Bern,
That picture shows galvanized rear rims. If you look real close you'll see the difference. These were the "new fangled tractors" when I grew up. I saw them new right from the factory. Those rims were galvanized.
My decals are lower. If you had a better picture, you'd see they are set too low to begin with. The proper procedure for setting decals on this tractor are to work from the front grill back. The paint shop probably started from the wrong end. I dont' know if they soaped the decals, but I bet they did. I hope they did. That will make it easier to remove them.
If you saw a pic of my tractor up close, you'll see how the decals overlap the bodyline slightly.
They should be up a bit, but, more importantly, they should be correct.
These are not correct, nor are they centered correctly. I'll fix it and you will never notice. Spring is coming late for me, and the ground is like chocolate pudding. When it does dry out, I'll plow, disk and hit it with the cultimulcher before planting. After that is done, it will be hay season immediately. When hay wraps up, I'll be in repair mode.
When repairs are done, and I have time before wheat, I'll fix it and this won't be an issue. If you saw the tractor in person, you will see what a mean.
The lit I have on the tractor is a general 1977 ford line book. I don't have 9700 specific literature for the tractor. My mother hated tractor literature. When my dad brought it home, she used it for a firestarter in the woodburner during the winter. I keep reminding her that that kindling was probably worth thousands on the ebay market. she doesn't care. She hates tractors and pictures of them. You can't fix a soggy attitude.
My dad always had boxes of lit all the time, to take to customers. She probably burned $10,000 in literature. HE never made that much in commission. i'd bet the lit was worth more than any sales bonuses he ever got.
How were we to know? It made me a wonderful tractor nut, and mechanic, but, that was the extent of it's purpose. I wish we all would have known. Oh well. The gas wells make up for it. When we get a well, we should be millionaires. I'll just keep that in mind.
If you ccan scan that literature... my email is
[email protected] I'd love to see that stuff again. I miss that being the biggest, baddest monster of a tractor that they made. I remember those days well. I just wish we had one back then. I would have plowed so many of the neighbors farms.
Thanks Bern, you really are someone I look up to, and I love it when you reply, not to mention to dvd you sent me. I'm forever a fan of you. God Bless!