This tractor was purchased by him sometime in 1983 at the suggestion by my grandfather (his father in law) at an auction that it would be a great machine to have around. Someone spent a lot of money building a loader and frame for it, where I'm told it spent its previous life pushing manure out of chicken barns. Dad used it to mow and to build a rock retaining wall at our first home, but somewhere along the line it stopped running. As kids it was fun to sit and pretend drive in the garage.
Fast forward to 1994 and my brothers and I convinced dad to get it running again. My first experience with repairing/rebuilding an engine (I was about 12 yrs old). We also did a budget (and by by "we" I mean my brothers and I) paint job. Funny cause even back then I told dad it's the wrong colour, but he said "it's what the dealer said was right!"
In 2002 we sold our home and a lot of stuff got sent to my grandfather's, with the intention that it was only temporary until a place with a garage could be found, but that never happened. And so this 155 sat outside under a tarp for the past 20 years until this past weekend.
My mom and her sister and brother are settling my grandfather's estate, and unfortunately it's not going well. It's been a bit of an ordeal getting this machine back, but glad to have it! Like other things in life it got forgotten about, but I always wanted to bring it home and give it a much needed restoration (the right way!) and bring it back to it's former glory (minus the loader)
Right before it was parked my grandfather put 1 new tire on the front and pulled the battery. Wished we drained the gas tank but at least it was covered (although there is quite a bit of pitting, but that's only the hood). Engine turns no problem, decent compression.
So, I have no idea when I'll get to this tractor, but it's now safely stored in my garage until then. Hopefully it won't take another 10 years like when I was a kid, but I'm excited for the project with my kids when that time comes.
I'll post some more photos when I get the chance. Very happy to have this machine back!
And as a bonus, I came across some old family photos at my mom's on the weekend (day after hauling the 155 home). That's me in the red toque with my brother and grandfather plowing with my cousin on the plow(!) the farm where we grew up. Circa 1985-87. My grandfather had many, many tractors of all colours during his life. He loved his IH's the best, but this 730 was around for a long time too. No idea where it is now, but I'd love to find out!
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Tim
no more mow it's time to blow 
so I figured it was factory built. It needs some work but it appears to be in pretty good shape. 
If you don't plan on using it for another project I would think it would sell easy and raise a little cash to put into the restore. 
