Re: F30N Restore or not? That is the question!

Posted by The Red Baron on October 28, 2002 at 16:06:09 from (198.81.27.16):

In Reply to: F30N Restore or not? That is the question! posted by scottAR on October 27, 2002 at 18:45:02:

I don't want to try and discourage you from getting that F-30, on the contrary I would be somewhat tempted to get it. But only because it would round out my collection and that I have never seen one for sale where I live. But I think a question that you should be asking yourself generally are how much to you really want an F-30 (they are relatively rare giving you both reasons to get it or not get it depending on how many parts you are going to have to get from junkyards) How much is he asking for it? Heck it sounds like it can't (or shouldn't) be much. If you are willing to spend several hours examining it and knowledeably take a modest risk, realizing what you are getting into, it might be quite a deal. On the other hand it doesn't sound like a good first project, particularily if he is asking too much.
Quite a bit will depend on what area of the country you are in. F-30s in my area are pretty much non-existent. I wouldn't get a second chance here, though I could also expect that there aren't going to be any parts sources available locally and I would have to start taking some blind chances on out of state junk yards and hope I got lucky.
Front rims missing--probably not too big of a problem. Hood missing--I always find that to be a heartbreaker, no restoration is going to look good without a proper hood. I find that they are not easily obtained for older tractors for obvious reasons. You might try giving this number a call: 515-576-6944. I know I got it out of Red Power magazine but incredibly I forgot to write down just who it was. Be that as it may, I know they make reproduction hoods for F-12s and F-20s. It is entirely possible that he makes them for F-30s as well. I would surely call first. If he has them they are going to be rather expensive. Carb missing--My guess is that is going to be a bit of a problem, though I am not necessarily an expert. Try calling a few junk yards before really making a serious offer on that tractor. Try to get a feel for what is available and at what cost, before you commit to dragging that thing home. It sounds like it is in no danger of being sold out from under you.
I have found that frozen blocks can in most cases be successfully freed up given time and proper proceedure. Go SLOWLY and DON'T force anything. Ask questions and they can almost always be freed. A better consideration is whether or not the block has been cracked. If so, then again it adds a whole new dimension to the project. Heads too, though I have seen them available, though of course at a pretty hefty price. You might even make on offer contingent on being able to successfully free it up, even if you have to do so in his field. One thing that gives me pause is that if it has been sitting there since 1978 uncovered and with nothing over the muffler, the sleeves and valves are quite likely to be completely shot. Actually as I think about it that is a pretty serious "IF" right there.
I haven't seen it of course, and I may be off the mark but given the right answers to these questions I know that it would be somewhat tempting for me to get it were I in your place, provided you cannot get another one in better condition or better yet, one that is running. Just be aware that it sounds like a costly restoration. I most certainly wouldn't recommend it as a first time project.

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