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Showing content with the highest reputation on 01/17/2018 in all areas
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11 pointsOk guys—I spoke with Uncle Ken on the phone for about 30 minutes tonight. He told me a lot of things about this tractor that I never knew. Rather than trying to include it all here at once, I’m going to break it up over several posts especially when I have more pics to add. I know that we all love ! A little more Background history: Uncle Ken push mowed grandpa Stertz’s yard for about five years. It would take him the better part of a day to get it done. He told me tonight that he would dream about having a riding lawn mower all the while he was pushing a 21” mower. Ironically, when he was about to get into the work force and turn the mowing duties to my dad, grandpa bought the WH REO mentioned elsewhere on the forum! I don’t think that he has ever let my dad live that one down. So, he started to watch friends and neighbors and their tractors and noticed that they seemed to spend as much time fixing them as they did using them. Thus he began to birth the idea in about 1968 of building an “indestructible” garden tractor. He wanted every component to last a lifetime and so the drawing began. The cost of good quality new GT’s was also a problem. He desired to build it as inexpensively as he could with what he had around him. After all, he was saving all his extra money to buy a brand new car, which turned out to be a 1969 GTO Judge! Pics of that coming soon... The engine was important and nothing was tougher at the time than a Kohler K series. Uncle Bob worked for the local Case dealership and was able to get Ken a K301 brand new for $150–still expensive in 1969 dollars. As previously mentioned, Bob also scored a hood for the tractor. Ken told me that it had been damaged at the factory and he was able to purchase it for $25. We will have more about the story soon... I know this picture is on the previous page but I want it here to for reference. The “dash tower” on this tractor is actually a sealed gear reduction housing. It contains a #50 roller chain and sprockets with gearing to cut the speed as needed. Of course it hooks directly to the tranny input shaft sending the power through it. On the output side is another gear reduction housing that connects directly to the rear end (more about both the tranny and rear end in a future post). I asked Uncle Ken about the tube running from the lower gear reduction housing up to the upper one. He told me that he wanted to have an indestructible setup and so he bathed the whole thing in oil. He knew that all the oil would end up in the rear and lower housing and so he created a system by which it would circulate. A plunger pump was needed and so he made his own to work off of the turning of the rear end! It pumps the oil back up to the top of the housing where it slowly works its way back to the bottom again. Apparently, it is a slow pump moving about a cup of oil every 10 min or so but that is enough to keep that system going strong for almost 50 years! Problem solving at its finest. Stay tuned for lots of more stories and a bunch of vintage pics!
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7 pointsThese just in from Uncle Kens old photo albums... This is spring of 1979-that is uncle Ken holding one of my hero’s—my Cousin Paul. He is a 20 year veteran of the Navy having served several tours in the “sandbox”. Please note the rear tires—those baldy tires were the originals that came on Ken’s Judge from the factory. They were too worn to use on the car but they worked fine for turfs on that tractor for more than 30 years! Here’s Aunt Tricia (circa 1985) cutting away. Note the Plymouth Horizon in the background—those things were everywhere in the 1980’s and early 90’s. Also—check out the wooden box on the back of the tractor. It was a carryall box that worked great for all kinds of things—even giving the kids rides! I stand corrected: Uncle Ken told me that the deck on there was not made by him, he acquired it in a trade with a friend. He adapted it to fit on his tractor. He doesn’t remember what type of tractor it is off of although he thinks it might have been a simplicity. He said that it has Timken bearings and that was why he wanted it. He greases it regularly and it hasn’t failed him in 40 plus years. As you see more pics, feel free to ask questions. I’ll ask him and get answers for you—he seems to be enjoying sharing with you guys, especially since he is laid up right now following rotator cuff surgery.
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6 pointsPaul While we patiently wait for your pics here's a couple of my 753 just so these guys know what one looks like! Sorry about being topless in a few!
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6 pointsVery cool machine. Thanks for posting this. Cause as much as i love my horses, it is still fascinating to see the oddball machines out there and especially the homemade ones. Its amzing the contraptions that people build with just what they have and how well it last and stands up to time. thanks again
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6 pointsWe got about 5 inches of snow last night and about 7 degrees but the D160 had no problems pushing it around. The cows definitely don't seem to mind though.
