"NUMBER 99"

[ZenMan]

Stormi, this is a brush hog:



I use it to clear brush, trails, powerlines, pastures, even mow the huge lawn (except for around the house).

Wow, this thread should be called "Everything and Anything"!

Just to get a bit back on topic, I'm going up to West Plains to meet Katamaniac tomorrow... he's coming down from Kansas to pick up his new Bandit 1250, Number 97... sister to #99. We both want to get some pics of our two bikes together.

I think he's bringing the trailer... it's gonna be a chilly ride in the low 50's, been having an unusual cold snap the last couple days...  

[stormi]

Stormi, this is a brush hog: <snip>
I use it to clear brush, trails, powerlines, pastures, even mow the huge lawn (except for around the house).

OK<.. so there are blades under the flat portion there?  Or it's all about brute force?

Wow, this thread should be called "Everything and Anything"!

Yeah, sorry about that.

Just to get a bit back on topic, I'm going up to West Plains to meet Katamaniac tomorrow... he's coming down from Kansas to pick up his new Bandit 1250, Number 97... sister to #99. I want to get some pics of our two bikes together.

So only one more sleep for him, eh? ;)

I just looked,.. the last 6 digits on the Vin for the 919 are 000099 as well,.. what are the odds?

I think he's bringing the trailer... it's gonna be a chilly ride in the low 50's, been having an unusual cold snap the last couple days...  

We've had the same.  Old man winter just won't leave us alone!! I took the batteries back out of the bikes.  

[ZenMan]

Stormi, this is a brush hog: <snip>
I use it to clear brush, trails, powerlines, pastures, even mow the huge lawn (except for around the house).

OK<.. so there are blades under the flat portion there?  Or it's all about brute force?

Yep. The driveshaft connects the PTO (Power Take-Off, a spinning shaft on the back of the tractor for running equipment) to the differential on the brush hog and spins the big blades underneath. Cuts through almost anything.

Wow, this thread should be called "Everything and Anything"!

Yeah, sorry about that.

Hey, I don't mind if you don't.    

I just looked,.. the last 6 digits on the Vin for the 919 are 000099 as well,.. what are the odds?

Wow, no sh!t? That's really cool. You have a Number 99 too! Maybe we'll introduce them someday.  

[Red01]

The Jeep is almost finished, I just did some welding on the frame and it's getting a paint job next.

Let me guess...
It's a CJ-7 somewhere between '76 & '79
Engine is either a 258 I6 or a 304 V8 (I'm leanin' towards a V8)
TH400 automatic trans
Transfer case is a Borg-Warner Quadratrac
Rear axle is the dreaded AMC Model 20
Front axle is a Dana 30
And both axles were originally equipped with rediculously tall gears, like 2.72's.

How many did I get right?  

Here's my Five before I tore it apart:

[ZenMan]

All of the above!  

It's a '78 CJ7, 258 inline six with Quadratrac.

I have a complete frame and drivetrain same year, but with the 4-sp tranny, Dana 30 and lock-outs. When I get that frame restored and rebuilt and Rhino-coated, I'll switch this body over to it.

In the meantime, the Q-Trac is great in the mud and hairy trails (just put it in low and crawl!) but terrible gas mileage on the street.  

[Red01]

Which 4spd? T-18 or T176? Bet that's not mated to the Quadratrac, but a Dana 20 instead.

Gas mileage was never a Jeep forté.
Even when they put freeway flyer gears in 'em.

My Five would get 16-18 mpg with it's 225 V6, 3 speed and 4.88 gears... granted, it has a 25% aftermarket overdrive pugged into the Dana 18 t-case, or it'd been worse... my Comanche manages about the same mpg with it's "semi HO" 4.0L, 5 speed and 3.07 gears... my Cherokee got ~13 mpg with a 2.8L V6, 3 speed auto and 4.10 gears and it didn't seem to change any when I swapped in 4.56's... but turnin 33" Swampers with that little motor don't help. Don't think I've ever heard of a 2.8L Cherokee owner getting any better gas milage than a newer 4.0L version - and the 4.0's have them beat 12 ways from Sunday in the power dept!

[ZenMan]

The other frame has the T-18 4-spd. It's a Dana 20 rear-end, but center differential, not offset like the Q-Trac rear-end. I'll be upgrading the axles.

