Longest Restoration Ever - My 1965 605

[csnyd 10]

Hello all.  I just wanted to post a little about my candidate for the longest rebuild ever on a WH    I bought my Grandparents farm back in 2010 when Grandpa died and Grandma moved to town.  Along with the farm I grew up on, I inherited this old Horse.  When I was a kid it was the first thing I ever drove.  It mowed 3 acres for a lot of years before Grandpa got something bigger and parked it outside under this lean to.

 

 

 

 

So I moved in and started tearing it down back in winter of '10. 

 

 

 

The body was really straight.  However, at some point someone had swapped out the 6hp Tech for a K181 Kohler.  They also had done some work updating the decals.  Notice the original script underneath the more recent decal.

 

 

I then started in on the epic task of removing both rear hubs and the rear pin in order to split the tranny case to see what needed done.  I figured since it sat outside, it had water in it.  I was right, but it really wasn't all that bad.  Also, I managed to break both hubs (no good puller) and had to drill out the rear pin.  When I got it apart, it was a little gunky and dirty, but everything was in good shape, no missing teeth or anything, just some needle bearings that I had probably killed with my sad attempt at hub removal.

 

 

 

 

I also pulled apart, cleaned and reassembled the differential:

 

 

 

After some time in the e-tank the halves came out looking pretty good:

 

 

 

 

 

I am having trouble with getting that last bearing in but otherwise, a few seals and a reassemble and the transmission is done.  I have had a ton of fun with this even though it has taken me forever and I am not even into the motor portion of this yet.  The body parts have all been e-tanked or stripped to bare metal, primed and repainted.  It's a rattle can job, but I have tried to do a nice job on it.  This will be a worker when done for garden duty and some log hauling for firewood. 

 

Id also like to say, "Thanks" to all the great members on here who have inspired me to keep going with their excellent builds, restos and just a great sharing of information.  Especially stevasauras with that uni drive trans rebuild post.  I'd have never attempted that without seeing that on here.  Thanks to all.    Will keep this going as I slowly proceed. 

 

I also have removed the old tires and redone the rims with the e-tank.  They turned out great in my opinion.  I will post more pics as soon as I can. 

[Martin 2,133]

first of all 

 

that unidrive is turning out real nice, looking forward to seeing pics of the rest of the tractor.......

 

what trouble are you having getting that last bearing in? tight getting started? do you have a nice clean entry point for the bearing to start? sometimes the bores can have a burr or some sort of damage right at the edge that will prevent the bearing getting started. small round file around the edge or a barrel roll on a die grinder should clean up the edge enough to encourage that bearing to start.

[Tankman 3,520]

It's a great pleasure viewing pictures of your work in progress.

It is an Honor! Thanks for sharing with us who aren't so worthy.

Sent from my Digital Ankle Bracelet in my Barn.

[JC 1965 1,530]

I see this is your first post so   and thanks for sharing the pics. Looks like your doing a great job. Keep up the good work, your grandpa would be very proud. Keep the pics coming. 

[stevasaurus 22,909]

csnyd...I sent you a PM on those bearings...check it out.

[KC9KAS 4,741]

  Thanks for the photos!

[rexman72 210]

welcome to RS

[Zeek 2,286]

Welcome!  You have been lured

 

I'd put a wallet on the end of that chain hanging out the front of the hood for the tough guy look

[can whlvr 993]

nice work,

[csnyd 10]

Thanks all.  It's a learning experience for me for sure, but very enjoyable.  Hoping trans is back together by the weekend...then I can get to some fun reassembly. 

[sorekiwi 761]

Welcome to RS!

 

I think its cool that the old horse will soon be back working on the farm she's lived at for close to 50 years!

 

But this isnt the longest restoration ever, I started on my 500 Special in 2008 and probably havent touched it in 2 years! 

[Jake Kuhn 1,556]

  The restorations is looking great!

[csnyd 10]

first of all 

 

that unidrive is turning out real nice, looking forward to seeing pics of the rest of the tractor.......

 

what trouble are you having getting that last bearing in? tight getting started? do you have a nice clean entry point for the bearing to start? sometimes the bores can have a burr or some sort of damage right at the edge that will prevent the bearing getting started. small round file around the edge or a barrel roll on a die grinder should clean up the edge enough to encourage that bearing to start.

 

Martin, that is absolutely the issue.  I just can't get it started.  Some of the others were tough, but they eventually went and I could tell they were going to go.  I just figured it was the paint I had put on so I scraped it off and checked for burrs but didn't find anything that made me think it was holding it up.  It gives me no indication it wants to cooperate.  I want to double check and make sure I got the right bearing and then try again.  I'll give the edge a small touch up and see if it helps.  I also thought about trying to make the bearing very cold???

 

Welcome to RS!

 

I think its cool that the old horse will soon be back working on the farm she's lived at for close to 50 years!

 

But this isnt the longest restoration ever, I started on my 500 Special in 2008 and probably havent touched it in 2 years! 

 

Yes sir.  The snails pace I work at, I joke that I will have it done on it's 50th anniversary, but...that might not be all that far off.  I knew I wasn't alone in the slow resto lane.  Thank you for making me feel a little better.  Where are you at on your 500 special?

