Other Tractors We Own

[David Page]

1953 Oliver 77

 

[PHPaul]

I can't stop...

This one is what I call "Frankentraktor"

The basic tractor is a John Deere 455 that originally came with a 3 cylinder Yanmar diesel. Previous owner had a power broom on the front and spent years sweeping driveways and parking lots, then letting the tractor sit outside the rest of the year. Also, I think it still had the original air filter. All the plastic was broken, cracked or missing. The Yanmar finally succumbed to lack of maintenance and dust/grit ingestion.

When I priced rebuilding or a used motor, he sold it to me for $150.

Some months prior, I picked up this Shibaura SD14 for cheap. I soon found out why: The ring and pinion was completely trashed and several weeks/months of searching resulted in bupkis. The engine ran perfectly, so I kept the hulk waiting on an application for the engine. When the 455 became available, it was a no brainer.

The 455/Yanmar drove the hydro transmission off the nose of the crank so the engine was installed "backwards" and the radiator is between the operator's station and the engine. I installed the 2 cylinder Shibaura engine the same way and machined up a driveshaft to adapt the crank pully to the transmission.

It's 14 HP vs. 20+ and 2300 RPM vs. 3K+ so it's a little slow, but it has power steering and dual hydraulic outlets so it's reasonably useful and it was fun to kludge together.

 

[lugbolt]

MF1140, with 1145 engine, with loader. Got it for $600 in 2014 I think. I hate it but it's better than the old tractor I had which was none.

 

[CGMKCM]

1980's vintage JD 650 with 400 hrs. Still have the mower deck it came with but not installed. I use it for little jobs like aerating, spreading fertilizer etc.

 

[RCW]

Working on a frame to hold the booms up on the Moline.

Width TBD for the top header…just a mock-up.

 

[Outnumbered]

Here is one of the other toys

 

[RCW]

Frame works.

Tractor is running like crap unless fully choked. Dad ran ethanol gas in it for years. Not sure if carburetor issue or something else.

 

[D2Cat]

Frame works.

Tractor is running like crap unless fully choked. Dad ran ethanol gas in it for years. Not sure if carburetor issue or something else.

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Does it have a one barrel carb? If so, it's probably a Zenith. They are very simple. Take it off and clean it. I've always reused the gaskets, and I've had it apart 4-5 times!

 

[RCW]

Does it have a one barrel carb? If so, it's probably a Zenith. They are very simple. Take it off and clean it. I've always reused the gaskets, and I've had it apart 4-5 times!

I think it’s a Marvel Shebler (sp?) carburetor. Still pretty simple.

Could get re-man’s from US suppliers few years ago. Rebuild kits readily available.

Used to be able to access parts diagrams via agco.com. Last time I checked no longer there.

 

[RCW]

Does it have a one barrel carb? If so, it's probably a Zenith. They are very simple. Take it off and clean it. I've always reused the gaskets, and I've had it apart 4-5 times!

Several years ago Dad made mention of getting 25 gallons of gasoline (ethanol gas) when prices were down. Told him e-gas isn’t something to have around long, and all he had was a Craftsman lawn tractor and the Moline.

Today I opened the bowl drain and it drained clean, but I think you’re correct in it needs to come off. Governor linkage on these is very finicky. Probably biggest challenge.

Something about this setup is a little funky in that carb is about 3/16-1/4 off from expected. Haven’t figured that part out yet.

After replacing Governor, it doesn’t quite throttle up to PTO rpm. Get about 530…but I haven’t adjusted governor, as I’m not looking to get that muchwork out of it anyway. RPM setting is set screw on left side of governor just below carb.

 

[D2Cat]

I helped a friend with his AC WD17. He removed the carb then asked for help. After a lot of asking/digging for info, it was determined there was no spring on the float. The seat needs to be clean enough it doesn't impede the needle from absolute free movement, and the float took some time to get just right. He uses that tractor several hours a week and it starts right off all the time. It's got to be clean!

 

[RCW]

D2Cat - glad you could help! My grandfather was the mechanic….Dad not so much…although he was a farmer for almost 40 years. My grandfather covered for him. He admits that at almost 85.

