1959 440 ICD Clatters again

[frsanford]

Hello to all and many, many thanks to Lavoy for this site and all the technical help as well as all the parts he has sent from the West Coast to the East Coast of Cape Cod to get this ole girl clattering once again.

Dont know what it is that makes a 54 year old man as giddy as a kid in a candy store when after busting his butt, back, knees and knuckles the crawler finally clatters out the garage and down the tar driveway at 9:00PM! The wife AND the neighbors all came to the windows and doors when several full 360's in each gear put the 6 month project of final drive bearings and seals, steering clutches and pressure plates, throw-out bearings, brake bands, front idler brackets and axles thrust plates, seals, and newer tracks and chains to the test!
I guess I could have just gone down to a local gym and gotten into the ring for full contact boxing match, but at the end all I would have gotten was beat up....now I got beat up AND have this gem of a shovel dozer to play with!!!
When someone has an answer as to why we do this, that I can use when I am asked it let me know, but for now I will just savor the thrill of victory. There is still a pantload of challenges to meet with this project, but I feel the major ones have been met.
Again, my sincere thanks to Lavoy for all your help and to all those that participate in this forum and the wealth of information you all share. It is a pleasure.
Dale

[Tractor 850]

If you think this feels good, tomorrow at dawn go out back and move some dirt around!