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John Deere Projects

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1953 John Deere 40 S

Here are some pictures of my John Deere project. This time it is not another tractor, but a wood splitter using a John Deere LU power unit. It is basically like the LA. Some of the features I used are as follows.

  1. Two cylinder LU motor / crank start with magneto.
  2. 16″ tires from my pickup.
  3. Hydraulic pump off of a street sweeper.
  4. Hydraulic ram off a Caterpillar dozer.
  5. Old vehicle axle and hubs.
  6. Large steel beam from scrap yard.
  7. Time, lots and lots of time cutting, fitting, welding, grinding, and painting.

I am happy to say that it will rip or tear any type of wood. It is always in demand from one of my friends or relatives. I love to listen to the Poppon’ Johnny run.

Alan Smith

1953 John Deere 40 S
D4 in the dirt
Wood Splitter
John Deere, Tractor Photos, Tractor Repair, Tractor Stories

1955 John Deere 40 Utility

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This is my 1955 John Deere 40 Utility. I farmed 20 acres with this tractor when I was in High School in the late sixties and early seventies. I raised alfalfa hay to feed my cattle and horses. With this John Deere, a John Deere #5 sickle mower and a New Holland #68 baler I also did custom baling.

My brother then took over the tractor and farmed with it until it developed an engine problem. When he sold his farm the tractor came back to me and sat for thirty plus years and the elements and squirrels took a toll on the old machine. I always had a desire to fix the tractor up. I eventually retired and found that I had the time to go to work on it.

Thanks to Steiner I was able to locate the parts to do the restore. An engine overhaul, complete electrical rebuild as well as a complete flush and replacement of all lubricants and it is now running as sweet as it ever did.

What a work horse this tractor was and I spent so many youthful hours on the seat and it sure brings back memories. So happy that I was able to bring it back to life.

John Durand of Yakima, Washington

John Deere, Tractor Photos, Tractor Stories

October Featured Photo

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October Featured Photo

This month’s featured tractor photo was submitted by Mark Kurth of La Porte, Indiana.

“Our home is on the National Register of Historical Places in La Porte County, Indiana. Allis Chalmers (previously Rumley) was an important manufacturer in La Porte before the plant shut down in 1984. When we needed a tractor to help with restoration work on the farm, an Allis Chalmers D14 was a natural choice – being a hometown favorite. Ours has never been apart and still works as good as it did when it was built in 1957. The post-hole auger is an original AC implement.” – Mark Kurth

This photo was chosen as a winner in our photo contest and will be featured in the 2020 Steiner Tractor Parts catalog. Check out the other winning photos here.

Allis Chalmers, Featured Tractors, Photo Contest Entries, Tractor Photos, Tractor Stories

September Featured Photo

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September Featured Tractor Photo

Wayne Shaw’s Massey Ferguson 1080
This month’s featured photo was submitted by
Wayne Shaw of Utterson, Ontario, Canada.

“The Massey 1080 took the day off from haying due to rain. After the rain stopped a rainbow formed overhead framing the tractor, which I thought would make for a pleasant picture after a soaking day.” -Wayne Shaw

This photo was chosen as a winner in our photo contest and will be featured in the 2020 Steiner Tractor Parts catalog. Check out the other winning photos here.

Featured Tractors, Massey Harris / Ferguson, Photo Contest Entries, Tractor Photos, Tractor Stories

1953 Farmall Super A

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I am submitting this information and these photos on behalf of my Grandfather. He has worked hard his entire life to help provide for his family. He stops at nothing to give everyone the very best of him.

My name is William H. Patterson (also known as Cotton Patterson.) I am a 77 year old resident of Clay County, Alabama. I have been working in the fields and maintaining gardens since I was old enough to hold a tool and differentiate between a weed and a crop. I started at five years old and used mules until the year 1960. That was the year I was able to purchase my tractor. I worked driving a school bus until I could save up the money to purchase a 1953 Super A International Farmall from a man in Talladega, Alabama. I paid $900 for the tractor plus some equipment. I have rebuilt the engine three times and in my opinion, there is no better tractor than my international. I maintain three gardens and we grow and harvest everything from corn to watermelon. Being able to retire those mules has been one of my greatest blessings.

William Patterson of Talladega, Alabama

Farmall / International, Tractor Photos, tractor restoration, Tractor Stories, ,

August Featured Photo

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August’s featured photo was submitted by Christopher Hill of Otisville, Michigan and features his 1958 Ford 641.

Christopher Hill’s 1958 Ford 641 at the Mackinac Bridge crossing in St. Ignace, Michigan.

“The 1958 Ford 641 Workmaster was the first tractor that my dad bought to start farming with in 1967. I learned how to drive and work the fields. My mother used the Ford in the field, raking hay up until the day I put it in the barn to start restoring it. It took 2 years to restore and many trips to Steiners for parts to make her show and parade ready. The Ford now has an easy life where it gets many oohs, aahs, smiles and thumbs up.”

Christopher Hill

This photo was chosen as a winner in our photo contest and will be featured in the upcoming 2020 Steiner catalog. Check out the other winning photos here.

Featured Tractors, Ford, Photo Contest Entries, Tractor Photos, Tractor Stories, Uncategorized

1945 Farmall A

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This 1945 Farmall A was my first vintage farm tractor. I bought it for $900 in April of 2018. I believe it’s all original. We drove 3 hours to Eastern Connecticut from Cape Cod.

I had it running the night I got it home. The first thing I did was check over the whole tractor. It was running really good but it has been sitting in storage for 20 years. I removed the oil pan. It was full of sludge at the bottom. After changing the oil I replaced the spark plugs, cap, carburetor, and gear oil. Almost half of what drained from the transmission was water. The next part was the muffler that was completely rusted out.

I had it all ready a week before the Fourth of July parade in my town. Not soon after the bearing in the fan pulley seized. Thanks to Steiner Tractor I had the part shipped next day with only 2 days left until the parade. The morning of the day before the parade I received the fan. My Farmall made it through the whole parade and then some without overheating and ran great. Thanks Steiner Tractor

Cody Johnson of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts

Farmall / International, Tractor Photos, tractor restoration, Tractor Stories