Mid-Mount Madness: "Katy's Bogie Bash" Sleds...

[JoeRainville]

Hey Allen, you think I would have been smart enough to have my "Mechanix" gloves on, but they were getting in the way in that tight gearcase. I am sure there will be an equal amount of cussing during re-installation...

As for the X-8, once the track was out, I pulled the KEC 440/21 off and set it aside. Things to note were that the muffler is relatively buried, and didn't really want to come out until after the motor was pulled. Looks like this will be the first thing re-installed after the power unit frame goes back in.

[JoeRainville]

After removing the power unit frame, muffler, bumpers and back rest, she is down to the bare chassis. Turns out while the old girl was in pretty good shape, the chassis had several large and small dents, especially in the pan. A lot of patience, heat and hammering took care of most of it.

[JoeRainville]

Even with JDJRjr due in Feb, I am still marching forward with my Bogie-Basher on the chance that I can sneek in a run to St. Germain this Feb.

Progess has been good on the JDX-8 rehab. The attached pics' show the first pile of chassis parts during sand blast, and then after powder coating. I got lucky here, as Longhorn had about 10 lbs of a custom mix industrial powder that is a dead ringer for Blitz Black.

[JoeRainville]

And in honor of the infamous Don Amber, I sent parts out to be rechromed. Nothing extra was done, just the original rusty bars and the NOS back rest kit. The only thing I don't need to have done is the NOS front bumper.

I think Don would have told me to do more, like the chassis or something, but I want to keep this sled as original / correctly updated as I can. Although, I did consider doing to bogie cross tubes for a few minutes...

[sledhead16]

Hopefully we'll get to see her together!

[JoeRainville]

Allen, with Jr on the way, I am inspired to get her done before the end of the year...

Picked up the second batch of powder coated parts and re-chromed hitch. Only the chassis, chaincase and ski's need coating yet.

-Joe

[JoeRainville]

Hi Guys,

Just for grins I cross referenced a few parts for the JDX-8 on the http://www.jdparts.com website and found several PN's were still good. One disappointment is that the previously available M63112 chain tensioner blocks are no longer available. But, 10 other numbers are still good:

M63775 - Plastic Grommet: headlight and taillight
M63049 - Bushing: subs to M48105: spindle
JD9217 - Bearings: Upper Chaincase
JD8555 - Bearing: Drive Axle
M63810 - Bearing: Rear Axle
M63236 - Wavy Washer: Rear Axle
24H1314 - Washer: Rear Axle Spring
24H1308 - Washer: Bogie wheel, mount side
24H1303 - Washer, may sub to 24M7096: Bogie Wheel, bolt side
19H3267 - Bolt: Bogie wheel retainer

There may be others, but this is what I have found so far...
-Joe

[sledhead16]

[400brian]

Brian I just got a fax from Vegas and they have giving the following odds...

1) picking a sled 4 to 1.

2) building said sled 7 to 1

3) making it run 3 to 1

4) finishing the run 27 to 1

Numbers can change up to midnight November 1st, 2015.

Well guys, Nov 1 has came and went. I don't know where the odds are now, but it is looking tight!

[JDT]

We really should cut him some slack. I mean with the unexpected bundle of joy and all.

Get er done Joe. When you get to it.

[lwb140]

too funny !!

[JoeRainville]

In my never ending quest to be cool like Lindner, I have been sneaking away to the shop when ever Cari Deerest and/or Parker Aerospace allow me time. Even though many of the parts I am throwing at this JDX are NOS, most all of them needed paint, powder coat or re-plating.

The axle assemblies shown are almost all new or NOS parts, with the exception of the front center idler (borrowed from a Cyclone as the bogie sleds never used them), and the center shafts for the bogies.

And for the shameless plug, I am still searching for 5 more NOS steel bogie wheels, PN AM52032. Please, help out your fellow Deere obsessive collector reach his dreams...or goals or whatever...open your hearts...your garages...your boxes of dusty old NOS parts...send what you can...

[sledhead16]

The great JDX Race!

[400brian]

OK, so here is the situation: Rainville's X8 project got pushed to the back burner because of preparations for a baby that he inconveniently scheduled for February. I took a close look at my situation after Christmas, and concluded that while I have pretty much everything ready for re-assembly, I was not going to have time to get it put together and running before the RWTC weekend, at least it was a long shot.

So, I'm back to working on the green machine.

A different ignition has been installed, and the tin that Wade set me up with several years ago is installed.

[400brian]

Once the engine was set back in the chassis, and determined to run, the next project was the anti-vapor lock components. I had acquired the shield, but did not have the part that bolts under the carb, that would have to be fabricated. I found a piece of 6061 aluminum that was .040 thick, which looked like an excellent candidate, floating around my basement, so I was in business.

The bolt holes were drilled and the carb throat cut out. The slot is for the impulse hose, and it was too high in this photo, I had to move the slot down another inch or so, to prevent kinking the hose.

I applied insulation to both sides, which may have been over-kill, but that's what we do!