Found under a House, Home Built Tractor, Can IT Be Saved?

I was talking with a friend about old tractors when he mentioned a neighbor had one under his house. we went and took a look. well it turns out it was homemade out of 30s ford parts. we struck up a deal and dragged it out with my 1959 vw single cab, lets see what it will take to bring it back to life,

[@massimoperrone3674]

hello Mustie1 I'm Massimo from Italy, I wanted to tell you that I really like your videos, so I thank you for helping me to pass the time in this difficult moment for humanity, keep going strong.

[@barrymcbride]

Ciao Massimo i genitori di mia moglie vengono da Bari. spero che stiate tutti bene laggiù. viviamo in Ontario Canada a 20 minuti dalle cascate del Niagara.

[@fastinradfordable]

From all the horrors in humanity from the past hundred years. This time aint 1/10 as bad as before antibiotics.

[@massimoperrone3674]

@@barrymcbride hello Barry I live in Lecce in the same region as Bari, we are relatively well, here if you don't die of covid you die of hunger because the work has stopped lol, but luckily there is Mustie1 who cheers us up with his videos , a greeting from Puglia to you and your family. p.s. Does your wife know the "orecchiette alle cime di rapa" , a typical dish from Bari?

[@barrymcbride]

@@massimoperrone3674 yes I agree at least mustie1 is good to look forward to. Yes my wife knows the dish you mentioned she says she is going to make it. Take care Massimo best wishes to you and your family

[@donyboy73]

take care, greetings from canada!

[@j.w.3345]

The best thing about Labs...... no matter how old they are, they're still puppies at heart!

[@ironcladranchandforge7292]

Yep, except my 2 year old lab is lazy as heck, LOL. Meanwhile, my border collie runs circles.....

[@carsongeye1462]

Yeah I’m a college student and miss our lab so much.

[@mariadias818]

@@YukonHawk1 a as as a s. S a. S as as. S a s as. S as. As. S. A as a. S a zzz as. 2s. A. A. A. A.

[@littlepastelkitten]

agreed

[@johnwinden8511]

Wild Labramutts!

[@mdoyle1981]

Huge respect to the old guy that built that tractor without the advantage of the internet, or same day shipping. Definitely a different time entirely.

[@BigMouth380cal]

It's called "POPULAR MECHANICS". They had home builds for just about everything and plenty of loyal readers, fresh back from the war, who were more than ready to make whatever was needed. My Dad was an avid follower.

[@jeremyhanna3852]

Or plasma cutter or angle grinder likely only a torch and stick welder and really crappy drill with crap bits

[@TractorWrangler01]

Hey now we had the Sears catalog...

[@Hjerte_Verke]

@@BigMouth380cal Indeed. I've got several years of PMs from early 50s til the 70s. After that they got thinner, larger and more advert-intensive

[@davisappletv9931]

Is J.C. Whitney still around?

[@batbawls]

I don't know my VWs, but that sure is one of the coolest VWs I've ever seen.

[@literallyshaking8019]

I want it so bad. Those old single cabs all painted up from back in the day with tradesman signage are my weak spot.

[@davidpaul7707]

Needs a better winch for sure

[@bryansmith5980]

Cool looking tractor. Looks as if it was built with a lot of care. The old timers knew what they were doing.

[@blair79bear38]

agree'd . near the end I was thinking it needs to be repowered with either a V-twin or a Wisconsin V4 . but alasss, afer I had those thoughts he shows us a web page showing the coil assemblies available. .. spoilsport !!!!!!

[@1pcfred]

Sounds like survivor bias to me. What we see today is just the best examples that are left. The old timers did plenty of crap too.

[@kenstrayhorn5923]

Man, watching "the boys" working to get the tractor on the van reminded me of Hank HIll - I expected to see Boomhauer show up at any moment. Good morning from North Carolina farm country!

[@beakittelscherz5419]

Yeah ... "Fiat" lol.

[@ObamaoZedong]

Dang ol starter motor

[@htownblue11]

The shot of the flatbed with that old tractor on it was way cool. It’s like the two were made for each other.

[@tarstarkusz]

Mustie heard me screaming YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY! Look at the fan blades.

[@andjp7382]

It's driving me up the wall!

