Exactly what IS "restored"

[FULLPULL]

This is a good question . If a farmer does normal up keep on a tractor and uses it regular there is normal up keep. Paint always seems to make it look new . Parts that wear finaly give up and its time to replace them then go back to work . If i was going to restore a tractor i would find one with good sheet metal not good paint . Sand blast it and check for worn parts and replace as needed. With the price of laybor and parts even if you do your own work you can wind up with a hefty bill . They may not pay for there self now but you just gave a tractor another 20 years of service .

 

[scott_vt]

Myself? My idea of a restoration is getting everything back to near new condition, and looking like it did when it was a new tractor in the field. A few MINOR alterations are acceptable. Paint should look original. Tractors in the "old days" didn't have a high luster shine that required a welding hood to look at on a sunny day. They did have a smooth finish, but not a "wet look". Paint schemes should be original. No extra detailing. I like to see things like original seats and cushions. Gauges should be OEM style. Wiring not painted UNLESS it was painted originally. Most new tractors had the radiator hoses in place when painted. Unpainted hoses are acceptable, but probably not an original detail. Tires should at least be original size. I've seen a lot of "show tractors" that have over-sized rubber. Not my cup of tea. I'm big on a tractor having as many options, even those that were dealer installed options of the day. (ie umbrellas, fender radios, bumpers/grill gaurds, ect)

Now mind you, I'm not talking about a "refurbished" older tractor that was cleaned up and made mechanically sound for every day use. I'm talking RESTORED. Also, keep in mind I'm NOT trying to pin everyone down to an exact set of rules.

Your thoughts?

Mornin Bill,
Now Bill thats a darn difficult question early in the mornin ! Im guessin those aftermarket red and white padded seats would leave me out of the restoration club for sure !

Im thinkin I need another cup of coffee and need to ponder this awhile longer !

The good news is that I didnt spend a ton of dough on fancy paint !

 

[Wayne County Hose]

I've done quite a bit in the automotive restoration/hotrod field and one thing I'm not impressed with is "trailer queens." Sure, there are some cars and some tractors that belong in museums. A 1969 ZL-1 camaro for one. Tractors? I don't know but I'm certain there are some extremely rare ones. I have seen the Hemi Superbirds with no engine internals, they push it on and off the trailer to shows. That doesn't impress me.
I don't know about tractors, but an antique car is allowed to be painted any color that was offered for that car, even if it was just trim paint, and not get any points knocked off at a show. My friends 1931 Chevy has yellow painted rims from the factory. He could paint the whole car yellow and not lose points. Let's hope tractor shows/judging doesn't follow this example.
A tractor doesn't have to be assembly line correct in my book. I can appreciate the time, effort, and money it takes to do this on any level the owner chooses to do it. But, I would much rather see a factory paint job than a need-my-sunglasses-on-a-cloudy-day paint job. Shiny paint is actually much easier than factory paint.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Mornin Bill,
Now Bill thats a darn difficult question early in the mornin ! Im guessin those aftermarket red and white padded seats would leave me out of the restoration club for sure !

Im thinkin I need another cup of coffee and need to ponder this awhile longer !

The good news is that I didnt spend a ton of dough on fancy paint !

Howdy Scotty!

Where ya been keepin' yourself? Miss you around here.

My theory about "restored" has always been "to each his own". I have MY definition, but don't see that as THE defined rule. There are different levels of restoration. The Greenies (Deere-oids) have their "EXPO QUALITY" to shoot for (2-Cylinder EXPO allows ONLY the best of the best to show) Fortunatly, the rest of us don't have such a high bar to clear.

My idea of a restoration can be a work in progress. (ie, my 150) It may NEVER be "finished" even though it's done to acceptable standards. There's always room for improvement.

When I go to a show, I expect to see restored tractors in various degrees of "perfection". A quality aftermarket seat cushion is better than a ripped burlap feed bag stretched over an old pillow. It's all about what makes you happy though. Me? I like OEM/NOS parts and not too many aftermarket pieces. The next guy might not even notice the seat cushion.

