New guy...wanting to say hi

Hello all. I've been lurking in the background for a while just reading posts, let me say what a bunch of knowledgeable people here. So i decided to join up. If i may, i'd like to share a little background.

My father has never been much of one to maintain things or to work on things too much. He always kept the mowers going and did minor work on vehicles, but once something broke down, he let it sit and never tried to repair it. In return i never learned any handy skills as a boy. So, not too far down the road from my pop's house is my grandpa's old home place. And there sits three tractors, a Farmall B and a Farmall H, both of which belonged to my grandpa, and my dad's Massey Ferguson 85, along with a 1973 VW Beetle, and a ton of different implements. I'm not too sure of the year models on the tractors. When my grandpa died, he supposedly left the parts to fix the Farmall B, but dad never got around to fixing it. If i remember right, the Massey was running when he parked it, and i even drove it a few times pulling logs from the woods to cut up for firewood. I've tried to ask him what the main problems were with these tractors, but he suffered a stroke a few years ago, and has trouble recalling things and saying things. To make a long story short, i can't stand seeing these tractors sit there and rust.

My wife and i have started growing heirloom vegetables, berries, and fruits, and we could use a small tractor. My problem is, my dad isn't able to help or tell me what to do, and i don't know much when it comes to tractors. I've done a few things mechanically and learn fast, i just don't know who to turn to for help. Also, i'm working full-time and trying to attend college full-time at 43 years old, so time and money are short right now, so i can't start any real restoration rightr now, but it's one of my goals in life.

I didn't mean to write a book, but some things have happened, my dad is hospitalized right now, they've discovered a mass in his bladder and we're waiting for the lab results to see if it is cancer, but he had his prostate out already for cancer and i have a feeling it's not going to turn out good. It's got me to thinking about things, about the time i remember as a little boy when a farmer in Arkansas could still make a little off 100 acres. All the old time fellas i know are passing on and it's gonna be up to me to make sure these tractors and things my grandpa and dad own don't go to waste. Have i come to the right place for help?

You might check into technical schools in your areas. Sometimes they will repair/rebuild tractors as a learning experience for the students if you supply the parts.

Welcome!

Sorry about your dad. Let"s hope and pay for the best.

You will find a wealth of info on this forum. You might want to ask questions on the Farmall forum, too.

Get your hands on a manual. They"re not hard to find and will be very helpful.

Glad you decided to join.

Welcome to YT Blackriver!
Yes you came to the right web site. You will be truly amazed on the talented people on here. So ask all the questions you want. Your past history sounds so very much like my childhood it is unbelievable. I am 44 years old myself. My dad wasn't any kind of mechanical teacher. So I learned a lot from my farmer neighbors and an older brother who was a mechanic decades ago. I hope the very best for your dad also.
Kow Farmer (Kurt)

Blackriver,

Welcome. Sorry about your dad - hope things go well for him.

This is the best tractor site ever (and sidelines onto many other interesting topics too). Anyway, you will find tons of knowledgable tractor guys on here.

Neat that you want to preserve your dad's and granddad's tractors. (Though my husband and I like 'em rusty - they also look nice fully restored).

I wound up here because a friend of my husband sent us here searching for parts for our 1931 Farmall Regular. We did not find any parts here - but instead found a wealth of information. Great people on this site. Questions...just ask away and they will help you.

Welcome aboard! I have only been here about a year and still feel like a newcomer myself. It is great that you are interested in preserving the old equipment, sounds like you maybe able to put some of it to use later on.
When working on something that is somewhat unfamiliar, I have found at least three things to be true, 1- Don't let it scare you. Machinery deserves respect, but not fear. If you let it scare you, you have two strikes against you already. Secondly, one must have the proper tools. (That should be a no brainer, but you would be surprised.) Third, as someone mentioned already, there is no substitute for a good service manual, preferably a factory service manual, (they can be found on e-bay or amazon), if not a good aftermarket manual will suffice.
Good luck on your venture and hoping for the best for your Dad.

Thanks for the welcome and theoughts and prayers everyone. I thought i would start with the Massey, since it was the last one running. But, my dad supposedly has the parts for the B Farmall. (If only i could speak to gramps right now) And i have a acquired quite a few tools over the years here and there. I don't know if i would restore them all the way to new paint but would defintitely like to get them running and usable. I hope to eventually post a few pics of some of the implements and such and maybe get an idea of what they are used for...some of them are so old they look like horsedrawn stuff to me.

Thanks again.

The only thing i find daunting is i've heard the Massey MF85 is hard to get parts for...guess we will see. I'm looking forward to being part of the group here and getting to know you all.

Thanks for doing your small part to try to save a part of american farming heritage!
Depending on how long they been sitting, it doesn't seem they alot of work. Don't you have any friends, in-laws, brothers, cousins, nephews neighbors,etc., with some wrench time to help you get started. If not run an ad in your local classifieds(Maybe, you don't write a book[wink!]) If you can't pay a lot,say so. Maybe you can trade a service or something laying around the yard.
Like this forum, I have a feeling there's some knowledgeable guys, not too far away that would donate a little of there time just knowing they started one more guy on his way to saving old tractors.
As for, manuals they have all you need right here! Go all the way to the top of this page. On the left there's a MANUALS click box,in the center you can find them under "tractor parts"
and on the right is a search box. Take your pick!
There, I feel as though I have written my own "Book".
Happy tractoring and good luck!
GT65

It's never too late to learn a skill, and fixing up old equipment can be rewarding (although not necessarily in a monetary way). I give you credit for wanting to give it a shot. You might want to read the books by Roger Welsch, who took up the old tractor hobby without much mechanical background.

