PeacemakerJack 10,738 #1 Posted August 16, 2017 (edited) If you have followed the "875-Iron Horse" thread in the restorations section of the forum, you know that my dad's first garden tractor was a . We finished the rectification of that tractor and have decided that it has worked hard for a lot of years and has earned a much deserved rest. Dad will use it periodically for light duty but mainly for shows, parades, etc. For anyone who knows me, I love GT plowing. Dad periodically plows with us and although the 875 is up to the task, we just don't want to put the wear on a fine resto. So, I began to hunt for a tractor for him. In his mid sixties, I wanted to locate something with hydro lift. Dad likes plowing with a gear jammer and so that was another parameter I had to keep in mind for my hunt. Because of dad's longstanding use of his 875, it had to be a horse, of course. Enter Clyde!!! Back in the spring @Shynon posted this beast for sale. Tom, you can feel free to post here any background about the tractor. I know it has been repowered and everything on it is functional. It had dad's name written all over it. So, I decided to purchase it for his birthday! I had to wait till the Portage show to pick it up since that was when Tom's path would cross with mine. the cool thing is that my dad came down to that show unexpectedly. He walked around with me and saw "his" tractor there, before he knew it was his! It was in this spot when he spotted it and we talked about it for awhile. He had no clue that these were ever made. My buddies @WHX12 @Achto @stevasaurus and @Rp.wh were all aware of it and helped me keep it a secret(no small feat for me!). Thanks guys! Here Zach is enjoying a little seat time once we got it home. It has some scuffs and scratches from 50 plus years of life but it is in what I would call "perfect plow tractor shape". Looks nice but you aren't afraid to use it! Here it sits with some of the other members of my stable. Dad turns 65 tomorrow and so the long anticipated day is almost here. We are going out with him for dinner on Friday night. I'm gonna try to have mom get him out of the house mid afternoon. Then I can bring it over and put it in the garage with a ribbon on it! When we get back from supper--SURPRISE! I sure hope he likes it. I wanted to have a set of AG's installed on the back but my fridge broke down two weeks ago and there went my $250! Oh well, there is always Christmas. Stay tuned for the big reveal... Edited August 16, 2017 by PeacemakerJack 12 13 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,776 #2 Posted August 16, 2017 If for some strange reason he doesn't like it I got dibs....yikes I sound like someone else we know here...... Can you swap out a set of ags from another tractor just for the presentation? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,738 #3 Posted August 16, 2017 Unfortunately all the AG's I have are 12" rims. I don't have any "Big Wheel" AG's yet... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,042 #4 Posted August 16, 2017 What a great story and great looking tractor. Can I adopt you? 3 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,776 #5 Posted August 16, 2017 16 minutes ago, Racinbob said: Can I adopt you Sorry Bob I got dibs on that too! I figures that but though maybe you had some bigger ones off a Cub. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,707 #6 Posted August 16, 2017 I will say it again Josh...HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSH'S DAD. 5 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,738 #7 Posted August 16, 2017 25 minutes ago, WHX12 said: ...thought maybe you had some bigger ones off a Cub. I wish but Cub Cadet never made a big wheel GT to my knowledge. Case had their 400 and 600 series big wheels but I've never owned one of those. I'm eventually picking up a set for Blackbeard but I haven't done that yet either... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,127 #8 Posted August 16, 2017 How could he possibly not like it? Certainly did clean up nicely. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rp.wh 1,103 #9 Posted August 16, 2017 5 hours ago, WHX12 said: If for some strange reason he doesn't like it I got dibs... Hah oh no you dont Ryan does had that before he even seen that bad boy. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,496 #10 Posted August 17, 2017 He's going to love that 953. I now have two myself. They're beginning to be my favorite Horse. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Molon_Labe 731 #11 Posted August 17, 2017 What a great present for your dad! You could always put a set of R4 tires on the old girl 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,071 #12 Posted August 17, 2017 16 hours ago, Racinbob said: Can I adopt you? I would love to have another 953 for my birthday! Great gift! 