Messing around in the shop

[Harry]

@Harry would it be possible to drill the heads of the bolts off? Maybe a pilot hole in the center of the head then a bit the size of the bolt?

Great idea. I’ll try that. Harry

[DavidBarkey]

@Harry would it be possible to drill the heads of the bolts off? Maybe a pilot hole in the center of the head then a bit the size of the bolt?

Great idea. I’ll try that. Harry

On that note , maybe a centre drill or a step drill might be helpful.

[Harry]

David, sounds like a plan. I figure I’ll have to put a wrench on the nut side and drill through the bolt. Hope they aren’t hard. Harry

[RoamingGnome]

Another option could be careful use of a 2" roloc style sanding disc in a die grinder or drill and then sand/grind the screwhead until it's either flat, or completely gone - then just push the remaining screw and nut through the hole - and don't forget a damp rag to make sure the fiberglass doesn't get too hot from the grinding. (Don't ask me how I learned about that... )

https://www.amazon.ca/WORKPRO-101-piece ... 570&SPES=1

[Harry]

I tried to remove one of the bolts today. Not much luck hard to drill and fiberglass was getting to hot. I jumped over to work on the mini loader assembled a few things on the GT, then I came to the realization that I don’t need to remove the frame from the fiberglass roof. I can clean up the metal frame and paint it attached to the roof. Onward and upward we go. Harry

[JSinMO]

I guess we’ll call this the playing in the snow edition. We ended up with around a foot of snow from our recent weather. I know that’s not much for a lot of you guys but down here it was a major storm.

I started cleaning up around the house with my Troy Built walk behind, which is a great machine, but it was slow going and I wasn’t having much fun. So to heck with that let’s jump on the 446!

What a difference! Now we’re talking!

It took about 10 minutes to clean this off and 5 of that was me playing around!

I decided to bring out the 2N to clear the driveway and in front of the shop. It’s finicky about starting in cold weather. I found if I run some heat on it for awhile before cranking it starts much easier. A couple of halogen lamps and a portable heater did the trick.

It was working great until one of the front tires went flat so back to the shop with it.

I put the 446 back to work. And it worked great! I even went ahead and cleared off the around the chicken coop and made a path to get there.

I’d say that’s a job well done! I’ve said it before but what a great machine! The tire chains really worked great too. If your reading this and you have not got a Case GT yet boy your missing out!

With that job done let go look at that tire.
It wouldn’t hold air so I took it off the tractor and broke it down.

Gee I can’t imagine why it’s flat!
It’s not original from 1947 but I’d say it’s been on there for decades. I also see the valve stem hole it ragged so it need to be fixed too.

The rims in pretty rough shape but I think I can make it work so let the barnyard engineering commence!
I took a wire wheel and cleaned of as much of the rust and scale as possible.

[JSinMO]

Then I dug out a thick flat washer from my bolt bin and crudely shaped it to the contour of the rim.

I carefully welded it in. A little JB Weld on a couple of pin holes I found and some paint and I’m hoping it will be good to go.

Maybe I should have drilled a new hole in a different part of the rim but I figured I’d have to patch this hole anyway and my repair looks like it will work fine. Certainly not the best repair in the world but not bad for a 1 and a half armed redneck!
I’ll let that cure till tomorrow then I’ll see if I can put it all back together. Luckily I have a new tube to go in.

Other than having a tough time breaking the tire down not a bad time playing in the snow. Although I will admit I could do without it and I hope this is our only storm this season!

[Eugen]

Repair looks good Jeff, it sure doesn't look like you're using less than two hands. Hope your arm gets better day by day!

[DavidBarkey]

@JSinMO I see a tube on the floor . I assume that it is from the tire . Do you have another or can it be repaired ? As for the rim being rust and ruff ,what you did is a good start . What we use up here to protect tubes from rim damage is to line the centre of the rim with an old tube ,or wrapp it with duct tape . Glad you are having fun in the snow and hope your are is getting better .

[Harry]

David I’ll seen that on bicycle rims to protect the tube from the spoke nuts. Terrific idea David. Harry