We Bought Another 1967 Craftsman 6hp 855C Yesterday......

[1967Craftsman's]

Hi Everyone,

I got a couple updates on the tractor. It went to its first show of the new year at the end of April, and its been running great. It went to its 2nd show of the year at the beginning of May, but we go to unload it when we get home and sadly the steering is broken. The steering wheel just spins by itself, and not with the tires. The ball joint came off from the drag link. I was told by someone at another tractor show this past weekend that putting a washer there could fix that? Anyway my stepdad took the link off the tractor and put it in the garage for now, until he can figure out a way to fix it. He was thinking about going to tractor supply to try and find something. Here are a couple pictures of it at the show, and the broken piece. Unless someone has a way to possibly fix it, I will update at a later time when something happens…..

 

[1967Craftsman's]

I also had 2 belt guards made by a local fabrication shop using my original 6 horsepower Craftsman 855 project one as a template, I got one for my stepdads tractor here and one for my hydrostatic Craftsman some day. When I got it back, I put a couple coats of gray rustoleum automotive 2 in 1 sandable primer on it to keep it from rusting since its bare metal. I’m planning on giving this to my stepdad as a Father’s Day present. Here is a picture of it in primer, and the type of primer I used…..

 

[4getgto]

Hi Everyone,

I got a couple updates on the tractor. It went to its first show of the new year at the end of April, and its been running great. It went to its 2nd show of the year at the beginning of May, but we go to unload it when we get home and sadly the steering is broken. The steering wheel just spins by itself, and not with the tires. The ball joint came off from the drag link. I was told by someone at another tractor show this past weekend that putting a washer there could fix that? Anyway my stepdad took the link off the tractor and put it in the garage for now, until he can figure out a way to fix it. He was thinking about going to tractor supply to try and find something. Here are a couple pictures of it at the show, and the broken piece. Unless someone has a way to possibly fix it, I will update at a later time when something happens…..


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Those ball and sockets are hit and miss on repairing as is. Probably not long term.
But it looks like you'd be able to drill the socket out and find a swivel that's threaded on both sides. Ace normally has some too. Not sure what size you need. 5/16" and 3/8" being the most common for steering. Also seen people cut off the end and weld a new 90° one on in its place. Very repairable though. Just Google "ball and socket joint" and should find something to start with. Thinking of something like pictured below.

 

[1967Craftsman's]

Hi Everybody,

My stepdad found a way to fix his steering. And actually made and installed the new piece. He bought 2 sets of 1997 and prior year ball joints and a piece of 3/8 rod from tractor supply. He says he cut the rod and threaded it to fit into the joints, and had to angle it to make it exactly like the original. He says made the rod adjustable to where he wanted it, so the steering wheel can be centered if need be. The nuts are there and tightened after they were where he wanted it adjusted. He made it a couple days ago, and put it on. Pictures are below. I will also put this in the tractors own post in the tinker time section. I think it came out really good, and its not even mine! Now I’m gonna get some joints and rod then do the same thing for mine…..

 

[1967Craftsman's]

Hi Everybody,

I got a few updates on the tractor. I gave my stepdad the belt guard I had made for him on Father’s Day, and he really liked and appreciated it. He also bought this 12 pack of spruce gloss dark yellow spray paint for it too for when he restores it. Long story short is he used this at his railroad job that he since retired from on his 10 horse Craftsman when he restored it, and he really liked it but he said it goes on really thin. From what I remember, it cost $40.00 plus $10.00 shipping.

 

[1967Craftsman's]

Latest update on the tractor is that my stepdad was ambitious today even though it was 98 degrees plus the humidity, and took the front spindles off because he is going to replace the front tires before he drives it any further or brings it to anymore shows. They unfortunately are NOT good considering we got the tractor from an older fellow. One of them is not too bad but the other one is very worn and not even, and they both were not greased either. Here are some pictures of the bad spindle. I told my stepdad he can use my spindles and tires off my 6 horse temporarily while he fixes his since mines not going anywhere anytime soon and his runs and mine don’t, but he says maybe although he wants to only fix it once. I suggested bringing it to my metal fab guy to see if maybe he can do something with it, but my stepdad says he is going to bring it to his welding guy who fixed our cars to see what he says and if he can do something. I will keep everyone updated. This is all for now.

