The Old Girl Brought Back from the Dead

[MBDiagMan]

I started a few threads within the last few months in the process of bringing my old Ford 3000 diesel back from the dead. A few folks asked for pictures so I will post them here.

The tractor sat several years and would not turn over. The charging system was not working when I sat it out but it was running good. After removing the injectors and pouring lots of brake fluid in the cylinders and turning on the crankshaft bolt I finally got it freed up. After several bouts with the starter. I finally got my wife to pull me with my other tractor. It smoked like a steam engine and then started. I ran it awhile and blew out the crap before the exhaust cleared out.

I then ran it to operating temperature and drained the oil while it was hot. Once it stopped streaming I poured several gallons of diesel fuel through the open pan. With fresh oil and filter it has run a few hours since and the dipstick still shows clean oil

I then poured plenty of Power Service Kleen in the fuel tank and cranked it up. While running I drained about a pint of diesel out of each fuel filter and let it run awhile. After that it ran smooth and even and starts up quickly.

I replaced the seat which was rotted BAD and replaced generator brushes finding them not only worn out but one with a broken lead. It still wouldn't charge so I replaced the regulator and the charging system is now working good.

The 3PH was stuck at the top and at the suggestion of a TBN member I fiddled with the flow control valve and got it working good.

She now falls in the same category as me, that is, she looks bad, but works good.

BTW, in the picture that shows the left side of the tractor, you can see my Australian Shepherd Harry resting on the driveway.

 

[Transit]

Nice, now add a ROP so we dont read about you being in a tractor accident.

 

[MBDiagMan]

I ran it A LOT for over 20 years without ROPS with no trouble, never even close to a rollover. I'm on relatively flat ground.

 

[CowwFace]

MBdiagMan,

That is a very rewarding project for sure! What made you put the ol' Girl out in the first place? Mutiple failure points like your charging system can be a bugger to get nailed down you rocked the house on that one.

What are you going to do with her now? Since it's all fixed up you can let her sit till she's rusted again? <grin>.

Carry on

 

[EddieWalker]

Nice looking machine. I really like those old Fords, but wonder about the muffler. Is that the only place to put it? I have something similar on my Dozer because I refuse to spend $800 for a replacemnt muffler, so I welded on a round muffler onto the pipe that was only a hundred bucks.

Eddie

 

[jinman]

Man! That sure is a pretty seat settin' on that ugly ol' tractor.:laughing: Great job!

 

[MBDiagMan]

Now that you mention the muffler, there's a funny story as to where I got it. The muffler that was on it when I got it was rotting to pieces and I was starting to think about buying one somewhere. I got caught in a North Dallas traffic jam one morning. One of those where you move one car length and stop and wait, then move another car length.

I was in the left lane and out of boredom was looking down at the junk in the area between the left lane and the retainer wall. I saw a partially torn box with what looked like a muffler inside. I got out and threw it in the trunk real fast. When I got home I got this brand new muffler out of the trunk and it fit the tractor perfectly. It was a lot quieter than the one I took off and I was spending alot of time on it in those days, so quiet was good. I got a rain cap that fit it and there it sets. Just like the rest of the tractor, except maybe the seat, looks bad but works good.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've always been a big fan of function first. Quiet is a big plus too!!!!

Great story on how you came across the muffler.

Eddie

 

[MBDiagMan]

MBdiagMan,

That is a very rewarding project for sure! What made you put the ol' Girl out in the first place? Mutiple failure points like your charging system can be a bugger to get nailed down you rocked the house on that one.

What are you going to do with her now? Since it's all fixed up you can let her sit till she's rusted again? <grin>.

Carry on

The reason she was put out to pasture was that I sold my cattle and leased out my pastures and meadow several years ago when I was traveling too much. I have only about six acres or so now that I take care of myself. About two of that I take care of with a Zero Turn mower. My renter shred the other four for me, then I leased to a different guy who takes really great care of the place but I didn't bargain for him to do the shredding because I knew he would take such good care of the rest of it, so I didn't want to push the bargain. He has indeed really taken great care of everything.

Things change, and I'm about four and a half years from retirement. I wanted a front end loader and putting one on the old Ford just didn't seem to make sense. I bought a shiny new one with a front end loader. Since getting the new machine, I've been making serious improvement to how things look around here.

When I retire I plan to take back my pastures and meadow and mess with cattle again. At least that's the plan as things are today. Unless my health fails or some other unpredicted change takes place, I will be using my new tractor alot more in the coming years.

Since the old girl has been replaced with a shiny new one now, I have her up for sale. Some folks here on TBN are saying I can't get much for her. If that comes to pass, I'll paint her up pretty and drive in parades before I'll give her away. She's been on the place almost as long as I have, 24 years. She's almost like an old sway back mare or something. Maybe a little too attached.

 

[Soundguy]

nice pics!

'nuther one saved..

soundguy