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Farmall Barn Find!

Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:24 pm
by AgTires4295
So I noticed the barn on a neighbor's farm has started to lean to the point of falling soon and thought I'd take a look at just how bad it really was. Well I forgot they had an old Farmall sitting in there and realized how horrible it'd be if the barn fell on it. Thinking of what a waste that'd be, I went over to look at it and was reminded that it was an A series. I went to the owner and pleaded with them to not let the barn fall on it and they agreed to let me buy it! I havent worked out a price yet but am picking it up either Wednesday or Thursday. It's been sitting in the barn for 20+ years and has sunken 6 inches into the ground (makes me nervous about the tires being rotten)! My plan is to winch it carefully out of the ground and onto the trailer (right behind the ol' Cub) and roll on to Field Day of the Past in VA! I'm thinking I'll tow it onto the site (if theyll let me) with the Cub and set it up with a little sign that states that it's a "barn find" with a little story about how it was saved the day before.

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Re: Farmall Barn Find!

Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 10:18 pm
by raystractors
By the serial number it may be a 1941, but with out other clues that may not be the case. I think that the old barn finds are the best, you never know what you will have until you start working out the problems and get it started. I like the old A model, but the manual lift can be a little tuff if you have a lot of work to do with it. I grew up on a tobacco farm, and that was what we used to cultivate the crop with. By the end of the day you were worn down and your neck would be a little sore. Good luck with it and keep us up to date with your progress.

Re: Farmall Barn Find!

Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 10:38 pm
by AgTires4295
Thanks. I dont know if I'll even use it for anything that my Cub wouldnt handle. It's going to mostly be just for fun. I'm really looking forward to moving the A out of hiding and getting it home.

Re: Farmall Barn Find!

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 5:15 am
by Donegal Cub
Good luck with your arn find and well done for rescuing a bit of agri history :{_}: Have fun and keep us posted. :{_}:
Bernard,
Donegal Cub.

Re: Farmall Barn Find!

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 5:39 am
by danovercash
Be sure to check for implements and accessories!

Re: Farmall Barn Find!

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:10 am
by AgTires4295
Thanks :D I'm pretty excited! Hoping the barn doesnt fall on it before I can get it out of there!

danovercash wrote:Be sure to check for implements and accessories!

I looked around and didnt see anything except the mower deck (which they said they're keeping for their Cub which is in another barn).

Without the manual arm for lifting and lowering, what other implements are there? I would assume it couldn't be much.

Is it possible to fill in hydraulics on these with stock looking touch controls? If so, would Cub parts interchange? I haven't ever looked at anything but Cub parts over the years but know that they're common enough to be easy to find.

Lastly, are there any common things to look out for on such an undisturbed find like this? I am thinking of cracking the spark plugs and throwing oil in the cylinders before I move it (where the heck are the dipsticks on these things???). I wont make an attempt to start the engine in a long while but want the oil to lube the cylinder walls since I keep having the urge to turn the hand crank over :lol:

Re: Farmall Barn Find!

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:23 am
by danovercash
If mower is for an A, it won't work on the Cub without much modification.

Re: Farmall Barn Find!

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:56 am
by AgTires4295
Its a Cub mower that he modded years ago to fit the A. He tried to make it work the fields and said it couldnt turn the blades fast enough so he parked it and forgot about it.

Re: Farmall Barn Find!

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 8:17 am
by Cub-Bud
That's a nice looking tractor....I would bet if the motor isn't stuck, it wouldn't take much to get it started. :D

Re: Farmall Barn Find!

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 8:30 am
by AgTires4295
Yeah I'm feeling pretttttty good about it. I had the same scenario with my '51 Cub but the wiring is all chewed up on this thing (LITERALLY)! Apparently the cows have munched on the wiring in a few places, ripped the spark plug wires off and leaned all over it (hence the front end damage). It'll be an obstacle but I put the hand crank in, slowly turned it over 1 time and it was free without any hesitation :P it did groan a little (which is why I want to consider throwing some oil in the cylinders). Any pointers for when I do get all of the wiring figured out and back together (reference priming the oil pump/ lubing the dry cylinder walls)? Any and all pointers/tips/guidance is welcome here! I'm not too proud to ask :lol:

Re: Farmall Barn Find!

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:52 am
by John *.?-!.* cub owner
In answer to your hydraulic question, it is not simple to add hydraulics. The torque tube will not have a flat spot for the unit, and unless it is a pretty late A there will not be a place for the pump on the engine. Nor will a cub touch control fit it. The Super A was available with a touch control, but there were a number of changes made to allow for it.

It does not have a dipstick, there are 2 petcocks on the side of the oil pan. Level should be between the 2 of them.

Re: Farmall Barn Find!

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 12:20 pm
by AgTires4295
Thats a bummer about the hydraulics. I cant imagine why it wouldnt have a dipstick! I looked yesterday and have been scouring the photos I took. So with the 2 petcocks, how do you check the oil?? I dont understand the last sentence in your post about it being level.

Re: Farmall Barn Find!

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 12:29 pm
by Bill Hudson
AgTires4295 wrote:... I cant imagine why it wouldnt have a dipstick! I looked yesterday and have been scouring the photos I took. So with the 2 petcocks, how do you check the oil?? I dont understand the last sentence in your post about it being level.


No dipstick because the petcocks work very well. Crack open the bottom petcock, if oil comes out, you have enough oil. Crack open the top petcock, if oil runs out, you're full (actually over full). So if oil does not come out the top one but does come out the bottom one, your oil level is between the two and you have adequate oil to operate the tractor. One advantage of the petcocks, less chance for oil contamination.

Hope this helps.

Bill

Re: Farmall Barn Find!

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 1:21 pm
by Eugene
AgTires4295 wrote:Any pointers for when I do get all of the wiring figured out and back together.

http://s101.photobucket.com/user/farmal ... t=4&page=1

Farmallbob's wiring library, above link. For the electrical wiring, I would visit the hardware store and pick up some stranded wire and terminal ends. The spark plug wires, generic set of stranded plug wire from the auto parts store.

Edit: Initially I would work on the ignition system wiring, assuming the battery cranks over the engine. Wouldn't take a lot of wire or expense, just to get the tractor running. 2nd would be the battery charging system. Last issue would be the lights - actually I wouldn't work on the lights until all other issues have been resolved.

Re: Farmall Barn Find!

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 1:24 pm
by danovercash
Eugene, what about copper plug wire for the magneto?