Massey Harris pics part 2

Where do I start with this thing... This thing is something my grandpa built (cobbled) out of a Massey Harris combine, a real small one, I think it was a 33 or 35? He had one he didn't use anymore, and just decided he would build this tractor from it. It's flat belt driven, Continental powered, and will pull the front tires off the ground in a hard pull. It is equipped with a 3 speed trans and a reverse. I don't know for sure how he got it to run 3 speeds forward instead of 3 speeds reverse and one forward if you drove a combine backwards if that makes sense? It has a cobbled up hood he had made out of the combine good for it, but I took it off to get it running the last time I had to move it out of the way. That last time I moved it, it had been setting about 4 years, and I found it had broken the spring tab on the rotor, that's why I took the hood off. This time, it had set for probably 5 more years. I charged the battery, put gas in it, aired up the tires, shot some carb cleaner in the air cleaner, and it took right off. I've never been interested in this thing, but figured while I had it out, I'd see how fast it goes. While I'm sure it ain't that fast, it sure seems like it! The steering is a cobbled up,sloppy, out of control mess, and takes about 2 turns of the wheel before anything up front happens. The fuel pump must be weak, as the gas tank is mounted low, and he had to add a flip cap and tube leading to the pipe fitting in the intake manifold above the carb. He would squirt gas in there to get it to start. Otherwise, you could crank it for an hour and it probably wouldn't start. The wiring looks like it's gonna erupt in flames an any bump in the trail. He never fully got the linkages hooked up to the steering brakes, and never got the hydraulics set up the way he wanted. He solely built this thing for cutting wood, and used to have much taller racks on the front of it, but when he got older, he couldn't steer it with that much wood so he cut them down. His plan for the hydraulic pump was to build a small swing out splitter mounted right on the side of it so he could split and stack right there. The engine mounted hyd pump probably wouldn't run a splitter very well anyway, but it is there, the lines are just looped together for now. My grandpa built this thing probably 25-30 years ago. He was not a welder by any means, or an electrician or mechanic, but somehow he figured how to build this thing, and it actually doesn't work all that bad. Dad would like to haul it to the scrap yard, but I don't know, I may keep it around. I wanted to cut a little wood the other day before we got a bunch of rain again, so I fired it up and took it to the woods. It actually works pretty well for that, and it's wide stance and light weight actually make it get into some pretty wet places. Somewhere around here I have a picture of it when my grandpa got done with it, with fresh paint on it, I'll have to see if I can find it.

Ross

Probably made from a self propelled 35 combine. I'd KEEP it cause it's family made..

Yeah, I think I'd clean it up, maybe a little new paint now & then, only break it out for family reunions.

I think with that back story I'd keep it as-is, except
maybe building that wood splitter he envisioned.
Probably wouldn't take much to tighten up the steering a bit.

You may be surprised just how handy that rig could be.... Ben

Ross, Cool little wood retriever! You gotta keep it your Grandpa made it.

Reminds me of those "rat rods".

You gotta keep it, he even put a horn on it!

here I thought i'd seen it all, that's quite the tractor..

Too bad we aren't neighbors. That would be a great winter project for a couple of country guys. We could down some brews, fabricate some parts, down some more brews and tell some lies. I can see it all evolving in my head as a thing of extraordinary beauty when it rolls out the shop in the spring.
I guess we're to far apart, so you will have to grab one of your buddies and fire up the wood stove in your shop.
You better get some more wood cut!!!!
Loren

He needed a project 1.) to haul wood. 2.) to keep him in the shop 3.) So Grandma wouldn't give him one of her projects. You know, As long as your in here you could fix that leaky faucet, or that squeaky door, sweep the floor organize the mud room. You get my drift. I think you ought to keep it. Spruce it up for some parades. Grandpa was just way ahead of his time recycling or repurposing. What ever they call it now. lol gobble

My grandfather would call that a Doodle bug, I wish I had my grandfathers. he made one out of a 4cyl wisconsin two model A axles on an I beam frame. them streched two tractor tires with the beads cut off over the A tires and used single master cylinders for turning brakes.

That's pretty cool. I'd keep it and tidy it up a bit, do all the things your Grandpa wanted to do with it.

Very cool!
My vote is: tinker with it, get it up to safely running (but leave some quirks in it too!)

Where are you located? If you decide to scrap it: please post here and I'll make you an offer (if it's within range of Wisconsin)

I like it! To get the three speeds forward, my guess is he just moved the rear axle to the front.

Dan, I'm in Central MI. We'll see what
happens with it, I guess it can't hurt to
use it for a while and see if it's worth
having in the way.

I'll bet you're right Tom!

Loren, I have had those same thoughts pass through my mind at times as well. I guess I'm at least glad I got it up and running again, so I can use it if I want, or just move it out of the way if I need to. That's the worst part, having to screw around with something that won't move under it's own power. My buddies and I get together almost every Friday night for a couple drinks, we rotate who's shop we meet at each time, so one of these times I'll do like you say and haul her in there, maybe do a little tweaking.

Royse, probably wouldn't take too much
time. I just need to get in there and look
at it. You know how it goes...

Well Jon, I'd have to say it's probably worth a million dollars now, after all, it is the only one built by my grandpa's Comtrac factory lol

I do not remember if our 35SP had a 2 speed tranny or a 3 speed tranny. The Cliper SP was a 2 speed tranny. So if it was a 3 speed then do nothing but install to get the 3 speed.