Tractor Restorations

[Soundguy]

could jimmy the tach... got a power drill?

 

[MasseyWV]

could jimmy the tach... got a power drill?

I was thinking about doing that too.

In the old days, people used to change the old mechanical speedos all the time using a drill. I wonder how long it would take to advance the new tachometer to 2825.2 hours? Going by normal hours, 24 in a day, I came up with 117 days, but using a drill might speed that up a bit?

 

[MasseyWV]

I also discovered that my tractor has electroluminescent gauges. Rather than being illuminated by traditional light bulbs, they are illuminated by electroluminescence. It's difficult to explain how it works, so here is a link for a better description.

Electroluminescence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

All of the gauges work, except for the generator (amps) and water temperature. When illuminated, they have a soft green glow that looks really cool at night. However, I suspect that finding replacement OEM gauges (new or used) of the same type may be difficult and/or expensive, so I am considering the possibility of replacing them all with new ones. However, I'd like to have accurate hours showing on the tach so that could create a complication if I decide to replace them all. I'll try to take a picture of one of them later.

Here's a picture of my tractor's electroilluminescent tachometer. The camera I was using had difficulty focusing on it so the picture doesn't do it justice. It looks really cool.

 

[Ken Pike]

Bought a 1940 Ford 9N 30 or so years ago & spent all summer working on it. Engine was a recent rebuild & wasn't touched. Looked like a million bucks & worked great. Back went out on me & spent 3 weeks in bed. Got discouraged & sold the tractor for $2400 - $400 profit! "Tractor Expert" that bought it threw logging chains over front & rear axels to chain it down - scratching the fenders & scraping paint off the chassis, & all the time bragging about how she would get worse than that when he put 'er to work. Broke my heart. Bought a '47 Ford 8N 3 years ago that had been restored 10 or 12 years before that. It still looks pretty good & works great. Had to repair the hydraulics (apart 3 times now), rear axel seals/brakes, repaired a botched 12v conversion & rewired, new manifold. Might repaint the sheet metal this summer, but have no time or desire for a trailer queen.

 

[jenkinsph]

Here's a picture of my tractor's electroilluminescent tachometer. The camera I was using had difficulty focusing on it so the picture doesn't do it justice. It looks really cool.

Electroilluminescent displays have been around a long time, I remember helping my dad with his Chrysler Imperial 1958 restoration and thats what it had.

 

[flusher]

Here's a picture of my tractor's electroilluminescent tachometer. The camera I was using had difficulty focusing on it so the picture doesn't do it justice. It looks really cool.

That's neat:thumbsup:

 

[Soundguy]

I was thinking about doing that too.

In the old days, people used to change the old mechanical speedos all the time using a drill. I wonder how long it would take to advance the new tachometer to 2825.2 hours? Going by normal hours, 24 in a day, I came up with 117 days, but using a drill might speed that up a bit?

alldepends upon the drill speed and the tach input speed as to what you could do.

on many old tractor tachs, you can pry the bezel up..I've done it on near a dozen to repair a bad tach or hourmeter. once inside you can set them as needed.. then pusht he bezel back down after cleaning glass and face and resetting gasket.. BTDT...

 

[MasseyWV]

When restoring old tractors, how far do you go?

Back when I originally created this thread, I had no idea about the tractor restoration "adventure" that awaited me, but I know now. :confused2:

 

[pitotshock]

I have a bunch of stuff that is in the list for restoration. I got a few pieces of equipment from my father-in-law for free in various states of repair. My plan is to restore them to functioning condition as it will be needed to work around the farm. So this winter I plan on doing the
1960's - International #15 side bar rake - Tines, lift mechanism some bearings, and
1983 Kubota L355 SS - Needs an engine rebuild, FWD shaft, sheet metal work among other things

Up after that is the 1960's NH 512 manure spreader and then the NH 479 haybine. All of these are working right now on our horse farm, but I think it will be cheaper for me to restore them rather than buy a replacement. My F-I-L bought most of these pieces in the last 5-8 years and then gave them to me when they downsized from their hobby farm. The rake and manure spreader he only paid $100 each for.

In this area, old equipment seems to be sold for a fortune. The hay rake in prettied up condition usually sells for around $1,000+ so if I spend $200-$300 upgrading it and get another 10+ years out of it, my time will be worth it. The Manure spreader needs some new sheet metal and this sized model fetches $3,000+. The little Kubota tractor can fetch $10,000 to $12,000 in good working order and my budget is around $3k. Starting with free stuff tips the scale towards the rebuild side a little more, but obviously this has to be a labour of love to make it worth it. Time is always short, but in winter it is less short...