BOHICA!!!!!!! Do you know what you win, when you play stupid games?

[Runs With Scissors]

You win, Stupid prizes!!!!!!!!



Well as I posted last week or so, I was out "trailblazing" with the General Lee and got into a tough spot and must have "bottomed out" on something.

So my buddy that was helping me yelled for me to stop and pointed to the "blood trail"

After smelling it, I deduced that it was hydraulic fluid, and limped back to the shop.

It didn't take long to find what I "thought" was the leak.

I was originally going to try and straighten the "tab" and see if that would fix the leak, but after some reflection, and getting busy doing other things, I decided to just "suck it up" and buy a new tube.

So a quick phone call to the local dealer ( and $130 later), I had the new tube and 4 O-rings.

Yea it sucks, but what are you gonna do.

It doesn't look too bad to get to, so I figure an hour or two to replace it.

No biggie............................(Famous last words)

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I knew it was gonna be a tight fit for me to lay on my back and replace the tube, but I made a "General Custer" style underestimation on the the scope of this job.

So after fiddling around for a while, I quickly realized that my fat ass was NOT going to fit under the tractor and be able to see a damn thing, nor was I going to be able to "reach" anything.

I was stuffed under that tractor like someone "poured me" under it. There was absolutely no way I could do anything with that backhoe frame in the way, and everything was so close, that my 'old eyes' could not focus on anything.

So after prying myself out from under the General Lee and revaluating the situation, I decided that the only way I was going to be able to do this was to either find a way to use the hoist and lift the tractor, or to get it from the top somehow.

So I sat down, did some research on how to lift the tractor using the hoist........

I eventually came across a thread that someone else (on another forum) had done to lift the tractor with a car hoist.

The only problem was that I did not have nearly enough metal to pull it off.

Long story short, I ordered the metal, but I need to get this done in the meantime so off we go.

 

[Nicksacco]

Ugh! Goodluck with the project.
Too bad you couldn't use the stabilizers this time.
Please post some pics of the contraption your building!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Maybe Im missing something, but why can't you just lift it up using bucket and BH stabilizers ? Takes under a 2 minutes.
If you can't then a GOOD 'car jack' and a lot of foot long 2by10s will work..

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Looking at things I figure that all I need to do is pull the left "floor board". Well that quickly spirals out of control.

At first, I think that it will only take 5 or 6 bolts to pop that floor board off. The first 3 pics are the ones that I know need to be removed, and I also am going to need to remove that return spring.

Well I am thinking that the 4wd lever is attached with bolt, but as it turns out, that is not the case. It is welded to the floor board and that presents an altogether different problem.

After wrestling with it for a few minutes, I now know that the "kick plate" will need to be removed/moved to get the 4wd thingy out from under it.

After multiple cursing tirades, I soon succumb to the fact that the only way to get that damn floor board off is to remove the fender too.......

So here we are.....ready to "pop that line off and back on", and be done!

 

[rc51stierhoff]

Maybe Im missing something, but why can't you just lift it up using bucket and BH stabilizers ? Takes under a 2 minutes.
If you can't then a GOOD 'car jack' and a lot of foot long 2by10s will work..

I am sort of curious too why no use hydraulics on the loader and ho? Seems like you could shim as much as needed and block it up with timbers. Good luck.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Here's were the BOHICA part comes into play.

As I am looking at the problem from a new angle, I notice another leak that I had missed during the 1st inspection.

The line above it is leaking as well.

DAMN IT!!!!!!!!!!

Its hard to see in the above picture, but I see where the paint has been "chipped off" (probably due to bending) and I suspect that it has a slight crack. I can't see good enough to verify a crack, but regardless it is leaking........

A call to the dealer and BOHICA!!!!!!!......another $140 down the tubes, and a one week "game delay".


Now one week later, things are getting interesting.

That tube runs all the way to the front of the tractor and I'll be damned if I can see the end of it.

It dips under the radiator and "disappears" into the Abyss......M%^%^$#$%^&&**&^

After several attempts with a 22mm 'line wrench crows foot" and various extensions, it is apparent that the radiator needs to be removed.

Now anyone that knows me, knows that I loathe dealing with cooling systems in general.

and true to form, despite my best efforts, I spill that sh!t everywhere!!!!!!!!!

All in all, the radiator removal goes quickly and is pretty straight forward.

The amount of force I needed to apply to the wrench to break that line free was nothing short of WOW!

Even if I had been able to get the "crows foot" onto the line, I doubt I would have been able to get enough "swing" to break the nut free, so radiator removal was in my future no matter what.

Here it is before I break it free.

 

[DustyRusty]

I think that the way that you use your machine and break your machine, you need a much heavier-duty machine to go where you want to go. May I suggest something like a Case or a JCB?

 

[Runs With Scissors]

So I am planning for a "gusher" of hydraulic fluid because in my twisted mind, I decide to not make a "preemptive strike" and drain the fluid first. I decide to gamble, and "see" if the fluid all rush's out.

So I clean up a 5 gallon bucket and try to stuff it under there.

