I am 16, and am trying to restore my grandfathers tractor

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Hello, My name is Logan Hicks and I am 16 years old. My great grandfather had a John Deere diesel tractor, and from my research, I am pretty sure it is a 720 diesel from 1958, 2-cylinder electric start with power steering. I know that it has probably been 30 to 35 years since it has been started, but I know that my grandfather took very good care of the tractor and knew how to do things right. It has been kept outside under a shed with no doors in the front or the back and with two walls and a roof. I want to restore it because when my grandma dies I won't be able to save it. I have no idea where to begin or what to do. All everyone says is it will be expensive and hard because it is a diesel tractor. I am asking for your help with this because I have no idea what I am doing and do not have any experience with tractors. I have attached some pictures below of the tractor. Any help is appreciated. Thank you


I can not for some reason get the photos uploaded on here, but I have a Dropbox account so you should just be able to follow this link to see the photos.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tl2h8j9u4bftnqj/AABln3XLDVtiK3qB20lu4Tb2a?dl=0
 

I'm certainly not the best mechanic here, but I want to encourage newcomers to the hobby. Send me your snail mail address to [email protected] and I'll send you a copy of the magazine I publish. It should give you some help with parts etc.
Why don't you start off by removing the flywheel cover and seeing if you can turn the flywheel? That would be an important first thing for people to know.
 
You are going about it correctly so far. Ask for help!! First, get your Grandma to put it in writing that this tractor is now yours. Avoid family issues later. Next, as young as you are, look into joining an FFA or 4-H club near you. If you don't have a lot of tools, others in the club may help out here. High schools might need a shop prodject, here you go. I admire your wanting to restore Grandpa's tractor, but don't get over your head.
 
Logan,
Good on you!
Like Richard said, I'm not much of a natural
mechanic, but even at 58 yrs old, I learn stuff
all the time. If I can do it, so can you.
I think Richard points to something solid as a
starting point. Establish the condition as it
sits, establish what it will take to get it
running first, then start prioritizing and
making a project list. A local mentor ( He's
out there, really ) can help you get started;
I'll bet there is a dad or grandpa near you
that needs an extra son or grandson in his
life. Your pictures didn't come through, try
again as I think it will allow the guys to
evaluate what they see and start offering
helpful suggestions.
By all means, get a mentor. Even approach one
of the kindly local diesel mech's in your area
and start asking questions. Don't take "No" for
an answer. If one person refuses to help, go
find another. Also, write back and tell this
group where you are in the counrty, I'd wager
there is help close to your home in one of the
many JD clubs.
This could get a little 'spensive, but don't
let that stop you before you get started; small
bites and repairs as needed.... first thing is
get her running and go from there. Trust me,
Son; there is an awfull lot of help just for
the asking. All of us old farts want to see new
young blood getting infected by the JD disease.

Secure ownership from Grandma! And, know that
this will mean the world to her, even if she
doesn't express it very well. You keep Great
Grandpa's legacy alive by keeping his treasure
alive.
YOU CAN DO THIS if you want to, but it'll
require patience, and more patience.

Go get 'em

Bob
 
Well the 720 D is one of the most challenging and most expensive models to work on.
Not a good choice at all for a beginner.

That being said for a starting point see if there is an owners manual around there for it. If so read it cover to cover. Next thing is to get a copy of the JD parts and service manuals for it and read them too. There are separate service manuals for the tractor, hydraulics and power steering.
Getting these manuals and READING them is how it all started for me ! But I did not start with a 720 D . I worked my way up to it.
I'd say get it bought from her and get a bill of sale. Hopefully she will give you a deal on it !
Then you can take your time on it.
Check it over and see if it can be got running as is before worrying about restorations.
I bought a 70 D that could of sat that long in a shed and it really did not take much to get going. But after driving it around I could tell it had a tooth off one of the tranny gears.
That 720 D if factory electric start and if a row crop model is kind of rare as only something like 2025 were built.
 
Welcome Logan! You have already started in the right direction on this project as there are a number of people on this site that are very helpful to people such as yourself. There are also a very small number that don't seem to have patience for some questions and I encourage you to treat them accordingly.
This hobby is also beginning to understand that it needs people like you to keep it going so myself and many others are happy to hear from you.
As far as your project the one thing you have is time. Don't figure on doing this tractor over in a couple of weekends. Work at it as you can afford to. Certainly keeping it under cover will help.Looking forward to hearing more from you.
 
Logan; What area are you from ?
There may be some of us close enough to come over and help go over some basics with you and see if it will run.
 

All very good advice, so I will add just one comment. Get the tractor running and fully functional first. The fancy paint can come later. A classic old farm tractor, even still wearing its work clothes, is still very respectable.
 
Check into why it was parked for so long, any major engine or transmission problems? What condition is it in now? What do you plan to do with the tractor after it is completed?

