[alan]

A small update: I’ve got the mower deck, it’s hardly been used. It’s now been stripped and undercoated and the steel work is so good that it hasn’t required any filler or straightening out.

Attachments:

1. 

[alan]

As Geoff mentions the pre-printed log sheets at Newark were really good. The information about each exhibit that was contained in the show guide was also printed on the log sheet so visitors didn’t have to keep referring back to the guide to find out about each exhibit, it was a good idea.

[alan]

I think it’s fair to say that we had a great time at Newark. If you have never been then it’s also a good place to meet friends, club members and also meet new folk too.

I did manage to get the Elec-Trak tractor there and amazingly found three show visitors who also own Elec-Trak tractors – it’s worthwhile going to shows as you never know who or what may turn up!

Lots of photos all compiled into a slideshow on Youtube:

[alan]

I have now got the mower deck electric motors from Evesham from where I got the tractor from a couple of years ago, should have got the motors at the same time but didn’t.

It’s nice to have the original motors to rebuild the mower deck with and hopefully all will work.

The motors are quite large and weigh 6kg each, I’ve had them plugged in and they work! Just got to rebuild everything now.

Attachments:

1. 

[alan]

I can’t say I know anything about seeders but I looked up what little info I could and found that:
A 1939 catalogue noted that complete with a marker, the No3 drill with a 3 quart capacity hopper cost £4 19s and 9d (old pre-decimal UK money – pounds, shillings and pence).

On the old VHGMC forum there are some photos but I cannot tell one seeder from another, however a couple of photos may interest you, not sure who posted them to the forum though but thanks!

I wonder if anyone else has any other info?

Attachments:

1. 
2. 

[alan]

Hi

I recall that these are a pretty standard Wheel Horse steering set-up. A shaft sitting in bushes runs between the chassis rails from the bottom of the steering column to the front of the tractor?

Parts diagrams will be online at Toro but as Silverfox says a few photos of the exact problem would be great and we can then recommend a solution.

[alan]

Inching along slowly and I’ve nearly finished the Elec-Trak.

This weekend we actually started applying the decals, they make a world of difference to the machine and are excellent quality – thanks to a fellow tractor enthusiast for taking the time and trouble to recreate them. Just the front decals to apply now.

I have entered the tractor in at Newark in November so not long to go now! I haven’t been for a couple of years so looking forward to going and taking some machines.

Attachments:

1. 
2. 
3. 

[alan]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Mower deck: The tractor is complete as it stands and the mower deck could be purchased as an optional extra. However it has had a deck fitted at some point. I sort of know where the deck possibly is although I do have the original pair of 36v motors that power the twin blades i.e. one motor per blade.

The tractor has as standard the wiring for the mower motors, this consists of a couple of wires and connectors dangling under the tractor chassis that just plug into the motors. The deck lift mechanism is complete and working and the electrics work too. The gearbox drive motor has to be running in order for the mower deck to be able to be switched on, guess it’s a safety device.

I’d like some of the other 36v attachments to go with the tractor, but will never find any, such as the hedge trimmer, grass strimmer and chainsaw. These plug into the dash socket so the tractors battery pack powers the tools. The welder would be good fun too!

I’ll keep this updated as I get the tractor finished.

[alan]

This may be of some help although I know little about Atco.

I just had a look in the 70 Years of Garden Machinery book and it says that the 1959 catalogue had the new 14″ and 17″ cylinder mowers with Atco-Villiers AV3 four-strokke engines. Spec included improved kickstart and simplified cutting height adjustment. Front roller was equipped with a scraper.

Also a link to some Atco info:

http://www.oldlawnmowerclub.co.uk/book/export/html/197

[alan]

I think a paint colour guide would be really useful and a great idea. Excellent!

A couple of things:

I have just had trouble with RAL codes with that yellow tractor of mine! I was given a RAL code from an American tractor site, yet it was wildly the wrong shade/colour (found out prior to mixing thankfully). If there was a note to say how the code had been come by i.e. “It was matched from an original piece of 1971 tractor”, or “I used it because someone else had matched it and used it on another machine”, or “This is a match for the factory paint code”, then it would have been incredibly useful.

