[AT] Super M and encouraging sign at the Case/IH dealer

[Dean Vinson]

The Super M returned home today.  The mechanic at the dealership had
eventually determined the knock was the result of a timing issue rather than
the type of metal-on-metal mechanical problem I'd feared.   While the
tractor was in the shop I also had them inspect and repair the charging
system, and replace the clutch/brake pedal shaft to fix excessive
side-to-side wobble in the clutch pedal (using a replacement shaft I'd
purchased two or three years ago for that very purpose but had never gotten
around to actually installing).   They adjusted the carburetor and clutch as
well.

 

Short clip of the tractor idling this morning:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4R5a6W0ay80.  It sounded just the same before
I sent it to the shop, except in addition to everything you can hear now
there was a steady bang-bang-bang-bang-bang.

 

Ended up costing $1200 for a few miscellaneous parts, pickup and delivery,
and a bunch of shop time.   Not a small bill but that's exactly the same
dollar amount as the best freight quote I'd received to have the tractor
hauled round-trip to and from the retired IH mechanic I'd originally hoped
to have work on it, so I can't really complain.   

 

I admit to some feeling of "Heck, Dean, you fool, you could have figured all
that out and done the work yourself if you'd tried hard enough," but I won't
lose any sleep over it.   Old house, old barns, lots of overgrown old
pasture, no shortage of stuff for me to work on during however many hours I
can make available for projects. so I'm glad to have the old tractor fixed
and back home and no longer on my "Figure this out and do something" list.

 

Dean Vinson

Saint Paris, Ohio

 

 

 

From: AT <at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com> On Behalf Of Dean Vinson
Sent: Thursday, March 9, 2023 5:11 PM
To: 'Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group' <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Subject: [AT] Super M and encouraging sign at the Case/IH dealer

 

Last fall my Super M developed an engine knock, and I decided it was beyond
my realistic ability to diagnose and repair on my own.   A friend pointed me
to a retired IH mechanic with a sterling reputation for working on old
Farmalls, and I made preliminary arrangements with him, but the cost of
trucking the tractor 80 miles to his shop turned out to be a deal-breaker.
So I parked it for the winter and decided not to worry about it until
spring.

 

A couple weeks ago I was passing by the local Case/IH dealership and stopped
in to see if they'd be willing to work on it.   I felt a bit self-conscious
and wasn't confident of a welcoming response, since the shop was full of
$70,000 tractors owned by farmers who actually need them for production and
here I am wanting them to spend time and shop space on my 70-year-old toy
that I use to haul my chainsaws and firewood around.   But it turned out
great.   When I mentioned "old tractor" the service manager looked up and
asked me what model, and when I said "Super M" she hollered into the shop
something like "Hey Dobber, got one for you." 

 

Turns out "Dobber" is maybe 50-something and grew up with the old stuff and
loves nothing more than getting to work on them, and he's got a 30-something
buddy in the shop that he's likewise gotten hooked on the old ones.   He
came out and talked with me a bit, and made arrangements for their field
service rep to stop by my place and take a look in person.   The field rep
came out yesterday and agreed it's an internal engine issue, seemingly in
the #1 or #2 cylinder judging by the apparent location from where the sound
is coming, and said he'd get a truck scheduled to come pick it up.   While
chatting a bit he again mentioned Dobber and his younger pal, and then
chuckled "Heck, those two'll fight over who gets to work on this."    

 

Today was pick-up day so the tractor is at their shop now.   Have to wait
and see what they say once they get inside it, but I'm very pleased it seems
to be in good hands.

 

Dean Vinson

Saint Paris, Ohio

 

 

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