How To Restore Classic Farmall Tractors: The Ultimate Do-it-Yourself Guide to Rebuilding and Restoring [Paperback]

Tharran E Gaines (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2005

Finally! A restoration guide with the kind of detail needed for a first-class job. "How To Restore Classic Farmall Tractors" is packed with hundreds of helpful full-color photographs, proven tips and techniques, and money-saving advice from restorers who know what works . . . and what doesn’t.
 
This guide will walk you step-by-step through the complete restoration of your International Harvester Farmall from disassembly to engine rebuild, from electrical repairs to painting and final detailing. There’s even a handy section on parts sources.

With Gaines’s guidance you’re well on your way to showing off your shiny “new” classic tractor! Say, you wouldn’t mind giving me a hand with this starter, would ya?

Editorial Reviews

Review

Book News, Inc., November 2005 (circ. unavailable)

“In this lovingly photographed and very detailed guide, Gaines describes every step necessary to making one of these big, shiny red machines of your own.”

Minnesota History, Fall 2005 (circ.: members of MN Historical Society)

“Gaines’s guide walks readers through subjects ranging from the tractor’s history to acquiring and restoring one and the social benefits that restoration brings.”

From the Publisher

Jerry Apps was born and raised on a Wisconsin farm in the days before electricity, central heating, or indoor plumbing. He is a former county extension agent and University of Wisconsin agriculture professor. He is the author of several other farm nostalgia and Wisconsin regional titles.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Voyageur Press; 1st edition (April 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896580571
• ISBN-13: 978-0896580572
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #923,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A no-nonsense, in-depth how-to manual for collectors, June 11, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How To Restore Classic Farmall Tractors: The Ultimate Do-it-Yourself Guide to Rebuilding and Restoring (Paperback)

How To Restore Classic Farmall Tractors: The Ultimate Do-It-Yourself Guide To Rebuilding And Restoring is a no-nonsense, in-depth how-to manual for collectors, hobbyists, and even professionals. Chapters cover how to repair, restore, and spruce up every part of vintage Farmall tractors, from engine repair to the clutch, tires, hydraulic system, electrical system, cooling system, fuel system, sheet metal, paint job, decals, and much more. Black-and-white and color photographs, explicit diagrams, and thorough instructions in layman's language distinguish How To Restore Classic Farmall Tractors. A fascinating guide for classic tractor enthusiasts and hobbyists and an invaluable resource for anyone determined to get their classic Farmall tractor in the best possible condition.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to Restore Classic Farmall Tractors, November 8, 2005

By 

S. Lyons "IH collecter" (Southern ME, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How To Restore Classic Farmall Tractors: The Ultimate Do-it-Yourself Guide to Rebuilding and Restoring (Paperback)

This is a very informative book with lots of good color photos and descriptive, but not model specific info on evaluating,tear down,inspecting and repairing componants. Each chapter is devoted to a seperate componant or system. The paint chapter focuses on selecting different types of paint,primers,sealers. There are suggestions on selecting and applying decals. I found a nice appendix with contact info for parts suppliers and clubs. I didn't see much about tractors made after the late 50's. This book would be a great companion to a detailed shop manual for someone who has little or no experience working on tractors. There is also a chapter that gives ideas on tools and tool selection.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars More of a Rebuild Manual then a Restoration Manual ..., November 4, 2008

By 

Bobby Jr. "Bobby Jr." (USA!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How To Restore Classic Farmall Tractors: The Ultimate Do-it-Yourself Guide to Rebuilding and Restoring (Paperback)

I purchased this book for help in restoring my 1940 Farmall H, and this guide was very helpful and detailed in rebuilding certain systems on the tractor, such as the steering bolster, but even then it does not go into enough detail to make a beginner feel confident about doing the job himself. There is almost no information on what the correct decals for your tractor are, or even where they all go exactly. Did you know that IHC used at least three different types of branding Logos on the letter series tractors alone, with a fourth type at least considered? The only help there is the information on how to apply the various types of decals one can purchase for restorations; i.e. vinyl and mylar. Even the paint information, while giving good basic instructions on how to apply it, only glosses over which paint you need to use, by simply lumping all red IH tractors into the category of needing to use IH2150 Red. 2150 is not correct for any Farmall tractor made prior to the late 1950's. IH50 would be the correct color from 1939 to December 11, 1945, when it was switched to the more yellow color that post WWII Farmall's all had, at least until April 11, 1947, when they went back to 50, and then in 1949 there was yet another change to 1102B, lasting until the advent of 2150. So, if you plan on entering your restoration project in any shows, better dig MUCH deeper for the correct information so desperately lacking in this book, but if you just want to re-do grand-dad's old Farmall for use around home, then this book will suffice. If you are looking for show quality details and results, I recommend this book for the basics if you need them and the book "Farmall Letter Series Tractors" by Guy Fay and Andy Kraushaar for the details you will need to really do a job that looks like you actually studied your subject. I also recommend getting an owner's manual, shop manual and I and T manual for any tractor you are restoring, regardless of its intended ultimate use.

To sum it all up, use this book as more of a "how to make it run again" guide and not at all as a detailed, show ready restoration guide.
--Bobby Jr