Assembling X231's New Radiator & Oil Filter Troubles Pop Up! Episode #97

Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @squatch253

[@PTC61]

I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the content you deliver. Doesn’t matter if it’s a red tractor or a yellow tractor or a cat. It’s all great stuff thanks!

[@deannajoseph]

Agreed, although it's a bit easier now to do so if you wish.

[@abuzed6533]

Well said!

[@elevator9592]

I just smile every time I see the moline crawler. That thing is sweet.

[@robertswartzwelder8810]

That 445 is a work of art!

[@rogerallen6644]

Nothing better than working in the shop on a cold snowy day! I like the radio going too! Great video.

[@jazzerbyte]

Great to see all the radiator related assembly fitting. The oil filter study will be interesting to see how the puzzle is solved!

[@sterff89]

It was very satisfying to see the radiator come together with all the proper fasteners! Made my inner ocd feel good!

[@robertharker]

Great bolt and hardware sounds! Particularly at 6:30 Great audio quality. not too loud. Thank you for great videos.

[@RobertBrothersJr-dc7nr]

Squatch, another twist from old Christine. That never ceases to amaze me. It took you some time but it sounds like you have come up with a viable solution. Very enjoyable video. She is coming together and looking great. Thanks

[@theMG174]

No other KZbinrs work with the care and preparation that you do. It’s causing me to do a better job with my own projects. Thanks Henry

[@wingnutwelding]

I have been backed in the corner with the moline filters before as well. I built a slick kit to put a common jd filter in my u. Keeps the old look but gives you an inexpensive accessible filter. can’t wait to see what kind of creative solutions you come up with for that.

[@nathancarlisle2801]

Great to see the radiator and surround back on Christine. I bet my paycheck id have overtighened the hardware, putting everything together with cork. As always, thanks for sharing X231 with us

[@1950Argee]

Enjoy your thoroughness on assembly of components. Interested in more detail about your tubing bender.

[@squatch253]

They’re still available on McMaster-Carr, I just saw it on their website yesterday when I was shopping for filter conversion hardware 👍

[@67Moline]

I always enjoy a new x231 episode, x231 is the reason I found and started following your channel. I noted the interesting irony of the clutch pedal linkage being used on the later models in the comments of x231 part/ episode 57.

[@gregdesimone1030]

I tremendously enjoy watching your channel. Over the years Thank you for all of the hard work you do. Keep up the great work

[@jeremycherny2041]

Hopefully, your views are up on this tractor now. You definitely have my attention. When I've had time over the last couple of days, i went back and watched some of the X231 playlist. It all really makes sense now, I guess you'd say. Sticking with it for this long is really amazing. Thanks Toby.

[@GP54]

the excitement of installing parts for almost the last time is a wonderful thing! looked and sounded like you excitement was the same as mine! if you know you know! Awesome!!!

[@LukeLong-oi4uc]

That grill looks great! It’s coming together nicely.

[@247ADT]

The welder was from "the bigger the glob, the better the job" school of welding. 😂

[@petebrand6661]

Enjoy it ???? Absolutly loved it, X231 maybe a prtotype but its rare enough to have warranted your time, efforts and sanility in her restoration. Even with minimal makeup on it looks awesome, keep up the work please Squatch

[@danielbutler578]

There's an old saying that you don't have to be crazy to be a mechanic, but it sure helps. I know the pain and frustration of having to work around problems where you can't get parts and you have to find a solution. I worked for a company that had truck mounted carpet cleaning machines. They had three machines that would scatter the governors about once every two years. When parts for the governors were discontinued, I got the job of figuring out how to keep those machines working. I came up with a system using choke pull off vacuum pods to control the throttle. It didn't work as perfectly as the governors did but it was reliable and kept the machines running for several years. Other companies were having to trade those machines in for almost nothing and buy very expensive machines to keep their business open but I kept ours going until the bosses retired and sold them off. I was surprised to see one of those machines still working. I asked the guy using it how it was holding up and he said it was the strangest setup he had ever seen but it just kept going. When I told him the history of the machine and that I built the throttle system and why, he told me that his boss had scrapped one of those machines for parts to fix an older version when they couldn't get a new governor for it.

[@FRRitter]

Good episode Toby - thank you. That's an idyllic winter woodland setting!

[@JasonSmith-vd1sz]

What a great series looking forward to the next one. That 445 crawler was beautiful. Wow!

