My first tractor and first post. =)

[GrizzyDan]

Hello everyone,

I've been lurking among TBN for a year or two now soaking up all the great information you guys have to offer. I've been a carpenter since 2002 and recently went to school for 2 years for a degree in welding. I have been aquiring tools as I can and recently picked up an IH tractor of unknown model that runs rather well for having 3447 hours on it. Yes, she is yellow, but here and there you can find red breaking through. I hope to someday return her to her former glory.

I have been trying and failing to maintain a mile and a half of dirt/gravel road cut into steep hillsides on 40 acres with a pickup and shovel for 12 years now, digging back the slough-off and maintaining a stretch of very steep grade (12-14% if I remember right) I am excited about the possibilities this machine opens up.. of course, once I build the rear implements.

I've never operated a tractor before so my buddy is in the pics safely getting the tractor off a borrowed trailer =)

For now it has already been a great tool to do most of my heavy work for me and I've gotten the hang of operating it in the few weeks that I've owned it. The brakes are weak, almost not even there (it will stop you on nothing more than a flat) and I will eventually need to replace the clutch, but for now I am just quick to drop the bucket. The rear end is very light and the tractor won't go anywhere on a grade with anything in the bucket.

I am currently using it to power my logsplitter, it will split oak all day with a 4 way. I will have to get a better pic with the tractor included.

I have aspirations to build a small firewood processor on the 3pt built around this little logsplitter and the tractor hydraulics but I eventually want to run a larger pump off the PTO, larger hoses, and ram when I can afford it.

I also have plans to build a box blade and a land plane. I almost have all the scrap iron to do it, some I-beam, guard rail, and used county plow blade edges, just need to scrounge up some tubing and an upper link for the 3PH.

Looking forward to posting up my projects and reading more of yours as I don't think I will ever see them all.. oh, and if anyone has any idea what model my tractor is please don't hesitate to let me know. I will post up better pics soon.

 

[cyrush]

Interesting post , and welcome to the forum.e
Cant identify thr m/c yet could you take and post some more photo's ??

One of steering wheel & dash board area ?
One of engine area, left and right, (loader raised) ??
One of rear of tractor showing PTO and hitch area ?
Photos of gear levers and hydraulic controls to r/hand of seat??
then with a bit of luck we may be able to help!!

 

[samandmax]

It sounds as if the rear tires arent filled. The extra weight on the drive wheels will make it seem like a whole new tractor. Much more stable when you have a load in the bucket.

 

[gengine]

Welcome!

 

[GrizzyDan]

Much appreciated, I will take those pictures tomorrow.

I looked up filling the tires just now and see that there is quite a debate as to which way to go about doing it.. I don't like the idea of putting calcium into the tires and am leaning more toward the rv antifreeze.

For a while I was thinking about putting weight on the boxblade when I build it, but I've read up that the 3ph floats in the down position? That would help the boxblade or land plane get more bite, but do nothing for my traction.

I suppose my first test is to see if there is anything other than air in the tires to begin with, yet I really doubt it. I will also look into making wheel weights if the liquid doesn't feel sufficient.. I'll remember to save any flywheels I come across, or lifting weights..

The ground is still too soft from recent rains to do anything without making a serious mess. Great time to be in the shop throwing sparks.

 

[creekbend]

Welcome aboard. Wishing you success in regards to your future projects. :thumbsup:

 

[GrizzyDan]

It's a 4cyl Diesel. I've replaced the water pump, installed an electric fan, and 1 wire alternator. The lever/valve for the rear hydraulics is frozen solid, so I've bypassed it for now to run the logsplitter with quick disconnects off the selector valve and the fill port under the seat, not the most ideal situation but it works for now. I need to pickup a 1/2" npt 90 next time I'm in town because the return hose has a rather small radius and is jammed up against the fender =( Anywho, I hope this helps :thumbsup:

I suppose some closer pics of the engine would help, I've found numbers and my buddy that works at the local auto parts is unable to cross reference them with the knowledge base there. The tractor is missing some tin, yet I have a pile of parts and pieces that came with it, engine tin included.

 

[GrizzyDan]

Oh, and it's a manual trans, 1 reverse, 4 or 5 forward.. will check on that in the morning.

 

[cyrush]

O/k good photos and hopefully someone on here will be able to identify the model.

My experience relates to IH's European built machines. This one is of USA manufacture and as far as i can tell is not even based on a european unit..

What are the numbers you have , we may be able to run a search ???

 

[Hollow]

:welcome: and congratulations!

 

[Bob77064]

Welcome congrats

 

[vwnotrunning]

Welcome

It looks like you have a great starting point there. Be sure to post pics of any builds and mods.

