Agteacher

New User
Howdy, I'm new to the forum. I'm a Agriculture teacher in Tennessee. My students wanted to refurbish a tractor as a class project. I found and bought them a Farmall A. I've never refurbished a tractor, so this is new to me. I'm looking for any help we can get. Diagrams, tips, exploded views of engine and transmission, ect, anything will help.
We have a 1940 A that is mostly in parts, the engine is about half way put together.
Thanks for any help you can us rebuild this beautiful tractor!
 
Congrats on the project. Good news is that
most of this old stuff is mechanical and
fairly basic. I would invest in some
manuals and you can often find parts
manuals online. You will find great help
further down the board in the brand
specific questions.

In regards of where to start, i always get
a running tractor before I throw a lot of
nice looking parts (sheet metal, tires
etc) as they won't make it run any better.
Since you got it in pieces i would pull
the motor down completely and start from
scratch as you don't know where the
previous owner may have cut corners (from
experience). Biggest part is to enjoy it.
 
Well, for a start, go to a CIH(Case International Harvester)web-site and look for the parts diagram for a Farmall A. The A should be a good choice for your class, because most service parts are still available from the dealer. Parts you can't get there are on E-Bay. Also, parts including manuals, are available from this web-site. And, ask questions here!
 
Good advise on starting over on the engine. I have bought several project tractors that were not done and you would be surprised at what a little mechanical knowledge in rebuilding an engine will cause without understanding details. New standard bearing on worn out crankshafts, new standard rings in worn out cylinder walls just to name the main ones I have found. Another on is thinking that spinning a valve with grinding compound is a valve grind.
 
I bought a Farmall A in 1975 with the 16-inch moldboard plow for $100.00. It was in sad shape as the cylinder head and oil pan was off and the engine was stuck. Once I had the tractor at home I pulled the engine. I used ATF in the cylinders to try to free the pistons. It was easier to unbolt the connecting rods and drive out the wet sleeves & pistons. I used a
torch to heat the old sleeves and this freed the pistons. I used the old connecting rods on the new pistons. I had a local auto machine shop to install the new pistons. You need to pull the crankshaft and have it measured for wear. Have the engine block cleaned and magna-fluxed for cracks and the cylinder head.

Take a lot of pictures before any teardown. Also separate the parts as you remove them, identify where they were and put in cardboard boxes marked
with the location. That includes the bolts. Get a good shop manual they're very helpful. Hal
PS: I had to replace the tires, rims, seat, steering wheel, clutch, fenders and wiring.
a172914.jpg
 
All good advise. Parts can be found on CIH's website. At the very least pick up an I&T manual or better yet find a reproduction of the factory service manual, there will be a lot more information in it.
I learned this yesterday at the FFA convention in Louisville, if you need tires for this restoration Titan tires is a big supporter of FFA chapters. Search FFA on their website and you will find some more information on it. Www.titan-intl.com
It's worth a shot if your going to need tires.
 
Here's the cover off my IH manual I bought in 1975. It has a lot of info in it. I think it was less than $5.00 back then. Hal
a172917.jpg
 
Also, go a little further down on the discussion forum to "Farmalls", those guys are the experts, you shuld be able to get an answer there on any question.
 
Hi welcome to tractor restorations, It will be
fun, maybe tough going sometimes with the odd
disappointment thrown in, But you guys will
really enjoy the finished tractor at the end.
nothing is more satisfying, than seeing what
you have achieved at the end of your first one.

As for help I was always told if you stood at
the front of a class teaching, it was good
practice to be 2 or 3 pages ahead of the
students in the text book, Maybe start reading
the tractor manuals and stuff now L.O.L .

Seriously though you will do fine here with
guys helping you. You might get 5 different
opinions, but you will get there in the end if
your stuck.

I had an A back in England but had to sell it
when I came to Canada, and sadly never restored
it.
please keep us updated I'd be interested in
following your teams work, Or maybe you could
film and add video's to youtube of the
restoration also.
Good luck
Regards Robert
 
Go to the Farmall forum & search for "eastsider".
He has done a recent complete rebuild of an A Farmall and has images he can share.
PS: he is a teacher also.
 

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