1st. Attex Rebuild done over.

[JoeMeg]

As mentioned in the end of the thread Joe's 252 Colt Trail Machine "Gadget" ,the only way to properly rebuild these older "tossed around" machines is to completely disassemble them. Why was this not done originally? I want to be as accurate and informative as poss so bare with me. I type slow,think even slower.
Had my Argo for a while before I discovered a "group ride". This was at "The Ledges". It was there that I got involved with this bunch known as "6x6world" members. After one trail ride my daughter Lyndsey said "we ride with these guys from now on Dad,got it?" It was right about then when I got the "bug" for a second AATV. That's when I bought my first Hustler 880. My oldest son Andy and I had it completely disassembled within about a week. Then,after about 3-4 months I came to the conclusion that I was in wayyyyyyy over my head and still didn't have a clue as to what to do first.For reasons beyond my control,the clock began ticking and I wanted to get a second machine on the trail asap. My goal was to have it ready for April of the following year (it's August now). So,one Sept day I went to Waterford,PA and had an Attex project follow me home.


This one was being readied for service when I got it and figured it was my best bet to get something running asap as a lot of things were already addressed.


out of time,to be continued

[hydromike]

It was there that I got involved with this bunch known as "6x6world" members.

<raises beer>.... Sher's nice-iz hell ta <hic!> haveyaonboard, Joe...

I remember that I picked up the Thunderchief body/frame from Mr. Mielke (I think?) and you had just picked up Giz' about a week or so earlier. It's really come a long way, and as a testament to your addiction, you're already to tear it back apart and start over again! What a horrible, silly cycle of labor we volunteer ourselves for. Ain't it great?

What are the plans this time?

[JoeMeg]

[QUOTE=hydromike;157495]<raises beer>.... Sher's nice-iz hell ta <hic!> haveyaonboard, Joe...

Thanks Capn',it's good to be aboard <hic>

So,as I was saying earlier "This one was being readied for service when I got it and figured it was my best bet to get something running asap as a lot of things were already addressed."

Wow was that an over confident,inexperienced,assumption. I still spent a LOT of time fussing with things like the brake discs on the trans,reinforcements for the trans mounting,all things I wanted to shore up to prevent breakdowns. Most of which were not to my satisfaction because I just could not "get at " the work due to something in the way,no clearance,etc,etc. Just too darn cumbersome to access the frame when it's stuffed down in the tub. I was quite impressed with how the Heim joints took some slop out of the sticks,though.

"What are the plans this time?"

Quite like the Colt I just "finished",Giz is pretty much going to look the same when complete as she does now,on the outside,that is. Well,maybe removing the "RodP Droop" from the body will be noticeable but other than that,most of the work will be internal. Remember,I don't care a whole lot what they look like as long as they get me home before that piece falls off. So,here is Gizmo's unofficial work order;

-Remove the "droop" all the way around the body

-Lift the "nose" up a little. Looks like something heavy sat on the gas cap area for a long time,pushing it down a little.

-Install bracing to prevent everything from just sagging back in due time.

-Repair all the holes/leaks in the lower tub.

-Install some kind of skid plate(s)

-Install the poly fuel tank with full alum frame that I bought for this unit.

-Remove the brake discs and related hardware
from the trans.

-Install "Colt" Type brakes on the front axles.

-Modifications to the existing engine mount to make it more practical/user friendly.

-Disassemble and service the drive clutch.

-And,last but not least,maybe try to get a different seat installed. Possibly one with some springs or one mounted on the lawn tractor seat springs I have.

That's it for now but I'm sure that will be added to before it's all said and done,lol. Because,as another member recently commented "I never pass up a chance to create more problems for myself"

Had a few minutes last sat so I got a few thing like the exhaust,seat & engine bay cover and chains removed.
,

Then I had some time wed nite so I got the engine and trans removed
,,
If,IF the sprocket tubes cooperate,I should be able to have the frame out and sitting on saw horses in a couple o' three/four hours.


Joe.

[JoeMeg]

Time to bump this thread with a progress report. We've been having a good old fashioned winter here in Cleveland,cold. I got out to the garage for a day over New Years week. I have the frame hanging from the hoist a few inches over the body. That's it. It'll start warming up soon.......

[jpswift1]

<raises beer>.... Sher's nice-iz hell ta <hic!> haveyaonboard, Joe...

I remember that I picked up the Thunderchief body/frame from Mr. Mielke (I think?) and you had just picked up Giz' about a week or so earlier.

Yep, it's Merle that you're thinking of in Erie, PA. You've got a good memory.

[JoeMeg]

It's update time. Yes Jeff,that was Merle in Waterford,PA. that I got Gizmo from. I just spent two hours riding in the company van talking my self out of adding more to Gizmo's to-do list. I re-thought the garden tractor springs for seat suspension thing and am going to hold off on the full blown suspension seat idea for now. I want to get this one back on the trail asap and besides,that's an excuse to build my other Colt so I have something to put this seat into,lol. Anyhow,I said before that the set-up in the build bay with the build frame on saw horses facing the back of the bay with the tub end to end facing the front of the bay is nice. Makes it very easy to test fitment in the body before committing to anything on the build frame. The hoist on the barn door track is the ticket for this.
,,

I was really trying to over complicate this build by contemplating the installation of this nice suspension seat. But the "I have many other things I want to do and there never seems to be enough time" thing changed my mind. (for now,lol)


So I think I will try to stay focused on the original work orders.

