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Lesser-known tractor brands, good tractors with a short lifespan. Innovative engineering and a strong intrapleural drive resulted in some great tractors and agricultural equipment, Strong market competition, economic conditions and corporate buy-outs left some brands as a footnote in history. Here are a few you may have heard about but have faded away. B.F. Avery & Sons Co. B. F. Avery Corporation began as a plow manufacturer in Louisville, Kentucky prior to the Civil War. Production was halted during the Civil War. With his three sons by his side Avery company was soon recognized as the leading plow manufacturer in the USA. The Avery Motor Plow was built from 1914 to 1917, it was the company’s first venture toward mechanized farming, Avery contracted with Huber Mfg., Marion, Ohio, to build tractors. Huber built the first 355 tractors for Avery in 1930. The Great Depression brought a temporary end to Avery tractor manufacture. By 1936 the economy was recovering. Avery engineers developed the “True-Draft” tractor with improved implement control. Cleveland Tractor Co. manufactured the tractor that would become known as the General GG. The it was equipped with a 4-cylinder gasoline engine which was tested at over 14 drawbar hp and nearly 30 belt hp. Avery bought the equipment and dies from the Cleveland Tractor Co. and began to manufacture tractors at its Louisville facility. In 1943, the Model A (formerly the General) was redesigned with a larger engine. In 1946, Avery introduced a smaller version, the Model V. In 1950, the Model R joined their lineup. Minneapolis-Moline Co. bought out Avery in 1951 and the Avery production facility was closed in 1955.

Little more done this evening. Removed the engine and battery box, stripped the frame, primed and painted. Then got her back on her own feet before stopping for the night. There is one thing to fab, which is the box section between the center column and fender toolbox. Hopefully have it done next day or two. Tonight's progress:

was having erratic furnace , quick cycling , start / stop , burner is relatively new , 5 years , traced it back to internal mercury , glass shell tracking, not an absolute stop / start , bulb was horizontal , and had a very slight side to side rocking action , causing problem . replaced it with a new digital switch , that was it ! amazing that this was the original thermostat switch installed in the house over 50 YEARS AGO ! furnace is very happy now , I am too , Pete

I have been looking at these for about 15 years never pulling the plug to spend the small fortune they cost. Many times upset at myself for not having them when the need came up. They now stopped making them and are clearing stock. Got them at a good discount, my last chance. From Italy to my door in 3 days. Incredible service. Quality of these things is nothing short of astonishing. Beautifully made and performance unlike anything else available. They are hardened to 62/64 on the Rockwell scale being able to be used also on stone. Got the whole set of 9 pairs in coarse and fine cut. Next to next best on left. Huge difference

2007, bought a slightly used but nice profile Squier telecaster neck from a friend, and then bought a new pine body and parts to finish it. 2017, got around to sand and seal the body, color coat, level/recrown/polish the frets on the neck. Last month, shot the clear coat, last week wet sanded and polished the finish, and put everything together. Today is my first Tele Tuesday.

The Avery model R is the same tractor as the Minneapolis BG 1 Row. Some of the early BG 1 Row's had both the Minneapolis and Avery name on the decals. The BG 1 Row that is in my family's collection has only the Minneapolis name on it.

I wouldn't change wheels, unless they are too rotted to clean up. Offsets and front axle hub width will be issues that are hard to verify until you've already spent money. So far as tires, 23x8.50-12 are very common and won't give any fitment issues on the rear. 16x6.50-8 for the fronts.

Had to go rescue this 854 for a Benjamin this evening. It's a project, but I've had worse. Came with a wheel horse spike tooth harrow that bent and missing the hitch. I think the engine is newer than a 64 at least thats what the PO said.....it's free and the gears all seem to be there. Any 854 experts here wanna chime in? Probably gonna end up as a restoration!

I’ve bought a couple tractors from Saltywright (Russell Wright) and one tractor came with this attached to the key. He was an avid boater. I was really bummed by the news of his passing this past weekend. It now hangs in my truck.

These are called sculptors rasps and they are 12” long. They are already a pretty rare item. Basically only made by a few companies, these by Corradi and the other known one the French Auriou. Since they are only used by very few, I guess they have proved non profitable to the Chinese and they stayed away from them, so there are good quality ones out there if one is willing to pay for them. However with the most common smaller versions , 6”, the Chinese have taken over and they are absolute junk. The same two manufacturers mentioned above still make them but again very expensive. How long they will do it is anyone’s guess. Smaller rifflers. Good Italian one on left and total Chinese junk on right Smaller Italian rifflers

Little inspiration KP... Lowell's & one of the finer ones I've seen. retaining the small wheels. Jeepers cats his boy is in collage now!

