jpmillermatic
Member
- Messages
- 1,094
I have been needing to take care of the overgrowth around the perimeter of the yard as I have let it go too long. I borrowed a buddy's chipper years ago and it worked great. He no longer has it, so I looked to rent one...not worth it...Used ones are pretty expensive....how about a basket case that comes with 2 semi working motors, banged up metalwork, no wheels, rusted solid shredder hammers, dull chipper knives and...well you get the picture. it was very inexpensive.
I did see the motor run, though it sputtered out and died fairly quickly. the gas smelled horrible and the thing had sat outside for quite some time....but it ran....so, why not.
I promise to get pictures up tomorrow but in the meantime....heres what I have done so far....
STEP 1: disassembly
I ended up taking the whole thing apart to see if it was worth putting time into it. The whole front body comes off in one big section with the removal of 20 bolts or so.....then you can access the whole cutting assembly easily. By design, the shredder hammers can be rotated 3 times to use the 4 sets of blades cut into them. They had never been rotated and were badly rounded over and dull along one edge. The chipper blades were dull, but surprisingly not too bad. The cutting assembly unit that held them all together, however had been abused. 400.00 would buy me a new one...not gonna happen. so I straightened it all out, welded several spots back together, realigned the pivot rod holes and had to free up the badly rusted together and non opperational blade assemblies.
Each set of blades (there are 4 sets) has 5 blades and 6 spacers that slide over a metal rod. this rod slides into the pivot holes and is held in place by a roll pin. 2 roll pins were almost gone.
STEP 2: I needed to learn a great deal about real rust removal.
options:
1) soak in kerosene or gasoline or light oil then scrub continuously over the course of a week or more.
2) try white vinegar...then scrub continuously over the course of 3-6 days...but it does work fairly well.
3) try expensive rust remover products.....then scrub and soak over the course of 2 days or more..but they do work..kinda.
4) try muriatic acid...takes about 20 minutes...BUT is highly toxic, noxious and dangerous.
Yes, I went for the muriatic acid! gloves, goggles, respirator, smock. this stuff is serious.
I mixed 25 percent acid with 75 percent water and soaked the parts in a plastic tub. I also cleaned the gas tank. it worked PERFECTLY.
light scrubbing with a brass brush took care of the really bad rust and then everything was washed thoroughly with water and baking soda mix to neutralize the acid.
then I took the goggles and respirator off...
I had some old wheels and tires lying around from an old snowblower and ordered the right bushings for a 1/38 OD that fit a 3/4" axle. common garden tractor bushings...got 10 for 19.00US
Then I ordered some 1/8" x 3/4" roll pins...a pack of 50 cost 9.00US
Carb rebuild kit with gaskets and a few motor parts cost 38.00US
new plug: 3.00US
welded a tear in the metal body, a few elongated bolt holes and will fab up a trailer hitch for the garden tractor once this thing is running again.
the only thing left to assemble are the roll pins. tiny little parts.....big hold up!...they should be here tomorrow.
stay tuned!
JP
I did see the motor run, though it sputtered out and died fairly quickly. the gas smelled horrible and the thing had sat outside for quite some time....but it ran....so, why not.
I promise to get pictures up tomorrow but in the meantime....heres what I have done so far....
STEP 1: disassembly
I ended up taking the whole thing apart to see if it was worth putting time into it. The whole front body comes off in one big section with the removal of 20 bolts or so.....then you can access the whole cutting assembly easily. By design, the shredder hammers can be rotated 3 times to use the 4 sets of blades cut into them. They had never been rotated and were badly rounded over and dull along one edge. The chipper blades were dull, but surprisingly not too bad. The cutting assembly unit that held them all together, however had been abused. 400.00 would buy me a new one...not gonna happen. so I straightened it all out, welded several spots back together, realigned the pivot rod holes and had to free up the badly rusted together and non opperational blade assemblies.
Each set of blades (there are 4 sets) has 5 blades and 6 spacers that slide over a metal rod. this rod slides into the pivot holes and is held in place by a roll pin. 2 roll pins were almost gone.
STEP 2: I needed to learn a great deal about real rust removal.
options:
1) soak in kerosene or gasoline or light oil then scrub continuously over the course of a week or more.
2) try white vinegar...then scrub continuously over the course of 3-6 days...but it does work fairly well.
3) try expensive rust remover products.....then scrub and soak over the course of 2 days or more..but they do work..kinda.
4) try muriatic acid...takes about 20 minutes...BUT is highly toxic, noxious and dangerous.
Yes, I went for the muriatic acid! gloves, goggles, respirator, smock. this stuff is serious.
I mixed 25 percent acid with 75 percent water and soaked the parts in a plastic tub. I also cleaned the gas tank. it worked PERFECTLY.
light scrubbing with a brass brush took care of the really bad rust and then everything was washed thoroughly with water and baking soda mix to neutralize the acid.
then I took the goggles and respirator off...
I had some old wheels and tires lying around from an old snowblower and ordered the right bushings for a 1/38 OD that fit a 3/4" axle. common garden tractor bushings...got 10 for 19.00US
Then I ordered some 1/8" x 3/4" roll pins...a pack of 50 cost 9.00US
Carb rebuild kit with gaskets and a few motor parts cost 38.00US
new plug: 3.00US
welded a tear in the metal body, a few elongated bolt holes and will fab up a trailer hitch for the garden tractor once this thing is running again.
the only thing left to assemble are the roll pins. tiny little parts.....big hold up!...they should be here tomorrow.
stay tuned!
JP