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I have a 1948 that my Dad bought new and worked year round until his health failed in the early 70's, the gearcase has never been apart and it still works just fine.

Thank you, I know that around 1993, Fordson House supplied main bearings that were refurbished with new babbit, but, I do not see that in their product line now.

I got both from Fordson house in Michigan. Believe me I was really pissed they sent me the first gasket. After complaining and sending pics and a paper tracing of my block. They offered me NOS gasket for 3 times the cost. I jumped on it!

@@garyduensing3495 I wish I knew they offered the NOS..I have since learend of Olsen's Gasket's in the state of Washington. They have the NOS head gasket for $98.00 plus shipping. For the life of me, I don't know why FH's reproduction ones are not cut to the exact pattern. Anyways, thank you for your info.

@@duginvirginia5737 that’s about what I paid for the NOS from Fordson house. As for the repop ones. I think they are a poor quality knock off. That was made wrong? Thinking Fordson House is just trying to re-coop there money?? They claim “there are two different blocks” we have the oddball block?? I disagree...

@@garyduensing3495 On the valve side of the engine block, the original head gasket has somewhat cresect shaped water passage cut outs for the round water holes in the block, however ,the FH head gasket has round holes that only allow 1/4 to 1/2 the water to pass through becasue they are cut out in the wrong spot. Watching your slide show video posted here again, What you had shown is the exact gasket I was provided with the misaligned holes.

@@duginvirginia5737 yes, I feel the maker of the repop gasket was concerned the tin ring would collide with the tin ring on the compression camber. I think the maker of the gasket move them away a little? Then there would still be some gasket material? Not a problem on a copper gasket since there are no tin rings.

They were sent to Chicago

If you are on Facebook? I would recommend joining the RedE FB page. That would connect you with other RedE collectors. One of them might have the parts you are looking for.

I never looked for any that large. The only rings I was aware of, from the “Fordson house” were standard. You would have to find “new old stock” to find over size. I just honed cylinder out and used old pistons and new standard rings. ( not correct for modern day engine rebuilding, but this practice was common back in the era the tractor is from) your other option, is to use model N pistons and rings. “N” pistons are 1/8” inch bigger.

SAE 30 is what factory recommended

Hey thats pretty awesome. Hows it coming along?

I've had the tractor running now for 2 years. I would say it runs well. I need to do an updated video. Of it running and all complete. Thanks

Not that I am a wear of. Pioneer Manufacturing (West Allis, Wis.) was a company that built machinery for the casting industry and for a short time in the beginning made motorcycle parts (early 1900's).

Gary Duensing you know about when they Stopped production? two wheeled garden tractors for the most part disappeared in the mid 50s to early 60s. Thanks for the reply ☺️

The bulk of them disappeared in the late 1950's-to early 60's for consumer sales. But some continued in commercial uses like Gravely and BCS to the late 1990's. And still made by Gravely, but a different design. Over seas these are still very common and still made, designed for rice fields.

no, but have seen them from time to time.

+Ford Sons , Use the proper size valve guide "driver", A rebuilding shop will have these or you can buy one. Just a glorified punch that is machined to fit. After install, I would recommend you ream the valves guides, to remove the burr.

Thank you much appreciated. I was just going to tap it in slowly, not knowing there is actual tools. I am on the case for buying some.

Oh sorry have just twigged what I need to buy. Over here we call them a drift rather then driver. In that case I have a 5/16th drift already. Thanks again and great videos.

I couldn't have done it without the help of two "Great-old schooled" engine mechanics / rebuilders. The fun, was when the two of them disagreed that the head repair would work. One saying it would, other saying it won't. So, I was the tie breaker, and the owner, saying It's not running, now. So what do we really have to lose? Ha, it still starts on one pull!

Thanks, RT'S are rare, but there are still a few out there. I'd have to say, I've seen about 20. A lot of times they are thought to be something different. "One of my favorite tractors of the Handiman line". RT'S were only built from mid 1939 to mid 1941. The factory had to switch over to war production in mid 1941, which ended the production. These tractors were ahead of there time!

+Gary Duensing You seem quite knowledgeable! I just picked up a 917.57599 last night. Do you happen to know the years they were made, and if the 8B Briggs is original?

Does the Briggs engine have a Sears tag (red)? or a Briggs tag (black)? If it has a Sears tag with a model # starting of 500. Then I would say it is right.

geoffrey bean That's great, there are very few of these. Do you have the hood? I really think it's factory. Some people say no.

VideoNOLA I'm glad you found it informative.

MrCentaur1 I bought this local. As the story goes it came from IL or Ind. 30+ years ago. It was not running then. As for the hood, I have pics in books showing hoods and tractors without hoods. The hood is not exactly what is in books, but then the steel wheels, don't match books either. Books show, solid "no spokes". So there must be some art work done to those pics.

Gary Duensing The manual shows 2 different models with the difference being the size and style of wheel. Of the ones I've got documented, there are none with the solid wheel. I think i may have had your email if its current. Keep an eye out for a message with New Britain Tractor in the subject.

What an incredible piece. Thanks to your pictures I finished the front end on the Tri Trac. Hope to have it ready for mid-summer shows. As a backup I purchased a fully restored Massey Harris Colt. Didn't realize it was rare until after I bought It. Having great fun driving to lunch downtown with other Tractor guys. Tom in Florida

Tom Scott Good to hear, it's all back together. It's always a great feeling. When you finish something, that was looking like a dead-end. As for the Colt, that's a nice tractor. My father has a MH Pony. I take it to do a few parades. The Colt is the bigger brother.

Stephen Festus David Bradley, would print the blue and yellow, directions on the brass tag on the trans. On the early models. (Mostly 1930's and 40's.) By the 1950's, I believe they may have just painted everything red.(to make it easy.) Briggs in the early years would also do the blue and yellow plugs. "I think it's a very neat and easy idea." When I get sometime, I could do another video on my bullet nose. It's an older restoration, and has been used since.