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Farmall Tractors
Those Great Red Machines !
Tractor Traction by Lyndon Ogden
Gaining Tractor Traction
Some people may look at a vintage tractor and assume that, because it has massive lugs on the rear tires and is mostly heavy steel, it shouldn't need more weight to get the necessary traction. This would be true if your tractor were simply transportation. That is to say if it merely had to drive from one place to another like an automobile or truck, the weight and tire tread would be sufficient to drive through the worst mud and softest soil imaginable and even 24 inches of snow wouldn't stop it. The difference between a transportation vehicle and a tractor is that when a tractor is moving, it has to do additional work beyond moving itself and a rolling load. If the primary purpose of your tractor is to use, say, a post hole digger, it may be one of those exceptions. Putting this type of use aside, for most tractors, the work will involve pulling a resistant and occasionally stubborn load.
Our first bout with traction problems came when cultivating with our Massey-Harris Pony. Up till then, this tractor had been running pulling a trailer. It had new unfilled rear tires and no wheel weights. The garden was already sprouting when we hooked up the mid-mount shovel cultivators to the Pony. The seed bed was soft enough that the rear end would spin and slowly work its way to the downhill side of the gardens incline. From this, we learned our lesson since the tendency to side slip actually cultivated out many new corn plants.
The problem with traction boils down to two principles. The first principle is that some loads, such as front mount implements, cause a weight shift from the normally heavy rear driving wheels to the front. Many people are shocked by how little they can push with a front blade before the rear wheels just start spinning. This is why wheel tractors make such unwilling bulldozers. An extreme example of this load shift is with a loader. Imagine moving around the corral, scooping up massive piles of slippery manure mixed with mud. You can envision the load causing the entire tractor to act as if it were a weight scale, removing the weight from the rear wheels as the loader rises. Now if you have to go up a muddy incline to where you will dump the load, it becomes apparent why extra weight is needed.
The second principle is simply that some implements can generate a surprisingly massive drag on the rear end. Heavy tillage implements are good examples of this. Implements such as plows, subsoilers, ditchers and back or box blades. The tractor makers, based on the work of Harry Ferguson, had a plan that partially addressed this and by the 1950s, most had implemented the scheme. Manufacturers used the weight of mounted heavy tillage implements (such as plows) as a method of transferring weight back onto the rear wheels. This was done by hydraulically lifting the implement (almost imperceptibly to the operator) when forward motion was impeded. This helped, but did not make having basically good traction obsolete. If the wheel-slip starts prematurely, the weight transfer effect starts too early with the end result being the implement barely gets in the ground before it starts to bob back out. This condition results in a inconsistent job. If we use a plow as an example, your field would be deeply tilled in some areas and barely scratched in others. Having sufficient rear wheel weight and traction to start with, will result in a smoother and a far more consistent job.
There are two methods of obtaining sufficient rear wheel weight. The first is the time-honored tradition of filling the rear wheels with Calcium Chloride solution. This is a non-freezing liquid solution. By putting it inside your inner-tube, the weight is carried as low as possible which is good for the tractor, traction and safety. Unfortunately, once you fill the rear tires, you must watch carefully for leaks and attend to them immediately. I once spilled a small amount on the painted bumper of my truck when loading a leaking rear wheel. It was completely rusted in two-days. When this solution comes in direct contact with metal, a highly destructive process begins immediately and if left unattended, will destroy rims, hubs and whatever else it touches very quickly. Because of this and more serious safety concerns, filling and caring for your wheels is a job for your tire store unless you have a backhoe or very large loader (on a separate tractor). Lifting a filled wheel into your pickup bed is an operation that when done without equipment is reminiscent of building the pyramids. The only safe way to deal with a tire that is filled is to leave it on the tractor and have your tire company bring their rig out. They will drain it, remove and fix the tire, and refill it. Surprisingly it costs only a little extra to have them come out and it could save you some real headaches. If you have ever seen a large filled tire fall over, it will make the above believable to you.
The second way to get necessary weight on the rear wheels is through the use of cast-iron wheel weights. These come in two styles, one piece and multi-piece. A one piece wheel weight is simply a large round piece of cast iron that will bolt to the rim. On some machines you can add more than one to each side to gain even more weight. The real disadvantage of one-piece wheel weights is that they are heavy and unwieldy and thus difficult to mount and unmount. To overcome this problem, manufacturers cast wheel weights in many smaller sections or wedges that when installed would all add up to even more weight than a one-piece weight but individually were not as heavy. Generally it is easier to find one-piece that will fit your rims since they don't necessarily have to have been made specifically for your tractor to fit. With multi piece weights, you are best off locating original equipment weights.
