Firstly many thanks to Gary Emswellerfor getting me back to being able to post on this site.
I am getting close to re-assembling the gearbox and engine for Massey harris 20-30 serial number 64165.  The engine required crank grinding and re-babbitting of rods and mains which I was able to do after some trial and error. i had to make a new governor drive gear shaft which was my first attempt at helical gear cutting. The cylinder head needed and I made the best I could out of what was left of the manifold and heat exchanger.

The gearbox required extensive machining to correct worn (and welded) input and slodong gear shafts and especially the keyways that were worn into vee shapes. One of the timken bearings needed replacing since it had lost most of the cage and the rollers  were moving erratically. Previous owners had peened the ends of both shafts to prevent the nuts from coming off and the threads  needed careful work with a thresd file  to restore them to use. I had to remake two of the larger nuts and a Woodruff key as these were all non-standard and not available.
Below a few photos of the engine /gearbox issues.

Anyway the purpose of the post is to ask advice as to what sealant folks use when replacing the engine/gearbox into the U frame. Seems we should be able to do better than the length of candle wicking stretched around the flange as mentioned in the manual.

Many thanks, Alan Painter

Photo1 boring re-babbitted main bearings
Photo 2 the initial condition of the input shaft and key
Photo 3 the input shaft and clutch disc after sleeving and keyway machining
Phot 4 larger keyway being cut in the re-sleeved front clutch disc. This is being done on a 1903 Steptoe shaper, cutting up on the pull stroke.

Alan,

Looks like your project is coming along just fine! Keep up the good work! Thanks for posting the pictures it inspires the rest of us to keep moving along with our projects more than you know and we may even learn a thing or two along the way....

Joe

This 1500th post of mine is one specially dedicated to Joe.


Only this weekend while down in rural Norfolk at The Stradsett Rally run by Gordon Carson ( I know some of you have been with me to Gordon's collection ) I was really thinking about Joe when I walked through the tractor display,

Just one Wallis 20-30 standing out in the crowd of other makes took my eye in the distance, soon checking it over I realised I knew the owner, another Norfolk collector who had contacted me several times over recent years in the search of parts for this project.
He soon came over and I caught up on the tractor's history over the past few years here in England, it was bought nine years ago in the Gloucester area, at that time an import from North America, it was taken back to Norfolk and completely stripped down by a helper of the new owner, with the intention of a full restoration including new tinwork and shiny paint. Unfortunately the helper moved on and the tractor remained in boxes for nine years, during this time new tinwork was sourced. Recently the owner decided it was never going to get done and had the decision to make to sell off as parts or pay someone to rebuild it for him.
He made the decision to send the tractor to a very capable engineer who had rebuilt his own red Pacemaker, so had some idea of how a "u" frame tractor is constructed.

After several months of work, including re white metalling the bearings, new oil and water pump shafts, obtaining a better exhaust manifold and outlet, (the old manifold was too warped to skim flat again) they had to re tube the vaporiser, repair the exhaust outlet diverter valve and rebuild the Kingston carburettor, before they had some music from the engine.
Thank fully the decision was then made to keep the original patina and NOT restore with new paint, they spent a lot of time knocking out dents in the hood and fenders and you see the end result below.

Thankfully this tractor did not get sold as parts and wit the passing of time escaped the paint shop and gets to survive in it's original patina, we do think at some time in it's working life it has had the original blue / grey with red wheels, up dated to newer M-H colours of red with yellow wheels, possibly by a dealer when traded in.
During the restoration there was the original colours found on the underside of the U frame and back side of the rear wheels.

It is serial Number 55383

Enjoy then photo's Joe.

Malcolm.

Malcolm,

I really love the way that 20-30 looks! Glad to see it didn't get parted!

I know this is not a Wallis but this is a very rare tractor I was bidding on today in Oregon. I should have put a higher price on it but it was 1,900 miles from here so that put a damper on things. This tractor is one of 26 built, it is a Massey Harris 12-20 Industrial tractor Serial Number 250011 I hope the new owner knows just how rare this tractor is and someday I maybe get to see it in person at a show. This tractor is the only one that I know of to exist. Does any one out there know of any others still remaining?

Joe

Joe,

One hell of a find to go down in the annals of Massey-Harris history.  Pity it would have presented you with a large gas bill!!

As a matter of interest how much did it make - was its rarity recognised?

Looking at the pictures I can only discern the special axle brackets as defining it as an industrial (besides the serial number).  Did you note anything else.  I suppose it has different gears like the GP industrials - I must trawl the literature for this.  Strange that it is on standard agricultural wheels - maybe converted??

John

Joe,

I knew that I had MH 12-20 Industrial information somewhere.  In fact it is in my book "A World Wide Guide to Massey-Harris, Ferguson and early Massey Ferguson Tractors" P11.  From this I have gleaned the following principal specific differences about  a 12-20 Industrial:
- Downswept exhaust
- Low air cleaner stack like an orchard model
- Heavy duty front axle
- 73 inch wheelbase as compared with 78 on agricultural tractor
- Spoke or solid cast front and rear rear wheels of about the same weight all with solid rubbers
- Foot operated accelerator
- Foot brake for rear wheels
- Special platform with  sides next to wheels - apparently no standard fenders
- Adjustable spring cushion seat with side arms and adjustable back
- Optional wheel weights for rear cast and spoke wheels, dual rear wheels
- Forward speeds 2.3, 3, 4.5 and 10 mph (so four forward gears as distict from agricultural 12-20 with three, and high top speed of 10 compared with 4.3 on agricultural)
- Optional axle sleeve with groove for mounting cranes etc is noted.

Interesting!!!!!  I am sure there are more differences............  This tractor is definietly an industrial according to its serial number but appears to have been modified back to more or less an agricultural???

Will we now see an MH 25 Industrial emerge???????????  I don't think that there are any known survivors????????

Anyone out there know anything else? - I am sure that there is more to be known.......

John

Another thought has occured to me - could it be that the industrials didn't sell well and were revrted to normal agriculturals to clear them.  It is so totally agricultural to look at - wheels, fenders etc????????????????  Nevertheless an indisputedly rare beast!

John

Joe and John,
I attended the auction yesterday at Powerland Heritage Park, Brooks, Oregon.
The Massey sold for $2100 or $2200 and I spoke very briefly to the buyer.  He was planning to use it as a parts source for restoration of a Challenger.  It was one of the last tractors to be sold and compared to some of the other lots this price was high, but probably not because its rarity was recognized.
Alan Painter, Brownsville, Oregon

Alan,

Thanks for the price info.  Considering its rarity it is a cheap buy!  What a great shame it will be if it is broken up for parts.  Could someone get in contact with the buyer and advise him?

This tractor has been on my mind all day!  So I went into my archives again and found the very good photo I have of the 12-20 industrial so here it is.  The one at the sale is badged Massey Harris and my photo is a Wallis (but from an M-H catalogue).  After taking over Wallis MH ran a two line policy for some time.  I have both a Wallis and an MH 12-20 and strangely the Wallis has the lower serial number

Keep the comments coming..............  and Joe - I think that you should move on this......

John

What a lovely looking machine....

$2200......!?!? I can't believe it. 

Breaking that would be a criminal offence in my humble opinion - couldn't agree more that we should try to make the lucky new owner aware!

A quick check on my phone suggests it is 4875 miles away from me :-(

Cheers, J,