Here is a pic of my latest project

[madokie]

Last edited Mon Jul 23, 2012, 09:32 PM - Edit history (1)

I hope this isn't in the wrong place as it is a do it yourself project.
What I've done is I purchased a military surplus 4 cylinder air cooled engine and repowered my case 444 tractor with it. This engine is a new engine that was built in october of '91 that has been in a warehouse all these years and they've recently, two years or so ago, been declared surplus so they're being sold for pennies on the dollar. Guys are buying these and using them on air boats, motorized hang gliders and gyrocopters amongst many other uses such as what I'm doing with mine. The engine is designed and built by the same company that builds the continental engine that is in most small airplanes, Cessna's etc.
I'm in the process of running twice pipes out the rear of the tractor right under the rear axle. This little engine has a killer sound to it as it fires twice on one side then fires twice on the other side, back to back, so the exhaust has a rhythm to it, not unlike a cammed up race engine. Once I finish putting the hood back on I'll take it to my nephew to give it a new coat of paint. I can still order the decals for it so when I'm finished it will look like a new case 444 tractor except for the four cylinder engine.
Anyways I thought someone here might be interested in my latest project.
You can actually balance a nickel on it while the engine is running.

The green paint on the engine will be the first thing I take off and paint it black and leave some of the aluminum that the engine is built of unpainted and polished.

[/IMG]

ETA: I went to eBay and purchased a new starter for a 1995 BMW 318i for $71.83 complete with shipping and put it on the motor and it works like it was made for it. Bolted right on, works good and sounds great. Just in case anyone is thinking of using one of these engines on something as they don't come with a starter other than a rope starter.

[ret5hd]

1. round numbers, how much do those emgines go for? nt

[madokie]

2. From 350 up

I paid 350 for the engine and 100 for shipping. I've seen them listed for up to 1200 bucks. They cost the government 2400 when they were built.
A new 14 hp Kohler like what my tractor had on it cost 1800. it would have cost me more to rebuild my kohler than I paid for this engine. I made the adapter plate to marry the hydraulic pump to the engine myself. I have a toy lathe/mill. I say toy as its a china made medium sized lathe that a friend bought new that his widow sold to me after he died of a heart attack. I can machine up to a 16 inch circle.
The tractor is hydraulic drive with no mechanical connection at all to the transmission. Hydraulic pump turning a hydraulic motor. Pretty cool setup.

[ret5hd]

3. Why didn't you answer my question about where to get one???

I retroactively asked the question. Retroactive seems to be all the rage now.

[madokie]

4. Ebay is where I bought mine

I think they have more to sell at this price too. It was delivered in 6 days still sealed up in the box that the government received them in.

coolingtowersystems was the seller

If you are interested in buying one remember that the float in the carburetor is not gasohol rated and will swell up and stick. All you have to do to fix that is buy an 8 dollar bottle of AeroGloss for model airplanes and paint the float with it as it is fuel proof so the float won't absorb the alcohol in the gas. Thats what I did anyway.

[mopinko]

5. hey, wanna come up and upgrade my bobcat?

it would be fun!!

[madokie]

6. Where would come up be?

I love using something for something that it wasn't designed or intended to be used for, that type projects.
May I ask, does that have a Duetz air cooled engine in it or is it a water cooled something else?
It looks like a new holland loader like one of my friends had. If it is it is well worth the cost to upgrade the engine as they were well built machines. Anyways a lot of discounted in the 20 to 30 hp engines out there to be found on a google search. And that is about the hp range you would need for that loader.
Do a search on the big brother of what I have and check it out. Its a Ao84-4 military surplus, mine is a Ao32-4. The 84 would be a good choice for that loader too and they can be had for pennies on the original dollars. Still brand new still in the original wooden boxes that they were delivered to the government in. sealed up tight and warehoused out of the elements.

[mopinko]

7. up here would be chicago.

mostly joking, but once you have a bobcat you start to really dream of horsepower. it is a solid little machine. i love it.
we call it the falcon, so it would be particularly delicious to make it "fly".

[madokie]

8. Power, yes. When I first got out of the Navy I went to heavy equipment school

and went to work operating a dozer and did that for a little over 4 years but its one of those jobs you have to not like interacting with others as you work as you're sitting on a machine all by yourself all day day in and day out. The first couple years was exciting but after the new wore off it got pretty boring. I haven't been on a dozer since the summer of 78.

[mopinko]

9. can you post a bigger pic of that gizmo in your sig?

i remember reading your post about it a while back.
out of curiosity, would you come to chicago?

[madokie]

10. Yes on the bigger picture

[IMG][/IMG]

This is a picture of where I morel hunt and the buggy of course

My wife can't even get me to go camping so heading off to Chicago is a no. Too old for a trip like that, sorry


Here is the tractor with the hood on ready for new paint.

[mopinko]

12. didn't you post about another one, too?

i remember a thing that was sorta flat and green?

[madokie]

13. That would be the one I built for my brother

using the running gear from a subaru all wheel drive with electric motor.
Sorry I don't have a picture of it handy to post. Thats been several years ago. He still uses it but about a year ago he upgraded to a 48 volt system from the original 36.

[flying_wahini]

11. Sweet!

Looks great! You should post an audio of the engine noise - ? I would love to hear how it sounds.
I'm sure it wasn't easy but looks like a very worthwhile project.

[madokie]

14. I'll try to remember to try to do that later

It does sound good as it fires on one side back to back then the other side and it gives it a nice sound especially at idle. A nice lope to it. I haven't got the exhaust done yet but I'll be bringing it out the rear like the old ford 8 and 9 N tractors did.
I say remember to try, what I mean is I've not posted a video before so not sure I can figure that out, in a timely fashion that is.

As you can tell by my posting projects like these that I love making my toys. Both making something from scratch and modifying something like this tractor.

What I need to know now is what to use to remove the green paint from the aluminum and not ruin the aluminum finish because I want to get rid of the OD green paint. It's peeling off at a pretty good clip but some of it is stuck pretty good so I need something to help me. I've got a power washer and plan to try it but I think I'll still need some chemical to help it along. I'm open for suggestion btw.