turnoffs and downsides to old iron-survey

andrewj · Nov 15, 2005

( ( My only experience was with a 1949 Ferguson TO-20, but here is my turnoffs and downsides.

No ROPS.
No seatbelts.
No safety switches in case the operator came off.
No PTO shields.
)

That was from a time when it was assumed that people would use common sense, and if they didn't, their family didn't sue the manufacurer. )

redlevel, please reconsider this - yours is the kind of mindset "as long as I use my common sense I'll be fine" that creates widows. No one gets out of bed and decides to have a lapse in judgmenet. it Can happen to anyone, and these safety features rops, seatbeld, pto sheild, are in and of themselves, common sense. Anyone can trip and fall into a spinning PTO, especially the young /unsuspecting children. Be safe!

redlevel · Nov 15, 2005

andrewj, you misunderstood my post. I think the safety features are great, and have undoubtedly saved many lives. I was just commenting on the change in the mindset of the general public since the old N's and TO's were manufactured.

A tractor is a potentially dangerous piece of machinery, though, even with all the safety features, and the best safety device still should be between the operator's ears.

jinman · Nov 16, 2005

I guess I'll add "associated damage" as one of my frustrations with old iron. For example, the battery box may be rusted out and you decide to replace it. You find that the hardware holding the battery box in place is acid corroded and breaks when you try to take it apart. You end up drilling out a bolt only to find that the threads in the tractor casting are also eaten away with rust and you have to tap the hole and put in oversize hardware or a helicoil. Repeat this scenario many, many times during a restoration and it becomes a big turnoff. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif It's not my only turnoff, but it sure is one of the highest on my list. Finding hidden cracks in castings is also pretty high on my frustration list. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

EquipmentJunkie · Nov 16, 2005

I get upset by slip-shod 'restoration' projects. I characterize these as removing minimal amounts of sheet metal, masking as little as possible (i.e. axles, gauges, tires, and whatever else) and doing little or nothing to the mechanical issues at hand.

I'll take a good, original-condition tractor with fair paint any day over one that is a decent '20-foot looker'. What I mean is that when you get 19-feet away from a '20-foot looker', you start to notice things that just aren't right. That really bugs me.

I also get a strange feeling when looking at 'trailer queens' as well. I know of one restored Deere 820 that looks better now then when it was still on the factory floor fifty years ago. Thankfully, the owner used it to pull in a local tractor show this summer.

In short, I'd prefer something in between.

RonR · Nov 16, 2005

jinman,

That's why you have to allow 2-3 times to your estimate of how long and much money it will take to fix something!

Seems like everything I touch leads to something else that needs to be fixed BEFORE I fix what I was starting out with.

Ron

Farmwithjunk · Nov 16, 2005

If Websters Dictionary had as many possible meanings for "Restored" as old tractor buffs seem to use. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

There's "older restoration". That means it needs restoring again. Worn out TWICE in its lifetime.

Then there's the "restored" that involves a car wash then a few spray bombs, MAYBE a few new decals. Never mind the tractor barely runs, the hood is dnted, and the wheels are rusted out.

Restored to original condition can go several ways too. That may mean new paint, seat, guages, and a battery. Or it may mean several thousand dollars worth of NOS parts, a complete dismantling, stripping, priming, painting (With paint befitting the space shuttle) re-croming of some parts, 400 coats of wax, and armor-all on the tires.

I got news for you all. Tractors sold in the 1st half of the 20th century didn't have paint jobs that you could see yourself in. They just had "paint".

I've restored 3 tractors. I used new parts when they were available, used but better parts when that was the option. No stripping to bare metal, but all loose paint gets removed. A good coat of primer on everything, then paint. Sheet metal gets removed, as well as most any "loose items" like seats, battery boxes, ect. Then re-assemble, and spray one final coat. New decals, along with new (or at least GOOD) tires. I use O.E.M. paints. They look good, but you don't need sunglasses to look at them outside.

They look ORIGINAL.

RonR · Nov 16, 2005

Your comments about paint made made me remember this:

A few years ago, I saw a younger guy driving a small Ford (8n probably). He looked proud as punch!

It was nicely painted JD Green with the JD Yellow wheels. Didn't know if he suffered from JD envy or what.

Some people............
ron

Nasty135 · Nov 16, 2005

Well does a massey 135 meet the vintage catagory?

If so here goes if not /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif hehe here goes anyhow /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Turn offs: Very Heavy clutch , power steering resevoir leaks(resealed with original gasket & permatex twice,still leaks)
shifting forks worn just enough that if you are doing a little speed shifting you'll get stuck in reverse /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif , mechanical brakes harder to push but can still lockem up, differential lock doesn't work (froze up but thats not design flaw just a problem with mine)

Turn ons

sounds like an audition for the dating game /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)
Lots of power , starts easily no matter how cold , brakes are easily adjusted or replaced , can reach toplink and 3ph tilt from seat to adjust on the fly without additional hydraulics, power steering , can easily lean to one side or other to see under tractor while bushogging to save the turtles. Low CG for zero pucker on slopes two speed manual PTO that engages slowly if desired. Like the general openess of the cockpit , can approach from either side or the rear over the seat. NO-ROPS in the way of low hanging branches , easy to hook-up implements with nothing in the way.

Turn ons are much higher in number than turn offs, thats why I still have this "OLD GIRL" /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Soundguy · Nov 16, 2005

( No PTO shields.
No screens for the radiator, )

I can't speak for the fergy's.. but the fords did have a pto stub cap. And there were a variaty of grill screens available.

In fact.. the threading is the same that is used today. The pto stub cap on my NH 7610s will screw into my ford 8n... i find that kinda neat...

Soundguy