That will be a big commitment, plan to spend $5,000 to $10,000+ on the tractor, several thousand dollars more for tools and manuals, possibly $500+ a year for storage and many hundreds of hours of your time to complete the project.

What other projects have you done? A "B" John Deere would be a good project to complete before tackling a 720D.
 
Good for you. I am trying to restore a 1958 720 also. Like
others have said get a service manual, operators manual and a
parts manual. I found a service manual on E-Bay and a parts
manual reprint there also. The parts manual is great because it
has exploded views of different components and every bolt and
nut listed. Also like others have said secure ownership of the
tractor first. You never know what may happen. I restored a
truck that my grandpa bought new after he passed. I purchased
the truck from grandma and had the title before I started
spending money restoring the truck. Get it running, use it, see
what leaks, fix it, then and only then if you want paint it. Good
luck. You are heading in the right direction by posting to this
discussion. Please try again on the pictures.
 

It has been more like 20 or 25 years now that I think about it more. Still a long time. My grandfather got sick and he had to stop doing a lot of the work on the farm. I have not done any other tractor related projects, nor do I know anything about them. I don't know what I want to do with it once I get it running. Thanks for telling me what it will cost, I didn't have any idea on the cost really.
 
All good advice, If you want to get your hands dirty in the mean time. pull the flywheel cover off(tin pear shaped cover on left side) under the cover is a round cast iron wheel this is your fly wheel. If the flywheel has two bolts clamping it to the shaft it is a factory flywheel. Look for cracks in the webbing around the area of the bolt holes. Also while your there try turning the flywheel with the clutch handle back (released). You can apply some force with a bar to turn the engine over but don't overdue it. To much force rarely produces positive results. Good luck on your project
 
Logan: This is not the tractor a 16 yr old newbie needs to be working on by himself. The good news is you should be able to get some help in your community from some neighbors, friends of your family, etc. Please post where you live as most of us old timers would be honored to come take a look and get you going in the right direction. I belong to an antique tractor club in East Texas that has a lot of expertise to share and maybe you can find one in your community. I would also suggest dropping by your local John Deere dealership and volunteer some free labor and see if they will help you out or any tractor mechanic for that matter. A smaller gas tractor would be better to start your career on but I understand your desire to honor your grandfather. The internet has a lot of good info on working on antique tractors, give youtube a look for the 730. Before you go down this path it would be wise to get several opinions on your path of action. Free advice is not always the best advice and can cost you a lot of money and grief. First thing is to establish simple things like are the tires holding air, are the fluids still functional, can you borrow a couple of batteries, ensure the engine is not frozen up, do you have water/anti-freeze in radiator, etc. I might have a JD 730 Diesel Owners manual I will send to you free so you can start learning about the tractor. Lastly, you have to get ownership to the tractor before you expend any time and money. Start with a good "to-do list" in priority order so you don't get ahead of yourself. Good luck and enjoy the experience.
 

I live in Circleville Ohio. About 50 minutes south of Columbus. I will have to get my grandma to give or sell it to me. She is pretty stubborn so it might take some persuading.
 

I know because of the weather on the tractor, the bolts might be hard to get off of the flywheel cover. Is there any easier way to get the blots out easier if they are hard to get out?
 
Lot of good advice on here if it's loose u probably can get it
running n slowly get parts gathered up like a front wheel n I'm
sure there are others if u find the lower water pipe is bad which
a lot of them are then let me know and I will send u one no
charge but just driving it should be an incentive to get a good
education so u can get a good job so u can fix it up real nice n
make your great grandpa look down with pride don't get in a
hurry n have fun with it
 

As mentioned earlier - come to an agreement with the owner (Grandma) of the tractor and get ownership IN WRITING. If she wants to get paid, don't haggle. Take it or leave it. If she wants to have you work it off, establish the amount of hours it will take and keep track. Get a Bill of Sale and keep it in a safe place.

More than likely, you won't have any issues when it comes to ownership, but you find out quick how good of family you have when it comes to money matters. It'd be real frustrating to spend a lot of time and money on a tractor and then get into a fight with an uncle who claims "Dad always wanted me to have that tractor"...

I'd do this before even taking the flywheel cover off.

Meanwhile, get the three manuals and read them. Reading them will go a LONG way toward preventing expensive mistakes. There's even a section in the manual on what to do to the tractor while taking it out of "long term storage".
 
Sounds pretty exciting to me. Wish I were 16 again....

IMHO - I'd have your Grandmother formally give or sell you the
tractor. If it were my grandson, I'd sell the tractor to you with a
bill of sale for a dollar and then hand you back the dollar!

Cool thing about this tractor is that IMHO it makes for a great
restore/hobby and unlike most of us, you got a lot of years
ahead of you, so finishing the restore ASAP doesn't have to be
a priority. If $$$'s or parts availability get in the way, you got
plenty of time to wait. I wouldn't let the fact it is a large tractor
or a two cylinder diesel cause me concern - it's your Grandpa's
tractor and that's enough reason. If others can do the restore,
over time, you can too.