I missed this on Craigslist yesterday! You got ahold of them 15 min before I did lol that's awesome I'm glad a member on here got it, Good luck with the project!

I didn't even see that 🤣 when he said $100 I was loading it up in my mind already lol I think this one is gonna get a restoration. It would look good next to my patina 753. Looks like I'm gonna need some more stuff from you

As of a week ago I'm finally an empty nester. My son & his fiance' finally found a place that fit their needs. He's had the whole finished basement to himself since he was 8. I've been down there going through things & cleaning, making piles of things for him to sort through, ended up with another truckload of stuff that went to the city transfer station this morning, (fancy title for the dump). This was the easy part, self explanatory items such as, what I think started out life as a futon, mini fridge that quit working 5 years ago, 3 leaf bags full of hairy dog blankets, and my favorite...hidden treasures holding up the bottom of said futon. Now for the hazardous part, I came across the ashes & photo album of Jake, his/our first family dog that passed a couple of years ago... You guessed it, Big Bad Ol' Dad started to cry half way through it & decided it was the perfect time for me to get into my truck & go to McDonalds & not get anything, I just made a pot of coffee & I'm about to head back down there to vacuum & Lime Away the sink, hopefully I won't have to go to McDonalds again.Wish me luck...

I faced the same issue a few weeks ago. In the end, the 103990 switch (low amperage) plus a solenoid cost a bit less than the 7263-style switch. I’m also hoping that setup with lighter gauge wires attached to the switch will last longer than the Stens 7263 switch I bought 3 seasons ago (it broke internally with the key rotating past start and jamming--thankfully with no electrical connections made). I did spend a bit more for new 6ga cabling and fuses but I would have done that either way.

David Brown @new2horses has them too ... about 40 last I got one. Get ahold of him better over on FB. or I have his #. I have a couple but they have a M terminal for grounding the Mag terminal to kill so for magneto only.

I'm just OLD and a slow learner. It took me 60 years to realize I felt much better sitting in a warm dry cab while blowing snow. All it took was a vented belt guard and a housing to collect the heat from the rear cylinder and my cab temp is always 30 degrees above the outside temp. The heat comes in at my right foot and I keep the flap open at the left rear where it exits. The windows stay clear and I stay warm. Before cab In my heated cab

Look in the shifter tunnel Randy. Probably shot anyway but not a deal breaker. The more I look the more I think you got a benny harrow Mike and a 854 for free!

No they're gone. Both easily replaceable. I have a correct key switch on the shelf for this anyway.

These were on Amazon. 5 on 4.5 non hub-centric by 1-inch. Not being used on a 2-ton car or truck, so cheapo is fine IMO.

875 and 1075 had the Hex bolt facing the rear on the left side. It's between the trans and tool box if this help any. 1/2" wrench fits it. .

I have matching pairs of 22x7.5x12 and 23x8.5x12...on rims. Little to zero dry rot---are inside garage. $60 per pair. Come and get them at my home....16729 price rd, Saegertown, pa 16433 (about 40m south of Lake Erie). Probably have a pair of 23x9.5x12 out there too...$70 pair

I my latest build of a 520-8 I outlined how to shim the gear on that shaft to eliminate much of that play. I hope that helps.

That tractor ain't rough. You should see the "swamp fresh" junk I've had to work with. I think it looks great!

Polaris XP1000 Sportsman limited with power steering and 3 power levels and 68 Olds Cutlass. Cutlass was bought new from my Aunt and I towed it home with rope in the 80s and restored it.

Finally got the project tractor going! VID_20240129_134344.mp4

Had a good friend call me at 10:00 at night panicking, her 70 something year old Dad was home alone during the cold spell we had a couple of weeks ago. He had called her & said the furnace wasn't working & the thermostat was blinking "Low Battery" & he didn't know how to change it. 30 minutes later I changed the battery & had the heat back on, I told him if it was me I'd get rid of it for a simple one. He said he told his daughter on the phone he was going to smash it with a hammer & twist the wires together knowing she would flip out & call me.

