Super H Mike
Member
I had some time yesterday to work on my 53 SM that I have been putting off. It had been missing and stalling out randomly when working hard and I would have to take the fuel line off and blow back into the tank to clear it out. I had already cleaned the sediment bowl and screen so was figuring there was rust in the tank. I was prepared to remove the tank but took a light and looked inside to find it really clean except for a piece of that tin looking flap / seal like whats on a bottle of HEET had gotten in there sometime in the distant past. It had to have been working its way over to the outlet and blocking it from time to time, fished it out with a chinese finger pick up tool. Lucky !? Time will tell if I ever get to cut hay, so wet here in Minnesota !
Next was a rusty rear rim ! The tube was starting to poke out so I was on borrowed time. Had to drain the ballast which I wont be refilling . I picked up a real nice used rim but it is an inch narrower than what I took off. I didn't realize that til the tire was off. The original is 12 inch from lip to lip and my new used one is 11. The old rim is pretty rusted by the valve but good everywhere else. I am thinking of patching it and redrilling the stem hole in another spot. That way the rims will match again. Any tips or advice on patching ? Is it worth the effort ?
Next was a rusty rear rim ! The tube was starting to poke out so I was on borrowed time. Had to drain the ballast which I wont be refilling . I picked up a real nice used rim but it is an inch narrower than what I took off. I didn't realize that til the tire was off. The original is 12 inch from lip to lip and my new used one is 11. The old rim is pretty rusted by the valve but good everywhere else. I am thinking of patching it and redrilling the stem hole in another spot. That way the rims will match again. Any tips or advice on patching ? Is it worth the effort ?