Want to Restore an Antique Farm Tractor? Here's What You Need to Know to Get Started
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- Published: Thursday, 12 November 2009 19:44
- Written by Narraghmore Vintage Club
Antique farm tractors are one of the hottest restoration projects going today. While the prices of antique cars have skyrocketed well out of range of the average restorer tinkering in his garage, it is still possible to find well-preserved, running and restorable farm tractors for reasonable prices every day. While the hobby certainly isn't for everyone, particularly those averse to prying forty year old horse dung out of the treads of a vintage Ferguson tractor, for many it affords the opportunity to revitalise something that is a guaranteed hit at runs, and can tackle many chores around the home that your typical garden tractor couldn't even touch.
Restoring an antique farm tractor requires more work than restoring a vintage car. While the popularity of old cars has ensured that many models now have extremely good aftermarket following, antique farm tractors are a relatively new thing to attempt a restoration on. Add to that the relative scarcity of many models, and you begin to understand the necessity for having the ability to fabricate some parts yourself, or pay through the nose for rare necessary pieces from a cranky old woman with the parts you need out in the barn. Antique farm tractors require a different kind of diligence than car restoration, and usually it has to do with finding those rare parts.
Some manufacturers of farm tractors, such as John Deere, Farmall, and Ford still have parts available for them mostly due to the fact that many of these machines still do their intended job to this day with little or no problem whatsoever. More obscure manufacturers such as Massy-Harris or even Oliver could make finding parts more difficult, but it is from these that you get the most admiring glances when you pass by in the parade. A vintage farm tractor requires relatively little, aside from some TLC, to get running again. Many times, new owners of vintage farm tractors find that just by changing out fluids and replacing the battery, the tractor will fire right up. While that is a little bit more wishful thinking for some antique farm tractor owners, you have to remember that there are no sophisticated electronic parts on a vintage farm tractor. At its very soul, the antique farm tractor is really just an engine with wheels and a seat. They are far less complex than modern or even vintage cars, and were built with that simplicity in mind. Many can be repaired on-the-spot if need be, with minimal tools, and with just a little perseverance, you will quickly find that you, too can experience the satisfaction of completing a project of this scale.
The best tip for restoring a vintage tractor is to know what you are getting into before you buy the tractor. When looking to purchase a vintage tractor with the intent of restoring it, first consider what you plan to do with the tractor after it is restored. If you are going to use it for tilling, does the model you are looking at have good ground clearance; is the hitch set up appropriate for the accessories you would be using? Once you find a tractor that interests you, somehow obtain or borrow a copy of the owner’s manual for that year, make and model. This is your basic reference for everything about your tractor.
Does the one you found run? Does it smoke while running? Is the smoke blue or white? Blue smoke can mean interior damage in the cylinder chamber (lots of work and expense), where white smoke might be more easily corrected with ignition or carburetor adjustments (possibly less expense, but still some work).
Let's assume it runs. Check out as many components and operations as possible. Look to see if the machine is clean, or covered with grease and oil. Dirty machines could indicate that there are oil problems. Look around the head gasket for leakage and test the hydraulics. Look for structure cracks.
After you have your machine and have identified just what is needed to restore it for your intended use. Look for associations like Narraghmore Vintage Club or Irish Vintage Society. Take advantage of the knowledge others have accumulated doing just what you intend to do. There is very little need for you to 're-invent the wheel'.
Rebuilding your own tractor engine can either be fun or frustrating, depending on how mechanically inclined you are, but with a little elbow grease and some preparation, you can save yourself time and money on tractor repairs.
Begin by purchasing an engine-rebuilding kit from an auto-part store. You will need to provide the store with your tractor's production date, as well as your engine's serial and ID numbers. Essential hand tools for working on a standard tractor include: sockets and wrenches (must be in metric), a 3/8-inch drive air ratchet, a 1/2-inch drive impact pneumatic gun, a portable air compressor, four 2-ton jack stands, and a 3-ton capacity floor jack. Caution is essential with these tools, as they are powerful, so be sure to read all safety materials provided. Also remember that the jack and jack stands must be used on concrete floors only.
To begin repairing your tractor engine, turn off the ignition key and remove the battery. Store it aside from your work area, safely away from the reach of children. Next, raise the front end of the tractor with the floor jack by following the manual instructions, and set your jack stands on the front and rear ends of the tractor. Never slide your body or head under the tractor while it is resting on your floor jacks. With these steps completed you are ready to move on to the actual repair work.
Drain the engine completely of any oil and coolant before taking off the cylinder head and removing the oil pan, oil pump, and rod bearing cap. Pull each piston out of the block, and mark all of them to ensure that they go back to their original position. Check your cylinders and pistons for cracks and wear-and-tear limits. You are now ready to send your tractor's cylinder head, pistons and crankshaft to a machine shop to be reconditioned. When this process is finished follow your repair manual to install each of the new parts.