F-D Zernia Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 Thanks Pat for the reply on posting pictures. I will attempt to share some. I have a picture of the machine the day we made the deal to purchase. My son Derrick is sitting at the controls. The other photo is as it arrived home. Now it is tore down about as far as we are going for now. The object is to get it running and learn how it works. There is a machine 2 and 3 to restore. I figure we have enough parts to mix and match to build an original machine down to the bolts and washers. That is the goal for now, all the best parts on one machine. Fred 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Tipton Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 Nice machine and welcome aboard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZM29C Posted May 28, 2020 Share Posted May 28, 2020 Great project. I am sure that you will be keen to remove the surplus scrap metal ASAP. Please post photos of the interior and keep us informed on your restoration progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F.Janssen Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 Welcome Fred, Looking forward pictures of the machines and updates on the restoration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-D Zernia Posted July 14, 2020 Author Share Posted July 14, 2020 Hi all, It’s been busy around here but we are back at it. Sorry to disappoint OZ but for now the scrap steel stays part of this machine. It seems it’s past life was mountain search and rescue and for now we intend to keep it that way. It will eventually be done but later. Where we will drive there are more trees than road and it shows that this one bounced off a few to many trees already. Our intention is to learn on this one and do a proper job on the next. It’s been a real treat to work on this machine so far and I so look forward to when I don’t need to push it on dollies. Following are some pictures of the inside as we took ownership. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-D Zernia Posted July 15, 2020 Author Share Posted July 15, 2020 On 7/13/2020 at 8:15 PM, F-D Zernia said: I have a few pictures of under the floor panels. The bottom had animal nests from the former occupants. Under the engine and trans mostly. I needed to scrape with dull wood chisels. Everything seems to be there so they were good tenants. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-D Zernia Posted September 12, 2020 Author Share Posted September 12, 2020 A while back we built a tool to straighten the bottom of the hull between the tracks. This machine was extremely abused on the bottom. It worked so good that I broke a few solid spot welds. I used some bar stock left over from a project years ago and 1/2” threaded rod couplings. The rods on the outside support the brace, push the outside edge straight and the inside rods push the dent. I also used a 6” square piece of steel plate in the middle to transition the dent to flat. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Tipton Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 Clever! Lots of ways to fix these parts - that is a nice solution. Patrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M29 Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 I have an M29C with a badly beat up bottom looks like it was dropped on tree stumps. This looks like an ideal way to deal with that kind of damage. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZM29C Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 That is an elegant solution to effect repairs to the hull bottom. Its a damn sight harder to cut out and replace the floor. Well done. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-D Zernia Posted December 16, 2020 Author Share Posted December 16, 2020 I’m looking for a little insight on the final drive housing. I had the unit sand blasted and primed. I was made aware of a crack in the web behind the right flange. There is a line around the entire tube from what seems like part of the pattern to make the sand mold. My question is was there a problem or weakness at this point. My M29C is a later model with a brace part 7016578 to support the outer axle tube. It looks to me like a crack that always existed from the day it was cast. I am soaking the inside with diesel fuel now to see if it seeps through. So far all is dry. There are similar marks on nearly every rib on the housing without a crack. I’m not opposed to welding the rib but this process requires very much preheat and post heat to be successful. And could create a serious crack somewhere else if we get careless. It will most likely cause enough distortion to the machined surfaces to create problems making gaskets and seals proper. I could braze in stead that eliminates the excess heat problems or leave it be. There was a build up of oil around the flanges but I always thought it was the felt seal inside the housing where the axle tube is pressed in. So is this a common knowledge weakness because in 1945 there was a design change and the brace was added. Thank You for any and all input. Fred 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M29C3284 Posted December 19, 2020 Share Posted December 19, 2020 I would stop drill the crack and just leave it as is. As as you say putting any heat into the casting in not a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-D Zernia Posted December 24, 2020 Author Share Posted December 24, 2020 Stop drill I like that idea. Thanks. I will do that and watch how well it works. Merry Christmas Fred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-D Zernia Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 I did stop drill the crack on the final drive housing by the axle tube companion flange. I will try this and keep an eye on it after we begin to drive the machine. It will get a work out as I intend to drive this for recreation and put as many miles on as we can. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-D Zernia Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 Another recent project was to fabricate a new shift lever support bracket. The original brake and shift assembly was too nice for how we will use this machine. I had a spare that was in rough shape and spent time on it. The brake levers were split from water freezing in the tubes and I split steel gas pipe and used them as sleeves to weld over the weak spots. Copper pipe fittings for 2 missing bushings in the housing. I noticed most of the steel shafts for the pedals, shifters and some brake shafts had some degree of wear. Some I welded the groves and filed to fit the hole in the bracket. This shift assembly had no bracket so I made one that will be field serviceable and added grease fittings as well. The hat channel is not very strong at that point so I will bolt this to the floor. The picture shows how I cut a door in the top of the had channel because the nut spun. This Weasel was modified with steel plate under the floor I think to protect from a worn track rubbing the skin. This