James B. Hill's great grandson! This ditcher displays his two major inventions.The wheel has no axle so it can go deeper without such a cumbersome diameter as well as the extra weight and the "apron wheels" or tracks as we call them today. And, *BLUSH* , help in getting this ditcher running again involved several dozens of people, helpful suggestions and a hand from numerous onlookers and lots of help even from out of state! And it's still a work in progress! Thanks to all, Larry
Watched them apply a lot of lubricant to what I thought was a lifeless lump of rust to bring it back to life, "Crazy Larry" can restore anything, just ask him. And Mike Verkleir was around there a bit too as I recall, another guy who can tickle tons of steel just right.
Well, the wheel is up in the air and it needs slack for when it gets lowered into the ground. The "lumps" or stiff spots no! She took quite some smacking with a hammer on links to get them wiggling but she runs nice now.
LOL We used two GALLON cans of PB blaster to this point along with used crankcase oil, heating with torch and whacking with hammers from ballpein to sledge hammer!
They say the dirtier the oil the better for those chains.
AuAsEz 2 weeks ago
looks like it needs a tensioner... the chains floppin everywhere o.O
RAWRXxXKEALIIXxXRAWR 6 months ago
got oil?
stephmc111 9 months ago
Reading these comments.... Wow that's some crazy shit got it working! Impressive fa sho!
grahamovgibb 1 year ago
impresionante
cmarquezproducciones 1 year ago
James B. Hill's great grandson! This ditcher displays his two major inventions.The wheel has no axle so it can go deeper without such a cumbersome diameter as well as the extra weight and the "apron wheels" or tracks as we call them today. And, *BLUSH* , help in getting this ditcher running again involved several dozens of people, helpful suggestions and a hand from numerous onlookers and lots of help even from out of state! And it's still a work in progress! Thanks to all, Larry
steamshovelman 3 years ago
My great grandfather invented this machine!
jenandnick7203 3 years ago
Watched them apply a lot of lubricant to what I thought was a lifeless lump of rust to bring it back to life, "Crazy Larry" can restore anything, just ask him. And Mike Verkleir was around there a bit too as I recall, another guy who can tickle tons of steel just right.
LinnTractorNut 3 years ago
fix the chains lol, if u get thoes tight again.. you mite be able 2 bring alot of life back into it
dumbcow1 3 years ago
mabe you should replace those chains and fix it up enough so it can be mobil under its own power it would solve the transporting it part
badassnelson 3 years ago
Iv my dad and i go there every year and i have seen this awsome machine many times its really cool!!
1944johndeerel 3 years ago
can you say WD40 lol
aflacduky 4 years ago
Nice machine. I would consider giving it a coat of epoxy primer at the minimum so it doesn't seize up again.
moviereel 4 years ago
is that chain supposed to be loose and flopping like that?
bulletman100 4 years ago
Well, the wheel is up in the air and it needs slack for when it gets lowered into the ground. The "lumps" or stiff spots no! She took quite some smacking with a hammer on links to get them wiggling but she runs nice now.
steamshovelman 4 years ago
...and heavy too! Had to take it apart to move it to the show where it's at now (Gallupville, NY)
steamshovelman 4 years ago
holy shit thats huge!!!!!!
dude76ryan 4 years ago
could use a couple cans of PB blaster :-)
mikes47jeep 5 years ago
LOL We used two GALLON cans of PB blaster to this point along with used crankcase oil, heating with torch and whacking with hammers from ballpein to sledge hammer!
steamshovelman 4 years ago