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Samson Model M The General Motors Samson tractor line needed a nimbler general-purpose tractor to compete with Ford Motor Company’s Frodson Tractor. Their Savier Trac was a fine orchard/grove machine and the Iron Horse had limited success so the time had come to design and build an all new tractor. The Model M was an eleven-horsepower drawbar/nineteen belt horsepower, two plow tractor with a four-cylinder all-fuel Nortrhway engine and a two-speed transmission. The M was very affordable at $ 650 and sold well against the $ 885 Fordson. The Samson model M was a bit heavier and more powerful than the Fordson. The tractor was right for the needs of the farmer in 1918 but the timing couldn’t have been worse as an agricultural depression was right around the corner. In addition to building tractors, Samson made trucks and had thoughts of producing an automobile as well. The automobile they never built (the Farmer’s Car) was to be a nine-passenger car with removable rear seats to accommodate cargo or farm supplies, what we now call a Sports Utility Vehicle. The Samson truck was built from 1920 to 1923 as a ¾ ton and a 1¼ ton model. It was powered by a Chevrolet 26 horse power engine that had been developed for the Chevrolet passenger car. Many accounts of the Samson Tractor history cite it as a failure on the part of William Durant and General Motors. Some will call this a thirty-three-million-dollar loss, I respectfully disagree. The agricultural depression of 1920 (Tractor Trivia and other interesting stuff 2/29/2024) negatively impacted all tractor manufacturers and most closed their doors forever. Durant had built a massive state-of-the-art manufacturing facility staffed by highly skilled workers. He was not just building tractors; he was building a transportation empire and when he acquired Chevrolet Motor Company in 1918 their manufacturing facility was insufficient for their growth. With the cessation of Samson Tractor production Durant had a ready-made production facility and staff to meet the growing needs of the Chevrolet division. The Janesville plant served General Motors spanning nine decades providing employment for thousands of people and seeing Chevrolet make several milestones along the way. The three-millionth Chevy came off the Janesville line in 1955, and in the same year GM’s fifty-millionth vehicle was built there. 1967 saw GM’s one hundred-millionth vehicle built there and in 1981 the popular Chevrolet pick-up trucks and SUV began being built at Janesville thanks to William Durant’s vision and foresight. If that is someone’s definition of a failure, I respectfully disagree.

Hey uhhh. @JCM I got this.... Should be good right?

I'm ready EB. Got a backup for the backup.

Not much energy today but when up in the attic looking for a black hood for C-series Don the other day I found some head light buckets never knew I had. Put one to use for a lamp for the shop desk. Wired it to a old Radio Shack power supply. What the heck if ding dong can hang a light off a tractor...

I'm really happy with the way it's coming together. I changed my mind about using angle to extend the frame and used the flat plate that was on the frame. This thing is heavy. To make things easier I added casters, two fixed under the blower and one go-roundy in the rear. The idler is going to be duck soup. A rope measurement tells me that 68" is a good start. I have a trip to town scheduled for Friday to pick up a few things. Since you guys talked me into an 8" discharge making a custom piece will be less beneficial so I might just pick up over the counter tinwork for it. I'll pick up an 8" to 6" reducer just to experiment.

When I plan to buff a rattle can paint job I put a couple top coats of Crystal Clear Enamel on before the color paint drys. If you don't put it on wet you have to wait a couple weeks for the color to dry or the paint might lift. This stuff buffs up amazing for a rattle can and will reduce fading. Does provide some UV protection. Can be buffed in about 7 to 10 days at 70 degrees.

August 2017

@Achto I’m thinking the pond may be stopping the snow…. But we have plenty of water! Better bring your skis!

It is the Klean Strip Concrete and Metal prep from Lowes - https://www.lowes.com/pd/Klean-Strip-Concrete-and-Metal-Prep-1-GAL/1001456348 The trick is to use it on the tins and let sit for just a couple hours, then scrub it clean with water and brush, then very light wet sand. Dry it good and add the Penetrol. Amazing results. If you leave the Klean Strip over night as they recommend it will leave a blackish film which then needs to be painted. Just a couple hours of Klean Strip removes most of the rust. I was amazed there was actually finish under that rust! Here is what I started with.... .

