1942 Suicide Awareness H Update

Ken Christopherson

Well-known Member
Hello all! I thought I would give a quick update on the 1942 H we are doing for Suicide Awareness. We received some memorabilia for the
tractor to display at shows (2 magnetic awareness ribbons and a U.S. Flag with the ribbon laid across it). Ended the weekend by removing
the shift rails and detents from the trans top cover.. Finished up some final cleaning at my cousin's shop using his hot water cabinet
washer, parts washer, and his boiler/hot water pressure washer. Got the broken bolt cleaned out of the front bolster, and one out of the
front wheel center.. All that is left is to pull the rear wheel centers out of the rims, and disassemble the seat and everything is ready
for sandblast.

On a side note - got to cleaning up the radiator. It looks real nice except for one of the threaded inserts that is soldered into the
bottom tank has been re-soldered at some point, and that solder is starting to crack. Radiator did not leak a drop while it was running..
But am probably going to have it all checked at a rad shop. I asked one locally about re-coring it and they quoted over $700. Seemed a bit
steep to me. I know that most of the aftermarket radiators people have bought have had a lot of fitment issues. Really would rather not run
into that.

Anyhow. Here is a photo of some of the large parts laid out, and a link to the video is below.
cvphoto6243.jpg

1942 Farmall H Shift Rail Removal/Final Cleaning
 
No sir. This tractor is being restored as a collective effort to help raise awareness for mental health and suicide. It will travel show to show, allowing for some visibility in unlikely places. It will also be a piece that people can come learn, drive, and experience (unlike any of the show tractors out there). The entire restoration is being chronicled on my YouTube channel, and There is a donation page set up at the link below if you would like to learn more information about the project. Lots of donors both private, corporate, and local businesses have made efforts to be a part of the team.
Farmall H Suicide Awareness GoFundMe
 
Good evening: I have read several times that a wide front DOES NOT make a tractor less tippy. As can be seen, the wide front axle is pivoted under the front of the tractor, so if the tractor starts to tip, the pivot lets it tip on over, just as easily as a narrow front. Thats what I recall reading; naturally I can't remember where. The only two tractors I bought are wide front, so I don't have experience on a narrow one.

Dennis M. in W. Tenn.
 
Best way to make it suicide resistant is to use some brain noodles and drive it like it is a tractor not a race car. We had a narrow front Super C with a bucket loader for years with no problems.
 
Why are you worrying about money when someone else is paying.

Sorry, but just not gonna get any respect from me.
 
You?re making good progress! Keep up the good work on your vision. You have a purpose and a reason for doing what you?re doing. Good for you!
 
Why does this bother you so much? He is more than likely to have more of his own money in it than its worth done, so its probably not some money making scheme. Yeah I have money and time invested in this project. I also have known several people that have taken their own lives. Even if I hadn't I could look at it as chipping in to learn a bit from the videos that come from the restoration. Really a no lose situation in my eyes. Is it possible he finishes tractor and nobody ever sees or hears from him again, yeah I suppose. Sometimes you just have to have faith and trust in people. As you can see by all the donors, private and from businesses large and small, many people do.
 
Fred,

Thank you for the kind words, and for also being a part of the project! I would have to agree. My intentions are nothing but good, and to those that are curious; my family has matched (on average) dollar for dollar of donations. With what we have received from donated parts, donated labor and materials from various companies, and donations from private person(s).. This restoration is toppling the $10k mark. This is not a 'run of the mill' restoration, and I am not doing it for personal gain.

I, too have lost not only my mother, but several friends to suicide. I gauged the publics opinion prior to starting this project and got a very strong positive response. I, and others, think that this is a great way to bring awareness to a problem that affects nearly every life in America in some way (more-so if we are talking about military and law enforcement families). Suicide is an issue that does not discriminate against race, gender, social or economic status. For me and many who believe in this project, we feel it is a fun way to bring visibility and awareness. We have at the VERY least created an outlet for some who may be struggling to get enjoyment out of watching the tractor rebuild process. So, if we can help others find some newfound happiness in the hobby of antique tractors.. It's a win-win, right?

I make the videos for many reasons, but the biggest are to let others follow along in the project, and feel a deeper connection to what we are doing... And another is to put videos out that show how these tractors can be taken apart with pretty basic knowledge and tools, and do a quality restoration. In these changing, tech-savvy times, people (especially younger people) do not want to read manuals or even forums. They want to Google it, YouTube it, watch a video, and DO it. It is these people we need to appeal to in order to keep the hobby alive.

The bottom line is I have been coming to this forum since I was 12 years old (in 1998). I have created a YouTube channel that has amassed nearly 1 million views. I'm not bragging, I am simply showing that what we are are doing IS reaching people, a lot of people. If my intentions were deceitful, wouldn't I try to create a little more invisibility, instead of being so transparent?

Ahhh, anyways. I hope that everyone sees this project for the positive that it is creating.... I understand that there must be skeptics especially in this day and age.. But if you see the tractor out and about - please feel free to ask about jumping in the driver's seat. This is a live action, touch and feel type of project. I only hope that I can bring as beautiful a restoration as I am imagining. I really hope it brings happiness and joy to people.
 
Ive been around tractors my entire life, rebuilt many Hs and Ms, and have had all of the letter series, several hundred series up to 806s on the farm. Never tipped a single, or wide, front end tractor. Never knew if I had ever been close to doing, but I never felt like I did. In my years, the only tractor in my immediate area that was ever flipped on its side was a Super H owned by one of uncles. It had a wide front on it. I too recall what DMartin is talking about, but I also think that was the Cub and As.
 
Pat,

Thank you for the kind comment. We are just doing everything we can to bring awareness in a unique way, and give back a little by using antique tractors!
 

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