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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

tractor hacks..poor repairs...

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Bruce

05-24-2004 07:58:35




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Don't you just hate it when you find that someone has done a "hack" repair job on a tractor, and now you need to fix it.. and fix it right!! I am working on an old bobcat and have found that the hydralics are leaking in a frame cross member, to access the frame so that I can weld the leak, I have to remove a metal plate that OUGHT TO BE BOLTED to the frame, well, one bolt was there, someone had once removed the plate and rather than bolt it as it should have been...they welded the plate to the frame!! I spent two hour with a chisel cutting the welds, as I could not get a grinder into the very small tight area to cut the welds...Why don't people just fix thing right. My brother does the same thing, " oh...just weld it back together..why bother drilling holes and doing it right!!" What hack jobs have you found??

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Buzzman72

05-25-2004 07:20:30




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 Re: tractor hacks..poor repairs... in reply to Bruce, 05-24-2004 07:58:35  
Here's an example of the kind of work I do: Back in the early '70's, I had a '64 Chevelle with a 283 that needed a valve job...sent the heads out to be machined, and the machine shop called to tell me that ONE valve guide was worn pretty badly...he could ream it out and use one oversize valve, or I could spend a few more bucks and replace the guide and use a standard size valve. Since I knew that I might just be the guy doing the NEXT valve job, I had him replace the guide so it matched the others.

MY rule of thumb: DON'T screw "the next guy," 'cause "the next guy" just MIGHT be YOU!

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dhermesc

05-25-2004 06:34:25




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 Re: tractor hacks..poor repairs... in reply to Bruce, 05-24-2004 07:58:35  
My brother bought a 656 with the exhaust pipe welded to the exhaust manifold - supposed to be threaded. Looked like they welded it several times - broke again while backing the tractor off the truck.

Dad in law was too cheap to buy a new head gasket after heaving the head on his D17 rebuilt, reinstalled with old one and some silicone-wonder why it leaked the first day. Three years later he's still running it that way.

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Ol Chief

05-24-2004 22:00:39




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 Re: tractor hacks..poor repairs... in reply to Bruce, 05-24-2004 07:58:35  
I bought a neat heavy two wheel trailer at auction last year.I towed it thirty miles to my other farm at Katy,Texas with no problem.It sat for a year in tall grass but last Monday I decided that I could use it at my home place in the orchard.Hooked it up and headed for home,Fredericksburg,Texas which is 210 miles distant.Just about dusk and only six miles from home I heard a thump.I touched the brakes and both trailer wheels passed me.Sparks were flying cause I had been doing near 65 mph.Next morning I loaded up the wheelless trailer,but only ever found one wheel.The person who had the thing before me had loosely assembled the wheel to hub and so now I am searching for used HD eight bolt hubs and two 20 inch wheels to match.Also I would have had to change the wheels soon because the tires were 19.5 / 8, a size I have never seen before.Lesson learned ,check lugs on what ever I buy in future.The lug nuts being loose wallered out all of the stud holes and caused the wheels to cut grooves in the seating area of the hubs.

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IHC Red

05-24-2004 20:57:38




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 Re: tractor hacks..poor repairs... in reply to Bruce, 05-24-2004 07:58:35  
- leather straps to fill the gap on a spun rod bearing

- pieces of rag to hold wires in place



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Wayne

05-24-2004 20:57:10




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 Re: tractor hacks..poor repairs... in reply to Bruce, 05-24-2004 07:58:35  
As a mechanic I see this ALL THE TIME. I've always tried to go by the old standard that "If you don't have the time or money to fix something right this time, then where are you gonna find the time and money to fix it again later on". It's one thing to weld something solid on a $200 machine that's on it's last leg just to get somebody by for a little while and save them thousands in parts and labor needed to "fix it right", especially when it's still doing all they want just like it is. I have had to make that exception a few times over the years. Still even if I had to "rig it" I always tried to do it such a way that it could be fixed right later on without any major problems. It's another thing entirely to be just too blame lazy to put a bolt in hole..... .and then, of all things, to actually tighten it. Believe it or not loose bolts seem to cause more damage than just about anything else I see out there. Something to think about. Have any of you ever noticed that 99.9% of the time, when you find something that has been rigged up, you can tell it took longer for them to rig it than if they had done it right. Just like the welded plate on the Bobcat, think about how long the guy took to get out the welder,string and hook up the leads, get out his helmet and rods, weld the plate on and then put everything up. Heck most guys I know could have put in and tightened a dozen bolts or more in that amount of time..... It used to bother me finding crap like this but it got to where I saw so much I finally got over it and now all I see is "JOB SECURITY".... Just my .02

