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Trying to restore a vintage dozer is frustrating when parts vanish
I've been working on a 1965 John Deere dozer in my garage for fun. Every time I think I'm close, another part is just gone. Last week, the track adjustment cylinder needed a new seal, and no one makes it anymore. I even tried machining my own, but it leaked right away. This hobby is supposed to be relaxing, but it feels like a second job. I'm starting to wonder if I picked the wrong machine to fix up.
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the_cora6mo ago
My buddy was in the same boat with an old International truck! He searched for a carburetor part for months and finally found one, but it cost more than he paid for the whole truck. He got so fed up he tried to make a gasket out of a rubber floor mat, which was a hilarious mess. Sometimes these old machines really do test your patience to the absolute limit, but that story is still our favorite thing to laugh about now.
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max9636mo ago
That story about the carburetor costing more than the truck is exactly what I mean. But is it really that big of a deal? It's a hobby, you chose to do it for fun. If it feels like a second job, maybe just...don't do it? Or pick a simpler project. Nobody's making you track down impossible parts. The machine isn't going anywhere.
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