During the Harvest Festival in early October a bunch of us were taking a break and the Director, Rick, came by. We were talking about how we have this modern New Holland tractor doing wagon rides and how cool it would be if we could acquire an old time tractor. To our surprise Rick said no problem. No arm twisting or anything. So Linda, my Assist. Curator for the Farm, and I set out on a search for a worthy acquisition. It didn't take long. There was a woman in Aztec with three tractors. Her late husband collected such things and she now wanted them gone. Email and phone calls back and forth for two weeks.
The three tractors were: 1943 John Deere B (Johnny Popper, or Poppin Johnny), a 1939 IH Farmall M, and a 1939 IH Farmall H. She sent us pictures. My first choice, being the practical guy, was the Farmall H because I knew it would fit on the trailer. The Farmall M was too wide by an inch. The H was also in better shape. Linda wanted the Farmall M because it was a stronger tractor. I also considered the JD because of it's Poppin nostalgia.
The lady selling the tractors told us they ran. Today, Linda, David (Master Farmer), and I drove up to Aztec with a check in hand. The three of us were anxious. Before driving up there we told her they had to run, and we needed to be able to load them under their own power. We were not sure.
We arrive, and things are not good. The lady, with a friend, couldn't get them running. Now I like a challenge, so to work we go. How difficult could 70 year old technology be, right?
First, the Farmall M. It's rough, but not too bad. Electric start. Tires are shot. David and I look it over and find a loose wire. Ummmm. David sees that the on/off switch is missing a wire. YES! We hook up the wire and flip the switch. I walk over to the starter and just before I hit the switch the tractor starts smoking. I walk around to the "fire" and there is a wire hanging down on the engine, the other end with a clamp to ground. I disconnect. Wander back to the starter, push the button and I'll be a SOB if the dang thing roared to life on the first crank. I was shocked. The seller was shocked. We let it purr for awhile and then went to the next tractor.
The Farmall H was sort of restored and in reasonable condition for a 70 year old machine. It also has four brand new tires. The wires to the starter button were cut, and the wires to the on/off switch were cut. WTF. The seller tells us the magneto is grounded and it should start. Problem. No battery. It does appear to have a starter motor, an option in 1939, but nothing is hooked up. So how? The crank on the front of course. I crank, crank, crank. David cranks, cranks, cranks. Nothing. It has fuel as it's pouring out of the carburetor. The seller asks us if we want the ether. SURE. I pull off the air cleaner and she gives it a squirt. I crank ... and it not only fires, it runs. I was so surprised I dropped back about three steps hooping and hollering.
David takes it for a putt. Then I take it for a putt, and back it up onto the trailer. It's MINE! Linda takes care of business while David and I secure this beast.
Worthless without pics? Not hardly. Enjoy.
The three tractors were: 1943 John Deere B (Johnny Popper, or Poppin Johnny), a 1939 IH Farmall M, and a 1939 IH Farmall H. She sent us pictures. My first choice, being the practical guy, was the Farmall H because I knew it would fit on the trailer. The Farmall M was too wide by an inch. The H was also in better shape. Linda wanted the Farmall M because it was a stronger tractor. I also considered the JD because of it's Poppin nostalgia.
The lady selling the tractors told us they ran. Today, Linda, David (Master Farmer), and I drove up to Aztec with a check in hand. The three of us were anxious. Before driving up there we told her they had to run, and we needed to be able to load them under their own power. We were not sure.
We arrive, and things are not good. The lady, with a friend, couldn't get them running. Now I like a challenge, so to work we go. How difficult could 70 year old technology be, right?
First, the Farmall M. It's rough, but not too bad. Electric start. Tires are shot. David and I look it over and find a loose wire. Ummmm. David sees that the on/off switch is missing a wire. YES! We hook up the wire and flip the switch. I walk over to the starter and just before I hit the switch the tractor starts smoking. I walk around to the "fire" and there is a wire hanging down on the engine, the other end with a clamp to ground. I disconnect. Wander back to the starter, push the button and I'll be a SOB if the dang thing roared to life on the first crank. I was shocked. The seller was shocked. We let it purr for awhile and then went to the next tractor.
The Farmall H was sort of restored and in reasonable condition for a 70 year old machine. It also has four brand new tires. The wires to the starter button were cut, and the wires to the on/off switch were cut. WTF. The seller tells us the magneto is grounded and it should start. Problem. No battery. It does appear to have a starter motor, an option in 1939, but nothing is hooked up. So how? The crank on the front of course. I crank, crank, crank. David cranks, cranks, cranks. Nothing. It has fuel as it's pouring out of the carburetor. The seller asks us if we want the ether. SURE. I pull off the air cleaner and she gives it a squirt. I crank ... and it not only fires, it runs. I was so surprised I dropped back about three steps hooping and hollering.
David takes it for a putt. Then I take it for a putt, and back it up onto the trailer. It's MINE! Linda takes care of business while David and I secure this beast.
Worthless without pics? Not hardly. Enjoy.
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