Been awhile... but not that long!

I finally got the rear end axle housings sealed on my M.
If anyone is interested, I jacked up the tractor and the axle separately, just to take pressure off the bearing, loosened and pulled all but 2 bolts on each side. I left those 2 just threaded enough so the housing wouldn't spin on me. It gave me about and inch and a half to get in there, get the OLD gasket out (I believe the original), clean all surfaces with BrakeCleen and lots o' rags. Then I used blue RTV and tightened everything back up. She sealed like a champ. I know, not original or diehard stock but it works! Couldn't have done it without my father's help and experience. While we had 'er apart, I tried cleaning up and adjusting the band brakes. Some improvement but not much.
I've put 20+ hours on it since with no leaks.

Now I gotta figure out why the belt drive pulley is leaking. I don't use it maybe I'll pull the entire thing and put a cover over it.

Oh, also not stock but we put a solenoid and waterproof starter push button. I was getting fed up with the foot starter. The solenoid works great. Yes, 12 volt.

Hope I didn't bore anyone. I was pretty frustrated awhile back with all the leaks and many of you offered support, thanks.

On another note... is the guy at the link below drinking too much. Am I missing something?
Farmall 1948 M

HI If your M is like mine if you turn the belt pulley you will find the bearings are shot in the housing, causing excess wear on the seal. at least thats the way mine is. Bernie Steffen

(quoted from post at 17:18:57 07/31/08)On another note... is the guy at the link below drinking too much. Am I missing something?
Farmall 1948 M

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Well, that tractor is NOT "restored" but perhaps rebuilt and repainted. I see several non-original items even with only two pictures.

I believe you can purchase a 100 horsepower pulling M for that kind of money... I doubt he will get his asking price, if he does - someone needs help.

Yup,he been smoking sumpin. Hoss

Please elaborate on the definiton of "RESTORE"
I am planning to restore a recent Farmall I bought and don't want to be reprimanded by the "Correct Police"

(quoted from post at 19:34:31 07/31/08) Please elaborate on the definiton of "RESTORE"
I am planning to restore a recent Farmall I bought and don't want to be reprimanded by the "Correct Police"

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Get Guy Fay's book "Farmall Original Letter Series Tractors"

I reworked the axle housing seals on my F504 last year, they were leaking bad. I believe the original gaskets were in place from 1962. I took a different approach to my job due to the facilities and equipment I had available at my father's shop on the farm.

We removed the IPTO housing to access the bull gears and pulled them off. We supported the tractor by a sling with a chain hoist on a trolley and I-Beam. There is also another I-beam perpendicular to the other and used another chain hoist to sling around the wheel. We removed the axle housing, LOADED 13.8x38 tire rim and cast iron wheel as one! Cleaned with brake clean and used Three Bond Sag Type Silicone (Japanese, best you will ever use) to make the gasket. No leaks after a year.

I think you will be good for a long time. Just watch out for the correct police! Just be careful using silicone as a gasket maker. A small amount of silicone or teflon tape breaks off in the hydraulic reservoir and you are about to witness a bad experience.

Good luck dude,
Charles

Thast going to happen no matter what you do. Dont worry about them and restore it the way you want to, tell the CP when the ycom around to take off, or say it in a not so nice way if you want.

What do you see? All I see is the grill, and if you want to include the chrome pipe,(since mufflers were optional) I guess that too, but I dont see several things. Looks like a real nice restoration job to me, but what do I know ................ I guess mines not restored, since I didnt have to rebuild the engine or transmission, but it was tore down from front to back, cleaned blasted where it could be, replaced every seal and gasket, primed and painted. Oh it does have a steel belt pulley, which wasnt around in 41, I guess thats whats makes it rebuilt and repainted, but wait, the decals are on per Guys book, and it does have IH paint on it, so does that make it restored? Please Steven, enlighten me as to what is wrong with his tractor other than the wrong grill? While your at it, whats wrong with mine?

I kinda figured the bearings and seal were bad. Are they difficult to replace? Probably not as difficult as the rear end seals were, huh?

John M, I'm not getting into the whole debate on what's restored vs. what isn't... you're tractor looks nice and I'm sure you're not trying to sell it for four times what it's worth.

But for someone to want $7500 for an M and to call it totally restored is wrong. Since you want to know on the eBay M... chrome pipe, wrong tires, wrong hose clamps, and the carb should be painted red. Without more close-up pictures that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

The main point is this, if you're going to list an M for $7500 you're going to get flack for it.

It probably looks better than original--close enough to RESTORED for me but maybe not close enough for Steven.

(quoted from post at 06:39:21 08/01/08) It probably looks better than original--close enough to RESTORED for me but maybe not close enough for Steven.

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Gentlemen! Gentlemen! Please!!! Let us not offend each other as ruffians might do toward each other! There are two primary definitions of the word restore, per Webster's dictionary, to wit:
1) to bring back into existance or use;
2) to bring back into a former or original state.
Thus, there is legitimate evidence of proper interpretation of the word "restore" by all participating herein. So.... let us move on to another great farmall topic, before we all make ourselves sound foolish - as I have done (to) myself so many times.
mike

YES SIR!!! But I still want an answer from Steven. I respect his opinions, but dont understand his comments.

(quoted from post at 19:22:03 08/01/08) YES SIR!!! But I still want an answer from Steven. I respect his opinions, but dont understand his comments.

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The main point is this: If you are going to ask $7500 for a "restored" Farmall M - it should be done [i:5cb1030f2c]PERFECTLY[/i:5cb1030f2c]. That is twice as much as these bring in top notch condition and it should be perfect. That tractor on eBay is not restored to the point of commanding that high of a price.

I don't mean to come off as arrogant or a jerk - it is the [b:5cb1030f2c]PRICE[/b:5cb1030f2c] of this "restored" tractor that makes it such a joke.

I have tractors that I call restored that I know aren't perfect concours restorations - I don't try to sell them for a premium price, though. They are worth considerably less than something that has been restored with all original parts.

Again, the price is what makes the eBay M such a joke. And I apologize if I offended anyone.

Thanks Steven. Let me appologize to you for my somewhat smarta$$ attitude. I can see why you would think that. But we all must accept the fact that since JD prices are ridiculous, that the hobby itself has gone out of control. Us "old timers" have to get it in our head that the $500 - $600 tractors in excellent conditon are gone. Lets assume that this guy restored that tractor, and assume its been gone through, and also assume there are many new parts on it. All he is simply doing, is trying to get hjis money back out of, which we all know is impossible to do. I personally have over $8000 in my M, and know if were to ever sell it, I would want to ge tas much of my money back as possible.Would I, nope! But theres not enough 0's in the world to get it from me. Again, thanks for your answer, I have always respected your opinions.

John,

It's been a tough week for me... spent the summer on the farm and just came back to my job - found out there is more work to do this year, new challenges, new things to learn, etc. and I miss the farm so my mood hasn't been the greatest.

I know all about having too much $$ tied up in a tractor, my H with the mower has around $4500 in it and still needs a clutch, paint, and new gaskets in several places. I know I'll never get my money out of it by selling, but I'll get that much use out of it in the next 50 years (I hope).

Honestly, if a person wants to know what anything is truly worth - list it on eBay starting at $0.99 with lots of pictures and a good description. Whatever it brings is what it's worth to at least two different people. A ridiculous starting price stops most people - sometimes once a person starts bidding it will get back up to that price, though. People just love to bid!

Have a great day!