I started researching Farmalls. I picked up an electronic copy of "How to Restore Classic Farmall Tractors: The Ultimate Do-it-Yourself Guide to Rebuilding". I spent a lot of time reading the book, but a lot of the content was foreign to me as I never owned a tractor, nor did I have any experience working on them.
Inevitably the most appealing tractor to me was the Cub. I began looking around craigslist and other marketplace sites. I knew that I wanted to buy semi-local, and Northeast Pennsylvania has (what seems to be) a farily decent amount of Farmalls sitting around at old farms. My journey took me to Berwick, Bloomsburg, Elysburg, Lake Ariel, Waymart, and Wyalusing. I saw a lot of Cubs along the way: patched together Cubs, rusted Cubs, inoperable Cubs, sputtering Cubs that shut off, Cubs that blew smoke, Cubs that knocked, heavily repainted "parade-only" Cubs, and well-painted and shiny Cubs. There was a lot of variety. And believe it or not, people want a lot of money for their Cubs up this way.
While looking for the right Cub, I started to take interest in the A's and Super A's. The tractor was a little bit bigger, and thus appealed to me a little more. I figured why not start seeing what's around. Like my experience with the Cubs, there were a variety of A's and SA's. A lot of rusted and leaky tractors led me to broaden my search range and budget. I knew that I wanted to get a tractor that was in mechanically and cometically good condition. Over the months, I found 2 tractors that I made offers on. I was unforunately too late to the table and they were already sold. After browsing in the Chambersburg, PA area, I found a beauty of a Super A.
The Super A had a lot of work done to it. Word was that it originally came off of a farm in the Gettysburg area where it's been sitting for years. Everything was right: new wheels and tires, new wiring, new gauges, new lights, new hoses, the head was removed and professionally cleaned and checked, valves were re-seated and replaced, the rest of motor was checked and in great shape, new pressure plate, yoke, and linkage in clutch.
New International Red paint and decals, new muffler, new fuel bowl and fuel line, carb refreshed, all new fluids, everything flushed, new battery, new battery box, and a new starter. I committed to buying it without even driving down to see it first!
Currently, I don't have any implements. My long-term plan is to get a front snow blade. In the meantime, I am looking for as much info as possible on my new Super A.
And for what it's worth - part of me still wants a Cub -- someday, it'll happen.
