Why Tractors? - Deep thoughts about the hobby (Long)

Recently, I have been thinking about why I, and many of us, restore tractors. I thought what better way to realize something than to write it down (for me, I am much better at expressing my thoughts on paper than by talking through them). Here is what I have come up with - and I apologize if this is a little long. Enjoy:

Throughout my life, I have been asked a question that to most would be a simple answer. It is only until just recently that I really began to think about it in greater depth. The question I am referring to, of course is, “Why old tractors?” For years, I have answered this with the simple explanation that I grew up around them. My grandfather had them to work his land and assist with his duties while he was retired. Recently, I realized tractors have a much deeper meaning. Over the years, tractors have taught me very important life lessons.

Tractors have taught me a historical story. They have challenged me to think about our history in this country. What must it have been like to sit atop one of these clanky, clamorous, self-oiling machines for 18 hours per day? Can you imagine plowing 500 acres at three miles per hour, two rows at a time, in the middle of summer wearing long sleeve button up shirts and overalls? Tractors help me link the story of America and it’s hard working blue-collar farmers . We keep saying that these days life is “tough”. Mentally, maybe – but overall – I think we have it pretty easy. That is not to saying that farming and many of our industrial jobs are not hard work and dangerous, but if you really think about it we have made an immense amount of progress. This progress would not have been possible without these old tractors, and the people who built and worked them.

This educational aspect of tractor restoration has also taught me to seek advice – and not just any advice. Seek quality advice. In order to do that, you have to go to the source. You have to spend hours and hours researching through tractor data books, owner’s manuals, repair manuals, etc. The most important source that must be consulted, though, is talking to those who have lived together with these tractors. I’m talking about the generations before us (when I say us, I mean those born in the 80’s and beyond). It is important that we learn from those who have “been there, done that”. This is how we can best acquire wisdom. Education can be self-taught, but wisdom only comes with experience. It is important that we learn about the experiences that our relatives and older friends have had. Not only is it a way to carry on a legacy, it is a way for us to help each other. Sometimes our knowledge is the best thing a person can give – and it is free. As the saying goes, some of the best things in life are free.

Third, tractors have taught me that if you are going to do something, do it right. For me, it’s not something I have in my garage as a shiny object to ‘brag’ about. I enjoy working diligently (for sometimes years) on a project that I know someone parked in a fencerow or tree line. In a sense, they were parked and left there to rot away, to be forgotten. Lately, these pieces of craftsmanship, these symbols of history, are being loaded up and driven to the dump for scrap iron – at an increasingly large rate. Not that there is anything wrong with that – it is important to recycle. I do think, however, that there is a strong need to preserve some of these pieces in order to preserve an important portion of our history. The hard work that goes into a tractor restoration is very similar to the work that goes into restoring a classic car – and this brings me to my next point.

Tractors have taught me patience. In order to restore a tractor (or old car), it takes an immense amount of patience. Sometimes you may have to soak a part for days, weeks, or months to get the large amount of rust to break free – and sometimes when it does break free, it is only with the tiniest bit of movement. Patience is key. Go too fast, and you risk breaking something, or missing something important that needed to be addressed. Slow and steady wins the race. Patience is a very important virtue that many of us seem to lack in our “order online, get it next day” world. Every aspect of our lives is entirely rushed, when each of us has so much to do in our daily lives, it is easy to become a little selfish. Tractor restoration helps to keep my patience “level”. (Although I must admit, sometimes I pay a little extra shipping to get that one part that I need).

The last thing that I want to address is, tractors have taught me to be passionate. Growing up in a suburb really made tractor restoration an obscure hobby, given my demographics. For years, I wouldn’t tell others around my age what my most passionate hobby was simply because I was embarrassed. As a kid, you just want to fit in with those around you. Sure, I had other hobbies like fishing and sports, but the one that has always hit home and rang true to me is tractors. As I got older, and I think this happened when I was in high school, I began to realize that my hobby will not be enjoyed by others nearly as much (or at all) if I keep it behind closed doors. To this day, I am still one of very few people that I know who enjoys this hobby – but I still turn these rusty bolts because it helps bring a sense of happiness to my life. I have learned to pass the torch, so to speak. I have introduced others to the hobby, and shown them things that they may have never thought twice about. Does that mean they have to share the same passion? Absolutely not – but at least I gave them a little slice of knowledge about a chapter in the history that we all share.

