Lanse and his tractor

[Old Ford Mechanic]

I've noticed that all of us have been trying to help Lanse with his tractor.All of us have been offering suggestions reguarding the questions that he has ask.The answers and advice that he has received has been good.But i would like to make an observation and then make a suggestion that i feel will help Lanse a lot on his project.Since Lanse is a young fellow (around 14 or 15 i think)all this information may be a bit overwhelming.I know that when he asks a question he sometimes gets many different answers to it.And the answers are all good answers but,he may be getting more on him than he needs.All of us have good intentions but,too many answers may not be the correct answer.I personally think that an experienced person to work with him on his project wouldd help him more than anything.You know sort of a mentor.But since he may not have that option i'd like to make a suggestion that i feel would help.I'd like to challenge anyone who wants to help Lanse to come up the name to a publication that illustrates the procedures for overhauling an engine.Maybe a Haynes or Chilton manual or something along those lines.Any book showing the basic procedures will help him.From his posts i can tell that he seems mechanically inclined and i think if he had a book with the illustrations and instuction it would really help him.Lanse is doing a good job so far and i would like to help him as i'm sure everyone would.So come on guys lets rack our brains and come up with something for him.If i can find something i'll mail it to him free of charge.I just want to see him get his tractor going sucessfully.A book like this will show him the steps and the correct tools to repair his engine.It won't mean that he won't need advice from any of us,just that he could be a little more sure of what he is doing without someone to show him.I know that i have learned from manuals and books over the years and without them it would have been hard and very much more expensive to learn.So come on everyone just post a title and where to purchase it and maybe we can help him even more.I remember when i was a kid.And Lanse ,keep up the good work.

 

[Mark - IN.]

Well, I've seen those posts and stayed out of the way. I can clutter up the most streamlined...all by myself. I figure that many sure are trying to help out and applaud them. More willing and good hearted and natured fellas than I had available to me. My father died when I was 10, so had to figure out a lot on my own. I think that I read somewhere back where he's 17 or so.

Sure he's going to get a lot of different ideas and theories, some good, and some not as good. Overwhelming? Possibly and possibly not. He is coming to a discussion forum, and things will get discussed from a large array of angles, experience, etc. As far as tech referrences go, I've seen a couple of fellas post to him that have about as much experience not only in general, but with B's specifically, and have tons of appropriate information in the archives here at YT. I often go to the archives and do a "search" if I have a specific technical question, because chances are good that an answer, diagrams, and even photos might be there.

As far as Lanse goes, he sure is ambitious and I wish him well in this project. I'm kind of guessing that old iron does too.

 

[Walt Davies]

I was 18 when I got my first car it was 1938 Plymouth coupe. Ugly little thing with no brakes and worn out engine. My step-dad was a fairly good mechanic with a good tool box so he showed me how to get started and i did my first brake job on that old Plymouth came real good to.
I learned a lot from my Step-dad about mechanics and how to repairs cars (the old ones) I just wish Lanse had someone close buy who could be a MENTOR AND GIVE HIM ADVICE AS HE DOES THE WORK BUT NOT TO DO IT FOR HIM JUST TELL HIM WHAT TO DO AND LET HIM LEARN ON HIS OWN.
wALT

 

[Fergienewbee]

I remember two '51 Mercs I bought in high school. My cousin threw a rod in one and I bought the other to swap engines. After all the work of swapping those flat heads, I discovered the "new" one was seized up. My buddy cut one up with a torch and we hauled it to the scrap yard. The body of the other, after the city passed an ordinance against inoperative vehicles, I paid a dump $2.00 dollars to take. But I learned a lot. Does Lanse's school have an aurto shop teacher that might be helpful? At least maybe get a feel for how engines work?

Larry

 

[moonlite 37]

Anybody live within one hour of him? I wish he was in my neighborhood so i could help him on a couple of Saturdays.

 

[Mathias NY]

A Jensales service manual for an Allis B sells for $33 (I can't post the name of the website for sensorship reasons). This would be an excellent resourse that should contain all of the tractor specific information that Lanse has been asking for. The I&T manual is only $25, but I have not found them to be as useful.

"Antique Tractor Bible" ($30) is one of my favorite, it coveres a lot of useful information of vintage tractors. "How to restore your farm tractor" from Motorbooks is another one ($24) with some really good information. I own both and have spent many hours rereading them. Both of these are available on Amazon.com

 

[Anonymous-0]

Friends and I got hold of a cutdown Model A when I was about 13.My dad showed us what to do but made sure we did the actual work.The head was cracked,we could not loosen the head bolts.Dad started each one and let us take over.He brought home a set of 16 inch rims and tires for us,the original tires were rotten.We had one tire pass us when we were driving thru a field.

 

[Mark - IN.]

Walt, someone near him to offer helpful hints or ask leading questions would be a good thing. I agree. The difference between him now and we years ago, he has the internet and answers readily at his fingers tips, good or bad. We had AM radio and whom ever climbed the fence.

 

[Mike M]

I thought someone from here ? gave him a factory service manual allready ? And I also thought he got into too big a hurry and didn't read it first ?

That's how I had to learn. I got the manuals and studied them cover to cover. Your going to make mistakes and it will cost you ,that's how you learn !

