RJ58 rebuild

[dclarke 4,032]

I've started the rebuild of my RJ58 and the CBR32 sickle bar that fits it. I've been collecting parts for it for a few years so I thought I'd get started on it. I didn't take many pics of the tear down, mostly just close ups for reference. I've got the engine tore down and cleaned up, ready to go to the machine shop. This one will get bored .010 and the crank will be turned .010. I got the parts for the engine today so I'll be able to take it to the shop this week.




While it's at the machine shop I'm going to have them bore and tap the exhaust port to 3/4" N.P.T.     




Any opinions on which rim is correct for the RJ would be appreciated


I picked up new blades for the sickle at the show in Le Sueur last year, I finally got those changed. Now I need to get it and a bunch of small parts sent to be plated.                                                                                                          





 

[Lane Ranger 10,968]

Looking good Denny!   

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Looked pretty clean to start with Denny...    

looking forward to the progress reports, and your finished work of  art.  

[dclarke 4,032]

Looked pretty clean to start with Denny...    

looking forward to the progress reports, and your finished work of  art.  

It is pretty clean, Craig but there's several things that need attention. I really like these little RJs and I've been wanting to put a fresh coat of paint on this one since I got it. Terry's already got me fixed up with new decals to finish it off with.

[dclarke 4,032]

I'm going to use stainless hardware when I put this back together and found a young man here in town that was able to make this shoulder bolt for the idler pulley on my sickle bar  from a piece of stainless I had laying around. He tinkers in his garage when he's not working, amazing in a town of less than 3000 that someone can do stuff like this. I think it'll add a nice touch to my project.








 

[Ken B 3,164]

Can't wait to see it when its done, I know it'll look nice!

[rmaynard 15,436]

Always look forward to this time of the year when rebuilds seem to take front and center.

 

I am anxious to follow this one Denny. You always do a great job.

[Lane Ranger 10,968]

Denny:  I saw something the other night on Rick's Restorations on the HBO channel that to make your spray paint or brush applied paint look flat or flatter on a restore you use Corn Starch in the paint.    I tried out a little on some rough spots on one of the tractors in regal red and it worked.   I only applied with a brush but a small amount of paint and maybe a tablespoon of corn starch.

 

A google search will turn up quite a bit of information and it applies to all paints,  may go on somewhat shiney but dry flat, and one uses says 8 to 1 paint to corn starch as the mix.

Edited January 15, 2014 by Lane Ranger

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Lays down flat...    

as in...no sheen, or the paint lays down smooth Lane? 

[Lane Ranger 10,968]

I used it on a chip and guessed a little on the mix ration  (using a brush) and it goes on like normal but dries with less sheen.

[dclarke 4,032]

I've never heard of that Lane. Good to know.

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,175]

I can't wait to see this one done Denny! I think Everyone would agree that your restores are some of the Best!!

[dclarke 4,032]

The hood was cracked from the weight of the gas tank so I decided to mount the tank to the frame instead of hanging it from the hood. It still needs a little tweaking but looks like it'll work. I've left a small air gap between the tank frame and the hood so it won't rub. Next I need to extend the filler neck on the tank to get it back to the correct height.








 

[Shynon 7,459]

Looking good Denny, keep the pics coming.

 

 

                     Tom

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Actually, I'm really diggin' the look of the lowered filler cap Denny.     

[dclarke 4,032]

Workin on my gas tank today, I needed to extend the filler neck a half inch or so. I unsoldered the neck, then cleaned the tank and removed all the J B Weld on the bottom of it. This tank hasn't leaked while I've had it but it must have at one time. With my little propane torch I ran some solder into the seam around the tank to fix any leak that was there. Next I needed a 1-5/8" O.D. pipe to extend the neck, the only thing I could find that diameter was a 1-1/2" copper street elbo at Menards. I cut about an inch off of it and soldered the neck to it then soldered that into the tank.




















 

[Jake Kuhn 1,555]

Very nice Denny!

[thirdjoker 11]

thats a clean repair. good job.

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Wha...couldn't get your fingers on it, dropped down in the hood? 

The repair does look really good Denny.    

[dclarke 4,032]

Craig, I just wanted it to look the way it did before and I was thinking that I'd scratch the paint on the hood over time just removing and installing the cap.... like that's not going to happen anyway.

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,175]

Nice job On the gas Tank Denny!! .  

[shorts 182]

Nice work on the tank

[dclarke 4,032]

Anybody know which one of these rims is correct for the 58 RJ?




 

[Lane Ranger 10,968]

Denny:  Her is a photo of a rear wheel on my 1958 RJ I bought in Oklahoma.  I am sure the wheels on this one are original to the tractor.

 

 

[dclarke 4,032]

Tthanks, Lane.