Mud season upon us so 53 is back into work position.
grinding finishing filling
grinding finishing filling
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1953 Tucker Sno Cat 443 Mt Washington WMTW Channel 8 Restoration
- Thread starter Track Addict
- Start date
Front trunion mounted drilled and mounted.
Needed 4” bolts to get the shoulder spanning the material. Will trim the bolts on the final product.
The frame originally had metal tube/bushing welded in the tubing. With the thinner stock frame was either OEM or a repair. The front trunion mount has them. My new frame does not and I’m not sure it’s necessary.
Rear support in on driver’s side. Other side suffered a case of measure once cut twice. Need to order another piece and some straps for the lower mount.
Needed 4” bolts to get the shoulder spanning the material. Will trim the bolts on the final product.
The frame originally had metal tube/bushing welded in the tubing. With the thinner stock frame was either OEM or a repair. The front trunion mount has them. My new frame does not and I’m not sure it’s necessary.
Rear support in on driver’s side. Other side suffered a case of measure once cut twice. Need to order another piece and some straps for the lower mount.
Finally stepped up and got a lathe. Lots of little things to machine and the favor pool doesn’t alway fit my project timeline.
One of two new toys for the shop this week…..
One of two new toys for the shop this week…..
Snowy Rivers
Well-known member
With a lathe...and a mill....along with the welder and basic tools you can do a buttload of work..
A 20 ton hydraulic press from Harbor Freight is a handy tool too....
Tools......Gotta LOVE THEM
A 20 ton hydraulic press from Harbor Freight is a handy tool too....
Tools......Gotta LOVE THEM
the three year struggle is almost over after drinking thousand and thousand of gallons of orange kool-aide
It is a good thing you bought that lathe, this new addition to your family may benefit from that purchase.
It’s been awhile since I checked in. Looks great.
Rear supports, seat supports, and frame straps added.
Last support truss removed. On to the tables next.
Last support truss removed. On to the tables next.
Big Thanks to Lake Tucker !
Getting ready to restore the front trunion table interface then the rear leaving the springs and axles alone.
Want to get the cat back on original footing then put the motor and all the runnin components linkages shafts together make sure I got it right.
Few interesting things I see already to share….
Want to get the cat back on original footing then put the motor and all the runnin components linkages shafts together make sure I got it right.
Few interesting things I see already to share….
Made some progress today. Took the springs off the front table.
The 5/8 holes amazingly need no machining. The springs and housings are another story for another day.
Pulled the trunion pivot bushing. Turns one to be identical to the table pivot bushings which I happen to have in stock.
Cleaned up the pieces to see what we are working with.
The 5/8 holes amazingly need no machining. The springs and housings are another story for another day.
Pulled the trunion pivot bushing. Turns one to be identical to the table pivot bushings which I happen to have in stock.
Cleaned up the pieces to see what we are working with.
Assembled the trunion. The front table support prices are bent good. I flattened for mock-up but these will be sent to a friends laser table to reproduce.
The trunion wear is minimal and also amazingly won’t need to be machines.
Will be replacing the steel upper and lower rollers with bronze and adding some other bronze washers and bushings to keep it serviceable to generations.
The trunion wear is minimal and also amazingly won’t need to be machines.
Will be replacing the steel upper and lower rollers with bronze and adding some other bronze washers and bushings to keep it serviceable to generations.
If you look closely at these pics the frame trunion carrier and the trunion don’t have equal bearing on the journals.
My guess is the trunion was a standard part mass produced but the frame carrier required flexibility depending on the model motor selection.
My guess is the trunion was a standard part mass produced but the frame carrier required flexibility depending on the model motor selection.
Took the rear table of the springs. Pretty good shape. 5/8 spring bolts also nice and tight.
Rear steel on steel pins and rollers for the tables will be upgraded to steel pins and bronze rollers. Tempted to install UHMW but keeping it improved original rollers.
Upper table needs to come off the new frame so I can assemble and figure out the bushing stock.
Rear steel on steel pins and rollers for the tables will be upgraded to steel pins and bronze rollers. Tempted to install UHMW but keeping it improved original rollers.
Upper table needs to come off the new frame so I can assemble and figure out the bushing stock.
Gathering stock for the front table and trunion while waiting on my new quick change tool post to arrive.
Got a plan for the rear table.
Front table needed a little repair from where a metal was welded from the dark days and where the trunion mount was hitting from west.
Little Botox and some future sandblasting good as new.
Got a plan for the rear table.
Front table needed a little repair from where a metal was welded from the dark days and where the trunion mount was hitting from west.
Little Botox and some future sandblasting good as new.
Got the lathe up and running. Not bad for my first try!
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This is an area that doesn’t allow wear to occur. New designs are a bit more forgiving.
Unlike other trunion table configurations where the pin is centered, this setup has an offset threaded from pin to the journals and instead of the later clamp on table retainer they used plates with upper and lower rollers. Great for the early crevass days.
Ideally I would have liked to add bronze between the rear retainer support and the trunion bracket but there isn’t enough clearance to be worthy.
The design is actually pretty well done. There is only wear pressure in reverse which is a negligible amount of run time and at super slow controlled rates. Considering the age and abuse this machine saw, it should be worn through but actually very little wear in that steel to steel location. Key is to keep it tight and add bushings as wear occurs in the future. Back then this was all service items that didn’t need that consideration. You just bought new ones. Now I try to setup repair for the future and make it serviceable. Both brackets will be fabricated and replaced.
