Vintage Cockshutt Combine Gets A Second Life
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Borden Ylioja of Saskatchewan, Canada, found and restored a 1947 Cockshutt combine that had been abandoned for 60 years. “The combine engine blew, and the driver must have parked it,” explains Ylioja. “My friends and I stumbled across it while riding our quads. When we looked at it, I thought it was repairable.”
Two years later, he returned to the spot with his brother and used a loader to pull the combine out of the brush. “I own the combine now,” says Ylioja. “The property owner said I could take it.” While not a farmer, Ylioja does auto body repairs and wanted to take on the challenge of antique farm equipment restoration. While he had his doubts about whether it was fixable, he had little to lose by trying.
Ylioja estimates that he put between 200 and 250 hrs. of work into the restoration before the combine was operational. He explains, “I first had to find an engine. My cousin had one that required some minor repairs. Then, I replaced all the grease nipples and greased all the bearings to ensure they were good. I had to find and buy every belt for it, as well as two chains. Then I found the knife and all the guards for the straight cut off of a similar combine that my uncle had. Finally, I had to build the reel for it.” The front dual tires were still holding 20 psi when he found it. “Porcupines had chewed a lot of the lugs half off,” he says. But to this day, I haven’t added any air, and they’re still holding.”
Ylioja believes that overall costs have come to around $2,500 so far. He estimates it will take another 150 hrs. to get the combine completely finished and repainted. “This restoration has been a lot of learning as I go and just figuring things out. Everything has gone smoothly for the most part,” he says.
This past fall, Ylioja tested his combine on about 2 acres of durum and plans to use the grain he harvested to plant a small field this coming year. In the long term, he’d like to have a small hobby farm run solely with restored farm equipment. “I’m currently fixing a 1954 John Deere 60,” he says. “If anyone wants some old machinery restored, send me a message.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Borden Ylioja (bordenylioja@gmail.com).
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Vintage Cockshutt Combine Gets A Second Life COMBINES Borden Ylioja of Saskatchewan Canada found and restored a 1947 Cockshutt combine that had been abandoned for 60 years “The combine engine blew and the driver must have parked it ” explains Ylioja “My friends and I stumbled across it while riding our quads When we looked at it I thought it was repairable ” Two years later he returned to the spot with his brother and used a loader to pull the combine out of the brush “I own the combine now ” says Ylioja “The property owner said I could take it ” While not a farmer Ylioja does auto body repairs and wanted to take on the challenge of antique farm equipment restoration While he had his doubts about whether it was fixable he had little to lose by trying Ylioja estimates that he put between 200 and 250 hrs of work into the restoration before the combine was operational He explains “I first had to find an engine My cousin had one that required some minor repairs Then I replaced all the grease nipples and greased all the bearings to ensure they were good I had to find and buy every belt for it as well as two chains Then I found the knife and all the guards for the straight cut off of a similar combine that my uncle had Finally I had to build the reel for it ” The front dual tires were still holding 20 psi when he found it “Porcupines had chewed a lot of the lugs half off ” he says But to this day I haven’t added any air and they’re still holding ” Ylioja believes that overall costs have come to around $2 500 so far He estimates it will take another 150 hrs to get the combine completely finished and repainted “This restoration has been a lot of learning as I go and just figuring things out Everything has gone smoothly for the most part ” he says This past fall Ylioja tested his combine on about 2 acres of durum and plans to use the grain he harvested to plant a small field this coming year In the long term he’d like to have a small hobby farm run solely with restored farm equipment “I’m currently fixing a 1954 John Deere 60 ” he says “If anyone wants some old machinery restored send me a message Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Borden Ylioja bordenylioja@gmail com
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