Business Is Booming For Tractor Restoration

2019 - Volume #43, Issue #2, Page #22

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Scott Hart’s tractor restoration is not only a full-time job, but he has a waiting list. With nearly 20 years in the business, he has had clients from Pennsylvania to Texas, as well as Canada. All told, Hart has restored more than 130 tractors.
    “Most clients find me on the internet or from ads,” says Hart. “I may not have any response to ads, and then suddenly I’ll fill up for a year.”
    What started with the restoration of his grandfather’s tractor quickly took off. He built a shop designed for restoration in 2004. It has a 30 by 30-ft. paint booth area with 150 ft. of cable for hanging parts.
    On his website Hart outlines a 17-step process from examining the tractor to completion. It includes inspection, cleaning and replacement as needed of any bearings and gears, sanding and degreasing, sandblasting and painting. He does his own ceramic coating of turbos and exhausts.
    He also does his own sheet metal forming using an English wheel. “Wheeling” is done by rolling the sheet metal back and forth between a small domed wheel and a larger flat wheel. He first used it after discovering the fenders on a John Deere AOS (orchard style) had rusted out.
    “The first one was a real challenge, and I swore never again,” says Hart. “I’ve done 6 others since, forming the sheet metal into OEM-style fenders.”
    Hart involves the customer in the restoration process, welcoming them to visit throughout the process. “We are flexible and open to the type of primer used, the type of paint used, and the number of coats the customer prefers,” says Hart.
    The oldest tractor Hart has worked on is a John Deere D from 1925. While 99 percent of what he does is for clients, he has picked up a few for restoration and resale. One he kept is a John Deere 80.
    “It was in parts for 2 years after I got married,” recalls Hart. “My wife was in college and told me I had to get it done before she graduated. I did, and it’s probably my favorite. I take it to shows.”
    Hart notes that pricing can vary by thousands of dollars from job to job. He usually has a good idea of what costs will be by simply knowing the make and model.
    “If I get a call, I’ll often ask for pictures,” says Hart. “I ask about condition of the tractor and what the owner wants done. If they want me to restore it, I ask for a partial payment to hold their place in line.”
    While Hart does a little farming on the side, the restoration business keeps him busy. Lately, it has also kept him too busy to work on another tractor for himself.
    “I have had one sitting in parts for about 4 years,” says Hart.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Scott’s Tractor Restoration, 14025 Haumesser Rd., Shabbona, Ill. 60550 (ph 815 762-0851; twocylindersh@aol.com; www.scottstractorrestoration.com; www.facebook.com/Scotts-Tractor-Restoration-160550520668812/).

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Business Is Booming For Tractor Restoration AG WORLD Scott Hart’s tractor restoration is not only a full-time job but he has a waiting list With nearly 20 years in the business he has had clients from Pennsylvania to Texas as well as Canada All told Hart has restored more than 130 tractors “Most clients find me on the internet or from ads ” says Hart “I may not have any response to ads and then suddenly I’ll fill up for a year ” What started with the restoration of his grandfather’s tractor quickly took off He built a shop designed for restoration in 2004 It has a 30 by 30-ft paint booth area with 150 ft of cable for hanging parts On his website Hart outlines a 17-step process from examining the tractor to completion It includes inspection cleaning and replacement as needed of any bearings and gears sanding and degreasing sandblasting and painting He does his own ceramic coating of turbos and exhausts He also does his own sheet metal forming using an English wheel “Wheeling” is done by rolling the sheet metal back and forth between a small domed wheel and a larger flat wheel He first used it after discovering the fenders on a John Deere AOS orchard style had rusted out “The first one was a real challenge and I swore never again ” says Hart “I’ve done 6 others since forming the sheet metal into OEM-style fenders ” Hart involves the customer in the restoration process welcoming them to visit throughout the process “We are flexible and open to the type of primer used the type of paint used and the number of coats the customer prefers ” says Hart The oldest tractor Hart has worked on is a John Deere D from 1925 While 99 percent of what he does is for clients he has picked up a few for restoration and resale One he kept is a John Deere 80 “It was in parts for 2 years after I got married ” recalls Hart “My wife was in college and told me I had to get it done before she graduated I did and it’s probably my favorite I take it to shows ” Hart notes that pricing can vary by thousands of dollars from job to job He usually has a good idea of what costs will be by simply knowing the make and model “If I get a call I’ll often ask for pictures ” says Hart “I ask about condition of the tractor and what the owner wants done If they want me to restore it I ask for a partial payment to hold their place in line ” While Hart does a little farming on the side the restoration business keeps him busy Lately it has also kept him too busy to work on another tractor for himself “I have had one sitting in parts for about 4 years ” says Hart Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Scott’s Tractor Restoration 14025 Haumesser Rd Shabbona Ill 60550 ph 815 762-0851; twocylindersh@aol com; www scottstractorrestoration com; www facebook com/Scotts-Tractor-Restoration-160550520668812/

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