 

[Lanse]

I did get a factory service manuel from someone on here, but i also have a book called "How to restore classic farmall tractors" that i got for christmas. Its not a farmall, but it is very detailed, and seems to cover everything, lots of pictures, and the engines are VERY similar. Just thought i should point out. Thanks for posting, Old ford

 

[Anonymous-0]

The kid has been given some good advise but he seems to not understand A tractor without an engine doesent need a prime job or a new seat as these things wont make it run he needs to spend time and money to have a workable engine or the rest is worthless. He will learn.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Remember youthful exuberance boys? The kid is trying and learning and needs as much help and support as we can give him, would you rather see a zombie in front of the tv playing video games all day? I prefer to see a kid trying and having fun with it no matter the outcome or the path he takes

 

[Dave from MN]

In all honesty, just about any one that gets their very 1st tractor, as Lanse has, will buy a can of paint or primer and paint something on it. I dont care if the person is 10 or 65. It is just anxiousness to do a little to it, I still do that with most projects I buy. I have a model 60 plow that has a nice painted hitch on it, the rest isnt, i have a super 66 baler that only has the flywheel painted. I can feel his enthusiasm and envy his ambition.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Get a book here;
Jensales

 

[Anonymous-0]

Best manuals in the world is their motto, I'd like to meet the person or owner of that company to discuss that motto in relation to the product they sell and have them explain why it is the best in the world.

Know what you are getting before you buy from them, hint..... ask about print quality, photos and diagram clarity, then compare the price to the level of quality they offer, might disappoint some people to say the least, buyer beware.

 

[flashback]

There is a book thatis called "Dykes Automobile and Gasoline Engine encyclopedia" that was published off and on for many years. My copy was published in 1945 and I believe it still is published. occasionally. It is the best engine book I have ever seen and has illustrated diagrams etc. on all kinds of engines including tractors. Maybe I can find him one. Jack

 

[jim wise]

i wish lanse was close to me, finding people with his intrest are few and far between. i learned body and paint from an older shop owner. that was 26 years ago and we still have lunch most every day. i have tryed to teach a few guys but havent found one yet lanse is doing fine, the grunt work isnt as much fun as making stuff pretty. jim

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have tried to tell him the same thing in a nice way. I also suggested that perhaps his school or another one, including where mechanics take their training, might really like to have a project like Lanse's engine to work on as part of their training. I realize that Lanse wants to do it all himself but getting a stuck engine going requires more experience than most 14 yr. olds would have. Lanse has huge amounts of enthusiasm which should be applauded. Dave

 

[Lanse]

I wish there were someone who knows how to paint the thing i could learn from

 

[Lanse]

sounds interesting. Let me know

 

[Lanse]

thats the manuel i got, i think its pretty good!!

 

[Lanse]

Agreed

 

[Lanse]

You 2 got it, but gene, you do have a point

 

[Lanse]

Other then buying it in the first place, Ive reserched what im doing before i do it

 

[Lanse]

how to restore your farm tractor is the only one of the 3 i dont have.

 

[Lanse]

I got an e-mail from someone who could help, but i need all the help i can get

 

[Lanse]

we have had sevral levies fail, so all we have is wood shop and Ag.

 

[Lanse]

Thanks!! Im not overwelmed, i just decide which opinion is best for the situation, and go with it. BTW, im 14

 

[Lanse]

I wish i could find someone like you had...

 

[Lanse]

Youre right about that. Come to think about it i have taken the internet for granted..

 

[Lanse]

Sounds like fun to me!!
!

 

[trucker40]

I got a 1956 ford car from my older brother when I was 13.About that time got a book about building a hot rod out of a 56 Ford in the 60s.I think it was a Peterson book,later got from the same place a book about painting your car.I put a synchromesh transmisiion in,moved the 3 speed shifter from the column to the floor,hauled hay to get the money for all this,rebuilt the carb,adjusted the valves,it was a inline 6 motor.Replaced the clutch disc,fixed some rust holes with stuff I ordered out of a JC Whitney catalog(didnt even know they had plastic filler,didnt have a torch to do lead)and painted it all before I was 16.First time I took it to school 14 miles in to town,blew the motor up coming home.

 

[trucker40]

There is way more stuff out there now days than in my time.I think I saw somewhere a video you can get to help rebuild a motor.When I try to think of what to write I get overwhelmed trying to think of how to tell him that he can understand sometimes,usually just go ahead and write and hope he can figure out.Seems like he is doing allright for a 14 year old.Too bad his school doesnt have anything like that to show him about the tools,he just needs to find a mechanic to tell him about stuff if he can figure out what to ask.

 

[trucker40]

There is way more stuff out there now days than in my time.I think I saw somewhere a video you can get to help rebuild a motor.When I try to think of what to write I get overwhelmed trying to think of how to tell him that he can understand sometimes,usually just go ahead and write and hope he can figure out.Seems like he is doing allright for a 14 year old.Too bad his school doesnt have anything like that to show him about the tools,he just needs to find a mechanic to tell him about stuff if he can figure out what to ask.

 

[jim wise]

Lanse you can paint it, when the time comes. when you get that far we will help you. you need to focus on the motor/ drive train first. you dont want to back track. you can clean your parts and fix them. distributer,generator, starter etc. baby steps. where do you live at? jim