I'd say restoring your Grandfather's tractor would/could be a
lifetime hobby and who knows, maybe one of these days you
might own some acreage and could give it a workout.

Good luck,
Bill
 
I have a lot of your magazines, just wish I had enough income to be still getting them. First thing before even trying to get it running is after you get ownership of it is getting it to a place you know you will be able to keep it. Your grandma might be getting on in years and someone else getting the place and claiming that it setting on the ground it goes with the place and you not being able to even if you have papers saying you own it you still may not be able to get it later.
 

Is there any reason you want to remove the flywheel cover now..?
You can turn the engine over with the Clutch Drum, if you have the de-compression lever tied back..
It takes 2 GOOD, matching batteries to start a 720/730 Diesel..
You really should find someone who knows about these to give you guidance and advise as you proceed with this one..it is a pretty hefty piece of equipment..
Be sure to check the Clutch operation, along with inspecting and checking ALL fluid levels and for signs of water accumulation..
Don't mess with the Fuel system until after you see if it will start (later)..

I am just North of Columbus, Oh10 and have a 720D..if I can be of any help I will try...

GOOD Luck and BE PATIENT..!
Ron.
 
I bought a A john deere that had sat for 25 years
or more. The radiator was empty and when I filled
it up it seeped and the head gasket leaked. I
started it up without too much expense and it ran
fine. Pulled the head (everything looked new
inside) put gaskets in, fixed the radiator and it
was fixed. Found out later it had a new block and
head put in and they sold the cows and never used it
again. so you never know what is wrong untill you
start working on it.
 

Atta Boy.
Your Grand Mother needs to know how it will work to her advantage for you to return your Grand father's tractor to life.
Odds are the tractor was running or quit due to one of a dozen minor Gremlins from old age and high hours.
Flushing every bit of ick from every corner of all oil systems, coolant and fuel systems would be of the first order. There are five different oil systems iirc and at least six drain plugs.
Pull the valve cover and make certain the valves are not stuck before trying to rotate the engine.
I wouldn't go any deeper into the tractor than making certain the flywheel has the proper endplay and is torqued with a torque wrench to spec. A full clean and inspection of the clutch. Pulling the injectors to replace the tips and set the pop pressure is something else to look at.
Just work on one system at a time , don't tear everything apart at once.
 
(reply to post at 09:58:57 01/22/15)

Thank you. Would there be any way that you could start your 720 and video tape what you are doing and where your feet and hands are? I uploaded pictures on a Dropbox and the link is in the original post. I don't see a decompression lever on the tractor, but that may be because I don't know what to look for.
 

I don't remember if you have an Electric start or a Pony start or if it is a 730 or 720..

The 70 JD Diesels had only one lever on the left side and that was supposed to handle both "De-compression" AND pony motor engagement to turn the big motor..
My 720D has 2 levers on the left side..one to the right is De-Compression and the one to the rt is the Pony engagement lever.
You NEED to have an experienced 720 Owner or Mechanic help you with starting your Diesel..
Experienced help will KNOW what to expect to HEAR if the Pony does not engage properly (and Grind the Ring Gear badly)..
With mine, I KNOW my pony runs well. I let it warm up and Idle it down while I engage the De-Compressed Big engine.
When I have Oil Pressure showing, I speed the Pony up, advance the throttle, drop the De-Compression lever and am greeted with a whole LOT of Racket...!!!
THEN, you MUST know and Remember to properly Shut Down the Pony engine, while the Big engine is distracting you....!!!
Seems to me there are 27 Steps to starting a 720/730 Diesel and they all are important..
Time to approach this one seriously...

Ron..
 
Logan: Starting controls & instructions from 730 ES. very similar to 720 ES. Pic from Owners manual... Instructions , starting switch to I position [red gen. light should be on]; Step Decompression pedal down; Push starter button, Crank several seconds, Oil pressure should begin to move up; Advance throttle 1/3 [ white smoke from exhaust] ; release decompression & let off button... There are some you-tubes of 730 starting , but no instructions .... magnify pic.
a180844.jpg
 
That would amazing if those were the original hours on that
tractor. I hope they are. Looks like a fun project.
 
Logan,

When you do get it restored make sure to join 4-H or FFA so you can utilize their programs to provide tires for project restorations. There are limited tire sized, but a 720 should fit in the range. Just remember to ask for advice as it is usually free and a lot cheaper than repairing a mistake. Most importantly, ENJOY working on and using your tractor
 
Just a thought... there is a giant difference between "refurbish" and "restore" so don't get too discouraged about the cost yet. If you just want to get it running and "pretty" it up some you may get lucky and get off cheap. A total restoration can take many years and cost many thousands of dollars.
 

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