Well, today, I got the clutch rod built. Hooked up the fuel lines, and put a couple gallons of fresh diesel in it. I grabbed the battery out of my Dodge real quick, and gave it a test. I don't have the electrical finished, but I was able to run a jumper to the battery for the ignition hot wire. Turned the key, and the fuel shut off solenoid opened up. I jumped the solenoid, and after about 8 seconds of cranking, the fuel pumped up through the injector pump, and injectors. She lit right off, running the fuel shut off valve off the original 53 key switch, and sucking out of the original 20 gallon Big Job fuel tank. Yeah baby, that Cat is a mean sounding feline.

The clutch is a bit heavy, but it will work. I think I may put a heavy spring to make the push a little less stiff.

I'll add a few more photos to my photo bucket, which is linked to my FTE signature.

 

damn your killing me with this. Take care

 

It's all good. I might be driving it down the street this weekend, or next. Waiting on a new air brake foot valve, but i can run it with the leaking one for now, since it is a very light leak.

 

I just knew you could stuff a radiator in there, and also Just wondering, the tack aint
on the left. Maybe some day you could come across a tack and air gauge from 58
into the 60,s that are real pretty and look like they belong there. They are in C cabs to.

 

Got all but one of the wheels repainted today. Ran out of spray paint. Will finish tomorrow. Got a leak in my fuel return line, will change the metal part of the line tomorrow. Fired it up. Tested the rerouting of the brake lines. Seems to be good to go. Tested the clutch pedal....heavy, but it'll work for now. I managed to move it in and out of the driveway. I didn't have the throttle hooked up at the time, so it was all at idle, but it worked. Since then, I built my throttle assembly, and will hook it up in the morning. Might actually be able to at least drive it partway down the street. I did, however, in my jubilant state of mind, had to give the air horn lanyard a good tug. Man those babies can push some noise. Will take some more pictures tomorrow.

 

Just an idea running through the old brain, years ago before power steering on a TD9
IH dozer, they had over center springs on the steering levers that should work just
fine on your clutch. Ya just gotta do a little search for a spring that pushes not
a retracting one. Placed on the clutch pedal and anchored maybe to the floor. The
spring was set up so when the clutch lever was pulled about 2"s the spring now will
snap over center and
push assisting the operator. I remember a dozer without these springs you had to
put feet on dash and use two hands to make the dozer turn.
A little experiments and I know it will work.
sam

 

Got a few things buttoned up earlier. Managed to actually accelerate, and move it out of the drive way, and part was down the road, and backed up, and pulled in the driveway forward. More fun. After doing that, I actually don't think the clutch is going to be too bad. I will change the angle of the dangle a little though,and make it a bit softer, but it didn't kill my leg like I thought it would. More work, more progress. Oh yeah, I also finished painting the wheels, fixed the leak in the return line, and hooked up the other part of the brake circuits.

 

You doing all this in your driveway? My neighbors would kill me!!

 

Well, even though there's this big old hunk of truck sitting there, I still have one of the tidiest front yards on the street. This is small town central Oregon. When people come from other states, to move in, and start whining about someones driveway, the entire community gangs up, and runs 'em out of town. Other than the pharmacist that lives across the street, and a new person that just moved in two houses up, everyone has something cluttery in their yard, or driveway. Mine happens to be a big truck. I think, however, it has a lot to do with the fact that I towed it here in one piece, and try to keep any extra parts out of sight. The truck itslef, is not all that bad looking, and even the ladies next door came out to say it was really neat looking when I towed it in. So, yeah, I build it in my driveway. People whine and cry, all the cops, and several city counsel members know me by my first name, and I know all their first names.....ah, to have contacts in politics.