Intro

I've been looking for a good condition TO20 for some time now and finally ran across one that suited me this past weekend down in central Kentucky. It seems to be complete and in pretty good shape, being previously owned by a fellow who had no real use for it, but "just always wanted one." It hasn't been started in several years but the Conti Z120 is free and can be spun by hand using considerable force (feels like it's making good compression) so I'm hopeful it can be started without a lot of tinkering and drama. He always drained the fuel after going for a drive so the inside of the fuel tank looks like a brand new one! The only apparent issue is a badly corroded rim right around the valve stem area, which I'll get replaced shortly after getting it home. Hoping to get it picked up this coming weekend if we can get several different schedules aligned...

Good find!

That is really straight from what I see!

Anytime you see one that still has the lights means someone took pretty good care of it. One well used will have a sagging front axle.

Welcome and good luck. When you start replacing worn/damaged parts it is hard to find a place to stop. It's good to have a slush fund the wife does not know about!

We're heading out to pick up the Ferguson in a few hours and I'm getting a little excited, but apprehensive too. I'm taking along a friend who served ten years as a C-130 loadmaster in the Air Force. I figure if he can manage flying 40,000 lbs. halfway around the world without getting anybody killed he'll have a fair shot at moving a 3000 lb. tractor seventy miles, right? He's got a Ford 3000 with loader he regularly hauls on today's trailer setup, so I see that as another plus in our favor.

We've got a number of constraints working against us that really isn't worth going into. I will say that every part of this recovery is either uphill, downhill, or that there's not enough extra room to cuss a tomcat without getting fur in your mouth. It's going to be a challenge.

The widow I bought this from asked me several days ago if I knew anyone interested in a Ford Flathead V8. Seems her husband left behind two of them ready to "drop into cars and go" as she put it. We're supposed to look at those today after getting loaded and it will be interesting to see what she's got.

In the meantime, here are a few more photos of the Ferguson. It's filthy from sitting for the past couple of years...

Those flat head fords were put into fergys to make the funk 8cylinder tractor.

Quote:
Those flat head fords were put into fergys to make the funk 8cylinder tractor.

It would be interesting to see a picture.....never seen a Ferguson with a Funk upgrade;

Bob...

What's that pedal/lever in the last pic to the right of the brake pedal?
:?
BillL

(quoted from post at 16:58:33 12/08/18) What's that pedal/lever in the last pic to the right of the brake pedal?
:?
BillL

Click to expand...

Actually to the left in the picture, it's gray and red.
BillL

Getting the Air Force involved turned out to be a great idea, in my opinion. I should've gotten more photos, and maybe even video of this recovery operation, but I spent a good deal of the time thinking I was about to see this whole rig rollover and watch my friend be maimed or killed. There was a ridiculous amount of inching forward and back, shouting about trailer tires hanging off into space, trying to get traction, and so forth, but we finally got the tractor loaded out and down onto level ground. The trip home was about as uneventful as could be, with the high point being a stop for lunch at one of those little country gas stations that sells fried chicken and fixin's.

Heading north on I-65, we saw a Ford Explorer sitting somewhat upright in the ditch to the side of the interstate. This was right before the Clermont exit, where the Jim Beam distillery is located. As we got closer, it was clear the truck had been in a violent rollover. As we slowed to see if we could help, fire and EMS vehicles began coming down the Clermont off ramp (against traffic) and we could see that the Explorer had the remains of a trailer underneath it! Now there was a haul that had gone terribly wrong, but at least there was no one in it when it rolled. The tow vehicle appeared to be fine although the two young men I assume were driving it stood in the grass looking at the carnage, and the two cigarettes each had lit were visibly shaking as we rolled by. It seemed like Eric shaved about 10-15mph off our cruise speed after that.

We unloaded at home and while I wasn't expecting much, this little Ferguson has some serious brakes left on it! They had done an acceptable job of holding it on flat ground, but I stood on them halfway down the ramp when unloading and stopped the tractor cold. There's one thing I don't have to worry about for the moment, right? The rotted tire/wheel I mentioned earlier aired up just fine and is still holding this morning, but it will need all four replaced. The dry rot was magnified when we got it pulled out into broad daylight. I'm planning to keep this one so can't get too concerned about the investment in new rubber. The serial number became faintly visible in the improved light, as well. TO-433XX, which I'm reading as being a 1951 model.

Trailered up and ready to hit the road: