LAST SUMMER'S EVENTS

 

Beautiful farm  

 I went to a "Breakfast on the Farm" on

Saturday with some friends ... and to an

antique tractor show with them on Sunday.

 I have so much to do inside & outside that

I nearly had myself talked out of taking

 the time for fun!

 

 

    "Breakfast on the Farm" was on a

fourth generation farm (since 1894) near

Aurora, WI.  There was the grand

 breakfast, a petting zoo, a yarn-spinning

 demo (with their own Angora rabbits &

 llamas ... and an antique tractor expo.

   It was so great to go to the barn and

 breathe in that nostalgic scent ... I really

 miss that!

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

Big crowd for the breakfast 

 

This is a John Deere 720; mine is a

730 ...

 

 

More Tractors

 

 

 

The shuttle "bus"

 

 

 

 

 

Petting zoo

  

 

Ben admiring the Angora bun-bun

   

 

Ben watching the spinning of the llama wool

 into yarn

    

 

Some of the llamas

   

 

 

 

On Sunday, I had a choice to make ... so, I missed

 the classic/antique car show in Iron Rivr ... went

with Ben & Larraine to Eagle River, WI to an antique

 tractor/steam engine show. (There was an air show

 in Eagle River, too)

 

 

 

 

 

 

      The guy was there who owned the J.D.

720 ... and he answered some of our questions

on getting my 730 going again ... I hope this

works! 

 

SOME OF THE CUTE LITTLE STEAM ENGINES. 

 

     I've been doing nothing except fixing and painting my house lately; I haven't even ordered my parts yet.   I did order the official parts book for my John Deere 730.  If I don't hurry, it will be to cold for them to work on my tractor ...

     NOW, my loggers-sometimes-mechanics have gotten bitten by the tractor bug, and have been buying lots of tractor "projects" of their own.

      The latest one is a mystery and they want me to find out about it.  It is supposed to be a COCKSHUT ... but, has no brand name on it ... just a big "300" on the radiator.     Over the years, different companies made the Cockshutt, Oliver, and Co-op tractors ... so far, we haven't found out where to look for the serial number.

 

SOME LINKS WHERE I WAS LOOKING FOR COCKSHUTT INFO

(these are all links, but don't show the underline until you "mouse-over" them:

 

Antique Tractors - Mega-site of Antique Tractor Links

 

Cockshutt Tractor

 

Cockshutt Tractors

 

THE COCKSHUTT SHED - Antique Tractors & Memorabilia

 

THE COCKSHUTT SHED - Trading Post

 

International Cockshutt Club

 

httpwww.geocities

 

AND, OF COURSE, THE MESSAGE BOARDS ON COCKSHUT AT:

Antique Tractors - Yesterday's Tractors Antique Tractor Headquarters

 

Ordering parts

 

 

PRETTY SCARY!

 

Oh, my poor tractor ... all in pieces!

 

 

We had Russ Johnson from Aurora, WI ... (more on his "Northwoods antique Tractor Club" & its August event later) come up to give us some advice.

     He suggested we order a parts book, so when we are shopping online for new or used parts, we can make double sure we get the right part.   SO, I DID ... come to find out the parts book is copywrited by John Deere and must be ordered from them.  I called down to POUND to order one from (click here>>) Riesterer & Schnell .

     I might as well order a wiring harness, too.  I didn't want to spend the money on one ... but the wiring setup has the guys baffled.  It is the 24 volt system that is split into two 12's as described below in another entry.  I'll probably order it from  (click here>>) Agri-Services Wiring Harness Specialists  in New York State.  The owner has a similar tractor to mine.  They custom make the wiring harnesses.  I certainly don't want to screw up the generator & starter that I had rebuilt ... & need lights, too.

     Now, the guys (usta be my loggers, last winter) got bitten by the tractor bug, and have some Allis Chalmers & Farmalls & a Ford.  I told them to make sure they don't put any red or orange parts into my Johnnie! 

 

WELL ... I'm gonna go see what they've been writing on the John Deere tractor board ... it is really an active board!  Some good mechanics give some great answers...  (click here>>)  John Deere Tractors Discussion Board

A Stumbling Block

 

I could just cry ...

Just no go ... 

not since spring... the tractor was idling to warm it up ... quit running ... and hasn't started since ... even with new starter, alternator!

... pull starts

 

... & lots of head-scratching & advice ...

NOW ... Brickman's, the loggers, hauled it over to their home to tear it down & begin the big job of getting the innards right again!

     I'm online to order a parts book; we had Russ Johnson of Aurora, WI up to look at the problem.

