51 Super A

M

Mr Joshua

Well-known member
Last may Amanda and I picked up a 51 Super A that was going to be scraped. Now Amanda and I are getting married in 8 months and we would really like to restore the tractor and make it as shinny as hers. Its going to be a big project to take on with all the other projects at the same time. Don't be surprised I i ask may questions on how to do things.
The link below is a couple pictures of the tractor as it sits. I have lots of work to do on it. It is in very rough shape. If the price was not right and i didn't see the potential in the tractor I would have parted it out.
http://s681.photobucket.com/albums/vv176/92ranger1987/Super A/
Another reason for the hurry on the tractor is that I have found out that the old man that I bought the tractor from has badder cancer and I had promised him I would let him see the tractor when it was done.

Thanks in advance for all your help.
MJ
 
Good luck, MJ!! Looks like a good project. I'm just finishing up my '48 SA, and have another one for parts. Let me know if there is something you need that I might have. It's just a Cub on steroids!!!
 
Ok guys first question about this tractor.
I am finally getting enough parts to tear the tractor apart. plus will have some time now that my garden is finally in place.
when I got this tractor the head was removed and the cylinder walls are smooth as can be. I found that the engine had a bent push rod. thats not much of a problem. I plan to get a bore gauge and check the cylinders and hopefully be able to just re-ring the pistons. Is this what everyone else would do or is there a better way to attack this?
My next question is.
When I found the tractor we had to pull it on the trailer with another truck (what an experience) since of course the tractor would not run and had flat and missing tires. what we had found is the tractor acts like it is stuck in gear. The engine turns while the tractor is being pulled. But if you put in the clutch it rolls just fine. I pulled the shifter off and everything seems to move freely.
What would cause this?
Sadly we figured out the tractor would roll with the clutch in after we had it loaded, home and was putting it inside. That's my luck.
Thanks for the help in advance.
Josh
 
if the sleeves are nice, and if the head was off for any period of time i would not expect that to be the case, you could simply re-ring the engine.
but a sleeve and piston kit is not terribly pricey for the C113, and the sleeves are easy to replace. it is a wet sleeve engine, so there is an o-ring at the bottom of the sleeve. simply tap out the existing sleeves, clean everything up, reinstall new o-rings, a little vasoline, and slide in the new sleeves.

the transmission sounds like it is stuck in gear, if i'm reading it right. you'll need to manualy move the gears around without the shifter cover in place and see if you can roll the tractor. let us know what you find
 
thanks for the super fast reply.
One of the main reasons i bought the tractor was cause the walls were so smooth and the the PO has the engine covered and had covered the cylinders with oil.

I will check again on the transmission. last time i was in there it seemed like everything was moving great but i will check again.
I am thinking that since the tractor is torn down that i should split the tractor and replace the clutch. If i had more time I would completely tear the tractor down and replace all seals but I only have till september 15th and a small budget.
 
You could just apply that one toward it a good running one from me that needs minor repairs and costmetics. I have a Few Super A's that I would sell.
 
AL Farmall Boy":2i3y4oz0 said:
You could just apply that one toward it a good running one from me that needs minor repairs and costmetics. I have a Few Super A's that I would sell.
Click to expand...
That's an Idea but this one has sentimental value. I am wanting to get this one done so that the PO can see it. He has cancer and I would like him to see it before something happens to him.

But on a side note I would love to have another super a. I would like to get one and put a loader on it. To me you can never have too many tractors. We have five at our house and only have an acre. All but one are garaged and if my garage was 8" deeper i would have the last one in. Dang C takes up too much room lol
 
sounds like someone took care of the engine when they removed the head. because you have a bent push rod, i expect you'll find valve problems in the head that need attention.
if there is little ridge in the cylinders, take a compression ring off a piston, insert it in a cylinder, and measure the end gap of the ring with a feeler gage. tell us what you find.

while you have it this far down, i would absolutely take the engine out of the chassis, to look closely at the clutch. most likely replace all 4 components - clutch-pressure plate-tob-pilot bearing.
 
