High Maintenance?
In between farm work and building the house, the work on the Farmall “A” continues. I have to give my wife credit for allowing some of my free time to be taken by the tractor. She names every vehicle and the little red tractor did not escape christening. So from now on, if I refer to “Ginger”, you will know she is not a secret girlfriend!
Ginger is close to ready, but I have been putting off a few things while trying to save some money. It’s not that Ginger is high maintenance, she is just due for some restotoration. I guess she will never get finished unless I get out the checkbook. Replacing stuff that wears out doesn’t really bother me. A steering wheel gets some wear in 60 years! The worst part is spending money on the previous owner’s “modifications”.
While the seat from an “H” has better springs and gives me more legroom, it does not fit well with some attachments and levers. Clamping a clear plastic hose to the carb may let you see if gas is flowing, but the original metal line is not that hard to get. The number one most annoying mod…
Who welded the muffler, exhaust pipe, and manifold into one piece?!? Was this an attempt to make sure nobody stole the hood? Maybe the previous owner thought I may never need to pull the head from the motor. At any rate, an expensive inconvenience for me. Once I Sawzall the muffler off, I will be on the lookout for another manifold. Poor Ginger!
Right Under My Nose
The quest for a “new” antique yard mowing tractor was starting to get out of hand. Since the Farmall B started leaking water in one cylinder, I have been looking for a replacement. Last week I mentioned my plight to some guy I met in town. He nonchalantly told me his brother has a Farmall A with a rebuilt motor and newer paint for sale. “Oh really” I said, “And where would this tractor be located”? “About 5 miles out of town”, He replied. I had a hard time believing I had missed any small Farmalls within 25 miles of here, but sure enough!
As I approached the old farm house, I saw lots of old equipment. Piles of old equipment! I saw rusty trucks, tractors, and implements. In the middle of this rusty collection was something shiny and red. My quarry gleamed crimson against the snow covered lot.
(that means it stood out!) I circled the little tractor making mental notes. Sheet metal was straight. Most implement attaching hardware was there. Tires looked almost new. Both PTO’s there. In my mind I had already decided the price on this one was gonna be to high for my budget.
It hadn’t been started in a year, the gas tank was dry, and the battery required charging. This gave us time to discuss old tractors we have had, and some history on the Farmall.
In 1939 International Harvester began production of the lettered (A,B,C,H,M) series. That makes some of the little tractors 70 years old and still doing their job. Growing up I had driven about every lettered Farmall. This find was a fine example of an early A Farmall. The original A’s sold for $540 back in their day. Most farmers claimed it was a “fair price” for such a piece of machinery.
Gassed and charged up, the old engine puttered to life. The carb had been cracked and needed replacement, but
the cluch, brakes, and PTO worked without noises or grinding.
“What are you asking?”, I asked. His response, “I thought about listing it on Craigs List for $2000, but I’d take $1500.” Being a farmer and naturally frugal, I stared him down and countered, “That sounds like a ‘fair price’, let me write you check”.
Farmall Safari!
Well… The old B Farmall is still in the shop. As you may know, it developed a bad cylinder and was leaking antifreeze into the oil pan. By the time I buy the motor kit, machine the engine, and pay someone else to put it together, the estimate is $2000. (once this house is finished, I need a shop!) I told the mechanic to button it back up. The search is now on for a replacement motor or replacement tractor. Since I don’t have a picture of the “good paint, bad motor B”, here is one of the previous “weak paint, weak motor B” sitting in the barn. 
Turns out, more people are collecting these tractors than using them. I sent a friend to an auction with a bid of $2000 on a Farmall Cub. The little 10 horsepower tractor brought $2900! I know with hydraulics, the little tractors are handier than a shirt pocket, but what does a new 24 hp mower cost?
I found another B in South Missouri someone has been restoring for $1300. I sent him a message, but it must be already sold. Haven’t heard back from him yet.
So if any of you know the location of: a B (113 cid) motor, a nice A,B,C, Cub, you now know someone who is looking for one. (I might even go as far as a 300 Utility with finish mower but, Don’t Tell Honey Bunches!)
