Now Gene,don't just sit back and quit at 200 posts. Without you this would be a pretty lifeless forum. Been a long time since I saw 50 degrees outdoors . You are right that the temp was well below normal today but it was actually quite comfortable for the job we were doing if you read my posting in Dean's thread. Its all to do with the wind here. Today was quiet so it didn't matter so much about the low temps. Field work is history for this year as the ground has frozen solid a few weeks ago and now has a good covering of snow for a few days already. Its winter, no doubt about it.

Another rainy day in Ohio. Probably close to 2 inches on our saturated soil. water running across the low areas. Not a good day for outdoor work. Nice and cozy in the house with the wood fire burning. 5:30pm temp is 52 degrees. No white thanksgiving this year. Looks like Charlie V has it wet too in New York.

Still some crops in the fields. Very little field work. Some of the Amish were plowing yesterday. Others husking corn, but even that is on hold now. Lots of mud on the roads from their wagons.

Gene

You are on target, Gene.  Tuesday was mid 30's with heavy overcast.  The rain turned on around 5 PM and pretty much put it down all night with the promise of more for most of today.  I have to say that with air temperature at 33 we are lucky the atmosphere did not give us snow instead.  When I look out the window the landscape looks like a satellite view of Minnesota with it's 1000 lakes.  I had to go mid-morning yesterday to my Retina Specialist for a shot in the eyeball anyway, so not much was lost time wise.

Aside from getting snow removal equipment on standby for the big ones ahead, my mini project has been trying to get the Farmall 560 back on it's feet.  I started the old gal back in the summer and moved it just a little way when it sputtered and stalled out and would not restart.  It seemed out of gas so I let it stand until recently.  I put some gas in and could not even get a pop.  In checking things over I found that a critter of some sort had pulled the coil wire.  Hooking that back up made no change.  I believe being out of fuel let a little water stand in the shutoff/fuel bowl assembly which turned to rust.  I cleaned the cross hole with the bowl off, but still not enough flow to reach the carb.  The next step will be to siphon the gas back out, remove the shut off assembly and clean it properly. Little jobs take a long time now as my time on my feet has to be pretty limited. Hopefully the tractor will be running before real cold weather sets in.  

In closing I would like to wish Gene, Ralph, and all of our other tractor friends a great Thanksgiving holiday weekend, even if it is not the correct day in Canada and the rest of the world.

Charlie V.

A couple of shots of our first attempt at Winter.  This is enough to last me at least until the first of next year, but it probably will not work out that way.  The lowest thermometer readings here is about 22 Deg F.  I am sure Gene will agree with me that we are very willing to allow Ralph to be the "cold king" of the forum.

By the way, Ralph, did you get the Craig's list ad that I sent for a Farmall Super MD converted to gas with a Chrysler V-8 and two transmissions?  

Charlie V

Hi Charlie
Somehow I seem to have missed the ad you mention. Maybe it is lost somewhere between the upstair and downstair computers.
We actually had some "sub zero " temps back a few days ago but now we are seeing unusually high temps in the 40s. I was all ready for winter , now haveing to re-adjust but not complaining too much. Winter will return I am sure.

I resent the ad through Craig's list, Ralph.  I just thought a 318 CID sitting in the MD was rather interesting.  Dual stacks must sound authoritative.  Hopefully it will get to you this time.

Charlie V.

Still wet with seasonable temps in Ohio. Took a drive yesterday and today and still see a lot of standing corn. Several fields with combine ruts, even in corn fields. Lots of large areas of standing water in the fields. Still have a corner of my front hayfield with a pond. The neighbor's ducks are enjoynig it. Still no ice in the forecast.

Amish Neighbor wanted an extra wagon for ear corn. Only had the big center dump wagon here. He loaded it with just over 200 bushels of ear corn, complete with the husks and silks. Took it to another more modern Amish about 15 miles away. Had just over 14,000 pounds on it. Needed to unload it into an elevator then into a wire crib. Wagon has double door bottom outlets. Had to use a sheet of plywood to direct it into the elevator and coaxing every ear out. 2 guys with shovels directing it into the elevator and Me inside the wagon pushing it through the door with a broom handle and kicking it down from the sides. Was a very tiring job for all of us. The guy where we delivered said he didn't want to see that wagon again. Told him there would never be another ear of corn in that wagon.

