gratefulydeadman 25 #1 Posted February 8, 2012 today i bought an all origional 854.. has been sitting for about 20 years in a barn. motor is free and has compression. mower deck has no holes and still has what i believe to be the origional tires on it.. my question is.... is it better to keep it in origional condition or is it better to restore it? i have a complete hy2 system that i want to put on it. was that a factory option for this tractor? i know the hy2 came out in 1962. but is it the same system that would have been an option for the 854? i had the wheelhorse disc harrow laying around so i decided to attach it..lol please let me know if it would be better to restore it or leave it in its origional condition. i will post pictures as soon as i figure how to get them smaller than 1mb.. thanks ralph Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 21,347 #2 Posted February 8, 2012 Hard to say without pics showing us the shape its in but......they are only original once! I personaly like the old rusty patina look on any machine. Mike....... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,132 #3 Posted February 8, 2012 :text-worthless: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevebo-(Moderator) 8,331 #4 Posted February 8, 2012 Ralph- I think the concensus is to leave it in as found condition. Most of us collectors do not want to see a good all original condition tractor repainted. I will only repaint if they have previously been repainted before. There are a lot of posts on how to clean it up and not repaint but that is personal preference. IMO leave it as is !! I would personally pay much more for an original tractor with that patina paint than one that has been restored. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gratefulydeadman 25 #5 Posted February 8, 2012 well how do i resize pics? i took them with my camera and put them on my computer.. but they are 2.3mb and it wont let me upload anything bigger than 1mb.. if i knew how to do it they would already be on here!!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smoreau 658 #6 Posted February 8, 2012 I use photo bucket and down load them from there Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt71 6 #7 Posted February 8, 2012 I used to use photo bucket also, then i found out my digital camera has a pc setting on it if i use that mode it automaticly resizes the pics so you can post them. see if your camera has this option if not then photo buckets the way to go. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rollerman 290 #8 Posted February 8, 2012 The 854's used an HY3 hydraulic lift. HY2's had a different rockshaft setup & key switch relocation bracket. If the 854 is clean & not badly rusted up. Give it a good cleaning & enjoy it. As a wise member here often says, there only original once. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rj35hunter 283 #9 Posted February 8, 2012 I agree with everyone else....leave it original!!! Without seeing it, that's my vote. They are only original once, like previously stated. Clay Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brybrychrismer 17 #10 Posted February 8, 2012 there is something about the old rust just clean it up and run it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Martin 2,132 #11 Posted February 8, 2012 i agree, leave it original. once you start to change it you can never go back. its done for good and the tractors 'character' or personality, or is that tractorality....... is lost forever. when youve got a bunch of unrestored tractors together at a show its still easy to see that personality, much more that a bunch of restored ones sitting together. worn out stuff can still be repaired without repainting. out of my 4 the 875 is the only one thats never been repainted, and its nice to just look at it now and again and appreciate its originality. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jake Kuhn 1,555 #12 Posted February 8, 2012 If it is in nice shape I would leave it original. I agree with what Martin said once you restore it you can never go back,Jake Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
speedyleedy 205 #13 Posted February 8, 2012 Do what ever best suit's you the main thing is to have fun with it , that what it all about ! :popcorn: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chris hall 5 #14 Posted February 8, 2012 patina baby !!!!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gratefulydeadman 25 #15 Posted February 8, 2012 well herte are the pics of my "new" 854 .. .. .. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gratefulydeadman 25 #16 Posted February 8, 2012 i thank all of you for your suggestions and comments!!! so today i checked the oil, cleaned the plug, gave it gas, and hooked up the jumper cables... it fired right up!!! blew smoke for about 2 minutes and then ran fine (no knocks, taps, or smoke!!!!) so i took it out in the snow and rode it around.. all gears seem to work fine.. i even engaged the deck and it sounded great also.. the only negatives are that it needs a new rear lift cable and i noticed that there is a small gas leak somewhere on the bottom of the gas tank.. i am looking forward to bringing it to the show!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rollerman 290 #17 Posted February 8, 2012 Thats a solid 854...congrats on the score. :handgestures-thumbup: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danjmah 71 #18 Posted February 8, 2012 Wow, that is gorgeous! Great find, congrats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC9KAS 4,741 #19 Posted February 8, 2012 Nice looking tractor! I hope your dog isn't going to "mark" it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 15,519 #20 Posted February 8, 2012 Looks like some extra decals on the tools box and hood. My guess is that it has been "refreshed" in the past. My vote is for a total restoration to original condition. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JMW 3 #21 Posted February 8, 2012 NICE!!..I agree with Bob...restore it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sscotsman 148 #22 Posted February 8, 2012 Wow, that is a sweet looking 854! very nice! The photos brought to mind an interesting thought.. generally we only see two types of "conditions" when it comes to old tractors.. "original condition" or "restored"..and its usually quite obvious which is which.. but! what if someone restored (or simply repainted) a tractor say 10 or 20 years ago, but then continued to use it as a "worker"..the tractor would then begin to "weather" the same as it would when it was new, and eventually it would look like a "good condition original paint" tractor and it might no longer be obvious that it was once repainted.. Two things make me wonder if GD-man's tractor might fall in that category! the non-original decals on the hood and at the rear.. and the non-original pan seat, with paint that looks like a perfect match for the rest of the tractor! this tractor could be an interesting, seldom seen "variant" if this is true! thoughts anyone? how could we tell if its original paint, vs. "older" repaint? (edit..heh, Bob beat me to it! I saw the "new messages posted" indicator while I was typing my message! Scot Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken B 3,164 #23 Posted February 8, 2012 Looks nice and complete. Do as you please but IMO, it would look better restored. Either way, nice score! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
can whlvr 993 #24 Posted February 9, 2012 its a beauty either way,i would look really close at hidden areas for bad rust,not saying yours has it or not,but you want to stop any more oxidization,whether it be a restore or coating with oil,just to preserve it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TT-(Moderator) 1,131 #25 Posted February 9, 2012 so i took it out in the snow and rode it around... i am looking forward to bringing it to the show!! Original paint or repaint, all original or restored, extra decals or wrong seat...... doesn't really matter if you're enjoying it. I like it - it has personality, character, and it's a Wheel Horse. :handgestures-thumbup: 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
