Group pic, getting the tractors ready for winter...

Snapped this pic of my big guns all lined up and ready for winter. I spent part of yesterday and all of today getting the 450 gas squared away and that was supposed to be sure starter.

First of all, she fired once and then absolutely refused to start. After an hour of messing around and determining that I had a fuel problem, I remember dumping fuel in the tank from my W9. I thought the fuel was OK, but it clearly was not. Drained a few gallons off the bottom of tank and she fired right up.

Then, I drove her a couple hundred feet to air up a low tire and saw that the deck covered with hydraulic oil. Turned out the o-rings for the pump pressure/supply lines had failed. Not only did I replaced the o-ring, I replaced the pump lines that had rubber hoses (which were also leaking), with solid steel lines. Maybe not the best choice, but I did have a good set sitting around.

Once I got the hydraulics put back together, the power steering refused to work. It would sort of work if I moved the valve levers. I had to reposition the single/double-acting selector. Two of valves have broken off roll pins for the detents. I ought to fix that.

Works like a charm now. And I killed 3 birds with 1 stone. Fixed 2 hydraulic leaks (actually 3), and the hydraulics don't feel like they're getting super hot.

Anyway, here's the 450 Gas, 560 Gas, W-9, and my buddy's JD 4010 Gas

Chris B.

Sweet looking tractors... so nice and straight! Thanks for posting!

Good look'in herd

Very nice tractors!!

That is a hard working crew ya got there... Keep'em nice.

Charles

560 Yeah!

Thanks for the comments. Each of those tractors took some doing to get to their present state. Money and time spent, yes, but they all have good stories behind them. For instance, this past summer the 450 baled probably several thousand bales and 1 skunk (sort of). While making a turn to a new windrow, I looked back and saw a little skunk caught in the baler chute chains. One of the idiots I was working with walked right up to the skunk. Fortunately for him, the skunk was more dead than alive and he didn't get sprayed. The dog running with us went skunk hunting, and got sprayed quite liberally.

Even that JD4010. I will say that of all those tractors the 4010 is the most pleasant to drive and operate. John Deere did something right.

Chris B.

Close your eyes, I'll take em all.