My Trackster Build

[brushcutter]

I got the other seals in and the second hydro bolted back on. Then discovered that the control rods were installed wrong when the machine came, they were bolted to the top of the attachment plate but when installed correctly, they hit the intake, and also the throttle brackets, where all the linkages attach to the engine, governor, etc, etc.... things do get better though, because all those problems will go away after I rework the driveshaft, which is somehow crooked? bent? off center? at the u-joint. Not a big deal except for the fact that this causes a wobble that is strong enough to move the engine when the starter is engaged. Which will prematurely wear out the transmission. ain't life great!

So, now I get to re-re-re-re-re-revise the driveshaft. Thing is this would be no trouble at all if the engine were a straight shaft instead of the tapered shaft that it is. VERY open to any of the following: suggestions, trades, reasonable offers...

[mudbug3]

Bushcutter

I just didn't know how much fun you'd be having restoring this machine when you bought it did you?

[Trackster]

That sucks. 14 page son this build and I don't think I have heard you complain about the lack of captured nuts. You need 8' arms or 2 people to take just about any bolt out of these things.

Stick with it, you are almost there and its going to be awesome.

Nick

[brushcutter]

Bushcutter

I just didn't know how much fun you'd be having restoring this machine when you bought it did you?

Had to laugh with you on this one Dave, you are SOOO right! One of the guys I work with stopped by yesterday and was dumbfounded "I would be so lost, I wouldn't even know where to begin putting all that together!" I kinda feel like I've put this thing together about 5 times already.

That sucks. 14 page son this build and I don't think I have heard you complain about the lack of captured nuts. You need 8' arms or 2 people to take just about any bolt out of these things.

Stick with it, you are almost there and iris going to be awesome.

Nick

I haven't mentioned the impossible to reach bolt locations Nick, there is no way this is a one person project. I could reach every bolt on the hustler 950 with, at most, a long extension, but this thing, no way can I even think about reaching both the bolt and nut on most of them by myself. I promised my Mom I would take her for a ride in it as soon as it's finished. She is well past 70 and I would like to take that drive asap, because at that age anything can go wrong. So it goes way beyond just wanting to hunt out of it!

I did find that the OD of the original hub was not concentric with the ID, so when I assumed it was and just started turning it for the driveshaft I cut the thing .028 out of center. I have since gotten a jewelers lathe from my dad that would grab the center bore of the hub and got it cut concentric. I also cut about 1.5" off the end of the crank and drilled and re-threaded it, that will shorten things up some and should give me a little leeway for the length of the driveshaft. There is a fine line between too short and the control rods hitting things still, and too long and having the engine against my knees. Tomorrow I hope to start the work on the shaft and u-joints.

[brushcutter]

Yesterday was a productive day. I got the new driveshaft in, engine and alternator bolted in, and intake modified and in. Finishing all that in 5 hours after a trip to town and still had time to take the boys to the shooting shack for a deer hunt - after stopping by to pick up one of our rifles that was being worked on by by brothers bil.

The first pic is how I checked all the components for fit and spacing.
Next shows the assembled shaft with a pulley I got from an old electric motor my neighbor had. The pulley ID had to be bored to fit the hub and the center of the original one wasn't big enough to bore. Also the engine had to move rearward to allow room for the longer shaft, and the belt guard stood out from the motor 3 inches, so that had to all go... it was such a nice belt guard too. Next it was ALL removed after much checking and layout, so the necessary motor mount extension could be welded on. The last 2 show the finished shaft, and then the shaft, alt and control rods all bolted down.

I still have to build a tensioner for the alternator belt which I'll do this morning. Finally, I feel like I made progress, so I'm headed to the shop, hopeful that today will also be productive.

[brushcutter]

Well, we cranked the thing Monday evening, the new driveshaft worked flawlessly, but...
We went through the Hydrostat priming process with the first drive shaft, but just to be sure, we repeated it before attempting to start it. When it cranked it we waited a few minutes for it to get circulating, then moved the control lever forward and the left track began to roll and the right track not. I called a couple of folks and the general consensus is that the right hydro will have to be replaced. Mack's Trax sells theirs reconditioned for $1245 with exchange. I just don't know what to do at this point but I have NO intention of keeping this thing. I think I first read the phrase "negative Karma" in a post by Hydromike, and do I ever know how that feels. I'm not giving up on it... I've been beaten down by it. I hoped this thing would be a fun project for the kids and I but it went far in the other direction, they HATE it, and cringe when I even ask them to go work on it, the middle son so much that I no longer even ask him to. If you are interested PM me and we'll see what price we can come up with. The initial Parts order was $3800 the new tracks were $1556, there is over $1000 in fiberglass and superliner, $300 in the driveshaft, and that doesn't even begin to get into the countless other $70 to $300 orders this sponge has soaked up. Make me a reasonable offer and we'll see. Read through this thread and ask yourself "if I had put this kind of money into this and worked on it for 20 months and 1 day, how would I want for it?" then we can talk I won't give it away, but we may both be surprised how cheap you can buy the cursed thing for. An hour from now it will be out of my shop and under a tarp. SUCKS to be that close and get shot on the head. So, think about it, while I go cuss at the thing and move it out of my way... If you want it you could be driving it soon.

