KAL the Extended Journey.

Fixed my front spindle today.  I hope to have a video later of my Haspin out-brief! Had a tiny surprise. 

I see you had to break out the blue wrench to bend 'er back!

She should be good to go once you add a gusset for each spindle, got an idea of how you're gonna do it yet? Short piece of 3/16" flatstock or something would work pretty good.

I have some thick flatstock piece I can cut some out from.  Maybe 1/4 inch?

With frame twist you gotta think laterally, or diagonally- what will oppose the forces my frame is facing? I'm not sure just a few little pieces of flatstock will fix your issue. I think a horizontal X brace would serve you best, that way the corners of the frame can't pull away or push towards each other. Just my $.02 though.

Hey we can't be forgetting the mr.moodified classic, welding a nut in on the inside of the spindle!

Yeah I know, the frame really doesn't twist per say.  It kind of tries to fold front to back a little in the middle.  I think the foot braces are like the way they are to hold the sidewalls in place, but they are so old they are bending.  Yeah, I was planning on an X brace in there some time, but taking out the little things first.  Hey, if the nut works... 

The frame twist, maybe run flat stock down the frame rails on the outside. From the front shocks area to the trans mounts. Then some crossing over on top of the frame like the foot board crossovers are, since it looks pretty crowded underneath.

The 3 points of contact the frame original had, from ground to main frame, changed to 4 points of contact. Which is, 2 rear tires and front axle pivot (3 point, originally) to all tires on the ground (frame with front suspension with shocks up front, 4 point).

Hi Doggies.

Yeah i think the way you describe it flatstock will work. Angle iron would be even better.

Yeah on the baja sears I welded nuts in. I've used some pieces of threaded rod before too. Anything to fill the spot in the inside bend of the spindle. Can't remember if the simplicity adventure edition has them or not. I'd have to look. Don't think I did anything on that one.

He never share it here... but I like what @Doug did with his Murray of similar vintage to help with the folding.
He ran tube inside the tunnel topside.  Lots of room and plenty of space.  I could use angle or tube and would not need to come out the back like Doug, but he used it as a bumper mount.



These are all plans for the future..  After this year's build-off.  I have already nailed out some ideas for Li'l Red 2.0.

New better quality ball bearings for front wheels are on order.

When you say, "Li'l Red 2.0", you mean rebuilding Red, not a new Red, right?

A new Li'l Red.  Just a code name for now.  I would like to score a craftsman LT for it. Red will donate a few parts for it, but will not be disabled.

I have my new bearings for Kal.  I have not installed them yet.  I have been doing some contemplating and I think it would be best to "REMOVE" the rear rack from Kal.  I found it to be more dangerous than helpful.  Should Kal break, it would more than likely be towed back to camp where I have all my tools.  I probably won't be doing the "fearless" style romping down a trail and back.  It will more than likely be Haspin style.  I think I will keep the tools in the trailer.  If I need a toolbox, I can incorporate a smaller one on-board somewhere else.

Plus it will help to shorten the overall length of Kal.  Easier for shipping and storing.

Did some work on Kal tonight while I grilled some steaks.

Got it jacked up to install the new bearings.



Knocked out the old bearings.  On both sides the inner race fell out as did some of the ball bearings.  These were light weight bearings and I was not thinking when I installed them.  I think they were designed for two wheel dollies.  I have the same ones on Li'l Red.  I'll need to replace them some day too.



Here are the new bearings.  They are much sturdier.  I went ahead and cleaned out the barrels of the hubs because I plan on keeping these sealed.



Got them knocked in the hubs.  One new bearing on each side.



Now Kal stands true again!




I went ahead and removed the rear rack.  I was not 100% happy with it at Haspin.



I'll probably get razzed for this but it is the season to do a little dirt work, I have the Sears, but I also have a few implements that are sleeve hitch style.  Guess who the sleeve hitch belonged too?

Yep, Kal.



The hitch will probably stay on for a little while.

Good to see kal getting put to work. I’ve thought about doing a rack, but any way I think of doing it just won’t look right. Not to mention the exit angle like you said. What else about it didn’t you like? I thought the ammo cans were pretty handy, you seemed to use the chain several times while you were there

Wish i had a sleeve hitch. Those bearings look good, i could use some for...well, almost everything around here.

CQ you might be surprised when you put a rack on. I didn't think I'd like the rack on mutt, as the one it had way back when was a pain. I grew fond of it for putting a chainsaw and gas/oil on, as she's my firewood rig. Plus it's nice having a handhold so you don't accidentally shove your fingers between the fender and tire. Although i guess most people don't run the tight tolerances i do [smiley]https://7img.net/users/2812/37/66/46/smiles/1098998679.gif[/smiley]

Nice job Mighty! Should be good to go with the new front wheel bearings.

Also I agree that Kal looks much better without the rack sticking out behind the wheels. The clevis hitch is cool! What kind of implements do you have for it?

To be honest, I think Kal looked a bit better with the rack, but if it's in the way, it's in the way.

I'm a firm believer in working your tractor. I do it all the time! I sure wish I could get attachments like those for MM20. But I guess you can't really get things like that for LT's lol!

I have 2 plows 12 inch each and and a 2 row disk for the sleeve. The disk is not at the house. That is all I know.  The Sears has 2 plows a 10 and a 12 Inch. Single row disk. Rear blade, cultivator, potato plow, front dozer/snow plow and belly mower.

@CraftsmanQuad19 wrote:

Good to see kal getting put to work. I’ve thought about doing a rack, but any way I think of doing it just won’t look right. Not to mention the exit angle like you said. What else about it didn’t you like? I thought the ammo cans were pretty handy, you seemed to use the chain several times while you were there

I still have it. I can always bolt it back up when needed.

Are those 4 x 4 hubs from BMI karts? If so, I have the same ones on the front of my simplicity and I'd like to upgrade to sealed bearings also. Any chance you have a number on your new bearings? Guessing you've got 3/4" axles like most of them. I had my wheels submerged in water a couple times and I never really greased them much. You can't get the wheel on the hub with where they put the grease fitting on mine so I just left it out. Think I squirted some oil in a few times but that was it. I imagine they are not in great shape and wanted to replace them before the top tractor challenge in august.

These are what I got this time. 

Hubs

They look fairly decent. Do you know off hand what the specs are? Mine need to be 1-3/8" Outside by 3/4" inside (of course). They don't show specs on the ebay listing.

3/4 I.D X 1 3/8 O.D.

Nothing much with Kal since I put on the sleeve hitch.  Sometime I will take that off and put it on Thor I think.  Put the Back rack back on.  CQ was right.  It was pretty handy at Haspin, not just for the ammo box storage, but made a good seat when just chillin.

The old tractor has come a long ways from this...


To this...