Hope every one had a good Thanksgiving day and Northern neighbors a good Thursday.

Gene

Just to bring this up to speed for all, here are two of the photos from CL.  For sale is a Super MD converted to a 318 CID Chrysler with a truck transmission plus the original tractor transmission.  Asking price is three grand.  If nothing else it is a conversation piece.  The seller claims the tractor has been employed for several years pulling a dump trailer and works well.






Charlie V

I resent the ad through Craig's list, Ralph.  I just thought a 318 CID sitting in the MD was rather interesting.  Dual stacks must sound authoritative.  Hopefully it will get to you this time.

Charlie V.

Charlie;

I would think the Chrysler industrial 318 would be a good engine for a tractor. My White 7300 combine has one in it and is a very bullet proof engine. It is rated at just under 100 horsepower in the combine and will average just over 4.5 gallons per hour combining. Would want to replace the constant speed governor with a variable speed governor, unless you just let at run at set governed speed all day.

Under much different circumstances, Gene I would look at that to polish into a parade tractor.  The three big if s would be:

If I were younger and healthier
If I did not already have more machines than I can care for
If I had good indoor storage

It is still a fun thought.

Charlie V.

You might have to try posting the link here Charlie. I agree, it would sound impressive. Right up there with the little Ford 8Ns with a flathead V8. [video=youtube;nEPxN0DcgZ4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEPxN0DcgZ4&feature=related[/video]

Follow up on the 560.

Quote:
Aside from getting snow removal equipment on standby for the big ones ahead, my mini project has been trying to get the Farmall 560 back on it's feet.

Put my siphon hose in the tank on the 560.  While that was dribbling along, I unhooked the fuel line to the carburetor.  On impulse, went to the other side and cracked open the shutoff to see if flow had changed.  Noticed some cloudy gas came into the existing clear gas in the bowl. Hummm.  That appeared to charge right in there and flow out the line side looked improved.  Shut the gas off and hooked the line to carb back up.  Turned gas on.  Removed drain plug from carb.  Walla.  Lots of fuel. Replaced plug ASAP.  I then stopped the siphon, wiped up lost fuel and allowed the area to vent a couple of minutes before connecting the ignition wires that used to be riveted to the back of the switch.  Touched the starter button and the old girl fired up and ran fine.  Poured the drawn gas back in, picked up tools , etc.  Restarted the tractor and used the front bucket to flatten the annoying golden rod that has taken over that parking area.  Not much exercise for that machine, but if it went any further in would sink out of sight in out over saturated soil.  One thing I had been hoping for was for the clog to soak loose from being wet with gas for a few days.  I think that is what actually happened.  

Next on the list is the '42 Farmall M.  The bad news is that our 50-60 degree weather is due to come to an end.

Charlie V.

In response to the Ford engine conversions, a few years ago, Ford was featured at Portland, Indiana show. Fellow showed up with Fords powered with stock engine, An OHV Ford 239 six cylinder, A 100 HP flathead V8  and a Zephyr V12 flathead. Quite a display. The Zephyr was an impressive sounding machine.

Don Knasel, also known as "Awesome Henry" who lives a short ways from me, Has a Ford with a 429 Ford V8. Don and his son has quite an assortment of Customized Ford tractors and sells some of the conversion parts. He also has a couple Model T's, One he parades and restoring the other one.

Had a couple nice days here in Ohio. was in the low 60's today. I have been housebound for the last few days. I am walling off part of my living to make a downstairs bedroom. Getting tired of climbing my steep stairway to bedroom. Living room was originally 19 feet by 16 feet. Don't need that much room at all, so walled off 8 feet by 16 feet for bedroom. Will still leave 11 feet by 16 feet living room. Finished the framing yesterday and added some electrical outlets and switches today. Ready to start drywall now.

This house is like a lot of houses built in the late 1800's. There is nowhere that is plumb, level or flat. The whole house tips 1 3/8" to the west. The wall I built is 3 inches higher on the east side than the west, no such thing as standard studs here. Wall board will have to be cut to match the house. The present stairway is very narrow and steep with an ell at the bottom, making it impossible to take furniture and mattresses up the stairway. Have to remove the window in the small bedroom and move things out over the side porch, not very handy. I think I will enjoy the new room when I get it done.


