Li'l Red 1

Another update while I'm currently out of commission on the Sasquatch build.

Finally got around to reattaching the exhaust.  Made a new screw on pipe.



Also made a little video for your viewing enjoyment.

Pipe looks good. Also I agree with you, the white rims would look cool against the red tractor.

Took one of those mufflers off the Sasquatch engine and cut it in half.  It's OD was the same ID of the pipe.  2 self tap screws and all set.

Oh I see, well that's pretty handy!

The good and the bad today.

After mowing the yard, I thought I would reward myself my hitting that mud hole out behind the yard.  Drove out there and realize, I may need gas.  I drove back and got gas as it was almost out.  Filled up and went back out, after getting blackberry thorns all in my legs, I finally made it to the spot.  Just as I was hitting the hole the engine started cutting out.  UGH!  I upshifted and gave it all it had.  almost made it out the other side and got stuck.  The mud was stuck harder in the treads than fresh dog poop.  Luckily I made it far enough to step off and pull the rest of the tractor out of the hole.  By this time I'm popping and surging pretty bad.  I made it back and put it away muddy.



Lessons learned...

I think I have water in the gas.  I realized the shed it sits in leaks pretty bad right over the engine.  I will drain the gas and try again later.

I need different front tires.  These are just too wide. and have too much drag.

Oklahoma mud is a whole different animal than what you see online.  LOL

Well got Red out tonight while I was grilling my wife a bone in Rib-eye.  It was super tasty by the way.  Anyways, I tore into the carb today to check it out.  I drained the bowl and it still surged and popped.

Upon air breather break down it still had water in the nut dimples in the breather holder.  Nice.  Cleaned that and went ahead and took the carb apart.  Checked the jets.  High speed was good and clear.  Low speed was clogged at the bottom.  It had some tarnish in it.  I figured from the nasty water.  Got it cleaned out and purrs again.

So, got the carb fixed and headed back out to the spot yesterday. It was dried up, but I was enjoying the stroll though the brush. I drove over to where the rocks/brick was at the other place. I could see the mud settled up around them, I was going over a landscape timber and I lost all motion?! Belt was still on. I put it in neutral and the rear seemed locked up? No leaks from a break, but I was not "pushing" the trans either. I jumped back on played with trying to put it in gear. I could feel the metal ball where each gear should be. I ended up settling on 2nd or 3rd and was rocking the tractor. Then it just "caught" and I was off again like nothing was wrong? I had all gears again at this point.

Not sure what was going on. Possible shifting forks issue?

mst206-(545c?) I think.

Thoughts?

Yeah sounds like a shift fork issue to me. Not sure what else it would be. Missing teeth on an input gear would be herky jerky all the time and wouldn't take off smooth again after spazzing out

I'm out of town next week, so I guess I'll drop it and bust into it next month sometime and see.  Then I will also have the stinch of 80-90 oil in my sinuses again for a few days.  LOL

I also put the old black front rims on. The other wheels and tires were kind of heavy compared to the black ones. Probably due to the spacer needed to run the 4on4 rims.

I had something similar to that happen to my 820. Seems like the the shift keys got cought in between gear? It was weird. It kinda seized in reverse like the chain had broken and bound up in the trans, then I rolled back so that was ruled out. Wouldn't quite engage in any gear for a second then pop, off I go. It hasn't happened in a while. Confused tf outta me. But the trans wasn't making any new weird noises so I just kinda drove off and pretended nothing happened...

That sounds exactly like what happened to me. Just before it happened, I had a little trouble with reverse, once it kicked in again, all was good again. I ran it through all gears afterwards. No wierd or new noises or anything. Who knows. I think I will wait to break into it until it happens again.

23 second mark is where I got stuck a couple weeks ago. I was going well and when I got to the other end of the puddle I got stuck on the exit. Clay packed into the tires and would not sling. I was like having slicks.

End of the video is where I lost gears. Who knows.

That exhaust is pretty cool

I like the sound.  I plan on some slight modification when i get back from vacation in a couple weeks. Where it is not blowing on the tire.

Hmmm... question for you guys.

So the daughter and I went romping in the back field.

This is her rig...