Well I'm off to West Plains to meet Katamaniac. 46 degrees out, but the sun is shining!  

[Daytona]

One thing I noticed when I fired it up to park it under the deck tonight... The tranny is a bit noisy when cold. When the clutch is pulled in, all you hear is a slight valve ticking, like a swiss watch. But when you let out the clutch in neutral, you can definitely hear some spinning/whirring in there.

This is probably partly due to the thin break-in oil, but I bet it's inherent of the new "stacked" transmission. I haven't seen any exploded views yet, but I think in order to make the engine more compact, the gear shafts are arranged vertically. It would explain what I'm hearing... definitely something I will keep an "ear" on, and do some research on too.

Shifting was crisp and positive going down the road... but the engine is so quiet I found myself looking at the tach a lot to estimate what gear I was in. Mostly I just left it in 6th, there's so much torque you hardly need to downshift even when passing cars.  

Its a spin off of the Busa trans so don't worry! Shift it like you mean it and no missed gears or false ones will show up! And it will let you know when the oil needs changed it will start to shift kinda clunky! 1k to 1500 on reg dino 15w40 or close to 3k with 5w50 synthetic. I use Rotella "T"

[stormi]

Yep. The driveshaft connects the PTO (Power Take-Off, a spinning shaft on the back of the tractor for running equipment) to the differential on the brush hog and spins the big blades underneath. Cuts through almost anything.

So,.. like a glorified lawn tractor...

I just looked,.. the last 6 digits on the Vin for the 919 are 000099 as well,.. what are the odds?

Wow, no sh!t? That's really cool. You have a Number 99 too! Maybe we'll introduce them someday.  

I think that would be great.  It'll take me a little to work up the endurance to manage 3800 miles to work out the introduction though,.. or you may have to meet me half way ;)

[ZenMan]

Well, it was a chilly 80 mile round trip, but I just got back from West Plains awhile ago.

Katamaniac, proud owner of a brand new B1250:



After taking his new toy for a little spin, that big grin was still stuck on his face as I rode off.  

Two sisters, #99 and #97 together for the last time... (well, hopefully they'll get to ride side-by-side someday!):

[ZenMan]

I just looked,.. the last 6 digits on the Vin for the 919 are 000099 as well,.. what are the odds?

Wow, no sh!t? That's really cool. You have a Number 99 too! Maybe we'll introduce them someday.  

I think that would be great.  It'll take me a little to work up the endurance to manage 3800 miles to work out the introduction though,.. or you may have to meet me half way ;)

Sure! After around July 4th, I'll be healed up and making up for lost time. I have some friends up north in Minnesota I may ride up and visit, I'll let ya know when. Maybe even swing by through Kansas and snag Katamaniac on the way up...  

[stormi]

Sure! After around July 4th, I'll be healed up and making up for lost time. I have some friends up north in Minnesota I may ride up and visit, I'll let ya know when. Maybe even swing by through Kansas and snag Katamaniac on the way up...  

Well,.. that would shave 1200miles off the total trip!     Depending on the time of the summer, I may be willing to hit the states and do a little shopping.   (Gotta be a little female sometimes! )

I'd been looking to do a little shopping in Billings, MO, or there abouts, so I might be able to manage a little further. :)

[H2RICK]

I am going to pick up ZenMan's twin #97 on Friday.

Way to go, Katamaniac !!! Say isn't there a song about ol' 97
(which was a train, I believe) ???
Glad to see you guys hooked up for the "delivery"......
Pics to keep forever, fer shure....
   

[Red01]

I'd been looking to do a little shopping in Billings, MO, or there abouts, so I might be able to manage a little further. :)

  I think you mean Billings, MT (Montana), not Billings, MO (Missouri).

...and yes, there is a Billings in Missouri. It's a little SW of Springfield, MO, in the SW corner of the state. If you DO plan on going there for shopping, you'll be within easy commuting distance of Zen's place.

The two-letter abbreviations are frequently the first two letters, but not always, as evidenced in this example. If you really care, you can see all the official two-letter abbrevations for US states & territories at the US Postal Service site here or even on the Canada Post site here.

[LowRyter]

Man, nice looking bikes.  I've hread the torque is right there.

I hope we can rig a ride to the Ozarks with you and Katamaniac soon.  

When need another Ark / Mo trip.