[@daan5918]

These video's make me want to move out of the city and get a place with a nice barn and garage. Tinker Time

[@LandyVlad_Rides]

yeah i know, right !

[@literallyshaking8019]

Do it. You couldn’t pay me to live in a city these days.

[@superduty4556]

Can't beat it.

[@neilbreen9041]

@@literallyshaking8019 What's the matter? Are city boys bullying you?

[@Prestone44]

Hmmmm the song of the VW flat - four and the cute chirp - chirp - chirp noise that remembers me my childhood... Thank you Mustie!

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Back in the 50s and 60s the magazines were filled with how-to projects like this.. In my neighborhood, there were all sorts of fabricobble DIY things going on.. Summers were filled with home brew DIY. People built play structures, furniture, sheds, go-karts, boats and canoes, even tractors like this. One neighbor even built a cabin cruiser

[@dancurrier374]

Yes that’s true two of the kids in the neighborhood back in 1970 along with their fathers built these really neat hydroplane boats and mounted a 10 HP outboard , those things would fly!

[@davidmellott5049]

I'm from Alberta Canada and my Father built a similar setup in the '60s using a 1937 ford in a similar way as this amazing man. There is one difference that at a quick glance I noticed. Dad had a reduction system built-in using another ford re-end which worked very well to maximize the 10 hp Briggs and Statton motor, which was mounted Crossways to allow the reduction set up to work, so the starting pulley was out the side. This was used by all of us 8 kids to learn to drive, it had a clutch and a 3-speed transmission. along with a centrifugal drive connected to the reduction system which was very easy to drive indeed. The rear end was narrowed to fit the width of the machine. It's still around and working and impressing all who see it. But it didn't look like a tractor, it was more like an early Quad with a windshield rollbar and single padded seat. My father was a very talented man with several trades under his belt starting as a blacksmith, then welder, mechanic, Electrician, and then gasfitter and Plumber, we never had a service person come to our six-bedroom house which he built-in 1957. People came from miles around for him to repair/redesign or invent almost anything from a watch to a D-9 Cat. We were spoiled and assumed all fathers could do this stuff, we were wrong.

[@rogercamp6071]

Sounds like my dad,he built a tractor similar to this with a Wisconsin engine from a Wards garden tractor,a 3 spd either a Dodge or Plymouth transmission and a narrowed mid fifties Studebaker rear axle, built the front axle that used motor scooter wheels and tires and built the steering assembly, only thing was he couldn't get the gear reduction right and it would run too fast,he was also our small towns go to fix it guy and welder

[@jerrydriggers1301]

Qq A

[@C-M-E]

That's a great story and perhaps the best thing I've read all month (thus far; big benchmark, huh!). I hope my kids say something like that about their wily father one day. I'm hoping at least one of them inherited the tinker genes, but thus far they're taking after their mother... 🤦‍♂

[@N6MKC]

I took a girl out on a date, and she asked me "What do you look forward to the most every week?" When I answered "The new Mustie1 video every Sunday morning.", she scrunched up her face and said "That's an odd thing to look forward to." It was then that I knew she just wasn't a keeper.

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

But, did you play a video for her? Never know!

[@walterkucharski4790]

@Mark Deaton Does she need a tune up? High milage?

[@oxyfee6486]

Probably the water pump,mine leaks a bit now that I am getting older 😂

[@had2galsinthebooth]

Send her to Mustie to clean out her mouse nest and get a new plug,she'll come back easier to start and much more agreeable!

[@gregbroburg7351]

I was told that men and women are equal. Did we just find the first case that disproves this thesis?

[@kensherwood4866]

Lovely to see this restoration. 60 years ago the guy who made this might have posted on KZbin, if it had been around, sharing the build. As it is great to see something someone created brought back by Mustie1, honouring his predecessors skills and ingenuity

[@redsable6119]

Always a pleasure hanging out with you too!

[@gords2352]

Great Sunday morning, love talking to the TV when your taking it apart, drives my wife crazy..

[@ypopnun1003]

Popular Mechanics and Popular Science had plans for those tractors back in the 40's 50's

[@reaper10]

I think I have the plans for this saved on my computer somewhere. I think it was called a power pup or something like that.

