'47 M - Stopped at the machine shop

Hello all, and a happy Memorial Day Weekend (A big THANK YOU to all the veterans here and everywhere - past and present, foreign and domestic)!

Well, stopped by the shop yesterday and managed to catch the man in charge of the place. I talked to him about what was going on, and mentioned that I had called and left messages, stopped by and left my number, etc. He mentioned that he had been working behind a mountain of projects. All good and well, but don't take 30-60 seconds to return my phone call? Agh... I'll let it go for now. He mentioned that the previous shop had cut out the old valve seats in the head to an 'odd size', which he had to special order. Told me I'd be looking somewhere in the neighborhood of the end of next week or the following before everything was done. He also mentioned he would install the sleeves in the block for me and make sure the bores are all true/within spec, as well as set up the rods and pistons (numbered) per the cylinders.

So, the work that will be done by them (hopefully within two weeks) - flywheel resurfacing, wrist pin bushing installation & fitting, block cleaning & sleeve installation, all head work including crack repair (warranty for life). After that it is reassembly time! (Then time to test run to see how the transmission sounds).

I have yet to get the clutch release bearing off of the carrier - hope to do that today. I hope you all are doing well. I've enclosed a little photo of the beginning and present.. Just for fun.

That FEL is exactly like mine, an Interstate (Freeman). If you can give me any data off the nameplate, if it still is on there, especially model #, I would really appreciate it.

Sorry, I had the loader removed at the salvage yard prior to when I picked it up. I have a loader that will go on the tractor - a vintage Farmhand "Standard" loader.

I do know that the loader that was on it was a Paulson, however.

Cribbing should be put under the front of the frame casting and wedged to be the same height as the rail road jack. The jack is fine for lifting, but for holding the single point contact is risky. (I just took my required OSHA certification for lifting and positioning) but if it falls, it will break the casting. Jim

Interesting. It is EXACTLY like mine except it's missing the hydraulic cylinders. Mine was even that same color green when I got it. I wonder if Freeman made them for Paulson or Paulson made them for Freeman? My nameplate says Interstate/Freeman on it, but the model # is obliterated, that's why I wanted to know.

Janicholson, that photo was taken just after the motor was pulled. The tractor is blocked and set up on cribbing as of now (it was just the only photo I had snapped of it quick after I got the motor out). Looks the same today, only better supported.

A good tool to use is Google - check out Google Images, and look at the frames of a Freeman and Paulson. Small and subtle differences, but they are there.

I had a heck of a time telling the difference from a Stan-Hoist loader to my Farmhand "Standard" model loader. Check out the photos.... First one is a Farmhand, second is a Stan-Hoist.

Thanks for the reply, I hate disasters. Putting cribbing under it (loose) when removing the bolts and adjusting height with the jack is appropriate. (I had a neighbor in Montana die under a combine header falling off of 2 jacks, and a principle of a HS where I taught die under a Pontiac Catalina using sideways concrete blocks) Jim

I'm with you on the phone call deal, I find it very hard to go back to business when they won't let a guy know why they are not done or havent started yet. On the other hand it will be fun to put the engine together when you finally get the pieces back.

I also have seen a couple of horrors happen - one without even jacks. I try to be as safe as possible (and using only the jack while pulling the motor was not ideal), whenever I do any work. I've had to take things out of my eyes because of no safety glasses, eventually it will bite you. It can be a double edged sword.. Get away with it once you may be ok, but then you develop a bad habit that may hurt you or worse later on.

I guess for me it just comes down to courtesy and customer service. If they would have returned my call just to tell me they were incredibly busy, I would have been ok with that. Complete disregard for weeks, though - just seems a little rude. I ALWAYS called my customers back if not within an hour or two, it was within 24 hours for sure.

I agree - I am just chomping at the bit to start getting these shiny new parts all put back together. The excitement only makes the wait worse.