 

[1967Craftsman's]

Hi Everyone,

I have quite a few updates on the tractor. I guess you can say that the restoration has officially begun now, because since my last post some sandblasting and painting was done. Since last post my stepdad took one of the old original Sears tires off the rim then sandblasted and painted it, this was all done on July 26th. He also bought some new tires, tubes, tension pins for the spindles, and also a set of machinery bushings for the spindles. He got these last Tuesday on the 30th of July. He also got his spindles back from his welding guy and sandblasted them too last Tuesday the 30th. I will start with pictures of the old tire tube that had a crack in the valve stem, the old original Sears tire off the rim, the rim all sandblasted then painted, and the paint my stepdad used. More in the next post….

 

[1967Craftsman's]

Here are some pictures of the new tires my stepdad ordered from tractor supply that came last Thursday August 1st, with one old tire still on the rim for comparison. Also are some pictures of the new and improved spindles, a picture of one of the new tire tubes, and a picture of the new tire tube packaging….

 

[1967Craftsman's]

Here are the tension pins, and the bushings for the spindles that my stepdad bought last Thursday August 1st….

 

[1967Craftsman's]

Also as an update, over the past couple days my stepdad has been painting the spindles and the center link. He put them back on the tractor yesterday along with the tension pins, and the bushings he bought with some rust preventer as you can see in my pictures. This is the latest update, and is all for now. Next step will be to mount the new tires on both of the freshly painted rims….

 

[MFDAC]

You guys are making good progress, Eric! Would you want any parts for that Murray? I'm going to pull the engine out of mine and scrap it. Probably won't happen until next spring. You pay shipping. No charge for parts.

DAC

 

[1967Craftsman's]

You guys are making good progress, Eric! Would you want any parts for that Murray? I'm going to pull the engine out of mine and scrap it. Probably won't happen until next spring. You pay shipping. No charge for parts.

DAC

Thanks for your compliment Dac, I think we are too. I wish you lived closer to us so I can take the whole Murray off ya, I’m sorry to hear that you are going to scrap it. Umm, I’m not sure about parts as its not my tractor. If it was mine I would definitely say yes for extra parts, but I will ask my stepdad and get back to you.

 

[MFDAC]

Thanks for your compliment Dac, I think we are too. I wish you lived closer to us so I can take the whole Murray off ya, I’m sorry to hear that you are going to scrap it. Umm, I’m not sure about parts as its not my tractor. If it was mine I would definitely say yes for extra parts, but I will ask my stepdad and get back to you.

No rush, Eric. The deck is good, lift mechanism that kind of thing. Transaxle is working but the pully rusted badly. Probably cost more to ship such stuff than finding parts like this locally.

DAC

 

[1967Craftsman's]

Hi Everybody,

I have an update. My stepdad put his freshly painted rims, and his new tires on his 6 horse yesterday. This is all the updates for now….

 

[1967Craftsman's]

Hi Everyone,

I have a couple updates on the tractor. This past Tuesday August 20th we brought the tractor, along with our other ones to the first fair of the year. We are going to get, and bring them home tomorrow…..

 

[1967Craftsman's]

The 2nd and last update is that I got a muffler holder made from my metal fabrication guy for the tractor for my stepdads birthday, I primed it and wrapped it up then gave it to him on his birthday. He loved it….

 

[1967Craftsman's]

Hi Everyone,

we’re back from the fair and I got a few pictures to post. I will post them all in my fair post but here are some of our tractors with the rest of them. We got to the grounds at 2 and left at 6:15. Onto the next fair in 3 weeks….