[@TractorWrangler01]

I think that was Popular Mechanics.

[@Hjerte_Verke]

@@reaper10 See if you can find them and the date of the issue.

[@browncarp]

@@Hjerte_Verke They are available free on a site called "vintage projects".

[@motormaker]

Popular Mechanics. Pow’r Pup is what they called it.

[@martinmcdoniel4551]

Yay Its Sunday and a new Mustie Vid to watch as I sip a cup of good coffee! Good Morning/Evening to all

[@trevking3772]

Popular Science/Mechanics magazines used to run how-to-build your own articles when usa built things @ home ! Trev New Zealand.☺

[@beakittelscherz5419]

Good morning MustiMerica!

[@kennethhecht3354]

Wish I could find cool stuff like this. That is a work of art and it is a very interesting piece of history.

[@tiporari]

Hey Mustie! Get some metal lunchroom trays or heavy baking sheets. They have low friction and help slide heavy stuff around especially on dirt and gravel. Works on ramps too.

[@armstronggeorge1533]

I can see Mrs Mustie looking for baking trays wondering where they ended up in the garage!

[@filopat67]

Well.. the engine didn't run just yet, but the doggo most certainly did.

[@eidolusgad3818]

Hey Mustie, you're looking like Doc Brown these days. Thanks for bringing old things back to the future.

[@tobyyork9502]

That old tractor reminds me a little bit of a Speedex. They were truly a unique design. You do come up with some of the coolest machines. Save that old iron. Thanks

[@paulmartin8212]

just started watchin', this looks like a real treasure.

[@Squarewheel]

I started watching a year or so ago, about a year ago I started watching the old stuff as well and I am just now catching up. Really fun watching the channel grow and evolve

[@godfreypoon5148]

The good thing about oddball home-built gear is that it tends to have A LOT LESS "value engineering".

[@AcmeRacing]

John Deere also wouldn't have put wide whitewall winter grips on it. :-)

[@flick22601]

I always thought of home-built gear as the epitome of "value engineering" i.e. free or re-purposed stuff using a lot of common sense engineering.

[@RC-fu6hg]

Unfortunately in today’s business value engineering means built in obsolescence So you’re forced to spend money

[@frankcrawford416]

@@RC-fu6hg so true brother

[@sethfieldhouse6876]

That's because home builders see the value of engineering these things to last.

[@RedneckTaZ]

I'm not sure what I was more excited about. Seeing something cool someone made themselves to work with being brought out or the re-appearance of the 59 VW with the drop down sides!

[@neubert500]

The joy that Dog is expressing! Awesome!

[@norcal6181]

The channel is one of the greatest gems on the internet. You don't find anything this good on traditional TV.

[@Melw44]

Looks like it is right out of the pages of popular mechanics! Cool would love to find somthing like it.

[@rickkoshak4919]

It’s just not the same without hearing your mad scientist laugh. 😁

[@clementsmallengine4833]

That is a COOL little homemade tractor!!!

[@donyboy73]

just incredible what you always find!

[@magovenor]

There goes Mustie with Crusty, carrying away the old dusty.

[@stashyboy1]

And of course rusty!

[@charger19691]

To make it once again trusty.

[@magovenor]

Or another way to say it. “It’s time to get off your rusty dusty and check out Mustie load up old Crusty”. How’s that?

[@chrissmith513]

👍 L o L. That's toooooo funny ! 🤗🤗🤗

[@andrewweston2253]

I spent all day yesterday driving my granddaughter around the hills in my 32 Ford Doodlebug!

[@oxyfee6486]

I was hill climbing with my daughter,she laughed her but off 😂 plus I got her away from her phone for the afternoon,win,win.

[@spencerc1972]

I just wanted to say Thank You for having providing one of my favorite channels. I love working with machinery and wood working and like your channel. Glad you are staying true to your roots.

[@SMKreitzer1968]

Thanks for sharing the shop time Mustie1! Always a great Sunday!

