-= Li'l Red =-

I went ahead and took the tractor out this evening.  Temp came down quite a bit.  Left it at my in-laws as I am going over again tomorrow.  Wasn't rolling when I popped a wheelie.  Figures.  May try it again tomorrow.  Here are a couple shots of the frame twisting area of the property.  I'll shoot some more tomorrow.

Well I beat the snot out of the ol tractor today.  Walked away with only a bent panhard bar.  I think I can even live with the bend.  It's been self clearanced.  

I just realized that I have been building on Red now for 6 years now and this is the first that I have really gotten to offroad it myself.  I took it to Haspin 2x.  First time I did not ride it.  Second time my daughter rode it but not really myself.  Been a fun week on Red.

Still no leaks!!!

Now to fix that front bumper.

That is one great looking tractor!

Got it running nice, and the oil leaks are gone!

Took Bowser and Red out for a spin today.  Bowser didn't get any action, the daughter wasn't feeling up to it today. (inner ear infection recovery).  I did ride Red for about 2 hours today.  Just some casual riding, I did change up one area we have been riding to add some more "technical" turns.  Seemed to work well and fun.

... What to do with this build. I feel it is time for some updates.

Well she looks pretty good, just looks like the rear end is a bit low.

Thats a really awesome tractor. The way you executed the front suspension is great. Is it very noticible having it? I imagine it like riding a mountain bike with a suspension fork, and that difference is very significant.

fbisurveilancevan wrote:

Well she looks pretty good, just looks  like the rear end is a bit low.

Thanks, it is a little nose up, but not as much as it looks in the pictures.  

Krawler86 wrote:

Thats a really awesome tractor.  The way you executed the front suspension is great.  Is it very noticible having it?  I imagine it like riding a mountain bike with a suspension fork, and that difference is very significant.

The front is smooth...  Very smooth.  I just wish the rear was the same.

Thumbnail for this video is a good representation of how it really sits. (nose up)

MightyRaze wrote:

OK, I think 2023 will bring back some updates for Li'l Red.  The rear no longer sags.  The bearclaws are on Bowser now.  I have the Badlands now on the back of Red.  

Seems to me she’s more of a “big red” now.

Rustbucket Garage wrote:

Seems to me she’s more of a “big red” now.

Isn't that the truth.  

You can see it is now larger than the Green Machine.

SO, I think Red is my project for this year.  I think it may be time to tear it down and redo some stuff.  Get it back into "prime-time".

I did pick up a "doner tractor" today pretty cheap, some of the parts will be going on Bowser as well hopefully.



The guy I got this from had the honey pot of tractors.  I may have to look him back up in the future.  He had literally had every wheel horse I have ever seen here in Oklahoma.  He had simplicities, Allis Chalmers (The old yellow ones B1?) I was tempted.  He had Sears Suburbans and Customs.  All the "GOOD" tractors and they were COMPLETE! I didn't have my camera on me or I might have taken an inventory. Today's goal was to get this tractor for parts.  Other than having a hydro in it.  It's in better shape than what Li'l Red was when I got it.  Another appealing part, not having a deck to deal with.  I know they make good straps or parts.  I just didn't want to deal with it.

SO...  Now I am thinking where I am going with Red.  Right now, red is getting out of control and has "grown" a bit large.  I think I would like to bring it back down a little.  I have also thought about a frame stretch.  MY possibilities are pretty endless.

Tomorrow, I'll be getting Red out and it will occupy the spot in the garage for this year.  The Dirty Rat has found its way back out to the shed now that school will be back in session next week and our riding chances has run out till probably spring at the earliest. :-(

Here is a good look at kind of where this all began 7 years ago and where I am today.




I have already started the teardown.  The fuel tank will make it into Bowser, as well as the upper dash if I need it to clear the top of the gas tank.  That will be really nice.  

The rest.. it has yet to be written.

I kind of want to do a reset with Li'L Red.  Back it back down a notch and maybe head a different direction.

That's really cool to be able to do a side by side comparison like that, really let's you see just how much you accomplished!

Cool little something I found.

Other than being a hydro (i think is dead so I'm not afraid of ditching it) This tractor has a couple  other differences.  It has a 17.5 HP BS.  Not sure what makes it ".5" more.  I'll look into that a little more probably.  Also, the steering spindles already have grease zerks!  Everything else is near identical.

[adm]Locking thread for now.[/adm]

Thought I locked this...

OK.  I sat myself down tonight with Li'l Red now that the hydro has been totally blown apart and stored away.  I've decided to fix the things that annoy me about Red.

These are the things that I am thinking about working on.

• Front bumper.  I haven't liked it.
  
• Engine.  The original 17HP just seems underpowered still.  I have just not given up on it.  I think it is time to put it aside for another day.  I think I will check out this 17.5 overhaul it with some minor porting like Captain315 on youtube "@Wheelinhorse" shows.  Or that is the plan.
  
• Need to figure out steering.  I would like about 1 more click of steering.  Maybe I cut one more notch on either side of the Rack and Pinion for it?
  

Some other things now that I have a spare hood and grill.  I really liked how @diddie did his headlights on his '22 build-off rig.  I would like to give that a shot.  Only issue is I have an arc welder.  May be too hot.  Lots of time taken and maybe I can get it.

As well as some other things as I work on it.

All right.  The 17.5 opposed is looking good so far.  Popped the tins off and the heads.  Valves have normal dirtyness.  Will be popping them out for a good cleaning.  Pistons have absolutely NO play.  I feel the rings are in good shape.  There is also 0 scoring of the cylinder walls.  I will continue my teardown.  See what the bottom end looks like.  Make sure the govenor is ok, the oil slinger has all the fins, etc.

I will also be making my oil return passages for the little pockets that catches oil to be lost there for all eternity unless you take the inspection plate off and dump it.

Here is an example.

Engine teardown has started. 



Cylinder one:


Cylinder two:
The spots on the wall there on the left and top are "reflections" not scratches.  This one is near mirror finish.  Heck both are pretty clean and I can find no groove that I can feel with a fingernail anywhere in the chamber.  Looking to be a good candidate for rebuild.


They both seem to look good.

Looks to be STD sized.  I am floundering with new rings as these walls look great and the pistons have no wobble.  No sense fixing what doesn't need fixed?