HELP??Hood bolts on BIG TEN

[Putter 0]

I have been using a carriage bolt to fit in the slot at the front with a wing-nut on the outside to tighten the hood up. The square of the carriage bolt fits in the tapered slot and holds it from turning once you are getting tight enough. It works but takes a while to take the hood on and off. I would sure like to see what some others guys are doing.

[DaveL 0]

Have always thought that those bolts were one of the few real apparent design flaws in those years of manufacture. Have a 64 Landlord-was bought new from my father and for almost as long as I remember he used to cuss those things out and that has been passed down to me. First the tapered slot at the left side cracked off at only a couple years old and Dad wired the hood with bailing wire wrapped around the T-bolt. Even tried brazing it--tried welding it. I tried fabricating a "cheater slot" and bolted it on. Still the hood rattled. A few years ago I finally gave up on trying to keep it looking original and replaced all four bolts and installed the later model rubber hood latches on the hood itself and "studs" into the tractor grill frame and back side panels. FINALLY the rattle has disappeared. Got the latches from Jack's on a special and am happy so far--until the heat from the muffler cooks the left latch?!

[Tutt 0]

I have the T-bolts on the front hood on my BIG TEN, but they don't seem to stay tight. The springs on the inside are kind of mangled, but I just cant figure out how these things work. Any insight or pictures would be greatly appreciated. The rattling hood is about to drive me crazy. Tutt

[John_RI 8]

Dave, Do you ave any pictures of your new hood latches? Thhanks, John(ri)

[Kent 436]

Tutt, I don't have any closeup pictures of these, and haven't had time to take any -- maybe this weekend! Maybe a description will do.... Sounds like your problems may be with the springs, since they're what's supposed to hold it tight. The front ones have a small plate on them with a threaded hole in it. The spring goes between that plate and the nut on the end of the screw. When you put the hood on, the shaft of the thumbscrew goes down in a slot on the grille frame uprights, with the plate going behind the upright. When you tighten the thumbscrew, it pulls on the plate and snugs the hood up against the upright. The spring keeps just enough tension on it so the thumbscrew doesn't back out... These thumbscrews remain in the hood at all times. The rear ones are similar, but instead of using a plate, they go into a threaded hole in the side of the dash. The slotted hole is in the hood rather than on the tractor. The spring is on the backside of the dash panel, between the dash and the nut. When you tighten the thumbscrew it snugs the hood up against the dash. These thumbscrews remain on the tractor's dash at all times. Neither the original thumbscrews nor the springs are available any more. You might find some kind of spring that would work at a good hardware store, but I'm not sure.... Hope this helps! Kent

[DaveL 0]

John, No not right at the moment, and tractor is stored right now, but is a beautiful day and will try to get some--not a pretty job, but the rubber does the trick. The rear strips have to be on the outside of the hood to get clearance but I installed them on the inside of the front to cushion. Its a working machine so its not of terrific concern but the rattle went away.

[Tutt 0]

Well, thanks guys. It would seem to me that there had to be a better way to hold the hood on. I will have to play with it, and if I come up with anything that works, I'll post it. Thanks again, tutt