Minneapolis-Moline Prototype 445 Tractor

Part 1 of the restoration process of the experimental 445 Minneapolis Moline tractor #X231. History and back story of the machine.

[@christianmccollum1028]

After enjoying the recent shift-fork and shaft videos, I just had to go back and start at the beginning. Looking forward to binge-watching them all on this icy day in Texas. Fantastic content & commentary, Squatch.

[@daveh7945]

Look how young you look in these old videos. Guess I'll get caught up on X231 now. I'm excited to watch this series

[@1crazynordlander]

Starting the X231 series of videos over again. Thanks for picking it back up. The Preparation H video series will be great also. Love the D2 5J1113 Series too!

[@justjoe7313]

Came here from Cat D2 #5J1113 Rebuild, starting the #X231 series and love the videos! Kudos, @Squatch253!

[@WatchWesWork]

This is awesome. My dad restored a 445 utility close to 20 years ago. It was a good tractor once he completely re-engineered the hydraulic pump.

[@TF856]

I have missed a lot of videos on this particular series of videos on this tractor. I was trying to figure out what year that tractor was. I would have thought that the year would have been posted frequently in the title of these videos. I finally found squash commenting about this tractor on a different website, that it was a 1955 or mid 50s model.

[@tmscheum]

Rewatched this first video of X231. It is fighting Squatch tooth and nail and is not an algorithm darling but many of us die-hard subscribers really love it. Hope Squatch can get off injured reserve soon! Meanwhile we can feed the algorithm watch-minutes by going back over these earlier videos.

[@johndonahue1935]

Hey Squatch your video on this 445 prototype inspired me to purchase a 1957 445 construction utility with good aftermarket front loader and Gannon back drag which I did. I bought it 40 days ago for almost scrap price. Engine was rusted stuck and worn out. Disassembled the engine and ordered new .060 pistons, new bearings, gaskets, all valves, guides and springs. I rebuilt the engine after machine shop work and it started first try, tractor had pto clutch problems I repaired and I drove it 5 miles and with 1000' elevation climb just this Tuesday in 1000 degree weather with no problems. and still having problems with the attachment lift lever adjustment for the Gannon back drag.

[@texanleons]

Unbelievably great story and machine. Great work.

[@lotharfunke8749]

When I was 12 thru 16 mu father sent me from NY to my aunts farm in N D. Drove many MM also Case and JD ...loved my youth there and loved these old tractors.At 72 would love to retrieve one of these old machines from that farm which I know is full of them.

[@billpollock1763]

I guess I need to start at the beginning of this project.

[@deltonwatts9726]

Looking forward to your tractor progress!

[@jjamorris1]

looking forward to watching the whole series on the x231

[@alexhopkins3614]

Bring this back!

[@Tom_P_242]

How beautiful U make restoration this Minneapolis-Moline behind U. It's just nice to see how it looks now:)

[@getprobed838]

Amazing skills...turning an old rust bucket back into an amazing machine.

[@davidpierce3386]

Part 1. It's history in tge making!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

I don't know how I missed this one but it's not missed now. Of course the last one I saw was WAY down the road but it never hurts to start at the beginning.

[@timothyball3144]

Comment for the algorithm.

[@UnitCrane514]

Sweet I love seeing restoration build series!

[@akfarmboy49]

I always like Prototype tractors.

[@justinlangley1471]

Would love to see you get back to work on this moline ready to see it run

[@aserta]

In the old presentation video, the son of the one who assembled and worked on this tractor 1:02 posted a comment. Would be awfully nice if you could get him to share a few thoughts and memories. Such a neat piece of history.

[@navcenter77]

@Squatch253 The 3 pt linkage design looks similar to the gas powered red ferguson tractor sold in Australia from the 1960'6 thruto the 80's

[@mog5858]

great job keep up the good work.

[@calrob300]

Hi Squatch, This series stops with the radiator disassembly. Then what? Is x231 sitting incomplete? Will you be doing more video on this project? Glad to see the Farmall 350 running again, and looking forward to progress on the D2 5J1113. Thanks for your great work and teaching.

[@calrob300]

Thanks for letting us know. Your engineering and toolmaking for the shift fork and milling the case is fascinating and amazing.

[@joelmollenkopf3767]

Excellent

[@akfarmboy49]

I like the side access on MM engines.

[@scrotiemcboogerballs1981]

I would say the three point hitch was broke in testing is why it's gone and they never used that style can't wait to see this done

[@stude2896]

I grew up in Southern Indiana and the only place you ever saw M-M farm equipment was on display at the Indiana State Fair, Where was the primary M-M customer base?

[@bret9741]

I love equipment that made this nation, the stuff ordinary farmers, ranchers, loggers, miners etc used everyday. One thought....... forgive me if my suggestion is sacrosanct. But Minneapolis Moline is a long name to say, almost painful to hear more than a couple of times in a video. This brand has been around a long time. Did people ever shorten the name when referring to this company? Maybe shorten it to: Minne Mo. Or just Moline..... from my experience it seems like old timers shortened names all the time. My grandparents, born in the late 1880’s and grandparent (maternal) born in 1917 shortened long names all the time. Minne Mo just seems to fit. 😂. Lol! It maybe a terrible suggestion but it almost seems painful to say Minneapolis Moline more than once or twice in a video. Thank you again for all the hard work and though you put into the videos. I hope you are able to monetize your videos to help compensate, however little, for some of the huge effort and costs associated with what you do.

[@DGruhot92]

I can't wait to see more! I have a lot of Minneapolis Moline tractors, but none are as special as the ones you have. How did you find this one?

[@DGruhot92]

That's pretty neat that they came off the same farm. Too bad you couldn't save the rest of them. It would have been fun to see a farm that operated with mostly prototype equipment.

[@jonka1]

@@squatch253 It seems that farmers are the same everywhere. I have had exactly the same experience trying to buy from UK farmers. They won't sell it in case you get a bargain or make something out of it but they'll scrap it without a second thought.

[@SkipHetrick]

I have a 1957 MM 445 and I'm trying to find the o ring for the upper radiator tube the goes into the head. I can not find them listed anywhere.

[@ronaldkuhne5758]

View a Minneapolis Moline factory forklift "R" size

[@barrywhitley2535]

Ah, the start of it all.

[@loloberry5932]

Nice tractors ... once restored probably bring about a $100k each

[@seniorelectrician6831]

did you by chance put a light film of oil or grease on it while it sat?

[@maxpuppy96]

We had a rubber tired version of a 445 MM on the farm, it had the same engine in it as a U MM I think it was 60hp at the drawbar it was a GAS GUZZLER pulled like hell.

[@rodneyyates958]

When do you think the x231 will be back in the shop?

[@jarrodcoy9280]

I think the old 3 point hatch looks like a 1 on the John Deere 435

[@happysingle6240]

I swan old man's face at 7:40

[@bushelfoot]

What paint us used inside the engine gearbox ?

[@scottcollins4361]

how can you be contacted there is a pieceof equipment you might be interested in

[@getprobed838]

you keep referencing "We"... we have the time and we have the resources.....can you share with us who "We" are...like the guys on your team? your best friend? old coworker? neighbor that always comes by? so who are these "other than you" people you work with and refer to as We. We the viewers would like to meet them too.

[@charlienorton2337]

Him and his father I’m pretty sure. His father has been in many videos.