Another tractor nut like myself, I set up between 4 and 5 tractor for winter. I only have two tractors still set up right now; one has a Blower and a 3-point Blade on it. The other has a Blade. But it usually has a blade on it year-round anyway. They predict 3 inches down here, But In my neck of the woods, I bet it only sticks to the grass.

Cut back on the hardener and trowel on a few more layers of Bondo. She'll smooth right out.

Was taught this in assembly when our shop was owned by Baldor Electric. Rounded edges of the washer down. Did it so often that I could feel the washers in my hand & install them correctly with out even looking at them. Still use this practice no matter what I am assembling.

Not to mention they give a little bling that never rusts! I use stainless fasteners wherever I can. I also flip washers upside down on sheetmetal so the edges don't dig into fresh paint. My latest rattle can job. Hope it cures well enough to buff later....

The calm before the storm for us this morning. 5:49 am

Pretty sure a good buff job would fix that hood right up.

A few of my rattle can Queens that found new castles.

That's Okay. You have one and will enjoy both working on it and bringing a little bit of WH history back.

No bread. Can't have much. Milk. ✔️ Coffee. ✔️ Creamer. ✔️ TP. ✔️

Finally got the replacement tank delivered to the shop today, gonna clean and seal it before installing on to the tractor, but we are one step closer to bringing this one back to life

If you need them, the manuals are available in our manuals section. Your Model 1277 is ( 12) HP Kohler K301S-4712B ( 7) Sundstrand Hydro 3100077 (7) built in 1967 Used fans are available, but yours looks OK as they are easily straightened. Clamp the center bolting section to a table on a spacer and use the correct thickness block to tap all blade edges to the same shape and flat plane.

We are fed up to the back teeth of rain and wind Over here in England. Wettest Feb and wettest March ever, April looks like following suit. Wind is blowing hard too. They blame the jet stream that is all out of shape and bringing the weather weather. I wish it would shift back where it belongs.

To the show? Yeah ……. this year I want to try and sell off some stuff. No real interest here so I thought I would try to bring some stuff up there. I’ll never plow or plant crops so I don’t need the harrows and plow I have sitting here. Plus if I can get it finished, I have a special delivery for someone. Can’t mail it.

Uhm... I'd delete this post lest you give BBT any ideas on how to dispose of ... er... evidence, should you continue with your auto shenanigans...

There you go. Paint it up all scary looking, attach one of your trailers and give hayrides up and down the street for the kiddies on Halloween!

Franklin NC was in the center of the path about seven years ago, Every motel and B&B for miles around was sold out. The wife and I used a couple of welding helmets to observe it. When it started getting dark rapidly the birds were going crazy then total silence for several minutes.

Nothing wrong with being prepared and then some. We keep ourselves ready for a days long power outage 24/7/365. Always have the walk behind snowblower gassed and waiting, even in the summer. For several years now we've had 2 tractors with plows. Next year we may add a third, with a single stage snowblower. Maybe even a 4th, with a plow.

hey Don - - i am not an expert on this topic of the kt17 air filters - but there was a thread just last week about a related kt17 topic and pre-heaters and carbs icing -- i first learned about the various different breather/air filters on the kt 17 download here on RdSq when i was researching the kt 17 and found the 3 different air filter styles shown in the kt17 diagrams ---- apparently the so called " tear drop " shaped air filter is early version..... then the kt17s had a round breather installed..... but then thereafter came the same round breather but included the snorkle nose going to the pre-heater -- Again, I am not an expert but that's the impression i have in answer to your question -- Lastly -- as you likely know... the design of the of the kt17 engine where the oil filter could be is the prime indicator distinguishing the S1 vs S2 engine - see photo attached - - it seems possible that air intake/cleaners could be changed over the yrs but the engine design couldn't so therefore indicating which respective kt17 engine??

Going straight over where I live. Burnet County has a population or 52,000 and is expecting an influx of 50,000 to 70,000 people. A very large ranch is holding a 3 day festival. The County restricted them to 30,000 tickets down from their initial plans of 50,000 tickets. They are sold out. It’s down a 2 lane paved road with no shoulders. Rattle snakes should be out of their winter hibernation dens. They will be moving, being hungry from hibernating. I’m thinking Eclipse-Woodstock. There are a couple of festivals planned in the Texas Hill Country. Current weather forecast call for overcast and rain showers Sunday and Monday.

Just make your own Wood Hood.

