Tractor Stories

Today I decided to do my best to mount the head lights on the 8N Ford. Ibought them in 2005 and fortunately they did not spoil while waiting in thedark closet to be mounted. Some purists would say in 1952 the 8N had a roundlight bracket on the hood dog leg. Others such as I say we like the look ofthe wing bracket. Of course those of us who like it also get to likedrilling a hole for the rear screw post of the wing to pass through the dogleg and allow it to fit flush. I used increasingly larger drill bits until Igot the hole just the right size. With a little trial and some error, I found that I could reach under thehood better if I removed the distributor cap. It is much easier on the leftside of the tractor. Once I got them mounted then the real fun began. UsingOEM wiring harness, I experimented to figure out how to get power to thelights. At first it did not work and then I realized since this tractor hasa negative ground I needed to run the battery wire from the positive post tothe ...

This has been a busy week end with two big projects. The first, and most important to SWMBO, was to open the pool for the season. Pic 36 shows the end result. It does not show us working to remove two years worth of leaves and mud, then scrubbing the liner, then adding 10,000 gallons of fresh water. I managed to catch four frogs and transport them to the creek at the nearby park. We actually got in the pool yesterday and today. It is a great way to cool off in these 90 plus degree days. I decided to paint the hood and console on my 1952 8N tractor. It is certainly not a professional job, but it does show the proper grey hood and fenders, and the Ford red (vermillion) console. I painted a few other places too. The radiator cap is freshly painted black and drying so it is not on the tractor. The hood has been dented by the previous owner driving into something. The amount it is off true made adding the front emblem a big challenge. Also the little speed clips they supply for the hood orn...

This is really two stories: Tractor Girl wanted new knobs on her folding doors that enclose the washer and dryer. The originals are at the point of closure, so she wanted some at the fold to better control the doors. I could have gone to a hardware store or even Wally World and bought a couple wooden or plastic knobs. Instead I decided to make some from T-6 (6061) aluminum. I cut off a length of ¾ inch aluminum rod. (pic 24) Using my little lathe, I turned it to about .338 inches, center drilled it, bored it with a quarter inch drill held in the tail stock, and threaded it ¼ X 20. (pic 25). Of course I turned the outside to make it pretty then cut it off using a cutting tool. (pic 26). The finished knob (pic 21) and the knob on the door (pic 27). When I got done I measured the knobs and found they were not the same size! One is .008 inches longer than the other. They are far enough apart on the doors that the casual passer by will not notice. A person with a good electronic caliper or ...

Today I completed the newspaper post extension. I milled two pieces of aluminum to hold the added 4X4 treated lumber to the top of the plastic post which was too short from day one. I started the milling process last night and finished it this morning. Two yellow jackets had taken up residence in the news box. I sprayed one last night and the other this morning as he disputed ownership of the abode. (Pix 15 and 16) The holes in the plastic were off so I had to adjust the holes in the aluminum plates. It is quarter inch thick and I enjoyed cutting it, squaring it, and milling the holes. Next I mowed half the yard and treated a few fire ant mounds. My Ford 640 tractor covered by a slightly too small tarp is visible to the right. (pic 17) The two-inch water pump got all the water from the swimming pool that it could. I have a small electrical pump that attaches to a garden hose and will get most of what is left. There are at least four frogs living in the pool. I am sure they wonder what ...