What is the downside of adding weight to your tractor? Nearly every manufacturer recommends removal of weight when it is not required. There are two reasons. The most serious downside is that once equipped with better traction, the conditions where the tractor may have experienced wheel spin, can then cause backflip (which most frequently results in death). Basic tractor safety states that you should never pull loads that are or can become immovable (this includes any skidding or dragging) or maneuver the tractor where it can contact immovable objects (such as stumps, trees and buildings). The better the traction the more the danger of a backflip.
The second downside is that some parts will wear out sooner. The excess weight puts significantly more stress on nearly every component, especially bearings and bushings related to the drivetrain. Though not fun, removing some or all wheel weights during times when the tractor is not needed for heavy pulling, snow plowing or loader work is a good idea. For those with the equipment to safely deal with filled tires, the best bet is to have two sets of rims, one set filled and one empty. I have found that I need the weight for nearly every job I need a tractor for and leave weights and filled tires on full time. I presume that the price for this will be realized someday in replacement of bearings or axle components.
Not all tractors were designed to have extra weight added so be sure that you read up on your specific model to see what the manufacturer recommended. If it does appear that it was, consult your local tire store and see if they offer a service for filling and draining. For sources of wheel weights, check with your local scrapyard.
About the Author
Lyndon is a self confessed tractor nut.
Cowboy Bob Hill and
Friend Houston
Used farm tractor by Ruel Hinaloc
The following article presents the very latest information on used farm tractor. If you have a particular interest in used farm tractor, then this informative article is required reading.
In the world of agriculture you will find that you have different types of tractors that you can choose to buy. Among these many different tractors you will find that a used farm tractor is one that will save you money while at the same time that it performs the work that you need from it. You can choose to buy these used tractors from stores which are known to sell these items.
Before you start looking at a used farm tractor it may be a good idea to see what sort of tractors you will be able to buy at a low price. You should also have an idea of where you can buy good quality yet cheap used farm tractors. The different specifications and features which are part of the tractor should also be noted.
These details are necessary for you to buy the right type of used farm tractor. Since the tractors are designed for various tasks you should choose the tractor which can take these tasks on with no problems. When you look at the various used tractors you are sure to notice that some well known brands like FARMALL, Ford, Caterpillar, Yanmer, Cub Cadet, New Holland, John Deere, Case, Ransomes and others may be available for you to inspect.
With a used farm tractor you will still be able to accomplish the tasks that you have set for yourself. You should understand that you have a choice when you are looking to buy these tractors. The choice of whether to buy a compact or a full sized tractor will be based on what you need from the tractor.
This choice selection can be explained by letting you see how the different used farm tractor types will work around your garden or farm. The first tractor that you will see is that of mini tractors or as they are called compact tractors. With these tractors you can accomplish the care of your front lawn.
It's really a good idea to probe a little deeper into the subject of used farm tractor. What you learn may give you the confidence you need to venture into new areas.
It can also haul some of the wood load that the fuller sized tractors are capable of. Some of these new style mini tractors are also capable of starting up without any problems when cold weather fronts arrive.
The full sized used farm tractor on the other hand will be capable of keeping its traction on slippery ground as the treads on the tractor provide the necessary traction and power. These tractors are also capable of creating any roadway that you need.
The amount of fields which can be furrowed with these full sized tractors is amazing as you will see them plowing through the mud and heavy rocks in the area with the greatest of ease.
While this summary of the capabilities of either used farm tractor might make your task of choosing harder you will have a clue as to which one to choose. All that you need is to think about the size of work which is required from these tractors and your choice will then be easy.
As your knowledge about used farm tractor continues to grow, you will begin to see how used farm tractor fits into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how something relates to the rest of the world is important too.
About the Author
Did you find those tips on used farm tractor useful? You can learn and read a lot more articles about farm equipment at this site. >>> farm equipment
Introduction to Farm Machinery by Aazdak Alisimo
Farm machinery has changed the very nature of farming. The types and functions of farm machinery have been evolving since the first human gave up hunting and turned to the soil.
When our early ancestors gave up the hunting and gathering lifestyle and turned to growing food from the soil, they most likely did so with no help from tools. At the most, they used sticks and their bare hands. When they developed crude plows and scythes, these tools dominated farming for centuries. Although today, the Industrial Revolution has changed the nature of farming, the types and functions of farm machinery are still related to the same tasks that needed to be performed by these early agricultural pioneers.
Although machinery has changed the nature of farming greatly and has freed the majority of the population from its demands to seek other employment, the same process is used as was always used. The ground has to be cleared and plowed so it can receive the seeds. The seeds have to be planted. The crops have to be irrigated. Eventually, the crops must be harvested and finally, they must be prepared either for market or for use.
