Re: 75 Ford 2000 3 Cylinder
Got the canopy on yesterday. That was a pain by myself out in the middle of a field but I figured out to get it up on top of the ROPS and hold it while I got a couple bolts in. I have a pic and will post it later.
The battery that was in the tractor I knew up front was not the correct one (too small) but it started up fine that day a number of times. After sitting a week yesterday I had some trouble starting and I also got it flooded so I let it set for a bit and then got it started up OK, but I think have the problem from the beginning yesterday was that the battery didn't have enough umph to spin the starter fast enough, was always turning slow even the first time I cranked it over. Took battery to friends place and load tested it, sure enough its weak. We put it on charge and I took it back and it started OK (this is after I flooded it and let it set). So I went off looking for a new battery. Well on a Saturday afternoon all the parts houses are closed so no help there. While I was near civilization I tried surfing the web on my phone to find the correct battery size but was coming up short. Stopped at TSC and there battery application chart was worthless unless you had the original battery or knew the original group size. I didn't have anything with me in the field to measure the tray size with so wasn't sure what would fit. Tried one battery (don't remember group size right now) but it was too tall. Took it back and thought about the F-4DLT but that was too long for my tray so couldn't use that either. found some conflicting information on this question raised on another forum where it was debated if the 4DLT or a 17TF. No size 17TF at TSC so went with the biggest (highest CCA) low profile battery I could find on the shelf. I didn't get back to put it in yesterday, maybe today if chores don't take all day.
Working on it is gonna be tough as I have only a small shed big enough to put the tractor in and lock it up and I had to make room in there to squeeze it in, so no working room in bad weather or to store or spread out anything I'm working on. No electricity within 500 feet so if I need power I'll have to drag a generator over from the house or use cordless tools (drill, impact driver, etc.) which I have.
I changed both air filters with new ones I had picked up at the NH dealer the other day. $86 for the pair of them, yikes! I had noticed when I was looking the tractor over the day of purchase that the gas cap seal was deteriorated and while getting the air filters I asked if they had on in stock and how much. No, don't have one for a gasser but can order it...$68...for a stinking gas cap that has nothing special about it? They got to be kidding. I look up a STANT gas cap from my local NAPA dealer and its $5.99, and chromed to boot.
I looked over the condition of the plugs wires, cap/rotor/points. they are not in such bad shape so maybe I can get by for right now with them. No signs of arcing on the cap and the terminals are all clean, no corrosion at the plug wire connections and nothing on the inside of the cap, and no pitting on the points. Haven't checked timing or point gap yet, didn't have those tools with me.
That will be the other inconvenient part of working on this, all my tools are at another location 8 miles away, so everything will be like doing a field repair w/o the benefits of a shop for such things as a concrete floor to work on (if I need use a jack its safer on a stable surface), torch, welder, air compressor, work bench w/vise, etc.
If I had a flat bed trailer I would drag it over to the shop when I wanted to work on it but I don't. The trailer I used to bring it home was not mine. Between the Bobcat and now this tractor its getting to where I almost need my own trailer. The Bobcat will fit in the dump trailer but the tractor won't. I'd prefer and I'm looking around to see what's out there and also pricing new flat bed and tilt bed trailers. There are a couple auctions coming up soon so maybe I can find something there. Maybe I'll get lucky and find a trailer and a mower and a box blade all at the same auction.
