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December, 1999

12-1-98:  Took the steering wheel off so that I can take the steering box apart. The steering wheel is not in good shape, as the rubber covering is cracked and chipped. I found a fellow with the same problem on the tractor forum, and he said to use body putty and black paint to fix it up.  I will give it a try later.

12-3-98:  Talked to Pat Noonan today, he asked how the project is going, and says he will come over Sunday, 12-6-98 to help take the hood off, as it has to go up over the muffler and intake.

12-5-98:  Decided to take the day off from fixing tractors, so Carolyn and I went to the Brookfield Zoo.  Out in the parking lot for their employees I found a styled John Deere model AR tractor (serial number 281261) hooked up to a hay wagon.  The serial number makes it a 1952 model, about 290 tractors from the end of the production year (last number for 1952 was 282550.)  I guess it was a tractor day after all.

12-6-98:  Raining cats and dogs today.  Pat most likely won't come over in this weather.  Fixed the shutter knob by putting grinding compound on the threads then working it in and out, then cleaning it well to get the compound out of the threads.  Looking at the magneto and I can see that the spark plug wires are too long and not routed through the tube properly and that the tube is not in the fan shaft housing clamp properly, so I took it all apart and fixed it.

Click here to see the re-wiring job.

12-6-98:  Put the steering wheel on, started the tractor up (on the first pull of the flywheel!) and drove it half way out of the garage to clean the radiator and engine.  Started grinding the welds down on the rear wheels.  The wheels were repaired because the rims rusted around the valve stems from calcium chloride leaks Jeff said he did the job a few years ago, and had brushed the yellow paint on.  They will clean up OK, and I will have to sandblast and wire wheel the old paint off so I can spray paint later.  Removed the shutters and broke a bolt off, so I need to drill and tap it out.  I removed two hornet's nests and a bird nest from behind the shutters.  I sprayed the radiator, pedestal and engine down with engine cleaner and hosed it all off.  Most of the oil is gone, but it's still dirty.  More cleaning with solvent and a wire brush to do yet.

12-10-98:  My first Two Cylinder magazine arrived today!  I found the ad for Correct Connections, and will be in touch with them for a set of hood bolts soon.  We went to the hardware store and bought some "Naval Jelly" to get the rust off of the shutter assembly.  Also bought a set of screw extractors, a 3/8" drill motor, a set of bits, a couple of cans of WD-40, a six point 1/2" socket and a wire brush.

12-12-98:  Off to a busy day right after a breakfast of buckwheat pancakes.  Cleaned the shutter assembly with HSW and took it apart.  I do not recommend you do this in the kitchen sink, as it makes a real big mess (do not ask how I know this.)  Wire brushed all the dirt and rust, then put "Naval Jelly" on the rusty mechanism, waited, rinsed off, then lots of WD-40, solvent and wire brushing, and now it works as smooth as silk.  I primed and painted it and hung it up to dry.  I will put it together tomorrow.  I put body filler in the steering wheel cracks and where chunks had fallen out, then sanded it down.  I filled all the checking with glazing and spot putty.  I will finish sand it tomorrow.

12-13-98:  Removed the steering shaft, drained the gas, and lifted the hood off.  What a mess.  A big rodent's nest between the gas and fuel tank, lots of hornet's nests, grease and dirt, and in other places, rust.

Click here to see the inside of the hood

Started cleaning, but will need to sand blast. Dan's friend, John, has a portable, and he is going to see if he can get it tonight.  I drilled and re-threaded the shutter mounting bolt in the radiator.  Put the shutters on to see how they look.  Real neat.  I will remove them again when I start cleaning the radiator and pedestal area.  Found a broken bolt in the fuel tank support on top of the governor and on the muffler base.  I will get to them later.  Bought some more sandpaper and some primer and flat black paint.

Click here to see the broken stud in the governor.

12-14-98:  Sanded and painted the steering wheel rim flat black.  I think a couple more coats will be necessary, and then let it dry for a long time.  Need to paint the hub and spokes JD Green.

12-17-98:  The manuals arrived at the John Deere dealer today.  We will pick them up tomorrow.

12-18-98:  Carolyn picked up the manuals today.  Ordered the model B hand start hood bolt kit and new webbing for the fuel tank supports from Correct Connection.  Picked up more spray paint from Ace.  We went to Home Depot for a 3/8" drill and some other stuff.

12-19-98:  Drained the water and removed the radiator, air cleaner and fan assembly.  The vent tube broke off, and will need to be replaced, as it is rusted 90-95%.  Took all of the loose parts to the car wash to clean them up with the high pressure spray, then started wire brushing everything.  Lots of soot and dirt on everything, and a couple of inches of mud under the radiator.  Started making a list of parts that I need.

Click here to see the engine.

12-20-98:  Carolyn and I drove out to the Ottawa John Deere dealer to look at an old 2 bottom JD plow with steel wheels.  The plow is not in good shape, with a broken control grip on one of the controls.  We stopped in at Blain's Farm & Fleet, and I bought some JD green and yellow enamel, a paint brush, and a new wire brush.  Cleaned the radiator and drilled out three broken bolts when we got home.  I found two for the lower shutter bolts under the rust and dirt as well as the one muffler bolt that I knew about.  Primered the radiator's cast iron parts.

Click here to see the clean radiator.

Cleaned the mess under the radiator and the pedestal stud/nut area.  Weather report for tomorrow calls for single digits, so I am about done for the year, unless it warms back up again.

Click here to see the cleaning job in the front.

12-24-98:  It warmed up to the mid-twenties today, so I thought I would try to get the broken stud out of the governor.  I drilled it out, then used a #5 easy-out to remove it the rest of the way.  It took only about 15 minutes, which is about my limit of cold for today.  The hood bolt kit from Correct Connections arrived.  Painted the spokes and hub on the steering wheel green.

12-27-98:  Another good day.  Painted the radiator and lower pedestal area, straightened the trash screen, installed the shutters.  Worked on the dash and hood, as the shutter rod was not easy to work due to the dash to hood alignment.  Straightened the fuel tank brackets.  Need to sand blast the inside of the hood due to lots of rust.

Click here to see the painted radiator

12-29-98:  Ran around a lot getting parts.  Picked up some seals and a lower coolant pipe from Circle W Tractors, then primed and painted the pipe.

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