[@clydeschwartz]

Excellent video x231 looks really nice with radiator in and the MM cast logo really makes it stand out. The clutch linkage on my G900 mm is very similar to x231 also. Keep up the great videos

[@Jakeisbaked-1]

Not gonna lie I’d drive to now then just to see the finished project and it’s about 8 hours from me. Love the x231 content.

[@1murder99]

It looks good in the white. I can't wait to see it in prairie gold.

[@susanhester331]

Another milestone! Great vid. Thank you!

[@stevea9604]

Great build…Adds a whole lot…Keep working it like ya mean it 👍🏻🤩

[@90762709]

The oil filter issue just falls inline with Christine’s common theme 😂

[@michaelshingleton1628]

I really loved this one! The thing I enjoy most is coming across an issue and how you solve the issue. The extinct oil filter issue surely will be of great value to M-M people. With older cars some of the air filters are no longer available. The solutions are creative at times that maintains the original look. I guess this is getting more "trailer ready " 12:18 for a future tractor show? Oh a question that might have interest with other viewers. To me how much you would sell her after complete does not matter to me but maybe other viewers might like to know what the monetary valve x231 would have when done? I bet your answer will be priceless.

[@squatch253]

I actually discussed the “what could it be worth” in depth in one of the Behind the Scenes episodes last year, but in a nutshell it’s really impossible to put an exact number on it. Most of the prototype M-M’s that have changed hands in the last 20 years have done so privately, with nothing documented or any auction-style records kept to set any kind of baseline to go off of.

[@andyloebrown8250]

I've never seen Christine before. She is beautiful!

[@vanislescotty]

Looking forward to the next episode already and always enjoy the comparisons between the prototype and production models.

[@LLAHTI1]

Such a good video, love your workmanship is so awesome!

[@raincoast9010]

This is starting to look really good! Onward!

[@maidenrulz73]

She’s coming along quite nicely

[@darploin5071]

The Minneapolis Moline 445 Is the best looking tractor they produced I do like the cross grill in the sloping hood

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

Didn’t think we would ever get far. Keep on keeping on!! Thanks!

[@jankotze1959]

Thank You Tobie

[@rawbsworld6604]

😂 nothing personal folks just makes me smile all the she’s really coming together comments ☝️ 🤔 is there any other anticipated outcome 🤷‍♂️ ✌️🤙 yall 😀

[@richvandervoort2950]

And this is how the Sasquatch oil filter company came into being and became the megalith.

[@davidkimmel5153]

Thank you so much

[@BillTheTractorMan]

Thank you for sharing. The whole oil filter thing for the Z series is frustrating. I have a '55 ZB and ended up converting it to a spin on filter. I gave up on the canister filter and put the canister housing on a shelf. I work the tractor. So it's not a big deal. But for a restoration, I would definitely want the canister.

[@danielbutler578]

Oh Toby, I remember when you built the engine that you needed to replace the shell for the oil filter because of how rust pitted it is. When I saw you getting the bolster ready, I did a little research and found that there are conversion kits available for adapting to spin on filters because the canister filters are not available anymore. I was thinking that you might have already gotten a filter or found a work around. If you have to adapt to a spin on filter, maybe you can make a cover that will look like the shell to make it look as original as possible or do you think this is one of those cases where you have to accept that the original look is gone forever? After all, sometimes we have to pick our battles. It's like you said about the three point hitch. The original is gone forever and we don't have a time machine to go back and get it.

[@squatch253]

I’m not going to try any different things with the existing spin-on kits, that’s a wheel that doesn’t need to be reinvented. Im finding a way to still use other readily available production cartridge filters inside the original filter can instead of having to put a spin-on at all 👍

[@danielbutler578]

At the fourth viewing I realized what was knocking on the inside of my skull about the radiator. I thought you needed to put washers on the corner bolts of the radiator reinforcement straps. Did I miss them?

[@raincoast9010]

I love the MM orange/yellow color!

[@raincoast9010]

Great strides!

[@brycewiborg8095]

Yeah I went through the oil filter annoyance with a VAC Csre. Surprising , but the Allis Chalmers WD had a housing that bolted on. Strange that no one ever noticed. Tusen Takk.

[@darploin5071]

PS I justGot a subscription membership you know the 499 thing you're the first KZbin I've ever done this for cause I do love your contact have a great day

[@cmh1984]

As an MM guy, yes some stuff for the old letter series tractors that you would think would be common, are just non existent these days. I've converted my U's and Z's to spin on types using adapters, which doesn't look as nice, but works.

