BRONCO RESTORATION PART 10

IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE SO, CHECK THE SUSPENSION FOR PROPER OPERATION, PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE SPRINGS. IF THEY ARE WEAK OR BROKEN REPLACE AS NECCESSARY. INSTRUCTIONS ARE ELSEWHERE ON THIS SITE. ITS A GOOD IDEA TO GREASE THE PIVOT POINTS AT THIS TIME ALSO, ONCE INSTALLED IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO GET TO ALL THE NECCESSARY POINTS.

BE SURE TO CHECK BOTH THE UPPER AND THE LOWER SPRINGS. THEY SHOULD BE THE SAME LENGTH WITH NO BREAKS.

USE A SMALL AMOUNT OF ALL PURPOISE GREASE ON EACH PIVOT PRIOR TO INSTALLING THE UNDERBODY PARTS.

IF YOU ARE USING THE SPRAY, APPLY THE GLUE ON THE FELT AND IMMEDIATELY ATTACH THE FELT TO THE LEG. YOU MIGHT HAVE AROUND 20 TO 40 SECONDS UNTIL THE GLUE IS SET UP THAT YOU CAN USE TO POSITION THE FELT PAD. IF USING THE TUBE TYPE, SMEAR A MEDIUM COAT ON THE FELT THEN PLACE IT ON THE LEG MOVE IT AROUND A BIT AND SEPERATE THE FELT FROM THE LEG TEMPORARILY. LET THE TWO PARTS DRY FOR AROUND 5 MINUTES THEN PUSH THEM TOGTHER. NOW THEY SHOULD BE STUCK.

ATTACH FELT PADS TO THE INSIDE OF THE LEGS. CUT YOUR OWN OR BUY THEM PRECUT FROM ME. USE A HIGH QUALITY CONTACT ADHESIVE SUCH AS 3M SUPER WEATHERSTRIPPING ADHESIVE. I PREFER THE SPRAY TYPE BUT THE TUBE WORKS JUST AS WELL.

HERE IS THE AXLE (NOTE PLACEMENT OF HOLE FOR COTTER PIN) UPDATE 01/05: I NO LONGER USE THESE METHODS, I NOW USE A 1.5" X 1/4" X 20 tpi BOLT AND STOP NUT.

SOME EARLY WHEELS HAVE BUILT IN SPACERS, HOWEVER, MOST DON'T. IF YOURS DON'T, BE SURE TO INSTALL A WASHER ON EACH SIDE OF THE WHEEL ON THE AXLE SHAFT. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL MAKE THE WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND WILL CAUSE OTHER DAMAGE. I HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF REPLACEMENT WHEELS AT THIS TIME. PERFECT FIT AND DON'T REQUIRE ANY WASHERS. $3.00 PER WHEEL WHILE THE SUPPLY LASTS.

REINSTALL THE WHEELS, IF THEY ARE OVERLY WORN, REPLACE WITH NEW WHEELS. CHECK WITH ME FOR AVAILABILITY IF YOU WISH TO BUY NEW WHEELS. EITHER USE NEW TINNERMAN NUTS OR DRILL HOLES IN THE AXLES FOR COTTER PINS. IF YOU DONT HAVE ACCESS TO A DRILL PRESS, IT IS RECOMENDED THAT YOU USE TINNERMAN NUTS. BE SURE TO CHECK THE BRAKES. CHECK TO SEE IF THEY STOP THE WHEELS FROM TURNING BACKWARDS. ADJUST AS NECCESSARY.

SOMETIMES I'LL INSTALL THE LEGS ONTO THE UNDERBODY PRIOR TO ATTACHING THE UNDERBODY TO THE UPPER BODY, WHICH IS THE EASIEST WAY TO GO. THAT WAY YOU HAVE MORE ROOM TO REACH THE LEG BOLTS ETC. YOU CAN ALSO CHECK TO SEE IF THE MECHANICS OF THE UNIT ARE IN WORKING ORDER.

ATTACH THE UNDERBODY TO THE UPPERBODY WITH POP RIVETS. CHEAP POP RIVET GUNS ARE AVAILABLE AT HARBORFREIGHT.COM FOR UNDER $10.00. BE VERY CAREFUL THAT THE POP RIVET GUN DOESN'T JUMP AND CHIP YOUR PAINT WHEN IT SNAPS THE STEM OFF THE RIVET. YOU MIGHT WANT TO HAVE A THICK TOWEL TO WRAP AROUND THE WORK AREA TO PREVENT THIS. IF YOU STILL GET A CHIP YOU CAN USE THE TOWEL TO CRY INTO. IF YOU CHOOSE TO INSTALL THE UNDERBODY FIRST, WHEN YOU HAVE REACHED THIS POINT PRINT OUT A COPY OF THE BRONCO ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS THAT ARE ELSEWHERE ON THIS SITE. ATTACH THE LEGS AS INSTRUCTED. MOVE ONTO PART 11.

PLACING AN OLD TOWEL OR T SHIRT AROUND THE RIVETER MAY HELP KEEP CHIPS AWAY. UPDATE 01/05: I FOUND THAT IF I LIFT THE BRONCO JUST A LITTLE BIT USING THE RIVET GUN ON THE FINAL STROKE, THE BRONCO WILL DROP AWAY FROM THE RIVETER, THUS AVOIDING CHIPPING THE PAINT.

PLACE THE UPPERBODY ONTO THE UNDERBODY BUTT END FIRST. YOU MAY HAVE TO SPREAD THE HORSES TIN A LITTLE BIT FOR IT TO GET CLEAR OVER THE STEERING RODS. ONCE YOU HAVE THE BODY SITTING ON THE UNDERBODY, MAKE SURE THE FOUR RIVET HOLES ARE IN LINE AND THEN PUT A RIVET IN EACH OF THE FOUR MOUNTING HOLES DON'T SNAP THE RIVET STEMS OFF UNTILL THERE IS A RIVET IN EACH HOLE. SNAP THE RIVETS ONE AT A TIME AND BE SURE THAT THEY ARE PENETRATING THROUGH THE UPPER AND UNDER BODYS.

WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY, ATTACH THE FOOTRESTS AND PUT ON THE REINS. TAKE SOME PICTURES AND SHOW IT OFF TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.