Restoring a Tractor

Question? Can a tractor be called restored if it has been repaired or does it have to have new parts put on to be called restored for shows?
Devious, Humble Tx

Boy there is a big ole can of worms you just opened up.

In my opinion Restored can mean whatever you really want it to. Usually does involve some degree of repair/rejuvination.

To be adequatly restored to take to most shows it only needs to satisfy the owner.

My first efforts involved simply getting the tractor running. Worked up to the point where now I don't consider it restored to MY PERSONAL satisfaction unless it is pretty close to when the tractor came off the assembly line new. This of course involves major and minor repairs and paint that is prob 10 times better than they would have hoped for when the tractor was new.

Does that mean I won't take a tractor to a show unless it is restored to that level? No. for me if it runs and suits my fancy the day I decide to load up it is good enough for me. Only one I take to local show now regularly is in its working clothes, of course it works there also.

Bottom line is do what makes you happy.

This is only my opinion and your mileage may vary.

jt

Old parts that work are just as good as new parts that work.

(quoted from post at 22:39:21 06/01/10) Question? Can a tractor be called restored if it has been repaired or does it have to have new parts put on to be called restored for shows?
Devious, Humble Tx

Click to expand...

When I bought my tractor, the guy had an old one in his shop that was stripped of every removeable part and laid out on numbered cardboard.
Asked him what was wrong and he said that he had to take care of his wife for several years before she died and when she was gone he was bored and lonely. He'd do a number at a time and do whatever the parts on it needed. When every gear was clean, bolt (or part) was cleaned and repainted, he'd pick another number. Bet that was a pretty tractor when he was done...........
Myself, I don't have the space for a work and show tractor so would just make the one I have look/work best as possible and have fun.

Now, if you've got one of them mankiller 8N's..don't waste your time, just junk it and call B&D to set you up with a new JD. Quote a few verses for him and you may get a discount.


Have fun,


Dave

the nice thing about old tractors is that at shows a tractor that is in its 'workin clothes'
is just as much welcome as one that has a 100 point restoration. that being said a 'restored tractor' is one that has been dissassembled, every wear part replaced, and reassembled, and is in every way as good as or even better than it was when new. -you'll have 10 or 12 grand in that 8n, which will bring 2500 on a good day, -we dont do this for the profit in it lol, now there is also what we call 'refurbished' which is far more common, you take that same 8n, fix everything currently wrong with it, including engine overhaul, if needed, then give it a nice paint job, anything from rattle can in your driveway, to a profesional paint job, you now have a really nice looking tractor which is in great shape, your proud of it and it can be either a trailer queen and taken to shows, or taken to the field and worked as intended, and for most of us we far prefer to see that old iron working, just as it did all those years ago, but your just as welcome at most showes if you power wash your dailey workin tractor, load 'er on the trailer and bring 'er to the show

It is a can or worms. Some people are meticulous in their restorations, some people run them through the car wash, squirt some paint at them, and call them restored.

Our local town goes berzerk on July 4th with antique car shows, antique tractor show, crafts, musical performances, etc. (I once instigated an ugly truck contest. The only requirements were current plates and insurance, and the truck had to arrive and leave under it"s own power. The show actually made quite a hit.)

Anyway, most of the tractors are totally over-restored. I doubt the factory ever put a $3,000 clearcoat paint job on a WD Allis. I have a "52 H Farmall with a bucket loader that has been in the family for 50 years. It still works every day and looks it. The paint is almost completely gone, etc.

I think I"ll take that H to the antique tractor show on the 4th with a sign, "WORKS EVERY DAY. DOESN"T HAVE TIME TO LOOK PRETTY", and see what happens.

The term restore means you bring a machine back to as good as new or better since back when these tractors where built they did not have the bearing etc that are better then back then. So restore means at least to me NEW or as good as. Now then there is fixed up which to me means painted and things that need work have been fixed which is what I do to them I do not restore them just make them run and sometimes look good

In my opinion that is a vast difference between restored and refurbished. I think what you would have would be a refurbished tractor.

Restored should put it in very close to original showroom condition, and not in better than with enhancements, paint changes, etc.

i belive to be restored it has to be running good and it needs to be painted like it was originaly with decals, and the sheet metal fixed where needed, ect. if the tractor is running well i dont belive that it was to be overhauled or compleatly disasimbled other than for painting. thats just what i belive though