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Today’s letter is “V” Vast varying vistas made versatility vital Versatile There are thirty-two million acres of fertile agricultural land in the high plains of Canada and the great plains of the United States. Massive farming operations like this require BIG tractors and Versatile developed tractors to meet the challenge of operating these megafarms. At one point in its history Versatile captured 70% of the four-wheel drive tractor market. As is the case with many successful tractor manufacturers the company came into being as a result of one invention leading to another. Versatile tractor traces its roots back to 1945 when Peter Pakosh designed and built a grain auger in his farm shop. That invention launched Pakosh and his brother-in-law, Roy Robinson, into the machinery manufacturing business. Their Versatile grain mover led to expansion into sprayers, harrows, and swathers. By 1952, Pakosh and Robinson would move their operation to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Building on the sales success of its Versatile equipment line the company ventured into the tractor market in a big way. Versatile came to market in 1966 with the first mass-produced articulated four-wheel-drive tractors. Those ground-breaking tractors were primitive by modern standards, with a 6-cylinder diesel or 8-cylinder gas engine producing 100 horsepower but at the time they were well received. Four-wheel drive demand increased significantly, with Versatile becoming one of the leaders in four-wheel-drive development and production. By the late 1970s, the Versatile lineup included tractors ranging from 220 to 330 horsepower. Versatile truly lived up to its name in 1977 with the introduction of the Bi-Directional tractor. No longer did the operator have to manipulate a loader at the front of their articulated tractor. By swiveling the operator’s platform and placing the loader on the rear of the tractor you were up close and personal with the task at hand. The Model 150 Bi-Directional tractor caught on immediately. It was a bit smaller tractor which was well suited for loader work as well as pulling field implements. With the 1980s came an expanded line of four-wheel-drive tractors that stretched to 470 horsepower in the Versatile 1150. They entered the race to build the largest tractor in the world with the 600 horse power "Big Roy", named for company co-founder, Roy Robinson. In 1987, Ford-New Holland bought Versatile. Ford New Holland quickly started assimilating the Versatile tractors, the decals were replaced with the Ford name and Versatile name was reduced in size and placed below the model number. Additionally, the iconic Versatile colors were replaced with the blue and white of the Ford tractors. Throughout Versatile's time under Ford-New Holland, various changes and updates were made to the line. Two of the most notable changes were the transition from the flat square sheet metal, to a more rounded and modernized design, and the addition of a powershift transmission. In 2016 Versatile reinvented its tractor by adding the Delta-Track system of four tracks replacing the wheels on their Articulated tractors. From 1987 to 2024 ownership of Versatile has changed several times and the paint schemes changed but quality remained a top priority. In 2017 Versatile returned to its iconic color scheme of red, yellow, and black. Fror nearly eighty yeas Versatile has lived up to its name. From their very first grain auger in 1945 to plans for the development of a hydrogen powered tractor, using a 15L Cummins engine, Versatile has been setting a very high standard for others to attempt to meet.

Got ready for the Memorial Day Parade!!! Only one flat tire... not bad for this rig...!!! All set for 15 little riders... including one wheelchair...

Been a long time since posting on here but thought I would post the ol 701 for frontend Fridays….

I am always amazed at the wildlife that shows up in unexpected places. A couple weeks ago I was greeted by a monster black snake that slithered out from under dad's Kubota when I was poking around in the shed. We've found some shed skins so knew there was a whopper hanging around somewhere and we finally saw him. Last weekend I popped the hood on the 523Dxi to jump start it and thought I saw a mouse scurry away. When I looked closer I discovered instead it was a a world class Wolf Spider. I didn't measure it, but the black steel hood support bar he's perched on must be about an inch and a quarter or an inch and a half wide, so this is a big sucker. I've seen a lot of these critters through the years, but I'm not sure I've seen one with such distinct coloring and markings. I should have used my camera flash as this picture doesn't do him justice. He's a big fella. I am not a fan of spiders, but I let it live. I don't like killing things if it's not necessary. Plus, I figured it's doing good work keeping other pests away. I'm just hoping it understands that if I don't bother it, it shouldn't bother me. I want to get the tractor cleaned up to sell so I suspect the I'll be annoying it enough that it finds somewhere else to go for a while. I hope. Steve

As a kid (probably 12-13) I remember working at the farm down the road cleaning chicken coops. There was 3-4 of us all about the same age, and we would pitchfork manure out the door of the coop and into the spreader. One of the things I remember most was the ammonia that would burn your eyes, make them water and your nose run. I don’t really remember complaining about it though, I think we made the best of it and would laugh and carry on about whatever. When the tractor pulled the spreader out to the field we would get a little break! So I’m well aware of scents of the country 😂 I always wanted to have one of those tree shaped air fresheners made that would say old farm truck. I bet they’d sell like…… okay maybe they wouldn’t sell at all!!