[@oldcatmech]

I would add blue lock tight to the bolts on radiator to help with vibration loosening the bolts with time.

[@squatch253]

Most of this stuff is all coming back apart for paint yet after the whole machine proves itself 👍

[@karlgoebeler1500]

Done that a couple of times. Overtighten Cork. LOL

[@SuperMAZ007]

Appreciate the content. From looking at the video I think I know why MM chose at that era bolts to fasten the headlight brackets vs using welded studs. Bolts can be replaced a stud will strip out or takes a chunk of the radiator grill with it. As for the welding on X231 original brackets: likely the lights got caught up somewhere and got ripped off or there was some serious balancing issue that cause vibration. Just my 5 cents of theory here :)

[@MetallicAH2O]

It's getting very exciting seeing X-231 take shape!

[@Thomasgarrick113]

Great look now that grill and rad are in place looking forward to episode about oil filter Have you thought about making a thicker spacer to go between water pump hub and fan to get it a little closer to the radiator it would make pull a little more air The two temp gauges make me think they were anticipating a cooling system problem

[@squatch253]

X231 won’t get hot enough doing the parade laps to need a deeper fan 👍😎

[@roberthansen3546]

That looks like a really nice tubing bender, could you tell me who makes it?

[@squatch253]

I bought this one off the Snap-On tool truck a few years ago, but McMaster-Carr sells the exact same thing for a bit less money - I just saw this same bender on their website yesterday when I was shopping for oil filter mod hardware 👍

[@howardwilliams8993]

Blue Point by Snap On Tools Brake Line Tube Bender TBS300

[@paulpochan9631]

Everything fits as it's supposed to...(I'm glad it did or your eye would have flown out across the garage).................

[@davidbramel345]

I have multiple u's and za's . Ready to learn what you know about oil filters!!!

[@richardharmon4112]

anxious to see this run and in paint

[@BEEFDEAD]

An episode about only oil filters and oil filter history? That's so crazy it might just work.

[@Jeff-d4p2f]

Looks like you have a tractor now! Great job! Does the tractor junkyard still have Rockford bolts or did you get them all??

[@deweydodo6691]

I have a NAPA spin on oil filter in reserve for my U when the time comes to change it.

[@williamschmiedel6890]

Seeing what the anvil smashers could do my guess is the light brckets were used as tie down points. Also her lines are looking mighty good!

[@mandolinman2006]

I wish it was feasible for you to just keep going on her. The more I, the more I look forward to hearing her run.

[@ruben_balea]

What's the filter part #? I can look if there's something in Europe... Google seems to remove a lot of results depending on where you are and it uses all tricks to know where you actually are. I can kill some time on what I expect to be a rainy Sunday 😉

[@MoparNewport]

Question, insofar as the Radiator - it seems like theres a lot of vertical load being borne up by the core itself; with that the grill taking up a surprising amount of vertical and horizontal load. Am i missing something or is that the case? Itd seem if the core is bearing the load itd be more prone to leaks. Very damned impressive work!

[@squatch253]

Yep the grille panels are what reinforce the radiator core by supporting the heavy top tank plus adding rigidity - the core was quite flexible side-to-side when I was tightening the top tank bolts but became rock solid after I got the grille panels on.

[@ronzezulka6646]

Hey Toby,,looking good! One painful, eye twitch moment at a time. Keep after it.

[@johncrisman576]

This is getting exciting. She is getting skin!

[@LyleBrand]

love your attention to deatail squatch

[@stevenfischer5493]

Awesome video

[@ronzezulka6646]

You'll figure the oil filter out. Where there's a Squatch, theres a way 😅

[@DismayingObservation]

Whoa…only three minutes old! Seems I’m just in time for more fun with X231!

[@rjsmithfarms8114]

The only option I have found for my ZA oil filter is a spin on adapter to replace the cartridge. It’s far from desirable but it’s all I’ve found

[@seniorelectrician6831]

Looking Good!! Snow shot from Monday morning? Way back when you did the clutch pedal and running boards, you did not have enough return spring tension to keep your pedal up. Did you add a spring or use a different spring with more tension? Have you conversed with other Moline tractor guys/ restorers? One that comes to mind was the gentleman you got the Front tires from.

