Hi,
I have recently been gifted a Bristol Bulldozer, complete with a solid roll open cab and 3 point linkage and pto. As I have 100 acres to look after it has potential to be a very useful addtition to my Leyland I54 tractor. The lack of a manufacturers plate is the reason for the doubt. The distance between the tracks is 33", with 12" wide tracks. The manual I managed to find indicates the 12" tracks were on a PD 48 but the outside width of the tracks is 57" so it does not line up with any of the models on the specification page I managed to find on the net. If I am barking up the wrong tree here please enlighten me because information on these beasts is not easy to find.
The machine is pretty much all there except for the engine covers which are on the neighbours property somewhere, and will be tracked down eventually. The engine runs ok for something that sat in a paddock for at least 3 years, and the tracks and drive sprockets are not badly worn. Engine hours are 2560. It has 3 point linkage and pto. But for an issue with not wanting to stay in reverse gear it would be all good. I have found sone whitworth spanners and taken the top off the gear box, and as far as I can see through the thick milky oil there is an excessive amount of movement at the spigot bearing on the main shaft.
Does anyone on this board have any experience in this area of the machine? Can it be fixed without a complete tear down? I have work for the machine to do immediately, but have no wish to push the gearbox into doing more damage than has already been done. I have a big shed, a 2 ton gantry crane on wheels, and plently of mechanical experience pulling apart and rebuilding all manner of equipment for insurance restoration purposes, and access to a very capable retired tractor mechanic and several excellent machine shops so a tear down and rebuild is doable, but I would prefer not to go there right now.
Any wisdom based on experience from the members is most welcome, phots in the next post.
Cheers
Simon
