Rusted Farmall Super A

Will McKeel · Dec 20, 2013

What are some things that will need to be replaced on an old Farmall Super A tractor that has rusted bad. I"m working on getting the motor unstuck. I want to try getting it running before overhauling it. It doesn"t have a carburetor nor a manifold. Thanks in advance

DeltaRed · Dec 20, 2013

Rusted bad? missing parts?Tear it down and look inside.If it's stuck as bad as you say,No amount of 'snake oil' will fix/unstick it.Bare minimum,pull the head.Any rust at all,it will need to be o'hauled.

Will McKeel · Dec 20, 2013

I've already pulled the head. I'm trying to free the pistons first, but I'm hoping I can atleast get the engine to turn over after I free them. What are things that this engine must have to turn over and be able to fire up?

rrlund · Dec 20, 2013

Fuel and spark,so everything associated with those 2.

old · Dec 20, 2013

Very hard to tell you with out being able to see how bad it is rusted up. That engine is a wet sleeve engine so with the head off if you free up some of the cylinders you may have one of the others pop the sleeve out. BTDT
Your going to need a carb and manifold gaskets plus oil and gas and maybe new points a battery if battery ignition and the list could go on but with out seeing it hard to say for sure what all will be needed to be done

Will McKeel · Dec 20, 2013

Three of the cylinders are rusted pretty bad, but I want to get them freed before attempting to overhaul it. I"m not too worried about the rust. I just need to make sure I have the things when I do get the engine freed. What can I use to rotate the crank from the pulley as there seems to not be a place to stick a socket?

ericlb · Dec 20, 2013

old has it right, if, and thats if you can get it to unstick without pulling a liner in the process, then besides the carb and manifold, you will need to do a complete tune up from plugs back to the points ect as non of that is likley to be any good, you will also need to clean out all of the fuel system, as well as the tank itself as it will also be rusty,plus change out the oil and other fluids as they will have water in them, spin the engine over with the coil wire off untill you build oil pressure or you will spin a bearing most of the time , lots of work there before you can attempt to start the engine

glennster · Dec 20, 2013

if the cylinders are rusted bad, i wouldnt even try and start it. soak the pistons up with your favorite penetrating fluid, and see if you can turn it over a little. if you have a couple pistons up at the top of the stroke, unbolt the rod caps and drrive the piston and sleeve up out thru the top. a section of broom handle doesnt work too bad as a driving rod. then see if you can get the motor to turn over to get the others out. pistons and sleeves will come in the o/h kit, but you do not want to damage the connecting rods. slip some rubber fuel line over the connecting rod studs so they dont scratch up the crankshaft during removal.

Will McKeel · Dec 20, 2013

I understand that, just want some tips and things I can do to start getting ready to rebuild this tractor. Will the 'alternator' free up? Seems to be rusted up. Also the radiator?

old · Dec 20, 2013

You may find that if you remove the rod caps one at a time you can pop the sleeves out and free each piston up on by one. You can also use a pry bar on the flywheel ring gear be careful not to break any teeth off

gene bender · Dec 20, 2013

If it doesent have a carb or manifold the pistons are probably rusted fast pull the head and go from there as there isnt any snake oil going to remove rusted pistons you will probably need to press sleeves and pistons together then saw the sleeve so you can save the rods. When you remove the valve cover you will be able to tell a whole bunch about the rest of the engine

Robert Major · Dec 20, 2013

Hi
not wanting to be the A hole here and trying to put you off restoring a tractor, with the cost of buying the tractor. Finding the missing parts. Then finding out how much the motor and everything else costs thats wrong, when you done the motor.

I would probably start with another nice running tractor. that would not be a $4000 nightmare when it"s done and worth $2500 or less.
Been in way to many old fixer uppers like this, for guys with good intentions, of saving an average model old tractor in the last few years, simply they where not worth doing in the long run. you will probably find it was parked and parts removed for a good reason.

Regards Robert

Royse · Dec 20, 2013

(quoted from post at 21:52:35 12/20/13) Hi
not wanting to be the A hole here and trying to put you off restoring a tractor, with the cost of buying the tractor. Finding the missing parts. Then finding out how much the motor and everything else costs thats wrong, when you done the motor.

I would probably start with another nice running tractor. that would not be a $4000 nightmare when it"s done and worth $2500 or less.
Been in way to many old fixer uppers like this, for guys with good intentions, of saving an average model old tractor in the last few years, simply they where not worth doing in the long run. you will probably find it was parked and parts removed for a good reason.

Regards Robert

Robert, I don't think you're trying to be anything but helpful.
In most cases I would agree with you 100%, but in an earlier
post I think he said this was his grandfather's tractor and that
he and his dad would like to see it restored.
That would be the one reason I might spend that kind of money.
It still won't be worth what you have in it as far as selling it,
but this wouldn't be about selling it or even usability.
A labor of love so to speak.

Will, where are you located? You may be able to find some of
the original parts used and save a lot of money in the long run.

Will McKeel · Dec 21, 2013

I'm from eastern NC and you're right about it being a
grandfathers tractor, that's the biggest reason I want to. A lot of
people are telling me not to do it and all because it's "too far
gone" and the tractors just a waste of time and money

Royse · Dec 21, 2013

(quoted from post at 21:30:10 12/21/13) I'm from eastern NC and you're right about it being a
grandfathers tractor, that's the biggest reason I want to. A lot of
people are telling me not to do it and all because it's "too far
gone" and the tractors just a waste of time and money

They're trying to keep you from getting in over your financial head,
so to speak Will. I'm sure you know if it were a tractor to buy and
use it wouldn't be worth what it will cost to fix it.
That's really good advice in most cases. As I said, a labor of love.
If you really want to fix it for sentimental value, folks will help.
I'm in Michigan, but I have some Farmall A/B/C parts around.
I'm sure many others do too since they're pretty common.
Watch out for the subtleties though, many parts interchange,
but not everything on an A is the same as on a Super A.

fixerupper · Dec 21, 2013

I assume you want to get it running so you can drive it to see if it's worth overhauling. Take the top off the tranny and have a look down there real close. Get a little LED light so you can see everything. If the tranny looks good, and you have a good feeling about the rest of the tractor then go ahead and pull the sleeves with the pistons in them. You can work at freeing the pistons easier with the sleeve on the bench. If you decide to put the sleeves back in, O rings don't cost that much. The rings will be stuck so when you get the pistons out of the sleeves you can possibly free them up but they do break real easy, and I mean REAL easy.

I'm going through the same thing as you are, only with an F20. The pistons and sleeves are reusable but I'll have to go with new o rings on the sleeves and new piston rings. The old piston rings broke with the slightest amount of me trying to loosen them. Good luck and have patience with it. Jim

Will McKeel · Dec 21, 2013

I'm from eastern NC and you're right about it being a
grandfathers tractor, that's the biggest reason I want to. A lot of
people are telling me not to do it and all because it's "too far
gone" and the tractors just a waste of time and money

Robert Major · Dec 23, 2013

Hi
If you know what you are getting into, know it's gonna cost a lot of money. Are willing to accept sentimental value is worth way more than scrap value.
Go for it all the old tractors from my Grandads days, and my fathers first 55 years of farming are long gone.
We don't even have pictures of some of the ones they had.
Good luck and hopefully you can post pictures of progress.
Regards Robert

Rusted Farmall Super A

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