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Tractor restorers

D

DeltaRed

Well-known Member
IMHO,there are 3 types of 'restorers'. The kind where EVERYTHING has to be "factory perfect" and never gets used excapt loading or a trailer for shows.And are snobs to those who are not "perfect". There are guys who make em look nice but dont care if it gets an alternator or other 'mod' to make it run good. Then there are the guys who try to get them to look decent,but are more concerned on that the run and perform well. A few 'modernizations' are OK(even necessary). They 'restore' for no other reason than to have a good running reliable usefull tractor.I kind of fit the last category.Which category are you?
 
I'm a blend of all 3. LOL.

I have found the first type you listed often times just has the appearance 100% correct to correct police standards (one guy called it detailed) but if you tore one down you would just find another worn out mess.
 
I like neat little modifications of "Farmerizations" but I try to adhere to 1 rule. No welding to the tractor. I like it to be held together by bolts so that if I wish I can remove it and go back to factory stock. I hate permanently welding something to the tractor or implements.
 
I've got 9 of the old guys with 2 dating back to the 1930's and not one would be considered pretty although most of them aren't completely rusted and don't look too bad for working tractors. The only add on I've done is a 12 volt electrical system if they used to be 6 volts. What I do with mine is make them mechanically sound and take them out and use them the way they were intended. I can take any of my tractors, put in some gas and go to work without wondering if the tires are flat, too much oil has leaked out, low antifreeze, carb leaking, battery dead, etc. For me the first excitement is getting one up and running right that many guys would pass on and the second excitement is taking them out to the field to do what they were made for. This one I can keep repeating for as long as I'm still interested (probably until I'm dead).
 
I my self hate the term restore since to do so means to bring it back to what it was when new and I have yet to find many if any body who does that. Ya I fix them up so I can use them but I DO NOT RESTORE
 
I guess I would fall into the last one too, I cannot own something I don't use. If I can't use it, why have it?
It has to be ready to run when I climb on it, if it's not I repair it so it ready to go. If I do make modifications
from the original then I do my very best to make them look like Factory, or the changes made can be easily undone
to return it to factory. What ever the changes I make, makes this tractor work better & easier for me & which means
this tool is better for what I Intend to use it for. I don't try to fix something that isn't broke, if there is something I
hear that doesn't sound or feel right , then I tear into it to see why. Many things we use on the farm are not politically
correct to the tractor police. Wait till you see the 44 Model A I am resurrecting... But it will be useful tool or it won't
be on the farm. New paint & decals are the very last & most critical part of restoration, but by no means is it the most
important. When I decide to give them paint, that only means I can't find anything else I choose to change or make better
for my needs.
 
I am all three, same tractor. Dad bought a used Jubilee in 1970, farmed 22 years with it, sold to me, I did rattle can and bondo fix plus engine and hyd overhaul by a shop, used for another 10 years on my place, and then sold the place and retired the old tractor. Then I spent 3 years and way too much money bringing it back to showroom condition and now take it to shows, no more work for either of us. It may go back to work when I check out, who knows, and it will be a dang good machine for somebody. All the other tractors that I have bought and sold were restored to good worker condition only due to cost and resale value.
At shows, I personally like the complete restorations as close to original as possible.
 
I'm in the last catagory.
I like them to look good, run good and not leak all over but don't care much if they're original or not.
Like the sign at the car wash says: "A clean car runs better."
If the correct police ever saw my little 3000 I'd probably get jailed for tractor abuse but as said below, there's nothing on it that wouldn't unbolt.
Hard to fault a guy for liking what he has though.
There's an older chap that brings his Allis B to the same show every year. Tin, paint, tires, etc are all nearly perfect on it but it sure does smoke a lot when he starts it. He's just as proud of it as a couple guys there with their beyond perfect JD Ds and Gs that erect an awning over them every year.
More and more I have come to appreciate a clean, Original machine even if it has a few battle scars.
 
You need to have a fourth category. Tractors that look too good as they are to restore (rust and all). I've got a couple tractors that most of the paint is gone, have never been refininshed, and are just beautiful. One of them runs very well, and I use regularly in the summer. The other needs some work to get it going, I hope to get it moved to my house this summer so I can fix the running issues, but I have not plans for beauty other than a good cleaning.
 
All our machines need to earn their keep, so they're kept in "better-than-new" condition. Which means things like alternators, AGM batteries, improved seats, etc. that would freak out The Correct Police. We also like to keep them looking nice -- except the Jubilee, which I need to repaint someday, as I think the last guy used a nappy roller to paint the sheet metal -- but that's not the primary goal.
 
Probably a member of category number three.

Prefer to use the term of the late Pat Browning of "sprucing up" a tractor.

Our tractors have to earn their keep whether they are "spruced up" or not.

