Eoin Sheridan from outside Oldcastle in Co. Meath, has knowledge well beyond his years when it comes to all things machinery.

The 16-year-old has recently embarked on the complex mission of restoring a John Deere 2850 to “showroom condition”.

Agriland recently paid a visit to see the outcome of Sheridan’s tractor restoration project which took just over eight months for the young mechanic to complete.

While Sheridan completed most of the work himself, he was supervised at all times when working and was always conscious of safety when carrying out the work.

Sporting an SG2 cab, the 1989 four-cylinder turbo tractor was a popular workhorse on Irish farms – long before Sheridan was even born. With a 40km/h gearbox and a new turbo installed, the engine is churning out just short of 100hp.

Speaking to Agriland, he explained the painstaking process of bringing this classic green machine back to its former glory.

The new 520-7R34 tyres on the rear and 13.6-24 tyres on the front, give 4WD tractor nice volume.

The machine has been fully reconditioned with parts including the clutch, hydraulic pump, brakes, engine, front-axle, and not to mention the fully-furnished cab interior finished to a “showroom condition”.

Parts were primarily sourced from John Deere, John Conaty in Co. Meath and Agriline Products.

The cab that was originally on the tractor

“The tractor was kitted out with all new bearings and seals in the front axle, the same with the transmission. The panels were done to the highest standard, showroom spec by Galligan Motors in Oldcastle, Co. Meath.

“The tyre rims were powder-coated by AgriGear in Bailieborough in Co. Cavan,” Sheridan said.

“I got the tractor from a man I know in Mountnugent in Co. Cavan. He imported it from England about six years before I bought it,” he added.

“He bought it from England with very low hours and he maintained it well but the cab was already rotten when he got it.

“The engine had spun shell bearings and he refurbished the whole engine from top to bottom but it spun shell bearings again and there was a tipping in it [the engine], and that’s the reason why he sold it.”

“I bought it off him and stripped the whole engine down again, and I found that the shell bearings had spun but didn’t damage the crank.

“Therefore, I put in a full set of new shell bearings and that sorted out the problem,” Sheridan explained.

The cab interior was fully restored by Sheridan himself and is now in pristine condition

Initially, Sheridan was unsure what had caused the engine issue but on analysing the issue, he solved the problem.

When Sheridan took the engine apart, he identified that the problem was in fact an issue associated with the Con rod.

He said: “When the engine was rebuilt, the bottom of the con rod was placed the wrong way around on the crank which caused it to spin the shell bearings.

“Therefore, the piston was tipping the head ever so slightly, causing the knocking in the engine.”

With the exception of some of the panel and wheel rim spraying, the work on the tractor was completed predominantly by himself.

His father, Kevin, was on hand to help out of course, and to supervise the progress on the project.

Sheridan said: “I done a lot of the work mainly myself and learned as I went on. The panels were sprayed by Galligan Motors. I went up and helped with all the prep work but they sprayed them in the spray booth.

“I sprayed the chassis on it myself and the rims was done as I said earlier by AgriGear.”

The young mechanic explained where he first got his interest in mechanics:

“When I was growing up, Dad’s friend Anthony Masterson from Milbrook Motors, would have brought me with him from I was nine or 10 repairing things, and I liked the mechanics part of it.

“I wanted to do up a tractor for the past few years and this one just happened to come up at the right time and so I took into it. It was a big task and I was jumping in at the deep end but it turned out well and I am very happy with it.”

Sheridan has just started in his Transition Year and turned 16 in July. While his love for mechanics is plain to be seen, he also has a great interest in agriculture and is considering studying it in the future.

With his tractor licence now secured, he hopes to bring his completed project to the Farmer Phil tractor run in memory of Ian Stewart.

The event taking place in Killashee, Co. Longford this Sunday, September 15, with proceeds going to the Irish Cancer Society and County Longford Hospice Homecare.

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