My newest project...

I know this is not a John Deere story, but I had to post this... it has definite correlation to reviving an old tractor as well... I had decided to resurrect my old '57 Chevy grain/hog truck from oblivion, as it has resided in my equipment shed unstarted since about 1995. I rebuilt the old Rochester carb and put it on to find the gas lines clogged. I removed the lines and tank to find the pickup line in the tank totally clogged with crud. I took off the filter and sunk it in carb cleaner. Then I took a length of 3/16 cable and a can of carb cleaner and cleaned the line spotless. I then dumped a gallon of lacquer thinner in the tank and sloshed it around for 20 minutes or so, dumped it out, and let it sit in the sun to dry. Then I tapped on it with a hammer to dislodge any rust and got about a pint out. I had the pickup filter soaking in carb cleaner and it came out nice. With the fuel system all clean, I hit the points with some emery cloth and checked the fire, good to the points.I primed the carb and hit the starter... nothing. Took the starter off and apart, cleaned it and lubed the appropriate parts, checked it with jumper cables and all was well. Then with the starter back on I tried it again... she started right up... then died. Primed the carb and she fired again... then died and nothing more than a yerr-yerr-yerr. No fire. Coil, or condenser? I took a break and went to the store for for a hot dog, knowing my buddy Bruce would be there. I had rebuilt the carb and spruced up the mag for his 44 B a couple of weeks ago. He said he had a 12 volt coil at his place, so we stopped by there to get it. Put it on and yerr-yerr-yerr. I found a condenser that seemed to maybe fit and installed it. Vroom. Fired up, but had a miss. Checked the firing order and two wires were backwards. Runs like a champ. That 261 Chevy is a fine engine. Then I added Dot 3 to the master cylinder and pumped the air out. Got pedal sooner than I thought I should. Hopped in, tried to put her in gear, and Chrrgh... clutch was stuck. Got the 2510 and dragged her out literally. The clutch came loose but the right side axle still dragged. We dug a trench with the right side wheels in a circle around the field until it finally popped loose. Success... partially. The brakes were sticking on the right side. I drove around the shop a few times and when I pushed the clutch in, it stopped. I told Bruce that I had had enough for one day... I'll mess with the brakes another time. PS... the lift wouldn't work... needs oil and the bed has to be up to reach the reservoir.
Dammm this is fun!

No matter what your re-furbishing you need to start at the beginning and go all the way through the project,, I'm re-doing an old truck here for a parts runner,,and I'm going all the way bumper to bumper before it leaves the shop..brakes, brake lines, fuel tanks,pumps and lines,shocks, engine,transmission,seat and all...yes it is an adventure..

Yeah, I know... I tried to go the rear brakes on this truck back in the late 80's. Got the left side done but for some reason I cannot exactly remember now, the right side would not allow me in. Maybe I could not get the wheels off or maybe the drum would not come off, I don't remember, but anyhow, it has come back to haunt me. I still have the new shoes for that side, so I'll try again. Probably a stuck wheel cylinder.

This old truck began her career as the proud hauler of peanuts, grain, hogs, cattle and the occasional load of gravel. She hauled drain tile and the 440 crawler to the ditching machine, an old Garwood trencher Dad used to tile farm fields as winter income, but she ended her career as a lowly water wagon. Bad brakes and all, she limped from field to field, farm to farm, feeding the sprayer. The 2 speed rear stuck in low a long time ago, but she never failed us. Now it's my turn... I can't fail her... One of the old guys used to call her the Mad Elephant... see her coming down the path and hit a hole on the right and the right door flies open. Hit a hole on the left and the right door slams shut while the left door flies open, etc, etc. Looked like a mad elephant running down the path!