-= Li'l Red =-

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?

Yep, my detective skills are on point with this engine so far.  As expected, the govenor did give it up.



Yep that crazy clip came off.  Not sure exactly how it is even possible.  It shouldn't be, but this is the second time I have seen this happen!!!  Same think happend to the opposed I had in Bowser.

Anyway.  Glad I found everthing.  Guess where I found the little ring that should be impossible to come off?  In that little pocket that holds oil that I talk about.



I'm going to go ahead and gamble not taking the pistions out.  They are just too good shape and feel really good in there.

Wow that's looking really good! I doubt I'd tear it down any further myself, nice score man!

OK, this engine has been opened up before.    I think that is why the governor was not together right. I put it back in right and it seemed right.  I took it back out as I plan on scrubbing the sump.  I am also contemplating swapping out the oil slinger with what I have in my parts bin.  The one in it seems a bit too sloppy.

Valve clearance is WAY off.  Like 0.0000 or -0.00 something.  the 2 intake valves both spin when closed.  I bet it was parked due to low compression and faulty governor install.  Makes me wonder why it was opened in the first place?  Everything inside looks original.  The valve covers and the sump were replaced gaskets.  Maybe a blown sump gasket?  The access cover was still the original gasket so I don't think there was a rod or piston replaced.  Cam is still the heavy solid one as well.

I will check the torque on the rods before I put the sump back on.  I have a gasket for that.  Heck, I have half a dozen of them.  I lack in an access covers and valve cover gaskets.

Many of the gasket sets seem to be lacking in the valve cover gaskets.

Ignore my valve ramblings earlier.  I was a moron.  I tried to check them with the sump off.  Durh.... that cam is going to wobble.

Sump back on.  Cleaned and shiny.  Slinger didn't need replaced.  All good.  Governor fixed.  Valves good.  Maybe at the top end of the spec, but good.

I decided just to clean up the valves and no minor porting.  What captain315 does on his oppys are great for horizontal ones.  I don't think it would help too much for a vertical oppy.  Just too many bends and the length from the carb to valve is much longer than that on a horizontal.  Don't feel in this case too many gains would be had.  Not enough to notice.

Isn't this about the best looking nearly 24-year-old briggs alternator you have seen?



I think I revived the starter.  It was frozen up.  I got it all cleaned and greased.  Spins pretty good now.

Last picture from my phone last night,  I hope you enjoy.

Looking good Mighty. A little valve lapping goes a long way on the ol' flatheads.

Yeah, it does @AllisKidD21.  We'll see what this ol' engine does when I finish getting it together.  Just wrapped up on the carb.  The PO did the right thing and drained it before putting it away.  Cleanup wasn't too bad other than a deteriorated paper gasket inside.  New 10% ethanol rated gasket installed.  Not that I would run it.  

Thanks to  @CRAFTSMAN MUDDER for reminding me everything I wanted to do with my transaxle.

• Bronze bushings to replace the axle needle bearings
  
• Look into the ROMS upgrade
  
• Grease zerk for the input shaft
  
• Refresh the oil.
  

Good luck @MightyRaze I look forward to see/hear it running!

I have the day off for normal vet visit and various other errands that need done.  Had some free time so I gave cleaning the fan shroud up.  Turned out well!  No repaint here.

Half way scrubbed and buffed


Done.


Scrubbed with steel wool and degreaser. Then polished with rubbing compound then finished with hard turtle wax.

Engine back together. Hopefully I can try to start it up this weekend. I don't really see a time at least for the next few days.

OK, Status update.  I'm putting the engine aside for the moment and back to the tractor.

I have decided to KEEP the current configuration (including the '85 hood), but I need to fix it.  There was more extensive bend-age from its Haspin wreck a couple years ago.

Teardown started; I'll show you what I have figured out.



First thing that needs fixed, is my lower shock mount.  Not this one, but the bolt on the other side bent in the wreck.  I have straightened it back out.  Now to keep that from happening again, I will add a gusset where I had a spacer.  Should strengthen and space at the same time.   Love those 2 bird situations.   This bolt is marked for that 1-inch gusset.



Check out these next 2 images.  I told you it was bent up!  
1.


2.


The front has been completely removed now.  I think it would be best to totally rebuild the extension.  I have some Ideas that will change it up a little bit.  Something that will work better with the winch, and I plan in bringing it back on top.


That ladder piece is what I will be rebuilding.  It's even as you can barely see.  Not only bent "up", but it is also slightly bent to the side.  I think I will also run the tractor's original engine until it dies.  I now have a couple backups.

Front half tear down is complete.




Now to finish out the front half reframing, then I am going to install the recent engine and test it out. Once that is done, Next will be tear down and refresh the transaxle. New bushings, oil, and complete the rest of the bolts with through bolts for the case halves.

Some progress today. Little cold today as well.

All the parts above are final welded. I have it where the hood mounts now as well. Now for a bumper and winch mount. Then take it back apart and paint.

I think I have decided to raid the Bearclaws back from Bowser. Put the holeshot style Ocelots back on Bowser. The Badlands deserve to be on Kal.

Back to the rebuild.  Started on my bumper.  I wanted to keep it simple.  Somewhere to install the winch and some flood lights.

First I laid everything out and measured things.  This is just after I trimmed the 1/4 thick 1.5x1.5 angle piece.  (same material I used for Dirty Rat)



Measured out and clipped the floods where I marked.  Looks good.



Then I cut the end off an old deck hanger (clipped to the end of the bumper there in the pic) and welded it to the front of the bumper for a D-link.  In this pic it is just tacked.  No I didn't weld the part clamed there.  LOL



If you are wondering why the front looks different.  I have the silver trim piece out around the headlights.  I'm contemplating things there.  Such an odd size and inset on those lights.

Taking advantage of today as it is already in the 60's. (Normal is like 48-50 this time of year) Painted my frame extension so I can get my front axle rehung, front tires reinstalled and look into getting the engine put on.  I still need to get that fired up.

I’m kinda jealous… this time of year for me 30 is a heat wave! Lol.

Yeah, I hear rumblings that the cold is coming back.  Typically, last week Jan, first 2 weeks Feb is the coldest. I expect the 30's be back soon. Enjoying while I can.

Next time I have to mod the frame on this tractor. If I can afford it, maybe build a new frame to put the body on.

Here is the update for the day. Frame extension painted and reinstalled. Axle rehung. Front tires reinstalled so it is a roller now. Also, the engine was dropped in and hooked up.




On a side note, saw this today when I went to buy some more welding rods.

(In butthead voice) Dude check out that sick stance

Tractor’s looking good!

That Smart Car sure looks trail worthy to me!