Oklahoma Best 60 update.

Sounds great can not wait to see the pictures of progress

build the shop first and live above so you can work on cats......
but you may be like me.....
"if momma ain't happy...ain't nobody happy" Ha Ha

Caleb, Erik has it right: build the shop first, then the house. That's what I'm doing with my Fiancee. We built a 40 x 72 steel shop and then built a studio apartment in it so we have a place to stay once we start on the house. I can tell already that 40 x 72 isn't nearly big enough 🙄

Caleb, Does zimmerman have any more gas tanks? Are they galvanized steel like the originals? I have a Best like yours I am gathering parts for. Did you happen to get Best cylinders and rails or are they cat? The Best stuff is tough to find. Caterpillarman

Caterpillerman-
Tank is galvanized and its the early 18" diameter one instead of 20" dia. As far as i know he doesn't have any more best tanks, but he does have some 20" diameter tanks.
The cylinders are the early style best cylinders with the little letter "B" cast into them.
My sprockets and rollers are like new on my tractor, it was formerly owned by a construction company so they spent money on it in its working life. Thus being said I didnt want to put wore out best original rails on it so I bought a rail for an earlier cat 60 (like new wear) for one side because i've got one brand new one the tractor already. The original best track rail that is on the other side of my tractor looks good wear wise ,but has one broken rail.
I haven't been able to locate a correct Ensign carb or even the aircleaner and piping. But ive come up with a Stromberg M4 and borrowed the aircleaner piping for the stromberg carb off of a tractor with 1400 something serial #. It not correct but it closer than trying to run a cat sixty stuff and they did use this configuration on a '23 model best just the later ones. I'm having the elbow and pieces cast soon- didn't you mention you need air cleaner piping also? If you interested let me know. I think this piping would work with the early ensign carb but the book shows all different part #'s for the 2 different carbs and aircleaners. Caleb

the Veerkamps make tanks but i do not think they are galvanized.

Caleb, Sounds like you are doing good. Those early ensigns are rare, I got lucky and found one for mine. Matt Veerkamp is still looking for one to go on his Best topseat. Is the carb you got a M-4, or a MT-4? I am looking for the MT-4 for my transition 60. I do need the aircleaner and piping. I have some of the later style piping, with a cat aircleaner. What piping do you have? Another question, Is your tractor a 2 speed or a 3 speed? Veerkamps make great tanks, but I want mine to be as original as I can get. Caterpillarman

Galeb:

Have you determined that your 60 takes different piping & carb then what we put together-- I didn't know there was two different configurations in 1923. Thought we had the correct piping figured out -- sorry. I would think that the only piece that would be different would be the one to the carb, or was the Aircleaner different also??

Are you still going to put yours together with the piping for Stromberg M4?

Dan

Dan- Im going to use the stromberg piping i borrowed from you. It wont be exactly correct but i already have a stromberg M-4 like you have, plus its not like it will make a whole lot difference being that about a 100 tractors off the assembly line newer had your configuration anyways instead of the ensign design like mine should have. There is 2 different aircleaners, yours is a pamona 129? I cant remember i wrote it down somewhere- BUT i need to find one of those. If i can't then sometime id like to get some measurements off your air cleaner and ill just have our sheetmetal guy copy it.
Going to be casting the pieces soon so i can get those back to you in time for the national show.😊

Caterpillarman- What is the difference between a M-4 and an MT-4? Mine has a choke made into the inlet throat (I know, I know, not correct) and says M-4 on the side of the body.
You need to call Zimmerman and ask him where he had my tank made at- Its not a Veerkamp tank.
I haven't really messed with the transmission in mine yet. About as far as I've been is to pull the shifter out and pry it out of gear. I'll look and see if its a 2 speed I think it is, i havent paid any attention to that yet.

Here a picture of the piping i borrowed from Dan while they were on his tractor. I hope you dont mind me showing dan😮 😄
[img]http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c148/blky2k2z/P4100001.jpg[/img]

Caleb, The Stromberg MT-4 was the carb used on the best's from serial# 1842-A until serial# 2700-A. It had no choke. The M4 is more common, and has a choke, I think they were used on trucks and such. The MT-4 seems to be very hard to find, I have only seen 1 for sale, and I should have bought it! Here is a scan of the aircleaner parts for the different serial numbers. Caterpillarman