I sometimes tell folks (with respect to my tractor) that owning this particular old tractor involves an hour or so in the shop spent tinkering with it for every hour spent in the field operating it. In all honesty, I haven't really tracked anything like that, but it sure seems like it - especially these days. As of today, the tractor is in my shop with the following parts laying around in various stages of restoration:
- all sheetmetal (I actually haven't had the sheetmetal on it in a year or so....)
- The head (it's actually at the machine shop being resurfaced)
- Exhaust/intake manifold (that's right - it is a single piece!)
- the gas tank (with the fuel level sender removed for rehab)
- The water pump and fan
- Carburetor
- All the gauges
- A partially fabricated battery hold-down bracket (to replace the existing baling wire solution that came with the tractor when I obtained it)
I placed an internet order the other day for about $150 in new parts/pieces/gaskets and as soon as that stuff arrives, and as soon as I get the head back from the shop, I'll go about the process of putting it all back together again, crossing my fingers that it works right. The added bonus here is that all of this is taking place in 100+degree weather with a liberal smattering of humidity. Actually, they say we might see mid-90s this weekend, so that is something to look forward to.
In the meantime, in case you are looking for some additional reading on this tractor project and some insight into how one learns to work on a tractor with no manual and no experience, here are a few links to some threads I have been running on a tractor-enthusiast's forum with various pictures of various aspects of my tractor problems:
One thing I have to say about all this - it sure is nice to have a shop to do this in (rather than doing it out in the wind, rain (if it were to rain anyway), dirt and sun. I do thank my lucky stars.
