Let's see your rebuild and restore projects...

[sixdogs]

Restoring old farm equipment is it's own reward. Most is perfectly usable, and valuable after the TLC. Let's see any restores or rebuilds you've done, have in progress or are thinking of doing. Tractor, implement or whatever. It all counts..

Here's some ideas from prior threads of mine. There are many fantastic rebuilds out there by others and lots are referenced in my threads. Post or repost what you've done. Maybe inspire others

How to restore a neglected M6800 Kubota back to "WOW".

This is post one of three. Here's how I restore a neglected tractor, or piece of equipment back to impressive condition and with a minimum of effort and while maintaining it's originality and manufacturer integrity. It's easy-peasy. First, you change as little as possible and only clean...

www.tractorbynet.com

Above is restoring a neglected M6800 Kubota. Few bid at the auction because they thought it was gone. Nope.

Rebuild thread...Brillion cultimulcher...paint in the spring.

Bought this Brillion cultimulcher at a local auction last week and will rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and paint it in the spring. So it's a multi-month thread. Saving old equipment is really pretty neat so maybe I can encourage others.. Here's the piece. It's 12 ft wide. Look at the...

www.tractorbynet.com

Above is a Brillion cultimulcher. Bigger project but easy.

Rebuilding harragator "spike harrow" project

Cabin fever and kind of a slow time of year so I started to rebuld a set of harrows I bought. After taking some photos for myself I thought maybe I should post it here in hopes someone had an interest. It's not a difficult project but rewarding since I need the item when I'm done and it is an...

www.tractorbynet.com

Above is a bigger job of rebuilding a harragator. What was I thinking?

 

[sixdogs]

Here's a current effort of a one shank subsoiler.


Sad condition at auction.


Took a torch and an hour to get it apart. Loose and bent bolts.


Washed the parts. Neglected oval shear bolt hole a shame from loose bolt



I always use OEM correct colors. This is the first I ever used a spray can but small project and I didn't want to use a spray rig for it. Plus, it will be all dirt on first use. To mask decals, cover with blue painter's tape, define edge by rubbing fingernail along it and trim EXACTLY. Any less than perfect will not look right.


All done except for making the stand. Otherwise, impossible to hook up.



Ok, check the manufacturing faux pas. The rectangular tube is upside down and the seam should be on the bottom and not the finished surface.

After I make the stand I'll post a finished pic.

 

[sixdogs]

Scored a one shank ripper-subsoiler

Found this one shank subsoiler "ripper" recently and thought you guys would like to see it and my plans. These are great in clay soil to fracture the plow pan and allow better drainage. This one weighs 230 lbs but had been twisted by a guy that changed the grade 2 shearbolt for a grade 8 and...

www.tractorbynet.com

Another single shank done a few years ago.

 

[rangerfredbob]

Usually I'm more into the fabrication mode or just getting something working mode... I don't go far enough into things to spit shine and paint normally... I got an old Massy Furguson 25 disc at auction for like $200 a few years ago and now that my shop is usable decided to get it working so I could use it... It was kinda rough but decent, was missing a couple pins for the pivots, had some bent up stuff and missing a couple pieces of metal.

Step one was getting it in the shop, set it on a big pallet to save the floor... was already partially disassembled for this pic:

Straightening one of the links:

One of the pieces I had to fabricate, the gusset for that pin:

One pin had been too short for a long time and worn into the 3/8" plate on the bracket, filled in with weld:

One gang that had issues back in (all 8 bearings were removed for cleaning):

One of the bearings after cleanup

Welding one of the pins in place, the junk clamp is just holding the pin up:

Finished product on my tractor that is on the verge of being too small for the thing

The first time I really used it this spring tearing up the front yard, needed more weight but also needed more tractor, you work with what ya got, conveniently I picked up a tiller this year too so that helped the process:

 

[John0829]

Looks like you do much the same as I do, clean up, straighten and repair the worn bit and then put em' to work. I will on occasion slap a coat of paint on depending on what it is. Right now I am repairing a Dearborn 407 rotary hoe. The thing that amazes me: how in the heck do people bend some of the parts they do? It always seems to be some of the more robust, heavy/thicker steel parts that are "tweaked".

