Gauteng Smallholder December/ January 2018 | Page 43

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ances for valves etc, and
torques for bolts.
K If you can, work compo-
nent by component rather
than disassembling every-
thing, because bolts etc very
quickly become confusingly
mixed. If your tractor
restoration is a thorough job
and you must pull it to pieces
completely, store each
separate component (eg,
generator, starter motor,
water pump etc) in its own
box, along with the nuts and
bolts used to fasten it to the
tractor.
K Join, or at least make
yourself familiar with, the
tractor clubs in your area, the
members of which will be a
valuable source of advice,
second-hand parts etc.
K Never remove the tractor's
identification plate with its
serial number, and if you
sense that it is coming loose,
rivet it firmly back into place.
This adds value to the
machine when you come to
sell it, and will enable you to
correctly identify the build-
year, model etc.
K Decide beforehand
whether you wish to do an
authentic and faithful
restoration, or merely wish to
build up a working tractor.
This is important because
there are certain components
which are simply and easily
replaced by more efficient
modern equivalents. For
example, older Vaaljapies ran
on 6V electrical circuits, with
the battery charged by a
generator. Because these
systems were unreliable, and
because 6V parts are hard to
come by, most old tractors
have been converted during
their lifetimes to 12V, and
many have had their
generators replaced by more
efficient modern alternators.
While this makes them more
reliable and easier to work
on, purists would argue that
the value as an authentic
restoration tractor has been
compromised as a result.
K When it comes to
repainting, resist the tempta-
tion to paint it in some
outlandish colour “for fun”.
This will greatly reduce its
value when you come to sell
it. And, when painting, strip
the metal as bare as possible
and give it a full coating of
everything necessary: primer,
two or three top coats etc,
rather than doing a half-
hearted job which will just
need to be redone in a few
years' time.
K When sourcing parts, you
will soon learn that the
current dealer agents do not
often have a stock of parts
for such old machines. You
will need to source your
parts from contacts country-
TRACTORS
wide, who may have, for
waiting to work for you, is a
example, stripped down
proud piece of agricultural
machines of the same model heritage.
for just such an eventuality.
A good network of contacts
is vital, and patience on the
telephone a must.
Finally, document everything
you do with photographs. In
years to come you will look
back fondly and reminisce
about the trials and
tribulations of restoring an
old machine, secure in the If the label with the serial number is
loose, reaffix it firmly. It adds value
knowledge that outside,
to the tractor.
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