Koehring 304 with IH UD-16 engine

[John Hanson]

Swing gears are actually pretty nice! All the gearing seems to be in pretty fair shape. It retains the Koehring steering clutches and drive sprockets, just BE from there down.
I've got a drag bucket, not sure just how big...haven't measured yet, but I'd say less than 3/4 yard, just by eyeball. I've also got a log grapple. That'll test my hand/foot/eye coordination! hahha
I looked for the "A" but didn't see anything. I have the IH pump, not the Bosch. It's pretty dirty, and a day or 2 with the steam cleaner is in order here this week, I'm thinking, since it's in the 40's during the day. Maybe it'll show up then.
There's still parts of the carbody that are orange. Not sure just who wanted yellow, but it was put on thick and with no prep, so it's peeling pretty good.

[MEPman]

I have run a 1 yard before but it handles a 3/4 yard much better. i had better production using a 3/4 yard because the cycle time was faster. i think i have more counter weight than you. i used to be able to throw almost 80 feet of drag cable when there was a long reach needed but best production was under the boom throw your pile behind you then get on the pile and dig the pile plus the burrow and throw again. when i was running the LS 78 there wasn't a track hoe that could keep up with me when i was in my element. have you ever run a dragline bfore?

[John Hanson]

Not yet! haha..... I'm sure there's gonna be a big learning curve, but I've got a few guys around that have run draglines for years...they said they'd stick around and watch and laugh! (what are friends for?!!)
I messed with a crane years ago, just a bit, handling logs, but never did it enough to get good at it. I've loaded under some absolute masters, and sure wish we'd have had the digital cameras and video then that we do now!

[MEPman]

it is a good deal you have some old operators there to laugh <oh i mean help.it really isn't that hard just go slow and for the most part get your clutches set up to where they snap in with little effort and just barely enough that they don't slip. with the 304 less is best. learn how to get your dump sheave set up.

[John Hanson]

Yah, I'll have new frictions and bands, so can get them set up right. Right now, they've been cranked on and are all stiff and sticky from sitting and old grease.... we'll get to the bottom of that. I was told by a couple other guys that ran Koehrings to set them up just like what you say.....just to the point that they wont slip.
I'm sure it'll be a good learning experience...the main thing is that I'm not in any hurry, so that will help.
Supposed to be in the low 40's here today, so I'm going to try to get the steam cleaner in there and get some clutches and brakes "uncaked" a bit and see what we have.
One of these days if you get a chance, I'd really appreciate some pictures of the tinwork around the drums and carbody. Mine was cut away with a torch, so the drums and clutches are all out in the weather.
Thanks,
JH

[John Hanson]

Well,,, when I went to get this thing, Ben told me that the UD-16 was a cantankerous engine, and he was constantly cussing it. It never had run quite right and didn't have the power it should....today I think I figured out most of why....





Those pushrods work alot better when they're straight. He thought it had some valves sticking....I'd say he was right......now to find parts......
JH

[MEPman]

try these folks https://www.batescorp.com/

to bad i just salvaged a td 18 i couldn't sell.

[MEPman]

Hey Hanson

look what i found. good reading https://ia802509.us.archive.org/19/i...8/TM5-1168.pdf

[FWurth]

Well make certain those valves are freed up and simply straighten those push rods up and re use them. As long as they are no bends in them they will stay straight, I've had plenty of bent ones corrected and they hold up just fine. The valves get stuck in the guides after sitting long periods, that is why it's a good practice to remove valve cover and check the valves before trying to start one that's been sitting long periods.

[John Hanson]

MEPman, I found that too....great manual! Mine is a bit newer than the rig they reference, but it pretty much all translates! That's been a huge help!! The guy that owned this one died a few years ago, and I've been working with his son....who is the spitting image of his Dad..... but had never run this one. That manual along with a couple of friends that had some Koehring experience, have helped us figure out pretty much everything we've come up against so far.

FWurth...I've never tried straightening one....but I think I'll give it a try on these. It was a combination of errors that bent them.... whoever was in that head last, never put any lock washers on the rocker shaft studs, so all but one stud nut was loose, and 2 studs snapped off...plus as you say, there was probably a valve that was snug in a guide from sitting (it seldom got used, and when it did, it was started and used for a while, then shut back off and left). We rolled it over by the hand crank the first time and everything felt free and easy, and from the looks of this, and the description of it from his son, I've got a feeling they've been bent for a while....
I'll give straightening a try....the valve springs sure aren't very stiff, and I can swap the straightened ones around with a couple of intake pushrods, so they wont have much load on them.
I need to check out the timing gears and a few other things on it as soon as I have time, to make sure there's not a whole bunch of other things wrong, before I waste a bunch of time on something that isn't worth fixing.
Thanks!
John