     More later .... 

my regular journal: .    Upper Peninsula, MI and beyond   .

Snow goes

 

    I had to at least put on a photo that shows that our snow is pretty much so melted, even in the woods. This photo at least shows the tractor ... sorta... you can see the yellow wheel in the upper left.  We are on the hill above the house, with the jugs of maple sap for syrup.  Downhill on the wet leaves, the sled goes all the faster you would want.

 

 Hopefully, the guys can get at putting in the new starter switch & ammeter this week.
  I better get going to get the missing arm for the 3-point hitch so we can put the "new" back grader blade on.  We contacted the previous owner to look a little harder for it ... but...  It's easier to scrape while the driveway is still wet & fluffy from the frost going out.
    Meanwhile, here's a bunch of new links to check out.

Johnnypopper

 Mega-site of John Deere Antique Tractor Links

Antique John Deere Tractors

John Deere machinery homepage:new and used equipment

Welcome to Fboerger

Deere & Company - Our Company John Deere

JDHeritage: for John Deere memorabilia

WebRing hub

JDHeritage: John Deere memorabilia & antique tractors

Rungreen

Links

The ATIS Marketplace

farm tractor_parts_links_page

Antique Tractor Links

Antique Tractors - Mega-site of Antique Tractor Links

More Partssss

 

"HERE WE SIT LIKE BIRDS IN THE WILDERNESS!"

 

Just a Quickie ... My parts that I ordered from the nearest John Deere dealer ... about 80 mile away are in ...

I have planned to camp out overnite when I go down to Green Bay for Easter family gathering (& participate in a FIVE generation photo)  so that I can pick up the parts: an ammeter so that we can tell how we are doing with the new generator & starter ... and a switch. 

I was hoping to economize for a little while and bypass the switch ... but, I found out that it is a key part of the 24 volt system that must power 12 volt lights and gauges.

There is an ignition button ... this switch lies in the middle of the system and controls the designation of the 12 volt power ... really a multipostion switch for the ignition button and several light systems.  I'm glad that I found out that it is not just something that you can temporarily wire around.  See below for a discourse on this John Deere's complicated 24/12 electrical system...

READ THIS FUNNY ENTRY ON MAKING MAPLE SYRUP:

How to make your own Maple Syrup

'Nuther Toy

On this beautiful day of scattered snow storms, we went to pick up another attatchment for the John Deere.  The storm clouds were so grand!

 

 

 

Now, I have a back grader blade for my John Deere, without having to fabricate one with the snow plow blade that I have here.  It is for the three-point hitch & swivels the full 360... The Brickmans heard of one for sale, and, we went to get it in their pickup truck. Of course, it will have to get a good coat of green & yellow next spring ... we should have one (spring) this year.   SPEAKING OF PAINT: I found this info at The http://www.retiredtractors.com/Q/Paint.html.   There is no such thing as the one "right" John Deere paint ... it's just not that easy!

TO QUOTE:    There were many, MANY different shades of green over the years as John Deere bought their paint from different vendors, and formulas changed from manufacturer to manufacturer, and changed AGAIN to eliminate lead pigments. It is commonly accepted that the color on the older two cylinder tractors was different from the "Agricultural Green" that is used presently. This didn't happen on PURPOSE; different pigments are different chemicals and they would oxidize differently over the years. So, you see, there never really was ONE "correct" color for the older tractors. The John Deere "Ag Green" is merely the latest version of the color, that has been pretty well "standardized" in recent years. "Classic Green" is actually a NEW color, and it is my feeling that it was designed to try to duplicate the "patina" or at least resemble the slightly faded look of the older colors.. However, even "professional collectors" seem willing to accept EITHER color and also any number similar colors from third party paint vendors.
    It is only the members of the "correct police" who are picky about the exact color. And the fact that even the "correct police" cannot agree, only serves to prove that there IS no absolutely correct color. It's YOUR tractor... Pick the green that YOU like best!!

~Meli~

  SOME NEW LINKS:  

 Antique John Deere Tractors  

 The John Deere 730 Tractor  

 Meli's Tractor School  ... This is great!  

 Antique John Deere Tractors  

 Antique Tractor Links

Got the Part

 

 

 

The picture shows the deer feeding in the orchard next to the house.  Johnnie has his engine heater cord on.  

 

 

 

GENERATOR IS DONE ...

 ... GREAT JOB!  .    

 

I thought that they gave me the wrong generator when I went to pick it up ... it looks just like NEW!  ... Now, just to get the guys to working on it, if the weather stays nice.  