steel plate seems to be very solid and should support my bracket and then some. We have not given up on a restoration but that will be the next hull. For now I’m trying to figure out how these work and have some fun driving as soon as possible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byron Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Great work, how do you plan to use your weasel if you didn’t want to put the nice leavers in if you don’t mind me asking? will this weasel be used for a job or work? cheers, Byron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-D Zernia Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 Happy New Year Byron, We live across the road from a lake and in winter it freezes over for a few Months and I will have access to freely drive as much as we like. That should be great fun. Ice fishing is popular here too. In the spring and fall we also have access to some private property with fire lane roads to drive on. Just to explore. My son calls this one the beater with a heater. After we figure out the mechanicals it will be time to do hull repairs on the second Weasel. We’re sticking to the 10 year plan to eventually have 2 real nice machines. Thank you for the questions. I enjoy the forum. It is a wealth of knowledge. The sharing of information is so helpful and encouraging. cheers Fred 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-D Zernia Posted January 4, 2021 Author Share Posted January 4, 2021 IMG_6060.MOV I am getting the final drive ready to install in the hull. Today I made gaskets from paper bulk material. I’d like to share how we were taught back in our school days shop class. This is fast and accurate. I apologize the pictures didn’t load in the order I wanted. The large piece of tin is the cover we made for sand blasting. This made a good pattern for the outside of the gasket. It’s not necessary though since the outside can be cut in the same fashion. Hopefully this can be helpful to someone. It took about 2 hours to make this gasket as well as the two flanges for the axle tubes. No measuring is needed and the holes all line up. Before installing I will brush some edges with fine sand paper for good measure. Fred IMG_6061.MOV 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byron Posted January 4, 2021 Share Posted January 4, 2021 Happy New year to you also Fred! wow, what an amazing way to use your machines! It sounds like you have Weasel heaven! Your going to get the best use out of these! We have some wilderness a few miles away from home, but not on our door step. Enjoying seeing the progress cheers, Byron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-D Zernia Posted March 25, 2021 Author Share Posted March 25, 2021 I have been mostly in fitting and cleaning parts lately and stumbled across something useful. For a penetrating oil product I have filled two oil cans: one diesel or fuel oil and the other SAE 30 oil. First I use drops of fuel oil on the joint or in the oil cup. Get the part to move just a little. Then a few drops of SAE 30 oil. When the part moves a little repeat the process. So far this has freed the; transmission and steering controls, steering cross shaft, wind screen hinge and brackets, the joint to separate the halves of the wind screen and more. No heat used at all. Usually it works like new in 20 to 30 minutes. I have also used it on nuts and bolts. So far it has given better results than store bought products. Funny thing a friend gave me a copy of an old publication with a similar formula. Practical Help for Farm and Home 1 part engine oil (SAE 20) 10 part water-white kerosene can add 1 part rancid lard applied to machinery parts 24-48 hours before taken apart I have mostly used this on moving, turning parts with success. No heat and less hammering 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-D Zernia Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 I have been trying to source seals locally for the final drive axle. With dimensions from John from OZ I was able to create my own felt seals for the final drive center to axle tube joints. I found that a felt toilet seal from the 50’s and was a good looking material. This part is a similar kind of felt and impregnated with wax. It is for a commercial wall hung type water closet. The outside dimension we need was close to the outside of a 3” PVC fitting and the ID is slightly smaller than the 3” pipe. I created a gauge with plumbing parts and only needed to file the plastic pipe a little to get it smaller than the OD of the axle tube end. A little trimming and tapping and this seemed to work. the original seal is trimmed into 3 equal slices. A sharp knife works well. The pipe sticks out of the coupling about 1/4” to fit into the ID. with the exacto modeling knife slowly trim to fit that OD dimension. A little big is better than small, it will still fit. you will end up with a proper gasket in the end. In another post I will show how it fit in the final drive and the finish trimming. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-D Zernia Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 These pictures are of the gasket install process that I used. gently tap out the seal retainerinstall the seal in the retainer and set into the end of the final driveGentle tap it hometrim to fit a little bigger than the axle tubeI made a test piece a little smaller than the axle tube. when I installed the axle tube it shaved the seal just a bit and the pieces were on the tube end and we picked it out with a dental hook. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-D Zernia Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 This is a picture of the seal I usedthe gasket is 7/8” thick and is easily cut. Wear disposable gloves, some of the gaskets can be sticky. I’m looking for other uses for the remaining material. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-D Zernia Posted February 10, 2022 Author Share Posted February 10, 2022 I had an idea to help keep the shafts on the steering and shift controls lubricated. Battery terminal felt rings struck my fancy. It looked like the right diameters to fit the shafts. It was so much effort to disassemble, clean the controls and replace brass bushings I wanted to preserve them. Oiling with the oil can makes a mess. I am going to try these felt rings to wick the oil and help spread it on the joint. It acts as a good shim, removes some play and will keep out dirt. This product is made with a small ring inside of a larger ring. The smaller diameter fits the smaller shifting shafts perfectly. The largest ring is a bit sloppy on the brake shafts but I think may be good. I will start to add oil to them on the bench and observe the performance. Fred 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Tipton Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 Nice solution Fred! Anything to keep the area dry/lubricated and sealed is a good thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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