|
Oh yeah, I've got tips. You can get slack on the cylinders (without bleeding fluid) by a complex dance I described in a post last year after I figured it out, but now that I've shoveled the accumulation of dirt out of the underhoe I'd have to say that loosening (not removing unless you've really got things _clean_) the hose going from the swing cylinder into the combination valve is the easier way to get slack on the cylinder, if the underhoe is not full of filth. You may need to remove the tractor seat to get in there more easily. Remember that the hoses cross (left hose goes to right cylinder) You'll still need something substantial to pull with/on (or you could put an air fitting on the breather port and pump up the rear to move it forward, I guess). Shovel out all the dirt you can get. It might be worth removing the cylinders (with the chain off just shove them backwards) to clean out under there better. If your swing cylinders have breathers on them, upgrade to the "new style" connecting the breather ports with a hose - cheap at the hardware store, probably either not available or 10X the price from New Holland. Look in your parts book if you have one to get the idea. If you already have a hose, replace it if it looks iffy. If the chain is not too far gone new pins can be made from 1/2" grade 8 bolts (long enough to have smooth shank for the required distance) - the heads need to be ground down somewhat, and then you set the head on an anvil or anvil subtitute and peen away with a ball-peen hammer until you've got it pinned. Or have your local blacksmith do it. If the chain is too far gone you might be better off buying chain from a heavy-duty industrial supply and transferring the end connections or having new end connections fabricated-the prices I've seen quoted on these half-chains will buy over 10 feet of similar-size chain on the open market... Replace all the cotter pins. If the big pin in the middle has enough slack on the bottom put on a washer to give the bottom cotter pin a fighting chance (this may only be an issue if your swing post is as abused as mine has been). If you are reinstalling old chains, it can't hurt to get them as clean as possible first. For lubrication, I'm undecided on whether to use the Ford suggestion to soak them in hydraulic oil or the bicyclist suggestion to cook them in paraffin wax (as a lubricant that will attract & hold less dirt than grease or oil will).
| 