 

 I entered the serial number, 7318580,  at this site's registry. (click here)  Yesterday's Tractors   The discussion board at this site is the most active that I've found so far ... plus lots of data.   Well, gotta go ... just to get the hang of it after many decades, I am going to put some taps into the big sugar maple just behind the house ... tho, the actual season shouldn't start for several more weeks.  I'll be using Johnnie to help me with the trees way back, up the hill.  I'm just going to do a small project, to see how it goes.

Where's My Generator?

 

 

   

 

 

MY POOR JOHNNIE; SITTING OUT IN THE SNOW, WAITING FOR HIS GENERATOR.    

As preventative maintenance, I brought the generator into Iron Mountain last week for a check-up.  They will put new brushes, etc. in ... check it out.   As I set it on the counter, he said, "I'm a little backed up; it will be two weeks ... "  Oh well ... the mechanics aren't too enthused about working on it out in the snow bank, anyways ....      I have to make up a seat cushion for it ... black to begin with ... probably not the standard YELLOW yet.  

                     

PROGRESS?

 

 

   

 

 

 

Oh, RATS ...

my Johnnie won't start!

 My JD was starting just so great ... new batteries, compression release ... even in cold weather.  One day I started it up & let it run to warm up.  After about five minutes, it died ... and, I just didn't start it again that day. 

   But, that was the last time I could get it started!  I tried many times ... Mike & Ben have tried.

   My "shop manual" for the 730 arrived; I've printed off stacks of Internet info; Mike & Ben took the starter & generator in to get checked/fixed.

    With the wiring diagrams now, hopefully the whole rotten, complicated electrical system can be upgraded.  I've been advised to "keep it stock".

That 24 volt 730D of yours is both a positive & negative ground tractor.. That’s a little different than used on most other equipment..

 

On half of the batteries & one half of the electrical system uses 12 volts negative ground... The other half of the batteries & electrical system uses 12 volts positive ground & the starting & charging system use all the batteries in series for 24 volt starting & charging.. It seems complicated up front but once you understand it, it’s not that bad..

~That 730D essentially uses 3 separate electrical systems [all interrelated but isolated from each other].. That tractor used one 12 volt system to power ½ the lights, fuel gage & accessories, the other 12 volt system to power the other ½ of the lights, accessories & rear lights.. When the starter button was pushed all the batteries were used in series to power the starter & of course the generator needed to charge all the batteries in series at 24 [actually 27-28] volts..

~The 24 volt part of the system is COMPLETELY isolated from the tractor chassis with no part of the 24 volt side touching the metal tractor chassis [starter & generator are isolated from the chassis] .. The 12 volt sides do have return to chassis grounds [one positive & one negative]..

~Your 730D originally came with 4- 6 volt batteries wired in series with 2 batteries providing ½ the 12 volts & the other 2 providing the other 12 volts.. The left 2 batteries supplying the positive ground part & the R/H 2 batteries providing the negative ground part.. There was a small connector wire hooked between the center 2 battery’s connector battery cable & seat box ground..

Most people now just use 2 large 12 volt batteries in place of the original 4-6 volters.. The L/H battery [or batteries if 6 volters are used] hooks the most negative post to the starter’s solenoid post & positive post to the other battery [or batteries ].. The R/H battery [or batteries] hooks the most positive post to the stud on the side of the starter & the negative post to the other battery(s).. You also need a ground wire hooked from chassis [battery box] ground to the cable connecting the two center batteries together.. 

 

  I know this would go quicker if my mechanics didn't have to work outside in sub-freezing weather...! 

                                                    

My mechanics are in real life the lumberjacks logging in my woods.  See lots of photos from fall into winter on the logging projects.  Logging  (click here)

My Johnnie

   My favorite photo of my John Deere.

 

Pulling a trail drag 

Helping to make the logging trails with the drag.

We've got the loader repaired & in use ... new hydraulics.

So far, it's just a baby step ... I've been gathering MANY links for this.  There are so many sources of online message boards, places to buy new & used parts, and other people's John Deere pages and Antique pages

.Johnnypopper

JDHeritage for John Deere memorabilia & antique tractor collector

WebRing hub

Deerely Departed John Deere parts and Antique Tractor parts

Antique Tractors - Yesterday's Tractors Antique Tractor Headquarters

John Deere Agricultural Equipment Dealers

Yahoo! Groups John-Deere-Tractors

John Deere Tractors Discussion Board

NOTE: RIGHT-CLICK ON LINKS TO "OPEN IN A NEW PAGE" TO BREAK OUT OF THE AOL FRAMES.