[JoeMeg]

It's update time again. As per the original work order straightening of tubs was required. You can see in this pic how flattened Gizmo's "hood" is from having something setting on it.



In this pic you can see where the mud & water were pouring in through the gap between the upper and lower via the flange.



This shot show it also.



Trying to straighten out the upper and push the "hood" back up some. In this pic there are blocks under the fuel filler hole to try to hold it up and allow the rest of the body to sorta "sag" around it.

[JoeMeg]

Quick update,camera still on the fritz so no pics again. Got to learn about 3M Stripcalk. Great stuff. Has an uncanny ability to adhere to poly! Ran two "beads" of it all around the lower tub flange. 1 inside the screw holes and one outside. Used some 1x1x1/8 angle for side rails (top/side) and 1/8x3/4 flat bar for the "bottom" and sandwiched the lower,the calk and the upper between these. Turned out nice. Sealed the front and rear of machine re-using items/hdwr that were originally in place. Prior to joining the tub halves,I took some 3/16x1-1/2x24 flat bar pieces,heated a section and bent them 90 deg. around a 6" dia mandrel. This produced a nice 3" radius to conform to that of the lower tub. These go from the frame up and around toward the flange to further support it. They're the nice black pieces in the rest of the ugliness.



This is just about it for the "bodywork" now I need to get the frame on horses and begin assembling it. I'm still on the fence regarding use of OEM Attex brakes or just installing hydraulic,the rest is mostly straightforward.

[JoeMeg]

Update time. It's been almost 1 year since I began this project. The jury is back on the brakes. The OEM Colt stuff will not just "bolt right in" because of the way the frame rails are on a true 4 chain frame amoung other things. Assembly would require a procedure to rival any of NASA's and I stopped while pondering how they would be to service in the field. Hydraulic it is. Got a nice Yamaha dual caliper set up. Working on ideas now of how to make and install discs onto the original front sprocket tubes. Once this is done,as previously mentioned,the rest is mostly straightforward.

[riotwarrior]

Wow...kewl project I have to say and nicely done!

Lots of hard work here I see.

NASA rivalled assembly procedure and service...buwa ha ha...good one...I think I did that to my six wheeler ugh!

[JoeMeg]

Riotwarrior, thanks for the kind words.
Well,here I go again. This is why nothing ever gets done,too much thinking and not enough wrenching,lol. Anyhow,upon further review,the Yamaha dual front caliper set is just not going to work for me. The units themselves are much larger than they look when placed down by the front axles of an Attex. Between this and the fact that I'm still looking at having to install some kind of discs on the sprocket tubes,compounded by need to make some sort of mount to allow the calipers to "float",is well beyond my scope of abilities. I would prefer to use (re-use) existing components wherever possible,for various reasons. I really want to use old Colt front tubes w/ the discs already on them (that I have 2 sets of) and the original calipers from the "trans mounted" system as they do not appear to differ much from the mechanical ones I'm seeing in some of the links in riotwarriors thread http://www.6x6world.com/forums/wante...-calipers.html. Still workin on a camera so I can post some pics. Between the "mounts" and sprocket tubes from old Colts and the calipers,I think I can make something work.

[JoeMeg]

Update time again. Let's see,it's been about 15 months since this project was started,things are moving,just not too fast.

A great big thank you to member Hydromike for braving a 10 deg Buffalo day to round up some disc brake components for a 4 chain Attex frame. This has given the "jump start" I needed to quit goofing off and get er done.

Still working on a camera but for now,this is what has been accomplished,

-Remove the "droop" all the way around the body. Done,and made nice side "bumper" from angle iron and some flat stock.

-Lift the "nose" up a little. Looks like something heavy sat on the gas cap area for a long time,pushing it down a little. Done.

-Install bracing to prevent everything from just sagging back in due time. Done.

-Repair all the holes/leaks in the lower tub. Done (I think,lol).

-Install some kind of skid plate(s) Postponed,indefinitely.

-Install the poly fuel tank with full alum frame that I bought for this unit. Done.

-Remove the brake discs and related hardware
from the trans. Done.

-Install "Colt" Type brakes on the front axles.

Ahha,this is where we've (I ) been stalled for quite some time now. As previously posted,the OEM Colt stuff is just TOO close to the frame,etc to fit in there and the hydraulic set I mentioned are even larger,presenting even more of a challenge. I even made an attempt at using a band brake set-up,that I was satisfied with and may use on a future build,until the opportunity for things that were pretty much designed and built for this application arose. And,yes,even this is not exactly a "bolt-in" operation. Why,I'm still not clear on but as I find more things out I will certainly share them here.

[Andyman]

Sounds great Joe, looking forward to pics

[JoeMeg]

Wow! What a difference 30 deg F makes. 36F out feels a LOT better than 6 . I think I have officially emerged from hibernation now. I've managed to put grease zerks in the lateral pivots (another operation NOT on the original work order,wonder why this takes so long ). The trans should get drained,and hopefully split to begin left output shaft replacement,this evening. This should get things back "on track". I know I've been slacking with the pics but I just bought a "new" camera today so,as soon as it arrives,I can begin putting some photos up

[Andyman]

Pics would be cool