My "new" 1941 cletrac HG

[Lowspeedlife]

Here's the worst looking connecting rod throw,


There's a crank from an Avery A with an IXK for sale on we-pay, has been on there for some time now, but the guy selling it can't tell me the journal sizes.



Scott

[Jack in NB]

If that were mine, I'd be tempted to try polishing up the surfaces at a shop to remove burrs, and see what it looks like. Some pitting would retain oil, and unless you are really going to push the engine hard, should last for years.

Then - if you are a real purist, a more vigorous approach:

Since the mains are babbited, a few thou off them will work fine.

If the rods are fitted with inserts, since they are now standard, taking them down .010 would be an option - provided you can get the inserts. I understand Zimmermans can rebuild insert cups to whatever size is needed.

Good luck with the critter!

[Blake Malkamaki]

I filed the caps down a little on my E and it worked fine. It's been running for years like that with good oil pressure and no problems. Babbit bearings are a lot more forgiving than modern inserts because with babbit you actually have some "meat" there. Inserts have a very thin film of actual bearing material. If there are are no sharp edges to scratch the babbit, your crank may work just fine.

[Doug424]

If we every get a day without rain here, I'm going to pull the pan off that IXA and see what it looks like.

[Lowspeedlife]

Thanks for the reply Jack,
I've put together stuff that looked worse than this, & have seen them run for years in a rental environment where it may have been in almost constant use, or sitting idle for months. But even back then (1980's) those engines had a "modern" higher pressure oiling system. The 15 PSI oil system in the little Hercules IX Engine just seems in adequate to handle its own duties without adding compensating for damaged crankshaft bearing surfaces. It will be for my own use, not for sale, I know these don't sell for what they really should. The connecting rods are fitted with shell inserts & they are available up to .030 oversize. They are expensive about $30.00 a piece plus shipping, I just don't want to waste my time, energy & money only to have to tear it all down again.

I agree about the babbitted mains being more forgiving Blake, I may have to go that route, I just don't want it to be my first option.

Thanks Doug, I'll be waiting to hear what you find.


  Scott

[Larry p]

I agree it would prob run forever if you put it back together like that. But you have it apart spend the money and fix it right the first time it will cost less in the long run.

[Lowspeedlife]

Thanks for the reply Larry. I do prefer to do things one time if at all possible.
On another note I was able to braze the two pieces  that broke out of the manifold behind the carburetor back into place. With the carburetor in place it can hardly be seen. Once it gets some crud on it, it will not be seen at all.
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Scott R.

[Lowspeedlife]

I'll be cutting the track frame support arm braces tomorrow. They will be made from 3/8" steel plate, shaped something like this:



They will replace the two rods that someone welded  to this one. Hopefully they will do a better job than the original supports did & look much better than the rods do. I don't think I'll try to weld these in place. I don't have a lot of experience welding steel to cast, I know it should be heated first and allowed to cool slowly but for something like this I think paying a pro is well worth it.

[Lowspeedlife]

No progress on the braces so far, I've been sick since Tuesday. A really weird cold, low fever, headache sore throat & my ankles hurt, that the wired part. Hope to be well enough by Saturday to resume.

[Blake Malkamaki]

Welding some gussets in there would be easy and really make them strong. Plus, they'd look pretty good. Look at the gussets cast into the final drives on a Cletrac E.

Blake

[outbackrider]

Lowspeed
Here is another way to reinforce.
This reinforcement looks to be substantial.

Does anyone know, was this part of the field updates or home grown?

[Blake Malkamaki]

Looks home grown. I would at least put a piece of diamond plate over it to make nice running boards. Otherwise it looks like a good place to get your foot caught.

[Lowspeedlife]

I saw that one for sale on We-pay, Outback. Thought it was an interesting modification. I'm sure it's not a factory update. That tractor went for $3350.00. It's a nice tractor, looks like it has factory paint on it but they cut the hood up to get to the oil filler cap & screwed the serial number plate to the hood. It was about 6 hours from here. I just prefer the '42s.

Scott R.

[Lowspeedlife]

If we every get a day without rain here, I'm going to pull the pan off that IXA and see what it looks like.

Hey Doug, any word on the IXA engine in your HG chassis?

  Scott R.