How Far Do You Go With a Restoration

How do you decide whether to turn a tractor into Museum piece or just something you use everyday that looks nice?
Ron

Don't listen to that Lou guy from Wis somewhere :shock: You'll end up with an eyesore.........

Guess it depends on mood, time, space, money, proximity/comfort of the doghouse (not in any particular order) etc.

Personally, because of time, space, and an uncomfortable dog house, would go for the nice looking worker that I could spray off and take for a sunday drive.

Dave

Hey Dave,
The reason I asked is I feel like I am spending to much time trying to make mine look perfect. One question though do tractors over there have higher speed road gearing to drive where ever they need to go?
Ron

I can't really compare because the only tractor I was around in the States was our neighbor's H and dads Satoh that he used to mow the yard. Neither was ever on the road except to run up the road a little to the gas station.
There are some tractors that will run about 35 mph that I see in my area. My little lump of coal does about 12 mph (most of the oldtimers won't do much more than that. Anything on the road has to be safety inspected, licensed, and insured. Only you can decide about your restoring though.
You must search from within for your answer Grasshopper.......

Dave

For me "restored" means: good engine compression, no oil smoke, runs and had good power( near factory). all oil leaks sealed up. good transmition with all working gears with no abnormal noise. drawbar: worn holes repared, no big bends. sheet metal straight,(or as straight as we can get it. Good paint. painted origonal.(no chrome added)not painted like a newer model.
good tires. can be paraded or shown, or used as needed. but not taken in the woods.

Dave,
That should be easy for ya. Do you not see the 30kph signs on back of most tractors and trailers? Never seen many going that fast. About the only thing that could hit 35mph would be the Unimogs.

I don't have the patience to turn one into a museum piece so that answers the question for me. By the time I get it all tore down cleaned and ready for paint I just want to hear it run. It bothers me too when they look better than the day they came off the assembly line.

Some of the big stuff has 60 KMH stickers and can move right along. Never clocked one but they blow some roadside grass a little.

I prefer to see a tractor restored to as close to perfection as possible. I know what they looked like when they were made. That's EASY to reproduce. I like to see what level of craftmanship the owner is able to achieve. I'm not impressed with runs, overspray everywhre, dents, orange peel, explained away by some metal butcher with "That's the way they were".

Gordo

Sometimes our emotions come into play when we decide how far to go with a restoration. Grandpa's old tractor might end up being dolled up more than one that's hauled home from somewhere.

The way we go about restoring a tractor is dictated by our own individual personalities, so there really is no wrong or right way to go about it. Jim

Thought I would post a couple of pictures of what I am working on. Just a 56 640 nothing special. Rescued it from crusher at a salvage yard. Don't have any history on it. It appears to have very few hours on it everything is tight, pedals look like no one hardly put there foot on them. Worst thing was the sheet metal was all gone. my guess is that it all got taken off and thrown aside to get the radiator. Fender is off of a 4000 that is my next project but as bad as they were they were more easily fixable than the ones that came with tractor. Plan is to use these till I can afford a new set of skins for the proper ones. See what you think.
Ron

(quoted from post at 05:22:47 09/20/09)
The way we go about restoring a tractor is dictated by our own individual personalities, so there really is no wrong or right way to go about it. Jim

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Shoots my Grasshopper response all to he!!...........

well i consider my tractor restored becuase it has been painted and everything mechanically fixed, however i was 16 when i did it and the paint is orangepeeled but hey it was my first time witha paint gun and im very proud of what i did at 16

My hat is off to you Ron,,, I have to say,,, your looking good at what your doing,,
keep up the good work,, not many can do what you do,, zeke

You're doing that with spray cans???? You're inspiring me. Let's see some more spray can jobs folks and some input on how long they stay looking decent.

Dave

Well........ my take is this, Restoration means original factory condition or better. BUT, if the thing is so "restored" that you can"t let a kid climb on it without freaking out, what"s the point?

(quoted from post at 06:55:42 09/20/09) can"t let a kid climb on it without freaking out, what"s the point?

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Was at a show where there was a sign at the entrance and several places scattered around that said (translated) that tractors (or whatever is on display) should be treated like your best friend's girlfriend. Look at it, but don't touch it or climb on it.

Thought that was kinda selfish..........

It's your tractor do it the way you want to the only person that you have to plaese is YOU. I would not have something that I couldn't use when I buy a new truck I buy it to use I have been known to haul manure in a truck not yet a week old. It will wash out.

