NTPDA Tradeshow

I have been a member of the National Tractor Parts Dealer Association since 1989. I have served as a director of the association, and as the vice president and president but this year I am just a member. This is probably the position I am most qualified to serve. All in all it was a good informative meeting. I found some new suppliers that will provide me with some new parts I have been looking for to meet my customers demand. The best "meetings" were in the bar at the end of the day. For some of us , this is more a family reunion to catch up with what is going on with familys and friends. Linda did not go this year and I was asked"Where's Linda?" about 100 times from various people aroound the country.
Friday night I went to the Grand Old Opry at the Ryman Auditorium. They were doing a live radio show while we were there for the 2 hour show. It was a good show. The wood pews (seats) had my butt numb in about 30 minutes. There were singers from the 70s & 80s as well as singers that are current so it was a good mix of country music. And it was interesting to be in a live radio show, especially one I have listened to many Friday and Saturday nights as I was growing up. The rest of the time I spent in the Trade Show looking for deals. I did find a couple of deals and brought them home with me. I had the cab of the pickup full of clutch packs and guage assemblies.

Eric Benton, Southeast Tractor Parts,Always looking for a deal!!!

On the Road!!

I am in Nashville TN attending the National Tractor Parts Dealer Association meeting. It was a 500 mile drive to get here. The interstate I40 is still blocked by a rockslide so I had to bypass around the slide on Hwy 70 from Asheville NC to Newport TN. I saw a lot of snow on the bypass, yards still covered in snow and trees that had blown down or the accumulation of snow had broken them on the side of the road. I also saw creeks and ponds that were frozen over and there was snow on top of the ice. At least the roads were clear. I have spent today in classes on Strategic Planning, Computer programs and Environmental planning. In a hour the trade show opens so I can see what my suppliers have available in new parts for the coming year. It has been a good time talking to friends from across the country.


Eric Benton, Southeast Tractor Parts,always looking for more parts to sell!!!

New Year!!

I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!! Here are 3 new pictures to start the year off . Larry if you paint your tractor red you want have to worry about adjusting the valve settings. The other 2 pictures are of a MF 135 I purchased . It runs good ,cranks good, and has power steering. It is just a ugly tractor. I will probably part it out. The engine is a Perkins 3 cylinder 152 cubic in engine.

Eric Benton. Southeast Tractor Parts, New parts for the new year!!

Snoe Chains

I just had the oddest phone call. A lady called and asked if I was in Jefferson. I said I am south of Jefferson. Then she wanted to know if I had a set of tire chains for a car. I said that I did not have them. Then she said the Walmart store in Jefferson had 5 sets and they were the wrong size for her tires. A Walmart in Jefferson--- You could put all of Jefferson in a Walmart and still have enough room to drive around it. I said "Jefferson does not have a Walmart" and she said I know it does I just talked to them and I am going to NC and need a set of chains.
I think she needed more than a set of chains!

Eric Benton, Southeast Tractor Parts, Will wonders never cease.

Snow

I spoke with 3 of my customers/friends yesterday from Virginia. One had 8 inches of snow still on the ground, one had 30 inches of snow and some of his neighbors had 44 inches ( depending on where they were on the mountain) the other one had about 20 inches. I did not get any snow. I only had cold miserable rain. I guess the good side of this is that I now have the sun shining while they still have snow to contend with.

Eric Benton, Southeast Tractor Parts, Enjoying the Sun!!!

Manifolds and Rusty Bolts

Yesterday, I threatened to take the Red Wrench to a rusted up bolt on a manifold. Instead, I used a die grinder with a carbide cutting bit and ground on the nut a little and unscrewed the bolt. Here are pictures!

Manifolds

This is a manifold off of a IH 1086 tractor. I have it sold to a customer and I am trying to get the turbo off of the manifold. I have taken out all of the bolts except one and it will not loosen any more. This requires more than a hand full of tools and a hammer, this requires a red wrench. I have to take it to the torch to cut the bolt so the turbo will separate from the manifold.

We sell lots of different manifolds new and used for tractors. Call me if your tractor starts smoking from under the hood instead of on top of the hood!!

Eric Benton, Southeast Tractor Parts, Listen for the torch to pop!!!