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Any Vintage Tractor Aficionados Here?

CJ7Pilot

CJ7Pilot

18436572
BENEFACTOR
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City
Marysville
State
CA
I don't know what's gotten in to me... it's not like I don't have enough to keep me busy already... but lately I've had a craving for an old John Deere tractor.

I want to use it as a centerpiece for a vintage ag-themed showroom (not quite a museum) in my store, and maybe take it out a few times a year for parades, etc.

I found a beautiful '37 Model B fairly close to me, but it turns out that the axle is too wide to fit through my 6' wide front door. I'd have to cut the axles shorter, and then remove the intake and exhaust stacks every time I wanted to move it in and out of the building.

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jdb2.jpg

So, I started looking for something just as vintage, but more compact. After some searching, I found a '36-ish Model BO orchard tractor, which looks perfect for my needs!

jd1.jpg
jd2.jpg

Everything is lower and narrower on the orchard tractor so it can drive underneath and between the trees, which also makes it just right for driving through a commercial entry door!

This tractor is up in Portland, so I've got to figure out how to get it down to NorCal, but I'm pretty excited about adding it to my collection of time wasters and bank account drainers. ;)
 
Watch out for those tractors. Don’t let them too close to other tractors, they are like rabbits.

I have a buddy that started with a JD3520, then got an old JD1010, then his grandfather’s old Alice Chalmers, then a couple more recent JD’s from his dad, then a new Kubota, recently a new Mahindra. There are a few more vintage ones in the mix somewhere. He has more tractors than most people have underwear.

I am very careful to keep my 1959 Ford 641 away from his tractors. His family of tractors are way to promiscuous for my tastes. One is more than enough for me, BUT if I found a good 3570 for a decent price … :unsure:

If you are not sure of what you want, best thing is to visit a tractor show. Lots of county fairs also have antique tractor shows too.
 
ag4ever said:
If you are not sure of what you want, best thing is to visit a tractor show. Lots of county fairs also have antique tractor shows too.
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That's a great idea! :thumbsup:
 
Kim Dawson said:
But is the wheel taller than the door is wide? Or if you needed to remove the wheels would the tractor fit through the door sideways? (drain fluids first)
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It's true, with enough disassembly and contortion, I could get it inside... but then I would never take it out again.

You can see the splined rear axles in the first photo, which are 85" end to end. My doorway is only 72" wide (if I take the doors out of the frame), and 80" tall.

The best way for me to get that tractor through the doorway would be to slide the rear wheels inward far enough that I could chop off the axles to less than 72" end to end. Then it would just be a matter of removing the intake and exhaust stacks when I wanted to move the tractor in or out.

That option is still a possibility, but honestly to me, chopping the axles on a restored tractor would feel like bobbing the fenders on a restored Scrambler. :shrug:
 
Have you thought about using Auto Dolly's under the wheels? They allow you to move things in multiple ways, you may be able "twist" it around the door fame and slide a bit side ways and get the other tire through the door.
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The heart wants what it wants. If you really want the 37... Make a dolly for the rear. Remove one rear tire. Pull the front of the tractor through the door, then turn hard in the direction of the removed rear tire getting the mounted tire through. Stop before the axle shaft on the removed tire side hits the frame. Then place a tire dolly under the mounted tire and slide the tractor sideways to get the axle through the door and remount the tire. Really this is the same manner of shimmying to get an airplane through a too small hanger door just with the addition of removing a tire.

I've also always had a thing for old tractors. My grandpa had a Ferguson 30 and my uncle had a Farmall H. Since I live in a city now an H or M are too large, but a Farmall Cub or Ford 8N wouldn't be a bad choice...

Glad I am not the only one that likes old Jeeps, tractors and airplanes!
 
jbeemer said:
We have a 36 BO that my wife's grandma bought new at the local fair in 1936
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Nice! I've decided to go ahead and buy the BO from Portland. I've found someone to transport it, so the wheels are turning (so to speak)!

According to what I've learned here, I'll inevitably end up with a few more tractors to go with it... maybe even that Model B! 8-)
 
jbeemer said:
The antique that gets used the most of ours is the Farmall Cub. It spreads the used hay from the 6 horses about three days a week. And I usually rake a little hay with it for fun. :D
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That's fantastic, I love seeing old equipment still being used for its intended purpose! :thumbsup:
 
Yes! Other tractor nerds like me! :bacon:
Either one of those tractors are cool. Get them both!

I have absolutely no room at my place for anything like that so I had to scale down a bit. I love my old antique garden tractors. I need to get a pic later but I still have the cub cadet 1650 my grandpa bought new in 1976. That has been my family's work horse for years. It mowed our lawn, snowblowed the driveway, and tilled/plowed the large garden my grandma had. Over 3,000 hours and it still keeps going strong.

Since I bought my parents house last year I started getting old Simplicities. Attachments are super cheap and easy to come by near me.

1963 Simplicity 725 with 18hp Vanguard swapped in.
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My 1962 Garden Mark Squire (same as 725) and yes it still runs!
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And the kids 1968 Simplicity 717.
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