[@OhZone62]

Loving the tractor. It looks so sharp, handmade, no CAD, old school, etc.... And always looking forward to my Sunday morning Mustie1 video. Thanks for keeping us entertained Darrin. Chris Gatineau, Quebec, Canada

[@aserta]

Rewind the coil. That's one of the easiest ones you can ever do. Chuck it on the lathe, carefully unwind the existing wire, rewind it with the same length with new wire. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. It would be a shame to ditch the engine just for that pesky coil, it looks to be in great condition otherwise. As for what happened, i'm 80% sure you were right with your statement regarding the arms being off center. If that's the case, they sure as heck melted the coil, because there's no air in that sector. One of the reasons why you don't see shaft drive sparkies. Too compact, coil heats up like crazy and it melts the gunk meant to protect it.

[@blair79bear38]

I was curious how the little bit of energy could be enough to melt the coil.

[@erikjgreen]

Or just convert a later model coil to fit in the same spot. Only takes a couple of hours, and lots of people have done it for the Magnamatic ignitions. Also, it's easy to replace that points setup with a solid state module.

[@bunjit6537]

It's a $17 part on ebay. search for "coil 290880"

[@dharm4011]

I just started to watch this and seen when you guys got it out in the light. A testament to Men of that time. The way things just got built and done back in the day. Awesome

[@andrewrose9846]

You are the Bob Ross of garage work, thank you!

[@doomman700]

A woman that carried an emory board was golden back in the day of points

[@trackjosh]

I remember my mom usually had one, they were mostly give aways from politicians running for office.

[@vwbusguy]

Go into a parts store now and ask for points file today, the looks i get

[@davidelliott5843]

I used to nick a scrap of my Dad's wet/dry paper.

[@armstronggeorge1533]

A lot of plastic modelers still use them .

[@jeffreysilvernail1010]

i finally subscribed, I have that exact engine, glad you figured it out. Mine was on a 1960s power king tractor. For anyone looking the part # of that coil is 290880 Of interest also is, on the camshaft it has a weight that looks like a compression release but it is not. it is actually a spark advance believe it or not.

[@wssides]

Why not? the points are controlled by the camshaft.

[@jeffreysilvernail1010]

@@wssides Sure, you can do that. but the coils are quite common on the internet. as long as the engine is apart it will be easier to just replace the coil at this point.

[@jimnash526]

Thanks for another great Sunday morning Vid !!

[@Nick-ox9cj]

I love this home made tractor!!! That kind of revivals is what your channel is all about.. WAY better than a common weed wacker. I mean don't get me wrong, I'll be here religiously watching every Sunday morning regardless of what you are wrenching on .. but that kind of uniqueness have a special place in my heart .. lol

[@philipingram1667]

The tractor looks like one that Science and Mechanics featured back in the late 50s - early 60s. A lot of home built tractors were made but this one looks like he put some real thought into it - good video - keep up the good work.

[@marlinhomrighausen5552]

It's the Pow'r Pup from the August/September 1961 issues of Science and Mechanics magazine. I have one similar to it.

[@BigMouth380cal]

@@marlinhomrighausen5552 Popular Mechanics had their version as well.

[@vinces8974]

@@marlinhomrighausen5552 That’s what I thought it looked like to the power pup ,What a great a little homemade tractor

[@stripersniper1531]

Yes power pup ,cool machine

[@offthestreetsandinthecreek7294]

Wow awesome

[@FrankieBFilms]

We are so very thankful for all you do on this channel. thank you for your knowledge, cool projects and just so much more :)

[@AvdE2012]

Thank you Mustie for starting my day with happy tears seeing Crusty having fun with you and your buddy!

[@pcuser80]

I open KZbin and see a Mustie1 video, Coffee is ready = another great Sunday

[@failblazer2004]

great video Mustie many thanks from the uk

[@marcijunebug]

really loved seeing ole Crusty at work! THANK YOU! if it was for no one else that one was for me! ha love that ole truck so much...lady files... lol

[@richardgroom8003]

Luv the tinkering. Great tips on troubleshooting coils, thnx and I can’t wait for the next video!

[@Glenn_123]

Loved watching the VW pull out the old iron! Little low end torque there...Great job Mustie1!!!!

[@sonovoxx]

These self builds are the best.

[@thepostman41]

Awesome find!. That little tractor is a piece of art.

[@tim.niblett]

I would have loved to have a shop teacher like you in HS. Thank you for putting out your videos; its always fun and I learn something!

