I bought an IH260a TLB
 

Hey All,
This may be the dumbest thing I've done in a while. It all happened because I found a perfectly good cast iron frying pan on the sidewalks of NYC a few years back. Then after a long search, I found some rural acreage in Connecticut to go with the frying pan. Then I quickly found our '72 #129 to mow it and trailer stuff around.

But then I became fascinated with hydraulics after the 129, and after I tuned up a friend's forklift. So I though I would buy an old log splitter to satisfy this curiosity. But after narrowly missing out on the almost free purchase of a little Laymor TLB, I thought a TLB might be a great fit for the property and my curious brain. It turns out that small used TLBs, like Kubota's, Deere's and Terramites are very expensive machines. A larger machine- especially a neglected one- can be had pretty cheap. And so...

I'm not going to do much with it until the ground thaws, but here it is. I bet that some of you will see the potential that I do. And if this post needs to be moved, or if you think I need to start barking at another website, I am open to suggestions. By late summer, this machine will be white and yellow again, and most of the decals are still available. Cheers! -Christopher

What does TLB mean?

It means what's in the middle, the front, and the back.

TLB = tractor, loader, back hoe

Thanks, we just call those back hoes

Your reply is very funny, and truthful!

I get that, and I did too. But the backhoe on this machine DOES release with two large nuts, two pins and some hose reconnecting. So then it would just be a "Loader", or maybe just a tractor to some people.

Nice machine. Good luck tuning it up. Take care of her mechanically before you bother with the paint.

Fix all the hyd leaks, that will include a lot of cyl seals and replace all suspect hoses.
Then it will run a long long time with no problems.
It is a tool with battle scars, enjoy it that way.
Fix it all purdy, and you will cringe when you use it for anything,---- not good!
:bigthink:

Unless it's lunchtime, then it's a BLT.

When I resealed the cylinders on my Case 646, I got the seals from "Grizzley seals" they are in Canada and Washington State. The hoses I measured and ordered from "Discount Hydraulics" , ( same place I got the hoses for my plow on the 1872) they were exactly to the size of what I ordered.

MFP is who I use for "O" rings and "V" packing in hydraulic work.
They pretty much have what I've needed on the farm.
Now you can't just call them up and say I need a thingy, because mine is leaking.
You do need to know what you need, be it a O ring, back up rings lip seal, vee packing, glands etc. ect. and of course, the size.
They are a big supplier of the industrial and oil businesses world wide.
https://www.mfpseals.com/

Yes- I agree! In late spring, all fluids and filters will be changed, and all the grease points (wow there are a lot, and most are dry and needing new zerks probably). It might need one or 2 master brake cylinders. Then I figure I will drive and dig a bunch. If it holds up well, then some basic painting begins. But this machine will never be a show piece and I have NO intention of making it look "new". Like you said, its battle scars and wear patterns- its got character all its own.

Thank you Gary! I will need some hoses and seals. I may NOT have the time to do the cylinder rebuilding myself, and I might drop them off at a hydraulics specialty place. I'm not sure yet.

Thank you George! With a good caliper and the make and model number, I hope I will be able to size and replace things.

You will learn alot about hoses and seals, but that is the fun of it.
Tractor supply has a line is lesser expensive hoses, but most times one has to use adapters for the ends, as TSC hoses have pipe thread fittings, but some will fit, you just have to compare. :beerchug:

A lot of your pins and bushings will prolly be worn, but most times they will work just fine digging holes and covering them back up :biggrin2:
Those industrial machines were built to be worked day in and day out, every day for years.

I happened to notice you said Discount Hydraulics, which if you mean is www.discounthydraulichose.com , then they are actually Hydraulax Products Inc. in Philadelphia, PA. I found them when looking up a specific Ford TLB hydraulic fitting, and they seem to be one of the few places that carry it. I suspect you might be able to get a better price going to their store than online.