Posted by Will Gumbert on October 15, 2012 at 10:34:24 from (108.22.206.129):
I believe that some of you are aware that last April I bought a Ford 961 from the classified ads on this site. After some work, and some helpful advice from the experts on this forum, it has turned out to be a good tractor. I thought I would tell you a little about my experience, maybe someone will find it helpful or interesting.
First, I bought the tractor sight-unseen, which can be dangerous. But, the seller was basically honest, and after looking at some photos and talking to him, I went ahead. When the tractor arrived, it started, but barely and ran poorly with black smoke, but gradually smoothed out. It smelled of old gas. After leaving it parked overnight, it was dripping fuel from the choke shaft. Pulling the dipstick, it also had a strong smell of fuel. After cleaning and drying out the intake, it started OK and had good oil pressure so I quickly drove the 200 yards or so to the shed and did not run it again until the whole fuel system was sorted out. The crankcase was full of fuel mixed with oil. I also noticed calcium leaking from the left rear stem. These were the two worst problems as it turned out. So, here is what it took to end up with a good tractor:
- Completely rebuilding the carburetor, the leaking was mainly due to a problem with the main nozzle, not the needle and seat.
- Removing the fuel tank, having it boiled out and de-fumed, a leaky drain plug removed and welded over, and then painting the outside with silver engine enamel.
- Removing and cleaning the crankcase pan and valve cover
- Replacing the fuel tap, fuel line, and intake/exhaust manifold and gaskets
- Fixing small problems and adjustments with the throttle and governor linkages
- Draining the liquid from the rear tires, removing the tires (this was an ordeal, I couldn’t remove them myself even when using my loader bucket to smash the tires down flat the beads would not give, so I took them to a tire shop and they removed them but the tires were shot)
- Cleaning, sandblasting the rear rims – in the process holes were knocked in the rims, which needed cut and pieces welded in. The welder, a friend, did such an expert job that after sanding, priming and painting it’s impossible to see or feel the welds. The rims look like new, and the work was free!
- Installing new Goodyear (Titan) rear tires and tubes. Yes, a little more money, but nice.
- Completely rebuilding the Rest-O-Ride seat, with new bushings, rubber torsion springs and welding and repairing seat pan and hinge.
- Having the generator rebuilt, replacing the voltage regulator and warning light.
- Replaced the battery pan, new battery, made homemade hold-down bracket, new connectors
- Drained coolant, installed new hoses, fresh fill of 50/50. Also topped off all fluids, grease, etc.
- Painted numerous parts and touched up all paint. Applied tire paint to front tires, fixed headlight wiring, added left rear tail light
- New spark plugs, checked timing. Engine running and starting good at this point, smooth running, no smoke and no leaks.
After this, driving it around showed that everything is working correctly, including two-stage clutch, lift, PTO, power steering, and 5-speed tranny (does not pop out of 3rd gear when suddenly closing throttle going down hill).
So, I’m happy with the result. Also would like to thank those on this forum like Tony Jacobs, soundguy, Ultradog, and others who offered helpful info and suggestions.
I took the tractor to the 15th annual Autumn Glory festival car and tractor show in my hometown of Oakland, MD yesterday and was proud to park my little red and gray 961 in front of a sea of John Deere green machines.
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