This is the 1953 “G” that we completed for Expo XV at Peosta, Iowa, in 2005. The events surrounding the application for this tractor contributed to the inspiration to assemble a tractor at Expo XVI the following year.

First, I asked my employees if they were up for the idea. Initially they were leery, but did agree that it would be a neat experience and a great way to show people what all goes into a high-quality restoration. Then, I called to see if the Two-Cylinder Club would be interested in such a thing.

Our display in the Amana Colonies before we began assembling the 1937 “A”. The tractor slowly took shape over the course of the show.

The next step was to choose the right tractor for the event. I had a 1937 “A” on our waiting list that belonged to a customer who had also become a good friend. He was more than happy to allow us to use his tractor at the event, and even stood with us at the Expo while we assembled his tractor and told others about his experience working with us.

We arrived at the Amanas with a rolling chassis and a lot of parts. We installed the block and assembled the engine. The radiator was assembled with a new core and installed on the tractor. Then we put the shifter in and installed the Behlen overdrive. Eventually we had what looked like a complete tractor.

Overall, things went pretty smoothly, but we had some trouble when we attempted to start the tractor. It seemed that the timing was off and we couldn’t figure out how to correct it during the show. We could get the tractor to fire, but it just wouldn’t run. We were all disappointed, but we still considered the whole experience a success. When we got home, we dug deeper into the problem and found that there were some original timing marks on the cam gear that were incorrect! The marks had been lined up with the original marks on the crank during reassembly, but that caused the valves to be out of time. We then timed the valves by finding top-dead center, and set the valves accordingly. Once this adjustment was made, the tractor started and ran perfectly. Since that experience, we always double-check the valve timing regardless of the timing marks; and, needless to say, we have never had this happen again.

After the first day of the show, the majority of the mechanical components of the tractor had been installed.

Later that summer, I got another call from Jack. He thanked me again for what we had done at the Expo, and wanted to know if we would be interested in doing it again at Expo XVII (2007) in Waterloo. It was a lot of work to make everything come together for the 2006 Expo, but it was also great experience and we received tremendous feedback on what we had done. Based on that, it was easy to accept the invitation to do it again. During the 2006 event, there was one individual who hung around and watched our progress on the “A” more than the others. By the end of the show, he asked me if we would update the restoration on his 1938 “B”. After the call from Jack, I decided to call Bob Benson and ask if he would be interested in having us assemble his tractor in Waterloo at the Expo. He was excited about the prospect of watching his tractor come back to life before his eyes at the show. Bob brought the tractor up to our shop in the fall of 2006, and we had it ready for reassembly when we arrived in Waterloo in June of 2007. The previous restoration work left the tractor looking pretty good but, over the years, the tractor had developed several leaks, so we ended up basically stripping the tractor down to the bare bones and starting over. By the time we got to the Expo, the tractor had new seals and gaskets, everything had been sandblasted and painted, the wheels had been painstakingly repaired, and the rolling chassis was ready to accept the rest of its parts and made whole again.

The 1937 “A” on display at the Minnesota State Fair after being assembled at the Two-Cylinder Expo several weeks earlier.	Before tractors are painted at Lee J. Sackett, Inc., mechanical repairs are done. This is the 1938 “B” in the shop getting axle seals and bearings replaced. The “530” on the right had been stripped down in preparation for sandblasting, and was completed in early 2008. It will be part of our Expo display this year.

A large enclosed trailer is the only way to go when you need to transport painted tractor parts and the tractor chassis.

