Holt blade restoration on D2 5U

Hey Case, looking good I'm excited too. What are you doing about new cutting edges?

I found a local shop that was able to make the end pieces from scratch and shorten a larger blade with correct holes to make the center section. I got the three pieces and hardware for about $400. The new cutting edges are 5/8's thick instead of the original 1/2". The angles are a little different too. I will try to shape the molding board to correspond with the new cutting edge cross section. Fortunately that is the one area I still need to finish on the front of the molding board. I thought I took pictures of everything, but I guess not. I will get some pics later today.

The experience was excellent at the shop I went too. I was worried that my project would be to small for them, but I felt like they valued my business as much as a large/regular customer.

http://www.cuttingedgesupply.com/

Looks really good to me and there is a lot of work goes into repair a blade or even a ripper tyne when it gets worn down like yours was


Paul

Looks realy nice! Cant wait to see the end product.

Nice looking work.

Hi, Case on a Cat.
That is starting to look almost like it was done by somebody who knew something about it. LOL. Great stuff. M8. Thanks for sharing.

Just my 0.02.

Carl,

You are doing a bit of nice work there. I am jealous of your shop and set up. Is there any room for my 14A up there? Very convenient that Cutting Edge Supply is close by.

Are you thinking of bringing your D2 up to SM for the show? The Chapter has some options to get it up there and back without breaking the bank. Stay in touch as the time gets closer.

JanM

Ah shucks guys. Thanks for the complements. I am gonna try and get some hours in this week. This project is pretty different from the usual fabrication that I've done for work or myself. I just keep asking myself what would my Isntructors and mentors do about this? Then take a minute and critique my progress top to bottom.

My wife was a little upset when I told her we should take the cat apart shortly after buying it. I can see her point of view, but I reminded her that this thing is 70 years old. Part of her concern was maintaining a value, both dollar wise and in terms of its usefulness. I showed her pictures of molding boards with a patch work of rusty plates. I pointed out that we purchased the tractor so cheap, and my work will likely turn out good enough to be valued higher than wwe paid for the whole thing considering an hourly shop rate.

I work for my uncle as a machinist and fabricator. He put it best, when I got started. "Better weld that up while there is still something left to weld to."

Here's a pic of the cutting edges as promised.
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Deas, brace your self for a flood of questions once this thing is back together. Ha

Jan, I actually would have space. I built a beautiful 2" receiver hitch on a 1986 military 5 ton 6X6 for a close friend. I'll dig up pics of the rig inside my shop. That was a fun project. It really helps have such a good space to work in with good tools. I am very gratefull for that.

I am really hoping to get to the SM show with my D2. It will have to get picked up at my place. I don't have a safe way to move the D2... Yet

I finished the last of the fab work I wanted to do on the back side today

[attachment=39503]image.jpg[/attachment]

A previous owner added these 4 brackets to the back side. I'm assuming it was for some kind of screen. I'd like to take them off and clean the molding board up. Could the brackets be for something else? Should I keep the brackets?

[attachment=39504]image.jpg[/attachment]