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How to make / where to get everything...
Please note: The Panzer Tractor Owner's club web site has parts sources
listed in the classifieds section. PLEASE check there for sources.
We only publish names of sources whom we trust and endorse.
Your first stop for original parts and information should probably be Dandy
Sales at http://www.dandysales.com/ or
(info@dandysales.com).
Panzers are probably the easiest machines to work on, because they are so
simple. Most parts can be made in your garage - even the castings! Cast iron
pieces can be sand cast by contacting local foundries or searching for one at
Fastrac (click here!) I'm
experimenting with building a small crucible furnace for aluminum casting of
small parts. I found information at both my local library and via "How to
Cast Small Metal and Rubber Parts" sold via the Eastwood Company (see
bottom of this page for a link - cost is around $15).
Rubber vibration mount source:
The N in the part number (150PDN-30) on the vibration mounts (small tractors)
stands for Neoprene rubber, which is resistant to oil. These parts are still
available, but usually in natural rubber only. Cost is about $5 each. They
were originally made by Lord, Corporation out of Erie, Pennsylvania (814)
456-8511. Call them for a local distributor, who can get you a catalog with
the products they make. If you find a distributor that still has a supply of
the neoprene ones, let me know.
How to make a rubber reverse wheel:
Material to make these wheels is available from industrial supply stores. It's
80 durometer rubber, suitable for oily environments. It's expensive, but can
be purchased in 12"x12" sheets that will make 4 pieces. The original
diameter of the wheel is 5".
McMaster-Carr sells a 5" diameter, 70-80 durometer Neoprene rubber
cylinder at about $330 for a 36" length. That's about $10 a wheel if you
can cut it and sell it to others... The part number is 8637K37.
12"x12" sheets are pn# 8630K83 at $28.93 a sheet. It's listed under
Neoprene Spring Rubber Sheets, and has a 65-75 durometer hardness. I haven't
used this material, but it looks like it should work. Let me know if you try
it!
Industrial supply stores who have this material (and lots of other stuff!)
include
 | McMaster-Carr Supply Company in Elmhurst, Illinois (708) 833-0300
| Grainger Industrial and Commercial Equipment and Supplies (worldwide)
1-800-225-5994 for a local branch, or (313)295-2750 for my local Michigan
branch. |
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I made one reverse wheel from the rubber mentioned above, but had problems
with it. The trick is to keep the overall diameter to a minimum, because
when it gets running fast, it flies apart. I also had problems making
the 1/4" holes, because I used an ordinary drill bit. A hole saw or
large press should make better holes. I used a hole saw for the middle
hole, and cut the outside with a bandsaw. The outside was sanded with a
belt sander to make it round.
If you want to cast your own with a mold, use Devcon Flexane 80
Polyurethane rubber. It's a liquid man-made rubber that works well. Call
Devcon at (508)777-1100 for a distributor near you. I can get it from F.B.
Wright in Dearborn, Michigan (313)843-8250 or Motion Industries in Dearborn
(313) 581-5540.
F.B. Wright has a 1 pound kit, part number K105-15800 for $32.85 (March,
'97 price) that should do the trick.
Bushings / Bearings
I get my bushings for the steering shafts and jack shafts from Bearing Service
in Woodhaven, Michigan. They're oil-impregnated bronze bushings, Bearing
Service part number FF1014-2. They can be reached at (313) 479-1500. Bushings
are less than $5 each.
Detroit Ball Bearing should have all of the bearings you'll ever need for
mower decks and the like. They can be reached at (800)555-2334.
Sears Hardware stores sell bushings. Check with them - they may have
the right size.
Sprockets
Michigan Industrial Belting, Inc. (313) 584-1650 Dearborn, Michigan. Chain
pitch is a standard #40 (1/2" pitch) and have a "stock bore",
meaning no keyway or collar. Under 12 teeth are special order items, but are
available.
Bearing service can also order this item. Cost is around $10.
Foundry Sources
If you need cast iron parts made, your best bet is to have a foundry do the
work for you. This may be more expensive than finding a parts tractor, but
here is a source.
Consolidated Technologies, rep: Bob Burgess (513)755-9200, fax (513)755-9249.
Bob has experience in doing low volume or one-off parts, as well as
reproduction parts for autos and motorcycles.
Virginia Metalcrafters is casting wheel weights for us (Panzer Tractor
Owner's Club) out of cast iron as a special order. We may be able to get
other parts/accessories made up in the future.
Restoration Tool and Supply Sources
Also check out the 'Links' section for other related web sites. There is a lot
of information out there if you know what you're looking for.
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