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5 pointsGuys—I want to have a little fun with you. Many of you are very well versed in not only all sorts of GT’s but also all things mechanical. I want to you to take some time and look at this one closely. I suggest pinch zooming if using your smart phones but honestly, you probably want to look at it with your computers because you’ll be able to see the details better. All comments welcome—good, bad, ugly, etc... I’m taggIng a few of you just to generate some action. This section of the forum doesn’t get seen quite as much as others for obvious reasons So @Shynon @CasualObserver @WHX14 @ebinmaine @shallowwatersailor @Aldon @Achto @19richie66 @953 nut @WVHillbilly520H And anyone else interested, what do you make of this machine? It is a family members and it has a very interesting history but I can’t wait to hear your takes on it...
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5 pointsThat's the tractor finished at last, time to continue with the re-build of the cutting deck.
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5 pointsI just got this 1963 753 in august and have had much time to work on it been just trying to collect informationso when I can start the restoration I'll have most of the copies of things to refer to any help would be appreciated
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5 pointsLooking good Prof... your gonna like the little power that those leds use as well. I would suggest some shelves for storing junk on and a work bench with the invaulable bench vice but that stuff comes naturally over time. The looks of those trusses you might be able to deck a little of it off for parts stashing above. I am looking at a shed like that for storage rather than a work shop. Not quite sure what I am gonna do yet but if I don't get off my keester and get my builder @PeacemakerJack some heat in his shop he's gonna gimme the bird and tell me I am on my own!
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5 pointsSolar Powered, We had about an inch, but the driveway is very steep and not too much sun gets to it (plus we were only seeing temps in the teens). I wouldn't have plowed this morning except for an important appointment my wife had, she was getting her nails done! This was my first time plowing with the 418-C and I must say the Eaton hydro and lift made the job a pleasure. My wife commented that I will do anything to get more seat time, guess she caught on to me! Finished up about 9:00 and then turned to Jay's solar snow melting device to do the rest. So far it is working well where the shadows don't get in it's way.
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5 pointsThe design and fabrication of this machine is VERY impressive. Built like a tank and 1000 years from now it will be the modern Antikythera mechanism since it will probably still be around. Thanks for sharing this!
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5 pointsThat is correct. He was working for Rockwell at that point in his life but I’ll have to ask him what he did for them. I know that it wasn’t too much later that he went to work for Oshkosh Truck. However, he is one of those guys that was given a gift in designing and building stuff. My grandpa was a tinker when it came to metal projects and wood projects. Whatever needed fixing around the farm, he would fix it but Ken was very much into designing and building stuff. He is a very intelligent guy who enjoys reading and he retains and unbelievable amount of what he reads. He also is very observant and inquisitive about how things work. For instance, if you take a close look at the steering box in the above picture—he noticed that the steering in many GT’s began to get sloppy after only a handful of years of usage. He wanted something better and so he studied over the old tractors they used on the farm and patterned his design after them. He picked up two sets of 90 degree bevel gears. Fabricated a box to house them that would attach to the upper gear reduction housing. Because the gears were built for a high speed application, he figured that they would last a long time sealed in lubrication. So, he welded the box shut and saved the extra set, figuring that in 20-25, he could make another box and use the second set. He completed the tractor in about 1972 and the original set is still going strong with no visible signs of wear! @953 nut he completely fabricated the front axle with parts that he had left over from a buddies 1950 Chevy car that they parted out. That is also where the rear end came from. More detailed pics and write up on both in the future!