Anyways, when I got back I notice the drip drip from the bottom of the transaxle.  I checked and it appears I may have torqued it a bit and popped the bolts on the back side by the bowl gear.

Here is a pic of my mst206



I'm talking about the 4 bolts, 3 in the triangle pattern on the back by the gear, and the one just to the right of those.  I appear to have popped them and they are now stripped out.  

Question, think there would be any issue drilling those all the way through and putting bracers and nuts on the bottom side?  It doesn't appear that it would be an issue.  Then I need to figure out how to keep the frame from twisting.  This also appears to be my shifting issue too.

I see 2 of those bolts where you can drill all the way through with a 1/4 inch bit for longer bolts that go through to put nuts on them. The one furthest in back of the 3 and the one by itself from the pic. That would put enough pressure on the case to seal it back up. The other 2, without seeing the underside of case for the bulges of the casting or splitting the case to see, most likely you can do the same fix without looking. But if you don't want to take it apart just yet or just want to have a quick fix, you can get 2 bolts just a little longer to past the stripped threads to put a little pressure on the bolt when tightening with 5 minute set epoxy on threads. Will fix temporarily till you pull the bolt back out.

I dont see a problem with drilling the through. Another possibility could be to drill a size bigger and tap em?

I think I may lean towards both. A couple drilled through with some kind of brace and then those closer to the gear re-tap with a larger bolt.

I think I need to get some angle iron and fab up some kind of under brackets to help with the twisting of the frame. When I do, I need to go ahead with the skid plate idea. Rich has inspired me.

mightyraze wrote:

I think I may lean towards both.  A couple drilled through with some kind of brace and then those closer to the gear re-tap with a larger bolt.

I think I need to get some angle iron and fab up some kind of under brackets to help with the twisting of the frame.  When I do, I need to go ahead with the skid plate idea. Rich has inspired me.

What's this? My ugly jenk has inspired someone?

Maybe you could use prancstaman's idea with the epoxy, but instead put threaded rod in the bottom of the case and use them as studs. Then use nuts with the serrated sides or washers or whatever like the original bolts. I think that would hold it enough to seal it. Also I remember my 820 leaked a bit at the back of the case when I threw a quart of used motor oil in it when I first got it. The contact surface right there for the silicone to seal is only like 3/8 or 1/2 anyways, wouldn't surprise me if they blow out there from the heat expansion in there. Most of my heat expansion comes up my input shaft lol. Dirt cheap undercoat

Nah, I was going over some pretty rough terrain and I'm a pretty heavy guy. I had a LOT of frame twisting yesterday. I
ll have to drop the trans to fix it. I need to go ahead and bust it apart and re-silicone it. Also, Figure out a way to stiffen the frame for my heavy rear. LOL. I have a couple ideas. for that.

mightyraze wrote:

Also, Figure out a way to stiffen the frame

Haha I know the feeling mighty! You'd almost think these things weren't made for off-road use??

Haha, you think so? Lol

Yeah. It's a good thing I have that great angle iron recipe on hand!! Hahaha.

Well good news, I checked out the aftermath and it appears I hardly leaked any oil. Just a few drops. I still need to stiffen the frame and fix a few stripped bolts.

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

What's this? My ugly jenk has inspired someone?

Maybe you could use prancstaman's idea with the epoxy, but instead put threaded rod in the bottom of the case and use them as studs. Then use nuts with the serrated sides or washers or whatever like the original bolts. I think that would hold it enough to seal it. Also I remember my 820 leaked a bit at the back of the case when I threw a quart of used motor oil in it when I first got it. The contact surface right there for the silicone to seal is only like 3/8 or 1/2 anyways, wouldn't surprise me if they blow out there from the heat expansion in there. Most of my heat expansion comes up my input shaft lol. Dirt cheap undercoat

Don't sell yourself short. LOL

I bet it could be heat or even being what looks to be the most "stressed" part of the transaxle. Once it cooled down the drips quickly stopped.

HAHA...  Taking another page out of Rich's book.  I was messing around and laid an older Murray hood on Li'l Red.  I think I actually like it.  Hmmmm......



Looks a little mean!

That looks wicked mighty! It looks intimidating, like its pissed off at something hahaha. How well does it fit?