Dunham Lehr Ground Chief GC-78 Parts Source and Color Scheme

[dfwallis]

A few questions:
1. Is there a model tag located somewhere on the disk? I've not found one.
2. Is there a source for the 18 inch square axle disks (probably scrapers, haven't got all dug out of the forest yet)? Shoup, AGCO? I find no direct reference to these models.
3. What is the likely color scheme? A brochure seems to show an off red/orange and white (wheels). One post seemed to suggest flambeau red, but doesn't seem to match the brochure.
4. Were there any markings/lettering on them (brochure does not show any).

I've only narrowed the model down through measurements (18 inch disks 7-1/16" spacing, 24 disks, Krause looking frame, DL looking tongue/hitch. It looks almost identical to the ground chief brochure except the vertical portion of the wheel raise section looks to be made out of C channel and is cut off square at the top where it connects to the horizontal rotating tube that the cylinder attaches to (sorry terminology). Maybe it's an early version that was improved later as the brochure shows.

 

[dfwallis]

Attached PDF includes pages from the DL brochure for reference.

At Shoup, it looks like blade PN 490 might be right (back order). 504FB might also work, but has a flat center. I've enquired to Shoup if they have a cross reference not published online.

 

[dfwallis]

I've started cleaning some of the disc parts and as far as I can tell, it was painted AC persian orange #1. The only part that is flambeau red is the hydraulic cylinder. I read that they would paint them whatever color a dealer/customer wanted. The orange was pretty thin though. The hydraulic cylinder paint is pretty thick and still looks newish over most of the body.

Would someone know the brand of the cylinder (GC-78, or a predecessor)? The aluminum end cap is broken where the snap rings hold it in place. Otherwise, it looks pristine after 70+ years in the weather (o rings look great too). I'm going to have it rebuilt. I might have found a very faint serial number stamped on it, but it is so shallow, it's hard to tell if it's just a rust pattern. The closest part match I've found was a bradco. I suppose the hydraulic shop may be able to identify it when I take it in. I didn't find parts for a "versa-haul" which AI said they owned.

 

[dfwallis]

 

[dfwallis]

The crank handle was pretty severely bent and rotted. Virtually no threads left over much of its length. I cleaned it up and had a B7 grade threaded rod welded in. Came out fine. Otherwise, the tongue was flopping in the wind. I also bought new rims and tires. One of the old rims could have been cleaned up with a weeks worth of work, but the other was mangled with lots of through holes. One had a G78-15 tire on it which would have been sometime in the 1970s.

 

[dfwallis]

After 9 months in the repair shop, the DL cylinder has been rebuilt (machine shop was out with back problems). He created a new "head" by copying the old one. The old one did not have an octagon at the top, it was round with a flat side to access the snap ring.

After cleaning out some gunk and cleaning up the outside, I painted it and possibly have the purdiest 70+ year old DL hydraulic cylinder on the planet.

I also have some new wheels for it. I may have it pulled out of it's grave yard soon and moved over to the barn where I can work on it. I have cleaned up a few tongue related parts as well (besides the crank handle above).