Paw Paw's Charger and leaf vacuum

[kpinnc 12,087]

I've been working on a leaf vac for my father in law, and he decided to put in on his Charger 12. That actually will be the easier of the two tractors he has for the belt routing anyway, because the other is a 416-8.

 

So I go to pick up the tractor, because I've done all I can without the tractor itself, and he had basically taken it apart to clean it up, and he had a K321 he wants to put on it as well. So what you see below is what I'm starting with, but no major mods and I'm just getting it all together and "touched up". 

 

Did I mention I have too many projects? 

[kpinnc 12,087]

Dunno why I put this here. Maybe a moderator can move it to Restoration forum?

 

...Sparky fixed it!

Edited October 11, 2021 by kpinnc

[oliver2-44 9,759]

Nice of him to help you with the disassembly. Looks like your almost finished, he just left you with the simple things, rear wheel hubs and the steering wheel. 

[kpinnc 12,087]

2 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

Nice of him to help you with the disassembly. Looks like your almost finished, he just left you with the simple things, rear wheel hubs and the steering wheel. 

 

Oh we ain't taking either off on this project. This one is gonna be quick. As a friend of mine said once, it's gonna be a 10 footer!

[ebinmaine 67,596]

6 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

rear wheel hubs and the steering wheel

 

4 hours ago, kpinnc said:

Oh we ain't taking either off on this project

 

I don't see the problem here. It's only 3 little bitty things. 

 

 

Yeeeeaaahhhh......

 

 

Hey, paint the wheels, clean the rest and toss it together. 

It'll look fantastic!

 

 

[ri702bill 8,328]

Sorry Eric, it's a worker bee and looks great just the way it is. Besides, I found out that they do not run any better with painted wheels!

Bill

[ebinmaine 67,596]

3 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

Sorry Eric, it's a worker bee and looks great just the way it is. Besides, I found out that they do not run any better with painted wheels!

Bill

 

What about the reduction in coefficient of drag on the radial air movement of nice smooth painted Wheels versus the rough surface in current existence?

That's got to be worth 0.0001 of some sort of interesting scientific term...

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

18 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

What about the reduction in coefficient of drag on the radial air movement of nice smooth painted Wheels versus the rough surface in current existence?

That's got to be worth 0.0001 of some sort of interesting scientific term...

 

Next you'll have him shaving his head and wearing Spandex! 

[ebinmaine 67,596]

9 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

Next you'll have him shaving his head and wearing Spandex! 

Aaannnddd.......?

 

[kpinnc 12,087]

4 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

What about the reduction in coefficient of drag on the radial air movement of nice smooth painted Wheels versus the rough surface in current existence?

That's got to be worth 0.0001 of some sort of interesting scientific term...

 

That's right. Parasitic drag from dull or no paint is responsible for at least one mph when mowing... And the reflected glint from a polished hood actually improves vision, and helps clean yer teeth because of refraction induced perma grin! 

 

4 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

Next you'll have him shaving his head and wearing Spandex! 

 

Well, I don't wear spandex, but my head is purdy slick... Provides a good rhythm when it rains... Tap, tap, tap in a light rain, and indian drums in a shower!

[Horse Newbie 7,075]

7 hours ago, ri702bill said:

they do not run any better with painted wheels!

Yeah, but they look better sittin' there.

[kpinnc 12,087]

In the spirit of improving the performance of this machine by painting it,  I've started a quick "refresh" with rattle cans. I have a leftover set of decals, so it should look decent when finished. It helps alot when it was pretty much disassembled and pressure washed when I got it...

 

Not bad for one afternoon...

 

 

 

 

 

Did I mention I have too many projects? Dang I need a warehouse!

 

 

Edited October 12, 2021 by kpinnc

[kpinnc 12,087]

Got the engine painted and bolted up. I forgor how bleeping heavy an old cast iron Kohler is- especially when you try not to booger the paint!

 

I know it looks funny, but I always put stove paint on the cooling fins.

 

Edited October 13, 2021 by kpinnc

[Lee1977 6,666]

 The receiver hitch is the best way to attach a vacuum I also extended my trailer hitch at the same time. 

[kpinnc 12,087]

Found some more paint! So I got a few more items painted today. The hood looks like crap, so it's getting another coat tomorrow. The other parts cleaned up very nice.

 

Then I realized the tower is a completely different red than the rest, even though its all the same stuff. Too late to turn back now, it will just have to look like it does.

 

 

 

 

Edited October 15, 2021 by kpinnc

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

7 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

it's getting another coat tomorrow.

 

I'd wait at least 72 hours ( or longer! ) if I were you.  You will probably end up with a wrinkly mess on your hands if you don't !  Fair warning ! 

[Lee1977 6,666]

Put it out in the sun for a few days will help dry it up. 

[kpinnc 12,087]

I glazed the hood tonight just so I can get rid of the deep scratches and dimples. I should have done this in the beginning, but rushed and now I'll have to back up and punt... I did it to myself! 

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

8 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

glazed

 

What dat duz mean?  " glazed " ?

 

[Lee1977 6,666]

6 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

What dat duz mean?  " glazed " ?

 

Glazing putty comes in a tube like tooth paste.

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

3 hours ago, Lee1977 said:

Glazing putty comes in a tube like tooth paste.

 

Maybe I know it as "Red Lead" ?  Is that what it means?  

 

Hey, look!  It says "GLAZING" right there on the package!  

 

Doesn't say anything about LEAD at all!  I think in the 'olden days' it did and that's why we called it 'red lead'.

 

 

I think I would have waited for the paint to cure before putting that stuff on also...

 

Edited October 16, 2021 by Jeff-C175

[kpinnc 12,087]

That is the exact stuff.

 

I'm gonna block sand it and wait a couple days before repainting. Very little compound will be left- just in the scratches and pits. It isn't a full covering, because I'll take it back almost to bare metal agian.

[kpinnc 12,087]

Did something I've never done before on this one: I left balance gears intact. I tried to get to the top one first with my clip plier thingys (I have about a dozen different sizes), and could not reach the clip. No way I was gonna touch the bottom one without ensuring I could get the top first... I just don't have time in this to do a full teardown. 

 

The only reason I opened it this much was to drill and tap the oil pan for the frame bolts. This engine was never on a Wheel Horse before.

 

The inside of the engine looks great. I know he babies his engines (35 years as a diesel mechanic), and services them religiously but this is really bugging me!

 

 

Edited October 18, 2021 by kpinnc

[Lee1977 6,666]

I busted mine off could not get keeper or bearing off the second one so I left it. With the gear gone don't believe it can cause any trouble.

Edited October 18, 2021 by Lee1977

[kpinnc 12,087]

I have sanded this summa***** until I can't leave fingerprints anymore, not to mention feel my hands. And I'm still nowhere near ready for paint. Maybe half way...

 

Oh well, happiness is red in your snot rag! 

 

Gonna set it in the sun tomorrow, and final sand and do it again the next day before priming. What a flipping pain! 

 

Edited October 20, 2021 by kpinnc