The BBT and I stopped by Ali and Tom's to help him reinstall the tire chains for the upcoming huge storm. While there I noticed a fair sized puddle under the lift mechanism. I finished up getting the chains in while my Lead Mechanic tore into the leakage. Turns out there was one hose nearing disconnected. I've ordered a pair of replacements from @76c12091520h Brian which we'll pop on next week sometime. Meantime the Lead Mechanic took it upon herself to go over today and swap the bad hose for a spare we had from the C160 Automatic build. Back up n running!!

Eons ago I did a couple fancy paint jobs. A severe tennis elbow from all that wet sanding made me switch to the two spray can 15 foot style paint job.

AAAHHH!!!! I really miss those Main winters !!! Do like we used to do in Winter Harbor...fry up some Kielbassa, open up some Peppermint Schnapps, and turn on your favorite Led Zepplin album.

Only if you have enough....Bread, Milk and Toilet Paper Just Sayin'

I took some sticky adhesive like modeling clay and made a welll with it on the bottom so penetrating oil could sit in it i used aerokroil or kroils oil also let it sit for a few days it backed out with very little effort. Before doing that I used a little heat which I really didn't want to do and everything thing else I could think of with no results. Don't force it it could get ugly. Good luck keep us informed

Wowser! We had one day of the white stuff here this winter. And traffic still ended up in chaos because people are no longer used to driving in snow. To be honest people are no longer used to driving full stop.

Another Horse worth saving! Using a mix of new and used parts the Onan can be brought back to life without breaking the bank. And a LOT less than a disposable repower..... Regardless of where you get them, avoid the imported garbage gaskets and seals. Failure rate is very high, recycled cereal boxes make lousy gaskets.....nothing worse than having to go back and replace a failed gasket or seal after time and $$$ to repair/restore/rebuild any engine. OEM Onan gaskets etc. really are that good, zero failure rate! Good luck with your 520H. Do it right and your Onan powered Horse will be good for another 20-30+ years.

Yes, it draws air over the pump. Facing the fan, it turns CCW.

Lucky for me/us she doesn't read what I burble out!!

@fourwheelhorseman don't have any dirt / dust on my oil treated horses / related equipment , been doing this for years , after initial , light penetrating oil soak down / let sit , to absorb it in , couple of days , wipe it down , and give it some time , before second coating . this not a one and done , remember you are trying to recover NEGLECT . personally regularly see a deeper base paint coming thru , do you see any dirt or dust on / in that paint ? once paint breaks thru , use a 6" electric palm buffer / cleaner wax , thats the result . also did my plow blades , snow slide is amazing , no rust / dirt / dust . easy to do , pete

That and a pan full of your "Cowboy Coffee" will get you thru...

Rattle can the hood and paint or make an eye patch over the bad spot. Then throw it on Craigslist or marketplace.

No worries @ebinmaine, looks like the storm is gonna drop some off by us first. Should not be so bad by the time it gets to you. Low vis and it just keeps coming right now.

Ahh yes Spring. Some of my seedlings are coming up & doing well so far. And then... there is the surprise snow storm that adds an hour to my trip home. No worries, the snow is supposed to stop by 1pm tomorrow. Then 50's by the weekend.

Depends on what you want the finish to be. Full restoration or preserve the patina. I had a horrible finish on a 704 that I used some Loews Rust stripper on first and then finished with Penetrol. Was amazed how much of original paint it salvaged and gave it the patina I was looking for. Great rust inhibitor too. Before - After -

It might be what you need to plow that 18" er that's on it's way.

This is one reason why I use stainless bolts when I do a resto. Never have to go back and touch up hardware.

Didn't get to play with this tractor much over the weekend. I did find a little time to repurpose an old piston from a weed eater. First up was to make a couple of plugs out of some 5/16" round stock to plug the holes for the wrist pin. After installing the plugs and wrist pin clips, I heated the piston up. While heating the piston with a propane torch, I filled the inside of it with low temp aluminum weld rod. https://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-low-temperature-aluminum-welding-rods-44810.html Took a little over 3 rods to fill it to my desired thickness. Now that I had some meat to work with it was time to take it for a spin on the lathe. Drill a 5/16" hole a little over 5/8" deep, then tapped it to 3/8-16. Threaded a 3/8" bolt into the hole & threw it back on the lathe for some polishing. This will now be the shift knob for my puller.

I'm in the 95% area... better then my typical grades in high school so i'm good...