You can basically divide farm machinery into different types based on these farming functions. The one exception is the tractor. The tractor has replaced the horse as the main farming aid and is more a general purpose tool. The tractor is used to pull the other types of machinery and so it fits into many different function groups.
Most other farm machinery can be grouped by function. Plows and chisel plows still clear and turn the earth to prepare it to receive the seeds. Giant pumps and portable irrigation machines provide water where needed. Harvesters and combines cut the crop. Balers prepare it for transport or storage. Threshers also have a crop preparation function.
The use of modern farm machinery has changed the face of farming in the last hundred years. As farm machinery grew larger and more capable of performing massive amounts of work quickly, fewer humans were needed to produce the food needed by the population. Today, less than 2% of the population is actively engaged in farming, but they produce more food than the other 98% needs to survive. Although the types, and the size and capacity for work, of farm machinery is still rapidly evolving, the functions remain basically the same. Farmers are still coaxing food from the earth, they are just doing it faster, easier, and more efficiently with machinery.
About the Author
Aazdak Alisimo writes about farm supply issues for FarmSupplyandMachinery.com
Farm Implements - The Versatile Cultivator by Ben Tan
The spring tyne cultivator has become a very handy implement on the farm. It is lightweight, easy to attach/remove from the tractor linkage points and easy to clean after use. It is designed for the control of light weed infestations and is not greatly impeded by rocks or stumps imbedded in the soil.
Multipurpose Cultivator
I have found other uses for the cultivator and now it serves as a platform for carting small quantities of water and also as a rake for the collection of mulch. This saves me the bother to remove the cultivator when a trailer is needed and also saves on money and storage space needed to house a wider range of implements.
The Cultivator Tynes
Sixteen tynes made of spring steel allows great flexibility should a hard obstacle be encountered. The tynes are also relatively easy and inexpensive to replace when they lose their flexibility with age.
The cultivator is not equipped to deal with very hard soil or situations that have a large amount of weed growth, for these situations a disc cultivator or plough may be needed.
Cultivator For Mulching
I have found this cultivator to be most useful when raking canola vegetation to be used as a mulch around young trees. Canola plants have a relatively shallow root system and are easily scraped from the soil surface. Mounds of canola plants are dragged to the required location and then spread as a thick mulch layer. The mulch layer will need a dressing of nitrogenous fertilizer as well as an application of lime in order to allow the rotting vegetation to more easily broken down by microorganisms, insects and earthworms. Badly needed humus will eventually improve the health and water holding capacity of the soil.
One Of My Best Hobby Farm Investment
I believe there are significant advantages when using a tyne cultivator if compared to implements such as a rotary hoe, as the soil is not pounded causing it to lose its structure. The relatively gentle slicing action of the cultivator as tynes pass through soil allows good control of weeds while there is a decreased likelihood of death or injury to our friends, the earthworms. Plant roots are severed and if not completely killed, certainly their growth is restricted.
The cultivator has become one of my best investments on the farm, costing about $1000 new, it has payed for itself within a few short months.
This article is taken from Alf's Hobby farm site at Hobby Farm. Alf also writes in details on farm machinery and implements. There is also a special writing on Tillers and cultivators
About the Author
Ben provides assistance and consultancy to real and virtual estate owners in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. Ben is also in the process of publishing a eBook on hobby farming.
The Old Faithful - Case Tractors by Andrew Caxton
Case IH is an old company manufacturing implements for use by the agricultural community. Case has been manufacturing tractors for a long time. They are famous for their red color.
Sub-compact Tractor - Case Tractors
Case tractors cater to the needs of homeowners, small contractors, golf course owner, horse stable owners, farmers, landscape artists, and contractors. The sub compact range is just right for these persons and the right value for their money.
Farmall Range Of Case Tractors
Farmall is a registered trademark of case and this is a range of sub compact tractors useful for the above categories of persons. The DX18E, DX22E, and DX25E Farmall sub-compact tractors give an excellent return on investment. Let us see the details of the range of this tractor.
DX18E: The DX18E can be connected with loaders and other similar attachment making DX18E a versatile tractor. It can be used as a work horse in your farm and can be put to different uses, like front end loader, excavator, ground leveler, and many other uses. The tractor has the following specifications
* Engine: The engine of DX18E is 3 cylinder a liter diesel engine and it develops 18 HP and that is why it is known as DX18E
* It has automatic transmission thereby obviating the need for the cultch operation and thus increasing driver comfort
* The drive is on front wheel and this can make the tractor more stable on undulating farm ground
* It has power steering and wet disc brakes so the control of the vehicle is easy and responsive.
* The power take off is at mid point with a rated RPM of 3000 and this can be used for many purposes according to the requirements.
