I know in this group, they'll be people into old tractors. I am now one.
Short background. My Grandpa started farming in the early '40s, so my Dad grew up on what would be a small to average sized farm for Michigan in the '40s and '50s (Grandpa added acres as money allowed). The first tractor Grandpa bought when he started farming was an Allis Chalmers B. A small row-crop tractor for farms of 100 acres or less. Eventually, the farm outgrew the tractor, but my Dad had a soft place in his heart for Persian Orange model Bs.
Fast forward to the early '90s- Dad spied a B for sale at a nearby equipment dealer and impulse bought. Dad hadn't lived on a farm since the late '50s and had spent a good career as an electronic and software engineer in missiles first (Nike and Talos) and the biotech...but always loved that he came from the farm. Dad used this tractor with a 6' Woods finishing mower for several years, babying it, up until about 3 or so years ago when he encountered carb trouble and parked it in the barn, planning to get around to it, then he offered it to me. Well, I never found the time to pick it up and haul it home (cue: "Cat's In The Cradle"). Dad passed away in March, and since then I have determined to get it home and running. The carb is all cleaned up and is in the middle of getting painted. After doing all the regular maintenance stuff, hope to get it fired up within a week. Eventually, i will do a full restore, but for now, just cleaning it up and getting it going.
Here's a pic my Mom took of Dad mowing, and another of the tractor after I got it home last Saturday and powerwashed:
View attachment 59390
View attachment 59391
What can I say- I'm my father's son.
Anyone else into old tractors....give a newbie some pointers? If it's mechanical, I can tear it apart and fix it, but I'll always listen to good advice.
Short background. My Grandpa started farming in the early '40s, so my Dad grew up on what would be a small to average sized farm for Michigan in the '40s and '50s (Grandpa added acres as money allowed). The first tractor Grandpa bought when he started farming was an Allis Chalmers B. A small row-crop tractor for farms of 100 acres or less. Eventually, the farm outgrew the tractor, but my Dad had a soft place in his heart for Persian Orange model Bs.
Fast forward to the early '90s- Dad spied a B for sale at a nearby equipment dealer and impulse bought. Dad hadn't lived on a farm since the late '50s and had spent a good career as an electronic and software engineer in missiles first (Nike and Talos) and the biotech...but always loved that he came from the farm. Dad used this tractor with a 6' Woods finishing mower for several years, babying it, up until about 3 or so years ago when he encountered carb trouble and parked it in the barn, planning to get around to it, then he offered it to me. Well, I never found the time to pick it up and haul it home (cue: "Cat's In The Cradle"). Dad passed away in March, and since then I have determined to get it home and running. The carb is all cleaned up and is in the middle of getting painted. After doing all the regular maintenance stuff, hope to get it fired up within a week. Eventually, i will do a full restore, but for now, just cleaning it up and getting it going.
Here's a pic my Mom took of Dad mowing, and another of the tractor after I got it home last Saturday and powerwashed:
View attachment 59390
View attachment 59391
What can I say- I'm my father's son.
Anyone else into old tractors....give a newbie some pointers? If it's mechanical, I can tear it apart and fix it, but I'll always listen to good advice.
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