Slow lane 49
New User
- Location
- Delta, CO
Just wanted to say hello and show off my 350 Utility project. I deliver propane, so sometimes customers come out to chat while I'm filling the tank. This one fella told me he had just inherited the house and they were trying to get rid of some things. One was a 350 Utility. It had been sitting for 20+ years. He didn't know what was wrong with it. I'm no stranger to locked up engines, so I made a low offer. Besides, I'm busy in winter. Not a lot of free time. A week later and we had a deal. Went to pick it up and the deal turned out better than I expected. I knew I was getting a back blade and an ancient Massey disc. Then he told me an auger was going with. Now I felt bad because I only paid a little more than the auger is worth. I assured his sad wife that her father's tractor was going to be well taken care of. Then headed home excited to play with a new toy.
I should say that I am not a farmer. Very little tractor experience. Forklifts and old trucks, yes. I have a 1/2 acre with house, garage, and way too many project trucks. A week went by before I could try to get it running. The wiring has some issues. Had to jump the starter solenoid. Had voltage to coil, but no spark. Then the battery quit. To be fair, it had done some winching. Put it on charge. Another week later, my buddy Jose and I took another shot at it. Cleaned out the fuel system, filed the points, and it ran! Absolutely no smoke or valve tapping. Only leak is from oil filter. Let it run for 20 min or more. Tried the fast hitch and sprung a leak in the hose. All the hoses are cracked. There's a local AG supply (I am in farm country) that makes hoses, so they will get a paycheck. And then a milkshake drip from under trans/axle. Yay. The trans shifter will move back and forth in neutral, but won't shift into any gear. I'm figuring rain got in over the years. Hopefully that is the only reason for milkshake. New hoses and oil flush soon.
Now for what I know about the tractor. Has 12v conversion w/alternator. Alt keeps right hood from closing. Has spin out rear wheels. Right front wheel was toed in bad. The axle clamp is gone and axle slid in. Tires are good other than the car tire on rt front. Hydraulic pump is in front of grill, so probably had a loader at one time? Has PTO, currently stuck on low speed. There is some kind of piston (don't know what to call it) by PTO housing that is froze keeping the shifter from moving. Has a top link to use 3pt. Brakes work. Power steering works. Won't know about trans and TA until I free up the shifter. Looks like this is a good, solid tractor that just needs minor repairs. I don't really have questions yet. Ordering some parts and a manual first. I forgot to take pics Sunday. I went out after work in the dark to get some. Not great, but everyone wants pics. I have the air filter, just took off to clean.
I should say that I am not a farmer. Very little tractor experience. Forklifts and old trucks, yes. I have a 1/2 acre with house, garage, and way too many project trucks. A week went by before I could try to get it running. The wiring has some issues. Had to jump the starter solenoid. Had voltage to coil, but no spark. Then the battery quit. To be fair, it had done some winching. Put it on charge. Another week later, my buddy Jose and I took another shot at it. Cleaned out the fuel system, filed the points, and it ran! Absolutely no smoke or valve tapping. Only leak is from oil filter. Let it run for 20 min or more. Tried the fast hitch and sprung a leak in the hose. All the hoses are cracked. There's a local AG supply (I am in farm country) that makes hoses, so they will get a paycheck. And then a milkshake drip from under trans/axle. Yay. The trans shifter will move back and forth in neutral, but won't shift into any gear. I'm figuring rain got in over the years. Hopefully that is the only reason for milkshake. New hoses and oil flush soon.
Now for what I know about the tractor. Has 12v conversion w/alternator. Alt keeps right hood from closing. Has spin out rear wheels. Right front wheel was toed in bad. The axle clamp is gone and axle slid in. Tires are good other than the car tire on rt front. Hydraulic pump is in front of grill, so probably had a loader at one time? Has PTO, currently stuck on low speed. There is some kind of piston (don't know what to call it) by PTO housing that is froze keeping the shifter from moving. Has a top link to use 3pt. Brakes work. Power steering works. Won't know about trans and TA until I free up the shifter. Looks like this is a good, solid tractor that just needs minor repairs. I don't really have questions yet. Ordering some parts and a manual first. I forgot to take pics Sunday. I went out after work in the dark to get some. Not great, but everyone wants pics. I have the air filter, just took off to clean.