50-Year-Old Disc Looks Like New

50-Year-Old Disc Looks Like New Roger Gutschmidt bought a 1975 model John Deere disc from a neighbor for $500. It was in tough shape, but he figured he could scrap it out for the price. “After I tore it apart, I decided to restore it,” says Gutschmidt. “The frame was in really good shape, with no welding needed. There were a lot of loose bolts that couldn’t be tightened down and had to be replaced. The nuts had seized and had to be cut off with my heat wrench/cutting torch.” The 8-ft long gang shafts were worn and bent and had to be replaced. Once he heated the nuts on the gang shafts, they came right off. “About half the bearings were completely shot, with no balls left in them, so they were running metal on metal,” says Gutschmidt. “I put in all new bearings and bearing holders, either making them or buying them. I also bought five new disc blades at about $60 each.” The disc blades were supposed to be deep-dished but were less concave than Gutschmidt had wanted. “Sometimes, when restoring a piece of equipment, you want it as accurate as possible, but I decided these looked okay,” he says. While he likely put in at least as much in parts as he paid for the old disc, Gutschmidt is satisfied. “I sandblasted it and repainted it John Deere green,” he says. “It’s field-ready and needs nothing more. It may be 50 years old, but it looks brand new.” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Roger Gutschmidt, Gutschmidt Manufacturing, 202 Elm St. E., Box 311, Gackle, N.D. 58442 (ph 701-269-0537).

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