First rifde on my "new" 1940 Farmall A !

[cabinetman]

Hi all. Newvie poster here. I found this surprisingly well sorted 1940 A up here in Mid-Coastal Maine and the price was very reasonable....well below what it could have demanded. Right next to it, btw,is another one but it's see a better day but would be suitable for a restoration or as a parts tractor for mine. I could not bring myself to have two in my yard, however, so the pretty one came home. When I first was introduced to it by the buyer, it was literally zero degrees having hit a low of -11 that night. The seller walked up to it, applied his jumper box, and simply touched the starter rod and voila! IT roared to life like it had been in my garage all night long. I wrote him a check right then and there. He demonstrated driving it with snow almost up to a foot without any issues at all. I paid him and called a flat-bed company a few miles up the road and before you know it, the little red tractor was in my driveway. I felt like I'd just bought another MGB I was so excited. I had decided long ago that I would buy a tractor to restore when i finally moved to Maine and this was the culmination of that "dream".
Anyway I finally became confident enough to run it and decided that today I'd take it for its first ride. It fired right up, I hobbled into the pilot's seat (i don't "climb" much anymore.....I'll be installing a two-step assist eventually). Put it in gear and here's what happened:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDt-rez7UfA

I know, I know..big deal. You've all had so much experience with your tractors but for me it was an amazing experience. This is really a very powerful machine in a compact form. It has no amenities and everything is really raw, noisey, demanding your attention. You' become one with the unit and when it all comes together it's just quite the experience. I can't wait to share this with my grand kids and put carts, logs from the woods, and maybe even parades? Who knows.

Now I'm going to go through each system and updating some of the connections, changing the fluids, replacing failed parts like the oil pressure gauge and lubing the entire chassis after changing the zerk fittings.

I'll look forward to utililizing this forum to answer the myriad of questions I'm sure to have. I did, btw, buy the maintenance and parts books for this "A". Thanks for looking!

[ricky racer]

Oh yeah, you're hooked!! It's an awesome feeling the first time you get old iron running and get to go for a ride!!

[SamsFarm]

Looked like you was enjoying that ride!

[tinnerjohn]

That's a good looking and great sounding A. Time spent with the Grandkids and the tractor will be remembered by both of you forever!

John

[69ranger]

Pretty exciting to take that first ride.. Glad you are enjoying your new hobby.