John Deere 40 finished!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nat]

I forgot to take any before pics, but here are some finished pics.
When I got it the hood was bent down in the midle, 2 flat tires, grill screen missing, tool box and battery covers missing, lower grill cowl broken off top section, no seat and it didn't run.
The running problem was fixed by replacing the plugs and setting the point gap correctly. The setling bowl leaked gas out, but just needed a little attention. After getting it to start and run right I started on the sheet metal. I straightened the hoodd and nose piece, welded the lower c owl to the upper nose piece. I ordered a grill screen and the battery box and tool box and covers. while waiting for it to come in I finished the sheet metal repairs and cleaned, and cleaned, and cleaned, well you get the picture. I had to trace down a charging problem, finnally got that figured out so now the gen charges . Any way here it is sporting the straightened and repaired sheet metal and new covers with a shiny new paint job. Got the new decals in Wed. PM and they are now on it. I am well pleased with how it looks now. This is the best paint job I've ever got on anything so it realy is sharpe. I hope you like it, it sure was a lot of work. Later, Nat

 

[flusher]

I forgot to take any before pics, but here are some finished pics.
When I got it the hood was bent down in the midle, 2 flat tires, grill screen missing, tool box and battery covers missing, lower grill cowl broken off top section, no seat and it didn't run.
The running problem was fixed by replacing the plugs and setting the point gap correctly. The setling bowl leaked gas out, but just needed a little attention. After getting it to start and run right I started on the sheet metal. I straightened the hoodd and nose piece, welded the lower c owl to the upper nose piece. I ordered a grill screen and the battery box and tool box and covers. while waiting for it to come in I finished the sheet metal repairs and cleaned, and cleaned, and cleaned, well you get the picture. I had to trace down a charging problem, finnally got that figured out so now the gen charges . Any way here it is sporting the straightened and repaired sheet metal and new covers with a shiny new paint job. Got the new decals in Wed. PM and they are now on it. I am well pleased with how it looks now. This is the best paint job I've ever got on anything so it realy is sharpe. I hope you like it, it sure was a lot of work. Later, Nat

Wow!! That's one great looking 40. Congrats on an excellent job.

The JD 40 is on my wish list. I want to add a JD to my collection of old iron, which presently consists of a 1951 MM Model BF (being restored this summer), a 1951 Farmall Super A (next in line for restoration) and a 1964 MF-135 diesel (partially restored, needs oil leaks fixed).

The JD 40 is small enough for me to restore with the shop equipment I already have. I figured the the 40 would be a good choice since it was the first JD tractor offered with a standard 3pt hitch. A 2-cylinder Johnny Popper would be nice, but they're big and heavy and usually only have a drawbar.

Also looking for a small Allis Chalmers tractor, e.g. a B or C.

 

[JESSE1]

You've done a beautiful job on it. Now you need to take it to some shows.

 

[kennyd]

Beautiful job! What paint did you use?

 

[Nat]

I got the paint and hardner from TSC, The tool box/dattery box and cover came from yesterdays, tractor. The grill screen came from Tony Carbaugh. The decal set also came from yesterdays tractors. I enjoyed doing this tractor the most of all the rest I've done. Vickie says to keep this one cause it looks right at our place, that's a shocker to me. Later, nat

 

[scott_vt]

Good Afternoon Nat,
Beautiful job !!! Thanks for sharing, it came out beautiful ! Enjoy !

 

[kennyd]

I got the paint and hardner from TSC, The tool box/dattery box and cover came from yesterdays, tractor. The grill screen came from Tony Carbaugh. The decal set also came from yesterdays tractors. I enjoyed doing this tractor the most of all the rest I've done. Vickie says to keep this one cause it looks right at our place, that's a shocker to me. Later, nat

Just keep it out of the sun! The TSC paint fades quickly.

 

[John from NH]

Hi Nat,
Your beautiful JD 40 brought a tear to my eye. My grandfather had one and it was the first tractor I ever drove. He managed a sheep farm with a large orchard and garden in Connecticut. He used it for cutting and baling hay and plowing duties. I spent many enjoyable hours helping him do "chores" with that 40 of his. Thanks for sharing your fine restoration!

John

 

[GeneD14]

Nat,

The tractor looks great!

I have restored several antique tractors and I think the funnest part is putting them back together once all of the pieces are painted.

 

[Nat]

Guys, I appreciate all the positive comments, It makes all the hard work worth it.
On a side note I went to TSC and checked on new tires for the front. 1 is a truck tire and the other is a wore out 2 rib ag tire, TSC wanted 89.00 per tire. Since I had to go pick up a tire for my trailer I asked a local tire dealer how much. He has me 2 new front tires coming tommorow for +++++++++++ 40.00 ++++++++++++ mounted. You can't beat that. and it will look better without that truck tire also. Later, Nat

 

[YellCoGin]

Very nice JD. The new tires will really set it off.

 

[EddieWalker]

Nat,

Nice job, it looks brand new.

I'd be curios if you made a profit from it when you sell it. I've always wanted to do this, but in every case that I've gotten semi serious about it, I don't see how I can do it and then sell it to break even.

Eddie

 

[Nat]

Eddie. I will make a little profit whenever I sell it, probably 3 $ per hour. The things you have to replace are what gets you. For instance the battery/toolbox cover for the leftside was 90$ and the one for the right side was 125$.
The grill screen was 94$. I probably have 6 hours just straightening the hood, and maybe 10 Hours working on the nose piece. Some people are faster on the sheetmetal work than I am and it doesn't bother me. Taking the wheels off to paint the tractor and then painting and putting them back on is a job by yourself especially since these were loaded.
I love messing with these old tractors, and if you find one at a bargain that doesn't need many parts bought you can make a few bucks at it, but I doubt anyone could earn a living at it.
Soundguy does a lot of Fords and knows them inside out, so He could probably make $ at them, where-as Scott in Vermont does some Farmalls, but the level of detail he goes to isn't giong to make a profit.
Fixing up an old tractor is something you and Padon could do together that is a great experience for both of you. Give it a try.
I just like messing with old tractors. Later, nat

 

[bontai_Joe]

If it's your hobby, a profit isn't as important as the satisfaction of doing it. Hobbiests that bowl, fish, or sail boats typically spend more than they will ever recover from their hobby. Fixing up old tractors, both big and small is typically the same thing for most folks that do it. Yep, there are a few guys that are good enough, fast enough and smart enough about what old machine to buy and which ones to pass on that make some money at it, but not tha majority.

 

[s78wingrider]

I grew up on a farm with an IH-H and a JD-40. That 40 was always doing more work than it looked capable of ! Aaron

 

[Thumper & Buttercup]

Hey Nat that looks great!!!!