipe, and strong curl on the outside you can see in the last 3 pics.  They were an option if someone put a 2 stage snow blower, front end loader, or something heavy that required a heavier front wheel.

There's a pic of some of the decals below.  One of them is the ID tag decal that goes over the original ID plate.

Started blasting the front wheels and the next weakest link took the blaster down again.  It quit putting out media and I found the problem, this piece seals the pressure pot so it will blast.  If I could find a 4" urethane ball I could cut it in half and make one...  Last year the metal stem came out so I made a new one.  I wish I could find a ball to cut in half and get it going again for now.  Get one thing working back like when it was new and the next weakest link shows up sometimes...  

Last pic is where I replaced the metal rod in it last year.

 

I sent pics to Blast-it-All to let them look at what happened and they said the parts in it were from who knows where.  The pop up should be a blue urethane.  I just ordered a new pop up and upper seal from them directly a few minutes ago.  They also said the elbow inside was slightly to the left like seen in the pic and it should be straight up so I'll straighten it out this weekend.

I told the tech guy I had it dialed up and working it harder than it should to save some parts on a job (your tractor Carson lol) so I need to put it back to somewhat normal settings...     I told him I ran aluminum shot in it and he said it won't do that like I'm usually told by them.  After he saw the pics and modifications I made to pull the heavier aluminum to the pot he did compliment me and said I seemed to have a good grasp on airflow and what I did was smart and done right.  I told him I worked briefly in one of the only 2 independent wind tunnels in the US right here in town that did aerodynamics on vehicles about 40 years ago so I had a good concept of airflow.  

They said they had the parts in stock and should ship today.  They are in NC so I think they will be here beginning of next week.