Tucker 1542

[dirtbike87]

Hi all,

Picked up this '76 1542 the other week, I needed a project. Was a backup trial groomer for a club in WI. It starts, and the hour meter works but other than that, not much works, its pretty tough. Most of the frame 2x2 is now open c channel because the bottom rusted out, so a new quite a few new frame tubes will be in order. It has the 318 V8 and the engine runs, but leaks a lot, so that will come out and be gone through as well. I will add some pics to appease the masses, but Im looking for some input on a few items. Pardon my lack of correct tucker terminology, this is my first.

I have two different styles of drive sprockets here, flat top and pointed. As much as it bugs me that they are not the same throughout, my concern is the pointed ones seem to be chipping away in the crotch of the sprocket. Maybe the pitch is off on the belting or its the wrong sprocket??

Also on the carriers, most of the square tubing that holds the plastic slides on has been patched and re welded multiple times in the past. What causes this failure? Hard to believe the weight of the track on the slides is enough to cause it.

I believe these are old style "ice breaker" wheels here with the groves in them, or is this some weird type of wear pattern?

Lastly for now, what would the "stock" bed have looked like on this machine? Someone previously removed it and replaced with this angle iron. Im going to return it to the stock appearance or possibly change it to a 1544 cab style. Would be nice to have some indoor storage or be able to put the dogs in the back seat. Kinda stuck on that thought at the moment though, wife wants indoor storage, but the purist in me says bring it back to factory spec. We shall see.

Thanks in advance.

 

[alryA]

Could you post photos of the carriers that are cracked?? Of the actual cracks too. I bet they get a beating, even if it seems they shouldn't.

 

[dirtbike87]

I dont have any close ups at the moment but where the square tubes (1x1 maybe?) are welded to the main carrier frame someone went and added pieces of angle iron to reinforce the tubing. You can kind of identify them by the rusty brown squares where the angle was installed on the top face of the carrier.

 

[Track Addict]

Welcome.

The sprockets should be the same size and pitch despite the different tips. One is an earlier style than the other. You can get these recoated. Same with the ice breakers. Those varied in color and style can be recoated.

The metal under the plastic sliders often had the bolts loosen and hogged out the holes. A flat stock bar was usually welded over. Your setup seems to have a variation with two additional support pads on the outside of the siders on the rear I haven't seen before.

My 1443 has similar primer around the UHMW supports indicating work but looks factory. Thinking maybe an update or alignment happened after the factory build for most wouldn't have the factory color paint.

The rear bed would have continued back to square off with the back piece made of the same tube. Many of these club groomers had bent and broken read decks from drags or other items. Clubs were generally real hard on these Tuckers. Good news is all can be repaired.

 

[1boringguy]

These are pictures of my frame and bed. This is an '89 "c" model so might be some differences, but give you an idea. The bed is welded to the frame and I understand that was common for Tucker. The entire frame is made out of the same square tubing .

 

[dirtbike87]

Thanks for the info. Ill put another post in the resto/mod forum as things progress. Hope to get steel ordered for replacing the frame next week.

 

[Cidertom]

"wife wants indoor storage" = bigger budget that you can say is her change order.