* Fuel tank capacity is a generous 30 liters giving you good running time between refills
* The engine is liquid cooled with a 21 liters per minute flow so your engine is kept cool under all circumstances
* The wheelbase is 1.4 meter long assuring stability of the tractor on undulating farm roads
* The total weight of the tractor is 600 kg making it as one of the lightest tractor while being the most stable.
The size of the tractors is compact so that the owner does not have to make special arrangements for storage of the tractor and while it is compact, it is also very powerful machine so that you get more work from the same machine.
With attachments, the tractors become an asset to you as you will be able to do many jobs that earlier you thought were impossible for you to do and jobs like moving and placing firewood, mulching shifting gravel or gardening supplies become very easy with the Farmall tractor series..
The compact size and easy driving features make the tractor series a great one on your farm with easy maneuverability and ease of driving.
The machines with their characteristic red color look great. While your neighbors would feel envious about the looks of the tractor, if the see it working they will be more envious of you.
About the Author
The writer Andrew Caxton publishes quite often new articles to the online magazine http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com .A specialized site in gardening, lawn tractors and lawnmowers with different reviews on models like case tractors
Let Me Tell You a Story, Part II by Irvin L. Rozier
Exodus 9 verse 5 "And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land."
Years ago, when I was a teenager, Mama bought me a Farmall Super A tractor(story at http://faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=29205).
I've been wanting another one, and have been praying that the Lord would lead me to the right one.
I recently bought a new lawnmower and I knew the hand of the Lord was in it (story at http://faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=42093). I still had my old lawnmower and thought that perhaps I would sell it.
On Tuesday morning, April 4, 2006, I received a phone call from my brother-in-law, Joe. He lives in Blackshear, Georgia, nearby me, but was in St. Augustine, Florida on vacation. Joe asked me to go get his lawnmower and take it to the local repair shop. I loaded the lawnmower on my trailer, and drove to Ken's, the mechanic who repairs lawnmowers, weedeaters, chainsaws, and other small engine machines. I unloaded the lawnmower, and Ken said, "Oh, by the way, when are you going to sell me your old lawnmower?" I replied, "I'll think about it and let you know this afternoon."
I got into my Ford truck, and was driving back home when I heard an advertisement on the radio for a Farmall Super A tractor. I wrote the phone number down, and when I got home I called the number. A man answered immediately and I told him I would like to look at the Farmall. He said, "Come on". I drove the 50 miles to Douglas, Georgia, where the Farmall was located, and as I arrived, he was driving it from his shelter to his yard. I had prayed and asked the Lord if this was the tractor that I should buy. As I got out of my truck, I felt the presence of the Lord so I knew I was in the right place.
The elderly man selling the tractor was a Christian and his wife had just suffered a major stroke. The Farmall had just been sitting under the shelter collecting dust, and he felt someone could be using it. It came with planters and cultivators, and that is what I needed to maintain my fairly large garden.
We had prayer together, and then he asked me to go inside and pray for his wife. She was a humble woman and she could not talk yet she knew what others was saying. Looking at her, she reminded me of my dear departed mama. We held hands, the man, his wife, and one of their granddaughters, and prayed. As we did, the presence of the Lord was strong. Afterwards, she waved bye to me. I gave them a copy of my book, My Walk with the Lord, and a deposit on the tractor.
As soon as I got back home, I loaded my old lawnmower, and took it to Ken. He bought it for $100 more than what I was asking. The next day, I went back to Douglas and loaded up that Farmall and brought it home. As I drove it, memories of that Farmall mama bought me (and of her) came back to me. It was like having a long lost friend come home.
Since then, I went over the tractor, and replaced some worn parts. Last Friday, I planted peanuts with it. My neighbor came by and talked to me about the tractor (he has one, too) and brought me a book on ordering parts. He and I have not been too close, and I pray the Lord would use this old tractor (it is a 1953 model, same age as I am), to open a door of opportunity to share my faith in Jesus with him.
All though I had been praying for a Farmall Super A for several years, God's timing would not allow me to have one. Yet, when the appointed time came, the prayer was answered, and God used the experience for His glory. I saw the hand of the Lord in this, and know that His will was accomplished.
Galatians 4 verse 2 "But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father".
Irvin L. Rozier aka walkin2e
About the Author
Author of My Walk with the Lord, www.selahbooks.com, various other articles and poems (google or yahoo search my name), preacher, retired military
MAMA BOUGHT ME A FARMALL SUPER A TRACTOR by Irvin L. Rozier
Ephesians 6:2 "HONOUR THY FATHER AND MOTHER; which is the first commandmentwith promise;"
After Mama died in 2001, my sister, Joanne, and I had to sort through her personal affects and papers. Mama didn't like to throw away anything, so we found canceled checks she had written in the sixties. My sister and I laughed at some of the checks; five dollars for a tank of gas, seven dollars for my high school graduation cap and gown, and the three dollar check for "farm labor". These small items brought back precious memories of our Mama and made us realize the deep love she had for her children.
