[AT] Farmall 240 progress and vegetable farming

[Grant Brians]

Yesterday we finally took the time to put some gasoline into my summer
acquired Farmall 240 cultivating tractor. Before doing so, we had put air in
the tires (the tractor had been sitting 15-25 years and all three were
FLAT.) That required replacing one of the Schrader valves on one of the
Driving wheel tubes. Thank goodness that those 36" tires did not need
replacement as they are both expensive and nearly unobtainable. Also, I
assumed that the fuel had not been run out of the tractor before parking so
we replaced the sediment bowl, fuel line and inline fuel filter - as it
turned out the sediment bowl has 1/4" of varnish on the sides and bottom. I
have never seen that much varnish on the SIDES of a sediment bowl! We
rebuilt the carburetor even though its varnish component was modest and
cleaned out the fuel tank. On general principles we also put a new set of
points, even though they looked ok. And finally, we installed a battery.
     So after putting two gallons of fresh gasoline into the tank, we
cranked the motor over and on about the tenth revolution it caught and ran.
Hallelujah! Then the small disappointment - the block and radiator
immediately started leaking water from the cooling system. But the leaks
were small, in easy to fix spots and might be easy to fix. Hmm. Time to
remove the drain plug from the side of the block. Interesting - very limited
shale and not a lot of rust. Clean the top tank of the radiator where
leakage was occuring - aha, only leaking from the seam of the top tank hose
adapter. This is looking up. Check the area around the water pump where my
mechanic assistant said he saw leakage too. Oho, just water coming down the
hose and the water pump bearing is actually good....
     Then I said, lets pull a trick out of the bag - I applied air to the
cooling system via the drain plug hole while water went into the radiator.
Aside from my assistant getting wet, that loosened most of what little shale
there was in the cooling system and after a second draining, there is no
rust in the water and we appear to have gotten all the small amount of loose
shale in the block out.
     Well, well, well, time for a bottle of stop leak. After putting the
pipe plug back in, ten minutes of running later and no leaks! Another
Hallelujah! So here is the score on this salvage tractor. Hydraulics work
and without any leaks from the pump, hoses or other areas except one
cylinder shaft seal and that appears to be rapidly cleaning up with
lubrication. All power train items work. There are rusted bolts on the sheet
metal that we need to remove and replace. The cooling system temperature
gauge and sender assembly will be replaced next week as it is mangled. The
steering wheel is broken but usable - I think I should replace it. The
steering shaft to the sector gear has one u-joint shot, and the steering
gear needs adjustment but seems in good condition. The tires, cultivating
bars, sheet metal are all good. Oh and it needs the seat replaced. So as far
as I can tell, one day of work and a relatively modest amount of money and
this tractor goes into the field! I think this was a good deal considering
neither the seller nor I thought the engine was not stuck and the tires
looked to be shot.
     Naturally, the minute we decided the tractor was not leaking, one of my
workers came in from the field and the Front wheel drive shaft on the four
wheel drive he was using to disc a field came apart - ARGGH!!!! But, four
grade 8 bolts later - that the industrial supply houses did not have in
stock, but I did thank goodness, and it was ready to go for this morning.
Goodness Gracious there are lots of ups and downs in this farming business!
     Monday we will put the ignition system parts in the "new" Oliver 770
Gasoline cultivating tractor I bought last month and change the wheel
spacing to match our wide beds and start it. Today I am listing my home
field with the new John Deere tractor as soon as we get the sprinkler pipe
out of the way and we will start planting vegetables there next week since
we have irrigation water again there now. Yeah!
            Grant Brians
            Hollister, California
            Organic Vegetables
p.s. I loaded two of the three farmers market trucks for this morning so
far, my day started at 3:20AM. The next one will go out in about 20 minutes,
I'd better get back to that work....