1969 LTV KID ATV

[LTV KID]

Ill see if I can find the numbers in the next couple of days...but I just took them out and went to a bearing store to order. you can find the bearings easy because there pretty common but the seals are not made anymore so you have to buy two for each axle and double layer them. I suppose you are talking about the axle bearings and seals not the idlers and other odd bearings?

[tweeter166]

the seals are still made guys you just gotta know where to get them.. you dont have to use 2 seals per axle..

[Southern Comfort Kid]

I got all of my new bearings and seals fom Shoson shoson.com and I don't think it cost anywhere near that much! From a local machine shop parts place yeah! Other parts ck or Kid service sk at kid8x8.com.

I can tell you (because I have duals on mine) and they come off when I go in the water at least the front 4, too much bouancy make it tipsy, better to ride lower in the water where is was designed for.

[tweeter166]

Shoson is cheap on a few things like bearings but thats becoase they have been on his self since he bought the kid 8x8 out back in 1971.. if he was to have to buy them today to resell they would be more money..

NOS is ok on parts like bearings and stuff if stored correctly but not seals and stuff as that stuff dries out and goes bad..

[LTV KID]

im overall happy with the cost of my all the bearings and seals for my kid I got quality sks bearings and the seals are double and to me look like they would seal the bearings and the grease between them much much better than the origanals...Plus the ones that cost me 150 were the all idlers and the main drive sprocket bearings wich there were three in each one costing 15 a piece! But as far as my knowledge i dont think anyone has torn apart a KID and Replaced every single bearing If so I would love to get some pictures of it!

[tweeter166]

S6300307.jpg

i have replaced every bearing on a kid before and i am doing another one now.. heres a sample ..

[Southern Comfort Kid]

I don't know I orered mu bearings an seals from Shosun in small lots not all at once and some were made in mex, some in china and the seal were all good so I thinj he does have some vew inventory. I agree with that like on a bearing housing that I got and had to blast the small surface rust off. LOL!

[LTV KID]

THAT JUST MADE ME DROOL!!!!!! Wow mine is on the way to looking like that though great Job! what paint are you using?

[tweeter166]

i use Cardinal paints and powder coat products.. i have many pictures like that.. heres one of the body and the motor for that machine..

the hoses are still taped up on the motor.. so dont think i paint hoses as i dont.. i think it looks awful when someone paints something all up and paints the hoses and wireing.. LOL

[LTV KID]

Alright This question is aimed mainly at tweet but anybody else that has experience with this i could use your input...So the KID is coming along good and im at the stage of choosing which gears to use? The High gears and go 25mph or the low and go 18mph but with more low end torque...leaning torward the more torque but would enjoy some input..which is better and why? btw some new pictures are coming soon

[Southern Comfort Kid]

Kid
Probably tweeter can give you the best advice in driving the two gear sets. I have the high gears and the best Ive gotten yet is about 21 (on my GPS) on a paved road. I've done some recent work and need to get a new reading. But, I can tell you sometimes going that speed on a narrow gravel road is hairy if it starts getting rough. One little bounce and you're in the ditch sideways! You definitely can't go near that speed with tracks. If you want to use tracks in the rice paddys I would want more torque. I've needed more torque on some hills. Of course that may be all overcome with a fresh engine build! On the other side, if I only have 21 of 25 mph, would you be happy with only 14-15 of 18? If you definitely have 18 then thats only 3 shy of my 21, and with the torque gain.
You probably know the answer to this question with your teardown, what is the diameter and length of the engine drive shaft? straight or tapered?
Also have you heard anything about having to take the tracks OFF to go in water? I saw that on a Ebay sale ad.
On the positive side I am experimenting with adding plastic grousers to the steel tracks to permit easier running, turning on concrete, etc and should give better performance in swamp and water. Hope to get some pix on soon.

[tweeter166]

LTV KID.. i would use what ever gear i had as theres not that much diffrents.. But i would go with the 18 mph if i had to pick as i would be useing the machine 99% of the time under the 5mph range going through the woods or swamps or hills.. also just wondering where you got the 1969 year of your machine.. i been doing alot of pokeing around lately on the Kid 8x8 history and have a news paper from December of 69 from tyler TX and its saying the machine are to start comeing off the line in Feb 1970..

[LTV KID]

YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! Finally got all of the chain on my KID!!! (exept the triple) All eight of the 60 roller chain in and tensioned down right. All of the 6 idlers have been rebuilt and the two main sprockets have been rebuilt!! (all with new bearings and fresh grease) PICTURES SOON!! Southern ill go measure the output shaft for you soon but it is striaght/ for some reason yalls post didnt show up on my "what's new" list lol and choosing the gear for the KID was made for me (The idiots that had the kid I got from texas had one large gear and one small gear on it!!) so I have three small and one large. And Tweet the guy I got it from told me it was 1969 and when I started this thread i hadnt even bought it yet! long time ago. Also southern I heard that but what i think it meant was that it wouldnt "swim" but would float so i think it will go with a prop? but idk wouldnt quote me on that..

[Southern Comfort Kid]

KID 8X8 New Track Cleats!

LTV Kid,

I finally got my track upgrades done. I finished before duck season but couln't get it trailored with all the other stuff I had to take from New Orleans to Monroe. I did take my Hoot 6X6 and it did great in the flooded woods carrying 2 of us and breaking thru the ice at 25 degress... COOOLD! Wish I had the Kid. Next year will be different I just got a larger trailer. I upgraded a car hauler and made it where I can load from all sides and carry the Kid, the Hoot and another.

More about the track upgrades. I got the idea from the Adair tracks and used UHMW which s a low friction plastic cut into 1X 1 and a 1/4 then machined rounded edges, counter drilled and bolted them to the tracks. Lets see 90 holes drilled per side, 90 bolt sets, new bolts at every track break, minimal weight gain and nooowwwww I can spin on concrete like someone greased the concrete. I had to go back to the 8.50 tires to use the tracks, 10.50s won't work but I have enough clearance between the track cleats and the fenders and gained about another inch of ground clearance! About $5-600 in parts and TIME!

Haven't done much testing yet, but I fully expect more speed in water, more grab in mud and a lot less stress on the track rubbers. In other words the best Kid upgrade I can think of. I only have 1 video and it's rough but you can get the idea. I finished the trailer rebuild and hope for a sunny weekend this weekend to load everything and get my tie downs properly placed so I'll get some video then.

Kid track cleat video:

Sorry, here's the Hoot video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWC4_RNNZXU

[a1shiva]

Hi everybody,
New to the group but happy to see you are talking about a Kid. I just brought one home and it is still sitting on the trailer until my yard dries up. Gas engine, tracks and a blade. Needs work as the engine has a knock and one broken axle. It did come with a replacement engine. Looks like a good project to strip down and start from scratch fixing.

I do have an Argo 8x8 with tracks and a couple of Pugs to run around on while doing this rebuild.

All the pictures and descriptions of what you guys have had to do to yours are a big help. When I start work on it I will try to keep you updated. I plan on using it to skid logs in to some remote property I have to build a cabin next year. I built a small bandsaw mill last year to make all my lumber that will also be pulled in. The Argo and Pugs are just to light for the job. With the extra hydraulics I should be able to make a lift on the back of the Kid to get one end of the log off the ground so it will pull easier.

I have a small backhoe for a skidsteer that sure would look good on the back of the Kid and make it lots easier digging my post hole cabin footings.

Has anyone added a larger alternator to their engine? I would like to put an electric winch on mine but figure it could use more charging power.

Thanks for the great thread.