Yesterday was the first big day I was able to get to the Super A. I started off by moving my garage around so I had room to work. I then decided to look in the transmission and see if anything was stuck. moved all the gears around and finally got it in neutral. The tractor now rolls freely or as freely as it can with two flat front tires.
Then I removed the rear cultivators, PO modifications, Some kind of planter drive, rear pulley, seat, seat brackets, tool box, pulley guard, pedal guard. so far i only had to cut three bolts. Other than that things are coming apart ok. I have found quite a bit of nice shiny red paint under the grease and dirt. Hopefully by next weekend i can get to some motor work.
Mr Joshua
 
Been taking pictures every step of the way. I posted a few more on my photobucket. Ill keep posting as i get things done. Im not moving as fast as i want to on it. funds and time keep slowing me down. Josh
 
Hey everyone,
Got some more work done on the super. Its already to be split for a new clutch. Just need to make a splitting stand.
The only trouble i have run into is I started inspecting the head and found two stuck valves.
Whats the best way to free them up?
Thanks
Josh
 
Mr Joshua":1jpphl48 said:
Inspecting the head and found two stuck valves. Whats the best way to free them up?
Click to expand...
Set head on bench. Soak the valve stems, top and bottom, with solvent every day for several days.

Block of hard wood placed on valve stem or head, depending on which way the valve is stuck. Rap (not to hard) the wood with a hammer to see if the valve moves. More solvent, wait, rap again. This may take a while to free up the valves.

Once the valve starts moving, keep adding the solvent and move the valve back and forth in the valve guide until the valve is completely free.
 
Finally was able to get some work done on the A. Last night we split the a to replace the clutch. Once we had the tractor split we realized that the throw out bearing was different. Found out today that they now use a different carrier to hold the bearing.
Tried getting the pilot bearing out but had no luck. Read today about packing the hole with grease and shoving a rod in will take it out. will attempt that next.
Its a good thing that i am replacing the clutch. found the Clutch to be bad. We could tell that it had been slipping on the flywheel.
Also found that the kit did not come with an alignment tool. Good thing i have random spline pieces laying around work. I think I have a piece that will work perfectly.
The only thing that has me baffled is how i can get on the internet to get a carrier for the throw out bearing and some how almost spend $400. At least I knocked out a bunch of the list of parts I need to buy.
I'll post more pictures to my photo bucket later.
The link is in my first post.
Josh
 
While you have it apart, you might consider replacing the rear engine seal. It is not like the Cub seal...it is felt that seats into the retainer bracket. IF you do decide to do this, one big point to mention. Super A and I both did this about the same time, and we were unaware that the felt needs to be soaked in oil to prevent glazing on the dry felt when the engine is first started, which could cause leaking.
P2222879bweb.jpg


Also, make sure the retainer is flat...easy to correct with a flat steel plate that you clamp the bracket pieces to with washers under the screw holes.
P2252938web.jpg


One more thing, since I have finished the restoration of my SA, I have many parts available if you need something. Just let me know, and good luck!
 
My manual is at the farm, and I do not remember right now, but I should be able to look it up (IF I remember!!) this weekend. Maybe someone else has the info...Super A?
 
I have gotten some work done on the tractor finally. I split the tractor and replaced the rear main seal, pilot bushing, clutch, tob and sleeve and got the tractor back together. I then dropped the oil pan and pulled all the pistons. I then measured all the bores and inspected the walls cylinders have worn evenly and measured around 3.006. Today i ordered new rings and cant wait to get it back together. I also adjusted the clutch which was a pain when a previous owner nearly rounded off the adjusting nuts. The head is at the machine shop where they freed up the valves. I will be going there today to see what all needs to be replaced. when I get home its time to get the radiator out and see what all needs to be done. hopefully it only needs to be cleaned up and has no leaks. fingers crossed. Also ordered brake bands today. Hope to get into that soon. working all I can to shrink the list of things to buy. Mainly getting down to electrical parts and paint.

I have also been sending parts to be sand blasted and have gotten some back and all primed up.

Need one decent trim ring for the rear light if anyone has one cheap. That's the last part i should need to buy before paint.
 
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