I'm Gonna, I'm Gonna oh am I ever Gonna

Finally the last straw.

Got Dad's old 88 and I just love that tractor, but yesterday I decided to scrap it out.

I had a cracked intake manifold which was causing some problems, so I fixed it with JB weld.

The ignition switch quit working for me, so I took it out and polished up the contacts then put it back together after I managed to find 8 of the 9 little springs that nobody told me about (guess I should have asked). While I had the switch out, I ran new wiring to the alternator and coil.

Took it down and hooked it to the 3-bottom plow and it didn't pull it real well (3rd gear down hill and 2nd gear up hill) looked like it was running rich. Messed with the carb adjustment till I was blue in the face.

Yesterday I thought I would finish the plowing, so I went out and before I started it I just reached down and turned in the main jet 1/2 turn. It ran like I remembered it when I was a kid. 3rd gear all the way around and man it felt great. But it is so frustrating when something like that happens.

Dan

• Hobby farm

Seriously, though, sounds like you've got it all sorted out. The way I look at it, everything you do now is something you (probably) won't have to do for quite a while.

This business of working with old tractors *is* frustrating sometimes, but aren't they grand when they're finally straightened out!

I have a few pieces of equipment around that I ought to replace with more modern stuff, but mainly keep it because it was Dad's/Grandad's/Great-uncle Louie's, etc. A link with my past, and boy! can that old iron bring back memories.

As for the occasional mechanical hiccup, my dad said, "If it has teats or wheels, it'll give ya trouble."

The Chinese already have enough of our agricultural heritage in their blast furnaces. Put the cutting tourch away and enjoy the ol' 88 as she purrs.

Just my 2� worth.