The term "restore" seems to have many different connotations/definitions depending on the individual.
 
try to make them look decent---but functionality is number one
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I say respect the heritage. We had mostly Farmalls, my H wasn't "correct" even when we bought it, it was sold to us as a fairly "low Houred" tractor and the wear on the pedals and drawbar and overall tightness of the linkages and pedals supported that. BUT it had a M&W throttle lever on it, an 8 volt battery, no lights but had the H/L on the switch and no knob on the shift lever. There was non-OEM light mounts on the light bar and didn't have the chrome "FARMALL" emblem on the nose, but it was one in a hundred as it still had the little piece on the bottom of the grill in place you have to remove to put on the cultivators- call the correct police! We were told it was an early 50's model when we bought it but when I changed the back tires the date codes in the rims indicated 1946, so now we have to ask was it a war time tractor shipped on steel that got a new pair of pneumatic tires after the war when they became available? Couldn't do a lot of what we did with it on steel and wouldn't have much use now on steel but it would be "correct" It was probably less than 30 years old when it came to us, it's probably 70 now if it's still out there. Paint was faded and she had some rust but didn't have and dents and there was a repair on the housing the starter bolted on, evidently she kicked back once and broke out part of the starter mount. Our Super M had been gussied up with a new paint job, still needed a rebuild and we eventually did that, and we put on some hydraulic hoses and couplers that weren't OEM style to use 3-14 hydraulic lift plow. Oh when she got rebuilt the block was trashed and we got another one, dates and castings numbers would indicate it came from a 400 and when it went back together it wasn't the same size as a Super M should be. 40 years ago neither tractor was a show piece, they were old tractors still earning their keep. If someone were to get them and try to restore them would they go back to OEM and make 'em the way they were in 1946 or 1953 or preserve them as they were in 1983 when they last worked? My dad never drove 'em when they were new and if I replaced all the worn and broken stuff it wouldn't be the tractor that Dad and I used when we had the farm and that would also entail undoing some of his handy work. If I had either one of them or could get them back I would try to but back like they were when WE used 'em not like they were twenty years before I ever knew 'em, including the Delco alternators they both had when they left our farm, might consider putting a paint job on them but not much more.

They were Farmalls say either one of them had the 9 speed or a M&W live power kit correct? NO but they represent something one of the owners did to the tractor to make it better fit his farming operation and that is history. In that case it would point out how far behind IHC was in tractor development in the 50's, but how dedicated IH owners were to their red tractors.
 
I have yet to see a perfectly restored tractor. All the correct police tractors I've seen had a much nicer paint job that was ever available from the factory! Plus todays paints are so much better than back then! So I don't pay much attention to the correct police.

Rick
 
"Restored" is in the eye of the beholder......
IMHO - rust, oxidized paint, and part of a tree branch sticking through the frame is not restored, or "original".
But, life and old tractors are what you make it - if you're happy, then I'm happy for you!
 
I'd agree with your first type, combine your second two types into one type 2, add a type that only does "aerosol overhauls" to resell, and then a fourth type that runs them till they quit, repairs minimally, and keeps on running until something quits again...
 
There is another type. The ones who run a tractor through a car wash, squirt some paint at it, and call it "restored".
 
Most of mine fit in the second category and one or two that fit in the last one. There is nothing I hate more at a show than the correct police. I will not waste my time talking to them. My tractors all have some modification of some kind. I've never seen a farmer with a tractor that did not have some kind of modification or repair done to it. They really blow a fuse when the see my low profile 8N.
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When I look at a perfectly restored tractor I look at the talent and perseverance of the restorer. The actual machine itself means very little to me. The person who did the restoration is a human with feelings, the machine is just cold hard steel, and I have stated that before. When I do a restoration, or my version of a restoration I try to do the perfect job but often times my lack of talent and money get in the way. This F20 I am slowly working on will be as shiny as a fancy street rod if I get my way. I am not doing it to show off but instead I am doing it to test my ability and hopefully improve my ability. The last one was shiny, now this one will be shinier yet.

That said, I am far from trying to be the correct police. The correct police are merely covering up their inadequacies by pointing out someone else's not quite flawless job.

When I had the job of lining up tractors at our local threshing show I would always find something interesting to point out about someone's newly arrived tractor. The tractor could be as mismatched and rusty as can be but I would find something complimentary to say about it. I could almost always make that person smile by the time we got the tractor parked in line. I'm getting a little off subject here, but it's all about the human aspect, the person behind the machine.
 
I would say I belong in cat. 3. I like them to look good but I must be able to use them. So far I can say that about all of them. I think my H belongs in Cat. 4 though. She has faded paint and the decals are weathered but she is too pretty in my eyes in her work clothes to paint up. She is also prob. the best tractor I have ever owned thus far. She never lets me down.
(The aftermarket lights have been removed)
 
I can fit all three types, my first Ford 9-N a 1941, I have repainted, changed seals,berrings, bushings, clutch, added an overdrive transmission,a dual exhaust system, and had the engine rebuilt. That was about 10 years ago. It is a very good dependable machine even if it still has the orginal dents in the hood. Also replaced gas tank (last year) and tires as needed.She will be the last Ford to leave here. Now my two jubilees, one has a rebuilt engine and is almost all orginal parts, still 6 volts. She is my mower tractor so is outfitted with turf tires on the rear and 5 rib on front. Runs perfect. Other jub is my loader tractor and is not very orginal, have added loader, power steering and 12 volt. However still has the generator , just changed to 12 volt. Now my 39 is just a trailor queen, very orginal (although she still marks her territory) and has an aftermarket cab.
So I see both sides and respect all who own , use and/ or show their machines whatever the machine might be! Be safe out there, joe
 
I can be any of them, depending on the project.