However, of course it wont fit.....I tried everything but it was not going to fit under there, and I was lifting it on one side, uncomfortably high.

DAMN IT!!!!!!!!!

I finally tip it on its side and stand it up.....BUT......now the backhoe frame is blocking it from being able to be put in the proper place.......

So there I am, thinking.....thinking.....

What could I use that is about 5 "gallons'ish"

EUREKA......That's it.....My wifes sweater/scarf storage box........

What's that saying?....."Better to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission"....hahahah (she is out of town visiting her sister......)

I pop the small line off and it goes fairly well, and not a ton of fluid is pouring out and eventually is slows to a manageable 'trickle'.

Now for the "600 Lbs. Gorilla" in the room.....how the F am I going to wiggle the line out past the loader bracket? (circled in blue in the lower right of next pic)

After F'ing around with 1,123,678 different combinations of twisting and turning to get this line out,

It turns out........... its impossible........Damn it again!!!!!!

Now I start getting "Hangry" and not thinking clearly, and choose the "Nuclear Option"

Enter the cutting wheel.....

Well that gets it out easily enough, but it does not solve my next problem.

How the hell do I get the new one in?

I decide to stop and get something to eat and think this through a little better.

I toy around with the idea of cutting the new one and then figuring out a "splicing" solution, but it is not sitting well with me.

 

[The Evil Twin]

I think that the way that you use your machine and break your machine, you need a much heavier-duty machine to go where you want to go. May I suggest something like a Case or a JCB?

I have a neighbor selling his TL12 that might hold up to RWS use. The thing is a tank.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

For those unfamiliar with a 2501, the long line goes behind the loader bracket as shown below.

So after getting something to eat, and "getting my mind right", I have decided that since I am neck deep in this thing I might as well do it the "correct way" and decide against the "cut and splice" option.

So I break out the impact and some wrench's to get at the 2 "trapped" bolts. The two trapped bolts take forever.

I have to say that this is one of those times that having specialized wrench's (like those angle wrench's), really helps out.

Before the last bolt is removed, I decide to use the hoist to support the loader arm to prevent any "tweaking"

With a little "massaging" and "jiggling" , the bracket is free and the line "falls into place easily"

Next it's time to reinstall the FEL bracket, so a little help from the pry bar and a 4x4 to give a little wiggle room is in order.

Then some judicious use of "loc-tite" on the bolts is in order.

I will spare you the details of reassembly and only say "it is basically the reverse, of disassembly" with one caveat.


For the life of me I could not get the damn fan/pully/water pump lined up. I tried for 10 minutes before I decided to make an "alignment tool"

So this bolt from my "spare bolts" bin was selected (BTW this is "exactly" why I can't throw an old bolt away )

and about 5 minutes at the bandsaw/grinder

and I have a "Kubota L2501 special fan Alignment tool"....hahahahahah

 

[Runs With Scissors]

That "Kubota L2501 special fan Alignment tool". made quick work of the fan install.

After a 'once over' it's time to fill the General Lee back up and I get to use my new "funky funnel"

It's almost like this funnel was "made for this"...

Now for the :"moment of truth"

I fired up the General Lee and checked for leaks.........NONE!!!!!! YAAAAAY!!!!!



The End!

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Ugh! Goodluck with the project.
Too bad you couldn't use the stabilizers this time.
Please post some pics of the contraption your building!

I will as soon as the metal I ordered comes in and I get some free time.

It's taking ridiculously long for some reason for my metal delivery.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Maybe Im missing something, but why can't you just lift it up using bucket and BH stabilizers ? Takes under a 2 minutes.
If you can't then a GOOD 'car jack' and a lot of foot long 2by10s will work..

Not being "high enough" was only partly the reason for going in from the top. I did not think that I could get my fat "meat hooks" in there. In the end I was going to have to go from the top anyway. (I'm pretty sure, anyhow.)

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I am sort of curious too why no use hydraulics on the loader and ho? Seems like you could shim as much as needed and block it up with timbers. Good luck.

Along with the reasons I posted to GJ, I don't have that much timber around and I think that "overall" it was just going to be "easier" to go from the top.

I could be 100% wrong about being "easier", but that was my thinking at the time, and sometimes you just have to go with your gut.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I think that the way that you use your machine and break your machine, you need a much heavier-duty machine to go where you want to go. May I suggest something like a Case or a JCB?

Hahahh......I'd break those too.....

I just have to stop abusing the General Lee, and take more time to do jobs.......it's that simple. Totally my fault for sure.

 

[GeoHorn]

Maybe you should rename it “No General Leaks”….

 

[D2Cat]

RWS, those kinds of activities add to your "common sense" collection. Your frustration level helps to hinder your rambunctious use of machine!

Good report though. Maybe others can learn from your experience.!!!!!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

First post I was like... Déjà vu
I could have sworn he did you before...

 

[bbxlr8]

Where the heck did you get that funnel? I want one!

I have a similar fxn ancient flexible metal one I have dedicated to trans fluid only... Has to be 40+ y/o

BTW - I feel your pain on this job