S1g 579 #1 Posted August 12, 2015 As Ive now have almost finished my other Power Packs (just waiting for a couple of little parts to finish), I thought I'd turn my attention to my Panther 101. The main reason I wanted one of these packs is that the chap who designed them sold the Solite rights to JCB then went straight out and set up a new company and designed this, changing it just enough that JCB couldn't stop him. Hopefully this should look good with my display The machine is very rough, however it does run very well with a slight blow on the exhaust. I thought I wasn't going to be able to date it as the i.d tag has fallen off, but by luck found a very faintly stamped set of numbers somewhere else on the chasis which puts it at 1985- exactly the same age as my wife! Ive managed to obtain an original manual- and by chance Ive discovered that I know the chap whos legs are in the second photo on the cover. Tonight I stripped all the rust and the minute amount of paint that was left on the chasis and given it several coats of etch primmer followed by Tackechi Red top coat ( The closest match I could find).But the photos of this will have to wait as I forgot to take my camera with me today. Although the engine is almost the same as the Solites, it should be a lot less of a headache to sort out as theres no electric start fitted to this machine. The part that ive given the most thought to is the top frame, this has a chrome finish that like the rest of the pack has quite a bit of corrosion. To have it re-chromed is out side of my budget so im going to see how good I can get it with a rattle can of Chrome effect paint. 3 Stormin, pmackellow and nigel reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #2 Posted August 13, 2015 Thought I'd investigate the blow on the exhaust. - Was a bit shocked to see how much was missing under the chrome cover as it genuinely sounded like a very small hole! I do have a slightly better one in my store, not perfect but should suffice until I can turn up a couple of better condition ones. The Paint is now dry on the chasis, I fitted the end caps and tried to fit the wheels, unfortunately they were too long for the axle so had to be thinned down with the grinder. The tin work off the engine has been soaked in paint stripper, then run over with a flap disc, now ive got the time consuming job of filling all the dents and pitting, still its easier than stripping the Nylon coating off the jcb's. 3 Stormin, pmackellow and Bigend reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #3 Posted August 14, 2015 Today ive been painting the engines tin work. Ive also sorted out a better exhaust, - just got to drill out 3 broken studs in it. After hunting high and low I found out a NOS fuel top, also 2 serviceable sheer mounts, which were also repainted. The fan housing and hydraulic tank were also given the paint stripper treatment, (after it finally stopped raining.) The top of the hydraulic tank was filled and given several coats of paint, followed with a NOS hydraulic oil cap that was knocking about the workshop. 2 Stormin and pmackellow reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #4 Posted August 15, 2015 Been a bit busy today but have managed to get the main of the fan housing/hydraulic tank sprayed up. I hate painting things in white as its so hard to get a good finish. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan 1,273 #5 Posted August 15, 2015 Like the spray booth. Very technical. 1 S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #6 Posted August 16, 2015 Been using my high tech spray booth again today, lol. This time to paint the engine support brackets. Ive also refitted the sight glass after giving it a clean up (the metal hoses will be painted in a couple of days with some gold paint ive got that looks similar to the original anodised finish.) Then I stripped the remaining items off the engine in order to give the aluminium a clean up, yet again the one exhaust nut refused to play ball, its allways this one on Honda G400's for some reason. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #7 Posted August 17, 2015 Cleaned the engine up today and then started to build it back up. Also I started to build up the chasis. The new air filter and castor arrived in the post so at least its now mobile. 1 Stormin reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #8 Posted August 17, 2015 WOW! What did you clean that engine up with? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #9 Posted August 17, 2015 WOW! What did you clean that engine up with? I used an acid alloy wheel cleaner, then a powerful(bores through Tarmac) hot pressure washer, followed up with an etch areosole aluminium finish paint, looks almost identical to original and seems to withstand the temperature of the engine running. 1 nigel reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #10 Posted August 18, 2015 Went to the unit early this morning and fitted the engine into the chasis, it was very tricky to get a spanner in to tighten up some of the nuts on the mounts. I dug out another new old stock radiator, this came with a job lot of JCB parts, but as luck would have they are identical. The metal pipes were rubbed down then sprayed in gold, due to light the photos make it appear darker than it really is. Finally today I started rubbing the filler on the fuel tank down. Will probably need a few more layers before its ready for paint. 1 Stormin reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #11 Posted August 18, 2015 Must admit, you make a superb job of them. 1 S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meadowfield 1,900 #12 Posted August 18, 2015 Nice work 1 S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #13 Posted August 18, 2015 Thank you both for your compliments. Just been out in the garden rubbing down a second mix of filler on the tank, it's finally starting to take shape. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #14 Posted August 20, 2015 Made a bit more progress with this pack today. New switch was fitted,a new gasket was made up for the tank and then assembled. The carb was overhauled and the air filter assembly straightened and fitted. I also refurbished the valve block, luckily the hydraulic filter is the same as used on some modern CAT power packs. The final job for today was to plumb in all the hydraulics. 2 nigel and Stormin reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel 1,876 #15 Posted August 21, 2015 :bow: 1 S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #16 Posted August 21, 2015 Be nice to see your machines at a show sometime. And you of course. 1 S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #17 Posted August 21, 2015 Be nice to see your machines at a show sometime. And you of course. I'm going to see what I can do for next year. I haven't done any shows scince Tractor World in 2011 because a few weeks later Keri(my wife) told me she was pregnant. Now the little un is 3 and a half so I should be able to start doing some again. It will also be nice to start seeing forum members again, rather than just taping away to them. 1 nigel reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #18 Posted August 21, 2015 Got the fuel tank all but straight today, theres still a few minor ripples left,- I'm guessing it was suffering from years of having the breaker and hose thrown on top of it as most people who use power packs seem to do. The weather with us was very damp so it has a slightly matt finish to it. On the next dryish day i'll give it another coat and see if I can get it to gloss up. Then it will be decaled up like the Solites tank. Then just the Exhaust heat shield and top frame left to do now. 2 nigel and Stormin reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #19 Posted August 28, 2015 Have now managed to get the tank glossed up and decaled. 2 sten and Stormin reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #20 Posted August 28, 2015 How many power packs is that now? Four? What next? 1 S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #21 Posted August 28, 2015 How many power packs is that now? Four? What next? it's 5 actually, this one, a solite, a beaver 1and2 and a compact 2,once finished I'm going to press on with the period breakers for them, then who knows.... Originally it was only meant to be one power pack, but I accidentally bought the others, I hope to get a video of them all running up on YouTube soon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #22 Posted December 18, 2015 Finaly got round to spraying the top frame in chrome effect paint. 1 Stormin reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #23 Posted December 18, 2015 Looks good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S1g 579 #24 Posted December 20, 2015 Looks good. thankyou, just got to sort out a decal for it now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel 1,876 #25 Posted December 20, 2015 You will be able to set up a retro plant hire company soon 1 S1g reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
