Restoration survey

[Jason S.]

I'm currently restoring a couple of my old implements and my question is which do most of you prefer? Do you prefer them looking nice but still showing some of their age and use? For example painted all overbut some of the pits are still in the metal or do you prefer them looking slick and probably better looking than when they were new?...and yes they will be used.
 

[Tony in Mass.]

I wish they didn't even need paint- I could just oil everything. Never 'over restore'. Nothing we have will every end up in a Barret Jackson auction. I saw a 1930's farmall someone 'over restored'... nothing looked right for a tractor. I heard once a long time ago that most model A Fords were restored to a better condition than they left the factory, so it distorts history in a way. I power wire brush the whole thing- say a plow, make sure it is all ready to use -solid, good bolts etc, then a coat of rustoleum in whatever color. When it is done tilling a couple acres, the shares and moldboards are as shiney as ever, the paint isn't 'fresh' anymore, and the world can sleep soundly once again...
 

[Jason S.]

Right now I'm working on one of the AEO sickle mowers. I've stripped it down and sand blasted and wire wheeled everything and primed it with self etching primer. I've put new bearings in it and new seals in it so functionally it's as good as new. But I am leaning more towards just painting it and leaving the pits in it to give it some character...lol. This one still has the ferguson tag and the Detroit harvester tag. I do want to put those back on if I can figure out how to restore the tags.
 

[Tony in Mass.]

Don't worry about pits, that was the obvious 'overrestored' Farmall I mentioned above... he filled in al the sandcasting -texture? As if it was all sheetmetal. Like I said about plows, in the first few hours, it will already have a nice.... patena? If the mower cuts hay, and the tractor doesn't die in the middle of the field, all will be just fine. I have a ??? FEO-20? balance mower... btw, was it you I mentioned that the NNA? 8N website has a long list of scanned op manuals for Dearborns and Ford-Ferguson implements, If you can't find it, I will see if I can fwd it... I'm not good at cut and paste stuff...
 

[samn 40]

I am not so keen on deep pits but there is a happy medium...you just have to find it.... Casting should look like castings and be slightly rough....The one in my pic is slightly overdone, in my mind, but it is a nice tractor just lacking the 'character'
Sam

 

[HillsofTn]

My original promise (to myself) when I started with my first old Ferguson was: I WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO RESTORE! I limit my my endeavors to refurbishing, protecting, and preserving.

I think it is selfishness on my part because I ain"t gonna do for a machine what I can"t do for my own body! (Come to think of it, my preserving and refurbishing is kinda lacking in that particular area!)
 

[Tony in Mass.]

Ya no Sam, that was the first thing I noticed about that MF25 at the dealer's- it wasn't so pitted as most castings.... then I look closer, and much of the frame was steel plate, not cast to begin with. yep, this is just like the guady Farmall I talk about. Simonized diff's are trendy nowdays???
 

[Matt L]

My TO30 was supposed to be a simple rebuild. That didnt work out so well. Ive got 4k in it and its a transmission in my garage lol.