The Projects Never End

[JSinMO]

I really like that generator. Much more desirable than my setup. 4 small one set here or there to keep essentials running when needed. Maybe you could set it on a small trailer, then it could just be rolled out from under the porch when needed elsewhere.

That Diamond T is quite an interesting old truck. Kind of unique way to run the fan. With no water pump on the front of the engine, what kind of cooling system does it have?
Thermos siphon? The thermostat housing seems to have a bit more going on with it.

[Toolslinger]

The T has a water pump. It's gear driven, and sits under the generator.
The engine is a Hercules. I believe it's a JXB, but I have to look it up all the time as I just can't seem to remember... Diamond T was basically a top of the line make. While that has made it extremely durable, and reliable over the years, some of the systems are hard to find parts or references to as a result.

The fan is the tension adjustment for the generator drive belt. You slide it vertically in that yoke to tighten it up. How, I don't know, but I guess I'll get to figure that out.

Got after the brakes this morning... Several years ago, I pulled all the wheel cylinders, and sent them out to be bored, and lined with stainless to avoid the issue of the cast iron pitting. The cylinders on the rear were NLA at the time (they are now being produced again) and after chasing down 1 of them from Israeli military surplus (they used these on some half tracks that ended up over there) I decided to do that, and be done. I'm loosing fluid, and it isn't coming from the wheel cylinders... So either the master, which is pretty old, or possibly the hydrovac. I'm starting with the master cylinder as that's pretty easy. Plan was to pull it, and send it off for the same treatment, but once I got it out, and clean, I could see the part number, and amazingly, it's readily available new at Napa, so I'll pick that up Friday. I hope to avoid pulling the hydrovac. If I have to I will, and the shop that did the wheel cylinders does them too, but I shudder to imagine the price...

After that, I headed up front again. I thought I'd clean up some of the caked on oil and grease. Nothing extreme, just a little time with a putty knife, and screwdriver. Enough to see what a mess it really was.

Following that, I really cleaned the cross member where the radiator sits. Thought I should put some paint on there, and let it cure hard before I sit the radiator back on there (rubber in between). Hopefully that will be the last time that has to come out in my life... I'll drop off the radiator next week, and I expect it to take them a little while to deal with it. I had some SW Fire Hydrant Red DTM paint. Color isn't quite right, but nobody will ever see it, and it's excellent paint. It'll get a second layer tomorrow.

Finally, I want to replace the fan belt. We keep really detailed records on the T. I went through them all, twice. There is no mention of the belt ever having been replaced. We bought it in 1970. There is a Gates number on it. I just haven't been able to find a reference to that particular belt. Measuring it, it's a C section. The length is buried in my phone which is currently dead... Nothing readily available, but not a problem to get off the net.

[Harry]

Quite the project on your Diamond T Toolslinger. Keep the postings coming. Harry

[JSinMO]

I see what you mean, it certainly looks like a well built truck. I hope the new master cylinder solves the problem, but if not the rebuild on the hydovac might not be that bad. I went back and looked and the rebuild for mine in Herbie the 61 Ford was $137.99. I think the company was Cardone.

I agree with @Harry im looking forward to seeing the progress on the T!

[DavidBarkey]

That master cylinder looks a lot like the one in my trailer surge hitch .

[Toolslinger]

Could be I guess. It's just a simple single circuit master. I'd love to have a split brake system, but it would be complicated to set that up with the hydrovac. I guess if I was really motivated I could chase down the parts from a modern hydraulic brake truck and start over, but this has been working pretty well for 60+ years, so I guess it has earned some respect...

[DavidBarkey]

I subscibe to the Kiss therory most of the time , except when I get inventive and that all goes out the window .

[Toolslinger]

Well... When I slid under to take a look at the master to make sure it wasn't dripping, I slid back a bit further to the hydrovac...
That's when I noticed brake fluid in the vacuum lines. Glad we used clear line when we did them a couple decades ago... The only place the vacuum lines could pick up brake fluid is right here, so I guess I have internal leakage...

So, off with the hydrovac.

It wasn't pleasant. On the other hand, it really wasn't horrible, and there's a ton of room to work under there. Nice change from just about everything else in life.

