Howdy all,
I had a thread started on a manual for my mower, but i feel that the next questions have outgrown that so I 'm starting anew. Long story short I'm getting a 340 and a No. 5 sickle mower going that has been in my family for at least 30 years. The tractor has not run much in the last 15-20 years, but has been stored inside. The mower had not been used much either in that same time period, but has been sitting outside.
Over the weekend I put a new battery in the tractor, checked all the fluids and got it running. That thing has always ran well. I hitched it to the sickle mower and Hotsy'd both of them off. Spent most of yesterday putting a new Hyd hose & pitman stick & on the mower, as well as greasing it. Hoping to test it out in the next week or so before the weather turns too cold.
Here is a picture taken JUST before I washed the pair:
I do have a couple of questions (Which will likely spawn even more questions):
[size=18:22b980a4d4]QUESTION 1[/size:22b980a4d4]
Based on this picture, info from a friend & what I have been able to pick up in the Operators Manual is the rim size a 10-36 and the tire is a 12-36. Correct?
After talking to a good friend of mine he mentioned that finding that size tire would be impossible. The manual says that the tractor could have came with a 12.4x36. I figure that will fit on the 10-36 rim. This whole thing stems from the fact that one of the rims is soo badly rusted that it is seeping air. Hoping I can find a used rim and maybe reuse the tires. Colfax Tractor & Combine Parts is fairly close to me and after I gather some info I plan on contacting them.
[size=18:22b980a4d4]QUESTION 2[/size:22b980a4d4]
Based on what is commonly available at a farm store/automotive store, what oil should I put in the sickle mower gear box?
[size=18:22b980a4d4]QUESTION 3[/size:22b980a4d4]
This one might be a bit more complicated. As long as I can remember that tractor has had what I think is a peculiar Hyd problem. When sitting idle, the Hyd valve always sounds like it is "working." When you use the Hyd system, like raising the 2 point, the RPM raises slightly and the "working" noise lessens. The tractor seems "Happier." It seems like the hydraulics are fighting themselves when not being used and using them brings "relief" to the tractor. It has always been this way, but I was never sure why. Not sure if it is related, but the power steering is nearly a joke as well. You either have to be moving or rock the tractor back and forth to move the front wheels without lots of hyd squeeling and "catches" in the turning.
My current plan is to get these in good working order and then sell them to fund another project. So I'm looking to do this on a budget. One catch in that plan is that I'm beginning to enjoy tinkering on these again.
Thanks ahead of time,
Russ
I had a thread started on a manual for my mower, but i feel that the next questions have outgrown that so I 'm starting anew. Long story short I'm getting a 340 and a No. 5 sickle mower going that has been in my family for at least 30 years. The tractor has not run much in the last 15-20 years, but has been stored inside. The mower had not been used much either in that same time period, but has been sitting outside.
Over the weekend I put a new battery in the tractor, checked all the fluids and got it running. That thing has always ran well. I hitched it to the sickle mower and Hotsy'd both of them off. Spent most of yesterday putting a new Hyd hose & pitman stick & on the mower, as well as greasing it. Hoping to test it out in the next week or so before the weather turns too cold.
Here is a picture taken JUST before I washed the pair:
I do have a couple of questions (Which will likely spawn even more questions):
[size=18:22b980a4d4]QUESTION 1[/size:22b980a4d4]
Based on this picture, info from a friend & what I have been able to pick up in the Operators Manual is the rim size a 10-36 and the tire is a 12-36. Correct?
After talking to a good friend of mine he mentioned that finding that size tire would be impossible. The manual says that the tractor could have came with a 12.4x36. I figure that will fit on the 10-36 rim. This whole thing stems from the fact that one of the rims is soo badly rusted that it is seeping air. Hoping I can find a used rim and maybe reuse the tires. Colfax Tractor & Combine Parts is fairly close to me and after I gather some info I plan on contacting them.
[size=18:22b980a4d4]QUESTION 2[/size:22b980a4d4]
Based on what is commonly available at a farm store/automotive store, what oil should I put in the sickle mower gear box?
[size=18:22b980a4d4]QUESTION 3[/size:22b980a4d4]
This one might be a bit more complicated. As long as I can remember that tractor has had what I think is a peculiar Hyd problem. When sitting idle, the Hyd valve always sounds like it is "working." When you use the Hyd system, like raising the 2 point, the RPM raises slightly and the "working" noise lessens. The tractor seems "Happier." It seems like the hydraulics are fighting themselves when not being used and using them brings "relief" to the tractor. It has always been this way, but I was never sure why. Not sure if it is related, but the power steering is nearly a joke as well. You either have to be moving or rock the tractor back and forth to move the front wheels without lots of hyd squeeling and "catches" in the turning.
My current plan is to get these in good working order and then sell them to fund another project. So I'm looking to do this on a budget. One catch in that plan is that I'm beginning to enjoy tinkering on these again.
Thanks ahead of time,
Russ