Wednesday, November 3, 2010

How to Restore Classic Farm Tractors

antique,tractor,agriculture

There are many types of tractors for doing various farm works. Know the type of tractor you have. Take a thorough look at it to know what it needs. Gauge its weight and horsepower to know its potential. You can also convert the tractor to do other jobs by implementing certain parts to it. It might prove expensive as you might need to change damaged parts and upgrade other parts. However, at the end of it, you will have a tractor which is as good as new. 

Things You'll Need:
  • Drive-socket set
  • Wrench set
  • Screwdrivers
  • Pliars
  • Jack
  • Tractor Owner's Manual


Step 1:

The tires might have been filled with liquid to make it heavy. But this water could have frozen during winters and caused damage to the tires. So replace the tires first.     

Step 2:

Take out rusted parts and clean off the dirt and rust. Repaint the parts with a protective paint. 

Step 3:

Check the coolant by removing the radiator cap. Inspect the liquid inside. If the liquid is an antifreeze solution, it is good. Even clear water should be ok. The color also has to be clear. If it is brown then it could have been caused by rust. This is a bad sign as it signals a structure weakened by rust. This could cause a leak. It also should not be oily. This will mean sealing work where oil is leaking into the coolant. 

Step 4:

Horsepower has to be regained. This is vital as you need the horsepower proportionate to the load of work it needs to do. The engine will have to be made frictionless and the transmission restored. If there is a leak in the transmission shaft seal, then it will have to be replaced.

Step 5:

Assess the sediment bowl for rust. This rust is from the tank. A little is ok. An occasional cleaning will be required. But if there is a lot then the tank will have to be changed.

Step 6:

Change fluids and replace the battery. In most cases, this should be enough to get the tractor going again.

Step 7:

Check the sheet metal whether rust has a hold on it. Rust remover and a coat of paint will make it look like new. Weld any cracks that you can see before you paint it. You can also use epoxy to hide cracks.


Tips:

If you are buying an old tractor, run it first for a few minutes. Listen for knocks or other weird sounds. Stop the engine and restart it. Sometimes the engine might act up. Also inspect for leaks. This preliminary examination will tell you whether the tractor is safe to buy or not.


References:

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