Merle Coggins

Welcome Andy, From your user name I'll take a stab that you live in Wilmot? If so you're fairly close to Bob (AKA "rearview") There are a few of us here in SE Wisconsin, although you're probably the most southern of the bunch. If you do want to do the V8 route I have a 360 that I got out of a 1975 truck that a friend of mine was scrapping out. I don't know the condition of the engine, as I never heard it run, but you could have it fairly cheap if you want it. I probably should rig it up in a stand and see if I can light a fire in it to see what I have for sure, but I haven't done that yet. Merle

I always figure that you get what you pay for. Buying quality tools gives me piece of mind when I'm working on anything. You may be able to get away with a cheap knock-off, but if it fails during your project can you afford the additional down time to round up a new one? Or what if a cheap knock-off tool causes other damage due to it's failure? Is that added expense worth it? I bought my puller from my Matco distributor. He had recently taken it off his truck because it had bounced around in there too long. (These pullers aren't used much anymore by modern vehicle mechanics) He made me a good deal on it, but had to bring it in the next week. It has worked well for me several times. Just my opinion, Merle

That's Norm's (AKA Norm's Coupe) site. He's a regular over on the car side. I got one from Mitchell Motors, through ebay, a while back. It threads into the head and would/could be cable operated. I looked through my files and I don't have a picture of it. However, I think Todd has the best idea. There's gotta be some local supplier that'll have something. Merle

That sounds like "That dress is ugly! Oh... but it looks good on you." Sorry Norm, I couldn't resist. I think they look like they belong there, Reg. Merle

Good advice so far, but I'll add a little more anyway. Have a good look at the wiring. If it's the original wiring the old cloth covering is subject to deterioration, causing bare wires and nasty short circuits. You don't need to turn your "New" truck in to a Car-B-Q right away. The only fuse in the system is attached to your head light switch, for the lights only. Finding the right order of the wires for your regulator isn't too difficult. The regulator should be labeled with a "B", an "F", and an "A". "B" is Battery, and will be coming from the Ammeter. "A" is the larger wire going to the generator. And "F" is the little wire going to the gen. If your wires are like mine, the color codes won't do you much good as they'll all be faded white. I would probably squirt/spray a little oil into the cylinders to aid with cylinder lubrication. They will probably be a little dry and rusty from sitting. And if the fuel tank cleaning proves troublesome, you could always run a temporary hose from the fuel pump into a gas can to get it running. That'll then provide much motivation to keep going. As for your trans/fluid drive question... You can probably just change the oils and you'll be fine. The trans uses regular gear lube (GL5 80w90 or similar). The fluid drive uses a HiTrans type oil. I got a 2 gallon jug of Universal Tractor Hydraulic Fluid (ISO VG32 grade) from my local farm supply store (Farm & Fleet). You'll have to remove a pan under the clutch/fluid drive area, then rotate the engine until the drain plug is at the bottom. Pull the plug and let it drain. It'll take a while to drain it all out. Let it sit there over night if you can. Then you'll have to pull out the floor plates and you'll see a round plug at about 1 O'clock on the bell housing. I believe mine says OIL FILL on it. Pop out this plug and you can see the fluid drive. Now rotate the engine until the drain hole lines up with the hole in the housing. You'll need a long nose funnel to refill it. Again it is slow to fill. You'll add fluid until it bubbles out, then wait several minutes and fill again. If you let it sit for an hour and it still won't take oil, it's probably full now. As I recall, mine took over a gallon and a half. Now the trick is getting the plug back in without dropping it. A magnetic socket helps. Or a piece of paper over the head of the plug to make it fit tighter into the socket to hold it. And while you're changing oils, you might as well to the axle too. And while you're back there be sure to check/clean the axle breather. And one final piece of advice (for now). Once you get it going, you'll want it to stop. Be sure to give the brake system a thorough inspection. Merle

Atta Boy Kevin. Welcome to the family. As Reg says, ask away. Not many questions here go unanswered. And the ones that do are usually because it's got everyone stumped. But you'll probably get a lot of ideas from it anyway. Merle

What type of filter do you have? Mine is a "Deluxe" and calls for a "JC" cartridge. That crosses to a Napa 1011 and looks something like this. Merle

I may have to run out there Saturday morning. I couldn't go on Sunday anyway, I'm flying down to Nashville Sunday morning for a business conference. My Saturday plans got canceled, so I was looking for something constructive to occupy my time. I was leaning towards the "Ride for a Cure" Breast Cancer ride out of Wisconsin H-D in Oconomowoc. But the Swap sounds more interesting. Maybe I'll see ya out there, Merle

Norm, where's the swap meet this Saturday? Merle

Looks good Dave. Job well done. By the way... hog rings aren't used in the pig's ear, they are put across the top of a pig's nose to stop it from rootin' around.

Try a local bearing house. They specialize in all types of bearings, seals, and such. A quick look in my Milwaukee area Yellow Pages nets a couple dozen places. I sure you can find one near you. Merle

Gotta love those wheel standers. :D Here's a couple of shots of the "Little Red Wagon" on display at the Don Garlits Museum

I believe there was a previous debate over this. On mine the bottom fitting feeds into the center tube and is the inlet. The outlet is on the outside towards the top of the canister. Aparently others are different. On mine it was stampped next to the fittings "IN' & "OUT". By the way, is that Pabst can around your coil?

Norm, If you're gonna put together a Kettle Moraine shot you could at least put some color in it. That road looks a lot like Emerald Rd, near Holy Hill in the lower Kettle Moraine area. That's where I took this pic.

I wasn't sure how to vote. I am 40. I could have voted in the 30-40 catagory, but I was feeling older this morning so I voted in the 40-50 catagory. Merle

I'd be careful with statements like that, Mr. Belvedere. There have been a few female members posting on this site from time to time, although I haven't heard much from them recently. Ladies, if you're listening... How are you projects coming along? Merle

Answers are; 1. Yup. SAE 90, 80w-90, or the like. 2. Yup. That's also the level plug. Merle

Maybe something like, "You're going the wrong way, Dumb @$$" Turn this f#<%ing thing around!!!"

"Off route"... "Recalculating"... "In 500 feet make a U-turn"... Not too long ago I heard someone refer to her as "Betty the B!tch"

I have a bracket like Dennis' but mine is bolted on. I have no reason to believe that this isn't an original mount. Merle

They're not really attached. Just a tractor loader setup and a motorcycle on the same trailer. I saw this a few years ago when I stopped for gas on my way home from a motorcycle rally in Iowa. He had been at the same rally and was out riding and found this loader for sale in front of a farm in the "Middle of Nowhere", IA. Apparently he'd been looking for one for his tractor for some time so he bought it and then went back to the rally to get his trailer to haul it home. Then he also had to load up the bike for the trek home. When I saw it I couldn't help but to take a picture. It looked odd. Merle

You'd have found it as soon as you went to put the new one away "where you wouldn't lose it". That's where you'd find the old one.

That very well may be. I just thought it looks a lot like the Cushman's that I've seen. Maybe we could load that Guzzi dump with this Suzuki Loadercycle

I know a guy that takes those Cushman's and repowers them with Honda Gold Wing engines. They're pretty sharp.

Ed, You put them over there where they'd be out of the way and you wouldn't loose them.