Interesting point Chris, I can't remember seeing another D160 anywhere in the UK. Hopefully the Wheelhorse experts will be able to help with some information.
Iain, that's a damn fine looking machine that. It's interesting to see two D series WH on MOM at the same time.
Just out of interest, how good is your ultrasonic cleaner on the carbs? Also how quick is the turnaround? Keep meaning to invest in one myself
The Ultrasonic cleaner is fantastic tool especially on carbs, the hard bit is finding the right cleaning fluid to use. I have used caustic soda which is the right price
but a bit too harsh for alloy parts. I am now testing a fluid specifically designed for carbs and it appears to work well. Earlier in the week when I cleaned the
1962 RAM carb I also put in the glass bowl from the tank tap/filter and it went from brown to looking like new. When I clean the 1961 RAM carb I will take some before and after pictures
12 minutes ago, harryt said:
Glad to see you are recommissioning it. Let me know if you need any more parts as I have doubles of a lot of the important parts, almost another complete hydraulic system! Will look forward to se it up and running again
Thanks Harry, I am planning to make the remaining parts I need for the 3pt but I know I am missing some bits from both of my D-series, just need to remember which bits.
Today I decided to do some work on the D160. It has been in storage for nearly two years and if I remember correctly the last time it was used was when Tom used it and I believe it kept cutting out.
My D160 came out of the factory as poverty specification and it was supplied without a tow hitch or lights and did not have 3pt, PTO shaft or wheel brakes. With the help of friends in the US plus some parts from Harry (via Chris) I have collected a few bits to put on it. It now has lights and a tow hitch and I have most of the parts to put a 3pt on it.
Before I started I kicked a few things out of the workshop to give me plenty of space, they are a big machine.
I then pulled the complete fuel system off and cleaned out the horrible smelling fuel. The carb got stripped down and went through the Ultrasonic cleaner.
With the fuel tank removed and with no 3pt or wheel brakes you have lots of space at the back.
It is not uncommon for the panels on these to rust under the fuel tank and mine even has a hole in the panel
I hope to have it running tomorrow and then I can focus on some of the repairs I have planned.
Fantastic update and good to see it running well. The engine sounds sweet too even though it's a tad noisy! Your welding is looking spot on !
You guys got to be on the home straight now on the RAM?
Thanks Andrew, I have just ordered a replacement exhaust. We are planning to move on to something else today.
14 hours ago, Chris said:
Mini Iain does look like he can steer
Needs bigger exhaust system
I will have to venture up to try it soon
I was unsure if he was going to steer away, you may have noticed the nervous camera shake. You welcome anytime Chris it is always good to see fellow GT collectors.
If it was my build I think I would have turned the engine so the cylinders were out each side and then use a right angle drive to get the power to the axle.
As others have said, I am pleased you got your money back. I am unsure what part you are looking for but if you post a picture I will look through my stock of Wheelhorse parts to see if I can help.
Merry Christmas and thanks for sharing your family pictures, very enjoyable lain.
We may have to band together and have a group intervention on Mr. Norm Scrooge however.....
Thanks Doug. I will post the updates on threads I have already created for the tractors. Progress is always slow so I try to keep to one thread to each tractor so I can view my progress and keep track of comments and the suggestions made.
We got the tractor back together today and running. To enable the Versamatic to work correctly I made this bracket from some scrap
To complete the planned work I needed to make a bracket to hold the grill. I cut all the parts and then my very expensive and not very old MIG decided to break. It is still under warranty so not the end of the world, but not helpful. A temporary fix was put in place so we could test the tractor.
I did a quick video of the test run on my phone and yes it was cold
Today Joseph and I had a day in the workshop and we did some work on the 1962 RAM. The original plan was to fix some of the bodges and make up some missing parts. The more we looked at it the more problems we found. We ended the day with the hood, grill, fuel tank and engine off.
The blue wire was the fixing to hold the top of the grill
I was surprised how heavy the cast grill was
Then the hood came off which is was fiddly
We ended the day with most of the front apart
The fuel system was dismantled and cooked in the ultrasonic cleaner, all the missing fixings were replaced and a few other jobs. It's now ready for reassembly.
I have been having a similar problem over the last few days with Joseph getting stuck on an identical tractor to the one I was using. I added two wheel weights to each side of the tractor he was using and he was still getting stuck but I wasn't.
I think I need to either feed him up with mince pies or more to the point eat less myself.
I have not had much tractor time this year mainly due to work and family commitments. I have the time off between Christmas and the New Year so today Joseph and I have hooked out three tractors to spanner. I have no idea what progress we will make.
These are the three we choose to look at. From left to right 1961 Bolens Ride-a-matic, 1962 Bolens Ride-a-matic and a Wheelhorse D160
The previous owner of the 1961 Ride-a-matic added a few "extras" I guess for health and safety reasons, or should that be "elf and safety" this time of the year
Joseph really loves the 1962 Ride-a-matic and can't keep off it
Santa arrived early for me too even if I had to buy it myself
To finish this post off we took a festive picture of the tractors with the outside Christmas tree in the background
Once you have some insurance in place it would be worth giving the Financial Ombudsman a call. They are assisting me with an insurance problem atm and I found them to be really approachable and helpful. You should not be more of a risk to insure and if they agree they will be able to resolve the situation quicker and more effectively than you can and it does not cost anything for them to support you. Just a thought.
Iain
Just to add to this, I can't say enough good things about the Financial Ombudsman. They contacted to me today to say that they have spoken to my insurance company and I should expect a call from them. The call came in 30 minutes later and they offered me everything I was asking for and a 25% refund on my policy as a goodwill measure. Everything that was on offer was conditional on me telling the Ombudsman to close the case. They really do have amassing power over insurance companies.
If you are considering going this route and would like some tips on the quickest way to progress it, PM me with some contact details.
I often forget to keep the batteries charged and end up with more dead batteries than I would like.
Someone I know has had good results with intelligent chargers but good ones are not cheap. I did wonder if you can get one that services a number of batteries and then it would just be a case of installing a low voltage power circuit.
Well, not happy to say the least. Just come take out new insurance and have been told that because I've been involved in an accident- even though the other party admitted full liability, that my premium has basically doubled!!! I've tried all the online site and the local brokers and they are all coming back the same!!! Apparently because I was driving home and hit buy a young twat I'm more of a risk to cover!!! Life's a real bitch at times!
Once you have some insurance in place it would be worth giving the Financial Ombudsman a call. They are assisting me with an insurance problem atm and I found them to be really approachable and helpful. You should not be more of a risk to insure and if they agree they will be able to resolve the situation quicker and more effectively than you can and it does not cost anything for them to support you. Just a thought.
Wheelhorse D-160
in Ride On's
Posted
Interesting point Chris, I can't remember seeing another D160 anywhere in the UK. Hopefully the Wheelhorse experts will be able to help with some information.
Iain