[AT] antique tractors in the Alabama surf

[Will Powell]

The guy in the white SUV will probably trade it in and the next owners going to be in for a big surprise.... 

I was in cape cod Massachusetts and my brother-in-law had a wagoneer that had the tide come in on it. 30k miles and it was a rust bucket. If I could get it running he would take me out on the dunes. I was able to get it started but when we pushed on the brakes they went to the floor, the brake lines just broke open. While on the cape in the 80's I saw many truck bodies fabricated out of wood. 

Another time I was watching a netting operation on Cape Hatteris. They used a dodge power wagon to pull the net onto the beach. There was not much left of the truck. I can't remember if it was the seat belt anchor that ripped out of the bed or the foot pedal emergency brake... Either way, it was a big chunk of metal. I think it was when he put on his seat belt... Yes, that was it. I remember thinking how useless that belt would have been if he was in a collision. 

You see the same thing on plow trucks here on the east coast. Upstate NY is especially tough on vehicles. They don't spare the salt in NY. 


----- Original Message -----
From: "charlie hill" <charliehill at embarqmail.com> 
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com> 
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 6:19:31 AM 
Subject: Re: [AT] antique tractors in the Alabama surf 

Bill no doubt the older vehicles were all about fun but looking at them I 
don't think any of them had ever been up to their running boards in sea 
water before. The guy with the newish SUV is in for a big surprise. I 
really wouldn't want any of my tractors in that surf but I probably would 
drive one in there to help someone. However, there is a fishing village 
not far from here where the guys fish in the surf for mullet. 
The use old tractors, primarily M and H Farmalls to pull their boats (on 
trailers) out to the surf and launch them. Then they use the same tractors 
to haul the seine nets loaded with fish up onto the beach. At Christmas 
they decorate the tractors boats and trailers and drive them in the village 
Christmas parade. 

Charlie 

-----Original Message----- 
From: Bill Bruer 
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 9:47 PM 
To: Antique tractor email discussion group 
Subject: Re: [AT] antique tractors in the Alabama surf 

Yes, I was aware of the effects of the salt water on the vehicles. However, 
considering that those "rescue" vehicles were there in the first place, I 
imagine the owners were also aware and were prepared to sacrifice some old 
stuff to beach fun. Young people do that type of thing. They will even buy 
old trucks just for that purpose. In all probability, the only one who was 
taken by surprise was the owner of the SUV and boat. 

The tractors especially were probably there for just such escapades. After 
all, they couldn't have been far away to begin with. At least they were 
working. 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Will Powell" <william.neff.powell at comcast.net> 
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 12:52 PM 
Subject: Re: [AT] antique tractors in the Alabama surf 


Yes, I've seen what happens to a vehicle after the tide comes in on it. I 
would have never tried to save that guys vehicle. Now instead of just one 
rust bucket there will be 4 to 5. You can be sure that every one of the 
volunteers won't be so helpful the next time after they see what happens to 
their vehicles. 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "charlie hill" <charliehill at embarqmail.com> 
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 1:34:34 PM 
Subject: Re: [AT] antique tractors in the Alabama surf 

Sometime I'll send you a picture of what happens to a Chevy Blazer when it 
gets ocean water on the underside of a quarter panel and I didn't take it 
swimming. I just got caught driving on the beach at high tide and the 
wheels slung water into places I couldn't get washed off. 

Charlie 


-----Original Message----- 
From: Steve W. 
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 12:41 PM 
To: Antique tractor email discussion group 
Subject: Re: [AT] antique tractors in the Alabama surf 

charlie hill wrote: 
> Since that is salt water them should have just left them in there! 
> 
> 

Yep about the only way to even hope to keep them alive will be to let it 
soak in clear water for a couple days, then pull every wire connection 
that was under water and clean and lube them then pray that the clear 
water got all the salt out of the hidden spots. 

Even a clear water bath will cause major problems, salt just makes it 
much worse MUCH faster. 

-- 
Steve W. 

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