New Holland backhoe causes time to disappear

This entry is part 1 of 9 in the series Backhoe

I thought I’d introduce the latest time sink at casa Blough.  I bought a used New Holland backhoe to use around the house while clearing trees and digging stumps.  I knew it was going to need some work, but it turned into a larger project than I initially thought.  What’s that saying – confidence is the feeling you have before you fully understand the situation.

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Understanding Crankshaft Counterweights

This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series Hodgson Crankshaft Assembly

Crank Counterweight Study, Rotating WeightI’ve been thinking recently about the crankshaft construction on the Hodgson Radial.  I’ve never really been happy with the 5-piece construction and I’m thinking of changing it to a 3-piece crank where the crank cheeks (counterweights) are integral with the front and rear crankshaft sections.  The main journal would then be clamped by splitting the upper portion of the crank cheek and using a compression bolt to retain the journal.

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