So now I challenge you to ask yourself about your hobbies. What makes them important to you? A question that I seem to have been asking myself lately is, would I still be into old tractors had my grandfather never had them? I cannot answer that entirely, but I would bet that I wouldn’t be. So who do I thank for this? I do think that I can thank my grandfather, and my parents, relatives, and friends for supporting me in my hobby. Realistically, the thanks that are needed are on a much larger scale. Were it not for the hard work of all of us, I wouldn’t be able to spend time in the garage with these rusted relics of yesteryear. Oh, and if you still are confused about why I have chose tractors, well. Grab a pair of old jeans and a t-shirt, and dive on in. You never know what you might learn. I’m always looking for good conversation and I have got plenty of wrenches. Until then, though, for me it’s off to the garage – I’ve got some learning to do.

With me, restoring old things that I own or have bought to 100% working condition is a sickness. I didn't realize this until long ago working on the avionics of a 45 year old airplane that belonged to my wife. It had a piece of equipment that was obsolete and never used. It worked but didn't interface with another piece like it was supposed to. Every time we flew the plane I would glance at it and it would irritate me that it didn't work the way it was supposed to. I realized it was making me nuts so I went on a lengthy crusade to figure it out. After mountains of research (even people at the factory didn't know how the old thing worked) and searching for rare parts I got it working 100%. I then shut it off never to be used again but every time I was in the plane I was now happy. I realized then that it was a sickness with all old "junk" and it was no use fighting it. I bought a backhoe to build a barn with the intention of selling it after the barn was done to recoup my money. I found I couldn't bare the thought of parting with it and fully restored it. In a few years I will be moving to a new home where I probably will have no use for it but it is going with me no question. Stupid isn't it.

I agree.. It is a sickness. But I think it is better we spend energy on something productive that keeps our mind working, instead of wasting time getting wasted in a bar or sticking needles in our arms under a bridge. I'd much rather listen to the smooth hum of an antique four cylinder tractor, or the putt putt of the characteristic John Deere's.

That plane sounds interesting. I'm curious, just what was the instrument that you restored? Navigational equipment? Communications equipment?

Ken,I could not have stated it better myself! The only thing I would add is that there must be something in the genes that sparks interest in such activity. Otherwise, one's interest would be elsewhere. As far back as I can remember, I have been fascinated by machinery, be it tractors, cars, trucks, you name it. I remember standing in a Junk yard when I was about twelve and looking at the rows of old Packards, Cadillacs, Fords, etc, and thinking, What a shame, because many of them were easily fixable.
As I grew older and began reading about the history of many brands, it dawned on me that these people designed and built all this without computer aided design,and all the other things that make it so much easier today. I have never been financially able to begin a restoration project, but I do have several projects patiently rusting, er,I mean, waiting to be restored, that should keep me busy for the rest of my life.
So, my friend, keep the faith, you have lots of company, either actively restoring, or just cheering from the sidelines.

Its kind of an oxymoron, it is an illness, yet at the same time it is therapy for you.

It was a DME (distance measuring equipment. GPS has out dated it). It worked fine alone however whan placed in 'slave' mode it was supposed to use the navigational channels selected off the communications radio. This part wouldn't work. There was no one left at the factory to talk to who remembered that unit but he was able to FAX me some diagrams. Turned out it required a special mounting 'tray' that had a "liason" device to communicate between the two. Literally NO ONE knows this. I found one on Ebay that had the optional attachment. People who have this rare item have no idea what they have so I bought it dirt cheap. Got everything working and never used it after that.
I bought a Ford '4400' backhoe cheap off Ebay years ago. Turned out the seller didn't know what he had and it turned out to be a 4500 Industrial TLB. Killer machine.

I might add that I thought aircraft parts were expensive until I bought a backhoe.

For me I get a kick out of "making it mine" meaning making it just the way I like it or want it to be, look, work, run, etc. I believe I get emotionally attached to my tractor, trucks, balers, and the list goes on..My wife once said that everything I have is older but nice.. I said well I guess you dont have anything to worry about then.. Dont know how she took that but anyway..

Somehow those old designers created art in the form of tractors. And art is ageless and appeals to many over time. To recondition any old tractor is an act of preserving a piece of history and the art of the creator.
When you look at a reconditioned old tractor you can get a sense of fulfillment that the original designers and the builders of that fine machine must have felt. You are not alone in your appreciation for those folks long gone.

Dang, Ken, are you a professional journalist? If not, bet there's job out there waiting for you!

