While raking Hay with our Farmall BN and IH 4 bar rake. A neighbor came by and asked if I would be interested in restoring a Famall M well I had another tractor 3/4 finished and said "oh I don't know ", he said "I will give it to you", well I jumped all over that one. I knew which one he was mentioning, My wife and I had driven past the area many times, I told my wife "I have no interest in doing anything that BIG"
The history was as follows :
He purchased the tractor non running in early 1995 it sat for 15 yrs in a barn non running, took it to a vocational school to restore, school let out and he hauled the non running tractor to the museum (AKA back field) and put the remaining parts in a shed, fast forward 2008 picked up the tractor, and parts in a shed that was held with the parts that were in side, a good strong breeze would have toppled it.
Got it hauled home with the help of my brother and cousin. They aired the tires and away they went spraying a calcium leak 360 degrees, by the time we towed it home my cousin was pretty well soaked.Restoration began in fall 2008, every part was dismantled cleaned and installed, engine was a total rebuild, all seals gaskets and parts were inspected and cleaned thoroughly. Finished the project February 2011
Plan to have a second photo take of it with the previous owner. It was a gift but put lots of $ and time into it. I love restoring antiques, it really whisks winter away, and have a great heirloom to pass on.
Above are the before and after Photo's
1940 McCormick Deering Farmall M Distillate, complete with shutters and belt pulley. Would like to finish the restore with the correct manifold.Phillip Lenke
Temperance, Michigan
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