[Farmall] O-12 chores

[olmstead at ridgenet.net]

I read it about a year ago, Jim.  I've adopted a lot of the author's
philosophy regarding restoration; I'm happily immersed in making the front
end of an O-12 better than it was when it was new by boring out the front
axle pin hole and pressing in a bronze bushing, as well as turning a new
axle pin on my lathe.  But the part I really identified with was his
account of mental illness. I think my problem is metal illness.  There's
another trailer headed this way, due to show up this weekend, with two
F-12s, four engines and a whole bunch of extra parts.  And I know of a
couple of F-14s that might be coming before too long....
-Karl
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> A bit of an "outside" message, here.  Have you ever read "Zen and  the Art
> of Motorcycle Maintenance"?  There is a brief but  wonderful passage which
> involves the city-slicker author making a  cross-country trip with his son
> and the chain guard of his bike  cracked.  He stopped at some mid-west
> shop run by an old geezer  who welded the metal to "rights" and the author
> was marveling at the  quality of the job and tried to impart his
> appreciation of the welder's  competency.  The old fellow looked at him as
> if he had just come  down from Mars, as there is/was only one way to do
> such a task and that  is correctly.
>  Anyway, the theme of the book is the pursuit of  quality and, if any of
> you are so inclined, I would suggest trying  it.  It is a great read and,
> to some extent, an eye-opener.
>   OK...off topic but I could not resist sharing this.
>   JM