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Oops, I did it again! We got about 6-8 more inches of snow last night so I felt obliged to play around with the video camera once more. (Hey, we don't get much snow...I can't help myself!) In what has become the norm, I cleared all five driveways in our cul-de-sac and then most of the street as well, since once the snow is out of the driveways, I have to find a place to put it! I admit that finding a good place to put the snow while not blocking someone's car, driveway, mailbox or storm drain was challenging, especially since a significant amount of the piles of snow I pushed a week ago are still there! In today's installment—which is the last one this year...I promise—I have the camera mounted on the B-80's hood and I shot the video in time-lapse mode, 1 frame every 1/2 second which roughly equates to 4 minutes of video for an hour of video. BTW, if you don't like Sinatra, you'll probably hate this!

Just ordered a blast cabinet from Harbor Freight.....Now I have to get a BIGGER air compressor. Used my wife's debit card!! It's for my birthday.......shhhh

You know, I wondered after the fact if I should add a warning that if you have issues with the motion, especially in "first person" shooter games, flight simulators, etc, you might want to proceed with caution!

check the fuel pump for a leaking diaphgam

so i shot a couple pictures of my horse there ya go

Wow what a day! Super busy at work and dinner out. Thanks to all that have wished me a Happy Birthday here on the Greatest Forum in the world Red Square!! From Koen who was the first to ring in at 3:52 A.M. (thanks for staying up all night Koen! ) Probably was having lunch when he typed it. Don, no seizures here unless I get to close to a Tecky recoil rope! . To cousin Brian, who must have spent all day digging up those smilies out of his vast stock pile of Horses.To my older Dino brother who took a selfie and slapped it on a pizza. Now I know what I'm not having for lunch tomorrow! THANKS I see Uncle Jim has dusted the snow off and managed to get back in the house. Jim we need some more of those action shots! John, I didn't see a Gravely with a sno-cannon show up at my door yet. come to think of it Ken the 420 didn't get here either! My younger brother Craig. Awful nice sentiment but I think I may have a few nightmares now. And to everybody on RS thanks for all the wishes and laughs and we will see a bunch of you in a few months in PA. If anyone wants to give me a snow cab, I can pick it up there! What a way to celebrate your 5800th INTELLIGENT POST! BOOM----SHAKA----LAKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I think it sucks that you didn't get all of "Summer Wind" on the video. That was the best song.

There is more to the Eaton 700 vs. Eaton 1100 history than just the transmissions. Wheel Horse also installed a 4-Pinion transaxle with 1" axles with the Eaton 700. For the Eaton 1100, Wheel Horse used the 8-Pinion transaxle with 1-1/8" axles. It is the transaxle that shares the limiting factor. Wheel Horse was establishing a price point as some owners did not need a full ground-engaging tractor. The 700 could do limited ground engaging though, including tilling and snowblowing. I have a 1986 Wheel Horse 312A with over 1100 hours that has been used for more than just cutting grass! The advantage to the 1100 is that it also provides an auxiliary circuit for a lift. But - the Eaton 700 is still a stronger transmission than what goes into the riding lawn mowers that are manufactured today. For more discussion see:

Believe it or not..... you need more weight! My "bone bag" comes in @ 270lbs. Add on cast iron wheel weights to boot. With that being said I also run 4-44lb suitcase weights and 5 gal gas. All kept in a box/rack hanging off a Scotty hitch. It's made a world of difference!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE....I found a pizza with your picture on it.

I always thought the noise was the bypass valve. My hydro's all make noise to some degree. It is worse in cold weather, and improves as the units warm up. A heater for the hydro is a good idea, even a lightbulb for half an hour might help. I've also gone to synthetic fluid. Regular oil just gets too thick in the cold here. Amsoil 10-30 in the hydro, flows like water even at -30, but it is expensive. Both tricks seem to cut down (but not totally eliminate) the noise.

Lars, hope you get well soon and I am glad it wasn't worse than what it is. I also want to thank you for sharing your experience because since my accident a couple of days ago my mind is now racing through all kinds of possible injuries and their causes. I am also guilty of using a RJ without belt guards. It happens to be my grandson's favorite tractor and I can't keep him away from it. I have always been self-conscious when he is next to it while it is running, worried about his little hands. Guard needs to be a custom one (longer than stock) so I never got around to make one. I can tell you now, that thanks to you that tractor will never run again until such a guard is in place. However sadly, at least there is some good that comes from our misfortunes, in the form of real lessons learned from them. Get well soon.

Knowing the man-hours involved in replacing the axles on the D series, I'd spare no expense in using the highest grade steel possible. In the transmission reassembly process, I'd also replace ALL of the axle bearings and seals with top-end American-made brand names.