[@TerryMcKean]

That's crazy-cool how Amazon has that seemingly-unobtainium replacement coil for the sparker 56:59 ... :-)

[@davekauffman8727]

That engine is a 10-horse B&S, I freed up a stuck exhaust valve on one. I hate being embarrassed by things that I should know, I took apart a carb once to see why the gas wasn't getting into it before I checked the fuel tank.

[@warrenmichael918]

aint no gas in it ( sling blade voice)

[@jackman6256]

Good thing is you can still get parts for that girl

[@trentwilliamson4509]

That bus truck is so incredibly cool. Putting in work.

[@SuperJamster1]

I'm not a safety freak, but throw a blanket over that cable with a dead load like that. Personal experience, a broken cable is a whip of doom. Love your channel.

[@chrishuston4445]

Absolutely… a great idea.

[@frankarmstrong9414]

Who else was watchin the time and starting to worry we wernt getting a mustie 1 vid today 😂

[@Chr.U.Cas2216]

Dear Frank A. As soon as I saw all that rodent crap inside the pullstart (right at the beginning of the video), I was relieved! Because now I could absolutely be sure that it's an original Mustie1 video! Unfortunately we will have to wait for that most famous, characteristic "Ha" and laughing after the engine runs for the first time, until the next part. But there is definitely no doubt about that it will happen. Maybe we viewers will already even be lucky in the middle of the week? At least I hope so. Best regards, luck and health.

[@pittschapelfarm2844]

I'm so used to motors running that I thought I heard this motor running when he cranked the engine with his cordless. WITH THE SPARK PLUG LAYING ON THE HEAD!! I thought, man... Mustie's gifted. And he is!

[@Its-Steven]

I really love the visual of that thing in the back of Crusty.

[@rufiorufioo]

Not often I watch a video and Mustie picks up a new piece he’s never worked with. Awesome!

[@hervemarchand1287]

Hello from France . Good job

[@Leroys_Stuff]

Good morning Mustie family

[@oxyfee6486]

Good morning from Woodstock Ontario Canada.

[@RayM53]

@@oxyfee6486 Is CHAA still flying at Woodstock? Happy memories of Stop 22 at Bothwell.

[@oxyfee6486]

Sorry,I don’t get the reference,could you clarify,Thanks

[@edmeetze6324]

Cool find ..thanks for sharing

[@dadmezz4024]

Nice find, hats off to the maker, and thank you for saving this one of a kind innovative spirit of making do. Hope you can get it going as the original to see what it can do and how the maker delta with the processes. Thank you Mustie for bringing this to us.

[@ozm007]

Mustie reminds me of the Doc from back to the future 😅 love your videos

[@jasondelcamp657]

Doc, emmet brown I thought the same thing mostly because of the hair

[@brianwalker1180]

Nothing better than Mustie on a Sunday morning.

[@jimmypopp2695]

That is so awesome!! Wonderful old tractor. Looks like a Gibson.

[@mikeshobbiesandrandomstuff]

I dig the old home made rigs it's always fun to see the creativity put into them. Definitely looking forward to seeing the next one bud and thanks for having me over for a visit in the garage.

[@alexboi32]

Seriously love your Vw flatbed conversion. Matches with your awesome find too!

[@robertheinkel6225]

Not a conversion. It was a factory production, but very few remaining.

[@stacycarter8641]

Not a conversion. They are called Single Cab or Dual Cab pickup.

[@tallboyyyy]

That doggo sure had a case of the zoomies. Nice to see Crusty earning her keep.

[@131dyana]

Thanks good save. One can find stuff out in the desert just sitting there. Nice to find some thing you can use. Good job.

[@arikavlogz4407]

LIFE ; we always trying to accrue more and more of new things....things that don't matter or wont even matter in a day. But there is no joy or satisfaction that equates that of finding something that one person built entirely by hand and bringing it back to life. It's like bringing the old guy back to life himself. This is so worthy doing. Keep up hunting for lost treasure just like that Mustie!

[@richardcline1337]

Those old Oldsmobile hubcaps look pretty cool on that tractor.

[@Fosuya]

Man I wish I would've lived nearby, I'm disability-retired but this I'd be jumping out of my bed every morning to get to help out on :P

[@wheezer345]

Reminds me of my grandfather. He was alway repurposing things, making good things out of bad. (Love the happy dog at the end too.)