One of the canceled checks she had written was for $700. It was the payment for that red 1952 Farmall Super A tractor she had bought me. I had always loved tractors(Mama said my first word was tractor) but had never had one of my own. My Daddy died in 1966. He was 40 and I was 14 and the only son (I have four sisters). We lived on a 15 acre pecan orchard and as the only boy, I felt responsible to upkeep it. That little Farmall meant much to me, and I also used it to plant and tend a large garden. Those fresh vegetables sure were good when mama cooked them. I also used my tractor to plant neighbors' gardens, so I made a little spending money that way. After school, I would come home, crank up that Super A, and ride it til dark. I loved doing this, and it helped me keep my mind clear.
In November 1971, I entered the U.S. Army and stayed for many years. My little Farmall sat under the shelter and collected dust. When I would come home on leave, I would crank it up, and ride around on it. I had to go overseas, and I knew my little tractor would just fade away with nobody to use it. I told Mama to sell it for whatever she could get out of it and to use the money for something she wanted. She sold it to her first cousin, Alvin Gill, for $500.
In 2001 after I had found that $700 canceled check, I started having thoughts about tracking down that Farmall so I could maybe buy it and bring it back home. I called Alvin and asked about the tractor. Unfortunately, he had sold it to someone and could not remember to who. I hope that somewhere out there, my Farmall Super A is still purring away bringing joy to its' owner. Mama didn't have much money when she bought me that tractor so that $700 was a small fortune to her. She knew that her son would enjoy this gift so she sacrificed to buy it.
Maybe one day, I'll run across that red one row Farmall Super A. If not, I have precious memories of it, and of my Mama who bought it for me.
James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
Copyright 2005 Irvin L. Rozier
About the Author
Author of My Walk with the Lord, www.selahbooks.com, various other articles and poems (do a google or yahoo search on my name), preacher, retired military, graduate of Excelsior College, Chaplain of American legion Post 181
Farmall Super MTA Wide Front
Farmall HV - High Crop Tractor
Farmall H
Farmall W6
Book Excerpt: Give Me a Home Where the Dairy Cows Roam (Spring Cleaning) by LeAnn R. Ralph
From the book: Give Me a Home Where the Dairy Cows Roam (trade paperback; Sept. 2004) LeAnn R. Ralph http://ruralroute2.com
Chapter 3: Spring Cleaning
When I reached the top of the driveway after getting off the school bus one April afternoon, I couldn't help but wonder why Dad was standing on the stepladder next to the tractor.
I had never seen my father use a stepladder to fix a tractor. He didn't have to climb on anything to reach the engine. I also knew he wasn't filling the tractor with gasoline. The 460 Farmall was too far away from the gas barrel underneath the silver maple tree by the garage, so the hose wouldn't reach that far.
"What's Dad doing Needles?" I asked.
Our dog, Needles, had come to meet me, his tail going in circles. Needles was a Cocker-Spaniel mix we had gotten when he was a tiny cream-colored puppy with wavy hair on his ears. Within the first week, he had nipped my sister's ankles while she was hanging clothes outside to dry. She had exclaimed, "Get those needles out of here!" And the name had stuck. As Needles grew older, his color had darkened to light caramel.
At the sound of the word, 'Dad,' Needles' ears perked up, and his round, dark-brown eyes stared at me with sharpened intensity. Needles was Dad's 'hired man.' That's what Dad said, anyway. When my father worked in the field, the dog would either trot behind the tractor or, on warmer days, would find some shade at the end of the field where he could keep an eye on things. When we milked cows, he stayed in the barn, sometimes nudging aside the cats so he could drink some milk from their dish. And when Dad went on an errand with the pickup truck, Needles often rode with him.
"What's Dad doing?" I repeated. "Go find Dad, Needles."
The dog, his feathery tail still wagging, spun around and took off toward the machine shed.
I stood for a minute, listening to the redwing blackbirds singing in the marsh below our driveway--on-ka-leeee-eeeeee, on-ka-leeeee-eeeeee. From the pasture next to the barn, meadowlarks joined in--tweedle-ee-tweedle-eedle-um, tweedle-ee-tweedle-eedle-um.
As I turned toward the house, my books tucked in the crook of one arm and my jacket draped over the other, I still couldn't quite believe that the sun was shining. For the past two weeks, the weather had been cold and rainy, but today the dark clouds had gone away and the sun had appeared. During afternoon recess at school, it was so warm that we had all taken off our jackets.
