445 Info?

[Aaron SEIA]

Have a 14 year old boy who wants a MM so bad he can taste it. Found what looks to be a nice 445 on a local auction. Wide front, engine condition unknown, good sheet metal. Gas tank appears to be solid and clean. Good rubber and rims. I'm assuming parts availability is near zero for any of the major stuff.

Whats the good and bad of these girls? The Ampli Torc reliable, or would that be a concern? He'd take about anything, but this 445 looks to be something that'd be darn handy around the place if he could get it running.
AaronSEIA

 

[molinegb]

Most is basically the same as Jet Star series made until 1970. Use same rings and bearings,blocks and heads. Old torq can be rebuilt as just rollers and springs.

 

[Alan K]

Have a 14 year old boy who wants a MM so bad he can taste it. Found what looks to be a nice 445 on a local auction. Wide front, engine condition unknown, good sheet metal. Gas tank appears to be solid and clean. Good rubber and rims. I'm assuming parts availability is near zero for any of the major stuff.

Whats the good and bad of these girls? The Ampli Torc reliable, or would that be a concern? He'd take about anything, but this 445 looks to be something that'd be darn handy around the place if he could get it running.
AaronSEIA

They are a good tractor. A lot of parts are available yet, engine parts are getting a little more rare of what I have heard. I have a 1956 445 that I use for haying. The main thing on those engines is the governor. They are at the front of the crankshaft so if there is a lot of wear on the thrust main bearing it affects the governor operation. I would check that out. It might have been updated to the weight style which would be good. I believe the older ball style weight had the most problems. You can see if it has been updated by taking off the "plate" that houses the tachometer cable on the side cover of the engine.
Some early models had some hydraulic problems although it might have been updated to the tel-o-flo system as mine was. I had heard there was an update MM offered on them in the late 1950s for that purpose. If you have some pictures we can tell you if it has been updated. If there are two levers under the seat it should be an updated model.
Ampli-torque you can check out if it runs.
The original bottom seat cushion on those had springs in them for a suspension since there was no underride or suspension on them. The JD models of the same era use the same cushion. I bought mine off of ebay. It is quite an improvement over just foam.
Do you have any pictures of the tractor?

 

[Oakridgewelding]

Ampli-torq parts are available. Just did a jet star 3 . Lots of parts yards mid west. Welters farm supply in MO is the absolute best contact to have in your pocket!! Lois found a NOS top transmission shaft n for my G1000 VISTA!! She knows what's out there.