I got the old gal out from under the bank barn E27n

[CalG]

I'm doing some work on the underside of my bank barn style shop and needed to get the Fordson out of the way (so she wouldn't get hurt)

I don't think she has been lit up and running for more than a year.

Opened the fuel tap and observed fuel fill the sight bowl.
Climbed up to the seat to press the clutch and give the starter switch a twist/
There was some sign of life...then nothing but the tick of the magneto impulse couple as the starter motor spun the crank.
I pulled the cap off the magneto and cleaned the points, with the battery charger hooked up while I did so. Pulled one spark plug to have a look, Sooty black...but dry. Wire brushed it and put it back in.

With it back together, tried the self starter again. Nothing, and then a puff, then a couple more puffs, the a ROAR! Set the throttle back a couple of notches. An unsteady beat as a cylinder or two caught and then faded out.

Drove it up into the yard , a bumpy ride with the snow chains still on the tires.

Took a look into the cast iron radiator tank. Might be down a gallon (it holds five gal easy, I keep it in anti-freeze, though I used to just drain it after every use. I'm getting too old to lift a five gallon pail up to the fill hole!)
Ran the rear lift up and down a time or two The pump drive engagement lever needs grease!
Put in the gear drive for the side pulley. Whee, that thing spins! I need some flat belt equipment!
Exercised the Western snow plow . I can tell the pump unit is low on fluid ...Hmm ATF or hydraulic? IIRC it's got ATF in it now.
Walked around with the grease gun, and gave all the greasers a squirt. Steering has been tight on the old gal since I replaced the spindle bushings 30 years ago.

Got out a squirt bottle with Dawn dish soap cut 50/50 with water and soaked all the grunge spots. Then took the garden hose to her . She looks good from 50 feet ;-) Showing her age up close
She is two years older than I am. I always did go for the older gals....

Gonna change oil tomorrow, three gallons IIRC. Drop the chains, air up the tires and take her on a road trip!

 

[old and tired]

WHAT!?!?! No photos of the old gal?

 

[CalG]

WHAT!?!?! No photos of the old gal?

 

[CalG]

So I refreshed the engine oil today. Just happened to have half a tub of Rotella kicking around.

Topped up the gear box with 80-90 gear oil % quarts hardly changed the level on the stick.
Dumped a very small amount of accumulated water out of the drain. Talk about a delicate operation.....

Put 5 gallons of fresh gasoline in the tank. The old gas is smelling stale, Need to run that through.

The oil bath air filter was dropped. are 10-12 acorns too many to find in an air cleaner? Dang tree rats!

Continued to exercise the rear lift. I had forgotten that I had set the limit to slow the drop when using the scoop bucket.
Dang hitch would hardly go back down when I stood on it!

I had to raise the radiator canvas to get the water temp up to 145F .
It's running rich, but at that cold temp, no wonder.

Futzing with the fuel screw, I cant see (sense) any difference between "stumbling when closed and back 1/2 turn" and 4 turns open. ??

I pulled the needle assembly, it looked fine.

Cleaned the points again, she seems to be running fine, but misses and pops under load.

Hmm.....

Wishing I had a new set of spark plugs, but those things seem to have gone the way of the doodo bird.

I can't believe it. the tires must be fifty years old.

22psi all around!

 

[old and tired]

That's a good looking tractor!!! Thanks for the photo...

 

[CalG]

That's a good looking tractor!!! Thanks for the photo...

Real iron for sure.