Last night at supper, Dad said he wished it would stop raining, and I knew this was the kind of weather he had been waiting for so he could plant oats and corn, although he wouldn't start for a few days, not until he was sure the fields were dried out and that he wouldn't get stuck in the mud with the tractor.
Although I usually went into the house right away when I arrived home from school, today I set my books on the porch steps. The house seemed bigger, somehow, now that the snow had melted and the grass was beginning to turn green. My mother said our house was nothing more than a glorified log cabin--and in fact, underneath the siding it was a log cabin that had been built by my Norwegian great-grandfather.
The rumbling in my stomach reminded me it had been a very long time since lunch. I liked to eat a snack right away when I got home from school, but with Dad working outside by the machine shed, curiosity got the better of me and I figured I could always eat a snack later.
When I drew closer to the machine shed, I saw a green bottle standing on the engine cowling next to Dad's elbow and a wad of rags hanging out of his back pocket. Dad was wearing faded blue work overalls, a blue short-sleeved chambray work shirt and brown leather work boots. During the winter, he wore long-sleeved plaid flannel shirts, but during the summer, he wore short-sleeved shirts.
"What're you doing?" I asked.
My father looked up quickly, as if he were surprised that someone had spoken to him. Needles sat beside the tractor, keeping a watchful eye on Dad.
"Home from school so soon?" Dad asked, reaching for his pocket watch. "Well, yes, I guess it is that time already, isn't it."
I had asked him once why he carried a pocket watch. He said a wrist watch would get too dirty from the dust and oil and grease and would probably stop working.
"Why are you standing on the stepladder Daddy?"
The four-sixty had been around for almost as long as I could remember. It had been brand new when Dad bought it. He called the four-sixty "the big tractor," and he called the Super C Farmall "the little tractor." He used the four-sixty for all of the heavy field work. Plowing and planting in the spring, cutting and baling hay during the summer, harvesting oats in August--right around the time of my birthday or maybe a little later--and for picking corn in the fall.
The four-sixty was the prettiest tractor I had ever seen, with its bright red fenders and the alternating red and white sections above the engine. The rear tires, as black and shiny as licorice, were much taller than me.
Sometimes when Dad went to our other place (a second farm that my parents owned about a mile away), he would let me ride on the four-sixty with him. It was tremendous fun to sit on the red fender, right next to Dad, while the wind blew through my hair and Needles trotted beside us.
Instead of answering my question about why he was on the stepladder, Dad grabbed the green bottle and tossed it in my direction.
I reached out with both hands and caught it up-side-down. When I turned it upright, I saw that the label had the letters T-u-r-t-l-e-W-a-x printed on it.
Turtle Wax?
"You're waxing the four-sixty?" I said.
Dad pulled another rag out of his back pocket. "Yup."
Now that I was close to the tractor, I could smell the wax, a bitter odor that reminded me of the way peach pits smelled. Every summer, Mom would buy a couple boxes of peaches to can. Homemade canned peaches tasted much better than the canned peaches from the store.
Several used rags occupied the little shelf on the front of the stepladder where Dad or my brother or sister put paint cans when they were painting. The shelf was knobby with drips of dried paint. Most of the drips were white because all of our farm buildings were white, although light blue drips from the kitchen and pale yellow drips from the living room were mixed in with the white drips.
I looked down at the bottle again. "But I thought this was for cars. And trucks."
Dad shrugged. "Well, yes, I guess it is."
"Then why are you using it on the tractor?"
My big brother, Ingman, waxed his car a couple of times a year, and my sister, Loretta, waxed her car as well. But I had never seen Dad wax anything.
"I wanted to get this done before I start the field work," he said, "to help protect the paint."
"Protect the paint? From what?"
"The sun," he explained. "Sun' s hard on the paint. Fades it."
I had to admit that the tractor did look nice. The red parts were bright and shiny, like an apple that's been polished, and the white parts looked as clean as puffy clouds drifting across a blue summer sky.
"The sun would fade the paint?"I asked. "Like the sun faded Mom's curtains in the living room?"
The curtains had been white with gold and brown patterns that reminded me of leaves drifting to the ground on a warm fall day. Mom said she liked the curtains because they were pretty and were made of heavy cotton and would be easy to wash. Except that after the first summer, the curtains didn't have gold and brown patterns anymore. They were mostly just white with pale brown streaks.
Mom said the streaks made her curtains look like they were dirty, so the curtains had been replaced with something Mom called "drapes" that were the color of ripe corn. Yellow was my mother's favorite color. Mom said if the sun faded her new drapes she was going to give up and leave the living room windows bare.
