Well, not really, may never be to my liking, but it runs like a top and the probably the closest I'll get to restoring a tractor to "new". It's not the cosmetics, they are only good at 10 yards away, I don't use any bondo and I haven't even rubbed it out yet, it is a working tractor, but the way it's running actually amazes me, it purrs like a kitten. I put a lot of new parts in it so I have some confidence that it will finally be as reliable as my Kubota.
One thing I was happy about is that for the first time, I replaced everything that was not right, and took my time, without just having dreams of a pretty tractor and hoping that the internals were going to hold up. I will have to say, the greatest satisfaction was punching the starter and having it kick off within 3 cranks. All I had to do was tweak the timing and now it runs better than it ever did in the old days. It wants a little choke and I'll have to figure that out. The oil pressure isn't perfect, it sit on the left edge of N of Normal, acceptable but a little lower than I expected. No leaks though it took a new water pump and retightening the new gaskets on the PD case to pull that off.
It's new crank, bearings, pistons, sleeves, governor, distributor, clutch, pressure plate, release bearings, water pump, hoses, clamps, battery, gauges, electronic ignition, completely refurbed, cam, valves, oil pump, relief valve, carb and block. All new wiring throughout with very good quality wire, and more seals than I can remember. It should run as good as my Kubota, because it probably cost more. That doesn't trouble me in the least because as I said before, this cost far less than most peoples vacations, furniture, new trucks etc, and I don't do those things, this is what I enjoy .
Here are some shots, I picked the best "before" I had, it was a tired restoration from the 90s when I started restoring tractors, "AC orange" and nearly dark red by last year. I blew the engine in about 2006 and started rebuilding about 2009 and then lost interest because I have other machines. Kim gave me a rebuild kit for my birthday last May, and that got me going. Then I used it as a learning tool for our son, so he'd have first hand experience rebuilding an engine himself. I'm working on other tractors, so it's been slow, but now it's ready to bush hog again (my main use of this tractor).
I will also try to post a video that has the engine running if I can get the size down enough. Can't believe how good this engine sounds with just a ear timing.
One thing I was happy about is that for the first time, I replaced everything that was not right, and took my time, without just having dreams of a pretty tractor and hoping that the internals were going to hold up. I will have to say, the greatest satisfaction was punching the starter and having it kick off within 3 cranks. All I had to do was tweak the timing and now it runs better than it ever did in the old days. It wants a little choke and I'll have to figure that out. The oil pressure isn't perfect, it sit on the left edge of N of Normal, acceptable but a little lower than I expected. No leaks though it took a new water pump and retightening the new gaskets on the PD case to pull that off.
It's new crank, bearings, pistons, sleeves, governor, distributor, clutch, pressure plate, release bearings, water pump, hoses, clamps, battery, gauges, electronic ignition, completely refurbed, cam, valves, oil pump, relief valve, carb and block. All new wiring throughout with very good quality wire, and more seals than I can remember. It should run as good as my Kubota, because it probably cost more. That doesn't trouble me in the least because as I said before, this cost far less than most peoples vacations, furniture, new trucks etc, and I don't do those things, this is what I enjoy .
Here are some shots, I picked the best "before" I had, it was a tired restoration from the 90s when I started restoring tractors, "AC orange" and nearly dark red by last year. I blew the engine in about 2006 and started rebuilding about 2009 and then lost interest because I have other machines. Kim gave me a rebuild kit for my birthday last May, and that got me going. Then I used it as a learning tool for our son, so he'd have first hand experience rebuilding an engine himself. I'm working on other tractors, so it's been slow, but now it's ready to bush hog again (my main use of this tractor).
I will also try to post a video that has the engine running if I can get the size down enough. Can't believe how good this engine sounds with just a ear timing.