Winter project 444 in the shop

[Harry]

About ten years ago someone gave me a 444 that he said wouldn't run. I checked the engine and found there was so much carbon build up in the exhaust area the valve wouldn't close. I was busy with other projects so I cleaned it up and parked it.
This will be a winter project for me and is in my shop on my scissors lift ready to go. I also picked up a hydro bagger for it that someone had no use for it's it will be mounted on it.

Keep the Peace
Harry

[Harry]

Here are the rest of the pics.
Harry

[Eugen]

Looking forward to seeing what you'll be doing to it Harry!

[Timj]

I second that! Can't wait to see what you do with it. It looks like a good candidate for a restoration.

Can't believe you're ready for winter, you're way too efficient. With the weather we're having it seems a long way off, but I know it could change in a hurry.
Tim

[Seabee]

Good project for the winter. I do mine in the garage downstairs because it is heated. My wife doesn't like it because she can't put her car in half the time!

Bill

[Harry]

I'm ready for winter but you know how that goes. There is always things to do before snow flies. I'm retired so I do have time to get things done that I didn't have when I was still working. I still have a bunch of dead ash trees to cut and split and the grass is still growing. I'm also going to do an upgrade to my snow caster by adding a rotating motor and chute deflector actuator. All in all if it snowed tomorrow I could handle it.

Keep the Peace
Harry

[Harry]

The weather is starting to turn colder with rain so it was a unique opportunity to bring some firewood into the shop today. An update on the reburb of the 444 is as follows. It's on my lift and I've been through the rear differential. Drained checked for metal filings, checked end play and checked torque of bolts. Refilled with 80w-90w gear oil new gasket and tightened the cover bolts. Drained the hydraulic oil and I've doing some cleaning of the rear axle housing and frame. I'm not going to repaint the whole tractor, probably just parts that are most visible. Hood, fenders seat support, gas tank and mostly parts that are desert sunset.
As you can see from the pic's it's on my lift and the rear of the tractor is lifted by an engine picker. After cleaning the wheel's they will go back on and unto the engine which I know has a mouse nest in it. I was hoping to have it running by Christmas but a few items on the honey do list has slowed the process.

Keep the Peace
Harry

[Harry]

I thought I would give everyone an update to my winter project. Between working on various projects, I'm slowly making headway on 444. Painting items that were in horrible shape and will be starting to reassemble soon. Larger items like the hood and fenders will be painted last when the weather starts to warm up.

Keep the Peace
Harry

[Harry]

I started too slowly assemble painted parts on the 444 a few days ago. This tractor sat in my lean-to on the back of my pole barn for five years. The first pick shows a mouse nest that was found when working on engine. It was not there five years ago. The guy I got it from told me it stopped running and he had no idea why. I found that the exhaust valve had so much carbon that it wouldn't close and had no compression. I decarboned, set the valve clearances adjusted the points and put it away. I've had almost everything apart on this tractor, so I expect no more surprises, but you never know.

Keep the Peace
Harry

[DavidBarkey]

@Harry Ya run into critter nests all the time . Little buggers like to chew on ignition coil wires too . Oh well they keep me busy . Looking really good Harry .

Dave