Maintenance schedule

Here is a running list of the regular maintenance to be done on the Fergie.

• Every 10 hours: Change the air filter oil
• Every 100 hours: clean and oil the distributor cap

Changing the fan belt

Shredded my fan belt a couple of days ago. It hadn't been changed since at least 1965. I picked up a replacement at my local tractor dealer. This one matched the old one. You can read the specs on the photo.

The warning signs came slowly. The first sign was that my starter light stayed on when the engine was running. Usually, it comes on after you turn the ignition, but before you press the starter button. I thought it was some wiring. The next sign was when the fluid in the radiator started to boil. That's when I checked the radiator and discovered a shredded fan belt.

The fan belt drives drives the radiator fan (shown at right) and the dynamo (better know in North America as the alternator) shown in the lower right of picture. That's why my starter light wouldn't go out. Without the dynamo turning, the electrical system was drawing on the battery, which causes the starter light to go on. Without the fan going, the radiator overheated as the fluid boiled.

The alternator mounting is designed so that when you loosen it, it swings to slacken the fan belt. All you need is a 1/4" wrench and and ratchet set. The belt then goes over the fan blades one at a time and around the pulleys without too much difficulty. You need to tighten the tension using the alternator after 5 minutes.

My Red Fergie

A family heirloom, it's been bruised, battered, and neglected by generations, but it's built like a tank. It's almost completely made of cast iron. You have to make a special effort to kill these.

Model: TEA20 (1948)
Serial # 042191

Alterations
Not for the purist in antique tractors, there have been numerous practical alterations made just to keep the thing running and hauling. Alterations include:

Pre-1965:

• Hood and fenders painted fire engine red, the way a Fergie should be! :-)
  
• Electric push-button starter added
• 12 V battery kit
  
• PTO - damaged and capped

Post 1965:

• Cracked radiator replaced circa 1970 from salvage
  
• Light's rewired and replaced circa 1990
  
• Front grill damaged circa 1990
• Rear tire changed circa 1990
• Break lining replaced 2008 (a costly repair - apparantly, leaky break linings are common); electrical system rewired; air filter patched and filled.
  
• Fan belt replaced yesterday (I think it was still the original fan belt)
  

Future fixes
Any advice on these problems will be greatly appreciated:

• Replace rusted out muffler (its a noisy beast)
• Clear out the gunk on the engine and paint over the rust
  
• Add trailer hitch for hooking under the differential;
  
• Fix sticky clutch; it doesn't always disengage completely
  
• Fix PTO; this is necessary for accesseries (see below!)

Accessories
No money for this until the house is built, but these will be sought

• Find snowblower attachment
  
• Add skidder attachment for hauling logs
• Get slash blade attachment for hacking through brush