B-1 Engine Swap & Front Axle Completed

[Roy 0]

Pictures are a little dark but show the new engine, front axle & spindles, and tri-ribs installed and complete. New tri-ribs:

Custom fit air cleaner:

Joseph's coat of many colors (Ugly Betty's twin sister): Left side:

Right side:

Front View:

L-H side with hood closed:

L-H view of whole tractor:

Everything fits and works good although the engine burns oil. Remains to be seen how much it uses. The 3 amp DC alternator works and charges the battery as it should. Stock choke cable worked fine. Had to install a new throttle cable. Modified the air cleaner cover to clear the gas tank. Some of the other modifications included trimming the frame for the oil drain and enlarging the hole in the grill support for the crankshaft to stick through. Overall I'm happy with the way it came out. Plan to put different rear wheels on and reupholster the seat. May even get around to painting it all one color some day.

[johnmonkey 4]

Looking good Roy. JH

[FastPaul 0]

Looks very nice Roy. I like the custom air cleaner ^ She must have a lot more power now. Whats up with the grill??

[Killer_A-C 0]

good job Roy. All the hard work payed off8D8DMatt

[MPH 12]

Even though that new frontend looks a bit outta place on the rest of the tractor, way to go Roy, another one up and ready for work again. Hmm, maybe I'll have to dig out my blue B-1, then ugly Betty could have a northern cousin or brother:D Your chrome front wheel come out looking good Roy, what brand did you use?

[Willy 2]

Looks good,nice tight fit. I had a 14 HP Kohler that used a little oil I dumped about a once of carb. cleaner down the spark plug hole and let it set about 30 min. Stuck the plug in fired it up and ran it for about 5 min then changed the oil. I figured the rings were carbon ed up,it helped a lot,I can mow my to acres twice before adding oil. I like the ribbed tires.
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[ehertzfeld 3]

Betty is in good company!:D Nice job Roy. I would love to see your blue B1 Marty. I think everyone should have at least one Ugly Betty!:D

[HubbardRA 19]

Didn't you have a can of black spray paint so that you could have gotten rid of the green engine?

[Roy 0]

Paul, I put the grill bars in years ago to protect the mesh grill from being bashed in when I rammed the front end uphill into the fence and bushes in my back yard. Had I done it sooner the top half of the mesh might still be around. :( Thanks, I thought the air cleaner came out good. Marty, Used Rustoleum Metallic Finish #7718 Chrome rattle can. Pretty happy with the results. Came out better than another brand of silver I have used previously. Rod, Since I didn't even know if the engine ran I didn't want to tear it apart to paint and then find out it was no good. As it burns oil I can paint it when, and if, I ever tear it down to put rings in. John/Matt/Willy/Elon/and all, Thanks for your kind comments. I do like the tri-ribs. ^ Cheers gang,

[HubbardRA 19]

Roy, Find yourself a piece of expanded metal and make a new grille. ThunderFoot is on the third grille since we have had it. It is no longer aluminum. We used expanded steel, which is no thicker than the aluminum, but stronger and just painted it with aluminum paint.

[Roy 0]

"make a new grille." Gee Rod, I would have to spend money and then make the rest of the tractor pretty to match. ;)

[MPH 12]

"and then make the rest of the tractor pretty to match." Not really Roy, making the front axle pretty and chrome front wheels didn't seem to force you into it:D:D

[Roy 0]

Rats Marty, you're onto me. :)

[HubbardRA 19]

Roy, did you really think "I" bought that explanation? I know you too well.:D

[Roy 0]

Recovered the seat and put bigger tires on the back. Getting there slowly. Seat:

Seat & tires:

Not happy with the blue velour upholstery but it was "in stock".

[HubbardRA 19]

Why aren't the rear wheeels shiny?