Last updated May 26, 2009
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| Tim the Toolman Wafer | Overseer of all projects, Lucy |
The stories and information provided on my web pages is there for anyone to use without charge. However there are costs involved with maintaining the website. If you found any info especially useful or entertaining and would like to donate any amount at all to the cause, I certainly appreciate it. Donations are accepted through the PayPal button below. However this is not required by any means! Enjoy!
as I found it (click picture to enlarge)
(click picture to enlarge)
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I acquired this F-14 from the father of one of my coworkers, Al Collins. His father had purchased it new in 1939 and was the sole owner until I came along. It has spent the last 30 plus years retired in the hedgerow that you see in the first picture. I bought it in October of 2000 for $50. I finished it in October 2003. It was in pretty rough shape when I first took possession and I was wondering what I had gotten into. What kept me going was the thought of seeing her live again. It was a very rewarding project and I learned a lot along the way. Check out my F-14 Project Page if you would like to see the project from start to finish. You'll also hear about the many obstacles and pitfalls I encountered along the way. I currently use it occasionally around my place. I spread lime towing a 10’ drop spreader in the spring. I also use it to tow around a big Toro Rake-O-Vac, which holds close to 6 cubic yards of debris. It also makes it's way into our local July 4th parades pulling a float!
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My 1951 Farmall H
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This was my father's 1951 H. He bought it used when I was very young. I remember them unloading it from a flatbed truck by backing up to the bank by the road. He used it for many years to plow the driveway and hauling firewood. It was his pride and joy. It’s January 2008 and I’m finally getting around to restoring it. Hopefully it will be a lot easier than the F-14 I did a few years ago. The H is in running condition and still gets used. Biggest problem is that it burns almost as much oil as gas and creates quite a fog around you. My main goals for this project are: Completely rebuilding the engine while boosting the HP a bit, adding live hydraulics, stripping it down and painting it while addressing any problems found along the way. I plan on keeping it at the traditional 6-volts. It’s in my shop now so check My Farmall H Project Page to follow along on its progress!
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1954 Super C
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Here is a Farmall Super C I acquired late summer 2007. I bought it mainly because of the grader blade. Figured it would be just the ticket for maintaining my driveway. It also is equipped with a FastHitch. It will be yet another future restoration project. Haven’t done much with it as yet except the following. I put new wheels & tires on the front so I could at least roll it around. Also replaced a rear tube that was shot and got the rear tires both facing in the correct direction. I got all the tires & wheels from M. E. Miller Tire Co. The engine was seized when I got it. I pulled the head; poured transmission fluid in each cylinder and let it set for a couple weeks. I then stuck the steam hose from my Steam Jenny into the bottom coolant outlet and let steam run through the water jacket for a while till it was good and hot. Tapped on each piston using a block of wood and a hammer and presto, it broke free. Well, it was almost that easy! I also have rebuilt the carburetor, which was really in sad shape. I then moved over to the above Farmall H project, which is what I had planned for this winter.
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IH 574 Diesel
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This is my IH 574 Diesel. It’s my main work tractor. I use it bush hogging in the summer with a 6’ mower. In the winter it has a 7-1/2’ IH 80 snowblower attached. That’s a bit big for this tractor but works fine until the snow is over a foot deep and then you have to take it in smaller bites. I have a 2-bottom JD plow, an 8’ IH model 37 disc, a 12’ JD drag, Brillion seeder and an IH 4 row corn planter for it as well. I plant several acres of food plots for whitetail deer each year. I also have a PTO generator, York rake and back blade and probably some other stuff I cant think of at the moment.
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1969 Skytrak
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I bought this SkyTrak model 700 forklift in early 2006. It’s any early one, made in 1969. It’s based on a Minneapolis Moline Big Mo 600. Lifts to around 30 feet. The engine runs and the lift hydraulics all work but there is a problem in the shuttle transmission. It won’t move forward or back. I have it in an empty bay in my old hay barn. It’s a project I work on now and then when the mood strikes me. That’s until I have time to really get into it. So far I have removed all the sheet metal and given it a number of pressure washings, steam cleanings and lye baths. It’s without a doubt the dirtiest, grimiest piece of equipment I have ever run across. The caked on grease & dirt is not to be believed. I have found a few problems with the hydraulic shuttle shift that definitely would have prevented it from functioning. I have repaired them and am to the point of reassembling it to test it again. My gut feeling is that I have not yet discovered the ultimate problem wit it yet though. I guess that’s why I stopped at that point, not wanting to discover the bad news. One day soon I will be forced to face it however! I have projects lined up to use it on.
