Minneapolis Moline U project

[Sneakymedic]

Saw this thing pop up on Facebook book marketplace a few weeks ago in Greeleyville SC. $950. I talked to the guy about it, said he bought it at auction for parts "tin was straight, someone would want it". He said $800 bottom dollar. I sent him the money PayPal, and told him I'd be down in two weeks. Picked it up last weekend.

Needed tires, and picked up some at the Foothills Power Show in Hickory this weekend used. Fronts and rears. I didn't have a carb, but I ordered one off the MM forum, $45, and I rebuilt it night before last. After soaking in carb cleaner for two days. Ordered a new steering wheel and seat for it. Rear tires getting put on tomorrow.

New battery, it would spin, no fire. Had a neighbor who does small engine work come over, filed points and set carb for $20.00. 👍😊 I'd just thrown $100 worth of new parts on it.

Fired right up after a few bumps of starter. . I also scrubbed it down with purple power and buffed it with white compound and then Rejuvenator. You can see the difference.

A blind squirrel will find a nut occasionally.

 

[cold1]

I do believe you got a deal on that one. Thats a great looking tractor.

 

[rdinatal]

That is a lot of steel!

 

[Sneakymedic]

So....of course....comes the issues. Not in the motor, thank God. The tire place come to install the rear tires, I get home and there is one tire on, one still not mounted. The Calcium Chloride has eaten a big rusty hole around the valve stem. Neighbor now has that wheel, welding in some metal and drilling new valve stem hole. On a good note, I got to meet the neighbor. Super neat guy. Ill post pics of the repair later. Didn't get a pic prior.

I bought the missing carb, rebuilt it, and it worked like a charm, but had no fire on the engine. Called another neighbor who does small engines and he had the points clean, and carb adjusted in about 5 mins. No kidding. Best $20.00 spent so far. That's the first time it has been run in two years. Still missing carb to governor linkage. The guy who sold me the carb has one, and he has forgotten to look for it a few nights now. He sent me a message yesterday, found it, hopefully sending it to me. Cant really drive it without, since it wont run above idle without it.

Ordered new seat cushions and steering wheel for it. Steering wheel mounted like a champ, cushions didn't fit. Apparently It has what they call a "joy ride seat" not a factory MM U seat. So It will be a homemade one I guess. Easy enough.

 

[Tailhunter]

It ain’t red but she looks clean.

 

[Sneakymedic]

More pics to follow of the repair. This is what I had when I started. He cut everything back to good metal and drilled another clean 1/2 " hole for the valve stem.

 

[teamglock2002]

What a great find !!

 

[cold1]

You have GREAT neighbor.

 

[BlackGun]

Love old tractors restored.

 

[Geezer]

You've got that MM standing tall.