Delo Centennial Farm 9630 S. Johnson Road Blanchard, Michigan
49310-9764
The restoration of our ‘LOVE’ tractor, manufactured in
Eau Claire, Michigan, took six months, and was under the direction
of good friend and body shop owner Rod Erno of Blanchard, Michigan.
The results attest to Mr. Erno’s talent.
The sheet metal required extensive restoration; among the needed
mechanical work was replacement of the steering assembly that had
been cobbled from GM car parts. We found a correct steering sector
box, bracket, and column from a scrapped Love. We installed new
gauges, master cylinders, many small parts, and converted to 12
volt.
This tractor was never tested at Nebraska. It has a 6 cylinder
Chrysler engine, rated at 57 HP @ 2000 RPM by the manufacturer. It
has a 5-speed Dodge truck transmission and a 2-speed axle. It also
has hydraulic individual turning brakes (2 master cylinders, one at
each pedal). It has a surplus of power compared to its weight, and
is very fast on the highway.
Other tractors in our stable include: John Deere 40 Standard;
John Deere 60 Orchard; Allis Chalmers WC 1947 styled; Allis
Chalmers WC 1937; Allis Chalmers A 1939 (the big one); and everyone
has at least one 8-N Ford (1952), but ours has been in the family
since new.