[@squatch253]

Yes I addressed the clutch pedal return spring resolution in one of the main X231 episodes around the time I installed the foot plates, and discovered that in addition to the double return springs they put inside the bell housing, they also put a third one externally on the clutch pedal linkage that hooked onto the front of the foot plate to finally give the pedal the support it needed 👍

[@lordcaptainvonthrust3rd]

Looking forward to seeing your oil filter solution, Squatch I noticed on X-253 you had a hose disconnected And I'm guessing it's from the air cleaner to the intake manifold Is it to allow moisture out because I would have thought it would also let moisture in? And the sea cans must be fairly airtight? Sorry for the double question but you made me curious

[@squatch253]

One other commenter also asked about that, and it’s to protect the rubber hose from any residual gasoline that may still leak out of the carburetor even after I’ve drained the system. I ruined the first rubber hose I put on that carburetor because of a small amount of gasoline that came into contact with it during storage, which hardened the rubber and made it shrink 👍

[@waltermattson5566]

I enjoy every episode no matter what it covers. Was the air cleaner hose left off the 445 crawler for a comment generator or was there a reason?

[@joemontz592]

It is so cool to watch pieces get out on

[@ironman3406]

I know you are a long ways from paint but I do have a question about painting copper. I’ve never had very much luck getting paint to stick to copper. Do you hit those copper tubes with scotchrite pads or anything to provide imperfections for paint/primer to stick? Or what works best in your experience? Thanks, from your friendly neighbourhood Saskatchewan guy!

[@squatch253]

Rather rough sandpaper works well, preferably a long strip of it so you can pull it back and forth along the length of the line and the paint will stick a lot better. You want to be able to see the scratches in the copper clearly when you're done.

[@circletracker100]

I so proud to become a member of your channel today as I said I would. And I'm looking forward to supporting andseeing more of your of your content in the future. Thank you for what you do God Bless you and your family. Jerry Kaphing. P.S tell Squatch Senior I said hi and I enjoy all of his content to.

[@squatch253]

Thank you and welcome aboard! Senior and I both appreciate it 👍 Make sure to check out the “Team Squatch” Members playlist here and browse through all the older Behind the Scenes episodes!

[@circletracker100]

Thank you vou for the advice I didn't know about im looking forward to finding the content with you and senior together. Health and wealth to all of you in the future and please keep it coming. Does senior also have a membership to support him also. It doesn't matter the content i watch and enjoy them all.

[@grasshopper7760]

Looking forward to oil filter master class ✌️

[@jamesmann1243]

Mr.Squatch, I noticed that you have the intake boot/ hose disconnected on 445. Are you concerned about moisture intrusion or even worse, rodent infestation up through the carburetor? I realize, with the choke plate and throttle plate, would stifle any mouse getting into the intake manifold, but it does and can happen. Any concerns?

[@squatch253]

No concerns at all, even bugs can’t get into that container 👍 I leave that hose off of the carburetor when the machine is in storage because even though I drain the fuel system, I had some residual gasoline seep out of the carburetor once and it ruined the first hose I had on there by hardening and shrinking the rubber.

[@KennyKizzleRustyNutzRanch]

I know that I have converted my ZTU to a spin on filter... But you likely want to use the original can and element style that was on the tractor... I'm curious to see what you come up with simply because of my own tractor.

[@andrewklahold2880]

What ever you do, don't use copper tubing for the over flow , I seen this on an F-30 Farmall and it sucked the copper tubing back in the fan and rapped it up like bailing wire, and none the less 3 yrs later I did the same thing on my F-30 , in then put 1/8 steel pipe in like I should have, but if I got back I would use stainless, copper tubing is to soft, it will pull it back into the fan

[@Adamu98]

What is your plan for painting x231? As one piece or partial disassembly?

[@squatch253]

Built it up completely first to test run it and prove everything out to make sure I don’t have to take anything back apart for a re-do, and after I’m happy with it I’ll strip it back down to a bare chassis and then start painting everything, and then do the final assembly 👍

[@challengerhitchman]

I see you sealed the radiator down. Will you remove the stiffener plates when you paint in order to get full paint around those parts to avoid rust bleed? Lightly clamped joints could allow water to get trapped even if you paint it assembled.

[@squatch253]

Yes, both grille panels will be removed for painting but the radiator core and top tank will stay bolted on 👍

[@davidbramel345]

Thanks!

[@squatch253]

Thank you!

[@coltnavrat7383]

Hey Toby it's crappy weather here too everyone been sick been thinking about ya watch every video

[@chrisrhodes5464]

Wow who knew x231 was a tractor it has been in pieces for so long i forgot

[@oliverscratch]

At 19:50 I noticed X253's air intake is not connected to the carb. Just curious about why it's loose. Cheers!

