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Its been quiet a while since I have been on. I did get the Mercedes conversion in the OC-3 running. Its not "finished" but does run and runs good. I was able to locate a brand new drive shaft and modified it to mate with the Mercedes manual trans output. Used some Chevy motor mounts and home made brackets welded to the frame to secure the diesel. New radiator is now mounted out front of the frame using an electric fan. Picked up several track parts from Chris but yet to install them. I take it out and drive it around every so often but right now its tarped over in back of the shop as other projects are using up the space inside. Need to figure out a way to mount the hydraulic pump and rebuild the blade hydraulic system, replace the track support on one side (its an HG set up on one side...) and a few other items as well as turn the tracks around the right way. Will need a custom made hood and grill and still looking for an air cleaner assembly to use on it.

Its been a while but also some work has been done! Motor is mounted with a combo of home made and commercial mounts and a new rear trans mount was built. Radiator is mounted and almost done with the drive shaft. I was able to secure a brand new old stock drive shaft so had new donor parts to fab up a replacement. Using the spline  and u-joint and yokes for the trans side of the new shaft I have them mated to the Mercedes output shaft. Final welding to be done but several test drives have been ok well almost, tonight I put her in 3rd gear to start off after a drive and the temp weld let go. I do have the front original U joint and yokes left over from the new old stock drive shaft and will offer it up for sale. Both yokes are splined and have the set screw taps in place. The u-joint also has the zerk fitting. Have the dozer blade bracket mounted and soon will begin the hydraulics rebuild. A few more parts from Chris soon to be on there way and the track support and spring will be replaced. A few other odds and ends but looking a lot better. Bad thing is the live steam track work needed to get started so a buddy brought an IH dozer over and some of the work the OC was to do is now done. Bad news is that while using the Case 1740 to prep the roadbed I lost a chain tensioner bearing, so its apart now as well waiting on parts. Of course no sense doing one side only and after opening up the other side found that one just about gone as well!

After more test runs last week end I decided it was time to get the motor off the chassis so the new mounts could be fabricated and the drive shaft rebuilt. A little behind on the rebuild but making progress. Need a few parts and working with Chris on those to solve the main spring issue and a worn track support arm. As the weather has become more moderate progress with pick up.

Jim

Chris,

Parts arrived today! Have not checked them out yet though. Ok to be sure the side in my photo is the side I believe you are saying is the OC 3 side frame. This one has the larger main spring however has the smaller idler spring rod shafts that have the bend in them perhaps this was exchanged when the frame was done? I need to check the main frame as well. As there was no builders plate I cant verify the frame however the previous owner Anthony had it listed as a 56 OC 3. He did have the motor etc so I figured he got the info then. The broken roller is also on this side with the larger main spring.

May have to do a road trip your way this summer!

Jim

Hard to believe its been almost a month however several things have been done. Pulled the IP and found it was 2 teeth off (retarded wise) and when reinstalled could get her to light right up. Added the vacuum regulator back in the IP as well and built up the control rods and was also able to connect to the original throttle handle for speed control and was able to take several test drives. Spent the last week working on other items but found that when it ran long enough I have a coolant leak around a previously home made gooseneck for the upper radiator to head connection. This part needs to be reworked/rebuilt so now added to the list.
Installed a Delco single wire alternator and have oil, water and soon amp gauges hooked up
Have a roller on the way from Chris however when taking a closer look at the track and track frames I see I have two different types on the machine. It also appears the left side may have a week or broken spring as well. Need to understand how to tell the frames apart. The left side frame has a smaller diameter main spring and spring pad on the frame mount and large diameter (1 .25") spring rods for the front idler wheel. This side also has a rectangular cutout with a bolted on cover just above the middle roller. On the other side the spring rods for the front idler wheel are smaller (1" dia) and are both bent a little downward just before they enter the spring. The main spring on this side is larger in diameter than the other side and has no dust cover. The spring pad on the frame mount is also a larger diameter than the other side. The wear plate on top of the frame mount on this side is a bolted on plate where as on the other side the frame mount casting has the wear plate as part of the casting. The bent spring rods are also causing the idler slide bars to cock over a bit so I do not expect this bend is normal.