Sorta front end... Ready for the Memorial Day parade!!!

Car is packed up, strapped down, bikes all on. Bike trailer and pull cart up top. Just need clothes, food, and bedding. House and dog are in good hands. We're going to a NH State Park that has 2 "remote" sites. The one we're at is 7/10 of a mile from the parking area. Each way. I'll likely do 3 trips to set up. Same for takedown later. There's 8.4 miles of dirt road & trail riding alone. 😀 We'll also ride several miles while there. Aaaannndd walk several miles. Plenty of food. Some adult beverages. Excellent company. Camp 🏕 fire 🔥 Coffee ☕️. Should be a phenomenal weekend.

Other idea was - after the Big Show - call it a Puller day instead of a Plow day. Ya need lots of Wheelhorses and several drivers ! there is no weight the puller must move, there is Colleen they must move. Tow points must be on her i be shure, just need several ropes to Attatch her to the Pullers. i bet about 20 Wheelhorses be able to move colleen out of the Mud. could be a funny day. First Volunteer driver no.1 for that idea is set.

We have a memorial in Endcliffe Park in Sheffield to the aircraft Mi Amigo which crashed in 1944 killing all crew on board. Terrible tragedy for those men.

I'm not sure many Americans realize the importance of remembering wars fought, lives given and the pain and suffering families suffered in the name of freedom. When I was a child, we visited several cemeteries decorating and cleaning graves and placing flags on family members who served in the military. I'm not aware any of my nieces, nephews and even my own daughter or any other family members decorating graves. I suppose part of it is our fault as we never carried on the tradition of visiting gravesites other than a couple of times when it was convenient. We have visited Corregidor Island in the Philippines, traveled part of the Death March in the Philippines. Pam and I toured a well-displayed Korean War museum in Seoul, Korea. We have been to the bridge over the river Kawi in Thailand. We spent a good part of a day touring Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. We have visited numerous historic sited here in the United States honoring those who fought for freedom including Washington D.C. Every one of these memorial sites have caused me to pause and be thankful for freedom we have. Last year, I took mom on what would likely be her last time to visit and decorate those cemeteries we went to each year. Knowing that we would not be returning to dad's, my brother's and our son's graves this year, we decorated them a couple of weeks ago.

1075 " Special Edition " Wheel - A - Matic

I visited Normandy during the 75th anniversary year. Despite being well taught history in school, traveling that ground brought sharp focus on the magnitude of the operation and sacrifice of all the participants. It fundamentally changed my comprehension of war.

Up hill each way?

Thank You for remembering our US airmen.

And the would already be there...!!! Win Win situation!!! Breaking news... This just in: Trail cam at @Pullstart acres:

Hi all. We are moving rapidly to the 80th anniversary of D-Day, 6th of June. I was wondering what kind of commemorative things you may be considering. Such a pivotal moment in world history and the US played such a massive part in the liberation of Europe. We are planning displays in our community garden, a beacon lighting and band performance amongst other things. Mick.

It does. My dad is a huge history nerd, particularly around WWII. I learned about the Holocaust, the concentration/extermination camps and such from about the time I was 10. When I was 16 we went to Germany to visit my uncle who was stationed there and we went to Auschwitz. Reading about it in books or seein it in film, and being in the place are very different things.

During a consulting gig at Case Corp., I learned a LOT about how tracked tractors lessened ground compaction and the need for additional sub-soil plowing. I also learned how much more complicated and expensive those drive systems are. Also, a wheeled tractor can be road-driven without a lot of tire wear but tracked tractors are often trailered if moving any distance from field to field.

Goes in and turns 90 degrees to lock it in. Triple check that the arm moves the diaphragm.

Better call in a gardener and take care of that weed!

I put a cheap set of LED’s on my 856. Wired directly to the original light switch. They work perfectly. They are small and I think they go well with the tractor.

This spring is located on the right side of the battery box and is purposed to help return the PTO lever to it's relaxed position. Tractor will function ok without it, but I'm not telling you that to suggest you leave it off. I only know that because if fell off of mine too.

