play tractor

Some of you may remember a few months back I built a tractor for a static display at our local City Council's children's farm. This was an old farm right in the middle of the New City that was envisaged back in the '70s. Well the city only partly happened but this farm/park/ playground has been a huge success and is packed with children every weekend, feeding all the animals and birds. The tractor is also a big attraction and my son had to queue to get a 'drive' and we had to wait until near closing time to get pics without other children in the shots, darn't take photos of other people's children.... times are changing!!!!
Some of the old farm gates have been left in place but the new entrance gates are something else!
I just thought you guys would like to look at some of these rare breeds, especially the tiny Irish moiled cattle and the Jacob sheep with 4 horns and of course the pigs!
As usual at this time of year there is the nativity scene, set of course in the stable!
Maybe the tractor will encourage future farmers or even tractor collectors and hopefully the stable scene will do more good!
Happy Christmas....Sam

Looks quite mild and green there yet.
No, I don't recall anything about the tractor. I'd like to hear details, like what it's made of/how you did it. How much is real? Rims/tires, etc?

Sam, you say you built a tractor? That's not a REAL Massey? Or did you just make it "safe" so no one would drive it off? Great pics, Thanks for sharing....

Bob, it started out as a scrap TE20 pulled out of a pile, I then blasted it and repaired a set of junk wheels then welded on brackets to support the weight off the tyres and to also bolt the tractor to the ground.I had to strip off anything that would be worth stealing and plate over the holes, I used a set of new fenders that I could not sell and then had to fabricate a hood,dash and guards to fill the space where the rad should be. Then I had to make a grille for the rear so children could not fall directly on to the ground,this grille had to finish at park bench height, so the drop links were shortened to hold the 3 point at that height and they then supported the bench. All other areas where there was 'danger of entrapment' had to be fixed with a grille. Everthing that could come off had to be welded up, then the chassis was primed and painted with a couple of coats of MF charcoal grey. The tinwork and wheels were then galvanized and the hood, seat and fenders were painted in MF super red. The tyres were fitted and filled with expanding foam! The silver parts were not painted neither was the safety grille. The side 'transfers' are laser cut from stainless steel on a black vinyl background and bolted in place.The only thing that had to be corrected to please the safety officer was the fitment of addition lower steps on the footplates, again these had to be non slip and boxed in and I also had them dipped. The only way to move it was with the loader on my old tractor. I had to deliver it and bolt it down after closing time, there is such a fear of libel over here now! How times have changed!
Sam

That is very impressive. Is that the sort of infamous "Standard" diesel. Too bad you couldn't use the original dash as it was still there.

No Bob, Standard gas engine but frost cracked. I sold the dash! ....Well I did say I was to leave nothing that was any good!. About the only good parts were the rear transmission housing and the axle tubes and they don't sell well! Everything else was scrap, note even the front axle was removed and replaced with one that just doesn't sell. All the other castings were either cracked or corroded.
Sam

I thought it looked like an intake manifold only- that's why I guessed diesel.

Great job!! and an entirely different set of challenges as they say. I don't recall seeing it before either.

I remember you posting that last year.. before reading your message, I thought to myself 'wow! I wish I had a loader like that!'...
Those animals out all alone all the time? Around here they would end up a satanic sacrifice or in a bowl with rice and beans.... I thought those sheep were called 'manx' or 'Isle of Mann'? Or is that just on the other island???

Sam. I remember the project, you did fantastic job! The entire park looks most interesting. Perhaps, after visiting, the youngsters will understand that everything doesn't come from the grocery store. (And some parents also). There is a park near where I used to work. There was a jet fighter, an old fire truck, a railroad caboose among other things for the youngsters to play on, but they have long since been removed for the same reasons you stated.

Great job on the tractor. I would believe it was a magnet for kids. I love the park. If it were closer I would bring my grandsons to see it.