Tractor Follies!

      This post follows on yesterday's where the failure of the tractor's hydraulic system was reported. Disconnecting a semi-mounted mower, the mower bolts to the drawbar of the tractor and has one trailing wheel, is a bit of work. Attaching it to another tractor is also labor intensive. Contemplating this process I decided to give the original tractor hydraulic system a try. When I did it showed signs of life! Adding a quart and a half of hydraulic fluid to the system made it work as designed 😀. No need to switch the mower to another tractor.

   What follows is an essay about tractor stuff so if that's not of interest you're excused from reading further. Some years ago I went to Alton's auction. On his sale was a 1950 M Farmall tractor.  With no intention of buying it I raised my hand as the bidding stopped below and I it's value, and I was the successful bidder. I already owned in a1941 M, I had bought on his brother, Laverne's, sale. You may remember a picture of Joanne driving it.

    This 1950 M had some after-market improvements. Oversized pistons increased its horsepower. These M's came with a five speed transmission. An after-market addition manufactured by M & W Co., made it a nine speed. The nine speed wasn't operative at purchase but Tim & Derrick helped me fix that. Another after market addition was a live hydraulic system, live because it works even when the clutch is depressed, which has now failed.  The tractor came with a narrow front end, front tires close together, which I replaced with an after-market Schwartz wide front. With four new tires it's my pride and joy. It starts and runs beautifully.  Other than mowing I have no use for it so I'm happy that it still has purpose. 

   So there is way more that you need to know about a 75 year old tractor!

Takk for alt,

Al

PS The Sinai Bank had a customer appreciation lunch this noon. At the lunch was Marvin, the local old tractor mechanic expert. Sitting with him at lunch I asked him about the failed hydraulic pump. After lunch we went to look at it and the tractor's radiator was leaking. Uffda! The good news is that the can of Stop Leak I had on the shelf worked and the leaking stopped.

I know, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  The 1941 model on which Joanne was pictured had a better paint job.