This is where I will be on June 6th. Ron Fagen's father landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. They have a full size figure of him and the other solders exiting their landing craft. This is only one exhibit in their small but professional feeling museum. They have a great collection of flying Warbirds, a number of them being actual combat veterans. Their restorations are high caliber inside and out. For example in their P-51 when you charge the guns, you can hear the firing solenoids clicking in the wings. Many Mustangs just carry luggage or polishing rags in the old gun bays. Fagen's business is building ethanol plants, so their family has some disposable income, and a fantastic, patriotic hobby. Fagen Fighters WWII Museum Fagen D-Day.pdf

Nothing special planned for the day but a couple weeks ago ‘Doc’ was at our local airport for a few days. According to the men in the plane, after many thousands of man hours of restoration Doc and Fifi are the only two B-29’s that still fly. It was pretty awesome to be able to go through the plane and see some of the mechanisms that were used to fly it. Everything is mechanical. Rows and rows of cables and wires throughout. I took my 9 year old grandson along so he could check it out too. Lines were long but it was worth the wait. Flights were offered for $600-$1500 and air time was about 30 minutes. Needless to say we didn’t fly but I live about 10 miles north of the airport and we did see and hear it fly over several times. Here are some of the stats we were told: Wing span is 141’. Ceiling of 30,000 feet. Consumes 460 some gallons of fuel per hour Range is 4000 miles. Carried a crew of 9. Most of them were used in the pacific, Only two B29 planes ever went to Europe. The ‘Fat Boy’ had to be put in a pit so the Enola Gay could be rolled over it to get it into the bomb bay.

Several of us had to milk the cows before getting on the school bus, taking off your boots and coveralls didn't do much to reduce the aroma. At that time it wasn't a big deal because everyone on the bus lived on a farm.

Dang, it never occurred to me that I could buy them hoobie doobies. I used an anvil and the BFH 😁

One could say a cow's derriere makes fresh dairy air!

Spreading some #57 crushed riverstone in prayer garden for my girlfriend. Also putting it a few other places in yard. Started with 1 ton of stone. The 953 pulled all that weight without too much trouble. Front end was a little light when I was loaded full & going uphill into backyard. Probably gotta get at least another ton tomorrow.

I have a original throttle and chock assembly for the 1960 Suburban 400, everything is there except one of the cable connecting barrels. The only thing I'm good at fabricating are some good stories, so I'm willing to ship it to anyone here that want's to fabricate one or some as long as I get mine back.

Ordered a NOS one on E Bay. Finding the correct spring at the show could have been a crap shoot. Now that I found one, I'll find a bucket of them for a dollar!

always wanted to have one of those tree shaped air fresheners made that would say old farm truck. I bet they’d sell like…… okay maybe they wouldn’t sell at all!! Oh yeah they would. I'd for sure buy one for my brother-in-law.

I think black snakes are harmless, Mike. They can be aggressive though. I never really knew what they were until a couple of years ago. Now I seem to see them all the time. I’m not a fan, but they serve a need. the one in dad’s barn made no effort to avoid me. I was bent down airing up the front tire of the tractor and he slithered out from under the mower deck towards me as if to let me know he was in charge. Scared the heck out of me. Maybe this spider will eat him. 😏 Steve

My Bronco 14 does NOT have the long lift bar you refer to....NOT like a C-120 or C-160. Instead, it uses a 10" - 12" TRUNION on a lift ROD hanging down from a BELL CRANK. You can't see it too well in this pic, but I do have another I could put in the mail to you.

I have had to file some away from center area where it twists to make the new diaphragms fit. Not every pump, but some so if it goes hard, don't force it.

I think Don was asking if your tractor also had the reduction steering system installed along with the forward swept axle. A picture of the steering box at the junction of the horizontal and vertical steering shafts would show that. '89s did not come with the forward axle or the reduction steering.

You are more than welcome. The pilot could have set down more safely but he avoided a group of kids playing in the park and hit trees instead. True heroism and selflessness. Thank you for your help in WW2, we would never have managed without Brother Jonathan. Mick

After going over this thoroughly I see I had made an error in my previous installation. I see that by installing the trunnion in the 1st position (furthest from shaft) on the arm I unintentionally placed the maximum leverage against the arm weld. So that explains the failure. So according to my serial number, my tractor is in fact a 1989.

Buy= easy/efficient. Make anything with a BFH = WAY more fun!

I don't usually observe any kind of observance for D-day in particular, but on the 7th a museum about 90 mintues from me is having their WWII weekend, complete with operating period aircraft. I haven't looked up this year's roster but they usually have at least one B-17 and one B-29 as well as a few P-91s and even some Japanese planes some years. One year there was a P-38. And one of these years I'm going to get together the money to actually ride in at least one of the bombers. https://maam.org/wwii/ One time, many years ago when I was still in middle school my dad and I went and I actually got to meet, and briefly speak with, Col. Robert Morgan, pilot of the Memphis Belle.

My grandfather used to tell me “That’s the smell of pure air” when I was growing up. And I’d always reply “yep pure as chit”

Could you file or grind the excess keyway off?

300,000 miles was achieved on Norman!