Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

waterinthefuel

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Nov 15, 2003
Messages
2,728
Remember a while back I made a post about how pissed off I was that my dad was selling the tractor we put so much effort into restoring? Well, the guy he sold it to was getting rid of his old tractor. He said we could have it if we wanted it. We went down the hill to get it, the guy jumped on this old rusty looking POS and the thing started right up, didn't smoke, ran perfect. We said, "Put it on the trailer!" (we offered to deliver the tractor to the guys house for free since he had no way of moving it and only lived about 15 miles away.)

Please note, this is a 1974 model tractor with all 4 original tires still on it and holding air.

Well, this is what she looked like when I got her:

IMG_7862-1.jpg



Definitely rough and in need of some serious TLC.

After investing about 150-200 hours of labor taking it all apart, sanding it, priming what I could, grinding out a bad spot in the hood and learning how to use bondo, cleaning out old nasty looking grease, regreasing with fresh molybdenum grease, putting on some new hardware from hardware that had broken in two over time, adjusting the chain tension, oiling the chain, this is what I have now. Total cost including brand new decals, synthetic oil for her and a new spark plug and air filter: about 140 dollars. Had my dad not sold his old tractor, I certainly wouldn't have this one!


IMG_7944.jpg


And no, I didn't put the wheels on wrong. There are two "left" side's. You just can't see it backwards in the first photo. I decided not to have them remounted at risk of destroying the original tires in trying to get them off and back on. I don't know who did that, but it's kind of silly. Still, too much risk in taking them off the rims so she'll just putt-putt along with one tire forwards and one backwards!

In case you're wondering, its a 16hp single cylinder Briggs I/C belt driven tractor. It's a belt drive to one side of the tranny and a chain going from the other side to the sprocket on the rear axle. (you can see the chain drive in the top photo and belt drive in the bottom photo) This one was modified to have a hydraulic category 0 3 point hitch in the back. It also has a hydraulic belly implement attachment, but I can't get that to work nor find any implements for it anyway because it's so old. That's ok, it has room for future expansion if I want to machine shop some metal attachments so I can use it with a grader blade, etc.
 
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scoutabout

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Oct 14, 2006
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Re: Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

LOL - love it! That seat looks real comfy too.

Here's a pic of my 1952 Ferguson I use to push stuff around (boat included) at the cabin.

She's too heavy to mow the septic bed - hopefully I'll be picking up a cast-off lawn tractor from my FIL tomorrow for that chore.

I think my tires have been on since waaaay back in the day as well. Cracked and missing chunks out of the treads but still holding air - all 12 psi of it....and fifty odd gallons per side of water ballast...

fergieundertree.jpg
 

waterinthefuel

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Nov 15, 2003
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Re: Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

That old buzzard looks great! That one is a bit bigger than mine!

The seat is real comfy, but that's because he took off the original seat and put a boat seat! LOL Well, hey, no rules on tractors! :D

I notice you have headlights. This one came with headlights but they were mounted to an area that is no longer there because the guy added the hydraulic system and put the tank where the lights would have mounted to the hood. It still has the old light switch but I doubt it works. I can rig up lights very easily if I want to, but I think she looks quite nice as she is.

My tires are 8psi, 12 would be pushing it!! No water ballast as of yet. The guy even gave me the original owners manual and parts catalog. It would be awesome, except Speedex long went out of business! LOL
 

royal0014

Master Chief Petty Officer
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May 6, 2010
Messages
874
Re: Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

Great old tractor :D Gotta love the price.......

Someday I'd love to have an old I/H Cub. Really wish I could find my Grandfather's. I remember playing on it as a kid......

Seeing old restored tractors always brings a smile to my mug, esp. the odd ones. Congrats.
 

heyttown

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Messages
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Re: Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

I would say you my friend have a good knack for restoring things... Check out the tv show pawn stars.. On the show is a guy who they take alot of their old items to get refurbished and restored.. From the looks of things the guy makes a pretty decent living doing the R & R... might be a new profession for you, if not at least a way to make some $$ on the side. Nice job.
 

waterinthefuel

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Nov 15, 2003
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Re: Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

Thanks for the kind words, guys. It was a lot of work, but I didn't put the care and attention into it that I could have. I was lazy with some of the masking so I have red hydraulic lines in some places and black in others. I'll make it off later and repaint those lines black.

It was a lot of work so your kind words mean a lot. Thanks again.
 

