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.

2 comments

2 Comments

the_cora6d 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.

max9636d 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.