Grandpa's E3, so sad

larryinparks · Oct 28, 2011

I found my Grandpa's ol' Co-op E3 rusting away in an old barn. I wish that I had the time/energy/money to get her going. I bet that Grandpa would be smiling down if I did.

OcalaPat · Oct 28, 2011

Drag-er outa there and start cleaning, Ud be supprised how quickly it turns into an obsession:thumbsup:

KubotainNH · Oct 28, 2011

Take the old girl out and give/sell it to someone who has the time. At least you'll know it will have a better future.

creekbend · Oct 28, 2011

If you have the time and funds, why not restore it? If not, have you considered contacting a Vintage Farm Machinery club or group in your area? Perhaps they would be interested in restoring it. You may or may not receive any funds, but you will have the satisfaction that it will be around in its former condition for many years to come. Your Grandpa would surely be proud.

:tractor:

BobG_in_VA · Oct 28, 2011

creekbend said:
If you have the time and funds, why not restore it? If not, have you considered contacting a Vintage Farm Machinery club or group in your area? Perhaps they would be interested in restoring it. You may or may not receive any funds, but you will have the satisfaction that it will be around in its former condition for many years to come. Your Grandpa would surely be proud.:tractor:

Sometimes a 4-H club will take such a thing on as a project...or..donate it to the local high school shop program...they will take it on to redo it/get it started, etc....and you can take a write off of your taxes...BobG in VA

creekbend · Oct 28, 2011

BobG_in_VA said:
Sometimes a 4-H club will take such a thing on as a project...or..donate it to the local high school shop program...they will take it on to redo it/get it started, etc....and you can take a write off of your taxes...BobG in VA

That's a good idea. I didn't think of that.

MikeD74T · Oct 29, 2011

creekbend said:
That's a good idea. I didn't think of that.

Get it appraised first. Without the right guidance a bunch of well meaning kids (or adults) could greatly depreciate that tractor. MikeD74T

flusher · Oct 29, 2011

BobG_in_VA said:
Sometimes a 4-H club will take such a thing on as a project...or..donate it to the local high school shop program...they will take it on to redo it/get it started, etc....and you can take a write off of your taxes...BobG in VA

Yep, and a lot of FFA chapters have tractor restoration projects for the kids.

DJ54 · Oct 29, 2011

Being that is original paint, and stenciling, I'd be tempted to leave it as it is, other than a good cleaning up, fix what needs fixed, and maybe new seals & gaskets for what may be seeping. But that is me...

All those scrapes and dings gives it a little character..!!

Bet in a lineup of shiny restored tractors, this one would grab more attention, than you realize. I've seen lots of tractors supposedly restored, and look good from maybe 100' back. Get up close, and you see where they "Gunked" them off, halfway buffed the paint off, with a wire cup brush, leaving a lot of the original paint on, and gave it a quick paint job, and a new set of decals...

I'd much rather see something like this in original condition. Now that would be a rare tractor..!!

larryinparks · Oct 29, 2011

Wow, guys, thanks for all of the interest and input. I'm not sure what the family wants to do with her, but I'd like to get her running...some day. It's out of state for me, and I grabbed these shots while visiting this summer. I found out it was driven into the barn, but nobody knows how long ago. I'm guessing 25+ years.