Here's what it took to get it running along with some of the fun I encountered along the way.

 

1. The rear wheels were locked when I first went to move it.  I removed the drain plug and nothing came out.  After building a little fire in my tailgate BBQ, I drained a lot of water out of it.  Freed everything up.

 

2.  The gas tank, sediment bowl, fuel line and carburetor were all full of varnish and plugged up.  Cleaned it all out, rebuilt the carb and then needed to plug a few pinhole leaks in the tank.

 

3.  Needed to fabricate a switch for the Autolite starter, turned the armature and put new brushes in there while I had it off.  Put in a new battery and heavy cables.

 

4.  I had no spark what so ever at the magneto.  I installed new plugs, and wires.  Then dug into the magneto.  There was a huge ants nest in the lower cap (with live ants)!  They got in through the drain holes.  Every electrical contact was green, crusted and fuzzy.  I cleaned that all up and replaced the points and condensor.  I had that thing apart and back together three times before I figured out that I was only loading the impulse spring half a turn and not 3/4.  Finally got a nice blue spark.

 

5.  The final challenge was getting gas to the plugs.  I set all the valves and cleaned up the manifold and replaced the gasket.  The cylinders were so dry from sitting that they wouldn't  build compression or vacuum.  After trying a few things, I finally ended up pouring some oil in the cylinders and working it in.  I cleaned out the excess and it starts after two cranks or one bump of the starter!

 

 

The next tasks will be to install new rubber and refurbish the rims.  I'm thinking about going with turf tires even though this tractor was originally a highway mower.  I plan to try the mounting and dismounting myself for the first time.  Well, I've done passenger cars tires before.  Then wiring and charging system I suppose.  I am glad to be moving back to my place this summer after a two year tour on the staff at the Military Academy at West Point, NY.  I will be able to play with my tractors much more often!

As for dismounting and mounting the tires, unless you have all the professional equipment and knowhow, just bring it to the tire guys.  And this is coming from an al-cheepo, LOL!  Dad and I are slowly working on fixing the rear rims on my WD, and we needed the last one dismounted.  (the other and a spare for patches is already dismounted).  We tried for a while to see if we could break the bead using Dads D15 II to drive up on the tire ( on the ground) with its rear tire and we couldn't even get it to break a little.  Stuck and rusty, and some fluid still in the rim (that was probably most of our problem, If we had drained it all, we might have been more successful)  

So we ended up bringing it to the tire shop, and they had it dismounted for us in no time, and it only cost like 10 bucks.  Well worth the money in my book!  

We have dismounted our own front tires before, and they were a struggle as well.

Good luck, and let us know how it works for you!

As for the tires, I know I'm asking for frustration but I plan to at least try.  If I run into trouble, I can always take them to town.  The nearest place I could find to do tractor tires is about 25 miles away (one way), and I let them take advantage of me a few years ago when I was new to the community.  I brought by two B rears (with new tires and tubes) and got an estimate of $75 to remove the old tires, install the new, and repair a rust hole in one rim.  I went by the next day at the agreed time and "they hadn't gotten to them yet".  No, problem I said, but I made the mistake of "going in my town clothes".  It was obvious that I was a hobbyist and not a farmer.  Well the next day my tires were ready, but the manager said his estimate was way off.  There was a lot more work to get them ready.  Also, he forgot to mention the $24 dollar (each) tire disposal fee.  He said it took 7 cans of spray paint at $6.99 each (but it's all mostly the inside) and there was another hour of labor than he thought.  I paid, but told him I would have appreciated a call first.  Decided then and there, I would find another tire shop.

  Right now, I have four rears to change, four fronts, and four trailer tires.  I am going to get one of those hand operated changers for the fronts.  If I can't get the rears to work, I can take them to another place I heard good things about that is just a little farther.

Ah man, that stinks! 

I can understand why you want to try yourself now.  I guess we're lucky here with a fairly good tire shop in town.  The lady at the counter has even figured out that I am the Allis tractor guy with "another project" LOL!

What kind of hand operated changers are you talking about?  I'm always looking to learn.  

Good luck, and keep us posted.