My 150 is probably 95% complete. (Still looking for (A) an OEM steering wheel, (B) a right fender, (C) Correct "period" MF fender mounted AM/FM radio. The NEXT project, dads Ferguson F-40 will be a long, drawn out affair. It hasn't ran in 10 years, and probably won't roll out of the shop for another 5. It will be PERFECT when it's done. Nothing less will be acceptable. If I'm still up to another after that, I'll be doing my uncles old MF50. The standards won't be nearly as strict with that one.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Howdy Scotty!

Where ya been keepin' yourself? Miss you around here.

My theory about "restored" has always been "to each his own". I have MY definition, but don't see that as THE defined rule. There are different levels of restoration. The Greenies (Deere-oids) have their "EXPO QUALITY" to shoot for (2-Cylinder EXPO allows ONLY the best of the best to show) Fortunatly, the rest of us don't have such a high bar to clear.

My idea of a restoration can be a work in progress. (ie, my 150) It may NEVER be "finished" even though it's done to acceptable standards. There's always room for improvement.

When I go to a show, I expect to see restored tractors in various degrees of "perfection". A quality aftermarket seat cushion is better than a ripped burlap feed bag stretched over an old pillow. It's all about what makes you happy though. Me? I like OEM/NOS parts and not too many aftermarket pieces. The next guy might not even notice the seat cushion.

My 150 is probably 95% complete. (Still looking for (A) an OEM steering wheel, (B) a right fender, (C) Correct "period" MF fender mounted AM/FM radio. The NEXT project, dads Ferguson F-40 will be a long, drawn out affair. It hasn't ran in 10 years, and probably won't roll out of the shop for another 5. It will be PERFECT when it's done. Nothing less will be acceptable. If I'm still up to another after that, I'll be doing my uncles old MF50. The standards won't be nearly as strict with that one.

The 2 Cylinder club's main expo allows unrestored tractors and also allows "lesser" restorations to show. The point of the show is to have as many variations of tractors there as possible so they will take just about anything in order to achieve this goal. If they get multiples of the same model (like 100 identical 1950 model B's) then they will take only the best. But the whole theory that they only except the best for everything is a false rumor that has been spread for years.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

A quality aftermarket seat cushion is better than a ripped burlap feed bag stretched over an old pillow.

stop making fun of my tractors

I replaced a few feed bags on the cushion of the MF 135 and some day I will replace that old worn out thing with a new, correct cushion.

Something else I just thought about, my Ford 640 is suppose to be gray and red. However, the farm who owned the tractor since new repainted it around 5 years ago a nice blue and white like Ford tractors should be. That tractor looks so much nicer in blue and white I can never see repainting it the Gray and red if I did a full restore on it.

 

[RobS]

I saw a shoe some time back on car restoration. They talked about a true factory restoration and how that differs from the "perfect" restorations that are common. In the factory restoration they bring it back to exactly the way it was manufactured, even with the manufacturing "defects". The example I recall was the paint on a Corvette. Due to the body lines and paint guns, there was a portion of the body that did not get much paint so these guys replicated just that. A far cry from the "15 coats of hand rubbed laquer".

I really don't know much about refurbishing and restoration but I do enjoy looking at the old vehicles and tractors at shows.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

So I guess my old MF 85 won't be doing any shows soon with it's boat cushion for a seat. Anyone got an old seat for my baby?

 

[flusher]

----- But, I would much rather see a factory paint job than a need-my-sunglasses-on-a-cloudy-day paint job. Shiny paint is actually much easier than factory paint.

My "refurbished" 1964 MF-135 has shiny paint on the dash and the duller "factory" paint on the fenders and hood.

How did I manage this?

Ans: a cheap $40 HVLP spray gun from Harbor Freight, fairly cheap paint from Tractor Supply (supposed to be from Valspar) thinned with VM&P naptha, and, most important, my severe limitations as a spray painter.

 

[scott_vt]

Howdy Scotty!

Where ya been keepin' yourself? Miss you around here.

Afternoon Bill,
Well partner Im in semi retirement these days but Ill give you an inside view of my office 3 days a week !

BTW, theres nothin like the smell of diesel in the mornin !

Oh yea, almost forgot to mention, Ive got dual chrome stacks on my rig !

Sure beats lookin at 4 walls !