With the engine all squared away, I now could focus on the other parts of the tractor. One part that I had noticed when I was bidding on the tractor was that one of the rear tires was horribly cracked and in dire need of replacement.
I did some pricing on a new tire for this size of tractor, and I was absolutely floored at the price - basically, I was literally doubling the value of my tractor by installing a new tire. Well, I couldn't really use the tractor without it, so I held my nose and soon a new tire was on its way.
While I was waiting for the tire to arrive, I decided that I should at least prepare for it by removing the rear wheel from the tractor, remove the old tire and perhaps freshen up the rim with a fresh coat of paint,
Little did I know that I was in for the most frustrating part of the whole tractor rebuild.