Oliver 770 orchard, and Oliver 1650 tricycle...

 

I've been working on these two tractors for quite a while now, but haven't taken the time to post them.

I'm starting with a Cub Cadet 104 chassis and am going to make an Oliver 1650 tricycle, row crop. The dimensions are pretty much the same as the IH's I've built in the past. The fenders will be different shapes, and the grill and sheet metal are all different from the IH's though.

The challenge is going to be the orchard. I'm going to start with a Cub Cadet 105 as the base... The only thing left "stock" will be the way the transmission mounts to the frame rails. Everything else is custom built, and when I say everything else... I mean it. :) The engine is going to be a 2 cylinder Kubota diesel, and everything is going to be wrapped in sheet metal.

What a cute little diesel...

Steering wheel and seat are mounted...

 Scratch built front axle. This is how the real tractors axle is made...

The lever to the left of the steering wheel controls the direction of the tractor...

 

I finally got started on the 1650. The fenders are done...

Here are my initial drawings, and parts for the grill. It took 6 hours to complete the drawings, and cut out these parts.

About 14 hours total, and almost 50 pounds of steel, and I'm almost done with the grill. The grill is made entirely from 1/2" solid steel. The full size tractor's grill was made with 1" cast iron.

 At this point, I have 24 hours invested in this grill.

I started to fabricate the hoods today... 7 hours invested in 2 hoods... They are a little complicated. :)

 Exhaust pipe will be chromed

  Back from the blaster...

 

  I've never worked with Oliver green... I kind of like it.

Dropped the engine back into the orchard...

 Removing the orchard from the stand...

 It's alive, and very fun to drive!

 Final paint on the final parts...

Just about done...

 All done... these are the photos I'll use for my advertising... These 2 tractors were so much fun to build. Very challenging, but very rewarding. The customer was very happy, he couldn't stop smiling.

 

 

 More later...

Red Power 2013

This year, Red Power was only an hour and a half from our home, so my wife and two kids came with... We had a ball. Jessica and the kids could come and go to the show, or hotel as they pleased, and the weather was wonderful. Thank you Jessica for supporting me in all of this!

 My "little" salesman and I waiting for the customers. :)

 

"This tractor isn't for sale... It's my Daddy's. It's the only one I can sit on."

My sweet little girl, Ava, drawing a picture of "Tractor Mac" to give to Billy Steers, the author of the "Tractor Mac" series.

We answered a lot of questions, shared a lot of laughs, and took one more order. All in all, a good time.

1468 trike and 1206 wide front...

The 1468 should be at Red Power this summer in Lima Ohio. I'm going to try to get the 1206 done too, but I'm not too sure it will happen. :)

This is the starting point for the 1468, it's a mid '80's, Cub Cadet 1811. It is a very strong running machine. This will have a tricycle front end.

This will be 1206 wide front tractor with a manual transmission and a creeper drive...

 

Well, I busted my tail, and finished the tractors in time for Red Power Round Up...

 

First load headed to Lima...

 

Second load headed to Lima...

More later,
Kurt

1206 FWA Diesel Turbo...

This one is going to be fun too... I'm starting with a White Fieldboss 16 4x4 chassis. Install one turbocharger for a Honda Civic...
This is what was on the dealer's website.

I started fabricating the grill and hood.

Made some paint progress today...

 All done...

 This customer also wanted a 3 bottom 3-point plow...

More later,
Kurt

1206 Narrow front...

Here's the starting point. It is a late '60's Cub Cadet 105, which translates to a 10 horsepower, hydro... 

  She's all done and delivered. This one went to Iowa. The customer was very excited. He told me that he thought his daughter and granddaughter would keep it. That makes me feel good that I'm building family heirlooms.

 More later,

Kurt

1206 Turbo Charged Diesel

The next tractor is a standard row-crop will start out on a Cub Cadet 782D chassis and will have a turbo on it.

She ran today. This little turbo sounds GREAT!

Got this one shipped off on January 8th, 2013...

More later,
Kurt

1206 Turbo Charged Diesel

The next tractor is a standard row-crop will start out on a Cub Cadet 782D chassis and will have a turbo on it.

This is the same set up the the "Pro-Stock" had for the turbo.

Installed the new, compact radiator.

 

 I had to enclose the front and back of the engine on both sides. These diesels take more time all around than the gas tractors do.

Started painting...

She ran today. This little turbo sounds GREAT!

Got this one shipped off on January 8th, 2013...

More later,
Kurt