 

  The restorations is looking great!

 

Thanks Jake.  I've enjoyed a lot of your posts over the last few months.       

 

Just going through all the pics I have taken along this journey and found these of some back rims before and after the e-tank treatment.  Man, I love e-tankin.  Plug it in, make sure it's vented and walk away.  Come back the next day and it's like you have a new part.  If it weren't for this site, I'd have never known what an e-tank was.  I'll wade through the 3" of new snow that is falling now and get some shots of the finished product. 

 

[csnyd 10]

Update: 

 

Just got the last of the bearings knocked in.  Turns out they ordered me the wrong size.  It was a mm off and man the correct ones went in like a dream...funny how that works, huh?  Seals are all in as well except for one.  It seems too small.  Hoping I got the right bearing for the job.  Should be part #1530 and seal #1232.  These are the ones that go on the break shaft.  I had to help the guy at Motion Industries find the right bearing and seals last time.  They have been pretty darn good otherwise.  Current seal doesn't lock in like the ones on the axles did.  I've almost convinced myself that I have a bearing that is the right size, but not right for the job.  Seal seems like it is smaller than the opening?  Mic'd it and it's real close.  Not sure what is going on there.  Will dig into it tomorrow.  Other than that we are moving along. 

 

Also installed a new shifter boot and have ordered the gasket for the Uni-drive.  Should be here tomorrow I hope.  Then we get to put stuff in the tranz housing and continue the search for some proper hubs. 

 

Will get some pics when it is together.   

[Jake Kuhn 1,556]

when you put it together, use gasket sealer. We recently rebuilt two of them and only put the gasket on and they ended up leaking. Had to take them both back apart and put sealer in and now they are fine. We just ended up using the sealer and no gasket but the gasket and just a little bit of sealer would work good too.

 

~Jake

Edited March 27, 2013 by Jake Kuhn

[csnyd 10]

Thanks Jake. Any specific brand?

[Jake Kuhn 1,556]

This is what I like to use...

 

[csnyd 10]

Here are a few shots from the installation. It was pretty easy. The good manual and the tutorial by Steveasaurus made the difference. Stopped just shy of putting the diff into position.

Will get the diff in this week. The whole process was pretty painless. Even the shift forks and the spring and ball install wasnt horrible. Also, wanted to mention Amazon as a source of bearings. Im sure someone has already said it, but they have a good selection.

[csnyd 10]

Got it together and buttoned back up. Its going to have to wait awhile before reassembly. I have to replace the front axle on my poj Craftsman. 99% sure I did everything right. Guess I will know how to tear it down again if I didnt. lol

[Wheel-N-It 2,969]

Congragulations, that was a big part of the restoration. Good luck with the Craftsman.

[csnyd 10]

I somehow got some free time and started in on putting the 605 back together the last week.  I started out on the ground with a couple of milk crates, an exploded diagram and a parts tractor, aka the "virtual diagram."

 

 

 

After a while, I went to the jack stands and started getting somewhere. 

 

 

In short order and after a couple of PBR's I ran out of stuff to put on it. 

 

 

I also filled the rebuilt transmission with the 90wt mineral oil.  Same stuff I use in my '47 Ford tractor.  I have not noticed any leaks as of yet which made me pretty happy.

 

So on the list of stuff to do yet I have the following:

 

-get some hubs

-new bar tires on back, tri-ribs on the front.

-redo the dash plate

-engine

-weld a few minor cracks

-shore up some play in the steering

-set of decals

 

I'm thinking about setting aside the K181 Kohler pull start and putting in a 8hp Kohler Magnum with electric start.  Not sure what all that would entail, but since the Kohler that was on it wasn't stock anyway, I figure why not?

 

Overall, pretty satisfied with it for now.  Having a lot of fun playing around with it.  At this point, I'm waaay ahead of schedule for me...ha 

[csnyd 10]

One of the things I need to work on is the play in the steering.  I would imagine that there is a spacer or something on the shaft here that I am missing?  Anyone know? 

 

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,177]

One of the things I need to work on is the play in the steering.  I would imagine that there is a spacer or something on the shaft here that I am missing?  Anyone know? 

 

There is a plastic insert or bushing that is installed on the steering shaft first before sliding it up through the underside. then its held in place by the locking collar.  I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to come up with something to do the job.   if you slide the plastic insert/bushing over the top after the steering shaft is installed, it will just keep popping up and out.    hope this helps.  

Edited June 2, 2013 by Terry M

[953 nut 56,145]

Great post! It is so neat that your grangfather put his   under cover for you, I'd bet he is looking down with a big smile at your work, We all enjoy it too.

 

[csnyd 10]

Well, still hoping to set the record for "longest rebuild ever" with this one. 

 

Just today, I managed to get a pair of old hubs off of a donor transmission that had set in my barn for about a year.  Worked pretty hard at them but now have a means to attach tires.  They are not the correct ones for the year, they are newer, but they will work and I'm not really all that big after, "chronologically correct". 

 

They will go on this weekend and I need to get my K181 figured out and start looking to source some tires.