Many of you have seen lots of posts about my 10-20s. I took them to the Iowa State IH show over Labor Day. Out of the several hundred tractors, they chose my 10-20 for the Mason City Gazette's photo of the show. We are also in the video at the very beginning and at the 1:34 mark. Having my daughter ride the tractor in period correct clothes didn't hurt!

Ok, now for the eary part of the weekend. The whole purpose of this 2 year restoration was to take the tractors and park them back in the original spot that they had been parked in for 50 years at the family farm. I also wanted to show the tractors to my 95 year old Grandmother. Grandma got to come to the tractor show and hear the announcer acknowledge her as the owner of the tractors. Seeing that smile on her face was priceless.

My 1927 on rubber had never been started by the crank since having the motor redone. It would start only by pulling it. I would not even get a pop or anything out of the motor. It would puff a bit of smoke out but that was it. I had several posts of frustration on this site.

I drove it around the family farm and parked it in the original parking spot and left it there overnight. The next morning, I hooked the tow rope up from the 1925 on steel to the 1927 and was ready to drag start it like always.

Something told me to just take a stab at cranking it. It hit and started on the first crank! In fact, it started on the first crank all weekend after that. Either it just wanted to go home or Grandpa was looking down and gave us a little extra cranking power.

Thanks again to all of you that have helped me through the restoration process.


News story and video

Thats an awesome story man. I just finished up our 1926 model 15-30 this past weekend that belonged to my great grandparents. Getting to parrk them in the same place they sat for so long and seeing the smile on your grandma's face make all the frustration worthwnile though don't they.

Great job on those two old girls.

Terrific story and pictures! Thanks!

Looked great putting around! It is exiting when the hard work gets recognized like that. I made the newspaper at a local show when I first got my 10-20 going also. What really made me proud was the several really old timers who said it was the nicest running 10-20 they ever saw. Those guys ranged from lower 90s to upper 90s in age. Not many guys left who ran a 10-20 everyday anymore.

Likely just need a bit of a work out for the brushes in that old E4A mag. Them old McCormick's where great starters in the coldest of weather. Nice restore you did.
Later Bob

I happened to see your YouTube demo of the 10-20 on steel. A beautiful job, and I must say it took me back, because I spent a good part of 10 years on a "29 on steel. I can still feel and hear everything about it, right down to the sound of an E4A impulse coupling.
Is the restored tractor the 1925? The tractor in the video has an oil filter (sometime in 1929) AND it has the governor with enclosed levers and control arms. I believe the open-style governor controls were used up into 1926. Is this possibly a later-model engine in a 1925 chassis?
Our 1929, incidentally, did NOT have an oil filter. I think that was added during production in 1929, but don"t have any data on that.