Yep that's a '65 hood hinge. I would think cutting would work tho. On the parking brake lever I don’t think it will work. Look at the one on your 753 ...should be the same. On the tank I had the same problem on a 502. I sealed it. Worked great.

We're original freaks Don... 🤪

Yes, the factory was opened in the 1960s and is now around 60 years old, and the video is more recent. And yes, the factory is located in Pakistan. Noticed how they "slammed" some of the components together, and that the sealing process was a bit.....lame and inconsistent. Makes you wonder about the quality of some of the tractors made overseas, especially India and Pakistan. One of the reasons (among many) why the Yugo was a failure was due to old tooling, old design and old techniques.

Another source https://www.dbelectrical.com/products/chs-95521b-bx-cole-hersee-ignition-switch-for-universal.html

Cozy in their new home

I figure the factory is 60 and video is most recent. Aside from the safety stuff, most major manufactures would never allow open gearboxes in that environment. I used a shop that was located inside of a factory and the interior was pressurized and climate controled to keep the surrounding dirt out of the assembly areas. Probably not much of a surprise another fine American Brand made off shore.

Found this source. Order of 2 minimum. https://www.partdeal.com/littelfuse-cole-hersee-95521-01-bx-three-3-position-ignition-switch-12vdc-with-3-screw-terminals-boxed.html?utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=cse&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIo_uX2faFhAMVLhWtBh36yA3qEAQYASABEgKGW_D_BwE Another source. https://www.littelfuse.com/products/switches/ignition-switches/95-standard-body.aspx

Some memory you have, Mr. Richard! I didn’t even remember that! It must have worried you more than me

When I built the 953 @Pullstart has named "Hot Wheels" I used the same logic. The Kohler Magnum charging system is a 15 amp system so I used a 15 amp fuse. The first night of the Big Show one of his daughters blew the fuse while driving with the lights on. I had never driven with the lights on so never had a fuse problem. Kevin replaced it with a 30 amp and no more problem.

Need all of that I can get! Definitely a good looking Ranger!

I put 2" spacers on my 312 with 24x12x12, had to modify a socket to cinch the lugs but its been 2 good years of pushing dirt.

Ah- no. Nope.... Nope .... Nadda. All those previous comments I've made about being envious of you guys and your snow? I don't want any. Safer to run the exhaust pipe into the cab. Otherwise the tears and runny nose might freeze up solid! Does Methane damage vinyl?

Happy birthday Dennis, where have you been?

Spent many an hour in our barn using a trolley. Not for moving loose hay but swinging between bales of hay we stacked up there. My two brothers and I would stack up bales and swing to and fro. The barn is gone, the trolley is gone but memories remain.

@Ed KennellEd, can totally relate. This is my Jesse I lost 3 years ago. He went everywhere with me. We did a lot of pheasant hunting. The first pic is our first bird. The last pic is the day I had to put him down. Heartbreaking to say the least. I think about him every day. Can’t bring myself to get another dog. I have his ashes that will be buried with me.

I gotta tell ya Mike I made a pact with the devil. Any model round hood I come across for fair coin I bring it home. Regardless of shape. Rough yes but all there in the way of guards and such. Only real sore spot I see might be the bottom front of the hood. Any plans for it yet? I have a square pan seat that needs repair you can have.

It most certainly does my friend.

Hhhmmm... Im happily married, so not interested, but the title of this thread got me wondering who on RS might be interested in dating their tractors rather than their current spouse / partner...

Digital voltmeters are great, don't even think about an amp meter. https://www.amazon.com/Dyno-Racing-inch-52mm-20/dp/B07ST7RQ4S/ref=asc_df_B07ST7RQ4S/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=595014651830&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=681252032493865172&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010285&hvtargid=pla-1653571433441&psc=1&mcid=a96c368ab3b33ccaa75be7ceb111a518&gclid=CjwKCAiAk9itBhASEiwA1my_664d88Vfy_URJ76-RXjDiIIqEHSPF8dqg4tDCZrj_G6HfY3hJ9bevRoCbCAQAvD_BwE

Best $30 bucks I ever spent. Beat the ever-loving crap out of it , wore out 5 engines, restored it 100% and still riding it . Owned for over 40 years.....

Looks to nice to work with.I see your Shepard is always buy your side like mine. Great dogs.

My 856