MNSF Minneapolis Moline Twin City JTO Tractor Spotlight

In 1929, the Minneapolis Threshing Company in Hopkins, MN merged with Minneapolis Steel and Machinery and the Moline Plow Company to form the Minneapolis-Moline Power Equipment Company. Until 1963, Minneapolis-Moline manufactured over 38 different tractor models in their Hopkins plant along Excelsior Boulevard. In 2015, Doran Companies began work with the City of Hopkins to build a multi-family residential property at this site and eventually decided to name it in honor of Hopkins' history with Minneapolis-Moline. Inspired by this history, Doran began researching Minneapolis-Moline tractors and eventually purchased seven tractors. They altered The Moline's building design in order to showcase the collection. During this process, Lee J. Sackett, Inc. was hired to service, maintain, and repair these tractors. They continue to service the tractors to keep the collection in great shape. The "Twin City" model tractors, first produced by Minneapolis Steel & Machinery before Minneapolis-Moline were very reliable and popular with farmers. Because of this, Minneapolis-Moline continued to produce several Twin City models. This 1936 JTO is one of only 157 produced. The "O" in JTO signifies that it is built to be used in orchards. The streamlined sheet metal was intended to brush branches over the tractor, rather than catch on them. When it was brought to Lee J. Sackett, Inc. this tractor has been previously restored. However, it appeared that most of the "restoration" had been done to make the exterior of the tractor look good. It didn't start and run very well, and under the sheet metal, it was very dirty, had many leaks, and was generally in rough shape. Lee's team disassembled the tractor and rebuilt everything that needed to be addressed. Then it was sand blasted, primed, painted, and reassembled. The sheet metal for this tractor underwent a different process. Lee's team could tell that there was a fair amount of body filler in the panels. This was confirmed when the parts were sand blasted. The sheet metal required extensive repair. Rather than just fill the dents and dings with body filler again, Lee's team pounded out dents, cut out and replaced damaged panels, and brought the sheet metal back to original condition. Body filler was only used lightly to cover up hammer marks, and some remaining rust pits. The sheet metal parts were primed and then sanded. Then they were inspected and additional "tweaks" were made before being primed again. When everything was "perfect" the sheet metal was sprayed with sealer, followed by several coats of "battleship gray" paint.

[@TheDanielsohl]

That was actually a really really good video. That was very neat. and very educational !!

[@scottrayhons2537]

My dad taught me to pull up on the crank with cupped hand and don't wrap your thumb around the crank. When that engine kicks, it may break you wrist or hand.