Look what I found growing out of the woods
08-23-2009, 01:10 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Grand Haven, Michigan
Posts: 922
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1998, 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Look what I found growing out of the woods
Found this Skid Steer apparently growing out of the ground in the woods by my house!
Couldn't resist so I found the Owner and made a deal to buy it off him.
I went over tonight and filled the tires up. They still hold air!
Had to pull a few trees out of the ground with the old Cherokee so that was fun.
Gonna' tow it out of the woods tomorrow with my Cherokee and Tractor.
I found out it's old enough that some parts are becoming hard to find. So I called a friend of mine up who has a machine shop... He said no problem... just make a CAD drawing of what you need and I will make it.
I'm going to totally dissasemble it... sand blast it and shoot new paint on it.
Always wanted a Skid Steer! This is just a little guy but it ought to be fun! I'm just going to dink around with it on the property anyways!
It's a mid 70's Gehl 2500.
Couldn't resist so I found the Owner and made a deal to buy it off him.
I went over tonight and filled the tires up. They still hold air!
Had to pull a few trees out of the ground with the old Cherokee so that was fun.
Gonna' tow it out of the woods tomorrow with my Cherokee and Tractor.
I found out it's old enough that some parts are becoming hard to find. So I called a friend of mine up who has a machine shop... He said no problem... just make a CAD drawing of what you need and I will make it.
I'm going to totally dissasemble it... sand blast it and shoot new paint on it.
Always wanted a Skid Steer! This is just a little guy but it ought to be fun! I'm just going to dink around with it on the property anyways!
It's a mid 70's Gehl 2500.
08-23-2009, 11:32 AM
#6
CF Veteran
Nice find Mike. You never know what is going to just pop out of the woods. First V8 I ever stuffed into a Jeep was like that.
08-23-2009, 11:37 AM
#7
CF Veteran
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Indiana
Posts: 9,047
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Grand Cherokee
Speaking of wild machinery, I walked about a mile into my neighbors woods and found an old drag line... I believe it was a Bantam... Pretty cool...
Trending Topics
08-24-2009, 08:52 PM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Grand Haven, Michigan
Posts: 922
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1998, 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Made some progress on the Skid Steer yesterday and today. Found something had made nests in the exhaust valves. Intakes were ok but the exhaust valves may be shot. I'm going to have it bored. The rain was seeping on so the bottoms of the horizontal cylinder walls were really pitted. Crap!
This is a 1977 Onan 25hp twin. After taking the heads off I noticed the jugs are not separate. It's like the whole upper half of the motor is one piece. Anyone ever take one of these apart? I want to take it in to the machine shop all separated to save some coin.
Always an adventure!
Mike
This is a 1977 Onan 25hp twin. After taking the heads off I noticed the jugs are not separate. It's like the whole upper half of the motor is one piece. Anyone ever take one of these apart? I want to take it in to the machine shop all separated to save some coin.
Always an adventure!
Mike
Last edited by Mike1998XJ; 08-24-2009 at 08:54 PM. Reason: Add pics
08-30-2009, 06:04 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Grand Haven, Michigan
Posts: 922
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1998, 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Making good progress... Next off to the Sandblaster Guy. Gonna have him blast the whole thing.
Then I'm gonna' shoot it myself... Caterpillar yellow on the body with a black cage.
I'm going to do Chassis Saver on the cockpit floor in black with glass beads mixed in with it for a nonskid surface.
I'm gonna' shoot the hydraulic control valves and wheel drives black. Haven't decided on the motor color yet. I'm taking that in tomorrow for a bore job and new exhaust valve's and seats. Gonna' drop off all the Hydraulic hoses and have new sets made. $2.68/ft for 3/8" hoses. That seems like a decent price...
Mike
Then I'm gonna' shoot it myself... Caterpillar yellow on the body with a black cage.
I'm going to do Chassis Saver on the cockpit floor in black with glass beads mixed in with it for a nonskid surface.
I'm gonna' shoot the hydraulic control valves and wheel drives black. Haven't decided on the motor color yet. I'm taking that in tomorrow for a bore job and new exhaust valve's and seats. Gonna' drop off all the Hydraulic hoses and have new sets made. $2.68/ft for 3/8" hoses. That seems like a decent price...
Mike
Last edited by Mike1998XJ; 08-30-2009 at 06:06 PM.
09-04-2009, 03:49 AM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Grand Haven, Michigan
Posts: 922
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1998, 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Got her sandblasted today and shot metal etching primer then John Deere yellow. One more coat of yellow to go. This baby's gonna be bright that's for sure.
Decided on nixing the original engine for now. Received a 24hp Honda direct replacement today. Need to get another quart of primer tomorrow and shoot some other parts. Then it can start going back together.
Mike
Decided on nixing the original engine for now. Received a 24hp Honda direct replacement today. Need to get another quart of primer tomorrow and shoot some other parts. Then it can start going back together.
Mike
09-05-2009, 01:11 PM
#14
Seasoned Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Benton, KY
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1986
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.8
nice find, looks like your making good progress on it.
what did you end up giving for it and what do you think you will have invested in it total?
i've always wanted a skid steer, wish i could find one growing in the woods
what did you end up giving for it and what do you think you will have invested in it total?
i've always wanted a skid steer, wish i could find one growing in the woods
09-06-2009, 02:04 AM
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Grand Haven, Michigan
Posts: 922
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1998, 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I gave the guy $800 for it. I could have had the engine repaired for $375 or so. I've seen the same one online all rusty for $2000 and in nice shape for $3000. I haven't seen one for sale in the condition mine will be in yet...
In the end I decided since I'm going to keep it, I'd just buy a replacement 24hp Honda engine for it. That was pricey... $1750 for the engine.
Paint and supplies weren't too bad. $200 to have it sandblasted to bare metal.
I'm going with all new hoses which my price per foot is $2.68 so that's going to add up also.
I'm starting to paint the rest of the components black now. Tomorrow I'll take all the sprockets off and repack the bearings. I have the gas tank and some of the controls ready to go back in now so it should come together in a week or two.
I like to remove the rust off everything and paint it while I'm putting it back together so that takes a while.
All-in-all it's been a gratifying project so far. I've always wanted a Skid Steer too.
Mike
In the end I decided since I'm going to keep it, I'd just buy a replacement 24hp Honda engine for it. That was pricey... $1750 for the engine.
Paint and supplies weren't too bad. $200 to have it sandblasted to bare metal.
I'm going with all new hoses which my price per foot is $2.68 so that's going to add up also.
I'm starting to paint the rest of the components black now. Tomorrow I'll take all the sprockets off and repack the bearings. I have the gas tank and some of the controls ready to go back in now so it should come together in a week or two.
I like to remove the rust off everything and paint it while I'm putting it back together so that takes a while.
All-in-all it's been a gratifying project so far. I've always wanted a Skid Steer too.
Mike
