Pat 12 gets a nose job

[Bob Carriere]

I have a recorred 3 rows of tubes with the six blade fan..... no sheet metal yet except for the front fenders.

Not sure if I have the 216 I have the large 261 crank pulley front pulley but the engine maintains a steady 161.005 degrees F with the 160 thermostat. Double PH-8 spin on oil filters.

This Spring when we first took it out of storage is ran at about 900 rpm for nearly an hour to cook off any condensation then the oil was changed.

I drive it in the back field exclusively in low range ( t-case was changed to a 2 speed). Low range allows me to cycle/crash in all 4 gears when travelling on the paved road from the house driveway entrance to the back field lane.

On wide open throttle the heat damper on the exhaust manifold vibrates the little coil spring like crazy...need one of the antirattle spring..... the Carter YF carb sounds like a vacuum cleaner trying to suck tennis balls. Filling the bowl of the air filter with oil has toned down the sucking sound somewhat.

Never gets up above 161 F.

Cheers