Gene

Being Cyber Monday, I could not overlook a post here on the forum.  I mentioned in my last post that getting the '42 Farmall M fired up would be my next project.  I am very happy to report it has been accomplish.  I had some serious concern because the starter only turned the engine about 1/4 turn then stop, even after a good charge on the battery.  I could turn the motor over backward with the fan, but not forward.  I feared a stuck valve or rust in the cylinders.  The long and short of it turned out to be a shorted battery.  I rotated the motor back easily with a pipe wrench on the crank mount, front side of the lower pulley. The lights were bright, so I hit the starter with the lights on.  They immediately went out.  Clearly a bad connection or an internally shorted battery.  Remover the battery and took it to my garage for a load test.  Under load, voltage dropped to 2 and the battery gave no output at all.  I decided to borrow the battery from the JD 316 garden tractor for test purposes.  I usually take that out for the winter anyway.  When I put that one in the M, the starter spun the motor in great shape.  After adding some gas the old girl fired right up and sounded fine.  I am promising myself not to leave these tractors sit as long next time between starts.

That sounds like an ambitious project on walling off the living room, Gene.  I can understand your reasoning for doing it as my wife and I are at a point where the stairs are not that easy. For us to do that here would require an addition to the house for a BR and a full bath.  Our full bath now is up, with only a 1/2 bath on the first floor.  I am sure you will enjoy the change once the work is done.  

For the conversation Ralph brought up of the V-8 in the Fords, That guy in the video is living dangerous.  It looks like he is doing a good 35 MPH.  I hope the neighbors dogs stay in as he is probably at about three times the stopping capacity of his brakes.  Somewhere in my extensive digital photo collection I have pictures I have taken of Ford conversions.  I have not been able to locate them, but when I do I will post them here.  I sure would like to own the 9n in the pictures.  It is a beauty.

Charlie V.

Charlie;

Glad you got the M running. Sometimes we worry about big problems and turn out to be something simple like the bad battery. Muffler and tailpipe in my Dodge dually was rusted out. It has an aftermarket 4 inch system on it. Couldn't find the right muffler or tailpipe to fit, so ordered a whole new system from turbo back. The parts laid in the shop as I was dreading the work to change it. Finally had a nice day to work on it and torched the old system off. Worried that the bolts on the turbo would be rusted fast, but they came right out. New system went on very easy and was done in about 1 hour of assembly.

Rain, rain and more rain here in Ohio. Just a continuous light rain all day Sunday and today. Rain gauge showing more than 2 inches and still coming down. Don't know how all this water can come up from the south and not leave some of it in Texas and Oklahoma. Would be glad to share at least half of it with them. Better still let tham have all at no extra charge. Possible snow for Wednesday, but no accomulation. Looks like N.Y weather is the same. Looks like Ralph is enjoying a nice clear balmy evening at 23 degrees.

The new construction is progressing, though slowly. Trying to be careful with my measurements. Got the main part of the dry wall up. Ordered a new bed and it was delivered today, now have to get a new mattress and bedding, then I will be ready to put it to use and finish as I go. After all, I have all winter do it. Finishing drywall is not my forte, but I will get it done and learn as I go. Have a neighbor lady who loves to paint and may let her do that.

Just checked the hits on this thread and it has had over 10,000 views on it so far. Makes it the number one on the site. Sure be nice if we could get some responses from these viewers

Gene

Charlie, I'd agree that it is living on the edge to drive that old Ford tractor at high speeds. I don't think the steering was ever meant to handle well at speeds like he was driving . I think I have found the Lincoln V12 powered Ford tractor. Probably not the best tractor engine.
[video=youtube;0xOb_s1lQ78]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xOb_s1lQ78[/video]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xOb_s1lQ78
Gene, that rain sounds depressing. Lucky you can keep busy though. It has been unusually warm here the past week and we are gradually losing our snow. Not normal at all but its nice to be able to work in the unheated shed without freezing my fingers.