Our display was a little more significant in Waterloo. The backdrop of our assembly space consisted of six other tractors that we had restored for other customers. The “A” that we assembled the previous year made an encore appearance, along with a “530”, “70”, “730” Diesel, “730” gas, and the very last “BWH” built. As in 2006, the tractor went together well. However, we had some trouble getting it started again. This time the tractor ran on only one cylinder. We tried several remedies, but finally concluded that there was something wrong with the magneto. I still drove the tractor out of the Hippodrome and into the trailer, but the drive back to Minnesota was consumed with thoughts of what was wrong with that little “B”. When we arrived home, we were talking about the problem with another one of our employees and he immediately had a solution: He reminded us that the model of magneto on this tractor fires every time on one side, but only every other time on the other. We removed the mag, spun it 180 degrees, re-installed it, and the problem was solved! Once again, we learned a great lesson. I was so relieved that it was such a simple fix, but it reminded me that you should never forget about the obvious solutions.

During our experience at Expo XVII last year, we met another gentleman who has become a great customer and friend of ours. He bought a 1936 “B”, and last fall I traveled out to the farm where he purchased the tractor and hauled it back to our shop. We are now preparing that tractor for assembly at this year’s Expo, which is again at Waterloo. The tractor is currently getting an engine overhaul, and at the same time we are going through the entire rear end and transmission. The fuel tanks have been sealed, and have been primed, sanded, and are now ready for paint, along with the hood. The round-spoke wheels are ready for paint, too. The new tires are on the way, so we’re feeling pretty good about where we stand with the project. With any luck, all of the tractor parts will be painted and sitting in boxes well before we depart for Waterloo.

The 1938 “B” as it arrived at Expo XVII in Waterloo. The tractors in the background provided inspiration as the team worked to assemble the “B”.	Gary Jacobsma and Jason Betts working together to install the drawbar on the “B”. Jason was the lead mechanic on the project.

In the shop, the 1936 “B” sits next to a 1935 and 1942 “B”. Both of these tractors have had the rear ends completely gone through, and we’re rebuilding the engines right now. Those two tractors will be part of our backdrop at the show. We have the mounted corn picker for the ’35, but I’m not sure it will be ready for Expo this year. Readers might have to wait until 2009 to see the ’35 with the picker mounted on it. In another corner of the shop we’re reassembling a 1967 110 Garden Tractor, whose restoration rivals that of its bigger counterparts. It belongs to the same owner as the 1942 “B”, and will be coming along for the ride as well. Up in our showroom sits a beautiful “720” Diesel that we completed earlier this winter. It is just begging to make the trip with us, so I suppose we’ll let it come along too. I’m also talking with a couple of other customers who have already taken delivery of their tractors, and I think we’ll have a 2510 Gas Power Shift and an early “530” along as well. We might even bring my wife’s grandfather’s 1941 “H” with us, if there’s room in one of the trailers. That restoration is currently being updated in the shop.

From the stands in the Hippodrome, the entire arena was visible. The six tractors in the foreground were displayed on behalf of our customers, while the nearly completed “B” is almost ready for decals.	This 1936 “B” was purchased at an auction on this farm in Minnesota. The new owner made arrangements to store the tractor on the farm until we were able to bring the tractor to our shop. The white tank was used to fuel the tractor, and we drove it onto the trailer that way. This will be the “assembly project” tractor at Expo XVIII in June.

The last tractor we want to bring along is an unrestored 1938 “B”. The tractor is just like it was when our customer and I picked it up at the farm where it sat for years. It should serve as a reminder of where some of the restoration projects begin, and help to show the amount of work that goes into making them “Expo Quality.” All in all, it should be a grand display. We’ll be happy to answer questions as we work on assembling the “B”, and look forward to talking with attendees in June. I’d really like to assemble an unstyled “G” at next year’s Expo; so, if anybody has one that needs to be restored, stop over and let us know! It’s never too early to think about next year. After all, this is becoming a new Expo tradition.

Bob Benson chose to take off his shoes before he got on his freshly painted “B” for this photo. That’s the author in the center, and Gary Jacobsma on the right. Gary manages the Waltham, Minnesota, shop, and is in charge of finding all the needed parts.

About | Contact Us | Membership | Events | Products | Links | What's New

© 2008 Two-Cylinder^® Club