Had to mill off some material to get the clearance right. Back to probably better than Tucker tolerance. You can see how little room they’re for wear on this design before the bad stuff happens.
Unlike other trunion table configurations where the pin is centered, this setup has an offset threaded from pin to the journals and instead of the later clamp on table retainer they used plates with upper and lower rollers. Great for the early crevass days.
Ideally I would have liked to add bronze between the rear retainer support and the trunion bracket but there isn’t enough clearance to be worthy.
The design is actually pretty well done. There is only wear pressure in reverse which is a negligible amount of run time and at super slow controlled rates. Considering the age and abuse this machine saw, it should be worn through but actually very little wear in that steel to steel location. Key is to keep it tight and add bushings as wear occurs in the future. Back then this was all service items that didn’t need that consideration. You just bought new ones. Now I try to setup repair for the future and make it serviceable. Both brackets will be fabricated and replaced.
Had to mill off some material to get the clearance right. Back to probably better than Tucker tolerance. You can see how little room they’re for wear on this design before the bad stuff happens.
Front table bushings all machines. Added a bronze washer under the trunion steering pivot bolt low wear area but looks cool. Need to fab up the new brackets to double check the clearances but looks right.
Pivot mounted up with new fine thread grade 5 hardware.
Started on the rear table. This odd washer that holds the tables together was oversized and just floating on the bolt with the ID 1/2 bigger and had some egg wear.
Chucked it in the lathe to clean up then made a bushing. Much like the front trunion bracket if bushed correctly and serviced there should be minimal wear at this location.
Pivot mounted up with new fine thread grade 5 hardware.
Started on the rear table. This odd washer that holds the tables together was oversized and just floating on the bolt with the ID 1/2 bigger and had some egg wear.
Chucked it in the lathe to clean up then made a bushing. Much like the front trunion bracket if bushed correctly and serviced there should be minimal wear at this location.
Thought this cast washer was a kitten pontoon part. Experts indicated it is a common timber washer.
Malleable cast on this one and a number can’t quit make out yet.
Fun fact thanks!
Malleable cast on this one and a number can’t quit make out yet.
Fun fact thanks!
Rear table in process.
For whatever reason used the roller dimension not counting for decades of wear when I made the stock list.
Original must have been 1 3/4- 1 7/8 range.
Rear roller stud wire into the cup so will need to machine that stud a little differently.
Need as much roller as I can get before it hits the table cut out.
Good practice run!
Original must have been 1 3/4- 1 7/8 range.
Rear roller stud wire into the cup so will need to machine that stud a little differently.
Need as much roller as I can get before it hits the table cut out.
Good practice run!
Take 2. Broke a brand new costly carbide tipped parting blade from McMaster Carr off on the first pin. Finished all of them and the roller off on the cheap china HHS blade.
Got the pins nice and tight at 1.5”x3/4” with some finishing.
Roller is 2” od by .900 which if significant thicker width than what came out. Need to get it down deeper by taking off some width but first a little table clean up.
These pin pocket castings are Tucker tolerance plus with the rear being the most out. Some is casting and some rust/wear probably lived under water.
Rear roller od will most likely be larger than the left and right once everything is true.
First step is to set the tables parallel from pivot to rear roller and get the rear dimensions right.
Got the pins nice and tight at 1.5”x3/4” with some finishing.
Roller is 2” od by .900 which if significant thicker width than what came out. Need to get it down deeper by taking off some width but first a little table clean up.
These pin pocket castings are Tucker tolerance plus with the rear being the most out. Some is casting and some rust/wear probably lived under water.
Rear roller od will most likely be larger than the left and right once everything is true.
First step is to set the tables parallel from pivot to rear roller and get the rear dimensions right.
1.800 x .800 which means orig was probably 1.75x .75.
The rear pocket worn down so need a little weld grind to get back to the right height.
The rear pocket worn down so need a little weld grind to get back to the right height.
Front Table done and back on the frame for now. Came out quite nice!
Fresh dumping of sno up north. Welcome winter.
Fresh dumping of sno up north. Welcome winter.
The design on the rear table rollers is poor and doesn’t allow for grease. This bronze roller design is an improvement but will eventually run out of grease and the bronze will take the wear instead of the steel.
Here you can see what years of non rolling rollers does and the repair.
After all this work for the photo shoot, I’m going to insert UHMW sliders most likely before assembly final assembly. The other two cats I did this way and they have no wear, no service, and easily replaced. This design is just asking for trouble down the trail!
Here you can see what years of non rolling rollers does and the repair.
After all this work for the photo shoot, I’m going to insert UHMW sliders most likely before assembly final assembly. The other two cats I did this way and they have no wear, no service, and easily replaced. This design is just asking for trouble down the trail!
Rear table almost complete. Should get it on the frame tomorrow.
UHMW will be a worthy deviation for original here. Picture the snow and ice frozen under and around the roller. Will be a bronze slide anyway.
UHMW will be a worthy deviation for original here. Picture the snow and ice frozen under and around the roller. Will be a bronze slide anyway.
Had to do it. Should have just started here. So much easier and smoother operation.