Can tell,it"s going to be a good looker.Really time consuming but the end result will be a great lookin tractor. If one can get a tractor thats not junk, all the parts not bent all to heck,( even those with notable exception) can be hand made. Good running engine, good transmission good rear end assembly,then it"s up to a person to involve time to make the tractor FUNCTIONAL AS WELL AS LOOKING GOOD. The worst part for me is to see em in the weeds,roting away,not being used as they were intended,Guess the owners forgot where they came from and who allowed em to have em in the first place. Farmers neglect is really noticable when the seat is destroyed ,steering wheel cracked, rusty, and they won"t even bother to throw a tarp over the tractor. Just leave it out in the elements year after year. Tarps aren"t expensive. Shows me just how cheap they are.
Any way thats my feeling and I"s stuck with it.
Gotta tell ya though, you are indeed one of a kind. I"m sure your tractor will be another great
looking ,functional ,worth while project.
Just heep on keeping on. Slow And steady does it every time. Thanks for posting great pictures
let us see progress as you develope the tractor. Warment reguards. LOU

My take on your question is that it all depends in how caught up in it you get.

The project at the link below started because the magic potion people said that you couldn't get a crankshaft out with the pistons stuck. I found that funny after I have removed several without problems. I started with pictures as I took it apart. Got caught up and rebuilt the engine and then took an Allis C that had been out back for years to put that engine in. I have had to disassemble every thing as I went from front to back. Started in the spring. I just rebuild a power takeoff unit and installed it and painted the rear portion yesterday.
Every thing will have been taken apart and instected as well as brought up to spec. I still will not call it restored but it will be very close. I (aint) paying big money for paint ever. The Rural King 30 buck a gallon will do just fine.
Runaway Project

What pleases you personally? What will this tractor be doing the rest of it's days?

I've seen "restorations" that took an afternoon. I've seen some that took months and cost thousands. I've seen a few that were far beyond show car quality that took years, cost many thousands, and were so far beyond reasonable they didn't even look real.

I went overboard on my last project. That was 3-1/2 years ago. Funny thing is, the tractor is used daily. It now look s like a 3-1/2 year old tractor. Was it worth ALL the trouble I went to? Not a chance. Was I proud of it when I finished? Sure was. (still am)

As you can already see, ask 100 people what they think the definition of restored is, and you get 100 different replies. But only ONE opinion REALLY matters. YOURS.

Hey dave 2. Question. How did you get your tractor up on the mountain to your GURU retreat Brother? Lol , Well We do have a hay wagon we hauled home and got it at a bargain price. $250.00. Next project. Won't look the same when we are through. Gonna make it a TILT bed for unloading wood. Gotta tell ya, Take your time when looking for a bailer,sure one will show up thats just what you need, at a reasonable price.Might have to haul it down the road, but sure as shootin it'will be well worth it.
We ran all over creation to get what we needed to complete the project. Saw the pictures of the other tractor being painted. Good for HIM.
Aslo got to say, YOU HAVE ONE TREMENDIOUS SENCE OF HUIMOR!!!!!!!. Sure need it in this time and place. My son said they make a sealer for rattle can paint BUT NOT FOR VALSPAR. Keeps the shine on for a long time. Got to go bury the sunglasses, but keep the hat.
LOU

(quoted from post at 08:33:47 09/20/09) Hey dave 2. Question. How did you get your tractor up on the mountain to your GURU retreat Brother? LOU

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I stole the line from Kung Fu......
Me and my lil tractor 'bout bought the farm the other morning. Was staging some hay before work so the wife could feed the horses and was running late. Last stop was about 200 yds from where I needed to park the tractor but it was about a mile and a half drive to get there. Decided on the shortcut down the hill. Went fine till just before the bottom where the sun hadn't hit yet. Hit the dew and started sliding. No harm done other than knocking the windshield out of the frame but sure was an eyeopener. No mountains and tractors for this guy....

Dave

Well at least you win the award for the most cluttered shop we've seen photos of this year
Don't give OSHA your name or address.

Gordo

To me the best part about owning a tractor is getting it out there and running the snot out of it. So I don't restore my tractors. I'll go through the engine, valve job or put a clutch in it. I'll knock the dents out of it and shoot some pretty paint on it but that's just so it doesn't look like it just fell off the turnip truck.
I know too well that putting it to work is going to cause a few nicks and dings. I want it to start good, run good, not smoke, have good tires and brakes, charge the battery as it should and I do go after drips and leaks.
This is one of my "restored" tractors. And to be truthful the photo makes it look nicer than it is.

