D7E Then and Now ( Progress )

Purchased fall of 2011-SN 48A3675- 1964 -pony start,under carrage 90% +, purchased from Craigslist . ( Ad did not say anything about it not starting) , set up a time to look over , then asked if I could fire her up , " Well it doesn't start right now" . The pony engage lever to flywheel handle won't move. Checked it out - no movement - Does pony Run ? Well it should , Messed around with it and it fired right up. I told the Gentleman that with out it running I was not interested at the price he was asking. His reply was make an offer , the old light bulb went off upstairs, agreed on price, and a hand shake that it was all he said it would be . pulled pony where it sat. took 5 hrs. got Pony home and split , I'll be darned if there was not several teeth from Starter nose cone in there, I called him back and asked if he had blown a starter on the Pony . Reply - No but it did have a new starter when I bought it ! Got the pieces removed , noticed the pull/Adjustment pin on Pony clutch pak was broke , plates looked good , repaired that and new gaskets all around . Thought I was in business , reinstalled Pony , 7 hrs, rechecked all fluid levels good-- pony starving for fuel now , ok , pulled sediment bowl, still poor flow, pulled tank, the darn safety chain from cap had broken at some point in life and made a really great strainer in neck of fuel valve . OK now we got lots of fuel flow , the big engine is turning and building oil and fuel pressure just fine , white smoke , De-compresser to run mode , white smoke to black - all 4 firing just fine. What a relief. Let her warm up from the 3 year nap , forward we move , steering good , Hyd. good , pushes dirt good. To easy- no neutral ! how can this be ! Good thing I was out in the open field , someone had worn out the ball and socket on the shift link under set. Repair was a bungie , acted like a sling shot from REV to Forward, good till you want neutral ! Would have made a great U-tube video of me throwing the seat off and tring to dig my way down to shift linkage to find stop , got the beast to set still, repaired that before loaded on trailer for ride home. got home and tucked away for winter. spring 2012- a good steam clean, drop pans , remove blade, oil leak from in behind pony ? remove pony- cracked the oil cooler tube when re-installed pony, NOS oil tube ,installed after pony was inline this time. Not easy.
prep for paint 12 hrs , 3 coats paint - 14 hrs , looks when done -priceless . Have some other items that need attention before use -Decals,rt. hand carrier bracket , slite Hyd. leak on front cylinder. Hyd. leak under floor plates ,think its a hose ? rebuild arm rests and seat. will add more updates as they occur, getting ready for winter now in Upstate NY.

Good story!
Good project!
Well done!

Well tacacat, it looks like you have a sharp Chariot for having a day trip on? that piece of iron would have plenty of would be owners in the U.K. the 339 motor sounds about the best noise CAT ever made, that R/H hub collar looks a bit off? as you have said, the key in the hub fits atop the frame on the left side as you look at it with the shims going into the opposite side, but you probably know this already, anyhow its still a great find and I hope you get plenty of good fun out of it also good to see your pic's.

tctractors

Nice job! You can be proud of that! I only hope we don't get enough snow that you have to use it!