Re: tips on evaluating non-running rusty tractors

Posted by MikeH-Tx on July 17, 2000 at 13:59:46 from (202.135.119.100):

In Reply to: tips on evaluating non-running rusty tractors posted by Leon on July 17, 2000 at 12:33:41:

Leon, you asked a couple of questions I can't answer, but some that I can:

What you look for in a rusty tractor varies depending on what your intention is. Rusty sheet metal: who cares if you just want to tinker. If you want a great paint job on a parade machine, fully restored, start with better raw material.

For run of the mill tractors, which sounds like what you are describing, the price should be nearly free to make any sense. Then, figure anything internal to the engine you don't have to replace is good fortune.

As far as checking for being seized ("stuck" is tractor dude lingo. Cars seize, tractors stick.), two comments. First, stuck is worse than not stuck, but not a disaster either. It is relatively straightforward to get it unstuck. See the archive articles on this site. Why it is stuck may be more important. Frequently it is because water was allowed into the engine through the exhaust or carburetor or sparkplug holes. Water not only causes terrible corrosion, but often cracks the block or head or whatever. Even this can be fixed, but why start with such a machine when there are better basket cases available. You can check for it being stuck by putting it in high gear, engaging the clutch and trying to rotate the tires manually. Probably this will take a come-along or another tractor or truck if the dead tractor has been sitting as long as you suspect. Brakes may be frozen, complicating this check, wheels will be embedded in dirt.

There are many uses for old rusty tractors. Complete restoration is only one of them. I have seen rusty tractors made to run and left rusty. Some folks like to do engine work, some paint, some the whole thing. No rules apply. Get a fair price or better and have fun.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Re: tips on evaluating non-running rusty tractors Leon 14:22:18 07/17/00 (1)
  • Re: Re: Re: tips on evaluating non-running rusty tractors MikeH-Tx 15:03:24 07/17/00 (0)

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