Documenting my 854 refurbishing project

[shallowwatersailor 3,214]

Great job! I really enjoyed the "trip" through the past year.

[dtallon 320]

Thanks for all the comments guys.  It always makes the hard work seem more worthwhile when you get positive comments like that.  

 

You know what else makes the hard work seem worthwhile?  Actually getting to play with the tractor a little bit.  I snagged a mid-mount grader blade last winter and have been waiting until now to hook it up and try it out.  It does a really nice job leveling dirt. I was just playing around on the home construction site next to us when my neighbor on the other side asked if I could come over and backfill a trench where he buried his downspouts.  He didn't have to ask me twice.  Without any extra weight on the tractor, it struggled a bit if I took too big a bite, but so long as I didn't overload it, it did great.  Now I'm just looking for other things to level!

 

 

[dclarke 4,051]

Your 854 turned out great! Thanks for the pics.

[Jake Kuhn 1,572]

Turned out awesome! Great job on the refurb!

[njm1987 35]

Awesome job!!!!

[JimmyJam 542]

Wow! Awesome job! ...from a rusty-patina working gal to a beautifully dressed out working gal! Takes for sharing your story and pics!

[zanepetty 117]

Beautifully done tractor. I just bought my first wh last week. A 753! She runs like a top with no smoke and she doesn't leak a drop of anything. Its all original and there too so I'm very luck/proud of her. I eventually want to restore it. I hope it turns out as good as yours!

[jackhammer 546]

Truely awsome story line and pics to follow up on.

 

Great job and we can tell you are quite proud with good reason

 

Your last 3 pics on July 31 should be sent to a gardening site or magazine publisher ,, Beautiful

 

 

Good luck

[horsesaver98 18]

Wow that looks really good

[Fun Engineer 859]

Great story and documentation Dave. Your tractor turned out great. You should be very proud.

[Coadster32 793]

Great job!! I agree that the engine swap was a great time saver and headache preventer. You could still use that block for some thing else. Nice idea on the decals. Nice to see other hobby help out in this one. Also great to see the tractor back at use as well. I agree....a 5 star thread!! Great job.  

[Ken B 3,165]

You did a great job on this one. Love the pictures also, excellent!

[Patrick Reese 40]

Great looking tractor! Thanks for sharing the process. Those pictures look like they are from a professional in a magazine, great job.

[Martin 2,133]

just found this thread, not sure why i missed it up to this point.......

 

very nice build and great documentation and pics......

[Anglo Traction 761]

Likewise, I somehow missed this.  From another 'Rattle Can Clan' member, your progress updates were a great read. 

The quality of your work, especially with the paintbrush for the lettering was very well executed and look's perfect. 

The result!, well what can you say...........one hell of a tidy worker !   

[953 nut 56,739]

  You have done a great job on the   and your post  

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to share you journey with us.

 

 

 

[dtallon 320]

The 854 got in a good workout last weekend getting the garden plowed up.  Very fun to do with this tractor, and satisfying considering this is the job I used as the excuse for buying this tractor.  The WH weights mounted inside the rear rims provide just enough ballast to pull the 8" plow without any traction problems, at least under these ground conditions.  Also have used it this fall for loosening up dirt for a couple neighbor's home improvement projects.  They are always amazed at how well this little tractor and plow can break up the hard ground.  

 

 

 

[gumshoes 200]

Real nice job.

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,178]

That looks like a very nice restore.   Nice paint job too!!!  I never would have guessed that rattle cans can make a tractor look so nice...   I think I'll paint my next worker with the same paint….THANKS FOR SHARING!! 

[Martin 2,133]

That looks like a very nice restore.   Nice paint job too!!!  I never would have guessed that rattle cans can make a tractor look so nice...   I think I'll paint my next worker with the same paint….THANKS FOR SHARING!! 

 

terry, dave had this tractor at the jacksonville show, he was across from us with the 'tub' cart hooked on the back of the 854. did you get to see it there? i couldn't remember who i was talking about it with, but it is a very nice tractor........

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,178]

OH!, I think I remember seeing that briefly…that was the cart made from a wheel borrow?….I think?   but yes very nice tractor…   and again, nice paint job!!

Edited November 22, 2013 by Terry M

[Martin 2,133]

the cart looked like that, but i think that the cart was factory made with that style 'tub'. not sure what make it was, theres some pics or a thread mentioning it here somewhere.....

[dtallon 320]

Thanks for the comments guys.  That cart was a Radio brand cart to start with.  Thankfully this tractor, and the cart for that matter, made it through the Tornado without a scratch.  At least I think it did.  I haven't had a chance to pull off the tarp and blanket over it, but I didn't see any sign of debris getting into my shed that far.  It should be fine where it is all winter as we get the house repaired.  

 

Dave

[zanepetty 117]

What kind of primers and paints did you use?

[CasualObserver 3,410]

I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to meet in Jacksonville... I too remember seeing that cart, but it was always in another row than I was!