So to me it sure seems like the side frame and frame mount have been changed at some point. Do I need to replace the bent spring rods and if so are they all the same on the through holes where they bolt up? Also may need a main spring for the left side but not sure yet how to check this one. For sure that side of the machine has a lot more clearance between the upper track and the wear plate (about 2")even though I have both tracks set to about 2" of sag as per the manual.

The machine has real good slow speed with the dual transmissions!

Blake you were right though she wont light up with out the glows!

Once the motor issues are all settled I will pull it to redo the motor and trans mounts  and then when back in get started on the hydraulics.

Also need to get an input shaft seal for the main transmission as this one is leaking. Will need to replace when I pull the drive shaft to replace the U joint. Anyone have part numbers for the oil seal and u joint?

Jim

Progress   while waiting on the 621 parts I got the alternator wired up and was able to start and operate the machine, Motor is still rough but was able to drive it around on two occasions, Yesterday the linkage and vacuum line arrived so I can get to putting the IP control back to how it was (or close enough I hope). I did try to fine tune the IP timing but was only able to retard timing a little (could not get it to rotate the other way to advance it). Fixed several nuisance water leaks as well.

Jim

Blake,

He did not think it was needed and as he had swapped out the intake for the short version the linkages etc no longer worked. He did tell me early on that he knows now that was wrong and it needed to be returned to some form of governing. That's where John had come into the picture but I have yet to talk direct with him. The thinking was that some other form of governing could be done. He works for Ohio CAT now so the schooling and work have taught him a lot. Need to get this machine running to put it to work, started grading for the live steam railroad using the Ford and the box grader, not being able to angle makes that job a bit tougher. But with weather in the 60's yesterday could not pass the chance to get some work done.
Thinking about the tracks does it really matter which way they are mounted other than reverse them to even the wear?

Jim

Blake,

Yes it appears to be the front of the lower pan. Not a big deal to repair. I am in luck I guess. I found a fellow down South who had some OM 621 parts. I was able to get the vacuum line, some of the linkages and the valve cover bracket assembly along with a few other pieces. Hopefull they will be here this week. I can then redo the IP with the vacuum set up. Even the though the used IP I picked up had the same model number I have to hope the internal set up is the same. There are a few parts between the vacuum diaphragm and the plunger that appear to set the stroke/response. as the used pump has three small discs used to space this part I have no way of knowing what the original used. But if this gets me going I will be happy. Sent message to Chris to inquire about a roller and bearings. Also need to look at pictures to see if tracks on the machine are facing the right direction? Not sure if they can be reversed but did read something about that.

Jim

Blake,

OK will get some up, reviewing the shop manual for the motor I realized it would be best to put the original intake back on which is now done as well as the butterfly. Now I need to round up a vacuum line (those metric thread sizes are driving me nuts) and the linkages. I understand the set up now and perhaps can fab them based on info in the manual. The pivot arm though will be the tough one as the arm lengths are not the same so getting the ratio correct could be tuff. I do have the pivot mount though and have got it mounted to the valve cover. Did run it a little again today and moved it out and back in to the barn. Will need to get the gears figured out in the Mercedes trans, not sure I was in first gear but was in first on the Oliver and she really wanted to jump! Off to TSC tomorrow to see if I can find those pieces that fit the swivel ball joints, then thinking threaded rod will do the trick. This set up will allow the use of the original throttle control as well. Radiator is temped in place for testing only and to get the mock up figured out for fabrication of the steel mounts. Had a few nuisance oil drips but now down to maybe needing a new oil pan gasket.