[Coop]

You might just have an air leak on one of the lines, or the round, cork gasket between the hydro/gearbox may not be sealing and sucking air. I'd jack both tracks off the ground, start the engine, put the joystick either in the forward or reverse position and let it run this way at an idle, or slightly above, for a few minutes. Sometimes the hydros can be stubborn to prime, and I've had them lose their prime and be stubborn to re-prime. Also, make sure one or both of the release valves are not stuck open, or have something stuck in them, which would cause the hydro not to prime. Don't give up, you're close...

Coop

[brushcutter]

I appreciate the info Coop, and yes, those are all things Craig and I talked about, although I haven't pulled the hydro to see about the gasket, because the rt control lever will only move when I work it roughly back and forth then it kinda feels like it goes into a gear and then the track starts to spin, but the lever pulses and will kick out. Either way my heart is set hard against having it and it will be sold. I think it is an old worn out machine that just wants to stay dead, and as far as I'm concerned at this point it can. I'm done with it and willing to cut my losses. There doesn't seem to be a lot of interest in the project on here anyhow, so it will most probably set under the shed for a very long time, oh well $10000 throwed down the hole...

[Noel Woods]

I say don't let it get you down. Park the dang thing for awhile and work your frustrations out in other projects around the home front. After it sits for awhile the interest will return. I've got several projects working along the same lines, they all eventually get done, although most are measured by the years and not by normal time.
You are way too close to stop. I don't think interest has been lost on the build at all, I've been discussing this with several folks and our interest hasn't receded. We are just waiting on you to get 'er done.

[brushcutter]

I appreciate that Noel I really do, but this is it. I would have taken a G for it maybe less, but since there has been ZERO interest in buying it I will just let it set. Really got no choice in that right now. I'm not willing to pay for a hydro at any point but I have no choice in that either so that will happen under protest and with clear understanding that it goes up for sale as soon as it is operational. The thing will leave my property under new ownership one way or another, even if I have to force someone to take it! But first that means getting it going. I made up my mind after the driveshaft episode that once it is going I will only drive it enough to get all adjustments made and sell it. I have no intention of ever driving it through as much as a mudhole in my yard because I know without a doubt that if it were to break in the most insignificant way while in the woods, I SWEAR I would light it up and walk away. I hate the thing and it has got to leave here.
But thanks for the encouragement

[Trackster]

Man that stinks. I understand where you are coming from though. These things can be a vicious beast. So hard to work on, expensive and then what are they worth? I can't tell you what they are worth but I think yours must be worth at least $4k.

I almost burned my garage down with mine today. I mean really really close like I was at the cross roads get the hose or call 911. I went with the hose. Saved the garage and the Trackster, scariest thing I have had with it yet.

I hope time heals some wounds bad and it works out for you in the long run. You have shown you are a good guy and I would love to see good things happen for you.

Nick

[phabib]

I totally see where you're coming from. I got this Max IV and totally underestimated the amount of work it needed. I'm not new to buying basket cases and I enjoy the work but it feels like its been dragging on for months with nothing to show for it but a lot of money spent on parts and things that are almost ready to start putting back together. I figure that I'll be into it for $1500 to $2000 when I get it running. I just hope it will be reliable and solid at that time.

Sometimes you just want that reminder of all the frustration gone from your life.

I'm still sorry to hear that its happening to you.

[brushcutter]

Wow what happened? I kind of had to chuckle at the irony when I read about the fire, there you are risking your life to save yours and the garage, and I'm wishing mine would burn so I could sit and drink beer while it burned and collect a nice check from my homeowners. HAHAHA, oooo, you are giving me some BAD ideas!
Outside the shop of course...

[Trackster]

If it was just a garage I would have let it burn. It is an attached garage!

The story is too long to give he details but suffice to say, always have a fire extinguisher ready when welding. A fire blanket would have been a good idea too.

You are right about the irony.

[Dozerlarry]

a few fire extinguishers around the house is about the best money you can spend.