AC710 Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 Hi all - I recently noticed that the hood on my AC 710 appears to be mis-manufactured. It is out of plumb by more that an inch. Is this a common thing? In the photo, the black bracket is square with the frame and you can see that the grille is offset more than an inch to the right. I can't find any evidence of damage - the sheet metal is not wrinkled. the hinge brackets are equal and not worn. The hole for the gas cap is also out of line so you have to push the hood to the side a little to open it. My first reaction was "What th' heck?". I figured it had been bumped real hard at some point and pushed it off kilter, but there is nothing that would indicate anything than that their mfg was out of whack somehow.
OrangeMetalGuy Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 Naw, something pushed it out of whack. You should be able to remoce the grill then push it back straight again.
TommyK Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 Now that you mention it, when I was a kid my dad had a A-C with a hood that exact shape. I don't remember the model. I remember having to rack the hood sideways a bit to clear the fuel cap. I had a car once,which I drove for years before I realized the steering column wasn't 'square' with the frame. It came out of the dash at an angle. I checked other cars of that same model and year. They were all that way. Don't get the hammer out yet.
AC710 Posted May 16, 2011 Author Posted May 16, 2011 quote:Naw, something pushed it out of whack. You should be able to remove the grill then push it back straight again. Wouldn't you think there would be some indication that it had been bumped or pushed ?. That "sheet metal" is real stiff and heavy and would take more than a nudge to move. There are no cracks, wrinkles, dents, bends or anything I can see. There are some rub marks, but not anything more than would be made by pushing some brush aside. They must have gotten real close to the ol' apple tree. I'll bet I could make some indication by trying to fix it, though.sm06 I will have to investigate further. It is possible the hinges are jimmied in some way, although I can't see anything from the outside.
goatfarmer Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 quote:Originally posted by AC710 quote:Naw, something pushed it out of whack. You should be able to remove the grill then push it back straight again. Wouldn't you think there would be some indication that it had been bumped or pushed ?. That "sheet metal" is real stiff and heavy and would take more than a nudge to move. There are no cracks, wrinkles, dents, bends or anything I can see. There are some rub marks, but not anything more than would be made by pushing some brush aside. They must have gotten real close to the ol' apple tree. I'll bet I could make some indication by trying to fix it, though.sm06 I will have to investigate further. It is possible the hinges are jimmied in some way, although I can't see anything from the outside. Not necessarily. My AC712H fell off a ramp while backing it out of the truck. Fortunately, it landed on me, and I broke it's fall!sm00 Anyway, there is no damage I could see, but the hood is whacked a bit. I call it battle scars.....
AC710 Posted May 16, 2011 Author Posted May 16, 2011 Well, these old AC/Simp's are tougher n' nails, that's fer sure! I am reminded of that every time I get on my new Cub Cadet and feel the frame flexing while mowing the lawn. I can just about guarantee the Cub won't be going strong 35 years from now. If I get to the point of a restoration, I might try to straighten it, but for now it works just fine and doesn't look too bad - it took me more than a year to notice it.
TommyK Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 You sure the after market shiny new, black, bracket ain't out of whack, or, surely not, is it installed out of whack?
AC710 Posted May 17, 2011 Author Posted May 17, 2011 I was wondering when someone would ask about that bracket. Without the bracket in place it is still easy to see the crooked hood, but the bracket helps show how much it is off. The shiny aftermarket bracket is actually a cut-down part for a sears sleeve hitch that I am using to mount a winch for the sears bucket I am modifying. and, yes, the bracket is square.:D
stevenj Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 quote:Originally posted by AC710 I was wondering when someone would ask about that bracket. Without the bracket in place it is still easy to see the crooked hood, but the bracket helps show how much it is off. The shiny aftermarket bracket is actually a cut-down part for a sears sleeve hitch that I am using to mount a winch for the sears bucket I am modifying. and, yes, the bracket is square.:D You should have made this fact known earlier. Obviously, the Simplicity hood is cringing because you added a Sears part to the tractor. :D
AC710 Posted May 17, 2011 Author Posted May 17, 2011 I thought if the label was faced away from the grille, it wouldn't notice. I guess it just didn't feel right. I am glad that mystery has been cleared up!
TommyK Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 The Label. That's it! The extra weight of the logo being off'n center is pulling the whole works to the driver's left. Just move the logo to the other side until gravity trues it up, then center it. sm06
AC710 Posted May 17, 2011 Author Posted May 17, 2011 next thing you'll be telling me it will pull to the left and only drive in circles.
goodtimo Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 maybe it's a mildly twisted frame rather than a bent hood? quote:Originally posted by AC710 Hi all - I recently noticed that the hood on my AC 710 appears to be mis-manufactured. It is out of plumb by more that an inch. Is this a common thing? In the photo, the black bracket is square with the frame and you can see that the grille is offset more than an inch to the right. I can't find any evidence of damage - the sheet metal is not wrinkled. the hinge brackets are equal and not worn. The hole for the gas cap is also out of line so you have to push the hood to the side a little to open it. My first reaction was "What th' heck?". I figured it had been bumped real hard at some point and pushed it off kilter, but there is nothing that would indicate anything than that their mfg was out of whack somehow. [img]/club2/attach/AC710/crooked hood.JPG[/img]
Al Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 HI, I have seen this in rollover tractors. This was the only damage. These are tough tractors. Al Eden
dynodave Posted May 18, 2011 Posted May 18, 2011 I have 3 of these type hood and I noticed that inside the hood there is the "reinforcing subframe that has been spot welded into the hood...... The spacing and angle of attachment are all different. this might effect the final overall shape?
Recommended Posts