Jim
Jim

Blake,

Good info. I really need to see the other side of the set up then. Going to start checking junk yards for a 200d or 190d to see if I can find the linkages and set up. Anthony was going to check if he still had them as well. Motor shop manual arrived today so that may help with a few things. Timming is 26 degrees BTC as you recalled. The hydraulic pump is not original so not sure it will drive the cylinders properly or if I will have enough belt grab for it so once the motor is settled that project moves to the front. I did find today I have a roller broken in half so need to add that to the list. Will need a replacement roller and internals for it from the way it looks. Will need to talk with Chris and Zimmerman's it looks like.

Jim

Blake,

Anthony stopped by and we went over a lot, it was a nice reuinion for him with his old machine. Yes the IP had been taken off so verifying timming is needed. I now have the original manifold and butterfly and plan to use the butterfly on the short manifold already installed (it fits right on) I do not have the vacum line or linkages though so that task remains. He is going to dig around and see what he still may have. Waiting to talk more with John as well, as I picked up a used IP that is in bad shape but is pretty much complete. It will alow me to replace the vacum govenor and related parts removed from the current one. I need to understand the linkage set up on the this type motor to get an idea of what was connected to what, have not had luck finding pictures on the net. Perhpas the shop manual I am expecting may show it.

Did not get the radiator system mounted as I ran into a problem but now have that resolved and expect to have that done this week. Would like to get it running enough to move around under its own power. This orginally had the model A transmission modification in it and Anthony used it that way as well. He sold the motor and trans combo a while back (some one got a heck of a deal on that!) he said it performed pretty good that way and had even removed a stump of a large tree.
Jim

John,

The IP is a model PES4M 50C320 RS14. I did manage to find a complete one and purchased it in case I need the parts Anthony removed. I talked with him last week and he is checking for any left over parts as well. I am missing the butterfly but may have a source for one if Anthony doesn't find one. He plans to stop over soon to go over some things. I live near Swanton about 10 minutes from the airport. Perhaps you are not to far away? I am close to getting the radiator set up done so I can run it longer. There is a concern the IP timing may be off but I am not sure how to check that or set it. I managed to find an OM 621 shop manual on line and have it ordered as well. It should be easier to start than it is right now. Good news is Anthony had the trans opened up when he added the PTO, indicated to me the internals were in good shape as well as the steering bands. This PTO still has the original pulley as well. Feel free to get ahold of me direct if you want to.


Blake,
I found a source for the butterfly and even the intake that is similar to the picture you posted. I have the short intake on it now and could keep it if the butterfly I found matches the bolt pattern, if not I may have to get the other intake with butterfly attached.

What a great source of help this site is! I hope at some point I can do the same for others!

Jim

Blake,

Thank you this is great help. I have reached Anthony by phone and expect to talk this evening about the project. I am hoping he kept some of those parts after seeing the above. Weather here has not been conducive to doing work even with the stove burning in the barn so not much done this week. If I can locate the manifold and parts the pump will need to be returned to original as well I am thinking. With out the vacuum pump I wonder how well the system would perform to. I wonder what intake is on here then as its nothing like pictured.

Jim

John,

Ok, this one has been modified and the intake manifold has been changed. Right now I do not have any of those parts and not sure what was actually done inside the injector pump. I noticed in older threads the fellow Anthony who made these changes was speaking with sone one named John, perhaps that was you?

Thanks for your input,
Jim

When he emailed he was concerned that this set up is not correct. Researching the posts here that he had back in the day he was on track with someone about governing concerns but the trail ends there, I am waiting to hear back from him as well. Having a hard time finding 50W oil locally but have found several forums where 50W is said to be the same as 90w gear oil as far as viscosity is concerned. If that can be found with out the additives (if possible).Clean up work continues with the oil leaks fixed, fuel lines  and filter replaced. Going to try a simple cable set up for throttle control and have an idea on radiator set up as well. I wont be able to use the original hood at all it looks like so perhaps when all is said and done will have something made up to keep the general shape.