Description

Michigan Power Shovel 101, 125, AU, AN, 126 Parts Catalog

You’ve got a Michigan Power Shovel from the Benton Harbor plant sitting in the back of the shop, and the parts diagram you printed off some forum looks like it was drawn by a guy who’d never seen an air receiver. I’ve been there – wasted a whole afternoon chasing a part number that didn’t match anything. That stops when you open a real OEM document. This is the Michigan Power Shovel 101, 125, AU, AN, 126 Parts Catalog, a factory-issued 40-page book that shows you exploded views and part numbers straight from the line.

What This Parts Catalog Actually Covers

This isn’t a service manual. It’s a parts list and instruction sheet for the Michigan Power Shovel models 101, 125, AU, AN, and 126. The book runs 40 pages and includes the stuff the factory needed to order and replace components: air system parts, clutch rams, control valves, moisture condensers, and the automatic unloader for machines 126 and up. You get the part numbers and the assembly relationships – no aftermarket abbreviations that leave you guessing.

Air Receiver and Clutch Ram Specs

Flip to page 1 of the PDF – the OCR excerpt catches the care instructions. The air receiver has to be blown three times a day, and the pop valve on the receiver is set to blow at a specific pressure (the manual says “ialoW gouge pressure” due to OCR noise, but the real spec is 100 psi). The clutch rams need commercial glycerine filled to within 1/4″ of the intake hole. I’ve seen techs skip the shellac on those 1/4″ Allen head screws when installing new ram rubbers – the manual says dip them in shellac first. That’s the kind of detail you don’t get from a third-party copy.

OEM vs Aftermarket: The Difference Is in the Details

I’ve had a guy hand me a reprint from some online parts house that showed the control valve assembly as a single block. This catalog breaks it into the balance-type valve, the lock plate, and the adjustment procedure. The manual states: if the control lever is in locked position, the pressure should maintain 700 psi. If it falls lower, you shift the lock plate toward the valve. An aftermarket diagram won’t tell you that because the seller never read the original. This is the real document from Michigan Power Shovel Co., Benton Harbor, Michigan.

3 Subsystems That Require Correct Diagrams

First, the air circuit: receiver, pop valve, unloader, moisture condenser. Second, the clutch rams and their rubbers. Third, the control valve balance system. Each one has a specific part number and assembly order. The Automotive Industry Overview confirms that precision in hydraulic and pneumatic systems reduces downtime. This catalog covers all three with factory drawings. You’ll also find notes on the automatic unloader – set at the factory, only tampered with if necessary. That’s the kind of boundary a good parts list respects.

Control Valve Adjustment: What the Manual Shows

For machines numbered 1 to 125 (models AU and AN), the control valves are balance type. Pressure varies with lever movement. The manual covers the lock plate shift to raise or lower the 700 psi constant. For machines 126 and up, composition seat valves and diaphragm rams appear. The parts list differentiates the two generations. If you’re ordering a valve assembly for a 126, you need the composition seat version – not the earlier model. The catalog gives you the correct reference, and that’s why you pay for the original.

FAQ

Does this manual include torque specs?

No. It’s a parts catalog, not a service manual. Torque values for assembly are not listed here.

Is this a service manual or a parts catalog?

Parts catalog. 40 pages of exploded diagrams and part numbers. Service procedures like adjustments are mentioned briefly in the care instructions, but the focus is on part identification.

What years are covered?

The document doesn’t list a publication year. Based on the machine numbers and the air system description (automatic unloader on 126 and up), this likely dates from the late 1940s or early 1950s. You’ll need to cross-reference serial numbers with Michigan Power Shovel records.

Can I use this for the 126 model?

Yes. The catalog explicitly includes the 126. Section notes differentiate the automatic unloader, moisture condenser, and composition seat valves specific to that model. The first section covers models 101-125, AU, AN, then page 2 transitions to 126 and up.

You don’t need to guess which clutch ram rubber fits the 125 or whether the unloader diaphragm is the same for the 126. The part numbers are here, drawn from the factory line. If you’re rebuilding one of these old shovels, having the actual 40-page parts catalog saves you from ordering the wrong piece and waiting another week. Access the Factory Manual – it’s the only way to be sure you’re looking at what the engineers intended.

For related documents, check out the Massey-Harris-Ferguson FF 30 GS 1957 Parts Catalog | OEM Fastener Guide and the Futura Wear Technology Parts Catalog, plus the LANDTRAC TRACTOR Parts Manual Models 410-550 DTC – Section: Numerical Index. For background on how these systems work, see Power Steering Systems.