This is how I started my latest project. Just thought it would be fun to rebuild it top to bottom.

How much money you got?


Gene

Hill Street Blues. "Gotta be carefull out there".Did ya bend the frame for the windsheild bad?Happy to know you didn't get hurt. !!!.Don't they have a bailer close to where your at? Around here every now and then one shows up in the local paper,People giving up the farm. I do know from fact,no dealer will give an honest fellow a break. Wants an arm and a leg for trade in's that they paid little or next to nothing.
I never quibble about the price ,if it's legit but hard to deal with em.Noticed the dealerships are advertising on craigs lis a lot.
Money is tight so they are searching for a way to un load their new and trade ins . Once in a while it is possible to get machinery (used) at the auctions. Threatened to go to one but havn't had time. On top of that, can't stand for long.
Heart is good just bad leggs. I Know they shoot horses with bad legs,and I cant be used for stud service .Not at 74 +lol.Good thing I'm not a horse huh? Any way hope you get a bailer .Stay Healthy
Warmest reguards.
LOU

If you plan on using everyday that's all the more reason to tear it down to and empty case and rebuilt everything from the ground up. This way you know it is in top shape and will give trouble free operation for many more years to come.
Then when going into one this far I like to get paint on everything even the hard to get nooks and crannys.
This way they look as good on the outside as I know they do on the insides.

Depending on who on here you talk to, restored has many meaning. A couple of the purist, and you know who you are, think that every nut and bolt has to come out and every nut and bolt has to be put back in. Me personally, I see no point in that if theres not a problem with that certain section of the tractor. I know of at least one guy who wouldnt dream of using anything except factory parts on his tractor, even though he can get the same part, and in most cases made by the same comapny as the factory part, for much cheaper somewhere else.

I would say the short answer it what kind of tractor is it? Is it something common like a Farmall M, or something that there are only a handful left in existance. And also, does this particular tractor have a special history, ie; Elvis' JD tractor. But like was said, on average the opinion will vary.

It depends. If it's a family tractor, I'l tend to spend more time and money on it vs. one that was bought somewhere else.

That said, my brother and I both have about the same amount stuck into our tractors. Mine is an Oliver 1600 that my grandpa bought new in 64. I had the engine rebuild as it was just worn out & had some burnt valves. Couldn't pull itself in 1st gear. The transmission was fine, so I had no reason to go inside it.

I spent more money on expensive paint, I had it sandblasted to bare metal, brother did all of the body work staightening out the sheet metal around the exhaust and the fenders where they were rusted out.

MY brother found a 550. The engine was rebuilt but the crank wasn't replaced by the prev. owner. It didn't have any oil pressure, so the owner sent it back to the shop for a new crank to go along with the rebuild. While it was there, the owner died. His children couldn't find it for the estate sale, only thing there was 1/2 of the loader frame and the hood. Sold that and a month or so later found out where the tractor was.

Brother worked with one of the kids so they struck a deal and it was his. We found a complete 1510 loader in the junk yard, and through some phone calls with the auctioneer, he got ahold of the guy with the hood and other loader arms. He wanted the frame on the tractor, so we traded him the frame from the junk yard that was cracked and welded up.

He got the engine put together (tore it down to inspect and reassembled it). He found while doing the brakes that the transmission had some busted gears, so he had to replace those as well. The front axel was worn out, so I fixed it being that I am a machinist.

His 550 was rode hard and put away wet. Just about everything on it needed to be replaced. After he had it done, the transmission locked up and it turned out that the housing was cracked. Probably why the gears were busted in the 1st place. Luckily, when it locked up it only chewed up a nut and the gears were fine.

He just got it together this past week. Still needs to add oil to the trans., and after that he should be able to fire it up.

All told, we have about $10,000 stuck into either one. He's probably got more into his, only because he also had to purchase it from the previous owners estate.

Both are expected to earn their keep. My 1600 runs the blower and does other chores including hauling out manure once in a while. My brother's 550 is used for his pumpkin business, and he may use it for his snow removal business as well if he needs to pile it up higher. He'll need to buy chains and fill the tires with fluid if he's gonna do much loader work though, as it gets extremely light in the rear end.



Donovan from Wisconsin