RoubaixRider 198 #51 Posted Wednesday at 03:56 PM 4 hours ago, Retired Wrencher said: A lot of times when people get into this hobby, they make a mistake where they want it to shine and look new. I’ve been there done that a few times. Much time involved and I guess when you get older, you just think that it’s not worth it. That’s why I’m at it happily just enjoying what I have for what it is. Just my two cents. I hear you. I definitely debated on whether or not to do it, but during disassembly to work on a few little things, I started to notice areas of concern. Working on these tractors is like therapy for me. It’s something that I can put my energy into positively. I just wish I wasn’t so far away from the east coast to be able to attend the annual show. That would be good fun. Even though this tractor was purchased locally in Escondido, CA in 1976, I have NEVER seen another, or a CASE. They were east of the Rockies brands. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 15,545 #52 Posted Wednesday at 04:53 PM 53 minutes ago, RoubaixRider said: I just wish I wasn’t so far away from the east coast to be able to attend the annual show. That would be good fun. You would be most welcome even without a tractor. In 2024 we had a member from Germany fulfill a long-held wish to get there! Plus, if you are interested in US civil war history, there is a LOT to learn in the area, starting with the Gettysburg battlefield. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sqrlgtr 1,719 #53 Posted Wednesday at 08:54 PM 6 hours ago, rjg854 said: The only ones I've painted were the ones some else had already messed with. I'm of the idea they are only original once. And I like them to show their age and yet they still perform like new. I do like clean wheels, that to me is the eye catcher. The only one I have that hasn't had some kinda "paint" job is the 856. I agree on the wheels I will paint them up first thing. I like um both ways and even some of the custom stuff but cant bring myself to cut one up just to make a custom . 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sqrlgtr 1,719 #54 Posted Wednesday at 09:00 PM 4 hours ago, Handy Don said: You would be most welcome even without a tractor. In 2024 we had a member from Germany fulfill a long-held wish to get there! Plus, if you are interested in US civil war history, there is a LOT to learn in the area, starting with the Gettysburg battlefield. I put off going to the Big Show for years and regret it. I finally got to go last year and had a great time and got to make some great acquaintances. I will warn you though I took one tractor with me (GT14) that I sold on here, but brought back home 3 tractors (551,856, and a 1257) and some more goodies. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoubaixRider 198 #55 Posted yesterday at 01:12 AM Got the steering in today… Temporary fabricated sleeve for that… Till One shows up from the parts store. Hydraulics are fit in place after cleaning and painting those and the steering is feeling really nice. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoubaixRider 198 #56 Posted yesterday at 01:14 AM 8 hours ago, Handy Don said: … Plus, if you are interested in US civil war history, there is a LOT to learn in the area, starting with the Gettysburg battlefield. Absolutely! I have been watching Ken Burns Civil War and it is fascinating! I’m actually about to celebrate my first year of being a US citizen on January 14. Moved down here in 1999 from Canada for my job. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 30,107 #57 Posted yesterday at 01:22 AM (edited) 9 hours ago, RoubaixRider said: Absolutely! I have been watching Ken Burns Civil War and it is fascinating! I’m actually about to celebrate my first year of being a US citizen on January 14. Moved down here in 1999 from Canada for my job. Excellent series! Welcome and thank you for going through the legal process of becoming a US Citizen! Edited 23 hours ago by SylvanLakeWH 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 6,253 #58 Posted 23 hours ago 20 hours ago, rjg854 said: The only ones I've painted were the ones some else had already messed with. I'm of the idea they are only original once. And I like them to show their age and yet they still perform like new. I do like clean wheels, that to me is the eye catcher. @rjg854 That is an old saying and really fits the bill. Old times always sed that and it still holds true today. I’m not really against it, but I just don’t think it’s necessary. A nice clean tractor looks just as good with a little enhancement. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 6,253 #59 Posted 23 hours ago (edited) 18 hours ago, RoubaixRider said: I hear you. I definitely debated on whether or not to do it, but during disassembly to work on a few little things, I started to notice areas of concern. Working on these tractors is like therapy for me. It’s something that I can put my energy into positively. I just wish I wasn’t so far away from the east coast to be able to attend the annual show. That would be good fun. Even though this tractor was purchased locally in Escondido, CA in 1976, I have NEVER seen another, or a CASE. They were east of the Rockies brands. I was told that they never shipped anything west of the Mississippi river. Maybe in the early days they didn’t, but as they became more organized lack of a better word, they may have started shipping further west. Edited 23 hours ago by Retired Wrencher Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 15,545 #60 Posted 20 hours ago 3 hours ago, Retired Wrencher said: I was told that they never shipped anything west of the Mississippi river. Maybe in the early days they didn’t, but as they became more organized lack of a better word, they may have started shipping further west. Running a dealer network is hard and the more spread out, the harder it is for communication, transportation, staffing, and even cultural expectations. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoubaixRider 198 #61 Posted 18 hours ago (edited) 5 hours ago, Retired Wrencher said: I was told that they never shipped anything west of the Mississippi river. Maybe in the early days they didn’t, but as they became more organized lack of a better word, they may have started shipping further west. This tractor came with the whole lot…original bill of sale, manuals, even the tag that hung on it on the showroom floor! 😂 The gentleman kept everything. I have the original bill of sale from Palomar Tractor in Escondido California. They were a Wheel Horse dealer. He also bought a rototiller, but despite efforts to contact him again, I could never find out if the tiller was sitting in a yard somewhere on his property. When I get a chance, I will post some photographs of all of the paperwork, kinda fun to see. I would love to get a tiller for it, but the shipping from back east would be pretty hard. I am a helicopter pilot and Mechanic, and have our helicopter back east all last fall and was trying to find ones on eBay to them. Coordinate picking up on my way back to Denver with the aircraft. No luck! There is a guy in Pueblo selling a snowplow for a CASE, which I may pick up in January, bringing an aircraft from Denver to San Diego🤣 Edited 18 hours ago by RoubaixRider Spelling 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 9,636 #62 Posted 18 hours ago @RoubaixRider terrific job on that ! ever think about running a frame length 5/16 " steel brake line , as major removal of fuel hose break down? that inner corner 90 deg bend , would make it disappear , leaving only a short tank and carb run to , from it , use a hose barb filter on each end , from tank to carb , also , sta bil in all my fuels , and no fuel hose debris . pete Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoubaixRider 198 #63 Posted 17 hours ago 1 hour ago, peter lena said: @RoubaixRider terrific job on that ! ever think about running a frame length 5/16 " steel brake line , as major removal of fuel hose break down? that inner corner 90 deg bend , would make it disappear , leaving only a short tank and carb run to , from it , use a hose barb filter on each end , from tank to carb , also , sta bil in all my fuels , and no fuel hose debris . pete Interesting idea… I’ve got all the tooling for bending brake line and doing flare fittings, etc. I might pick your brain on that some more in the coming weeks. Just trying to get all the paint work finished before I’m gonna have to go back on duty. Looking at a few different options right now for Installing bearings instead of just straight pins into pivot points… Heim joints, etc. I hate rattly feeling actuator handles, etc.. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 9,636 #64 Posted 14 hours ago @RoubaixRider terrific job on that ! ever think about running a frame length 5/16 " steel brake line , as major removal of fuel hose break down? that inner corner 90 deg bend , would make it disappear , leaving only a short tank and carb run to , from it , use a hose barb filter on each end , from tank to carb , also , sta bil in all my fuels , and no fuel hose debris . pete Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 9,636 #65 Posted 14 hours ago @RoubaixRider just some rattling ideas , heim joint , pete Share this post Link to post Share on other sites