New to me, 603

[Fun Engineer 859]

So I finally got around to taking a couple of pictures of my new 603.

This was a one owner tractor I picked up in Bay City, MI.

Has both deck and push blade in very good condition.

The gentleman that owned this lived on a small city lot and took very good care of it.

I haven't had a chance yet to look it over or try to get it running yet. Here's a few pictures.

[AMC RULES 37,126]

Looks awesome...   

still in it's original work clothes. 

[Lane Ranger 10,943]

I love it!   A great find and a very nice tractor.   It is still amazing after all these years how many people loved these tractors so much they kept them in nice condition!   People do not even keep their cars and trucks this nice after ten year let alone 50!

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,497]

Just goes to show you. They are still out there.

Glenn

[Fun Engineer 859]

The previous owner died 6 years ago. The tractor was kept in a shed in the back yard and has not been run since. The pictures are just as it was when I picked it up. I haven't had a chance to clean it yet.

Ive got to finish a couple projects before I can work on the horses. I've been finishing the drive and landscape around my new pole barn and cleaning some old growth white pine barn wood for finishing the interior.

Edited August 7, 2014 by Fun Engineer

[stevasaurus 22,700]

You have done well my friend...that horse looks great...how is the engine?? 

[rmaynard 15,419]

That's one nice little tractor. 

[neil 2,409]

I can see that it hasn't been used a great deal by how good the seat cusion is .

Awesome.

[Pullstart 62,758]

imagine the snow load that thing has pushed over the years!

[Ken B 3,164]

Awesome find on the 603. Are you planning to keep it original? Looks like with some cleaning and detailing and it will be ready for another 50 yrs..

 

I love what you plan to do with the interior of your pole barn. That kinda stuff is right up my alley. When I can't find authentic aged wood for a project I enjoy taking a new piece of wood and adding patina, bumps and bruise's, the right colors and the like to make it look like its 100 yrs. old. Some more info and pics of what you are doing in the barn would be pretty cool if you ask me.

[dclarke 4,032]

Definitely a nice 603 you picked up, Dave..... And I'm with Ken, we're gonna need to see more pics of what you're doin in the barn. 

[Fun Engineer 859]

I'm very happy to have finally found an original in such great condition Glenn. For now, my plans are to clean it up and leave it as is Ken B. It's had a light coat of color sprayed on it, don't know why as there's no rust. Will know more once I have time to clean it up.

She turns over and seams to have good compression Stevasaurus. Need to clean the fuel system and see what she can do. I get a big smile on my face just looking at that seat cushion Neil. Here's a few pics of my barn so far Ken B and Denny.

Outside 28x40

The back 12 feet is divided into two equal sized rooms. One is a guest room, the other a paint booth.

I've insulated the floor with 1 inch foam and double bubble with a foil inner membrane and 3/4 subfloor.

The barn wood is going on two of the walls in the guest room or as we call it , the bunkhouse. Some of the wood that's 5/4 and 6/4 will be kept for furniture projects. The rest will be used on the inside of the barn on the wall that separates the two rooms from the storage area.

As you can see, I've got a little bit of work to get done before winter sets in. This barn project has curtailed my tractor projects. With the completion of the barn and paint booth I'll be able to catch up on tractor projects this winter :)

Edited August 7, 2014 by Fun Engineer

[Fun Engineer 859]

Concrete two weeks ago.

[CasualObserver 3,408]

Wow!  That's got to be one of the nicest original 603s I've seen.

 

The shop is coming along nicely too.  Very envious.  Trying to plan up something similar in the next two-three years myself.  I really like the little covered approach on the back mandoor.

[Fun Engineer 859]

Wow!  That's got to be one of the nicest original 603s I've seen.

 

The shop is coming along nicely too.  Very envious.  Trying to plan up something similar in the next two-three years myself.  I really like the little covered approach on the back mandoor.

Thanks CasualObserver

That's the access to the "bunkhouse" and looks out over our back yard.

The paint booth is accessed from inside the barn.

[speedyleedy 205]

Great Find on the 603 she is really sweet & your barn is every man's dream !

[shallowwatersailor 3,213]

That 603 looks so nice! Clean it, and Clearcoat it as is!

 

The building is to die for!!!

[Fun Engineer 859]

Well here are some updated photographs. I still don't have the time yet to get it running but I will shortly.

Before with years of caked on dust/oil/grease

After (now all that grease is in my new stone driveway)

The PO sprayed a light coat of color on the tractor and wheels

Hopefully it helped preserve the metal as there is hardly any surface rust.

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,330]

At least one of us is pouring concrete ... Lol looking good on both

[Fun Engineer 859]

So here's an update on the 603 and the 45th Parallel Garage.

I couldn't get the tecky to fire and in doing so I broke the recoil spring. With the help of a couple of guys here I bought a new after market carburetor on-line along with a couple of NOS recoil springs. (can't hurt to have an extra) I also wanted a new fuel bowl and filter so I ordered one with some extra gaskets from RCPW. Installed the spring and carb and she fired right up. I've spent a couple of nights trying to adjust the carb to run well. I've gone as far as I can with it. At least it runs so I plowed some snow today with it to see how it would perform. Not too bad Maybe someone can help me adjust it at the show this spring.
 

I also ordered a new air filter as the old one was pretty much useless.

I noticed that there is little to no clearance between the filter cover and the grill. Is this normal? I haven't looked but I don't believe that there is any adjustment to slide the engine back some. I also noticed that the bottom of the hood/grill is gone and the PO didn't have it secured very well. Here is a picture of my Ranger hood. Is this correct? If it is I'll braze one onto the 603.


Now on to the 45th Parallel Garage. Mrs. Funengineer finished her decorating and we now have an additional guest room. My kids will love it.


I'm also installing some of the extra barn wood I had left over on the garage wall that separate's the paint booth-bunkhouse from the garage area. I'll post pictures of that when it warms up and I can finish it.

Edited February 9, 2015 by Fun Engineer

[squonk 41,016]

Awesome Horse!  They should have built those Tecky recoil springs out of titanium!   

[Old Ways 30]

Wow! I am amazed in the condition that thing's in. I'm drooling over here!

[dclarke 4,032]

Very nice room, Dave.... That is one NICE garage!

[Fun Engineer 859]

Thanks Denny.

All the while we were working and raising kids I wanted a space to store things and work on my projects. Now we have plenty of room for storage and extra guests.

Our attached garage is great for most of the projects I work on but didn't leave me much room for storage. Also our house is just a two bedroom which makes it tough to house the family or friends when they visit. So the new garage/barn fits the bill. I'm looking forward to spring when I can get out there and reorganize it. It's been too cold here the last few weeks to do anything outside.

Sent from my tractor seat.

[WHGuy413 2,683]

I'm a little late to this party but that is one nice original machine. Wish at least 1 of my 603's looked that nice when I got them.