By the smile on Dad's face, I could tell he clearly remembered the episode with Mom's curtains.
"Yes, kind of like that," he replied.
He reached into his back pocket, pulled out another rag and held it up.
It was a piece of Mom's curtains.
"Mom's letting you use her curtains to wax the tractor?"
"Well, I don't know if she knows I'm using them to wax the tractor. They're not much good for curtains anymore, but they make dandy wiping rags."
I watched as my father rubbed a few more spots on the engine cowling. A breeze rustled the maple branches arched high above our heads. The maples didn't have leaves yet, but they were covered with fuzzy red buds that would soon turn into leaves. From the other side of the barnyard fence, one of our cows bellowed. "Mooooooo!" she said.
I turned toward the barn and saw a dozen of the cows standing by the fence, watching us. Most of our cows were black-and-white Holsteins.
Dad looked up and saw the cows too. "I guess they know it's almost time for their supper, don't they." He climbed off the stepladder and turned to me. "Since they all seem to be expecting it, I suppose I'd better put them in the barn and feed them. And you should probably go in the house and change out of your school clothes."
"What's Dad doing?" Mom asked when I walked into the kitchen a few minutes later. She sat by the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and an oatmeal cookie and the newspaper spread out in front of her. We had lots of newspapers at our house. One that came once a week, and one that came every day. Mom was reading the one that came every day.
"How did you know I was talking to Dad?" I asked as I set my books on the table.
"When you didn't come in the house right away, I poked my head out the door to see where you were," she replied.
I might have known. My mother hardly ever missed anything that went on around the place.
"Dad just got done waxing the tractor," I said.
"Dad's waxing the four-sixty?"
"With Turtle Wax. And he used your curtains."
Mom frowned. "My curtains? What in the world is he doing using my curtains?"
She paused. "Oh--you mean the curtains I put into the rag bag. I knew he was doing something with the tractor, but I didn't know he was waxing it."
The hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach suddenly reminded me I still had not yet eaten a snack. "What's for supper?"
"Meatballs and gravy and mashed potatoes," Mom said. "I suppose you're hungry right now, though, aren't you."
"I'm starving."
She turned to look at the clock. "I don't think you're starving in the literal sense, but we won't eat for at least an hour, so I suppose a couple of cookies would be all right."
Last weekend Loretta had baked a batch of oatmeal cookies. I reached into the canister on the counter. Usually my sister made ordinary oatmeal cookies, but this time she had added coconut.
After I had finished my cookies, I went upstairs to change my clothes, and then a little while later, Dad came in the house.
"I hear you've been doing y our spring cleaning," Mom said.
"My spring cleaning?" Dad replied. "Well, yes, I suppose you could say that. We paid good money for the big tractor and it doesn't hurt to keep it looking nice."
"I also heard you used my curtains."
"They're not much good for curtains anymore," Dad said.
My mother sighed. "No, they're not."
Dad grinned. "Especially not since you ripped them up into rags."
Mom turned and made her way over to the table, grasping the back of one of the kitchen chairs to keep her balance. It wasn't so much that Mom sat down. She collapsed. The polio hadn't left her legs with enough strength to allow her to sit down gracefully.
"Roy," she said to Dad after she had settled into her chair, "since when do you have time to wax the tractor, of all things?"
My father shrugged. "What else am I going to do on a beautiful spring day when I can't get out in the field yet? Those curtains were just what I needed to do the job. If you don't mind, I'd like to keep them out in the shed to use for polish rags."
"Well," Mom said, "I'm glad my curtains are good for something."
Although that was the first time I saw Dad waxing the tractor, it certainly wasn't the last. In the following years on the first nice spring day, he would get the four-sixty out to wax it before he started the field work.
Every year, Mom and Loretta did their spring cleaning, too, washing walls and windows and curtains in the kitchen, the living room, the bathroom and all three bedrooms.
From what I could see, Dad had more fun than Mom and Loretta.
Instead of cleaning the curtains--he used the curtains to do his cleaning.
*********************
About the Author
Farmall Cub
How I Fell In Love With Farmall Tractors
I fell in love with Farmall Tractors when I was 8 or 9 years old. I lived next to a dairy and tobacco farm in Warehouse
Point, Connecticut and my schoolmate's family owned the farm. They had three Farmalls. I would go over there to help with the farm work. When I visited my Grandfather in Woodbury, Connecticut I discovered that he had a beautiful Farmall Cub. He would put me on his lap and we would drive around the farm on the Cub. On the dairy farm, the most
fun I had was riding on the draw bar when we chased the cows after they broke through the fence and were headed for the corn field. If my mother had known I was doing that I would never have been able to go to the farm again. Anyway,
once these red tractors get in your blood they ain't leavin'. Here I am much older and I still love the things !!
