Old Combine Converted To Mobile Shop Power Unit

2014 - Volume #38, Issue #2, Page #33

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Erling Brakefield turned an old combine into a mobile power source that’s fitted with a compressor, welder and generator.
    “It’s especially handy at harvest when I need to do service away from the yard,” says Brakefield. “I primarily wanted a portable compressor, but over time I added the welder and a single cylinder Onan generator.”
    He started with a #72 Massey Harris pull-type combine that a friend gave him, stripping away the table and body and rebuilding the Continental engine. He cut about 3 1/2 ft. out of the axle and reworked the hitch. Most of the rest was left as is, including the instrument cluster in front of the engine.
    “I used some of the structural pieces from the body to make a top frame for the gas tank, which had to be relocated,” says Brakefield. “I also had to build up the back end to support the air tank.”
    One challenge was driving the V-4 Bendix air compressor with its D2 governor. The Bendix was designed to be driven by a Detroit Diesel engine with its internal and external gears.
    Brakefield reworked the input drive on the compressor with parts from Detroit Diesel. With some lathe work, he was able to make a drive coupling for the Bendix and mount a double A width pulley to it. The welder has a double B width pulley on it. He mounted A and B width pulleys with a spacer between them on the Continental’s pto shaft. The Continental also provides cooling and lubrication for the Bendix.
    “I can drive either the air compressor or the welder by themselves or together,” says Brakefield. “I just remove a set of belts as needed. I can run them together when I want to do air-arcing.”
    The Onan generator is self-contained. It simply rides on the unit and can be lifted off and used where needed. Brakefield recently replaced the original radiator with one from a 1953 Chevy. The air tank was originally a steam boiler tank.
    “I run it up to about 130 psi,” says Brakefield. “It’s very useful for blowing dust off combines and equipment, for pumping up tires and for field breakdowns. It will easily run a 3/4 drive impact and other air tools as well as blow out pipes.”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Erling Brakefield, Box 32, Wynyard, Sask., Canada S0A 4T0 (ph 306 328-2013; Levant@yourlink.ca).

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Old Combine Converted To Mobile Shop Power Unit COMBINES Conversions Erling Brakefield turned an old combine into a mobile power source that’s fitted with a compressor welder and generator “It’s especially handy at harvest when I need to do service away from the yard ” says Brakefield “I primarily wanted a portable compressor but over time I added the welder and a single cylinder Onan generator ” He started with a #72 Massey Harris pull-type combine that a friend gave him stripping away the table and body and rebuilding the Continental engine He cut about 3 1/2 ft out of the axle and reworked the hitch Most of the rest was left as is including the instrument cluster in front of the engine “I used some of the structural pieces from the body to make a top frame for the gas tank which had to be relocated ” says Brakefield “I also had to build up the back end to support the air tank ” One challenge was driving the V-4 Bendix air compressor with its D2 governor The Bendix was designed to be driven by a Detroit Diesel engine with its internal and external gears Brakefield reworked the input drive on the compressor with parts from Detroit Diesel With some lathe work he was able to make a drive coupling for the Bendix and mount a double A width pulley to it The welder has a double B width pulley on it He mounted A and B width pulleys with a spacer between them on the Continental’s pto shaft The Continental also provides cooling and lubrication for the Bendix “I can drive either the air compressor or the welder by themselves or together ” says Brakefield “I just remove a set of belts as needed I can run them together when I want to do air-arcing ” The Onan generator is self-contained It simply rides on the unit and can be lifted off and used where needed Brakefield recently replaced the original radiator with one from a 1953 Chevy The air tank was originally a steam boiler tank “I run it up to about 130 psi ” says Brakefield “It’s very useful for blowing dust off combines and equipment for pumping up tires and for field breakdowns It will easily run a 3/4 drive impact and other air tools as well as blow out pipes ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Erling Brakefield Box 32 Wynyard Sask Canada S0A 4T0 ph 306 328-2013; Levant@yourlink ca