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,738 #13 Posted August 17, 2017 15 minutes ago, Molon_Labe said: What a great present for your dad! You could always put a set of R4 tires on the old girl Those certainly would be an option but the tire that most interests me right now is this one... It looks more like a true agricultural tire versus the commercial look, especially on a tractor of that vintage... 4 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,071 #14 Posted August 17, 2017 I agree that Ags look best on the 953. The originals were 6.40 X 15 but I'v seen 5.90 X 15 used as well as 6.70 X 15 and 7.60 X 15. The 5.90s look OK but a bit small, the 7.60s look tough and fill the wheel well like the R4s. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shynon 7,459 #15 Posted August 18, 2017 @PeacemakerJack the tractor actually came from a trade from Lowell, I remember pulling the head, as I always do with a new to me tractor, and found a big ding inside the cylinder wall. I was going to rebuild until I found the same kind of a ding on the crankshaft journal. The current engine was and industrial 10hp Kohler I picked up from and ag service. Was a great runner. Trans was opened up to find some severely worn bevel gears, which I replaced cleaned out the trans and put back together. Ross gear was not in the best of shape, bought one off put in new balls and retaining rings. Engine pulley crankshaft hole was egg shaped with a piece of shim stock trying to fill the gap, found one on a parted out tractor in a little better shape. I had 6.70-15 goodyear ags on it with inside weights which I kept for my 1054. New lift cable. Have pulled a 10" plow to me seemed a little underpowered, also Terry pulled an 8" plow. It is a run tractor to cruise the shows with. Hope your dad enjoys it. Maybe someday we will meet up plowing. 4 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,738 #16 Posted August 18, 2017 Thanks Tom for the information, that will provide a good base from which to work. I'm happy to have any information posted here of this tractor further back, if it is known... Thanks also for the pics with the AG's on it, looks nice. I know they aren't original but I like the deeper dish GT 14 rims on it now even more than the correct depth originals, but that is my taste. Tomorrow we will give it to Dad! I'll have a link to a video and pictures here with his reaction. 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TravelinJavelin 620 #17 Posted August 18, 2017 what a great thread! LONG LIVE THE 953/1054'S! its official my favorite wheel horse tractor! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,738 #18 Posted August 19, 2017 Dad was certainly surprised! He had no clue that we had gotten him the tractor. He really seems to like it--sorry to all those who called dibs. I showed him all your comments and he got a kick out of them. Happy 65th dad! Surrounded by the grandkids opening the typical gifts. Dad read the note before pulling off the tarp. Thanks to uncle Roger for bringing it up secretly into the garage while we were eating supper! Looking it over with great surprise! He likes it! Thanks to all who contributed to make this a reality. I'll be posting a video link here soon. I'll Also be sure to keep updating as we do odds and ends to it like AG'S, seat work, paint the rear rims,etc Then he took Zachary for a ride just like he did with me on the 875 over 35 years ago! I love the legacy... 9 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amcwheel85 2,059 #19 Posted August 19, 2017 Awesome! Thanks for all the great photos! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
19richie66 17,500 #20 Posted August 19, 2017 That is so cool. Looks like he is wearing a big smile. Good job! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,127 #21 Posted August 19, 2017 Congratulations Dad... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TravelinJavelin 620 #22 Posted August 19, 2017 excellent family time! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,707 #24 Posted August 19, 2017 Great pictures...thanks for sharing Josh. You can't beat that WH Smile. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,738 #25 Posted August 20, 2017 Dad brought Clyde up to the Heritage Farm Day and drove it around some watching the plowing. I was so bummed that I didn't have it set up for him so he could try it--soon. Zach had a blast riding with Grampie and checking it all out as we were plowing. Clyde looks right at home in the fields, doesn't he? 4 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
