Have any of you ever seen something and it stuck in your mind; you then filed it under I would like to have one of these someday? Well, many moons ago we were at a tractor show and saw an old tractor that had much smaller tires installed and a bench seat for two. Bingo — that was filed under my someday file.
Fast forward a decade and a customer threw in an old WD Allis on a trade. “How could I go wrong?” as the pinging memory file was flashing. Well, when the tractor arrived it had 4 flat tires, 3 oil spews, 2 manifold leaks and a partridge nest in the tool box. Hmmm that could be made into a song.
Anyway, my next few weeks were spent planning the transition. We had a pair of log skidder tires that were maypops. They actually had the correct bolt hole pattern and, with a half dozen fix-a-flat cans, they held air. The front tires were replaced with some chrome wheels and fat tires my daughter had tossed off her now unmodified pickup, and the steel cord showing was no real issue in this application. The manifold gasket was replaced after machining the intake, which evidently had been done several times before because now the carb linkage was hitting the block. A little offset via smaller attaching bolts solved that issue. IT cranked!
Then, it fouled the plugs. A trip to the tool box yielded some anti-foulers — only you old dudes will know about them — then some 50 weight oil and a couple of cans of STP solved that issue. (Again, you young folks look up STP, too.) I assured the techs, “Hey, we are not going to PLOW with this thing!” We then turned the final drives upside down and prayed the belly didn't drag the ground. It was perfect!! Now, the front end was pointed skyward — we chopped off the spindles!
The plan was coming together. As a parade tractor, we had to add another seat. Then a bus salvage lot donated a 6-person fold up seat; it fit on the snap coupler rear hitch perfectly. This turned out to be more seating than I could persuade friends and family to occupy. They know me, but I digress. Some sand paper, a few rattle cans and custom decals rounded out the project. Road test.
At 20 mph, saying it was dangerous was an understatement. But, then parades go much less than 20 mph. As I headed back to the shop, a truck driver at a 4-way stop got out, came over and asked, "What the hell is THAT?" I gave him the Reader's Digest version while traffic backed up for a quarter mile. When I pulled into the shop, 4 cars followed me in — one with blue lights.
Well, we made several parades and shows, always drawing a crowd. The new wore off and we parked it near the front door, and I noticed my salesman's look of wishing he had the prime space for display. A man walked in and asked how much for the low rider. I shot a price and he said, “Sold, I'll be right back with cash.” I had a twinge of seller’s remorse, but it passed when he came through the door counting the money. His wife followed and loudly stated, "You spent our money on that piece of xxxx?"
It saddened me to know she compared my creation to a piece of animal waste. She was supposed to have followed him home, but she left before I even started his pilot training. He drove off in second gear. Later that month, our guys came to me with pictures of my roadster on Craig's List. If anyone ever sees the creation, don't buy it back for me. I have other projects in mind.
Wishing you a Happy Holiday Season and fulfillments of your 'will have one someday’ file.
Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways is brought to you by NAEDA.
The North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA) is a non-profit trade organization representing retail dealers in the outdoor power, agricultural, construction, industrial, forestry, lawn and garden, and turf equipment industries. In today’s complex, high-stakes environment, protection goes beyond policy; it requires a strong, informed voice. NAEDA is that voice. We know the industry, understand its challenges, and stand ready when the unexpected strikes. By strengthening dealer–manufacturer relationships and advocating for fair, forward-thinking policies, NAEDA ensures members are heard, protected, and supported. One Unified Voice: Advocating. Defending. Protecting. The voice you trust. The support you need.
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Told from the perspective of an in-the-trenches owner/operator — Tim Brannon of B&G Equipment, Paris, Tenn. — Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways shares knowledge, experiences and tips/lessons with fellow rural equipment dealerships throughout North America. Covering all aspects required of an equipment dealership general manager, Brannon will inform, entertain and provide a teachable moment for current — and future — leaders within equipment dealerships. |
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