The noise is very disconcerting the first time you hear it but normal. I was very concerned about the noise when I bought my first, the 518xi in 2010. Even my 523Dxi with PS has a slight noise at times. Reading the manual five years ago that Rick referenced put me at ease. Follow the manual about warmup before using. You may even want to buy a magnetic heater for the transaxle if it is in unheated storage before using. Try not to run it to the "stop" that unloads the excess pressure. You'll soon get the feel for it. If you watch my videos, when I reverse I only raise the snowthrower enough most of the time to not drag on the ground to limit going over full travel.

Oh yeah, I used the sale price and 20% coupon. It was my wifes idea to buy the cabinet. I guess that is what she meant when she was talking new cabinets.

I'am with buckrancher leaking fuel pump into the crank case.

What a Pud! Just rub some dirt in it, that's what a U.S. guy would do!

Mike, I have attached a page from the 5xi transmission service manual. Following the first paragraph there is a Note concerning noise from the lift valve on non-power steering units. I have 522xi which has power steering, and the lift is not very noisy. It looks like you are in a cold climate, which may also cause the hydro to be noisy. I always run Mobil 1 10W-30 in the hydro. Do you know what is in your hydro and when was the last time the hydro filter was changed. Have you checked the oil level in the hydro? At 400 hours, you shouldn't really be having valve problems, or hydro for that matter. Also note that the last paragraph on the page makes reference to running at full throttle. Are you at WOT when you get the noise. I'm sure some of the other 520 and 518xi owners will chime in and make reference to how noisy their lift valves are. Rick Trans.pdf

Great Steve and you? Very great also the way you help us all out on this tran stuff. I'd never tried it before seeing your instructional.

Title says it all, last year had to fight an old Fergie to plow my drive. Not only would it take all day but it broke down and out comes the shovel. Have a real steep section and would have to back up as far as I could then pull snow down, find a place for it and repeat. The 414 with weights and chains and thrower eases down, sometimes trouble getting back up. But 3 passes and I'm done, with a little playing around at the bottom and top. Hour maybe hour and 15 mins. Waahoo!

Great video! I watched the whole thing! I got about 6 inches down here in Raleigh.

Awesome video and awesome sound track! Watching that was fun!

Happy Birthday Mike, 5800 intelligent ? posts and still counting! Looking forward to moooooore!

Update concerning the screeching noise from the Hydro Lift Valve on my 520xi Wheelhorse. The problem was resolved today. Being I had gone through the trouble of removing the lift valve, I wanted to try to get some answers before I reinstalled it. I took the valve to a guy that specializes in hydraulics and explained the problem to him. He is somewhat familiar with Wheelhorse as it turns out. He examined the valve and determined it was in good shape and clean. He suggested that the valve may be a little undersized for the power of the Hydro. He also mentioned the bypass spring may be getting a little weak due to age and we decided to tighten it just a tad. (It's located under the acorn nut alongside the piston valve that the handle connects to...use an allen wrench to make adjustments) He only tightened it about 1/4 turn. I took the valve home and reinstalled it on my 520xi and tried it out. It was better, but still screeched some, so I removed the acorn nut and tightened it another 1/4 turn. That did the trick! No more screeching and the snowblower raises and lowers like a champ, with the bypass letting out a screech only when I reached the up/down limits just as it is supposed to do. I experimented with it blowing some snow and I also found out that instead of running the engine at 100% full throttle, I can run it just a tad under full throttle, like 95% or more and everything works just a little more perfect! The tractor runs great, the snowblower works great, and I don't hear any annoying screeching whatsoever unless I hit the up/down limits. I am very happy with the results!! Thanks to all of you for giving me your input. It is much appreciated! By the way, I keep my tractor in a heated shop, so the cold weather is not a problem for me. Mike

Heard on the news that you are only 5" from a new record snowfall and another storm is on the way. Wouldn't it be a shame to go through all of this and Not set a record!

I know they are very hard! They make a key cutter sing cutting a new key way!

Thanks for the input gentlemen!! I will have to do some research on the 4140 and 4340 steels since I am not familiar with them. It appears you are both in agreement that it would be wise going with the best material and parts possible. I was originally going to replace all the bearings, but changed my mind when I picked up the set Toro still offered. They looked like junk compared to what was already in it. I will reconsider that now and do some more looking around for better bearings! Do you have any recommendations as to who makes the best bearings? If I could, I would also take the old shaft in to the metallurgy lab to find out what grade of steel it is made from and if or how it was heat treated. Thanks again, and have a great weekend!!!

steffen i would recommend doing the de/carbon job. AS A RULE, the de/carbon job also includes adjusting the valves. thank you. boomer ( the used onan engine parts guy )

Remember Mike... find a grown up... ...because we love you friend.