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5 pointsThey were just a few pennies shy of $20 each at our local store. Was able to light my entire shop with right at $100, didn't think that was too bad at all Thanks, going to try and start a thread for it over in the resto section in the next day or two. Gonna be a lot of long nights over the next few months in that shop If this one is gonna be ready in time for the Big Show, not to mention the elderly friend who bought this tractor brand new health is going downhill pretty fast, would like to have it all done where he can see it and maybe take one more ride on it
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4 points
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4 pointsWe had 5" over 13 hours. Went into work at 3am cause they hadn't cancelled school yet, nice enough to wait till 5:45am. When I got home at 5 I plowed my drive and the sidewalks. Piece of cake, didn't even bother putting the extra cast iron on. Even being tired it makes the job fun and scrapes the pavement like a coal shovel. Finally got the 1ton back too👍🇺🇸
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4 points
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3 pointsJust a few things left now and I will be able to use the refurbished 42" blade. My Foreman likes it, he's a Wheel Horse guy too.
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3 pointsAlthough I am looking forward to heat in the shed, I’ll plan on helping you with design and/or build when you are ready Jim. We could have an old fashioned “mini barn” raising weekend sometime this spring or summer! Get the rest of the Circle there, if possible and have a blast getting some work done. The Professor certainly has a nice “shack” and very functional!
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3 pointsWell it does have the “Case” eagle on it. I love it. At a quick glance you could mistake it for a 444 or 446.
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3 points
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3 pointsWelcome to another Michigander. This is the place to find all the info you can ever want for your 753. I got started about 2 years ago on my first wheel horse here and these guys helped my all the way. Great people here . If you go to the homepage and go down to manuals you'll find yours there. And if you want to search for 753's go up to search and type in 753 and you'll get all kinds of info there to. But I'll bet more guys will post info for you. WELCOME TO THE BEST WHEEL HORSE SITE IN THE WORLD.
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3 pointsI had the idea to add skis to the front of the go cart. Rear tires are great in the snow but the thing wouldn't steer very well. I pulled together some extra sheet metal and treated wood and heres how it ended up........ https://www.liveleak.com/view?i=91a_1516102899
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3 points
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3 pointsI'm hoping he is enjoying telling us about it as much as we're enjoying hearing about it. If I'm getting this right, this tractor was before he became a fabricator as his occupation.
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3 pointsKeep the info coming Josh, very much enjoying this... Chris All the more impressive if he was so young when he started the build!
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3 pointsPicked up the other two lights after work today...what a difference...I'm glad you guys talked me in to going with the LEDs. Oh and that's the special C141 in pieces on the floor...thread to start soon on that project
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3 pointsAdvance Auto, Auto Zone, Wal-Mart, TSC... Blazer brand , I get the incandescent but these are LED, Jeff.
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3 pointsWell, for $59.70 for the pair I figured it would be worth the try. At the very least they look pretty cool, I’m sure their function in the snow will top the turf savers
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3 pointsWent ahead and got both tractors moved over from my house to the shop today...trying to figure out the best way to arrange everything... They take up more room than I remember lol
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2 points
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2 pointsI used to run older large frame toro snow blowers to do driveways. The last one I had was an '80 8/26. Great commercial machine. First storm one winter it wouldn't start. No spark. I had a spare solid state coil so I called my dealer to see what was involved (swapping flywheel at least). Nope, cut the points wire, pulled the old coil off, new one on set the air gap with a business card and ran reliably ever since. I think Briggs switched to solid state electronic round about '80-'81
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2 points
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2 pointsTrue! I should have a set of custom decals made up for it. He repainted it about four years ago and so it really looks nice right now. Some custom lettering would look sharp on there...
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2 pointsWhile going through his albums looking for pics of his home built GT, Uncle Ken found this pic of the 1969 C20 that we hope to take possession of this spring and get running again... Thats my cousin Paul at about 2.5 years old with a truck that really hasn’t changed much since then. It is really in about the same shape today that it was 37 years ago. If we get it running this summer, I should have Paul stand behind it like that with his arm on the tail gate, parked in the same spot it is in that old photo. The red shed is gone but the barn on the left is still there!
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2 pointsCaution on dip-stick heaters -- all the automotive heated dip-sticks require 3-4" of oil to keep their elements from burning out, I believe Kohler engines only have 2" or less of oil depth. I use a 25 watt bulb between the block and battery, and then several layers of tarps & old blankets to cover my tractor (cord plugs into a $12 thermostatic controller, "on at 32º, off at 45º F ", sold at TSC).