[@squatch253]

In case the carb leaks some residual gasoline out even after I’ve drained it - I learned that lesson the hard way with the first 90° rubber hose adaptor that I clamped onto the carb. I left it attached onto the carb over the first winter after I had restored the crawler, and by spring the trace amount of gas that leaked out and came into contact with it caused the rubber to harden up and shrink.

[@alanharney5278]

Squatch, 2 questions. 1. Will all that radiator assembly come apart again when it's time for paint? 2. Will the rest of Christine get the same lovely baby poop green primer? Thanks for the video.

[@CaptainCrutch]

Pretty sure he said in another video that the rest of X231 would’ve gotten the same primer if they hadn’t stopped making that specific primer shortly after he painted the engine. So no the rest of it probably won’t get that same color because it sadly doesn’t exist anymore.

[@alanharney5278]

@CaptainCrutch thanks. Too bad though. That nasty green would look great 🤣

[@squatch253]

Yep the grille panels will come back off but the core and top tank will stay bolted in place 👍

[@mrfarmall-vk4gw]

Nice👍👍

[@michaelshingleton1628]

Oh I like the oil filter thing because the engine will be one step closer to running. Watched some early episodes to see the oil filter thing's. The shop where this work was done does not look like the current shop at all. So bland and empty. The later M M tractors like the G 1000 were monsters. The x231 and frankly the 445 looks so wimpy compared to an Oliver and IH stuff of the same years.

[@sepresley1]

perfectionist

[@Elis_farm_toys]

I have a bunch of original MM hotline parts Z oil filter refills wich should be the same. What’s the best way to contact you if you want one. I’ll give you one if you like.

[@squatch253]

Thank you for the offer, but I need to develop a way to use other readily available filter cartridges inside the original can in order to establish a work-around to the problem of there only being a certain number of NOS filters left in existence, which will eventually run out one day. The challenge of blasting through a roadblock is sometimes more rewarding than the hunt for disappearing parts 👍

[@Elis_farm_toys]

@ Well I think I’m going to LeSure this year so I’ll bring you one anyway just to have for fun.

[@deannajoseph]

Thanks

[@ryanridgely7807]

I love the historical narrative that you thread in with these machines, whether they're prototype or early/late production. I don't know why it is so fascinating.

[@WasserSquatch]

Hey Toby I know it's going to be a while before you start painting, but i noticed some pitting on the grill sheet metal and I'm curious if you know if you will smooth those out or if you will leave it?

[@squatch253]

Yes, everything that needs smoothing will get it when the time comes 👍

[@crazyheadgarage2599]

3:50. I can’t tighten bolts without a torque wrench. If not I am bad about over tightening.

[@LittleWapiti]

If I’m worried about overtorquing I hold the ratchet by the head so you loose the mechanical advantage of the handle/lever

[@seanstample814]

Hey Squatch, I was wondering with as public as the x253 restoration is on KZbin and the videos featuring x231 has Agco ever reached out to you regarding either tractor? I don’t remember if you said where you got the archive photos of the prototype tractors but I was just curious if you’ve ever been able to talk to someone from corporate and pick their brains a little bit about your tractors.

[@squatch253]

Nope nothing, but I also don’t expect anything either due to the M-M name being so long extinct at this point. Everything I’ve got for help and/or support has been through my fellow M-M enthusiasts 👍

[@duanegreen7525]

Is there a particular reason why the intake hose was off of the carburetor? I would have concerns about things getting in there, unseen, and possibly building a nest.

[@squatch253]

Nothing gets into that container, not even bugs 👍 I keep the intake hose off when it’s in storage because even though I drain the fuel system, I had residual gas seep out of the carburetor that ruined the first hose I had on there because it made the rubber harden up and shrink.

[@duanegreen7525]

@squatch253 Understood. Just learning other ways of others. I've heard of soaking hoses in transmission fluid to soften them back up. Have tried and what did you learn from if you did?

[@andrewklahold2880]

When are you going to put x231 in her new bathing suit 😊

[@ron827]

X231 is one frosty Erector Set.

[@jacksonjohnson9953]

Was that a small amount of sealer I saw on the fan shroud top bolts? Are those holes blind or through into the top tank?

[@squatch253]

That was just a touch of assembly grease on the threads to keep things slick :-)

[@adamwall1966]

What do you think put x231 on the fence row