Bill Kilgore

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Messages
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Re: Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

Very good job sir. The hitch ball on the front end could come in handy for moving trailers around in tight places. Always planning ahead, I like that.
 

Link

Rear Admiral
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Apr 13, 2003
Messages
4,221
Re: Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

Wow
That is so neat. Never thought much about tractors before.
Belt and chain driven with a single cylinder motor?
How cool is that.
NOTE TO SELF: You don't need anymore unfinished projects LOL
But I have to ask.
A: Does it have reverse
B: How fast does it go
C: Did you use rattle can paint, if if so what brand
It looks really nice.

Quick edit
We will be out of town so I may not be able to check answers until next week

Thanks
Link
 

captmello

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Jun 30, 2008
Messages
3,848
Re: Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

Very nice. I spent a lot of time working on this tractor in the spring. I've got it running like a top now. I'm now thinking about restoring the sheet metal.

No, it's not a White. A P.O. must have painted it to match a newer white tractor he had purchased.

Its a 1956 Oliver Super 55.

Tractorpics002.jpg
[/IMG]

tractorshedpics001.jpg
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Good karma.:)
 

CN Spots

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Messages
1,612
Re: Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

Very nice job, WITF!
 

BuzzStPoint

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May 27, 2009
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Re: Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

Looks good.

You outta spend a few hours on my uncles tractor.

Hes got an old Allis. I remember when I was young learning how to drive this.

This isn't his tractor but looks similar to it.


Except his is all rusty, still fires up and runs great... Even has the old "Plow Boy" tobacco can for the exhaust pipe when you're done using it. :)

Tricky clutch in this one, If you dumped the clutch too fast it raise the front wheels.
 

DianneB

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Feb 8, 2010
Messages
303
Re: Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

Nice job!

I did one a few years ago. It has done lots of work around the yard since then and doesn't look so "new" any more! (Upper left is what it looked like when I got it.)

Ollie1t.jpg
 

rbh

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Mar 21, 2009
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7,939
Re: Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

WOW, great job ladies and gents!
I have an old case LA that I have been wanting to restore for the last few years but need to find a couple of cylinder sleeves and some other stuff.

By the way who still works with babbit bearing material and brass shims???
 

waterinthefuel

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Joined
Nov 15, 2003
Messages
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Re: Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

Wow
That is so neat. Never thought much about tractors before.
Belt and chain driven with a single cylinder motor?
How cool is that.
NOTE TO SELF: You don't need anymore unfinished projects LOL
But I have to ask.
A: Does it have reverse
B: How fast does it go
C: Did you use rattle can paint, if if so what brand
It looks really nice.

Quick edit
We will be out of town so I may not be able to check answers until next week

Thanks
Link

Thanks again for the kind words, guys. I'm quoting this gentleman because he's the only one who asked questions.

A. Does it have reverse? Yes it does.
B. How fast does it go? I don't know, I never raced it but the owners manual says it's top speed is 6.85mph.
C. Yes, I used Krylon Cherry Red. Krylon is some fantastic paint. Not oily like Rustoleum.
 

angus63

Captain
Joined
May 20, 2002
Messages
3,726
Re: Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

WOW, great job ladies and gents!
I have an old case LA that I have been wanting to restore for the last few years but need to find a couple of cylinder sleeves and some other stuff.

By the way who still works with babbit bearing material and brass shims???


These guys are the cat's meow in the Marine Industry for babbit bearings, especially large shaft thrust bearings. They do repair and custom work too!

http://www.kingsbury.com/

A friend of mine did some work reshoeing a 1915? locomobile with babbit brake liners several years ago (I machined the shoes). I could contact him to find out if you wish.
 

rbh

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Re: Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

Angus, on farm equipment, etc
Babbitting is becoming a lost art I think.
There is a local tractor club around here and when I get around to doing the rebuild I will see if any of thier members do it, I believe they do as they are running machinery older than my case LA (1942, last of the big block gas pots, rated for 4 bottom plows I believe )
They also do steam engine's, very impressive.
 

angus63

Captain
Joined
May 20, 2002
Messages
3,726
Re: Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

Kingsbury does it all...or will help you find what you need... great outfit!
Good luck
 

tswiczko

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 15, 2009
Messages
838
Re: Tractor restoration karma, for the good!!!

Sharp looking little tractor, is that a Kohler engine on it?
 
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