Progress, Yet Slow

Last weekend I started the undertaking of swapping the motor in the Benz. Many things to disconnect, many things to label. One thing that has complicated things is the air conditioner lines. I'm not sure if the system has a charge or not, but its a bit expensive to recharge it if it loses a charge, so all the hoses and the pump must remain intact. One hose runs over the top front edge of the engine, the other one goes under the bottom of the front. Not convenient for trying to do this, not to mention the compressor is quite heavy. Anyway, last weekend we got most everything disconnected and ready to pull the old hulk out of there. Today we did just that, and then jockeyed the new one back in place. It went fairly well and not too difficult. Now, everything needs hooked back up. Maybe one more day, maybe a little more. I bought new filters and fluids for it today, a little more than fifty dollars worth. Progress, yet slow.

I think this is the greasiest, dirtiest engine we've ever swapped. Seems that diesel grease has a whole other element to it, for some reason.

My father was counting up all the engines we've pulled and swapped since he purchased the crane. 11, I think he came up with. Well worth the money.