Tractors, Mowers, Chippers, Trailers, Chainsaws, Generators, Boat Engines, & Flood Control.

Thanks for the heads up. I’m aware that buildup of pressure in the cylinder by application of heat is a recipe for disaster or getting hot oil sprayed all over me.

I’ve rebuilt a few cylinders over the years, I’m always very careful for the reasons you state. My dad taught me years ago that ya can’t just dive in and expect good results and no injury- life is fragile.

I tapped around it earlier while applying tension. I need a large pipe wrench, my small chain wrench doesn’t have the leverage or grip I need. I think with a bit of heat it’ll loosen right up.

20T press sounded like a shotgun when this finally let loose:

 

If you lived closer I’ve collected a few small pipe wrenches over the years you could borrow. Done a welding job and traded it for the 48” & 36”.

 

Awesome! I work for a Natural Gas Pipeline, I’ve got lots of pipe wrenches at work I just forgot to grab the one that belongs in my truck ☹️

 

The guy I got these from was a plumber in a hospital.

 

Hard to follow that!

I FINALLY got the left wheel off the rototiller. First time EVER a pickle fork proved very very useful.

 

The GF had me open a jar for her last night.

Didn't quite need the use the fire wrench, but it was close...

 

I'm old, is that secret talk code for something?

 

Basically the same thing, different medium in the pipe haha. By the way, I appreciate the offer if I were closer!

In all honesty, we don't use pipe wrenches often, but they're here if we need 'em! Reminds me, I really need to grab a few for my home toolbox. (To be clear, I mean purchase them haha)

I used a picklefork when I replaced the bushings in my power steering rack. Popped the new ones right out of the reman rack after a few whacks. I found that to be reasonably useful lol.

I always spray them with wd40 or something, if you're actually using it to pop a ball joint or something like that it's a *little* less likely to tear the boot if it's lubed up.

 

All kinds of solutions on the internet for removing the stuck wheel from a Troy Bilt Horse, usually 1980's vintage like mine. Many involve fabbing a tool or welding a nut on. I've been spraying with Kroil for over a week, but it would not come off. Tried a few things, no luck. Then when going through my wooden crate of odd steel car tools...this pickle fork might work IF wide enough for the shaft...........it fit perfectly, whack, WHACK and WHAM, LOOSE!!!!

 

Yes, 'fire wrench' is code for 'torch'

 

Flame on!!

 

This was a rare craigslist deal. This couple was selling two matching units for $600 so a buddy and I bought them. He flipped his right away but I managed to hold on to mine for a couple of years. Deals like that don't pop up too often, and I was just lucky enough to be the first to see it and respond.

 

Obviously irrelevant at this point, but whenever I've run into one of those pins that won't budge I've doused it in penetrating oil for a couple of days, drilled a shallow centering hole in one end and gone to town on it with a punch fitting on the air hammer. That's never failed to break it loose, but I also have never had to deal with one that was mushroomed, either.

 

See, now that's a classical reference.

 

I think I tried the air hammer on the last one, it wouldn’t budge. That said, my air hammer kinda sucks lol.

I ended up having to use a piece of 1” stock carefully guided by a c-clamp and a big sledge to break it loose. That wore me out. (The last one, did it in the fall)

Today:
Got the gland nut off today, only took 150lbs of me hanging off a 36” pipe wrench with a breaker bar attached. Next is to replace the seals.

Weird camera trick/optical illusion looking into the cylinder bore. It’s scratch free, that’s a good sign.

 

Picked up a pair of 24x12-12 tires on 12x8.5" 4:4 rims today for $50 off FB marketplace. I don't need the tires, just got em for the rims.

 

Sweet deal, I have bought 6 mower tires and 2 flat free wheels/tires in the last 2 months.
Mowing is expensive this year.

 

No pics of the actual work I did today, really... but I got ADD and switched gears from the mini skid steer back to the MF35 Utility. Propped the hood up, finished installing the dash, I think I mentioned in a previous post that I didn’t realize the tach had seized up over winter and when I installed the tach drive cable it broke the damn cable. Ugh...

So I pulled the tach today, oiled it up, clipped the squared drive end off the cable (other end broke) and used that to rock it back and forth while the Kroil did its thing. After it freed up I chucked it up in my cordless drill and ran it up slowly until it was nice and free.

Also used my previously posted access holes to hook the hand throttle back up, it’s a monster PITA to access back there so the new holes are a life saver! Also started to install the new gauges. No fuel gauge for me- my tank has no location for a sender. Oh well, it came with the kit. I could always cut a flange and weld it on, then drill the tank. Not worth it, the machine never leaves my property.

Doggo approved:


Tach seized up:


Lubed and tested.

 

I mowed earlier and had a buddy hanging out with me.

 

Didja Ferris Bueller the hour meter?