60 Case Water Tank

[mbkerk]

This weekend I helped out a couple of friends working on a new water tank for a 1913 60 Case Steam Engine. The work is being done at Larson Welding in Fargo, where a lot of these kinds of projects are done. Nearly every weekend in the winter there is something to do with old steam or gas tractors being worked on there.

I thought I would post a few pictures of the work in progress.

http://www.98dodge.com/images/60%20Case%20Tank%20001.jpg
A picture of the tank before we began riveting. At this point it is held together with a few bolts.

http://www.98dodge.com/images/60%20Case%20Tank%20002.jpg
Kelly M putting a hot rivet in one of the holes. After I put the camera down, I held the bucking anvil while Joe S ran the air chisel.

http://www.98dodge.com/images/60%20Case%20Tank%20003.jpg
Joe with the air chisel bucking over a rivet.



http://www.98dodge.com/images/60%20Case%20Tank%20015.jpg
Mark P. (The brains of this operation, and one of the smartest steam guys I know) on the left helps us put in the top of the water tank. Another 300 rivets will hold it in place.

This tanks is an exact... perfect replica of an original 60 Case water tank. Even the baffles on the inside of the tank are riveted, and nobody will ever see them! Mark P. Did all of the brake work on the material. This is the 13th tank / bunker he has made, so he has all of the jigs. Mark is very into detail. Everything has to be perfect! He has done some immaculate work! I will post more of it as time goes on.

[Ingersoll444]

Thats some AWSOME old school work!!!

So as a guy growing up in the age of welding, How is the riveted take made waterproff?? I know they have been doing it that way for hundreds of years, just wondering if they just are becouse of the number of rivets, or if there was a sealer, or they just seeped a little?

[mbkerk]

So as a guy growing up in the age of welding, How is the riveted take made waterproof?? I know they have been doing it that way for hundreds of years, just wondering if they just are because of the number of rivets, or if there was a sealer, or they just seeped a little?

In 1913 the tank would have been allowed to "seep" until rust and debris made it stop, Paul. Since this tank will only have water in it a few days a year, we will cheat a little and put silicone sealant around the seam on the bottom sheet. The rivets in the sidewalls swell when they are installed, and they will not leak.

[MowHoward2210]

Thats some AWSOME old school work!!!...........

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:ditto: Nice to see you guys dedicated to preserving and running the Old Iron. :congrats: :congrats: :congrats:

[Ingersoll444]

Mbkerk,

Thanks for the info. I wigured it would leak a little. Agean back in the day, it was not an issue with everyday use.