Carson's C-121

This is post #2 for today.  The fuel tank shutoff opening was deburred and a new seal and shutoff put in.  

I got out a like new upper steering shaft and blasted it then cleaned up the part you can see really nice on the lathe.  Fuel tank and seat bracket is all on and lined up.

I also started playing with thoughts for a wiring harness.  I got out a newer harness for the magnums and started going through what was needed and not needed.  I think I can make most of it work without having to make one from scratch.  It will be nice having a fuse block in there too.  More on that on Monday.    

I had a newer magnum wiring harness in the back that will be stripped down and be the basics for this 121.  We've gone from a coil to a stator run tractor so it needs a ground kill for the motor that didn't begin until 1987.  It will also need an ignition switch from an 87 or newer but I have plenty of those in new stock.  The first pic is the basic harness parts needed, the 2nd pic is all the safety switches and relays that won't be needed.  It will however have a clutch switch, they all get that working and wired in.

Some of the pics are how the fuel line is run.  It is the factory setup for the 87 up as well.  The extra clamps in the 3-4 pics are for the wiring harness.  The 5th pic shows the difference between the men and the boys, the size of their fuel line rolls...  Not really, I just use a lot of the stuff so I buy 250' rolls of the Gates Barricade high pressure line.  

The last 3 pics just show the rest of the fuel line run with an extra clamp at the back of the engine under the flywheel cover that's not usually there (6th pic).  It made a big difference in not just being loose and going where it wants as they usually were.  Most of the the original tractors didn't have large external fuel filters either but they should have had so you could have extra protection and see what's going on.  They are really helpful if it dies from or runs out of fuel because it just takes a quick look.  

The last 3 pics also show all of the engine covers on, the new spec decal, regulator installed, and the choke and throttle linkage all hooked up and ready to go minus cables.  If you look closely all of the fuel line clamps are chrome, pretty cool.  

 

Did some painting yesterday.  A ton of DA work was put into these pieces because they will all be easily seen but it paid off, after painting they look really good.  

Most pics are from yesterday minus the one where it's back on the forklift.  I needed it out in the open to start getting more into the main tower and dash today so I can figure out the wiring.  It got a new Toro idler and main drive belt.  The factory paint on the idler isn't as black but it will never be seen from either side after the belt guard is on.  They use less pigment on their black painted parts to save a little, seems everyone is money hungry these days, pretty sad but it is what it is...   

I have more pics from today on the camera but it's time to run, will put them up tomorrow.

Carson and I spent a lot of time on the phone today and yesterday getting some direction on things so now I can get back in gear.  

First pic is the rod that runs the PTO.  The red one is grandads and the black one is off the newer models.  We talked about this today Carson, just already had a pic of the differences in how they're bent on the cradle type engine vs the non cradle on engine.

Next few pics are the newer fuse block bracket and where it goes.  There's a new housing in there to test the fit.  From the factory the nuts were on the outside but I wanted the bolts on the outside for a better look.  As you can see I found something that is close to the block housing but works and looks a lot nicer.  

Last 2 pics are the upper steering shaft in and set up along with the rest of the dash console all bolted in and done.  In the last pic you can see the new fancy self lubricating plastic bushing in the dash housing for the steering shaft, it's red.  It's one of the samples I just got in a week or so ago made from the German company I've been dealing with for many years on most of the bushings used here.  No more freezing up of the steering shafts ever.  

Spent a lot of the day figuring out the best wiring plan to do on an older tractor with a Magnum engine and even newer harness.  After talking to Carson today we have a plan and can go like the wind now.  

 

3 posts today.  This little venture started a week ago today with taking and original harness apart and getting a look at it.  The serious work on it started yesterday.  There's a ton of work doing one of these where it will last and done right as you will see in all the pics.   

After the basics were settled on the first thing was to take a new fuse block and make a new main power feed for it.  Gotta love how Toro used an under size ring for the main power and it was a little small so they just cut it and spread it.  You can see the factory crimp and most of the ones I've ever put a starter solenoid on I've also had to redo them.

Next is getting the harness to fit right and tying it up so it will look good when all done.  This is where most of the work is when trying not to have a lot of extra connections in the harness and making it right at the fuse block and anything that plugs in.  The shortening of the wires is done at the connectors, fuse block, etc, and new factory ends put on.  

In the 5th pic you can see a connector where the wire changes from yellow to blue that goes to the clutch switch for the starting circuit.  It had to be lengthened because I wanted to keep the original clutch switch right angle special connector.  

The 6th pic shows some extra white wire going to the fuse block after the harness was tied up.  The 7th pic shows it shortened to fit right and the other 3 fuse connectors replaced.

The last pic shows the new housing and fuse connectors all assembled and done.  

 

Post #2 for today.  Next up was checking the connectors and putting new housings on the engine plug in.  The connectors looked like new so the housings are the only thing that was replaced (first 3 pics).   

The 4th pic shows some extra clamps added and all of the split outs of the harness done.  The 5th pic is the split out going to the back for the charging gauge, clutch switch, rear lights, and another ground.  The rear wiring will get finished up when I get a charging gauge for it.   

The 6th pic is taking it all back out to wrap some of it up for good.  

The last pic is most of the connectors and housings that were replaced with new ones.

Post #3 for today.  After it all looks good the wire ties are replaced with 4 wraps of electrical tape at each spot and all of the harness split outs taped up.  After that the wire loom comes out and different sizes put on each split that fits it.  The loom is also taped with 4 wraps where there's a split out and on the ends.  

Last step is putting it all back in the tractor to check it out.  Nothing is plugged in very tight until I get the rear wiring finished, a battery on it, and start the engine.  After I see it all work good it will get a few more ties, the clamps closed up, and everything plugged in tight.    

Looking at the harness on the bench it all looks pretty simple and something that doesn't take long to do.  In all reality there's over 12 hours in the harness so far and it's not done yet...  This is why most mechanics or anyone else says they don't do electrical and why most peeps won't do a job like this.  I've always liked it though. 

I just hope it all works...   

 

Great job....is he going to use it like mowing or what ever....

I plan on taking this tractor to garden tractor shows.

Carson wrote:

I plan on taking this tractor to garden tractor shows.
Ok on shows and it will be a winner for sure...