Guy goes into a garage to grease bearings.....

[mfenmor]

I'm not dead yet, neither is this thread or project. Moved into a new house (which needs work), and I need to build a garage, so I'll have my dream shop to work on stuff. Highboy Max IV sits on the trailer in the mean time. Shop build should start soon.
Glad to see this site improve instead of expire. Couldn't log in for quite some time.

[john swenson]

nice to hear from you mike ....that's a good location and also not a far drive from busco . hope we can get a few guys together for an april ride there . be nice to get 8 0r 10 machines . keep in touch , jboy

[mfenmor]

and have you gotten moved and settled in n.c.? where abouts ? johnboy va.

Hey JB
most my stuff is in NC now, in Gates county, near VA border.
still looking for a house.

[mfenmor]

How?s the project coming along?

Project is on hold at the moment.
Renovating my house to sell.
I will be back to it in the spring.

[john swenson]

and have you gotten moved and settled in n.c.? where abouts ? johnboy va.

[Rowdy]

How?s the project coming along?

[mfenmor]

look to be a excellent brake setup ...and the stove is really comfy !! jb

Thanks JB.
Couldn't do any work without it. I really hate the cold. (hear I come southern states this year after retirement)
I only have time in the cold months to really devote time on this project.

[john swenson]

look to be a excellent brake setup ...and the stove is really comfy !! jb

[mfenmor]

Got brake caliper brackets done, painted and installed.
Plumbed brake hoses.
Found a good clutch handle and mount to use as my throttle, thumb use.
Ill get the fuel tank back in tomorrow since we didn't get hit hard from the blizzard, I don't have to plow much.

[mfenmor]

So after trying to warm the garage for three hours, (5 degrees this morning at 9:00 am) went out and maybe trying to pull the fuel tank first thing was not such a great idea.
Having never pulled one before, but knowing I had to for the risk of the winch mount bolts ventilating the tank, I gave it a shot.
Wish I had done it with the frame out, since you cant really see under the dash area.
I spent at least an hour trying to get the bolts loose on the tank straps. Many scraped knuckles. Finally got out the drill and took out the rivets holding the straps to the body (shoulda done this first) and now I can see those bolts were never coming out without a torch (not a good idea when dealing with a fuel tank) RUSTED SOLID!
So the tank is out, with the worst smelling fuel in the world. Thought I'd try a test. Soaked a rag with the "fuel" that was in there and tried to light it. No fire, not even the rag would burn. I've discovered a new fire retardant. Old gas. Who knew.





Took out the rad because I am relocating the hose ports to make for better hose routing.
Spent half my time next to the fire cause dang its cold.
Gave up being cold so back into the house and now I'm gonna make some cheese cake.

[john swenson]

beautiful fabricating ..... j.b.

[ARGOJIM]

Should be nice once done.

[onlyonce]

Happy to hear that project beast is alive and well. Looking great as usual. I plan on being at Busco as well and am anxious to see it first hand.

[mfenmor]

Got the radiator mounted today.
Had to undo the work I did yesterday to get more access, but it'll all go back.
Doesn't it always seem to happen when you have a project going that you don't have one or two more of those things you need?
Yep, more parts ordering tonight.

I think tomorrow will be fuel tank removal day, which is really gonna be nasty since there are about 2 gallons of 12 year old gas in it.

Need to start thinking about the roll bar and winch mount.

[mfenmor]

Hey JB,
I saw a guy on YouTube do a grouser chain for a lawnmower to plow snow.
It worked awesome so it should give you that much more traction with the highboy.
Cant wait to see it.
Mike.