bowtiebutler956 166 #26 Posted February 15, 2014 Hello all. I pulled the engine out of the 444 this morning, and I'm now taking it out to my shop to perform a full autopsy. I've tried to assure the patient that it will live once I've given its heart a triple bypass, but its looking quite sad sitting there with no engine! More pics later of the inside of the engine. Matt 1 hangman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hangman 25 #27 Posted February 15, 2014 you sure don't hang about loving this thread 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #28 Posted February 15, 2014 you sure don't hang about loving this thread Time is precious, so I try not to waste it! I got the engine tore down today, and I'm very happy with the way it looks inside. I gave the cylinder a brief honing, and cleaned up very quickly. Its not perfect, but it is good. The crankshaft is still standard, and looks good. Although you can see a mark in the rod, you can't feel it. I gave the block a good cleaning, and cleaned up the ports. I went ahead, and ordered the engine kit, which will consist of piston, rings, connecting rod, both valves, gaskets, and seals. The first picture below is the exhaust nipple, which I had to cut, and break out with a chisel, as it wasn't coming out of its own free will. They say a picture is worth 1000 words, so I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking for me! Matt 3 wheeledhorseman, hangman and Anglo Traction reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anglo Traction 1,016 #29 Posted February 16, 2014 First standard K series I've seen with shiny smooth Porting Matt !. All look's very nice now as you say 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #30 Posted February 16, 2014 First standard K series I've seen with shiny smooth Porting Matt !. All look's very nice now as you say I couldn't help myself Richard! I just had to smooth them out a little. I didn't grind away any material, I just used an emery drum role on my die grinder to smooth the casting, and remove rough edges. Matt 1 hangman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hangman 25 #31 Posted February 16, 2014 engine looks in fab condition don't blame you for doing the polishing i would of done that to lol, it will be lightly tuned ! 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #32 Posted February 17, 2014 engine looks in fab condition don't blame you for doing the polishing i would of done that to lol, it will be lightly tuned ! Thank you sir. I did get around to going threw the carburetor today. It was in really nice shape, and even has a tight throttle shaft, so I didn't have to make a bushing for it. After soaking in carburetor dip for a few hours, it was squeaky clean, and after a little polishing, its as good as new, or as close as I can get it. Matt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hangman 25 #33 Posted February 17, 2014 for a 40 year old machine its looking so good im sure once its all bolted up again there won't be a trace of smoke 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #34 Posted February 18, 2014 for a 40 year old machine its looking so good im sure once its all bolted up again there won't be a trace of smoke Thats what I'm hoping for. My tires came in today! I didn't waste any time getting them mounted. As you can see in the photos, they're much taller than the originals. I have the fenders off right now, as I was going to start prepairing them for paint, but I'm going to need to bolt them on before painting to make sure the tires clear. If they don't, I can raise the fenders. I put the tri-rib tires off my 222 on it, just to see how they'll look, as I will be using the same tires on this 444. I will be moving the tractor from my yard into my shop tomorrow. I had to clear out some other projects first, just to make room! Here are the pics. Matt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C-101plowerpower 548 #35 Posted February 18, 2014 oooh, i'm liking those tyres firestones? Koen 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #36 Posted February 18, 2014 oooh, i'm liking those tyres firestones? Koen Thanks Koen. The front tri-ribs are Firestone, the rear AG's are a brand I've never herd of. (Lande) Probably China. Matt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C-101plowerpower 548 #37 Posted February 18, 2014 Thanks Koen. The front tri-ribs are Firestone, the rear AG's are a brand I've never herd of. (Lande) Probably China. Matt yep china tires, look a lot like firestones though Koen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #38 Posted February 19, 2014 My engine kit came in today, so I did manage to polish the valves, and lap them into they're seats, but thats about it. I've been busy with work, so I'm not getting much done right now, but I figure a small update is better than no update. Matt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hangman 25 #39 Posted February 19, 2014 (edited) not much progress the rate your going you'll be painting it at the end of the month. love the look of the new tyres they make it look even more chunky will be on the look out for some of those ribbed tyres for my machine which i will be working on in the very near future. thanks for the update Edited February 19, 2014 by hangman 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anglo Traction 1,016 #40 Posted February 19, 2014 Nice fine grey ring line on those Valves Matt . Have a hunch that the Fenders will need jacking up about 1.1/2" min to clear those Chunky Rears. That should give you a nice' Enclosed Seat' feeling and have the right look as well. 