I bought my 1952 Ferguson TO-30 from a “collector” back in 1995. As I used it it became clear this machine was held together by just enough silicone sealer to allow it to run. Oil mixed with the water, and the rear seal was basically the seal carrier pumped full of silicone sealer. It became clear the lower cylinder seals were shot, as was just about every seal in the engine.

At that point I was able to locate a new short block in Iowa. I drove to Des Moines and picked up the short block. A local expert rebuilt the head, with new valves, new rocker shaft and bushings, and even pinned a crack. With the rebuilt head and new short block it was a new engine! When reassembling it I put in a new clutch plate and pressure plate.

Since then the Ferguson TO-30 has run great. I’ve repainted the sheet metal and put new headlights on it. It has mowed a lot of fields and smoothed a lot of rock roads. The Continental Z129 is a great engine. I’ve rebuilt the carb and added electronic ignition. I’ve had two 9Ns and they cannot touch the Ferguson for power and reliability!

Larry Snyder of Mountain View, Arkansas

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