Dug this out of the back of the tractor shed yesterday

[Jay2D2]

Brings back memories of my 1948 Massey Harris 30

best of luck

[78 Chevyrado]

thanks for the comments guys.  Maybe it will run this week.  I'm supposed to go pickup the rebuilt diesel pump on tuesday.

If anybody want to see this progress, I started a build thread on a tractor forum I joined.
http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=83350

I always gotta be takin stuff apart, huh?  just can't leave well enough alone   

[Captkaos]

Wow, nice progress!

[ccz145a]

It's like archeology, except you get to bring them back to life!

[BigHemi353]

Nice powermaster!  I wanted one of those forever ago. They are great looking tractors. Back when I was 11 I bought a 1941 Farmall H. Still working on it(on and off). I completely rebuilt the motor myself(besides the head and machining work). I put all new bearings in(even cam), had the crank refinished, new sleeves, larger pistons, and had the head milled down slightly for more compression. not too much more to go on it but my silverado project is my main concern for now. Once I get my truck finished I'll finish my tractor and use my truck to haul it......maybe...sounds like a good idea though. lol

here is a pic of me puttin my engine in from a while back.


Keep us posted on the restoration!
Andy

[78 Chevyrado]

That engine looks good!

I got my injector pump back today.  $477, but hey I'm getting white smoke so it's working! lol   It took all day to find out how to set the pump timing, and it was late so I got it timed and we'll drag it around with the other tractor again tomorrow and maybe well get some black smoke instead of just white....   If it'll run, I'm $350 away from the engine trans being fully functional again.  New radiator, hoses t-stat, all guages and battery, alternator, steering wheel, and tie rod ends.    I'll get to the hydraulics later, I just wanna ride it around...   I'll also have a shop manual on the way tomorrow, so maybe this will get easier, it sure helped when I got the one for the truck!

Here's what a $477 Rebuild looks like....  I got screwed if size counts...lol

[80stepsideguy]

Degrease that motor and repaint it and that engine will look just as good as that injector pump 

thanks
pat

[78 Chevyrado]

I got it running today.  actually tonight, I still rode it around the yard 4 times.   It needs a little tuning etc, and I want to get the radiator and t-stat so it can get up to temperature. Right now theres not even a t-stat so after 10 minutes of running I can still touch the head comfortably, not great for diesels.  also broke the seat, dang oh well

Here's yall a video of it running finally.  Doesn't sound too bad at all for sitting 10 years and being 50 years with no overhaul of any kind!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZIo7jCOINE

[oldwhity]

I'll bet you were tickled to death when it fired. That's cool!

[Skunksmash]

I say you fully restore the 'ol girl. Those things can be worth a TON of money once restored... Plus you cant have that nice of a truck and a ratty tractor...

[zieg85]

X2

When my dad finally downsizes and doesn't need the 53 NAA I am going to make her brand new again.

[78 Chevyrado]

We're going to get the injectors rebuilt and calibrated, and it needs rings, so at least rings, maybe rod bearings if they look bad.   Surprisingly it was only running fully on 3 out of 4 cylinders in the video.  But When I rode it around and got the temp up close to operating, most of the smoke went away and it sounded pretty good, can't wait till the new injectors and rings are in it.

We'll do the engine up and then move on to the tranny.  I think the trans is fine, just needs a flush.  Same with the rear end.  My dad rebuilds hydraulic stuff all the time so there shouldn't be a problem when I get to the hyd. systems.

[78 Chevyrado]

A bit of progress.  My new parts got here, new guages, radiator, steering wheel, and other small stuff.


Bought a new reprint shop manual and found an original owners manual on ebay.  That used owners manual is in PERFECT condition except a bit faded on the spine like it was on the shelf in between other books.



New fuel return line, Everything like that will be swagelock SS fittings (I got the hook up on that stuff )


Fixed the seat where it broke


a spare K&N filter I had made to work till I get the stack back on


Got everything Wired up and working except lights, though the switch is there and works. The steering box has been painted so the dash stuff won't have to come back off.


I decided to go ahead and put it to work to get the engine cleaned out and to see if the rings will seal a bit better through hard use.  So I put the hood back on to keep trees out of my new radiator and stuff



It's coming along.  Theres a slight leak of hydraulic fluid into the tranny It's not bad enough I can't use it though so I will.  The hydraulics hold great, With that pulverizer on it fully raised, I measured a drop of 1-5/16" over a 5 hour time span, so I'm quite happy with that.  The engine seems to be freeing up and getting its power back.  It will need rings no matter what, but it's very usable right now.  Tranny is good and the clutch seems good from what i can tell.  I need a couple gaskets for the engine and it won't be oily on the outside anymore

I'm loving it though, It doesn't have a front end loader on it like the TN55 so I can get into tighter places and turn around a lot easier on the ford.  I got the wrong thermostat for it though, so I gotta hunt the diesel t-stat to get it up to temp.  It's a lot better than it was though since it didn't have a t-stat when I took the neck off.  with no t-stat that thing won't get above 125-130* no matter how hard I worked it.  Now it;s running about 160* or so.  But I want to get it to about 190* like it should be.  The hunt is on.   

[oldwhity]

That's awesome. Are you eventually going to do the wheels and frame or are you going to run it like it is? Looks great!!

[78 Chevyrado]

Thanks whity, It will be a month or 2 before I can put anymore money into it, so I'm going to use it here and there until then.  Once I get rings put in it and get it to where oil doesn't leak out and make a mess everywhere I will paint the whole thing.  I just don't wanna paint on it too much until then.  I'll paint the wheels when I get the new front tires; I'm going to use the old rear tires as long as they last.  The tractor has no added ballast whatever so they don't make imprints in the grass, only the front ribbed tires mess the turf up.  I have put 10 hours on it so far.  I used it today to drag out some dirt up against the house and I must say I liked not having to mind the front end loader like on the tn55.  I used the tn55 to haul the dirt up and the 841 to smooth it out, they make a great team    Once I get it painted up, I'll get a 6' or 7' finish mower and paint it up to match the tractor.