Why do I restore tractors? Well, I'll try to fix anything I can get mt hands on. I absolutely hate waste! To see something get scrapped breaks my heart. I could easily be a true mechanical hoarder! LOL

I guess the main reason I prefer tractors, trucks, equipment, over cars, boats, pretty things, is because I suck at body work! Tractors do need body work, but to me it's secondary to the mechanics. If it needs to be really shiny, best let someone else do that part, I just don't have the desire or knowledge to get it right.

I have to disagree,"It's an illness." is not going to float. It is soul cleansing in its simplist form. What other hobby takes you back in time and also teaches you the vast wealth of knowledge our forefathers had without making your head hurt from trying to dig it out of a book? I marvel at some of the old torque specs in our early manuals, snug, very snug and tight. How can you compare pulling a tractor out of a fence row that has not made a sound in 50 years, to the sensation you get at first start up to lets see catching a fish that picked your line or if your favorite team that wins a ball game? To me sick is when you buy an old bus and hire it painted with your favorite team logo on the side of it and pay $25 to $50 dollars to park it at the game on Sunday. So don't tell me I am sick in the head for enjoying my life with these old tractors, I am sick of hearing it!

For me its the challenge of getting one running as it should and then going out to the field and using it like it was built to do.I love history and running the old equipment for me is like reliving history. Plowing with my H or M today is just like it was when they were built in 1943.

Maybe not in your case but in mine it is a "sickness". I got the same satisfaction out of fixing the avionics as I do out of scratching an itch. I would have been happier without the itch in the first place. In this case I would have liked to have thrown the receiver into the trash (any "normal" person would have) but that would have left an unfinished hole in the panel which would have bugged me more than the original issue. The "therapy" in my case is kind of like alcoholism. The first step to therapy is admitting one has a problem. Just knowing I have a "problem" is "therapy".

why not ?

Real simple I fix old tractors because I enjoy doing it if I quit enjoying it I'll quit and do something I do enjoy.

Why tractors...Because it's better then other hobbies that might land me in jail! Besides I use mine.

Very well written, Ken.

Back when I was young (I'm 69) growing up on a farm, tractors meant more to my peers than cars. We had fun teasing each other about "their brand" being subpar etc. There used to be a lot of variety. I can't imagine the relatively few kids now caring or having the fun about this that we did. Old tractors bring back memories.

Like was said, it is enjoyment of making something usable again and use it as it was intended. A person kind of gets the feel of how farming was in its day with older equipment. I enjoy making reproduction parts for my tractor as well. It is a challenge to make them at times but rewarding. I was always partial to farming and shared that with my dad....I guess it is a way to be closer to him as well.

Animal, I fear you read too much into my statement. I did not say anyone was "sick in the head". If that were the case I would be right up front. I feel that the others as well as myself, merely likened it somewhat to an illness, or perhaps a habit where one needs his "fix" of rust and grease. If you note, I also stated that it is THERAPY, which means that it has curative powers. My mother in law once said that she had never seen anyone who loved to take a piece of junk and bring it back to life any more than I did.

If you are really "RESTORING" tractors (vs. simply repairing them/making them useful again) you are either doing it as a labor of love, doing it for a customer with DEEP pockets, or you simply like to work HARD to LOSE money!

Ken ,, you ought to put this Over in Your stories , It Is Very well done , and The comments are on target too ,, they display a good cross section the multi personalities that are tractor nutz , from my own personal feelings ,My extended Family ran many case models that I now own , and when , I run a Case tractor that had my Dads hands and feet and weight on the seat ,, I am often say a prayer of thanx for everything Good in this world , and hope that my Grandsons sons will someday continue the Legacy , There really is a method to the madness ...

Cause nobody wants to fix old ladies. LoL

Don't know why I guess like Sir Edmond nnalert said "Because it is there". I have one in the shop now just was supposed to get it running again and sell it. Well while I have this apart might as well paint it, well might as well fix that and paint it too, boy these wires are bad better rewire it, oh have new gauges on shelf might as well repaint dash and put them in. Help I can't stop!

It looks like it has already been done, Lol. Thanks for the comments on how well it is written, everyone. I have always been better able to express myself through writing than talking. It's interesting to see how some of us got into the hobby, and how some of of us view it. I think I would have to agree with everyone's comments. It's an addiction and a stress reliever, but I think what we all agree on is that it helps us connect with our own little version of history.

Always was cars with me, fixing, drag racing, etc.
As I got older, my back didn't like leaning over a fender all day,
and laying under them with the undercarriage brushing my nose has lost its appeal.
Tractors satisfy my 'itch'
And here in NY, old cars and their endless rust, and
NY's rule and fee for everything......
costs too much for a car test drive/blast to the corner and back
especially if you do it legally.