 Tim Knutson is an Iowa farm boy who left the farm for college followed by graduate school and big city jobs. But, as the saying goes, the farm never left him. While currently making his home in Texas, he makes regular trips to the family farm in north Iowa.
Tim is married and the father of two grown children. Hobbies include hunting, competative benchrest shooting, and, of course, tractor restoration. By day he is a senior manager in a large physician group practice. Most weekends find him pursuing one of the above mentioned hobbies.
The tractor pictured here is the 951-D shortly after its purchase. It was subsequently restored with the addition of a wide front end. Completion photos are found elsewhere in this website.
"My goal in a tractor restoration is to bring one of these old tractors back to as close to showroom new as I can. I do all the work myself except for old paint removal and major engine machining. For paint removal I use Soda Solutions located in Keller, TX. Their process is as complete as I've found and doesn't damage sheet metal or other delicate areas. If I detemine that major engine work is needed (valves, sleeves, crankcase journals turned, etc.) I use Accurate Engine in Fort Worth. Starters and generators are checked out and rebuilt, if necessary by Sellers Starters and Alternaters in Fort Worth.
When I'm finished, my tractors not only look good, they are good. I completely disassemble each one and replace every seal, gasket, and bearing,that appears to be the least worn. Unless I know that the engine has recently been re-built, every engine gets at least a valve job. I pull bearing caps from one main and one rod bearing and, if the bearings are worn, the engine gets an overhaul, with the crankshaft polished if not re-ground, new bearings, sleeves, pistons, and rings. I replace all the gauges and re-wire every tractor. Fuel tanks are cleaned and sealed and most tractors get new radiators. Since my first project, I've learned some bodywork skills and now I'm able to bring dented sheetmetal to looking pretty darn good, if not perfect. I use high quality, automotive grade etching primers, sealers, and urethane paint. I paint them part by part so every surface gets covered and I re-assemble after the paint has dried and set." Tim will be journaling the progress on his current projects on a blog, found under "Current Projects" on the home page. |