another newbie

[Rockfarmer]

Hi-have been monitering this site for a couple of years now and finally  deciced to join. Have gotten a lot of useful info and wanted to be able to participate. I have been working on a 1953 OC-3-42 for about two years now with an anticipated completion date of this fall (2011---- I need it to pick corn) While this is a frame up restoration the tractor is going to be used, as intended, for light farming. I'm not exactly a computer whiz but hope to get better at posting and even putting some pictures up as i learn more about navigating arount this website 

[Blake Malkamaki]

Welcome aboard Rockfarmer! You'll find some great guys here with tons of knowledge to share. Look forward to your questions and answers!

Blake

[ianoz]

 Welcome Rockfarmer , As always on forums The more the merrier . Look forward to see photos of your project  A bit of trail and probably lots of error ,you will get the hang of things .

[hotratz]

Thanks for joining the board. I'm always excited about seeing restoration pictures, Looking forward to seeing your tractors journey.

[John D]

Welcome -- glad we've been a good resource, and glad you finally decided to join up.  Looking forward to seeing pictures of your 1953 OC-3-42 restoration - and glad that you are planning to put it to use when it is done.

I've done a few small tractor restorations, and put each of them back to work right away.  My biggest project to date has been a 1946 AG-6, which has been apart since 2003, when the engine developed a serious knock.  That prompted a full restoration, which is about 80% done.  I have to paint the chassis, install the replacement engine, and the refinished sheetmetal - not a lot of work left to do.  It is still waiting patiently for me to finish up.  It will go back to work shortly after I finish the restoration.

About two years into the project (2005), I reached a point where other aspects of life got in the way, and the project came to a hard stop.  It was apparent I wouldn't get back to work on it or finish any time soon. 

In 2008, I took advantage of an opportunity to pick up a running 1945 AG-6 that needed a track repair - it cost me less than a rebuilt engine.  I dropped off the track to Zimmerman's on a trip from NY to Washington DC that took me past his shop and picked up the repaired track on my way home.  So in about a 2 week span, I had a working tractor again.

But that didn't solve the issue of the tractor that is apart.  Finally, in the fall of 2009, I was able to finish up the work on the replacement engine, then mounted it to a dolly I built, and finally got it running on Jan 1, 2010.  At that point I was convinced that I would finish up the remaining work in the next year.  Soon after that, the project went back to a hard stop, due to a serious family health issue. 

I cross my fingers and hope again for the opportunity this year to complete the restoration. Time will tell.  My family (and I) will be glad to have the engine and other AG-6 parts out of the basement, and back into the tractor.

Anyway, that was a long way of saying we understand the longterm project you have undertaken, and look forward to hearing additional progress reports on your project.