What did you do with your Chinese baby digger today?

[dfkrug]

cant afford to put a bigger one in it right now BUT still eying one of my Kohler 20's out of an old sunstar. I know that would run it!

You don't want a bigger engine, esp a twin. No room. The thumpers have plenty of power, and are quite inexpensive.

 

[Sonny580]

dug sweet taters with mine today. Ground is as hard as concrete and fork was out!

 

[MattB4]

Was doing some clean up from stump removal with my Typhon this last week when I had a track jump the sprocket. First time needing to put it back. I learned a few things in the process. First thing I learned is the large track tension lock nut is a size that I do not have (32mm) I also learned that it was not easily reachable with an adjustable wrench due to the access area for it.

Manged to still loosen the tension bolt (16mm) and reinstall the track but not really able to tighten the lock nut. I ordered this wrench from Amazon and it is just the deal for this. Thought I would pass it along.

 

[D'oh]

If anything happened to my 13.5hp Brigs, I think I would settle for a 10-12hp Oil Burning Thumper.

 

[dfkrug]

I hope you can find that wrench when you need it, but it looks like the right tool. I used a 1.25" box-end wrench on mine, but I have not needed it in years.

 

[MattB4]

I hope you can find that wrench when you need it, but it looks like the right tool. I used a 1.25" box-end wrench on mine, but I have not needed it in years.

It is now in a tool box dedicated for the excavator mounted to the little trailer I move the excavator around with. I like to know I have the tools available instead of having to run back to my shop.

 

[Carl_NH]

I put my "tools box" behind the seat - has most everything I need to fix in it - added a bracket and adhesive foam so it sits tight.

 

[Sonny580]

diggin in the tile line still. right track keeps coming off. Been doing that since I got it new last year. front wheel is junk,---wobbles bad.
Might just have to drag the digger around with a tractor til I get this job done. No time right now to screw with it. I bought the thing to use and NOT have to reman it!!!!

 

[dfkrug]

front wheel is junk,---wobbles bad.

When I removed one of my idler wheels, I never took it apart to see what kind of bearing it uses. Since it is not greaseable, I hope it is one or 2 ball bearings, which should be cheap to replace.

If you remove 2 socket head bolts, you should be able to remove the side plate and see. It seems to me that replacing that bearing will be less work than one track remounting effort. If you do this, please post pix.

 

[Sonny580]

I figure its just a bolt thru a bare bushing in there, --- have no idea yet but might try to take a quick look ! Track still off since I was mowing waterways yesterday and didnt have time to work on tile line.
New machine with 24 hours should NOT have tracks jumping off! Only the right side comes off left side is fine.
still gotta modify the bucket to make it cut,---been grinding the **** out of the edges and it does a LOT better but still needs more!
Pulls way too hard and kills the motor even wide open!
Later on I will make my own bucket that will work but for now stuck with this one.
Also 2 days ago the hour meter went dead on it! I look at it every time I start up and it wasnt on that time. Been working up til then. Any ideas on whats up with that? or a fix?
I will take pix of the front when I get it off too and see for sure whats in there. Raining today, so maybe I can work on it since I cant mow.

 

[Sonny580]

didnt take front wheel off yet ---- too much **** has to come apart and no time right now to do it. I left the track a little loose and so far if I turn careful its still on.
I still need sharper edges on the bucket to cut the hard dirt thats like concrete.

 

[dfkrug]

didnt take front wheel off yet ---- too much **** has to come apart and no time right now to do it.

Well, yours will be the first pix of the idler wheel bearing(s) when/if you post it, Sonny.

 

[Sonny580]

When I get done with this tile fixin I will take it apart,-- UNLESS it get so bad the track wont stay on at all.
I have pushed almost 300 feet of backfill dirt over the tile line and so far the track has stayed on. I dont have it as tight as it was when I got the digger last year,---- may have been too tight at that time. It looked o.k. but could have been a tad too much so I just took the sag out and quit at that point. Took a couple tries then it stayed straight now so we try that and see how goes. So far it hasnt fallen off.
I still need to do something to sharpen more of the bucket. I really want to make my own bucket that will cut hard dirt and not pull as hard as the one that came on it.
I been using the finger as a ripper to loosen the top 18" of hard dirt and that does help a lot.
For its size it does great --- we all know they are NOT a 450 Deere but didnt cost what a 450 does either !!!! Its either this or a spade and I am not able to spade stuff anymore!!

 

[dfkrug]

Well, yours will be the first pix of the idler wheel bearing(s) when/if you post it, Sonny.

I just saw a photo of the idler wheel removed from its bracket, on a public FB group. Posting it here to share.

It seems to be 2 ball bearings, and the shaft is secured with roll pins. Looks like easy fix with off-the-shelf parts. Even it you let the bearings fall apart and damage the shaft, replacing the shaft should not be hard.

If your idler wheel wobbles, don't wait too long.

 

[Sonny580]

Idler wheel has wobbled since day one out of the shipping container new!
Anyway he now has a brother.

 

[mike0000]

Preventative maintenance, this bolt continues to get loose, I tightened it, it came loose, I blue loctited it, it came loose, today, it got red loctite. This is the drive motor(slew)that rotates the housing.

 

[LittleBill21]

Preventative maintenance, this bolt continues to get loose, I tightened it, it came loose, I blue loctited it, it came loose, today, it got red loctite. This is the drive motor(slew)that rotates the housing.

View attachment 1706721View attachment 1706722

might want to consider orange. its a new version strong as red but can be removed like blue..

https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-252...33b753a464235&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

 

[mike0000]

might want to consider orange. its a new version strong as red but can be removed like blue..

https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-252...33b753a464235&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Wasn’t aware of that, Thank you

 

[dfkrug]

Preventative maintenance, this bolt continues to get loose, I tightened it, it came loose, I blue loctited it, it came loose, today, it got red loctite.

Do you find out when it falls out? Or are you checking it frequently?

Looks pretty accessible. Is your ring gear guard only partial coverage? Mine is like that.

 

[Advil]

Can the head be drilled and then safety wire it to something nearby? It can't back out if it can't turn.