Two Cylinder Magazine

Restoration by Uken

Sprucing Up a No. “101” Tractor

Being in the restoration business, I have had the opportunity to work on many common tractors, several low-production models, and a few rare and unique tractors. In October, Deere & Company contacted me about a particularly special unit that needed some refurbishing so it would be functional and could be put on display. The item, a No. “101” Tractor, was designed primarily for cultivating. I had seen this tractor a couple of times when I was at Deere for other projects, and thought it would be great to have redone and put on display. I was told that at some time in the future this would probably be done.

The No. “101”, as it was when the author picked it up at Deere & Company. It looked like a fresh “barn find” in need of repair, but certainly within the realm of reason.

After several years, Deere decided that it was time to have the “101” brought back to life to prevent any further deterioration. I have done some work for them in the past and, since I had already examined the “101”, they asked me if I would be interested in doing the repairs.

I wasn’t sure if it was something I wanted to take on. The one thing that had me leery of doing the work is that the tractor is built on a Model “L” chassis, and I do not know much about them. After thinking about it for a couple of days, I decided it would be an interesting project and may not take a lot of work to get it to the degree of repair Deere wanted. Besides, it would be a learning opportunity and a once-in-a-lifetime chance. So, it was off to East Moline, Illinois, to pick up the “101” and get started on the refurbishing.

Many readers may have never heard of the “101”, or even seen one, as they were an experimental project only and never went into production. What is a “101” Tractor? It is a unit that may have been first constructed from a Model “Y”, judging from old photos. The Models “L” and “LA” were also used in the construction later on. There were also several other tractors that were converted to a unique configuration over the years to try and create a specialized unit. The purpose was to provide a small tractor with optimum operator vision for cultivating small crops, as well as plowing and bedding. Theo Brown was the person who had the idea, and was directly involved in having many variations built and tried on several crops in different parts of the country. There are reports of units being tested in Iowa and Texas, and at other test farms. The overall opinion of the “101” was that is was a viable concept and performed reasonably well for the farmers who used them, but problems arose with each version. Power was a big factor, along with adequate traction. Other problems included hydraulics, steering, and cooling. Many of these problems are what may have kept it from being produced. With one problem fixed, another seemed to arise and had to be dealt with, according to Archives reports.

The unusual riveted fan belt was removed for preservation, and it was replaced with a conventional V-belt.

Deere worked with the basic design, changing it many times to make the ideal cultivating tractor. Various John Deere Tractors were modified; even those of other manufacturers were used in an attempt to create what would be the best design. Work on the No. “101” was at its peak from 1942 through 1950, but the general concept of a “Tractivator” that could also handle a few other implements was bounced around from the teens through the early 1960s. Changes in farming methods and previously unimagined flexibility in smaller row-crop and utility tractors has apparently put the matter to rest. One might wonder, however, if there’s still a place for Theo Brown’s idea in some developing nations struggling with food shortages. On that note, could there again be a need for non-diesel engines that burn low-grade fuels?

The intake ports were plugged with rust and debris.

The “101” that I was working on had a Hercules engine, so it had to be related to an early Model “L”. Later versions were crafted from the John Deere Models “L” and “LA”, and these engines had more power than the earlier units. One of the problems was getting enough power to operate the implements at the proper speeds in the field. Several different power plants were tried in the tractor, one being an air-cooled Wisconsin VE-4 Engine, the same type that was used on the pick-up hay baler. The Wisconsin engine didn’t have as much torque as the Deere engines at lower rpm, and also created too much heat, in turn causing fuel problems. The Wisconsin engine was modified with a different intake manifold and pistons to increase power and low-end torque, and to produce less heat in an effort to prevent hard starting and fuel vapor lock. The Wisconsin engine did perform better with the modifications, but the John Deere engines still proved to be the best choice for a power plant because of their low-end torque and horsepower.

The cylinder walls looked very good,
but the valves were stuck solid.

With the tractor in the shop, I studied the “101” and looked at many old photos to determine what had been changed over the years, and what was all missing from the unit I was working on. There had been many changes over the years during the testing and building of the tractors. I needed to decide what time frame this particular unit fell into with the pictures I had, and to keep it as original as possible. I didn’t want to put something on it that was on later-built models.

Since I am not familiar with the Moline-built models, I called Jim May from Northfield, Minnesota, and told him what I was working on to see if he could help me locate the parts I was lacking, and with anything else that may help in the repair of the project. Jim is on the Technical Council for Two-Cylinder magazine, and he proved to be a great help for me. When I told him what I was working on, he was very interested and asked if he could come and take a look at it, and would even deliver some of the parts that I needed.

The valve seats looked hopeless, but actually did clean up well enough to use.

It was fun to see the look of awe on his face as he studied the “101”. What I learned from his visit was helpful and interesting. This “101” has an early Hercules “NXA” Engine and a Model A Ford transmission. Some of the other parts were from a stationary engine or combine engine unit. The rear axle and final drive units are still a mystery, as there are no casting numbers and they do not look like anything we’ve seen from another tractor. Most experimental parts have a letter “X” with another letter and some numbers on the castings, but there were no markings anywhere that I could see. There is a large weight on the inside of each of the rear wheels. There were some notes in the paper documentation I have about adding these weights for better traction. The notes also mentioned fluid in one of the rear tires to gain enough traction for plowing, as there was too much slippage. The wheel weights and fluid reportedly helped correct the traction problem for all the needed jobs.

