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Mike CA
04-21-2008 21:36:05
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This last weekend was the big Antique Farm Equipment show in Tulare California. I got to take my H to it to show people it's progress, and to surprise Ira, the gentleman who passed his family tractor along to me.
First, let me say that last week my kids were down with the flu. Friday, the first day of the show, it caught up to me. I was feverish with 103F and better, and was generally achey with a headache that could knock me over. So no show for me. I called my friend Tom who took my H over and unloaded it, to tell him I couldn't make it. I slept most of Friday.
You guys know Bob Kerr from YT? He was picking up a truck in SoCal, and I convinced him to come to the show and meet me on Friday. Well, he found my tractor by the motorcycle tires, met Tom and they talked for a while. Anyway, we caught up to each other on Saturday.
Saturday I still felt beat up, but managed to drag to the show. I got the pre-meeting club breakfast and found Ira and had a little food with him. He asked how the H was, and I told him "all torn apart" And he said that's ok. Later I talked to the Pres and he said we should do the presentation before, not after. So, I ran off to go find my tractor since I had no idea where it was. I called Bob and Tom and they got me there eventually. (Did I mention it's a HUGE show?) Bob found me starting it up. He said it sounded like crap, and we'd have to take care of that later. So he hopped on and rode with me to the meeting. We got there, and this loud beast turned all the heads. Ira was pretty surprised. He said "Who let that old clunker in here!" So, it stood there running, dripping fluids from 3 or 4 places, idling too fast, and but making Ira smile. So, I told him to get up there and take it for a spin, and he did. He really liked it. Remembered this and that about the tractor. Then we had our meeting, then had to run off to see the parade. I didn't feel like being in it. It just wasn't worth it without being able to endagering my children on my lap like so many were doing. So Bob and I watched the whole parade, and then got to tuning. Bob showed me how to tweak the carb and what it should be doing when. And he also torqued down the manifold... which was leaking! Torque your manifold kids!! It quited up considerably with Bob's tweaks in there. That was it for me on Saturday. I was bushed, and went home to recoup.
Sunday I took my family. Had my oldest with me as I drove the first round of the parade, and went and picked up my littlest for a ride through the parade as well. But the H's battery had different plans. It ran out of juice because it has no charging system installed. So, I spent the next hour getting a tow back to the IHC base camp. A bit humiliating, but no big deal really. Later I watched my first live tractor pull. I really enjoyed watching the "stock" antique stuff. I may give a pull a go someday, but only to try it... once. I don't want to hurt the work I've put into the old boy. I watched a good looking H in work clothes just die mid-pull, and he couldn't get it started. I'd hate the think he busted something important.
Anyway, I met a number of YT'ers. Bob Kerr, as I mentioned. Chuck, and I forget his nickname on here, but he's from down south a ways. He bought a 300 from Brandon, who I forget his handle on here as well. :lol: But Brandon is a big "Pull" guy. I saw him and his son there pulling. Both have very nice set ups. Brandon has the widest tires in exsistance on his JD! I bought the wheels, battery box, and muffler from his son's H, since he modified it. I also met a guy named Jim who says he lurks on YT, but recognized my tractor, and walked up and asked "Are you Mike?" :lol: Maybe I'll keep those motorcycle tires afterall!
Oh, and Tony!! Man, Tony, who also lurks, but introduced himself the same way to me back in October, has a '45 H I would trade my mother-in-law for. (no kidding Tony) He sent it to Mark from Mark's Tractors in Indiana (I think) and Mark said "Since I've never done a tractor from California, I'll do yours special"... and he did. You can brush your teeth from the reflection in the block! The castings are smoothed and the paint is deep and flawless! It's what I'm striving for!
Anyway, here is the picture of Ira on my H. (click the pic)
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