1950 John Deere BN - Rectify Timing Issues, Small Generator Issue, and Start/Run/Slow Idle Video

It has been awhile since I mentioned my JD BN. I've put a couple of videos on Youtube about fixing the timing of this tractor.

Dump Trailer Winch Mount Fabrication

For several years now I've been using a Come-Along to drag old relics of tractors into my dump trailer. It gets old real fast, so I decided a couple of months ago that I need a winch. The one big downside of buying a winch is the task of fabricating a mounting location on the trailer for the winch. My first attempt was less than stellar. I thought I could weld a 1/4" steel plate to the top rail and bolt the winch to the plate. Sounds easy enough, so that's what I did.

1943 Dodge WC51 Master Cylinder Repair and 2025 Tractor Show

Ah yes, brakes. One of those systems on an old vehicle that usually needs a lot of work. And this truck's brake system falls into that "usually" category. I figured I'd try the easy three-step fix first. You know, the Dead Dodge Garage (youtube) method.

Step 1 - see if brake pedal goes to the floor

Step 2 - fill the master cylinder with brake fluid

Step 3 - pump the brake pedal until something changes - hopefully the pedal starts to get firm

With this plan in mind, I'll dive right in. The first order of business is to get access to the master cylinder (MC). On virtually all modern vehicles, it's under the hood and in easy reach to allow for servicing. This truck? Nope. It's under an access panel in the cab floor. Fortunately the panel was held in with just "a few" bolts. Eight to be precise...

1940s Homemade Garden Tractor Gets an Engine and Clutch

I've been busy working on the John Deere 650 lately so I haven't posted much on this homemade tractor. As I'd mentioned previously, I crudely mounted a 1947 Onan BH twin cylinder engine. Since then I permanently attached the engine and made a belt tensioning clutch assembly and belt guard. This first photo is with a trial belt that is too long.

1940s Homemade Garden Tractor

This little guy followed me home a few weeks ago. It was advertised in the local Craigslist as Yard Art (!). Well, I suppose it is pretty far gone, but that's not going to deter me from trying to get it going. This first photo below shows it in its natural habitat, waiting patiently for someone to come along and give it a little TLC. The lady who owned it said her late husband (Ron) built it on the farm in the Key Peninsula area of Pierce county.