Auction 446. The work begins.

[JSinMO]

We’ll it’s raining like a cow peeing on a flat rock so I don’t know it my new grain truck is coming home today. That being the case it’s a great time to come up to shop and start in on the 446.

I figured I’d start by just kinda drinking it in.

First thing that hit me is, I can’t stand that steering wheel! I guess that a minor complaint at this point. I see some really bad wiring choices. The oil is black but no water in it. Has hydraulic oil. And I see a leak coming from somewhere in back, so it fits in perfectly around here! Steering has been cobbled together and seems a bit loose, but what can you expect right?

At least one of the cats seems to approve

I decided to start checking things out. I hooked a battery up and twisted the key… nothing no crank. So I hooked a batty direct to the starter

Now that I knew I could crank it. I pulled the plugs and checked compression. Yep has pretty good comprehension!
I cleaned the plugs up and hooked the battery back to the tractor and turned the key to run and ran a jumper across the solenoid. Engine cranks, and I have good spark! Well I can’t stop now! I poured a little gas down the throat of the carburetor and again jumped across the solenoid. It stared right up! I know you can’t tell by a picture but it’s running!

Can’t believe it. That about the easiest get it running project I’ve ever had! Hydraulics work I drove it around a bit. So now it’s full steam ahead! It needs a starter solenoid and wiring, fresh fluids, and we should probably check the rear end. Pretty good results for a short time in the shop!

[JSinMO]

lights work too!

[Spike188]

Jeff, You hit one out of the park on this purchase. Those speaker 77 glass head lamps are getting $$$ and hard to find.

[Eugen]

I find that first look at a new to you old tractor quite exciting, like opening presents when you were a kid. And if the motor starts it's wow! Happy to see you got a nice one here!

[Timj]

running and driving, good compression, makes the deal even sweeter.
Hard to know what you're buying when you can't really get into it.
Tim

[puttputt]

Sometimes the ones you think might be an unwise purchase turn out to be the opposite. Great score!

[thebuildist]

Congrats! Hard to believe it was so simple to get running! What a great deal.

I agree with you on the steering wheel being pretty awful. It would help a lot if the chrome were just painted a satin black.

Even better you could bend three identical sheet metal covers to lay over the steering wheel spokes to make them appear as though they are solid flat metal. Instead of those awful racing holes!

[JSinMO]

Congrats! Hard to believe it was so simple to get running! What a great deal.

I agree with you on the steering wheel being pretty awful. It would help a lot if the chrome were just painted a satin black.

Even better you could bend three identical sheet metal covers to lay over the steering wheel spokes to make them appear as though they are solid flat metal. Instead of those awful racing holes!

I’m not a very skilled fabricator. If I made covers I’d end up with 3 more rattles that would drive me nuts! I’m liking your black paint idea! At least for now

[JSinMO]

I came home this evening and spent some time chasing gremlins.

I replaced the solenoid and put a proper battery in. Cleaned up some of the wiring. It ain’t pretty, but it functions.

I still have an intermittent no crank happening but I’m thinking it’s still have a bad connection at the switch.

I really wanted to see the blade on the tractor so I took the home made carry all off the front. I happened to have a piece of C channel the fit the 3 point, so I tacked it to the box now it’s a carry all / weight box.

I’m liking the look of this 54” blade hanging on the front!

With a tractor that stars now and a big blade hanging on the front it seemed like the right time to go for a ride. I drove up the hill behind the house. The tractor seemed to handle the incline well, but it seemed to me the hydraulic motor was winning. The oil tank is low so I’m gonna try a fluid change and fill to the right level and see if it makes a difference.

As I drove back down the hill and the tractor began to free wheel it became apparent to me that nothing at that auction had brakes!

I guess I’ll have to come up with a band.
I just putted around the shop after that. The carry all is handy.

There is still plenty to do but I think I made some good progress tonight.

[Eugen]

These tractors look great with a blade in front, right? For the longest time I wanted a blade and couldn't find one then all of a sudden I have three. A pleasure to push some dirt!

That is a handy box!