First Restoration DC PICS

[CsmallDC]

Here they are, as promised. This is my DC. Serial #5511449. It appears to be fairly complete. I"m missing fenders/brackets, belt pulley and the battery cover. The sheet metal is pretty straight. I"m still having trouble getting it started. I believe that it"s an issue with the mag, which is scary. Being 24 years old, I have VERY limited experience with magnetos. I am also a little worried about rebuilding that Zenith carburetor. I have old service manuals and parts catalogs, so I guess it"s time to start my research.

Thanks again!

Caleb




 

[Brian in Ohio]

Serial Number makes it a 1951. Looks like a fairly straight, complete tractor. Parts are easy to come by. Just take your time, ask questions on here when you hit a snag, and keep the pictures coming along the way. John Saeli and Don Livingston are the go to guys for parts.
Saeli Implement

 

[Zachary Hoyt]

Looks like a nice tractor. I rebuilt a magneto for the first time when I was 24 (in 2010) with the help of some wise folks on YT. It is so far the only one I have done. My Farmall H died in a large mud puddle on a woods road on a neighbor's place where I had gone to help move firewood, so it was a sad situation. I am sure you'll be able to fix it if that is the problem.
Zach
 

[CsmallDC]

That's encouraging to hear. I'm just going to have to really research it and take my time.
 

[Brian in Ohio]

By the way... That's not the original front end, is it? You may want to also contact Rich Tworek at CNH and see if you can get a copy of the build card for that tractor.
 

[CsmallDC]

thanks for the tip!
 

[JT's RandR]

Dont be scared once you get a few under your belt it will be like slicing a cake. Im only 21 and I have rebuilt numerous carbs including a few zeniths on dcs my family owns 6 of them. The guys here on this forum are always willing to help you out and even though I have restored several tractors with my family over the years I still ask a lot of questions on here. My advice is the more knowledge you can soak up the better and just take your time.
 

[Ande]

Hi Caleb,
Looks like a nice "DC",glad you posted it and also glad your here.Keep us posted on how its going,there are lots of great guys here ready to help
 

[Ron Sa]

Glad to see another DC being saved from the junkman. I see you are already 12V. All 5 of my DCs have a distributor. Three I converted. Easy to keep the ignition in tip top condition. Maybe you want to keep original. The delco distributors are plentiful. Let me know if you need some help.
 

[L.LAMP]

My first rebuild was a '51 DC like yours only in much worse shape. It was severely stuck. There are no new Case mag parts unless you are lucky to find some. My mags have all been nonworking when I got them. I prefer the model 41 over the JMA because the coils can be replaced easily and in a pinch you can get a fairbanks coil to work in them. I use an IH magneto condenser. It has a screw in the end. To get the rotor out the little screw on the back side of it must come out. Do not pull on the rotor! Disassemble and clean everything you can but do not remove the armature. Replace the small wires from the consenser to the points if the wire looks bad. Buy wire loops that fit the screws and solder them onto the wire. File the points to get rid of pits. finish them with fine emery paper. Reinstall all the point parts and gap at .010. Turn the mag so small gear with dot fits between the two shaved teeth on the rotor. Put back the lock screw. If the input coupling is good, it will click each time it fires when mag is in opereating position. Before you disassemble you can usually tell if the coil is good by observing a faint spark at the points when you turn it. Put cap back on with heavy coil wire inserted into cap. Put a test wire in number one hole and turn mag until spark jumps from end of test wire accross a 5/8" gap to mag case. A nice blue spark and it is ready to use. Turn engine to #1 firing position. Turn with a crank. Take out inspection plug on right side to see small hole in flywheel and center this in the inspection hole. Turn dogs on mag CLOCKWISE from drive end far enough to fit into mag drive on tractor and bolt in place. Firing order is #1,#3,#4, and #2. If it backfires when you crank it, it is a round out of time. Move #1 wire to #4 position on cap and clockwise install the remaining plug wires #3,#4,and #2. Your tractor should run smoothly. The carbon on the rotor should be cleaned off with a rubber pencil eraser and wiped clean with a cloth. Do not use ANYTHING else. This should make a dirty old mag work again.
 

[CsmallDC]

Wow! Hugely informative! This will serve me well. Looks like it is very doable, it will just require patience. Thanks so much
 

[C. Amick]

Stupid question - Did you clean the points in the mag with some fine sandpaper or other device?
 

[Flewster]

Very nice. I was given my grandfathers 51 DC with the promise to get it running before he died. I rebuilt the motor that was stuck, carb and found a good mag as his mag was burned up in a fire at the repair shop. that was reason he quit running it in first place. VERY helpful people on this site and you can get parts easy for it. Take it slow and have fun and ask lots of questions. Good luck