International 4130 - Another Chance at Life

[kb9tci]

I have grown up with an old International 4130 skid steer on the dairy farm. My father picked it up years ago and it was a very handy machine. The skid steer was built by Hydra-Mac and re-badged as an International. The Hydra-Mac 8C was also rebadged as another brand or two.

This machine has only one major flaw. It was originally powered by a Onan NHCV Vacu-Flow. That was (as so I was told), a miserable engine that ended up in a class-action lawsuit.

http://leagle.com/decision/19901363450NW2d913_11305.xml/HYDRA-MAC, INC. v. ONAN CORP.

Well, the "fix" for that engine was another engine. It was pretty much the same, but they reversed the airflow to the standard airflow of any other engine. Intake ant the flywheel and exhaust at the crank (that makes for a warm ride). The rear gate was also changed to allow better airflow.

This second engine worked better, but was still very problematic and had the life expectancy of a fruit fly. Third engine lasted a little longer, and the fourth engine has now gave up the ghost.

We have always talked about a re-power, but it has never happened. The dairy shut its doors about 15 years ago, but the machine still has been used quite a bit. After my father passed away, but mother relied on this old machine to work on quite a variety of projects. We have a larger model Hydra-Mac, but we can never keep the hydrostats together...

So that brings me to what I have up my sleeve. I am going to try and get this dolled up by Christmas with a new heart. I picked up a Robin-Subaru that I am going to try and stuff in the compartment. I thought I would post the process on here as I go through it.

 

[HarryN]

Look forward to seeing your progress. Looks like a big undertaking.

 

[kb9tci]

Got a small start on it today!

 

[MX45]

G'day,

I am always fixing the things that just break/wear or get plain ugly. Bobcat 753, MX45 Mitsubishi Excavator, Case CS75, Massey Ferguson 3090, MZ66 Manlift and whatever small equipment have besides the car - Hilux dual cab tipper. I don't have that much space I see you have and am jealous of the space/time you have found. I am on a few acres and maintenance is consuming on the land and equipment. Looking at what you have with the history there it has got to be worth the effort - to be still going and so useful - good on you - go for it! Look forward to the new paint job in the end. Bright yellow to find it? Good luck - hope you clear more hurdles than hit,

Regards, MX45

 

[kb9tci]

G'day,

I am always fixing the things that just break/wear or get plain ugly. Bobcat 753, MX45 Mitsubishi Excavator, Case CS75, Massey Ferguson 3090, MZ66 Manlift and whatever small equipment have besides the car - Hilux dual cab tipper. I don't have that much space I see you have and am jealous of the space/time you have found. I am on a few acres and maintenance is consuming on the land and equipment. Looking at what you have with the history there it has got to be worth the effort - to be still going and so useful - good on you - go for it! Look forward to the new paint job in the end. Bright yellow to find it? Good luck - hope you clear more hurdles than hit,

Regards, MX45

Thanks for the encouraging words! I do appreciate the warm concrete to work on the projects! I am working on this one off-site to aide in the surprise. I am about an hour into it now. I have had this thing apart many times since I was knee high to a grasshopper, so I know where to look for the bolts to pull it down. Time is a real precious commodity for me, but I think this will be knocked out pretty quickly. I am still in the process of a new house for my family, so it takes much of my midnight oil.

I did get the engine yanked out. Now ready for a bath... My least favorite part...

 

[kb9tci]

Thanks! I'll check it out!

 

[kb9tci]

I now have more time in washing all the gunk out of the machine than I have in disassembling. A gallon of powerful degreaser later and a lot of power washing, I can see the bottom of the frame.

 

[kb9tci]

I drew up a riser plate drawn up and had it fabricated today to adapt the engine to the old height and bolt pattern. First fitment went pretty good, all things considered.

The alignment ring on both engines were the same, but the bolt pattern to bolt the coupler frame to the engine is a bit different, so I'll have to relocate a few mounting holes.

 

[dkmc]

What a fantastic story to put me in the Christmas spirit........I love it!
Hoping you manage to pull it off......all my positive thoughts are directed toward you!
Please keep up posted with pics!

dan

 

[kb9tci]

Dan, thanks for the words of encouragement!!

I'm chewing off a piece at a time. I remachined the coupler cage tonight and added a new bolt pattern after welding on some tabs.

It fit pretty decent, so I am hoping to set the engine in soon for good.

 

[dkmc]

That machine will be an entirely different animal with
a smooth running, easy starting V-Twin in it...
And at about 2/3 the fuel usage to boot!

:beerchug

 

[kb9tci]

I sure hope so. It was a pretty good machine beforehand, but the engine was always finicky. I am not up to snuff on Robin engines, but I'm hoping for the best. I was looking at a Honda beforehand, but came across this one.

 

[bobcan]

Very Nice work indeed _ and I believe ROBIN is a Subaru 'brand' somehow, and been around for years.. pretty popular for Auger Engines around here in Canada at least.

Should be a nice machine indeed _ Keep up the Good Work, and Pics for us little people to follow along!!

 

[kb9tci]

I finally got to put a little bit more time into the skidder tonight and got the first start accomplished!!



I had to get a different muffler to get everything to fit. Now I have to do some fancy work to get the exhaust pipe out since I've got some tight clearances.

 

[Tags]

Glad to see you're moving along with your project, I have been (and will be) looking forward to seeing your progress. Keep up the good work!

 

[kb9tci]

We are starting the messy phase of grinding it down and getting ready to give it a nice coat of paint. The decal should be in soon that I am having made so we can get this thing looking the little bit closer to what it used to be. My brother is home from the Navy for a little while and I have volunteered him to help me get it ready for Mom's Christmas present.

 

[bobcan]

Very Nice _ and the 'I have Volunteered Him' is quite perfect too.. Ha

Keep up the good work, it will be worth it for the Big Smiles I am sure ~ Hope you can beat St. Nicholas!!

 

[kb9tci]

A little farther along.

 

[kb9tci]

Finally getting to the good part! My brother and my other brother came over tonight to give this thing a kick in the tail. Decals should be cut tomorrow and hopefully the muffler will be ready, too!





Yea, it's a Harbor Freight gun... I like buying one for a project then retiring it. Easier than cleaning it!!







Now to start the process of going back together. I should wait until the paint dries, though!

 

[kb9tci]

We might actually have this thing ready by Christmas!