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2 points
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2 points
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2 points
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2 points
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2 pointsYeah, Josh. What Chris said. Roughly what age was your uncle when this began to take place?
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2 pointsI am thinking about getting these for $80.00 for two. I don't know if they would be too tall. https://www.amazon.com/Carlisle-AT489C-ATV-Tire-25X10-12/dp/B005O5O58Y
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2 pointsWhoa whoa whoa Horseies! 2 520H's with snowthrowers! Very nice. The token shoveler is nice addition too!
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2 pointsVery cool. I’m late to party. So most of what I could Glean has already been covered. Love the idea of the rear and the differential....
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2 pointsI was trying to figure out the controls on the dash. Push button for starting, one of the knobs for a choke, I'm guessing the t-handle is a pull out with lock for the throttle. The gray knob is ignition switch. Other knob for lights.... I even noticed the front axle support also acts as a hood stop. He kept the dimensions of this thing very restrained. Zerk fitting on the pivot of the front axle.... Give us a run down of the controls.... Steering wheel even has significant fabrication. Damn Sam I'm impressed with this thing, sorry to be a pain... Chris Was hoping some day to build a tractor so I don't have to be concerned about specialized parts. Brakes.... must have brakes but I can't figure that one out from the picture, maybe on the one pedal, half-way clutch,all the way brake??
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2 pointsThe fun only started when I kicked the ex down the block years ago lol. The only not-fun is having to live with a crappy HF $100 welder. What doesn't kill you just makes you stronger. Things are lookin up though.....
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2 pointsI did not get photos or video in which I wish I would have. But we got about 12 to 14 inchesof snow last night. So I went out this morning and fired up the old 60 suburban 400 to plow. Well she did her job amazingly as usual. But as I'm wrapping up my last couple swipes to the dog cage, I hear someone calling my name. So I turn to find a close by neighbor asking if I could help him quick. So I say sure and to my surprise he got his John deere stuck in the snow. He was so proud of this investment during the summer. It's a gt 235 I believe. Either way he's got a snowblower and weights on it and it was buried. Well instead of firing up another tractor. I hooked a pull strap to the back of his tractor and to mine. And the old girl pulled it out in first gear about half throttle. I was laughing inside pretty heavily. But he was amazed on the power of the wheel horse. I drove away smiling. I get inside and my better half says you enjoyed that way to much, I could see you grinning from three houses down.
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2 points"Nothing runs like a Deere", . . . especially when it's being chased by a Wheel Horse
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2 pointsYou don't "cut" roller chain you use a tool that pushes out the pins. Called a chain breaker make sure you get one that will handle #40 chain. Also need to buy a couple of half links so you can fine tune the lengths. This is the 3rd season these have used never had a problem of them coming off. Should be a tight fit on a deflated tire
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2 pointsI have tri-ribs on my snow-plowing tractor. On snow, they are excellent, on ice, not very good. There is 25# of Rim Guard in each tire plus a 25# lead bar hanging on the front (painted red in photo below); for a total of 75# of extra weight on the front, but with the blade down on ice, I do not have complete control, going straight is fine but with turns on the ice, I do slide sideways. I try to avoid ice and only have to suffer through it maybe twice each Winter (my 5th year with tri-ribs). On Snow, I really like the tri-ribs, and even with snow on the ice I've the tri-ribs do fine, but it's on the "pure glass ice" they are not good, that's where a chain is best. I have an asphalt drive, and don't want the marring from chains, that's also why I have the hard rubber scrapper on the blade. Do have 'Rubber Chains' on the rears of my snow-blowing tractor, over turf tires, and with bare tri-ribs on the front = same steering problem on ice. Glen
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2 pointsHere are some pictures of my old truck now my oldest sons truck he is now 19 years old, it is a 1986 K-20 I bought this truck used when I was 18 years old and I’ve had it ever since. My oldest son showed interest in restoring it and now it is his and currently has the engine tore out of it this winter because we are doing a LS swap in it and now it is currently getting a 2000 5.3 engine. The plan is to have it running again in the spring!