Only had the Moline here couple years. It’s wanted some choke since I got it, but it’s more demanding now. Got me looking into it a while back for kits, etc

Coincident with the choke issue yesterday, saw sediment bulb has some water in it this morning.

Wasn’t there yesterday. Not chunky. Looks like water or bad ethanol gas……I probably have only put 10 hours on it since I got it with some e-gas in it. Thought I might have diluted it out.

Last I looked, tank was in decent shape.

Might put my cheapie stick pump in there and pump off the bottom of the tank. Don’t necessarily want to drain from the fuel line…invites crap in the system.

For anyone not familiar with old tractors, a “sediment bulb” is seldom a tractor part, as they were broken years ago. I’m guessing this one is probably a pharmacy pill or maybe kitchen spice bottle from decades ago…we used what we had….

 

[D2Cat]

I've not seen a bowl like that. Most are round and have a wire "clamp" and has a nut on the bottom to tighten the bulb up to the gasket on top. Those work real good. They are very much like the water separator on a diesel engine.

If you have a steel gas tank on it get a neodymium magnet with a hole in the center and attach a #9 wire to in and make a loop on the other end. Make the wire long enough you can hook it with another wire at a latter date. Drop that magnet into your fuel tank and it will pick up any metallic crumbs that end up in your carburetor.

You can use these magnets to hold the mirror on you tractor!

 

[RCW]

Peeked in the gas tank. Looks okay but will pump off bottom as a test.

Will also get some of those magnets like D2Cat linked. $18 with tax for 8 of them. Coming Friday.

Good note, at Dad’s suggestion I emptied the sediment bulb and restarted the tractor while playing with the needle valve on the carburetor.

After a little tinkering, it smoothed out and I could run it at idle with no choke.

No more crap in bulb, but that may have been from bouncing around while driving it other day. Sat in one spot today. Still some work to do with the gas tank, but better than it was other day.

My notes say it’s definitely a Marvel Schebler carb. Could be a TSX-97 with adjustable jet.

Governor came from Canada several years ago. Might also adjust the rev limiter to give it a little more RPM, but that's for another day.

Hopefully plug wires and hydraulic hoses are on the list after the fuel tank.

 

[Foxrunfarms]

1967 John Deere Round Fender 110 , 1972 John Deere Sqaure Fender, and 1951 John Deere B.

 

[gened14]

My other tractor is an Allis Chalmers D17 Series IV. My uncle bought it new in 1967. I still have the original bill of sale and owner's manual. My son Luke and I restored it a few years ago.

 

[RCW]

Swabbed a magnet around the gas tank outlet and was surprised that it didn’t pick up anything. Good news.

Those things are stout! Concerned it would grab something and not let go…

Will put it back in for an extended stay after I work on it more. Hoping to put a pump in it tomorrow

Driving the tractor and sloshing stuff around will give a better idea.

 

[RCW]

Before I go too much further, maybe I'll start a thread for the Old Moline. Most don't want to be bored with what is now an obscure tractor-maker.

Got it running good with no choke.

Drove it again and got more water in the bulb. Tractor ran like crap. Almost quit right in front of the house. Got it back to parking spot, but barely. Wouldn't run at all after that.

Put some Dry-Gas in it and later drained almost all the gas through my Mr. Funnel. All that's left is height of pickup in bottom of tank - - maybe 3/16" deep. Been burning it my truck.

Good surprise - - - Inside of tank looks very good! Probably why magnet didn't pick anything up.

Don't have a borescope but might get one.

Lightly swabbed a cotton cloth on the bottom of the tank near pickup. Just got a little rust stain. Was clean otherwise. Take it as a great success, so far...... I've seen some steel tanks that were a mess.

Will refill with fresh e-free gas with Stabil and some more dry-gas just in case.

 

[RCW]

Good news and bad. Typical for an old timer.

Got a $20 wifi endoscope. After some struggle and a lot of swearing, got it to work with my phone.

Good news is tank looks spotless. This is the tank outlet.

Bad news is there is still some carburetor and/or governor/governor linkage issues that crop up under load. Tractor bogs down quickly. Reminiscent of ethanol gas fouling, but could be a few causes.

I did improvise a governor link when tractor was an hour away from my house. Might be a good opportunity to revisit that first. These are very finicky about the governor link to the carburetor.