Storm-Damaged Deere 4020 Fenders Get New Life As Bench
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Donnley Bultman says he couldn’t believe the damage to the large yardsite of Far-Gaze Farms after it was broadsided by a huge tornado in September, 2018. “There was metal from the bins, grain system, sheds and pieces of trees everywhere. One of the first things I saw walking up the driveway was the grain leg laying on top of their Deere 4020 diesel. I thought to myself right then I’d offer to restore it.”
Bultman has a special bond with the Petersons who operate Far-Gaze Farms because he’s worked part-time for them for more than 35 years. “They’re wonderful people who run a fantastic operation, and repairing the tractor was a small way to contribute to their recovery.”
Bultman says the weight of a 100-ft. tall grain leg crushed the tractor’s front spindles, smashed the hood, the seat, sheared off the exhaust manifold, damaged the head and many other parts.
“I knew the 4020 had a lot of sentimental value to the family because their dad had bought it for their farm many years ago,” Bultman says. The wrecked tractor was moved to Bultman’s shop a few miles away-where he and some of the family members stripped off the damaged parts during the winter of 2019. “We had to scramble to find some of the replacement parts, including a trip to Wisconsin and getting the special hood from Texas, but everything came together after more than 200 hrs. or so,” Bultman says.
During the restoration Bultman decided the refurbished tractor should have new fenders because he had other plans for the originals. “Those weren’t damaged too badly, and since I had nice replacements, I wanted to use the old ones for something special.”
Bultman had a friend build a metal frame out of tube steel to create a sturdy base for a bench seat and back. “I bolted those old fenders to the frame just like they were on the tractor, and they aren’t going anywhere,” says Bultman with a laugh. He replaced the original fender lights with new ones and hooked them up to a garden tractor battery with a switch on the operator’s seat. “No reason for lights other than a novelty,” Bultman says. “It makes the bench really unique.”
Bultman’s fender bench now rests in front of the office and shop on the re-built farm site.
Bruce’s son Sam Peterson says, “The restored 4020 looks like it came off the show room floor and runs like new. We use it quite often, and the bench gets its share of visitors, too.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Far-Gaze Farms, 10180 90th St. East, Northfield, Minn. 55057.
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Storm-Damaged Deere 4020 Fenders Get New Life As Bench AG WORLD Donnley Bultman says he couldn’t believe the damage to the large yardsite of Far-Gaze Farms after it was broadsided by a huge tornado in September 2018 “There was metal from the bins grain system sheds and pieces of trees everywhere One of the first things I saw walking up the driveway was the grain leg laying on top of their Deere 4020 diesel I thought to myself right then I’d offer to restore it ” Bultman has a special bond with the Petersons who operate Far-Gaze Farms because he’s worked part-time for them for more than 35 years “They’re wonderful people who run a fantastic operation and repairing the tractor was a small way to contribute to their recovery ” Bultman says the weight of a 100-ft tall grain leg crushed the tractor’s front spindles smashed the hood the seat sheared off the exhaust manifold damaged the head and many other parts “I knew the 4020 had a lot of sentimental value to the family because their dad had bought it for their farm many years ago ” Bultman says The wrecked tractor was moved to Bultman’s shop a few miles away-where he and some of the family members stripped off the damaged parts during the winter of 2019 “We had to scramble to find some of the replacement parts including a trip to Wisconsin and getting the special hood from Texas but everything came together after more than 200 hrs or so ” Bultman says During the restoration Bultman decided the refurbished tractor should have new fenders because he had other plans for the originals “Those weren’t damaged too badly and since I had nice replacements I wanted to use the old ones for something special ” Bultman had a friend build a metal frame out of tube steel to create a sturdy base for a bench seat and back “I bolted those old fenders to the frame just like they were on the tractor and they aren’t going anywhere ” says Bultman with a laugh He replaced the original fender lights with new ones and hooked them up to a garden tractor battery with a switch on the operator’s seat “No reason for lights other than a novelty ” Bultman says “It makes the bench really unique ” Bultman’s fender bench now rests in front of the office and shop on the re-built farm site Bruce’s son Sam Peterson says “The restored 4020 looks like it came off the show room floor and runs like new We use it quite often and the bench gets its share of visitors too ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Far-Gaze Farms 10180 90th St East Northfield Minn 55057
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