Comet 30 - to save or not to save?

[jfoust]

I picked up a Yerf Dog today (think it's a 3202 sans rollcage). It's in so-so shape. There's a little bit of rust on the floorpan but it's solid otherwise and just needs to get put back together. The owner gave me a Honda GC160, a couple of clutches, a new band brake, and what I thought was going to be the score of the haul - a Comet TAV-30 torque converter.

Now the catch.. the motor and Comet were in a flood, so they're REALLY nasty. It looks like all of the pulleys are there for the Comet, but they are NASTY. Can I save them somehow? Here's what they look like:

 

[jfoust]

BTW what I'm probably going to do in the meantime is just slap the clutch on the motor and go ride... If the Comet can be saved, I would definitely prefer that in the long run!

 

[Bluethunder3320]

you wont know until you take it all apart to inspect.

do you have a bench grinder with a wire wheel? i have one, and it would take that rust off to bare metal so easily.

if most of the parts are not broken it is definitely possible to get it back to good condition.

 

[jfoust]

I don't, but my neighbor does... He bought it 2 years ago and it's still in the box, and he's leaving for a 6mo stint in rehab in the morning, so I bet I can borrow it.. I'll give that a shot. I was thinking it's worth trying something like that but wasn't sure it was worth it. I have all the main components - the driven pulley looks to be complete and I have the big parts of the driver pulley but may be missing some of the little bits.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

heres parts for it: http://www.mfgsupply.com/gomini/gominiclutch/gominiclutchtorq/gominiclutchtorq30.html


if youre willing to put in some work to rebuild that torque converter then youll save a lot of money.

like i said, the first step would be take it apart and make sure everything is there. next, clean it all (wire wheel is my fave way...) and then lubricate what needs to, replace anything that needs to be replaced, and get it all back together. that website has an exploded diagram so it should be easy to understand.

i forgot to mention that sandblasting is the BEST way to clean off that rust, but it is not worth it unless you have acess to a (expensive) sandblasting setup.

the easy way is just buy a new one but its up to you if youd rather spend $200+ or effort into fixing the old..

 

[jfoust]

I'm definitely willing to put in the time on it! Looking at what I have vs the diagrams it appears to all be there, but the springs in the shoe driver assembly are all rusted out and it real sad shape.. I may end up needing to replace them, but like you suggested I'm going to take the wire wheel to it and see what I can get done.

A friend's husband may actually have a decent sandblasting setup that I could get some time on.. He does a lot of side work powder coating valve covers and other things, and I seem to remember him having a nice sandblasting cabinet and everything.

 

[B.M.800]

No. Just send it to me and I will... "dispose" of it...





Yeah, wire wheel that thing. Clean it up. If you have a dremel with a wire wheel that will work nice for where the belt rides.

 

[jfoust]

No. Just send it to me and I will... "dispose" of it...





Yeah, wire wheel that thing. Clean it up. If you have a dremel with a wire wheel that will work nice for where the belt rides.

LOL I was waiting for someone to suggest to trash it (and give them my address and my trash pickup day)! I'll definitely hit it with the wheel and see how it goes.

After I get it running, it will be on to the GC as well. I don't know that I'll use it, but I don't think it would hurt to have the thing in good running condition.