The Man Behind the Blog
Meet Shop Rag Sam – The Grease-Stained Legend
30+ Years Fixing Tractors in Iowa Sheds — Here to Save You the Hard Lessons.
I've been elbow-deep in Iowa sheds for 30-some years now. Massey Ferguson transmissions, John Deere hydraulics, Case IH wiring harnesses that look like they were designed by angry raccoons. I've skinned more knuckles than a prize fighter. If it's got gears, it's got gremlins.
I got tired of watching good farmers lose their cool over a missing torque spec or a parts diagram that went out of print in 1987. So I started The Shop Rag — a place to share real fixes, hard-won lessons, and point folks toward the hard-to-find printed manuals that actually solve problems. No fluff, no forums full of guesses. Just the specs.
Why "Shop Rag Sam"? Because a shop rag is the most underrated tool in the shed. It mops up the messes, protects the parts that matter, and stays with you until the job is done. That's what I'm here for — digging through the dusty archives so you don't have to.
I don't care about showroom shine. I care about "it starts on the first crank." Whether you're restoring your grandad's 4020 or keeping a 50-ton excavator from becoming a permanent lawn ornament, I've got the book — and the bruises — to prove it can be done right.
Sam's Core Values
- Fix It Right
No shortcuts, no guessing — get the spec and do it once.
- Printed Manuals Aren't Optional
A screen won't survive a hydraulic leak. Paper does.
- A Little Grease Never Hurt Nobody
If your hands are clean, you haven't started yet.
"You buy the manual, you get the knowledge. You wear the shirt, you join the crew. Let's get to work."