3 Vacuum hoses, and 2 brake lines. Hangs on 3 bolts.

First stop was the parts washer. Got it clean and dry.

Then down to the wood shop to make a crate.

The crate weighs more than the unit, but I sure don't want to chase down a replacement...

Have to find appropriate screws to seal it up tomorrow, and then throw it in the truck... My vacation ends tomorrow sadly, so it'll go back to NJ with me along with the radiator. I'll ship from work, and the radiator hospital is a mile from there.

Other than hard and soft brake lines, and the vacuum reservoir tank that will cover all the brake components. I really hope this solves things. Probably take longer for the hydrovac repair than the radiator, but I probably can't put them both back in over a weekend anyway.

[Toolslinger]

Well, it's been a few weeks...
In between then and now, I've picked away at a few things...

Got the cab side hood lace installed on the T.
This is what I had. (Other side was far worse)

It has a wire running down the center of it to hold it in place. That took a little searching since most places don't know squat about Diamond T. It was used on earlier Checy's, and GM apparently.

Done. Worked very nicely.

Didn't photo this... The remains of Debbie managed to tip a perfectly healthy white oak over in to my field. That was the only real damage on my place other than a couple dead trees coming over, but that can happen any day.
Took me all day to get it down safely as I had to break it down with a pole saw until it was just an unsupported trunk. Then I could take that down. Took just about every bit of a 28" bar to cut it off. It was a shame it was curved from being on the edge of the woods as I could really use some white oak for the bed of the T... Instead, it will burn nicely.

After that, I got the radiator back for the T. The shop had messed up, so I had to take it back, but they got it right the second time. The new owner of the shop got a lesson in not suggesting that he weld up existing holes and drill new in an antique... I can't imagine what he would have gotten from a serious restoration person... So I got that back in with the new hoses.

Then it was time for the front hood lace. This stuff is mounted with split rivets.

I had to make an installation tool. More reinforcement for never getting rid of odd, but functional tools. I took out the existing "jaws", and ground some custom from 3/8" fine thread bolts.

This worked like a charm.

[Toolslinger]

Unfortunately, I've also managed to come down with a case of Shingles... Knew I shot get the shots when I hit 50, but just didn't get there yet... So, I'm staying home from work this week at least. So far it isn't a terrible case, and other than the infuriating rash/blisters, I don't have any of the other side effects. So, the weather was gorgeous, but oddly cold for August yesterday. That made me remember I need to clean the chimney, and get it inspected for a new wood burner.

So up on the roof. I love the A-Frame my folks built, but it does make roof work a touch annoying... There are 5 flues in this monster stone chimney. I know what 4 of them are, but #5 is a complete mystery. Fortunately, I only use 2 of them, and they're both close to the peak of the house, so comparatively easy to access. I need a boom lift to get to the others, or I'd have to build scaffolding off chicken ladders.

I don't think the flues have ever been cleaned. There really isn't any reasonable access with the big bluestone slab on top, and the cleanout for the wood stove is right at the floor inside, so you can't flex a pole in there. There are cleanouts buried in the footer of this beast for the other flues. They used 55 gallon drums apparently. It was the 70's and the oil crisis was going on when they did this, so they planned everything around wood, or possibly coal. I shoveled about 6 gallons of creosote out of the cleanout before I went up.

I cut a hole in the bluestone right over the flue. Diamond hole saws are amazing things... It took 9 or 10 of the 3' rods to push the brush to the bottom. It's a 7" square clay flue. Other than being perched up there, it wasn't too bad. I siliconed a piece of stainless plate over the hole to seal it back up.

After the brushing, I opened the cleanout again, and I was happy to see it was just a scoop or two of very fine ash. We burn nothing but clean, well seasoned hardwood. So either it's burning right, and the flakes are just dropping in the off season, or there was a small chimney fire nobody noticed to clean it out...

Called a couple sweeps for an inspection, but haven't heard back... If they don't call soon, I'll buy a camera, and inspect it myself... Probably not the worst idea anyway, and I'm sure I'd use a remote camera for other projects...