I mean how do you bend this?

Here I have finally gotten the angle iron of the frame back into shape.

 

[sixdogs]

Usually I'm more into the fabrication mode or just getting something working mode... I don't go far enough into things to spit shine and paint normally... I got an old Massy Furguson 25 disc at auction for like $200 a few years ago and now that my shop is usable decided to get it working so I could use it... It was kinda rough but decent, was missing a couple pins for the pivots, had some bent up stuff and missing a couple pieces of metal.

Step one was getting it in the shop, set it on a big pallet to save the floor... was already partially disassembled for this pic:
View attachment 821491

Straightening one of the links:
View attachment 821492

One of the pieces I had to fabricate, the gusset for that pin:
View attachment 821494

One pin had been too short for a long time and worn into the 3/8" plate on the bracket, filled in with weld:
View attachment 821495
View attachment 821496

One gang that had issues back in (all 8 bearings were removed for cleaning):
View attachment 821497
One of the bearings after cleanup
View attachment 821498

Welding one of the pins in place, the junk clamp is just holding the pin up:
View attachment 821499

Finished product on my tractor that is on the verge of being too small for the thing
View attachment 821500

The first time I really used it this spring tearing up the front yard, needed more weight but also needed more tractor, you work with what ya got, conveniently I picked up a tiller this year too so that helped the process:
View attachment 821501

That is a wonderful disc and you did an admirable job. I had one of those discs years ago and the repairs you did are what it needed. I liked the levers to easily adjust the angle.
In my stack of stuff, I think I still have an original owner's manual for it, not that you need it. If you want it, PM me.

 

[sixdogs]

Looks like you do much the same as I do, clean up, straighten and repair the worn bit and then put em' to work. I will on occasion slap a coat of paint on depending on what it is. Right now I am repairing a Dearborn 407 rotary hoe. The thing that amazes me: how in the heck do people bend some of the parts they do? It always seems to be some of the more robust, heavy/thicker steel parts that are "tweaked".

View attachment 821544

I mean how do you bend this?

View attachment 821545

Here I have finally gotten the angle iron of the frame back into shape.

View attachment 821547

Since I have seen it I will say they bend them putting way too much weight on them. Big rocks in a pinch, railroad iron if you have any and concrete chunks or anything heavy for backup.
Guys used them for the wrong purpose. They wanted them to be primary tillage tools when were designed as a final pass toolbar for already worked ground and before seeding or planting. They work great for that.

How did you bend the frame back so straight?

 

[John0829]

I know people like that who think, if the tractor can just pick it up then the weight is just right. Still at times there are some I have to scratch my head and wonder how?

Getting the frame back into shape took a far bit of bracing, chaining and pressing with a 4 ton jack plus a 24" adjustable wrench and come-a-long. Took a good bit of a day to move it back one small bit at a time to keep from overworking the metal. Could have used the torch and a rosebud to do it quicker but I did not want to change the temper of the metal.

 

[sixdogs]

I know people like that who think, if the tractor can just pick it up then the weight is just right. Still at times there are some I have to scratch my head and wonder how?

Getting the frame back into shape took a far bit of bracing, chaining and pressing with a 4 ton jack plus a 24" adjustable wrench and come-a-long. Took a good bit of a day to move it back one small bit at a time to keep from overworking the metal. Could have used the torch and a rosebud to do it quicker but I did not want to change the temper of the metal.

Agreed. Most of these older implements were made of high quality steel with a high nickel content. I don't know the exact weight but I've seen pieces like yours with maybe 1,000 lbs on them and they just keep chugging along and don't quit.

That's a nice implement and an admirable job to correctly get it back in shape.

 

[sixdogs]

From the first post, these pics are from the referenced rebuilds. Click on the links in the first post for pics of the process. The "Wow' tractor one is a good start.