[AT] Tractor stuff

Sat Nov 22 08:59:45 PST 2025

Thanks, Spencer.   Yeah, having to re-prime the system would be an unwelcome hassle when you were intending to just fire up and go, as would dealing with the superfund site.   I can imagine your pump and injector work being on the spendy side but I’ll bet you never have to repeat that particular repair.

3600s are handy little tractors, aren’t they?   Of my various tractors it’s the one I realistically need, if I could only have one.   Live PTO is slightly less convenient than the true independent PTO on the 3020 but the 3600’s low center of gravity is better suited to the hilly parts of my place and I’m sure it’s less expensive to operate (diesel vs. gas, and better matched horsepower-wise to the actual usage it gets).

The one complaint I have is that out of the 8 forward speeds only 2nd, 3rd, and 4th are routinely useful to me and I often wish for another gear in between 2nd and 3rd.   I find anything in high range too fast except for transport, and even then 7th and 8th are too fast unless I’m driving on a paved road (which I almost never do).  Obviously a minor complaint but I do wonder how well those gear ratios support what most operators need.

Dean Vinson

Saint Paris, Ohio

From: AT <at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com> On Behalf Of Spencer Yost
Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2025 8:43 AM
To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
Subject: Re: [AT] Tractor stuff

I always enjoy your pictures Dean.  My 3600 has a small coolant leak I can’t quite pin down.   I think it might be the front corner head gasket as that’s where the ghost of the evidence is. Only actually happens while running and the fan blows all the evidence away, leaving that slight discolored area.  Only have to top off the radiator once a season so it’s very slight. 

I took a big $$$ hit rebuilding the injection pump and injectors this year, but I really didn’t have a choice.  If I left the fuel on while parked I would have a super fund site under the tractor.  I was shutting off the fuel starting early last year.  But twice since then I forgot it was off and ended up starving the tractor and having to re-prime the system.  Finally had enough of all that and bit the bullet.

Have a great Thanksgiving,

Spencer Yost

On Nov 20, 2025, at 11:05 PM, Dean Vinson <dean at vinsonfarm.net <mailto:dean at vinsonfarm.net> > wrote:

I haven’t done much wrenching on my tractors in a while, which is generally good news:  They’re running well and I can just enjoy doing stuff with them, and save my DIY time for the long list of projects needed around the house or woods.

The exception is my Ford 3600, which overheated the other day after I’d been mowing for only 10 or 15 minutes.  That was disappointing since I’d had it in the shop just last summer for the same thing.  Back then I’d poked around a bit and noticed a couple other little things that needed attention and figured “Okay, this is gonna exceed my time and patience budgets so I’ll have the shop handle it.”   The shop cleaned a bunch of gunk out of the radiator but didn’t otherwise find anything wrong.  This time I skipped the poking around part and went straight to picking up my phone.   I’m wondering if it’s a thermostat issue but will see what the shop says when they call.

The Farmall Super M has mostly sat in the barn this year.   Last winter I put an alternator on it and everything works fine, but it’s mostly a backup tractor now.

The 3020 is my go-to tractor these days.   I’ve used it with a sprayer and with a brushhog but by far the most common task is just pulling a trailer carrying whatever tools or materials I’m working with on a given day.   For years I used the Super M in that role, but once I got past 60 years old I noticed the seat had somehow gotten higher, farther back, and with less around me to grab onto if I hit rough ground than had been the case when I was younger.   The 3020 by comparison feels like I’m nestled into a safe little cockpit.   (Yeah, the 3600 is likewise safe and is plenty powerful for anything I really need, but it’s fun and handy to have more than one tractor).

Some months ago I replaced the original Marvel-Schebler carb on the 3020 with a new Zenith from Roberts Carburetor Repair.  Tractor now starts like it’s new and runs like a top.  I’m hopeful that’ll continue when the weather turns cold, since there were some bitter days last winter when I needed the tractor and rear blade to clear the driveway and getting it started was a serious pain.   Once snow starts being forecast and I put the rear blade on the 3020, the Super M will go back to being the primary tractor for whatever trailer-hauling chore comes up.

For now the green tractor is still the one that gets fired up the most, such as in this photo from a couple days ago.  

Dean Vinson

Saint Paris, Ohio

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