The rear tires on the tractor were rotted to the cords, and new ones in the size that were on the tractor don’t exist. The idea was to keep the “101” looking as original as possible, so good used tires would be perfect if they could be found. I made several phone calls to try and find a matched pair the right size and brand name. I got lucky with the help of Harlan Wilson of Wilson Tire. He knew what I was looking for, and spotted a set at a swap meet and bought them for me. They were an exact match of what was on the tractor, and they were in good condition; just exactly what was needed. The front tires are still the originals and are in good condition, so new inner tubes were installed. The front tires even have some old yellow overspray on them; from the experimental shop, I suspect.

The No. “101” as ready to deliver to Deere & Company. As intended, the tractor now runs and operates very well, while the patina acquired over six decades was preserved.

The engine turned over freely, and the cylinders looked good from what I could see through the spark plug holes. I removed the intake and exhaust manifold and found lots of rust and debris in the exhaust parts, so I needed to remove the cylinder head anyway. All four of the valves were stuck in the open position and didn’t want to move. Several hours were spent cleaning the debris from the intake and exhaust ports, repeatedly spraying penetrating oil on the valves to free them. After I finally got the valves removed and cleaned up, the exhaust valve and seats proved to be in serious condition. The two exhaust valves needed to be replaced; they had no margin left and lots of pits in the faces of the valve. After cleaning up and grinding the seats, it was decided that they would be good enough to work. Any worse and they would have had to be replaced.

The fuel system for the tractor was going to be a stab in the dark, as there wasn’t anything there except the fuel tank and an intake/exhaust manifold. I had a carburetor that was similar to the original and should work, but was not an exact replacement. The cost of a replacement carburetor was prohibitive, if you could find one. I had to make a spacer and adapter for the carburetor to fit the manifold and have all the throttle parts clear all areas around it. Making the throttle linkage and getting it adjusted correctly was a challenge in itself. Bending and cutting rods to the correct length and putting the correct ends on them was time consuming. It took a lot of trial and error to get the throttle linkage adjusted and to make a choke rod that was accessible while starting the tractor. The “101” needed an air cleaner, so I used a Model “L” air cleaner and made some brackets to mount it. After all, this is an experimental tractor and none of the photos showed a definite way to mount it.

With most of the mechanical work done, it was time to try and start the tractor. As I cranked the engine, I thought there wasn't a lot of compression. I primed the cylinders with some gas, and after a few turns of the crank there was a little life in the engine. A few more adjustments and the engine ran great, and compression seemed to increase. The more it ran, the better it started. The tractor now starts on the first or second pull of the crank.

Now that all the mechanical work was done, the sheet metal needed some attention. Some of the louvers on the main hood needed to be straightened, and I had to make sure everything fit properly when assembled. All of this took some careful work as to not disturb the original paint. Digging for used bolts and miscellaneous fasteners to attach the sheet metal proved to be a challenge, but was worth the extra effort to keep an original look.

At a past Expo, Ron Koogler (Ohio) exhibited his beautifully restored No. “101” Tractor. It is the only other complete No. “101” known to exist.

To help preserve the condition, I applied a satin-based clear coat to the tractor. I had never heard of a satin clear until I visited with my local body shop. He told me about the product and was going to use it on some parts he was working on for a customer. When I checked with him a week later, he had sprayed his parts and they seemed to have the look I was after. After purchasing some of the clear, I was going to do a test spray to make sure the product would look the way I wanted it to. My first attempt of spraying the flat clear didn’t look the way I expected it to, so I talked to the local body shop again and told him what happened. My parts looked too shiny and were not flat. With some helpful tips, I went home to try the process again. This time the clear was flat and looked the way it should have. With a special product like this, it is very important to use the exact amount of hardener, thinners, and product, and to apply the coats as exactly specified. I only had a one-time shot at spraying the clear coat to make it look right; sanding it down and repainting it again was not an option. With the tractor prepped and ready, I carefully mixed and sprayed (and prayed) that it would look the way it was supposed to. The clear coat dried to the satin finish that was desired, and made the tractor look like a well-preserved original ready for display.

The tractor was ready to be returned to the John Deere Archives, so I loaded it on my trailer and headed for East Moline. Most of the trips that I have made to shows and various other places have been without anything happening; just smiles and waves or an occasional thumbs up. Since I was hauling a piece of machinery that no one had seen before, I should have expected some attention on the road. As I was nearing the Quad Cities on I-80, I came upon a vehicle that had a John Deere license plate frame and a sticker or two on the windows. They were not in a hurry, driving below the speed limit, so I passed them. As I went by, the people in the vehicle looked like those Garfield cats that everyone used to put on windows; flat on the glass and looking out with big eyes! After I was past some distance, I pulled back into the right lane and looked in the side mirrors. Here came the vehicle that I just passed! They sped up to catch me, and then passed me at a rather fast pace. After they got around me, they pulled back into the right lane and then slowed back down! So, I had to pass them again. I guess they just needed another look to figure out what I was hauling. I couldn’t help but believe they had no clue what they just saw. Some pictures and a few attempts to build a replica have surfaced over the years, but this one is the real thing! If you would like to get a good look at the Model “101”, it’s going to be unveiled and put on display at the Collectors Center during their show this summer; June 26–28, 2008. It was an honor to work on this tractor and help preserve it so future generations can see it. The “101” is unique and interesting in many ways, and is a true piece of agricultural history.

By 1950, the No. “101” had a steering wheel and a better seat. A tricycle version had also been developed using “MT” rear wheels and closely spaced dual front wheels. This photo provides a clue to its relative size compared to a popular tractor of the era.