1952 CA

I started working on a CA I dragged home last summer - engine was loose, but missing distributor, nasty carb and gas tank, all tires shot, etc. Definitely a project with a lot of unknowns. This '52 that ran and had great rear tires came up at a local auction. I test drove it and figured if I could buy it for the price of new tires it was a no-brainer and here I am. The hand clutch seems to work and I didn't have any rear weights yet.

The float stuck so badly when I tried to start it to load it on my trailer that it wouldn't start. It dumped gas everywhere. Winched it on and did get it started again at home. It'll need at least a carb rebuild, fluids, and some other TLC. The starter makes an awful clashing noise sometimes... maybe the pinion doesn't always fully engage so that needs looked into as well. I'm looking forward to setting up a cultivator and building a mounted planter to do 15" rows. I might have to put a WFE on it for that.

One thing I was not sure about: when I let the clutch pedal out in neutral, the engine lugs down a little and the tractor drives forward an inch or two, then acts like it should in neutral. Do I have a bearing going out somewhere in the trans, or something else? My other tractors don't do this even with cold oil, but I haven't driven a CA before.

What would cause it to want to move forward when in neutral though - the transmission gears shouldn't be engaged whether or not the engine clutch has rust or oil on it and is dragging, correct?

For example, I start the tractor in neutral with the clutch pedal in, then let off the clutch pedal after say 5-10 seconds, and it inches forward a tad and lugs the engine down slightly. I have not touched the gearshift.