On the 67 list it shows a 5060, and according to trans desc is only in Limited Slip version ? me too? And oh yes

Yeah, about half way through... I felt the ol' whoopsmybelly kicking in, and had to go. Neat idea though...just not so much all at once.

I am rebuilding the Clinton,and rear axle.Redoing rims and installing new tires,we'll see after that.Thanks Mike

Great video. The dog was a plus! Now I need to sit down!

That is an Awesome way to do a snow pushing video!! .......even with Sinatra :)

I am in the process of having the same made for my 18 also, however; I am needing these longer than stock for the purpose of duals. I know that Peerless made all the rear axles for the Sundstrand transaxles. I assume it will likely depend on what application you are intending to use them in, and what if any attachments you will be equipping you tractor with. I have been told that Wheel Horse made an upgrade kit {for the latter D-200's that were to be used with a back hoe attachment} these axles were made of stronger metal. I have not researched or confirmed this. Personally I think if you are just having axles machined to replace a broken pair with like, and just using it as a riding mower you should be O.K. but, I would consider a higher grade anywhere from 1050, 4140 or top-end 4340. These become increasingly more expensive as you go higher in grade. Then after machining you may want to have them heat treated.

You can have spark out in the open and none when under compression with some plugs. I would say you got some bad plugs.

Sorry it took so long. Had other things going on. I really enjoyed the Flywheeler event. Richie, his wife, and Mike are a really great bunch. I have been planning on going to this for a few years, but now that I'm retired I actually have time to do it. It was well worth my 975 mile round trip. I picked up a nice 702 that I have been wanting for a while. After checking it out there is a lot of fresh red paint on everything which is usually not a good sign. However, I found everything to be in good shape and it runs and rides well. The throttle cable to the governor is not right, I think (see bottom pictures). If anyone has pictures of the right way it goes I would like some see them. Chris From Florida

Interesting......

Personally, I would not worry about the limited slip. It is probably just that the spring is weak and they do not make them any more...and they are expensive if you can even find one. The worst that happens...your differential acts like the one everyone else has. As long as that spring is in tact, your differential is OK. I would imagine that you can find a new spring, but it was not really a good design...they only used this trans for a few years. You could fix your problem with chains on the rear tires, wheel weights, maybe governor adjustments...that kind of thing. What do you think??? In other words, I do not think it ever worked as well as they were thinking it might. Just my 2 cents.

It snowed again last night. We got 5 1/2 inches. Here are some pics from today. Oh the fun you can have with your family and a Wheel Horse!

Spent some time on the phone with King Horse and did some swapping of pics...Think we got it all ironed out...

Thanks to our snow-less December and January here in CT, I was able to get 95% of my new shed completed. Well, it's not entirely fair to say "I" in any of the heavy lifting. I didn't do much of anything other than watch. I used a contractor that I’ve known for years that built my garage and house addition back in 2007. Initially this started out as a quest to replace the older 10'x12' with something a bit larger - and maybe with an overhead loft area. Then the idea of an overhead garage door came into the mix - giving me an ability to raise the loft floor higher so I can park my enclosed trailer in there for the winter...etc...etc. You know how these things go. Needless to say, the "shed" concept turned into a 14'x24' footprint with a full second floor and 6'6" ceiling height upstairs. Way more than the original scope of this project. Fortunately, the wife rolled with it as it unraveled. The town inspector on the other hand....ha..... He said this was the biggest, most over-built "shed" he's ever inspected. Thankfully for tax purposes it's permitted on the books as a "shed or accessory outbuilding". Due to the temperature, I have to wait until spring to paint the front doors and the shutters and gutters are due to be installed sometime next week.

Hi all, Had a play with the 312-8 today and also got a few jobs on the 'to-do list' completed Parts of the yard are quite muddy but it didn't really struggle much, the ags worked well! Tom

Despite the neck issues I have been plugging away at this project slowly but surely. I managed to get the axle/base sanded, primed and painted. Hope to wrap up the rest of it this weekend. On a side note the Brown Truck delivered these today. New pair of shoes for the 856. After going back and fourth between these and ag's I pulled the trigger on these and better yet they were a present from Santa!!!

let me run a pipe cleaner thru my brain and put on something I can understand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMqGpuQdIwk

I picked this up thought this was pretty awsome. Has a k181 8 hp kohler with a. Fully rebuilt hydro rear. Has safetys and all. It has alot of time and thought put into it. hundreds of hours every pivot point has grease fittings etc. It is dump from the seat and has a full exhaust to the rear of the bed. Detailed pics to follow.