[@OcotilloTom]

I'm old, 75. As a kid I kept my old 1949 Cushman Highlander running with my mom's emery board (for points) Permatex gasket sealer and a little luck. It was either that or the Shoe Leather express. I'm still riding that old scooter (with many modifications like a Subaru Robin engine, Brembo disc brakes and electric start) But, at least my knees are in the breeze. I had to give up my old Harleys last Oct. due to neuropathy from Agent Orange poising I got in Vietnam, couldn't feel the gears when shifting anymore.. But hey! I'm still riding and enjoying Mustie1. This old Briggs is one I have never seen. Looking forward to seeing it running! Tom Boyte, Gy.Sgt. USMC, retired Vietnam 65-66/70-71

[@theguitarmanifesto]

Favourite day of the week 👌💯

[@briandrew8684]

Love the videos, been watching for a long time, you have inspired me to try working on my own projects, saved a lot of money working on my own small engines . I also live in NH and being frugal is the New England way, keep up the great content

[@TheRonald6524]

Stumbled on this channel, Love it!!!!!!,

[@bennyt.christensen3970]

So nice to see old Crusty work for the gas 👍🤗😁

[@lukedarby6815]

Any episode with Crusty in it has to be a good episode!

[@A21N]

Uh nice the good old Yale forklift! I just knew your channel cause of that "Cheapest forklift I could find" series

[@jasonstarnes3838]

Another great vid, love this content. Thats exactly something my late grandfather would have came up. He used to tell stories about what all they had to make to work with on the tobacco farm.

[@billyhinton9155]

This man did a very good job building this! I like this.

[@DTMotorcyclesEssex]

Absolutely brilliant video keep them coming mate 👌🏻

[@DTMotorcyclesEssex]

Brillaint video mustie I love your content

[@mqb17]

Oh man! Got my Sunday morning coffee... this is going to be a good series!

[@andrewbrooks804]

Can't wait for another video of this tractor great work mustie1 keep up the good work

[@tlrptg]

just hook up a normal 12 volts coil to that points and condenser box, and power it from a 12 volts battery. You can assess the engine with this setup, and even make it permanent if the engine is OK and you'll implement the dynastarter option.

[@darinhudson9112]

I'm only about half way through the video but just need to mention something I have thought about saying before, as a regular, I appreciate the care with which you take to balance out the volume of your videos. I wish other youtubers did as well. Thanks Mustie1.

[@Kineth1]

I can't agree with you more. Some of the worst culprits are youtubers that are talking about a video or video game, and the other audio is inaudible, but their voice is overpowering, and different in volume from scene to scene.

[@darinhudson9112]

@@Kineth1 Or the other way around. I can't tell you how many times the video starts out with the person talking and I have to slide up to 80% or so to hear them and then they bust in with music over a time lapse that darn near blows out the speakers... or wakes the neighborhood. That is usually when when I click someplace else.

[@Huskiedrive361]

Mustie - take a 12V automotive coil, feed 12V positive to the plus side of the coil and using the points and condenser on the side of the tractor's engine, wire them to the negative side of the coil. Remember to hook 12V negative to the block. You now have battery ignition and can eliminate the magneto. Kohler engines in the early Cub Cadet tractors are wired this way. The magneto you are working with is made by Bendix-Scintilla and the coils are hard to find. Love the channel! Keep the videos coming!

[@CaptainScarlet1961]

That's a funky little tractor, pretty cool 😎

[@FD-E-St-Fire]

Gotta love a happy dog, what a great home build, he did a good job on the hood to

[@atoms1978]

HELOOO FROM SERBIA❤️🇷🇸

[@ceciliaeplett6511]

That is one of your great project, I really looking forward to....cant wait

[@Belznis]

When my grandma could not have a horse she hoped I could use the car instead to do some of the work around the farm. It kind of worked, but it was not that good ha ha. After that we got a small tractor too. These things actually are so valuable for people wanting their own produce. Great to see restoration of something like that. I even remember a guy who made his own here back when I was a kid, because you could not buy them here back in the day. Either you had a large one or nothing or you would make one yourself.