1958 D17 NFE (lots of pictures)

Dan,
I need to at least re-torque the head bolts to see if I can stop this leak.
Thanks for the caution on the bolts too. You were lucky on getting that bolt out!
Going to local auction Saturday to view a WD Diesel, WD 45 LP and couple other WD's.
 Today I worked with friend on installing sheet metal and screens on a JD AO (orchard)
Have at least another day to get the operators shields in place.
Regards,
 Chris

ac45dave wrote: be careful chris,don't get too close to those allis tractors at the sale.they seem to find a way to follow a guy home.  let us know what ya see or find.  Dave

Dave,
 I was checking them out but did not bid on anything. I started a new thread on those.
 Met a couple nice folks Jim and Roger. I think Jim has a couple WD45 diesels. Also my friend from grade school was there and he has two WD45 diesels.
Regards,
 Chris

Great job on the grill!

Great work on that Grille screen Chris!!  It's looking better all the time!

Chris,
Excellent work as usual.  I really like the pictures--and work! 
Steve

Dan73 wrote: Chris you didn't by chance make two of them grill screens? You are making me feel bad about my tractors... Great job on the grill it seems like getting the bends right would be hard.

Dan,
 I have some more material but Not sure if it is enough to make one more. I will check. I measured across the tractor like 19 -1/2 inches. Then zip tied the shell with the screen inside to that dimension. We came close.

Here are some pictures from today.
New screen tacked in place. Don't tell anyone but I wished I would have looked at the expanded metal a little closer. I did not realize that one side is a little different, smoother. Of course I put that on the inside and did not notice till it was welded in place!






First trial fit up. It needed a bunch of tweaking. Bending and massaging. And the welds could not be much higher than the screen thickness. Since I did not have a spot welder my welds had to be worked down.






Primer




Cream to finish it.




Will pick up a couple stainless fasteners. Were these like a button head, pan head, or truss head, screw driver slotted screw?

Worked on the trailer ramp redesign and fabrication work most of the day. Can you say sun burn, and some weld burn on top of it too?!!!! Tried to cram all of summer into one day!
Regards,
 Chris




Edited by Sugarmaker - 17 Apr 2016 at 8:45pm

Chris,

Dan73 wrote: Chris you didn't by chance make two of them grill screens? You are making me feel bad about my tractors... Great job on the grill it seems like getting the bends right would be hard.

Dan, and Robert
 This was posted by someone else. In another thread. Very nice work!

Here is a link to pictures of the grilles that Norm Meinert sells. His phone is 815-238-4506 D Series Grille Pictures

Regards,
Chris

Dan,
Well here is what yours might look like.



I know its supposed to be PO#1






Had a small coolant leak from head gasket. Comes and goes.


OK time for a little play time in the dirt and to see what this D17 will do. Lets get some mud on the tires!


Out come the restored AC three bottoms. Sure was nice that all the adjustments worked.


Setting it up. That's silver paint on the moldboards. Going to try to scour them on some clay behind the house.


Set up the left rear on about 7 inches of plank.


That right rear tire looks about right for being in the furrow.






This is looking back along the inside of the right tire for alignment with first plow shear. Looks pretty good. Proceeded to level the plow to the ground.


Second gear low range to get the feel of things. And learning how the traction booster control functions. Looks good so far.


Striking out down the center of this 5 acre plot. Was beans last year.


North side of the field first pass, headed into the sun.






Made a couple rounds and then it was time to shut down for the evening. If the weather is good I may work on this tomorrow.


Never plowed with a narrow front end tractor before. Love the power steering.
She sounds pretty darn good pulling in the hard clay ground. Going slow till the plows are shined up.


Well this combo plowed better than most I have used. 45's were a little under powered. Our Ford 5000 was light in the front for the 4 bottom mounted plows. This D17 just seemed to be having a good time. I know these could pull 4 bottoms in the right ground. But this set of three bottoms seemed about right for ground conditions.
Moldboards cleaned up pretty good too.






Hope things are good out there in Orange land!
Regards,
 Chris

Hubnut wrote: Chris, That is a beautiful rig.  Looks like she plows like a dream.  I'm envious my friend.  My back 40 is a backyard!  Steve

Steve,
 If you get up this way. I have enough tractors we could go for a good ride. I am thankful that the guy that owns this property behind me lets me play on it.
Regards,
 Chris



Edited by Sugarmaker - 18 Apr 2016 at 8:30pm

Dan,
 Plowing with this tractor was on the list of things to do1 Was a spur of the moment thing about 6:00 tonight. Cheryl tried to get my attention to go get a burger. I was having too much fun plowing! That little D17 thinks its a big tractor!
Spent some of the day working on the goose neck tractor hauler (below). Oh yea I spent a hour + on the old WD brush hogging 8 foot high goldenrod too.

Hear is a before shot of the trailer. Kind of reminds me of the MAD magizine restorations. Only partially done. Yep thats me!


Cleaned up the wheels, and painted, new center caps and lug nuts, power washed the deck, and frame. Added stops for the ramps. Located the spare. Built the center ramp. added structure around center tail light cluster (so I would have to work harder to destroy it). added stops for the ramp holding bars. Re positioned the legs under the ramps. Just picked up some Valspar black that I will brush on the frame. May use Thompson water seal on the deck?
Just another toy in the bigger sandbox!












Regards,
 Chris

copyrite1972 wrote: Where do you live that you have 28 hours a day to do ALL that work you do??!! I keep thinkin that I could do more between the hours of 11:oopm, and 4:30am than sleep, but the wife says I get too cranky when I go without sleep! Keep up the good work!!!

Copyrite,
That's a good one! I spend most of my time on here visiting and posting pictures!:)
Being retired and not doing much else besides making  150 gallons of maple syrup allows me to play a lot. I always thought that I wanted to retire and work on old equipment. Well be careful what you wish for!
Off to get gas and maybe plow a little more this morning. Cooler today about 50ish.
Regards,
 Chris

Allis dave wrote: I like the 3rd trailer ramp. Wish mine had that. Funny how I think everyone tried to cram all of summer into one day last weekend!

Dave,
That third ramp was one thing I wanted to build for loading the narrow front tractors. Lots of folks said just use a old 2x6. I did not think that was safe enough. I also wanted to be able to load garden tractors too. I have about $60 in material for the center ramp. Plus time to build it. It just hooks on the pivot rod. Haven't tried a big tractor yet. I used 2x2 x 3/16 steel angle. made it 18 inches wide. I built one last year for the neighbors trailer that I borrowed. I just gave it to him, since it matched his rig.

 You got that right on the one day of summer! We get a handful of days when the weather is just perfect! Lots of hamburgers grilled and lots of yards mowed in this area!
Go like heck, then rest!
Went to the foot doctor yesterday for heal pain. Found I have planter faseitis (SP). Icing it down, some aleve, and stretches.
Today to the chiropractor. Try not to get old!
Rambling here, sorry!
Regards,
 Chris


Edited by Sugarmaker - 19 Apr 2016 at 7:11am

You're a go getter that's for sure.
I've had a 3rd ramp on list since I bought the tractor 5 years ago. If I had a narrow it'd probably be higher priority. I guess If a friend wants me to haul their tract, they can build their own ramp and leave it on my trailer ;)
I wish mine had the bar all the way across the back like your's. It would make the build easier.

Hope that heel pain gets better for you. That makes the work a lot less fun. I keep trying to not get old, but I think it's going to happen someday lol