Start out simple and pick the tractor you think will be easiest to get running. In the unlikely event that one of the tractors isn't frozen, that's probably the one to start with. Don't get ambitious, just see if you can get a tractor running.

The nice thing about old tractors is they were designed to be repaired by guys with simple tools and not a lot of mechanical skill. You will need to invest in some tools, but nothing terribly expensive. An acetylene torch is indispensable for getting stuck fasteners loose. Parts for popular tractors such as your grandfather's are readily available from aftermarket suppliers.

Your story reminds me of a co-worker whose uncle gave him an old John Deere tractor. He left the tractor outside and it froze up on him, but he didn't have the skills to fix it. With some encouragement from me and other co-workers, he eventually tore it down and got it running again. He says now that when he drives his tractor, he's "on top of the world".

Good luck!

Blackriver sorry to hear about your dad. I cant tell you're not sure which way to turn but you've come to the right place.

If you need any help I would be glad to help or answer any of your questions. Give me a call or text at 618-979-1972. I've worked as a mechanic for 30+ years and grew up on a small farm and we had IH tractors. I have an "H" and a 574 now. If you can take pictures of the equipment and post them here maybe we can help identify the pieces for you. The equipment anymore is worth more than the tractors since there are more tractors than equipment that exist today.
Anyway we're glad you came aboard, I've been laid up for the last 5 months and this website sure helps pass the time while I'm inside. Hopefully in 2 weeks I'll be able to get around outside. I'm recovering from foot surgery.

You didn't mentioned were you live, but if you're living where the weather get's cold. You need to check those tractors to see if the cooling systems were drained or had enough antifreeze to prevent damage to the engine blocks. Check the engines to see if the engines are stuck. Hal

Have you come to the right place? Is a bean green? Welcome aboard!

Welcome to YT! This is a GREAT sight and with the knowledge base here I am sure you will be able to get your equipment going with minimal expense. Sometimes you might need to put on your thick skin but that is OK as it is mostly with good intentions! You don't need a lot of sophisticated tools to work on these tractors for the most part.
Look forward to reading of your adventures.
Andy

WELCOME" Sounds like when I was young, my dad
didn't know how to do anything mechanical, but was a
fair carpenter. What little I know about mechanics I
learned by watching others and asking questions
Its better to ask a dumb question than to make a
stupid mistake. If a person reads usually they can
be better informed on any issue.
I just now thought that I have never asked permmison
to speak, I hope its OK with you all.

I taught my dad everything he knew.

I'd always take his stuff apart when he wasn't looking, to see what made it work - then I'd give up on it, and he'd have to figure out how it went back together all by himself.

Good thing is - as somebody else said - old tractors were designed to be serviced by farmers in a barn. There's not much you can't do by yourself, and most of the parts "can only go one way".

You look at even the simplest tractor and it looks super complicated at first - until you strip it down into little parts then put it all together again. Then you can appreciate just how easy it all was.

Hard to go wrong, and any time you get in a bind or can't figure something out - this site is invaluable.

BR, tend to your father's situation first. Then start on that Farmall B. Get a bucket, unscrew the engine oil pan drain plug slowly until it just starts to drip. If oil comes out, tighten it back up. If water drips out, let it drip until oil comes out. Take note of the amount of water. Then do the same to the transmission. Then, check the bottom of the air cleaner for water. If you have the hand crank, see if the engine can turn. You only need a bucket, a rag, an adjustable wrench, and a 1/2 inch ratchet or breaker bar to do the rest.
That is what I would do first. That would work for the Farmall H and the Massey, too. Let me know how that goes with the B.
Best Regards,
Charlie

Welcome... Grandpa's taught their Son's, and then Son's didn't think Grandpa's knew what they were going. and so forth. Grandpa taught Dad, and Dad just new Grandpa couldn't farm. Dad taught me, and yep He didn't know how to farm. I didn't have any kids, so I will know everything until I die, and the world come to an end. Ha ha

Welcome! I think you'll find this site, and the information and conversation found here, is one of the highlights of your day.

Welcome- sorry to hear about your dad. There's some good folks here, and a few of us aggitators. Hope you got a thick skin- some of us don't quit, and some can't take it. But we mostly have dull teeth and don't bite too hard....

If I were you,when you're working on a specific tractor,I'd go to that particular furum on here. In other words,when you have questions on the Massey,post it on the Massey forum. The Farmalls on the IH forum. You'll get more real info and less flack like "buy a Deere". But any other topic,ya,Tractor Talk is the place.

Welcome!

There is an abundance of information on this site. Many different trades and disciplines.

Most people here are friendly and helpful but some have a few rough edges. Helps to have a bit of thick skin.

Look forward to seeing your posts.

Brad

Black river where are you located. There are many who would come help you if it was local for them.

Take care of your father first.

God Bless

I am located in extreme NE Arkansas, in the Mississippi delta, 5 miles from the Missouri line. Most people think of the Ozarks and hillbillies when they think of Arkansas (i guess i'm an old flatland hillbilly too), but the whole east side of the state is flat farmland. It's mostly rice, corn, milo, and soybean country now, but used to be cotton country. Lately peanuts are becoming the hot commodity. Thanks everyone for the replies and advice, and hopefully my skin will ne thick enough to survive! Ha!

By the way, my dad came home from the hospital today, now we just wait to see if the mass in his bladder is cancer or not...hopefully not. But if so, at least they found it and we can fight it. I'm going out to see him tomorrow and talk about these tractors. He's been sitting around in the recliner all winter, i told him i wanted to till up a space to grow some potatoes (my garden has the early blight in it) and corn, i'm gonna roust him out even if he has to sit in a chair and watch me till! See ya'll later.