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1928 Lanz before restoration.2 January 1928
Sunnybrook Farm Museum Red Deer Alberta Canada
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"Restoring a Relic" - Sunnybrook Farm Museum's story on RestorationWhen someone donates a tractor to Sunnybrook Farm Museum, if they have not restored it; we first check to see if the motor is seized or not. Does the transmission shift gears, does the clutch dis-engage, are there any missing parts and if there is, are they readily available. Is it badly rusted or is the paint faded to the point where determining the original colour is difficult to match?
After determining to what extent we wish to restore it, we attempt to estimate the cost of restoration. Is it within our budget? Is it worth restoring, or should it remain a stationery display or do we want it at all?
If the decision is in the affirmative, it comes into the shop to have the old grease and dirt removed, and oil leaks cleaned up. At this point we can usually determine the original colour, and have an idea of oil and grease seals that may be required, probably some bearings as well. Numerous pictures during dismantling can be of great value when reassembling, if you haven't parts and operators manuals.
If the pistons are seized within the block we will dismantle the motor, so as to get some mixture of diesel fuel and brake fluid into the cylinders and allow it to soak and penetrate down around the rings etc.
This may take several days and with some gentle persuasion with a block of wood slightly less in circumference than the cylinder placed on top of the piston, tap it gently with a heavy maul. Sometimes a hydraulic jack can be used to apply a steady pressure which can be increased at will. However, in all cases whatever method is used, be careful not to use undue force and give solution time to do its work.
The valves may also be seized, so use caution and restraint here as well, when attempting to free them. Patients and caution can save considerable expense.
Does it have a magneto or generator and battery for the ignition system? In either case they should be checked and serviced.
Also is your prized tractor electric start or the old fashioned way of hand cranking, if so do you have a crank or do you have to make one?
The carburetor will have to be cleaned and checked so it can function properly. Does the fuel tank leak; has it a lot of rust and crude in it? How about the radiator, does it hold the coolant with our too many drips? Possibly the water pump will require some servicing.
As the tractor ages and sits for years in many cases the seals tend to dry our and shrink, you may find several that require replacing.
By now you have a lot of parts to assemble and with time they start to take shaped and looking more like your dream coming true. Eventually the time comes to start the old gem, maybe it will and maybe it won't? Well to your surprise and delight, it coughs and sputters a time or two, and then a mighty roar. The motor is settling down and running very nice. When it comes to repainting, you may deicide that its rustic appearance is okay, it shows its age with a few dints and bruises, but it all tells a story about its past.
You may deicide to have a professional body and paint job done to match it original appearance, more expenses but possibly worth it.
At Sunnybrook Farm Museum we have concentrated more on the functional aspect than the cosmetic appearance, finances being one of the major considerations.
By George Braithwaite
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1928 Lanz Tractor a German product1 January 1928
Sunnybrook Farm Museum Red Deer Alberta Canada
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1928 Allis Chalmers L before restoration26 December 1928
Sunnybrook Farm Museum Red Deer Alberta Canada
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1929 McCormick Deering 22 361929
Sunnybrook Farm Museum Red Deer Alberta Canada
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1953 Fordson Major Petro1953
Sunnybrook Farm Museum Red Deer Alberta Canada
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1953 Fordson Major Diesel pre Restoration1953
Sunnybrook Farm Museum Red Deer Alberta Canada
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Restoring the 1953 Fordson Major Diesel1999
Sunnybrook Farm Museum Red Deer Alberta Canada
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Restoring the 1953 Fordson1999
Sunnybrook Farm Museum Red Deer Alberta Canada
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Massey Harris Hay Binder before restoring.1951
Sunnybrook Farm Museum Red Deer Alberta Canada
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Massey Harris pre restoration.1951
Sunnybrook Farm Museum Red Deer Alberta Canada
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Massey Harris Binder before restoration.1951
Sunnybrook Farm Museum Red Deer Alberta Canada
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Massey Harris Binder restored.1951
Sunnybrook Farm Museum Red Deer Alberta Canada
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Massey Harris Binder Pre Restoraton1951
Sunnybrook Farm Museum Red Deer Alberta Canada
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