 

[GrizzyDan]

Thanks guys! My plans for this tractor are compounding daily, with a little luck, some extra iron, and lots of good time in the shop, I'll eventually have all the addons I want and need. First on my list is/was a box blade and land plane, but now I'm thinking about the FEL and it's lack of ability to cut back the hillside. Some ripper teeth up front really sounds like the ticket there! I want to cut the hillside back a bit sharper, more vertical, but I'm starting to get into much harder decomposed granite and the best I can do is slope it. I'm not into gunning the tractor and hitting the hillside like I've seen people do, I just put-put around at 1000 rpm or so. Some rippers would help me finish cutting this road in to the back of my house as well :thumbsup:

Now I'm contemplating loader forks and a thumb for my bucket thanks to Artisan, yet it's all going to be hand built. And of course there will be lots of pics =) If not the best quality pics.. My cell phone is all I have to take them with.

 

[GrizzyDan]

Oh, and someone is going to notice sooner or later, yes there's a big case in the background of one of those pics that has been sitting there for over 15 years.. It's a big boy, 580 c if I remember right. It has a few problems, one being the f/n/r selector which you have to split the case for.. The other problem is that it is my grandfathers, and if I get it running he will sell it the moment he finds out lol.. So it sits until he's gone. Not a good investment.. for now. I'm sure by then my little IH will be all I need, might even have a little backhoe off the 3ph :thumbsup:

 

[Hollow]

If I were you the first thing I would build is a ROPS.

 

[flusher]

Hi, there. Welcome to TBN.
Nice tractor. I like tractors with fat rear tires. Here's mine--a 1964 Massey Ferguson 135 diesel

 

[MasseyWV]

If I were you the first thing I would build is a ROPS.

X2 - And don't forget the seatbelt.

 

[k0ua]

Hey that is a cool looking old Massey. I was going to chime in about the ROPS build too, and the loaded tires are a good idea. and maybe 1000 lbs on the 3 point too. It will be like day and night, the ability to work the dirt and move it around with the FEL.. of course the toothbar sounds good too. I am going to get one for my little Kubota soon I think. I have 750 lbs on the rear of mine when doing dirt work and also have the RV antifreeze in mine. Expensive but works. Rimguard seems to be the preffered fill if you can find a dealer near you, I could not. So I did the RV anti-freeze myself. A lot of the guys use the low freezing point windshield washer fluid for less expense too. The big fat tires on that Massey look great and if filled would make a lot of difference. Keep us posted on the builds and repairs. Good Luck

James K0UA

 

[GrizzyDan]

Roll over protection was one of the first thoughts I had for this rig yet I was mostly thinking about a canopy. I have to figure out some way of bringing it up behind the fenders and attaching to the loader arm pillars somehow. It has to be seriously stout if it's to help in a rollover situation.. Where I live there is not much slight grade.. it's either flat or goat territory.

I love that Massey, looks like a hotrod =) and as far as weight for the rear goes cheap is better. I read up somewhere around here where someone had built a box and filled it with concrete and pvc pipe so you can carry your shovels, rakes, chainsaw, etc. It's a great idea, yet somehow I can't justify building a single purpose attachment for the rear.. If I'm going to have weight back there, it will have to be on top of a box blade.

k0ua, how many gallons roughly did you put in your tires? I suppose I can break out my hydraulic book and get a rough estimate.. RV antifreeze here is around $5 a gallon.. $2 a gal for windshield washer fluid, or a 5 gallon pail of concentrate for $60 that makes 160 gallons.. I think I've found the winner xD

 

[k0ua]

Roll over protection was one of the first thoughts I had for this rig yet I was mostly thinking about a canopy. I have to figure out some way of bringing it up behind the fenders and attaching to the loader arm pillars somehow. It has to be seriously stout if it's to help in a rollover situation.. Where I live there is not much slight grade.. it's either flat or goat territory.

I love that Massey, looks like a hotrod =) and as far as weight for the rear goes cheap is better. I read up somewhere around here where someone had built a box and filled it with concrete and pvc pipe so you can carry your shovels, rakes, chainsaw, etc. It's a great idea, yet somehow I can't justify building a single purpose attachment for the rear.. If I'm going to have weight back there, it will have to be on top of a box blade.

k0ua, how many gallons roughly did you put in your tires? I suppose I can break out my hydraulic book and get a rough estimate.. RV antifreeze here is around $5 a gallon.. $2 a gal for windshield washer fluid, or a 5 gallon pail of concentrate for $60 that makes 160 gallons.. I think I've found the winner xD

25 gallons in each tire, but I think your tires a lot bigger. On the concentrate it better be pure methanol, depending on how cold it gets where you live. gotta figure out what the freeze point would be for this concentrate.. as you know the bottled windshield washer fluid comes in several freeze points, usually marked on the bottle. There is 32deg which is summer blend, so it freezes the same as water, and has no methanol, and 0 which has some methanol and -25F which has more.

Here is a tire chart:

Liquid Tire Ballast

There are many more on the web. There are also charts to figure how to mix pure methanol with water to achieve the freeze point you need at maximum economy.. You would be suprised how little water it takes to raise the freeze point a lot. as in 35percent by volume looks to be about -25C or -13F so be careful.. here is a chart:

http://www.methanol.org/Technical-I...on/FreezingPointsMethanol-WaterSolutions.aspx

Good Luck

James K0UA