rescuing tractors

30667 Views 37 Replies 11 Participants Last post by MH55k, Sep 9, 2014

1031d

Discussion Starter · Jul 6, 2012

6

What is the most challenging restoration you guys have tried? This 1952 MM ZAU was bought new by a great uncle. It was dragged to it's resting spot somewhere around 1962. I hauled it back out in 2002 and spent 6 years rebuilding it and finding parts.

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1 - 20 of 38 Posts

Stephenscity

· #2 · Jul 6, 2012

What a great recovery!!!!

caseman

· #3 · Jul 7, 2012

I have had a few like that. You did a great job bringing it back to life

John M

· #4 · Jul 11, 2012

I guess the most challenging was a F30 I helped a buddy with. Everything locked up front to back, but it was his gramps, who was a wonderful man to me, and I just had to help. took 4 years and most of that was soaking parts!! Wish I had thought to make pictures then.....

Great job on the MM!!

soundguy

· #5 · Jul 11, 2012

i guess one of the worst ones I did was a 950 ford i got that had been used as a water pump power source for a peat farm..

1031d

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 12, 2012

Too me it seems more satisfying to resurrect a pile of rotten metal then to throw a paint job on a running machine.

mike1111

· #7 · Jul 12, 2012

I think the worst we have done was a 350 Int. utility, the head had been removed for 6 years and the cylinders was full of chewed hickery nut shells and mouse nests. The engine was locked up. Good job on yours, it always makes you grin when they were that far gone and you hear them fire up for the first time.....mike

soundguy

· #8 · Jul 12, 2012

yep.. always a good feeling after you been woorking on them weeks/months.. etc.. and previously most of it was littering your shop floor.. and then you turn the key/hit the button, etc.. and it starts up..

missouri massey man

· #9 · Jul 28, 2012

Excellent job on the old boy for sure. Btw, what was wrong with it to have been pulled off into the woods in '62 and left to mother nature ?

soundguy

· #10 · Jul 29, 2012

i love engines with side covers to see the crank!

1031d

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 6, 2012

missouri massey man said:
Excellent job on the old boy for sure. Btw, what was wrong with it to have been pulled off into the woods in '62 and left to mother nature ?

Young and dumb! Dad died, no one wanted to farm and the boys had fancy cars they wanted to put inside! I actually replaced the majority of the engine and gave the old engine to IllJohn for his engine cutaway projects. They also had a Massey Pony but for some reason they sold that and left the MM to die!

soundguy

· #12 · Aug 6, 2012

poor thing..

v w

· #13 · Aug 6, 2012

May have had someone step forward and want the Massy. There is another way to look at abandoned tractors and that is they are easier to bring back to life than one that was sent to a scrapper. A few years ago when scrap prices were up I saw a lot of stuff being hauled away. Vern
EDIT: Added a word so it made sense.

soundguy

· #14 · Aug 6, 2012

yep.. sad sometimes!

1031d

Discussion Starter · #15 · Aug 10, 2012

That's why I've bought so many in the past few years, to keep them out of the scrappers! We have a few bone yards around here and at least if they buy them the parts won't be wasted.

soundguy

· #16 · Aug 10, 2012

i've bought 3 rowcrops. in fact.. my last 3 i bought were non runners.. but required only a lil coaxing and some magic to make them run. i know they were destined for a scrapper. one had had a small electrical fire and burned up the hood and dash and battery... it's now my weekly mower.. a 950. kind of a basket case. I have parts from about 8 otrher tractors grafted on it.

I call it a reverse parts tractor. I probably should have parted it instead of fixing it..

1031d

Discussion Starter · #17 · Aug 17, 2012

soundguy said:
i've bought 3 rowcrops. in fact.. my last 3 i bought were non runners.. but required only a lil coaxing and some magic to make them run. i know they were destined for a scrapper. one had had a small electrical fire and burned up the hood and dash and battery... it's now my weekly mower.. a 950. kind of a basket case. I have parts from about 8 otrher tractors grafted on it.

I call it a reverse parts tractor. I probably should have parted it instead of fixing it..

I know the feeling, but look at the fun you had along the way! My 1955 CASE 400 diesel turned out that way. Supposedly running, all the rims and tires junk, block cracked, one head cracked, and differential WAY out of adjustment! Shoulda parted it but only being made 2 years I just couldn't do it

but thanks to a parts tractor I now have a wide front 400 with a completely rebuilt engine and fuel system, brand new tires, and soon to be painted.

soundguy

· #18 · Aug 17, 2012

yep... i find it hard to part something that has a chance at coming back..

Barney Stephens

· #19 · Aug 19, 2012

Hello soundguy and others;I,ve just pulled a ford 640LP tractor out of a sure death.i.e it has been neglected and left out in the elements with vertical exhaust.I have the engine torn down.It has pitts around the # 4 sleeve.Question? how much can be milled down on the block to remove the pitts,without effecting the overall use of the block???

Barney Stephens

· #20 · Aug 19, 2012

Hello all;Barney Stephens [email protected] Cell phone 1-334-488-4649 if anyone would care to respond to post on rescuing tractors

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