Farmall A restoration - encouragement needed!

After three years we are settled and pretty much out of debt so I can get down to some projects. I have somewhat decided that I would like to restore my Farmall A to its former glory. Been toying with the idea of a hot rod, older car or truck, maybe my IH L-120, etc. I think the A will be easy to fit in the garage and will be enjoyable when its done.

The A was running good and I used it for several years to mow with until I ended up dropping one of the front wheels in a hole and breaking the steering box casting... we fixed that and I continued using it for a short time after, until it started burning a fair amount of oil and the oil pressure started dropping.

Currently it has been sitting in the back of the barn for about four years, last had it running about a year ago. It isn't stuck but wouldn't start when I was home in April. I don't think it was getting any fuel. Shouldn't be any trouble to get it fired up again.

Main obstacle right now is getting it from ND to AZ without breaking the budget for the restoration! Once I get home the end of June I will post on the hauling board to see if I can find anything... or I will try to find a reasonably priced pickup to haul it down and then sell the pickup.

Tell me it's worth the time, effort, and cash! (I know deep down that it is, just like to hear it from others!) Just looking for some discussion and stories of restorations.

Current resting place:

Several years ago:

Pictures of my collection...

Now the last time we talked there was some talk of another generation of Gusseys. If your going to work in AZ and summer in ND, and if your going to have another generation, then you need tractors both in AZ and ND. As I type Marg. and I are waiting for a 13 month old garndson and parrents to arive for the weekend. Even two months ago he was interested in my 1/16 tractors. I will have two tractors out tomorrow, I expect I'll see a young lad in both seats before the day is over.

You have no choice, the tools of restoration must work in unison with the tools of reproduction. The tractor must be ready for the new Gussey.

I'll get it down here, might take a little time to organize the effort but it will get down here. Kids need time at the farm to run around and learn about real life - you just don't get the experiences you need living in town. It is unfortunate that the jobs that make the next generation possible are in town, but that's reality.

Thanks again, Hugh!

We had an M that I learned to drive tractor on which I bought at auction when dad retired. I now live in the Washington DC area and have a Super A and two Super Cs (and the M that is still sitting in the pole barn). I haven't restored them but I have done a lot of work to get them to function correctly mechanically and will eventually clean them up a bit but for now I am having so much fun using them I don't want them to be in such good shape that I am afraid to get them dirty (I have a belly mower on the Super A and an aftermarket 3pt on the Super C which is surprisingly useful).

I too would like to get back to ND someday but don't see it in the cards for awhile. In the meantime I spend time on my little farmalls and when I do I think back about all the good times I had as a kid in that part of the country and of family and friends. My wife had been on my case for awhile to get rid of all my junk tractors and buy a new one that doesn't need any work but I think she finally realized that my farmalls were serving a much bigger role than simply mowing grass as I am generally in a better mood about work and life in DC after spending time tinkering.

Anyway... this post doesn't answer any of the questions you raise but thought I would let you know there are others out there that have been transplanted from ND and see our farmalls as the bridge that takes us back in time.

I'm from the SW corner of the state, about 40 miles south of Dickinson. Close to both MT and SD...

Thanks for the reply, I know someday I hope to get moved back to ND... it's just a matter of time.

My garage is usually worse than that... those pics were right after a thorough cleaning and organization!

I'm sure with the help of YTmag I'll get the tractor down here!

Right now I got about 25,000$ in certificates, and about 8,000 grand in 401k. Not too bad for 3 years since I started saving. It helps to live at home with dad. I still feel I dont have money to blow. My friends who Know what I have are always mad at me cause i never like to spend money.

I cant trust the govt for SSI, nor my workplace for a pension since they obliterated it and put 3% of our pay into our 401k and thats our pension. I dont count on 401k either because I just know something is going to screw us all, like stock market collapse or something.

Sure Theres alot I could have but dont, but I'll be damned if I'm going to work myself to death =

Go for the restore dude!! I would if I felt I had the money. Just remember, seals here, bearings there, paint here, paint there, bolts here, mchine shop there adds up quite a bit. Be prepared to take a while because of the way these things go and to be less a burden on the budget.

If you do decide to, I'm sure we'd all love to see progress pics!!

Dont you have a buddy that has a pickup? If you do then really all you need is a 16 foot flat bed trailer to haul that tractor.

Love that flat bed truck in your pics. I can come get it out of your way if you need the room.

Heres my SA I did last year, before and after. I would love to help someone work on theirs just for fun I had such a good time. After its done you will be so proud of the A you will drive it just to show it off and have people comment on it.

As for moving to ND - I would LOVE to! However, the pay is about 1/2 of what I get down here and the cost of living is not cheaper, it's actually more! We are in a nice place here and a quiet neighborhood, wonderful friends, and good jobs. We are in Bullhead City, across the Colorado River from Laughlin, NV and 100 miles from Las Vegas. Not yet a big time city, but not real small town either - and growing quickly. There are opportunities for getting out and playing in the sand... at least not always stuck in the house!

The only way we could move home to ND is for me to carry two jobs - then I can't really spend much time with my kids anyway (future kids, just working on getting the first now ;o) As we are teachers we have vacations and summer time to go to the family farms (both her parents and mine) and our children will learn and enjoy some life on the farm.

I'm getting some land in ND so I can have a small farm to retire to when the time comes. I miss ND, I miss the clean air and wide open spaces and the friendly people... unfortunately the job opportunities are not adequate for our current needs. Maybe someday it will work out better...

Thank you, johnnnny2006, for your thoughts~!

I've spent some time in ND, and also down in AZ, had relations just down the road from ya in Lake Havasu.....anyway, wanted to comment on the "moving back to ND"....and I can tell from your post that it's not really an option right now for ya.....anyways, I've also been in that boat- about 9yrs ago I was working a good job in Omaha NE, went through a divorce, and moved back "home" to our place in western NE. Took a 50 percent pay cut, but I wouldnt go back. The kids love it here. I agree with ya about the cost of living too, "things" cost more out here than in a big city. But I've noticed also that once you're out here, you find you dont really NEED nearly as many "things" as before so it actually works out cheaper....not having stores right around the corner sure helps on the old budget- a person adapts and after awhile doesnt even miss it. Anyway, having lived in ND you're probably aware of all this already, but just thought I'd bring it up.

Good luck on the A project and I'll keep my ears open for anyone making a trip with an empty trailer in that direction!