551 Restoration

[Rusty'sTractors 1]

I'm in the middle of restoring my 551, here's some pictures so far.

Here's the frame after a sandblasting, body work, primer and paint.

[Rusty'sTractors 1]

The hood needed some work, there were a couple cracks to weld and some dents to hammer and dolly.

I bet i have 20hrs of body work in the hood, but i couldn't be happier with the results.

[Rusty'sTractors 1]

The wheels were next, like everything else they were sandblasted, primed and painted.

I mounted the tires with new tubes after primer, then masked the tires off before paint to avoid scratches

[SousaKerry 502]

What is that beefy looking tractor in the background?

looks real nice btw

[Rusty'sTractors 1]

Before i mounted the tires they needed some elbow grease. They were really nasty with 50 years of grass and gunk, i ended up lightly sandblasting them and scrubbing them with a scotch brite pad and armor-all. They still need a few heavey coats of tire shine, the rubber keeps soaking it up like a sponge. 2 down 4 more to go.

[Rooster 191]

Tire Paint man...Miller Tire, lol!

Looking Real Good...I keep walking by my old hood...I hope I can get it that straight with 20 Hr's!

[Rusty'sTractors 1]

What is that beefy looking tractor in the background?

looks real nice btw

Thanks, thats a 8n i've been working on.

[Rooster 191]

What is that beefy looking tractor in the background?

looks real nice btw

Ford?

[Rusty'sTractors 1]

Here it is so far, i put a front wheel on to see how she was going to look.

I've been working on the engine the last few days, cleaning it up, some new gaskets and a carb rebuild. I still need to find some little parts for the tractor and paint another batch of red parts but the old girl is coming together.

What is that beefy looking tractor in the background?

looks real nice btw

Ford?

Yeah, it's a 1952 ford 8n

[Rusty'sTractors 1]

Tire Paint man...Miller Tire, lol!

Looking Real Good...I keep walking by my old hood...I hope I can get it that straight with 20 Hr's!

I'll have to look into the tire paint, thanks!

[Rooster 191]

http://www.mywheelhorse.com/modules.php?name=docs2&do=show_doc&id=23

Check that out....Mike is the Man!

[Rusty'sTractors 1]

The Wheel Horse was given to me by my grandfather about 25 years ago. Since then i used it to mow the yard, plow the drive and pull around a yard trailer. I pressure washed it and painted it about 15 years ago but this time it was ready for a full restore and a well deserved retirement! I mow with an average MTD rider now but i hide that out in the shed.

[Rusty'sTractors 1]

http://www.mywheelho...=show_doc&id=23

Check that out....Mike is the Man!

Cool, thanks!

[ol550 830]

I'm in the middle of restoring my 551, here's some pictures so far.

If you are in the middle of the restoration I can't wait till it's finished.

Mike

[Jake Kuhn 1,556]

Looks Great! :bow-blue:

[sorekiwi 761]

Nice Job Neighbor!

[can whlvr 993]

really nice,its great to see so many old girls being brought back to new

[Rusty'sTractors 1]

Thanks guys for all the compliments!

[Rusty'sTractors 1]

Nice Job Neighbor!

Thanks,

Where are you from?

[sorekiwi 761]

Thanks,

Where are you from?

Just sent you a PM!

[Kelly 1,030]

Very nice work, do you have the orig. engine?

[AMC RULES 37,141]

What are your plans for it once completed, because it's obviously going to be too clean to work anymore? :omg:

[Rusty'sTractors 1]

Very nice work, do you have the orig. engine?

Thanks, no i don't have the Lawson it has a HH70 Tecumseh. I have all the receipts for the engine being installed new in 1984 from a local farm and garden store. I'm guessing something happened to the lawson and it was replaced back then.

[Rusty'sTractors 1]

What are your plans for it once completed, because it's obviously going to be too clean to work anymore?

Thank you, i'm going take it around to some tractor shows in the summer time.

[Rusty'sTractors 1]

I got a lot done today, washed, sandblasted and primed a bunch of small parts.

They are mostly engine parts, the green is zinc primer (not camo) and the white is urethane primer surfacer. Almost ready to mix up some red and get some more assembly done. A few more days and i should be able to put the engine back together. I still need to finish the other 4 wheels but it snowed all day and i didn't feel like going out back and firing up the big sandblaster to do the wheels.