I Love Broken Toys

When most people open anything they buy they expect it to be in pristine condition, and rightfully so. If there is a defect from the manufacturer or a product is damaged during shipping, any sane person would return the item for a new one. I on the other hand see an unexpected project, a challenge to my mechanical skills, and a battle of wits between me and the toy companies. You could say that I’m happy sometimes when the tractors I buy are missing a wheel or have a defective hitch.

Some people might say that the fact that I have to write this article is a statement on the quality of products that are being released. Instead of getting angry with the condition of my purchases, I feel like I’m getting the better end of the deal because I get the tractor and the satisfaction of fixing it. When you open your Christmas presents this year be thankful for whatever condition they are in because you can always take them back or glue on the wheel if you need to.

Pictured above is a versatile 850 that was made by C&D models a few years ago. When I took it out of the package and the wheel fell off, it brought a smile to my face.

All Better!

Here is that same Versatile from the previous post with a brand new brass axle. The only problem is that now the rear axle works better than the front. Where's my Dremel?........

New Tires for the New Holland

Here is a tire change that I just completed on a TJ530 and 2 TG305s'. I took the rear duals from 2 TG 305s' (bottom right tractor), and put them on the TJ530 (top tractor). I then took the tires from the TJ530 and put them on the 2 TG305s (bottom left). I really think this adds an aggressive look to the big 4WD, and it is one of my favorite combinations. Look for one of the 305s' to show up in a future eBay auction.

Quick and Easy Customs: Custom 1B - Adding Flotation Singles to your New Holland Combine

As all 3 of my readers may have suspected, the blue font was alluding to the fact that the fat singles that I took off of the front of my John Deere 9750 were going to end up on a New Holland product.

Now, as out of place as the singles looked on the John Deere 9000 series combine, the anemic singles that are on the CR960 are truly pathetic. They are narrow and the wheels themselves are very unrealistic. Why did Ertl choose to put the tiny tire and wheel combination on this model? My guess is that it was designed with the intention of having duals, which actually look really sharp on this combine, yet the duals have been reserved for the special editions that have been produced from this casting. Variations from this casting include:
Dealer launch edition CR970 – Features duals and handrails.
1/750 Produced in a shiny gold box. This is a very rare collectors item, it was originally only given to New Holland dealers.
http://cgi.ebay.com/1-64-New-Holland-CR970-Dealer-combine-w-duals-1-of-750_W0QQitemZ160152895235QQihZ006QQcategoryZ741QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
Dealer edition CR970 – Features duals and handrails.
Regular edition CR960 – features skinny singles
Note: This tractor was produced in 2 different shades of New Holland yellow.
2005 Farm Show edition CR970 – Features duals and handrails.
1/3500 Produced in a shiny silver box.
CR 9070 Dealer Edition – Features duals, handrails, and a new color scheme.

As you can see from this list; 4 of the 5 variations have duals. This is contradictory because they are intended as special editions, and vary well have been a lower production number. When you put regular flotation singles on the front they rub a little on the fender of the combine. So instead of producing a new tire and wheel combo, Ertl simply put an older variation that they had laying around Beijing.

Since I’m a sucker for a great set of wheels, I couldn’t help but to put the left over Fat floatation singles from my earlier project on the front of the CR970. I also took off the rear wheels and in their place put the skinny singles that were meant to be the drive wheels on this combine. In my opinion this combination looks much better than the original. You should note that the Fat singles slightly rub the fender. As soon as I figure out an easy fix for this you loyal readers will be the first to know.

Quick and Easy Customs: Custom #1 – Adding Duals to Your Combine

One of the most intriguing things about the farm toy hobby is the creation of custom toys not offered by one of the manufacturers. Custom toys can be scratch built, but are generally modifications of existing castings. The obvious benefit of using an existing casting is the reduction in time involved when making a new toy. Although I enjoy all forms of customizing, slight modifications to production castings can create drastic variations and improvements in toys that allow you to have a one of a kind replica.

Tire and wheel changes; The most basic custom.
One variation you often see on real tractors is a difference in tires and wheels, even on the same model tractor. Many of the manufacturers offer the most basic tires and wheels on their toys. Then after they sell a model they start producing variations to maximize the casting use. Despite their best efforts, they can never release every tractor with every tire and wheel possible. This is good news for those us who get a kick out of tearing apart toys.

Why do the 9000 series John Deere combines come with singles on most of the toys produced by Ertl? My theory is based on the initial casting of the 9750 and the way the original tires and wheels they made for it fit. The “floatation” singles that came on the original 9750 that was released in 2001 have a tall profile and fit nicely in the wheel wells, and although they are wide they are tucked in beneath the ladder. It would have caused Ertl to change the wheel well and ladder, or produce a new wheel and tire combination. Neither of which was probably cost effective.

*Note: The 2001 Farm Show edition 9750, and 2006 Farm Show edition 9660 both came with duals. These tractors were a limited production run of 5000 units each.

Adding the duals that Ertl uses on one of their four wheel drive tractors changes the angle at which the combine sits so that the front is lower, and they also leave a wider gap between the tire and the wheel well. Despite these differences adding duals from a 9000 four wheel drive tractor can make the model look more realistic because many of the 9000 series combines are produced with duals.

To change the duals: First remove the wheels and tires. This is easy on some combines and more difficult on others. It probably depends on how diligent the quality control officer in China was working that day. Basically just pull as hard as you can on one side of the wheel or tire. If that doesn’t work a set of vice grips will help you wiggle the wheel off the axle. (Note – The vice grips will damage the wheel).

Next remove the wheels and tires from whatever your stealing them from. The 8870 Premiere tractor, and 9320 4wd kits both have duals that will fit under the fender of the 9000 series combines.

Now that the duals are removed, just install them on the combine and enjoy your new tire and wheel set up. At this point the ladder on your tractor may have to be extended by pulling it out, then re-inserting it to the first mark on the top of the ladder.

Adding duals to the John Deere 7720 gives it a more aggressive look. I have found that the duals from the 9320 kit look really nice, but rub the fender slightly. After you install these you may decide that you want to adjust the axle height (look for this article later in the year in another edition of Quick and Easy Customs). These wheels and tires can be installed the same way you put the duals on the 9000 series combine.

The Finished Product

Photo #1 - The 9750 and 7720 have doubled their traction and are ready for the field.

Photo #2 - Another view of the custom combines.

Photo #3 - Variations in tires and wheels. The combine on the left as a custom set of duals from dakotah toys, and the combine on the right has a set of duals off of a John Deere 9620 four wheel drive.

Please come by later in the week to see what I did with the tires and wheels I took off of the tractors I customized. The color of this text is a hint.