--Cowboy Bob ADVERTISE YOUR TRACTORS AND PARTS ON THIS SITE FOR FREE - EMAIL ME
Actually, Not All Farmall Tractors Were Born Red
By Cowboy Bob Hill
Most Farmall Tractors were "born" red from the factory, but early Farmalls were grey and then later some were grey with red trim. Still others later on were painted white because they were demo units, but even these had red wheels and other red highlights. For collectors these white babies are prized because they are rarer than the red ones. Personally I like the red ones.
Some industrial versions of the Farmall Tractor were painted yellow and some orange.
Also, I have seen versions of the Farmall Cub in yellow.
Later on white trim was added to the mostly red tractors (the 450 and 560 for example).
Copyright 2008, MFH Enterprises, LLC and Cowboy Bob Hill
Links To Articles And Other
Things On This Page:
Farmall Tractor – From Wikipedia
The Farmall was the name of a tractor and later a brand name for tractors manufactured by International Harvester. The original Farmall was the first general purpose tractor with narrowly spaced front wheels. The narrow front combined with good ground clearance allowed for more nimble and accurate field cultivation, yet the Farmall could perform all the other duties a farmer would have previously achieved using a team of horses.
In time, other tractor manufacturers introduced models with a similar form factor as the Farmall. As a class, these are generally referred to as row crop tractors.
The first row crop tractor manufactured by IH was given the name Farmall. Development began around the start of the 1920s, and the tractor was introduced in 1924. IH was fearful that this new "tricycle" type of tractor may not sell well, so when the tractors rolled out, they were meant to be sold only in Texas, as to minimize potential embarrassment if not successful. After the Farmall went on to be successful, IH bought the rights to that tractor type.[1]
In 1932 IH introduced an updated Farmall, which received the designation F-20. The F-20 replaced the original Farmall, which became known by the retronym Regular (after the introduction of the F-20). IH also added other new tractors to the series which became known as the "F-series". These included the F-30 (1931), the F-12 (1932), and the F-14 (1938). All Farmall tractors were painted battleship gray until sometime in the mid-1930s, when a switch to red was made.
Letter series
The F-series tractors lasted until 1938. In 1939, the "letter series" of tractors was introduced (A, B, BN, C, H, and M; another smaller tractor, the Cub). IH commissioned industrial designer Raymond Loewy gave the tractors a new, sleek look. The letter series offered a wider variety of options and power.
The tractors were updated to the "super" series in 1952 (with the exception of the A, which became a "super" in 1947, and the B and BN, which were discontinued in 1948) and received many improvements. Many of these tractors (especially the two largest: the H and M models) are still in operation on farms today. The letter series of tractors was produced until 1954, and was a defining product line in IH history.
Letters to numbers
For 1955 model IH tractors, the numbered "hundred-series" were offered. The "100" series models were given slightly different looks and few new features, but were essentially the famed "letter series" tractors. In 1957, IH again gave the tractor lineup an overhaul. Although the tractor design wasn't changed, new white paint was added to the grill and sides and new number designations were given. This improved sales at the time, but IH's inability to change and update was already showing.[2]
At the Hinsdale, Illinois Testing Farm in July 1958, IH entertained over 12,000 dealers from over 25 countries. IH showed off their new "60" series of tractors: including the big, first of their kind, six-cylinder 460 and 560 tractors. But the joy of the new line of tractors was short lived. In June of that year, IH recalled the 460, 560, and 660 tractors: their final drive components had repeatably failed in production models. IH, who wanted to be the first big-power manufacturer, had failed to substantially update the final drives on the new six-cylinder tractors. These final drives, which were essentially made up of unchanged model "M" components, would fail rapidly under the stress of the more powerful 60-series tractors. IH's competitors took advantage of the recall, and IH would lose several customers in the ensuing months.[2]
Through out the 1960s IH would introduce new tractors, and new methods of selling them. As producing tractors was the lifeblood of the company, IH would have to remain competitive in this field. They both succeed and failed at his goal.
Standard, industrial, utility and other special purpose models
Many Farmall tractor models have one or more mechanically similar models under another IH brand designed for other uses, such as industrial, utility, orchard or wheatland use. These models have lower ground clearance and a wide front axle. During the letter series era, these alternate models were under the McCormick-Deering brand, later models were under the International brand. Some examples of similar models:
•Farmall H -- McCormick-Deering W-4 Standard -- McCormick-Deering I-4 Industrial
Farmall H -- McCormick-Deering W-4 Standard -- McCormick-Deering I-4 Industrial•Farmall 300 -- International 300 Utility
Farmall 300 -- International 300 Utility•