13-Year-Old Restores Antique Engines

13-Year-Old Restores Antique Engines AG WORLD Jake Brandt is getting an early start on fixing up old equipment The 13-year-old has already finished a Deere No 5 sickle mower and a 2-cyl Deere LUC engine from a pull-type combine Both efforts earned the 4-H member trips to the Iowa State Fair “The best part of it is restoring something old back to new condition ” says Brandt who won a blue ribbon this past summer at the State Fair “The engine looked terrible when we started ” Brandt appreciates the help and guidance he gets from Morris Brandt his grandfather When he saw the old engine in his grandfather’s shed young Brandt asked if he could restore it “We took it totally apart cleaned everything sandblasted it and treated parts for rust ” says Brandt “We had to send the engine block carburetor and magneto out for some major repairs Fort Dodge Machine bored out the cylinders put in new sleeves and gave us new rings for it They also fixed the valves and valve guides and put new springs in ” Brandt and his grandfather put everything back together and started the old engine up before priming and painting The engine works great though it has limited potential uses “It doesn’t really work for a stationary engine ” says Brandt though he hopes to explore some possibilities “It was one of the earlier style LUC engines with a hand crank It produces around 18 hp ” Brandt is currently working on a Deere Model D tractor It will be his first solo tractor project after helping his grandfather restore a Deere G High Crop and a Deere 530 This one is a working tractor that the younger Brandt used for plowing and disking a field this past spring “I’ve got it about halfway torn apart ” says Brandt Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jake Brandt c/o Wendy Brandt ph 515 532-6574; wendy@brandtranch com

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