The restoration of a Ford 445A w/ Gannon Scraper box

aircommuter · Jun 3, 2016

I bought this used 445A to have around the property, I hauled it out from OK. Tractors with hydraulic scraper boxes are hard to find for a decent price. I decided to start at the scraper box and work forward, rebuilding and painting as I went. The box had a lot of loose pin holes and worn pins. I cut out holes that were egged out and made new pieces and welded them back in. I made some custom pins from 4140 steel and added extra bracing on the box. I rebuilt all the cylinders on the tractor (7) and put on all new hoses. The box had a lot of wear on the front edge which is normal, I built it up and hard faced it. These boxes are known for the rippers leaking down and one has to keep raising them up, I installed a holding valve. I doubled the mounting ears also and welded on all new swivel ends.
This rebuild is too much for one post so this is a start with some pictures.

topbuilder · Jun 4, 2016

Very nice work.
New tires, new paint... ready to go to work!

Powereng · Jun 4, 2016

Wow! That looks great. Nice work.

joecdeere · Jun 4, 2016

Nice!

aircommuter · Jun 4, 2016

One of things that came up in the restoration was a badly rusted rear wheel. I had put on one new rear tire but the second one was too rusted to save. I found a place that made the rims so I cut the hub out and welded a new rim onto my hub.
The next thing was replacing all the fluids and filters.

JKR · Jun 4, 2016

Nice work

topbuilder · Jun 4, 2016

Any "before" pics?
What brand tires did you go with?

aircommuter · Jun 4, 2016

I am looking to see if I have any, when I started I was not thinking too much about keeping track, there is the one on my trailer but it doesn't show much. The new post I did shows the old wheel. The rears are Speedways 12 P.R. R-4, the fronts are Regency 10 P.R. I filled the rears with 60 gallons of windshield washer fluid giving me 500 lbs. in each plus the 300 lb. weights.

jimmysisson · Jun 5, 2016

Is that unusual for these rigs to have the tilt cylinder on the left side, and the diagonal brace links on the 3- point arms? Looks ready for tough work. Nice updates!
Jim

aircommuter · Jun 5, 2016

I have seen them with tilt cylinder on the right also. I looked at it closely when I was building it and the geometry was the same either way. I braced instead of the chains because
I don't like sideplay when I am next to curbs, fences and the like.