ZTU battery box

[Alexander1997]

Here’s a battery box I had built for my Ztu
How does it look to y’all? I think it came out pretty close to an original.
The mounts and instrument box are originals. I plan to get it painted prairie gold soon

 

[JOCCO]

I thought you had a post on this awhile back. I am no expert but I think it will pass muster. Most of them I have seen is rusted heavy.

 

[Alexander1997]

I thought you had a post on this awhile back. I am no expert but I think it will pass muster. Most of them I have seen is rusted heavy.

Yep that was me haha. I ran ads everywhere trying to find an original. I did find an original toolbox that was in good shape, but I could never find any decent battery box. I had this one built and was curious what MM guys thought. I’m happy with it. I think it’ll blend right in with fresh paint

 

[NY 986]

Yep that was me haha. I ran ads everywhere trying to find an original. I did find an original toolbox that was in good shape, but I could never find any decent battery box. I had this one built and was curious what MM guys thought. I’m happy with it. I think it’ll blend right in with fresh paint

It's 2026. Parts are not getting more plentiful for such tractors. Do what you need to do and darn the critics.

 

[Alexander1997]

It's 2026. Parts are not getting more plentiful for such tractors. Do what you need to do and darn the critics.

Yes exactly. I’m in the Deep South where MM was very light on the ground here, so outside of this forum and a friend in South Carolina who collects, I’ve had to make a lot of connections in the Midwest to find stuff I need

 

[T.R.K.]

Its better than the one I built back in the '90s.

 

[Alexander1997]

It’s better than the one I built back in the '90s.

I have a lot of respect and appreciation for building your own

 

[JOCCO]

That's a hard item to get far as i know. If you had a pattern and a shop make them you probably could sell them.

 

[DPittman]

Just drug a 37 ZTU home last week and doesn’t have a hole in the crankcase for a starter so I don’t if it ever had a battery box or not. I like that one a lot and what Jocco said about selling them would probably be right

 

[Alexander1997]

Just drug a 37 ZTU home last week and doesn’t have a hole in the crankcase for a starter so I don’t if it ever had a battery box or not. I like that one a lot and what Jocco said about selling them would probably be right

If you ever want one, I could give you the shop's info. Congrats on your '37. I love those earlier Zs.

 

[DPittman]

I’m going to get some pics for you guys before I start on getting it to run. Gotta get the magneto to my repair man before I can do anything

 

[Alexander1997]

I’m going to get some pics for you guys before I start on getting it to run. Gotta get the magneto to my repair man before I can do anything

Is the '37 the K4B4 magneto? My '48 has that magneto. I bought a rebuilt one from Rudy's magneto in Minnesota.

 

[DPittman]

I picked up two when I was gathering up pieces parts. I did get a K4B4 which is original and I also got another that has an AC number on it.
My mag man told me to bring him the AC unit because the coil for the smaller housing is readily available where the K coils are not. He said the bigger housing could be modified to fit the smaller coil but because of caregiver obligations on his part he didn’t have time for that.
I’m gonna do the smaller mag because this guy does excellent work and when it’s all said and done it will be a Moline mag.
If the correct police bother me with it I’ll give them the opportunity to rebuild the K unit to make it right. Free of charge of course

 

[Alexander1997]

I picked up two when I was gathering up pieces parts. I did get a K4B4 which is original and I also got another that has an AC number on it.
My mag man told me to bring him the AC unit because the coil for the smaller housing is readily available where the K coils are not. He said the bigger housing could be modified to fit the smaller coil but because of caregiver obligations on his part he didn’t have time for that.
I’m gonna do the smaller mag because this guy does excellent work and when it’s all said and done it will be a Moline mag.
If the correct police bother me with it I’ll give them the opportunity to rebuild the K unit to make it right. Free of charge of course

That's exactly on par with my journey with the k4 coil and actually part of the reason I just bought a "ready to go" from the magneto shop.
I'd love to eventually own an early Z like yours. I really like those earlier style wheels

 

[BMG1]

I picked up two when I was gathering up pieces parts. I did get a K4B4 which is original and I also got another that has an AC number on it.
My mag man told me to bring him the AC unit because the coil for the smaller housing is readily available where the K coils are not. He said the bigger housing could be modified to fit the smaller coil but because of caregiver obligations on his part he didn’t have time for that.
I’m gonna do the smaller mag because this guy does excellent work and when it’s all said and done it will be a Moline mag.
If the correct police bother me with it I’ll give them the opportunity to rebuild the K unit to make it right. Free of charge of course

The AC mag won't have the springs for the impulse weights like the original K4B4. You should be able to add them to the AC impulse so it will work in a vertical position on the Z engine.

 

[JOCCO]

That's exactly on par with my journey with the k4 coil and actually part of the reason I just bought a "ready to go" from the magneto shop.
I'd love to eventually own an early Z like yours. I really like those earlier style wheels

In your case with electric start, what about a distributor? A nice Delco with pertronics ignition module. As for Pittman further modifications may be necessary.

 

[DPittman]

The AC mag won't have the springs for the impulse weights like the original K4B4. You should be able to add them to the AC impulse so it will work in a vertical position on the Z engine.

I had an RTU with a dead mag on it, took it to my mag doctor who identified as an AC unit and he converted it to MM specs. Crossed out all the AC numbers and then stamped in the right Moline.
He said he does that so anyone who works on it again will know what it was and what it became. Bolted it on the tractor and it started and ran first crank. Turned the mag 1/16” to get it timed

 

[MMDEL]

In your case with electric start, what about a distributor? A nice Delco with pertronics ignition module. As for Pittman further modifications may be necessary.

Unless you have some sort of a special distributor, you would have to change cam shaft gears.

 

[Alexander1997]

Unless you have some sort of a special distributor, you would have to change cam shaft gears.

That pin you sent me for the shift plate on this Z fixed my problem there. I thank you again!

 

[MMDEL]

That pin you sent me for the shift plate on this Z fixed my problem there. I thank you again!

Np problem, that's what I am here for.