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 Sno-Cat climbing small hill (click picture to enlarge) |
Here is my 1954 (I think) model 442 Double Drive Tucker Sno-Cat. I purchased this in neighboring Vermont. I was tinkering with it some last winter just getting it into a little better running condition. Visit my Sno-Cat Project Page and see what I've done so far. Major restoration work won't start until the F-14 tractor is finished, which should be soon. A Chrysler Flathead six cylinder engine powers it. It has three forward speeds and one reverse. The lower photo shows my recently acquired "Tucker Sno-Cat Trailer" trailing behind it. This is one of the very few surviving Tucker trailers known to exist! I know of only one other in Vermont. I got this one all the way from Oregon. It will also get a restoration. There are a few more shots of it on my Sno-Cat Project Page
Gordon's Classic Sno-Cat site Visit the Classic Sno-Cat discussion board Visit Sean's Allis-Chalmers M7 Page
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D2-5J (click picture to enlarge)
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protect myself from brush (click picture to enlarge)
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Here is one of my latest acquisitions, a 1941 Caterpillar D2-5J. I bought this during late summer 2001. It's powered by a 4-cylinder diesel engine with a gas pony engine starter. It has a 2-cylinder gas engine, which was originally rope start. I just added electric start to the pony in late summer of 2002. I found the pony engine starter on E-Bay. The gas pony engine spins the diesel for as long as it takes to warm it up and start it. I have done some much-needed maintenance and fixed a number of minor things so far. Everything is now working pretty well. I bought some nice tracks and a drawbar for it from D4Dan, which I also installed in 2001. The original tracks were in bad shape but the sprockets & rollers were quite good. It originally had a lighting kit with generator and battery box. The lights were missing but I picked up some Cat lights, again off E-Bay and got them working once again. I had the generator rebuilt by Classic Generators in Texas. I also had the pony engine carb rebuilt by HITE Parts Exchange. While I was waiting for the rebuilt parts I decided to give it a very quick coat of paint since I had a gallon of Cat yellow given to me. Bear in mind it wasn't intended as a restoration paint job, just something to make it look a little cleaner. It will eventually get a full restoration along with a proper paint job some time in the future. I also want to fabricate a FOPS for it. So far I have cut a driveway through an old elevated railroad right of way and am currently working on clearing the brush and trees off a neighbor's field. This is why I've decided to add a "Falling Object Protection System". I'm still in the learning process as far as operating it. It doesn't have all the high tech features of modern machines but I'm beginning to get the feel for it.
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My 1996 MAX IV 6x6
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This is my MAX IV 6x6. I purchased this used in Indiana a couple years ago. I went thought it all and put it into like new condition. I have also added some custom features such as the suspension seat and rear rack. I also have optional tracks and a canvas cab for it. You can see them at my photo album. I also added a Max page showing more detail of some of my modifications.
My MAX Modifications |
My circa 1970
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The above picture of my Alsport Tracker is what it looked like when I purchased it. I have some photos of the restoration that is underway but have yet to create an album for them. This is an amphibious twin track drive snowmobile/ATV. It has interchangeable wheels and skis for the front. It's a two seater, has forward and reverse and can turn extremely short if you brake the inside track in the turn. The tracks provide propulsion in the water. I have a 41 page service and parts manual which I can provide a copy of to anyone who wants one for $40 which includes postage. If anyone is interested just contact me. You can also click here to buy the manual now using PayPal. |
My model 620
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Here is a picture of my Passé Par Tout. Roughly translated it means "Travels Over Everything" This was one of the last made sometime in the early to mid 80's in Michigan. I just added a PPT Project Page which will detail some of the work I'm doing on it. I'll be adding more to it shortly.
I have service and parts manuals for the later models, which I can provide copies of to anyone who wants them for $40 for the set, which includes shipping. They may also be helpful to owners of earlier models. If anyone is interested just contact me You can also click here to buy the manuals now using PayPal.
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"Dressed to Kill" (click picture to enlarge)
"This was taken at "Air Combat School" in
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My Hometown
Buyea's True Value & Just Ask Rental
Dan's Guide To Guns And Optics
Fastrac Antique Farm Tractor & Implement Support Group
Farmall, IHC and McCormick-Deering Stuff
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
Gordon's Classic Sno-Cat site
Route 6 x 6
Vintage Trackster Web Page
to me.