I also had difficulty with my Cub Cadet tractors a few years back. The colours used are Vapormatic JCB Industrial Yellow, and Halfords Volkswagen Candy White. I couldn’t even guess at RAL (or Pantone) codes but the colours chosen were correct – and it still looks great.

I guess that it doesn’t matter what the paint source (or paint shade name is) as long as it solves the problem. Even better is being able to provide such information to others for future reference.

[alan]

Thanks for the input everyone, very helpful and good to have different ideas about how it may – or may not – perform. It might be a complete disaster!

I came across the Merry Tiller plough at York Machinery Sale, nobody wanted it and I purchased it and the accompanying wheels for something like £20. Oddly the chap that bought the Merry Tiller in the previous lot didn’t want the plough – perhaps he already had one. And that’s how I came to have the plough – it was either me or the scrap man!

I do have the proper Brinly plough for the John Deere (also fits my Cub Cadet 100) but I’ve never used it or even had it attached to either tractor – it’s been in the loft for many many years, I’ve just taken a photo of it in the dust and cobwebs. I also have a photo of a John Deere model on my shelf with the same plough attached to show what it should vaguely be like.

Back to the Merry Tiller plough, I just intend to break up some good topsoil that was put in a garden last week so nothing difficult for it. I did try it in the field where the grass has recently been cut and it dug in well and was fine. However as Terrano rightly commented it probably wouldn’t be the best choice for where the going was a bit tough.

Photos of the end result Geoff? Perhaps, maybe, we shall see! But it’s all good fun and great to use the machines we all have.

Attachments:

1. 
2. 

[alan]

Thanks Ray.

I have indeed been looking through the myelec-traks website and been in touch several times with the owner. It’s a fantastic website of info isn’t it? Sadly I’ve spent far too many hours reading it all! It’s got information from the factory including all the service bulletins, recalls, brochures, adverts etc. If only all machines had such a comprehensive library of information like this it’d be so much easier!

There is also nearly all the weekly newsletters sent out to staff, so there is almost a weekly update of how the factory ran in it’s short 4 years or so.

Having looked through the recall notices it appears that two repairs/modifications to my tractor have been done as recalls – and more importantly it says why they were done, they weren’t just random repairs. Good to know!

[alan]

Update:

Having met VHGMC members at Newby Hall last weekend and been asked how the Elec-Trak is doing (or not doing as the case is), here is an update.

So far the restoration has been a bit slow, don’t think it’ll beat your nine years though Charlie but it might get close at this rate!

As there are no surviving paint records from the GE factory and USA Elec-Trak machine paint colour varies slightly, I have had the paint colour matched and I am awaiting the paint arriving, unfortunately there’s nothing to apply it to yet. But there’s nothing like being prepared is there?

I have however painted the wheel hubs in the white enamel and put the tyres on, steering wheel is polished too.

Attachments:

1. 

[alan]

Thanks Charlie, yes there was a very good turnout of a wide range of machines. I also found it good that there was generally only one of each machine so it looked varied, interesting and colourful too (you know what it’s like when there’s a row of grey fergies all looking the same!).

The stationery engines were excellent and had many engines from small hp ones to wagon mounted ones. Stationary engine folk did well in the rain keeping their engines running for the public.

I’ve had to compile the rest of my show photos for someone (who typically didn’t have a camera), there are wagons, vintage and new tractors, a few cars and Landrovers so they can be viewed on Youtube also at: http://youtu.be/8_soU2N68H4

[alan]

From looking at the photos I cannot see anything missing.

Normally the silver pulley on the engine would turn all the other pulleys to drive the machine forwards in the same manner i.e. clockwise rotation for all the pulleys and belts etc. For reverse mode the friction disc behind the red pulley would mesh in with a groove on the silver pulley therefore clockwise from the engine pulley becomes anti-clockwise drive for the gearbox.

It looks to me as if the friction disc may have worn down and may no longer be meshing in with the silver pulley, or else the replacement silver pulley is of the wrong dimensions and doesn’t touch the friction disc.

The lever with the black knob and silver button, top right in my photo, links to the back of the red pulley – there may be a slight variation between some of the machines though.

I no longer have my Bolens to check but have some photos.

Attachments:

1. 

[Author]

Posts