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Muskeg Identification

M

morewood

Member
IMG_20240423_183742632_HDR.jpg
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It's right at 8' in total width. 11'6" in length, add 2' for the winch, add approximately another 3'6" for the cutter. My absolute wild guess is between 10k-12k in weight, topped off and ready to work. It has a long date with a hot water pressure washer. If you guys see anything you can tell me about or have questions I'll answer as best I can.

Shea
 
redsqwrl

redsqwrl

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
I am not a heavy iron guy, like my light weight snow iron....
But that thing is cool! If you are anywhere below 4500 us $ you are in a good spot money wise. Tracks idlers grousers will yield your money.
It likely runs and just got replaced with a 100hp skidsteer and the old guy liked it and it stayed around.

Update with your adventures as you get it back on its feet!
 
M

morewood

Member
I got it for $3K. The gentleman that bought it owned a bridge building of company for a long time. His son is slowly selling the iron and equipment. Everything appears solid, we'll see as I get it cleaned up and moving.

Shea
 
J5 Bombardier

J5 Bombardier

Well-known member
Definitely the flat style grousers , don't see that to much up here . Very nice machine , good that you saved it .
J5 Bombardier
 
M

morewood

Member
Thanks guys. I'm a complete newbie with these things so I may not fully understand all the jargon or nomenclature....but I try. I plan on using the excavator to see if it moves freely and get it in a better position to get a big rollback to it. Not having to move it far, shouldn't cost much. I'm going to remove the cutter and related stuff to get the machine going before getting the cutter renovated and going again. Got plans for all kinds of weird stuff.

Concerning the grousers. I have plenty of high elevation private developments where I get work on occasion. Because the grousers are u-shaped (with a flat bottom) they would leave marks on the asphalt and that is a big no-no for these people. Has anyone ever seen either inserts that would keep the metal off the asphalt or some other option? The only plan they have in bad weather is hope a guy can plow UP a 13-15% grade.....HA. I have plenty of guys who know hydraulics and a close friend does custom metal work, that's helpful. Be sure that I will have plenty of questions.

When I get the small hood removed, what other than the fuel tank will that give me access to?

Shea
 
pixie

pixie

Well-known member
SUPER Site Supporter
The differential is under the hood. Change oil, check gasket for leaks, check brake band lining.

The onlt way I can think of to make the tracks less marring is to bolt rubber pieces on but I don't think they would last long.
 
M

morewood

Member
Got it moved to my friends shop last week. Started pressure washing it yesterday. All the little things seem intact. Bolts, grease fittings, etc. Everything for the belts on the right side seems great. Odd question.....how much overlap on the belts where they joined. These are 12-18". Hadn't noticed the join before. Also, I assume that the cab configuration isn't factory since it has hydraulic controls and electrical equipment in the cab. When they built it they left a gap between the body and the cab. Doesn't make any sense to me. Either way that will change. I don't want the environment in there with me. I hope to get the rest of it done today and clean up anything in the engine bay too. This hot water pressure washer is the ticket.

Shea
 
J5 Bombardier

J5 Bombardier

Well-known member
morewood said:
Got it moved to my friends shop last week. Started pressure washing it yesterday. All the little things seem intact. Bolts, grease fittings, etc. Everything for the belts on the right side seems great. Odd question.....how much overlap on the belts where they joined. These are 12-18". Hadn't noticed the join before. Also, I assume that the cab configuration isn't factory since it has hydraulic controls and electrical equipment in the cab. When they built it they left a gap between the body and the cab. Doesn't make any sense to me. Either way that will change. I don't want the environment in there with me. I hope to get the rest of it done today and clean up anything in the engine bay too. This hot water pressure washer is the ticket.

Shea
Click to expand...
Not a factory cab for sure , they didn't cheap out on the bolts attaching the cab to the original nose ,lol . As your machine started life as a M.T.D....Muskeg Tractor Diesel it was an open cockpit. Belt overlap ,usually 3 or 4 , 18 -24 bolts is enough to remove and install.
J5 Bombardier
 
M

morewood

Member
Thanks, the cab doesn't look like anything I had seen on any pictures. Makes sense now that I know they started life as open cockpit machines. Without being at the machine at the moment I think there were at least 4 grousers across the overlapped section. The grousers/nuts/bolts/backing plates all look good and solid. Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

Shea
 
M

morewood

Member
IMG_20240508_192725532_HDR.jpg


Got this pic after some more cleaning. I'll post more pics after work when I drop by to get them. Was looking to see the access we would have when I removed the seat plate. It appears that the first gear ratio of 7.24 to 1 might have been one of the best available with this transmission. My biggest surprise was how much crap was in the belly of the machine. I'll find out how to remove what appears to be the access plate and get it all cleaned out once the rains have moved on.

Shea
 
M

morewood

Member
IMG_20240509_163526458_HDR.jpg
IMG_20240509_163533208_HDR.jpg


It appears when the transmission was replaced the PTO wasn't. I'll have to figure something out for that. The shaft is actually down there, just can't see it. What is that would be under the left side of you were sitting in it. It's a cable that goes over the transmission and down to nothing it appears. If it had a handle then it's gone too. There is a spring at the base of it. PTO engagement? Thanks guys

Shea
 
J5 Bombardier

J5 Bombardier

Well-known member
morewood said:
View attachment 178082View attachment 178083

It appears when the transmission was replaced the PTO wasn't. I'll have to figure something out for that. The shaft is actually down there, just can't see it. What is that would be under the left side of you were sitting in it. It's a cable that goes over the transmission and down to nothing it appears. If it had a handle then it's gone too. There is a spring at the base of it. PTO engagement? Thanks guys

Shea
Click to expand...
PTO for the rear winch , something to look at later on . The pto has to be able to reverse direction for the winch , that cable probably was miserable to use for that . A lever with linkage usually works better. J5 Bombardier
 
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M

morewood

Member
I'm eat up with work and rain all week so I don't know that I can look at it until this weekend. Until then I would like to do some internet sleuthing. Do you know where I could start looking for the PTO parts? Were they all set up with a cable or could some mechanical linkage be fabed up after seeing a factory set-up?

Shea
 
M

morewood

Member
Also not sure there was a power reverse. It appears to be a free spool possibly. I found a pic of the pto online and it's simple with no other gearing for a reverse option.

Shea

BUT, I'm sure there was more than one pto avilable for it.
 
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M

morewood

Member
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What I've got to go on so far. A take off part and a Muncie PDF that doesn't match the part. That doesn't bother me, but at least I've got a starting point. Any ideas will be accepted.

Shea
 
J5 Bombardier

J5 Bombardier

Well-known member
The trans pic I posted is a New Process # 435 , I believe , it's been a while since I worked on it and no tag. Either way the tag on the PTO may be of some help , the mating gear on the trans should be helical , but the block off plate would need to come off to verify . If you do find one down the road I would pull the trans to install the PTO , shimming it while standing on your head in the hull would be no fun. You can use the old cable or make up a lever, the winch is not something you use often , unless your operating in a swamp.
J5 Bombardier
 

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M

morewood

Member
Thanks for the pics. I was able to get my dad down to look at it yesterday and noticed a PTO handle on the dash labeled Chelsea......so that works with the information you showed. I'll have to check more on that. My reason for making it a sooner rather than later priority is my work is all on slopes, some very steep. Having the winch working would make it easier to recover equipment if necessary. The cutter is coming off to be refurbished/rebuilt and is a secondary concern. The machine up and moving is first. Fix all the main hydraulic systems and electrical before the cutter becomes a priority. Thanks guys.

Shea
 
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