Is it rare, collectible, show, parade, working, last leg, mine, customers?

A lot of factors to consider but I do like to do things right, and stay as close to factory as possible.
 
Definitely #3, If a tractor don't pull it's weight it gets sold. I buy them to use. If I could justify it I would have newer tractors but mine are mostly 70's-90's vintage. I like seeing the nicely rebuilt but those snobbish guys with pristine paint jobs that don't want the kids close to their tractors do more harm than good to the hobby IMO. I would much rather see a tractor in his working clothes,
 
We are talking about tractors here right ? Use them for what they were built for , fix them as you see fit . I like em original, and running . Paint them if you must , but keep the original colours . And they don't all have to look "better than new " to work well.
 
(quoted from post at 11:45:13 04/19/16) IMHO,there are 3 types of 'restorers'. The kind where EVERYTHING has to be "factory perfect" and never gets used excapt loading or a trailer for shows.And are snobs to those who are not "perfect". There are guys who make em look nice but dont care if it gets an alternator or other 'mod' to make it run good. Then there are the guys who try to get them to look decent,but are more concerned on that the run and perform well. A few 'modernizations' are OK(even necessary). They 'restore' for no other reason than to have a good running reliable usefull tractor.I kind of fit the last category.Which category are you?
Click to expand...

Let's just say I'm a fan of patina...
 
I fall in 1 and 2 but every thing works and paint is more like how they came from factory not all spit shined. Retired and they see shows ,pulls and pull fire wood wagons around. Running around shows stoves them up so I pull them to blow them out. I have did these in the last 4 years and have a F-20 just about 90% done. I have seven tractors setting waiting to be done.
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a224278.jpg

a224279.jpg
 
I do as good a job as I can to make them look like they did new. I put new seals and what ever it takes to be fully functional. I don't just put everything in new. I like the shiny paint and I like nicely done farmer engineering, not the quick torch and weld hack jobs. I don't call mine restored ,they're just done as good as I can and they've never been on trailers since I've had them. Main thing I like about the shows is to see the skill, talent and creativity of what some of those guys can do with something drug out of a fencerow.
 
I relate to the last 2 catorgories,.. 12 volt system, petronix ignition, alternator ,,no more troubles , set the ol generator regulater on the shelf for the purist nuts ,,. there seems to always be something wrong or needing attention on my tractors and equipment ,,. I fix them as best I can and when I can , and muddle on thru ,. my crops look arguably better than the bto up the road, and my animals are top notch ,,.
 
I don't know if I fit in any of these catigories. My builds are all unique and one of a kind. I have a bit of "Chip Foose" in me. My mods look like they could have been factory built and many people think they were. I also like to design custom graphics to accent the looks of my tractors.
I don't give a rats butt what the correct police think!! My tractors, My money and time spent, not theirs.
an example is my Case 440 tractor and the home built dump trailer. They were built to serve a purpose. I wanted a cab tractor so I would be warm and confortable when working in the sugar bush, so I built a nice cab with the creature comforts and low profile to pass through doors less than 8' Needed a smaller hyd dump trailer for many tasks, so I built one.
Loren

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I always wanted to buy something like a Ford N, restore it perfectly, and then paint it green and yellow. (;>))
 
All 3, but I dont consider myself a snob. May be a little of the correct police, but its to the point of someone saying it was like this and I say it was like that, but not on all brands and I dont bash anyones elses restorations. If I want MY tractor to be as close to factory as possible, Im going to do it, and have in the past. My Dads M is as close to factory as I could make it, except for the altrnator, which is purely funtional, and the whole 12 volt system, and the steel belt pulley, which he put on so it stayed. My M has a rattle can paint job, 12 volt and 3 point hitch. It was built to work. I have others and would take forever for me to expalin why they are they way they are. Again, these belong to ME, not anyone else, and if I want to have a trailer queen I will.
 
The third, but I don't do much resto, just get them running to do some work. Maybe in retirement I'd have time to make 'em pretty.
 
The only time I have seen the correct police come down on a guy is when he runs around and saying or bragging that its all original and its far from it. If the guy comes in and just shows the tractor nothing is said. I have only been to one or two shows that they are picky.
 
Delta,I find old tractors that sit in the woods or fence lines for 40 plus years,brake the motor loose,put orginial parts back on them,get them running and just take them to the fairs,no paint most of the time

jimmy
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