I blame you all! New 149 project

[ACecil]

Congrats and good luck on your 149!

[Vrobert]

Wow, this thing is a heap. I like tinkering but I wasn't planning on making a career out of this one.

The good: The motor turns and has some compression. I squirted some PB down the hole before trying to turn it.

The bad: The starter was full of rusty water. I disassembled it but it was full of rusty mud and probably needs new everything.

One of the relief valves has a stuck button. I should have cleaned it better before I tapped it down, and now it's stuck down. They are both soaking in case I need to remove them.

One steering knuckle bushing is stuck to the pivot bolt. I'll have to press it out but one of the wheels is stuck on the spindle. It's the inside bearing rusted on because I can see the outside bearing race does move. I'll have to remove the axle so I can really get at everything.

The Ross steering box is pretty worn out and neglected (see pic). The bearings aren't too bad but there is a crack where the long tube presses in. I'll get it tig welded so the crack doesn't get worse. The sweep plate had the common problem of not being flat from the factory. See pic where I hold a straight edge on it. The pic showing the worn follower pin also shows where the yellow paint was never worn off on one end because it wasn't touching the seal plate. I fixed it well enough by clamping it and pounding on it. The seal plate seams to touch the sweep plate over the entire sweep now.

[West Valley G]

Don't blame me, I just hang around here looking at everyone else's projects.
This looks like a beauty. Seems to me you are having a pretty good time
of it so far.

Ken

[Vrobert]

Here is a nice flat Ross sweep plate (after pounding) and I snapped a pic to show the sweep pattern where the paint was never worn off.

[Vrobert]

Originally Posted by West Valley G

Don't blame me, I just hang around here looking at everyone else's projects.
This looks like a beauty. Seems to me you are having a pretty good time
of it so far.

Ken

I'm having a ball, but I already had too many projects before I found this one. And those catfish aren't going to catch themselves.

[cooperino]

Originally Posted by Vrobert

I'm having a ball, but I already had too many projects before I found this one. And those catfish aren't going to catch themselves.

That catfish is a beauty! That from a local fishing spot?

[Vrobert]

Originally Posted by cooperino

That catfish is a beauty! That from a local fishing spot?

It's from the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary on the Patuxent River near Annapolis, MD.

[West Valley G]

As long as fishing is in the top slot on the priority list I think you will
be OK.

Ken

[Vrobert]

Spent another weekend playing with the 149. Removed the axle pin and spindle king-pins. As you can see they are worn. I replaced the axle pin with a 3/4" grade 5 bolt so I could tighten the "C" channel. Replaced a few rod ends and re-installed my rebuilt Ross steering box.

The hydro-speed adjust plates were stuck so I removed them, cleaned and lubed the split nylon bushing that joins them, and wire wheeled the rusty bits. Now the speed lever is nice and smooth and pressing the brake glides it right into neutral. Forgot to snap a pic of the bushing but I found a similar pic.

[Vrobert]

Now I need advice with the starter/gen. Should I look for new brush holders and the rest of the guts or find another unit? The holders are just bolted in but I haven't been able to find replacements. They have been sitting in water and are mostly rusted away. The armature looks dead as well.

My plan was to get as far as I can repairing this cub before I start throwing money at it, so this is a little speed bump. If the motor and trans are decent I'll definitely spend the time and money to bring her back to life. I think I'm going to leave it looking just the way it does as a novelty, "rat rod" style.

I'd like to try and start the engine next. Anybody near DC with an extra starter to sell?