Tips in Restoring a Vintage Tractor
Some may think that the hobby of restoring a classic tractor that has been left in the garage for a long time is an absurd form of pastime. Little do they know that vintage tractor restoration has been a pastime for many automotive mechanics and farmers for a long time, especially during the winter months when the fields do not need to be plowed or tilled.
Some of the patched up tractors return to their former jobs of tilling and plowing, while some are found in country parades and county shows. But no matter what the purpose is, the activity of buying tractor replacement parts and getting them on the stripped down vintage tractor is here to stay.
If you are a new to this activity, the first thing that you need to know is when to restore an old tractor and when you should not to. This boils down to your available resources, mechanical knowledge, and value of the tractor that you wish to refurbish.
It will be helpful to know that a restoration project may take a long time, some for a few weeks, some may take years. That will depend on the availability of tractor replacement parts and how fast can you work on the machine. Since original parts may be difficult to find, especially if there are only a few units produced in the past, you may want to ask around tractor clubs if they have any information on the parts that they are looking for.
On another note, even if you do find original tractor replacement parts, you may find that most of them are used or fixed by sellers or online auction houses. In any case, you may opt to purchase reproduction parts instead of salvage yard parts. However, the problem of parts does not stop there. In any case you are not able to find either a reproduction or original parts, the remaining option that you have is to find similar models that may have compatible parts. Make sure that you ask the manufacturing company for any information regarding compatibility of parts.
Most starting restorers find it extremely helpful that they have a copy of the automotive instruction manual, especially if the engine kit most probably requires troubleshooting. While professionals would recommend that the engine kit be replaced to avoid additional costs of buying parts separately, it is not advisable to do a replacement without an available resource that you can use as reference when replacing the engine.
If you do not have a copy of the instructional manual, contact the manufacturer if they can provide a copy to aid you with the restoration, or you can opt to contact fellow hobbyists to see if they have a copy that you can borrow. It will also be advisable to take photographs when doing replacing the parts to make sure that you document your progress and you are able to trace back your steps in any case you would need to do another troubleshooting, this time involving the new parts.