Colt Case Ingersoll Garden Tractors

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.

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Harry

Here are the rest of the pics.
Harry

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

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

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Harry

@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

I have mouse trap set in my shop for years and catch a few mice with peanut butter. I set some in the lean-to and I was catching voles too. If I catch a mouse and don't get to it right away sometimes the voles will eat the head off.

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Harry

Seabee wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 8:33 pm 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

Dave

Today I installed thrust bearings on the front spindles for PMPS. I purchased the parts from Barneveld Imp and was very satisfied with the price and the bearings and washers. Easy to install in a short period of time and they seem to turn easier that with just washers. This is the first time to try this hack and if it's favorable I'll probably to the same to my other three tractors. If you have already tried this PMPS hack please respond with your results.

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Harry

Yes ,did to Frankie's original axle before the HD upgrade .That axle is now on the Bride . Made a big difference on steering load especial with a load on the front end like a blade or caster .

Dave

Got the bearings too and plan to install them on the 644 in the Spring. Will report then.

I've been cleaning up inspecting and painting the hydra bagger for the 444. I mounted part of it today and the rest will be in short order. It's getting close guys. This is when a project gets interesting. I should be firing it up in a couple of weeks.

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Harry

Looking good, Harry

Like Tim said . looking good Harry

Dave

Today I ran to a place that has any hydraulic fitting that you can imagine. In fact, it's called the house of fittings. I picked up some quick disconnects for the hydra bagger hydro hoses.
I had always heard to never put any pipe thread dope on hydraulic fittings. I bought some pneumatic hydraulic sealant at this store today. Have any of the members used such a product on their hydraulic fittings?

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Harry

@Harry I use the Locktite version regularly have not had any problems with it. Most of the applications are on reused fittings in very dirty assembly environments.

Spike

Can it be used on our tractors hydraulic fittings?

Can you use Loctite on hydraulic fittings?
Loctite 5452 thread sealant is for use on high-pressure hydraulic and pneumatic metal fittings. Drys 4 times faster than normal sealant.

Doublet (Terry)

It's getting closer to being completed. Yesterday I mounted the deck and conected the belt. The hydro vac and mowing deck all appear to be working fine. The one thing I need to do is paint the hood, which I was waiting for warmer weather to do. Now that warmer weather is here there is a scheduling problem with activities.

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Harry

Looking really good @Harry !

It's going to look like a new tractor Harry I really like the desert sunset tractors, can't wait for the hood.
Tim

Looking sharp Harry .