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sibby(Aus)

05-24-2004 18:57:06




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 Re: tractor hacks..poor repairs... in reply to Bruce, 05-24-2004 07:58:35  
Fellas, how about a car dealer who used to put banana skins, sawdust and even beef mince in gearboxes and diffs!!! he was a G.M. dealer and his mechanics used to crack up if any warranty work came in on second hand vehicles, specially ones with beef mince in em, PHHEEEEWWWW!!! he has been closed down for a few years now, and for the best. Chuckle, sibby.



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ZK(WA)

05-24-2004 14:30:56




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 Re: tractor hacks..poor repairs... in reply to Bruce, 05-24-2004 07:58:35  
Seals "resealed" with silicon caulking, JB Weld covering broken bolt holes, household wire used for lamp and instrument wiring, and used in place of limiter chain when baling wire could have been used ;), surgical tubing used for fuel line (expands and melts REAL fast it does, not even good for a field repair).
Brings to mind from a few years ago, when an older truck came apart crossing one of the bridges near here. Only thing that kept him from ending up in the riverbottom were the bridge guardrails.The guy had just picked it up at a farm auction and was driving it home. Almost made it to the end of a bridge when the whole front end decided to change lanes without him. Seems someone used baling wire and Duct tape to fasten the front end to the frame. Lasted about 20 miles before it let loose. Needless to say, the "proud" owner had to change pants.

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Polish Mike

05-24-2004 10:10:42




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 Re: tractor hacks..poor repairs... in reply to Bruce, 05-24-2004 07:58:35  
The John Deere JD-350 bulldozer I just brought home. Somebody tried welding the front cross member on...It's supposed to be bolted, but the bolts are snapped off, and I guess nobody thought to get a magnetic drill press & drill 'em out. So, they welded it, and it probably held together for about a minute before it broke all those welds. Anyway, I got all the replacement parts in one place now, & the next time I get 2 weekends off in a row it'll get put back together correct.

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bob

05-24-2004 12:59:38




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 Re: Re: tractor hacks..poor repairs... in reply to Polish Mike, 05-24-2004 10:10:42  
that's almost a universal problem with 350's. Usually the holes are wallowed out & can't be lined up easily.



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Indydirtfarmer

05-24-2004 08:29:57




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 Re: tractor hacks..poor repairs... in reply to Bruce, 05-24-2004 07:58:35  
Not a tractor, but a tractor hauler. A few years ago, I bought a 1979 Ford 3/4 ton 4wd pick-up. The front lock-out hubs didn't seem to work, but how bad can that be? When I took them apart, I found several parts missing, including a couple snap-rings. The hubs were held together by MASKING TAPE! They were taped together, and stuffed back into the hub. Just long enough to sell 'em..... ..... ....John

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Larry NE IL

05-24-2004 20:53:20




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 Re: Re: tractor hacks..poor repairs... in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 05-24-2004 08:29:57  
My White 4-180 needed an exhaust system when I brought it home. The last owner had rigged pipes out the front, but they were rusted off. I cut them off and ran straight pipes either side of the hood. Looked cool but after a few hours, I couldn't hear, so I ordered original. I fooled with both manifold pipes for 2 days trying to fit them under the frame. Finally looked hard at the book. Last guy had welded a 2' long plate on the bottom of the frame. Nice job too, as I thought it was SUPPOSED to be there. 5 minutes with a fire saw and the pipes fit fine!

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