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #41 Posted February 22, 2014 not much progress the rate your going you'll be painting it at the end of the month. love the look of the new tyres they make it look even more chunky will be on the look out for some of those ribbed tyres for my machine which i will be working on in the very near future. thanks for the update I hope to have it painted by the end of the month. Thanks Nice fine grey ring line on those Valves Matt . Have a hunch that the Fenders will need jacking up about 1.1/2" min to clear those Chunky Rears. That should give you a nice' Enclosed Seat' feeling and have the right look as well. Thanks, I'm very happy with the valves. Even if the tires do clear, I'm going to raise the fenders at least an inch, just to make them look right. Thanks I've been very busy at work, so I haven't had any time to work on the 444, until today. I got the short block assembled, and all is going together very nice. I still need to pick up some fasteners for the engine, but I'm hoping to get it painted tomorrow. Here are a few pics. Matt 2 Ian and hangman reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hangman 25 #42 Posted February 23, 2014 that engine looks brand new now, just hoping that all goes well for you keep up the great work 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ian 2,417 #43 Posted February 23, 2014 Great progress Matt, loving the new tires 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #44 Posted February 23, 2014 that engine looks brand new now, just hoping that all goes well for you keep up the great work Thanks, and I'm also hoping all goes well. Great progress Matt, loving the new tires Thanks Ian. These tires are Awesome! I love them. I managed to get a couple hours in my shop today, so I painted the engine. It turned out decent, but not nearly as nice as all my little vintage Briggs engines. Being that this tractor is going to be a full time worker, I'm not going to extremes to make sure that everything looks perfect. All I really want, is for it to be mechanically good, and look decent. I would really like to be getting more done, but my wife is out of town with our two older children, and I have my two younger boys. After a couple hours of them being stuck at my shop, it starts to drive them crazy, and they in turn drive me CRAZY! Matt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #45 Posted February 27, 2014 Sorry for no updates for a few days, but I've been having a hard time finding time to work on it. The engine is all put back together, and I've started addressing some steering problems. This 444 had alot of play in the steering. About 1/3 of a turn. It had several problems, the first being the pivot pin for the front axle was worn, allowing to much foward, and back movement in the axle. I addressed this issue with a new aftermarket pin, that eliminates the need for shims to tighten up the front axle. It took 90% of the play out of the axle. The next issue was the lower steering gear was badly worn out, so I replaced the whole steering shaft, and will be putting an OE steering wheel back on the tractor. The last problem is all 4 of the tie rod ends have play, and the correct factory replacements are $55 a piece! Thats not in the budget, so I found some suitable aftermarket pieces for $10 a piece. They should arrive tomorrow, and this should give it a nice tight front end. Matt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowtiebutler956 166 #46 Posted March 1, 2014 Hello all. Well, its almost time to start painting! I know I said in a previous post that I was going to give the frame a rattle can paint job, but I changed my mind. I would like this to have a good durable paint job, so I will be using proper paint with hardener. Not to mention I like the extra shine you get with good pain. I never intended this to be a restoration, and its definitely not, as I'm not completely tearing down, and rebuilding it, but I keep going a little further, and a little further. You guys know how it is. My good friend Byron said this to me yesterday, " are you going to make this one so nice you don't want to use it, like the others?" I replied "uuhhhhh, no?" I also had a few goodies come in the mail as well. New decals, motor mounts, tie rod ends, and I picked up the necessary supplies for a proper exhaust stack. One more thing, I did bolt the fenders back on for a test fit, and they do clear the tires by about 1/2 inch, so I'm only going to raise the fenders 1 inch, for a little extra clearance. Thanks Matt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ian 2,417 #47 Posted March 1, 2014 The speed your going Matt your have it all painted and bolted back together by the end of the weekend 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diggerjames 543 #48 Posted March 1, 2014 Looks great mat keep it up! 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel 1,876 #49 Posted March 1, 2014 cant wait to see the finnished tractor matt 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hangman 25 #50 Posted March 1, 2014 your doing the 444 proud well done matt 1 bowtiebutler956 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
