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I was 'forced' to wait until this coming Monday to get a dumpster set in the drive for my next major remodel so I decided to see if I could get the transmission opened up on the 854 I picked up at the show. For the past month I've been soaking the hitch pin and brake drum. The brake drum was missing the retaining clip but was seized so bad it didn't need it. It fought me bad the entire way off the shaft but I finally got it. For the first time ever I gave up on the hitch pin and cut it off. Fortunately it was seized on the hitch more that the case. The remains of the pin drove out fairly easy. When I drained this it only had, at the most, about 1/4 cup of sludgy oil in it. I feared the worse for what I'd find but my fears didn't come true. It was in great condition including the inner teeth on the 3523 gear and all the bearings. There was in/out play on the input shaft when the shifter was in the 3rd gear detents so I shimmed it to eliminate that. It had the first style shift rails so I replaced them with a second generation set with the flats to help with the suction thing. I didn't have a set of the newer style with the deeper neutral detent so I decided to settle with what I had. I but I want to get new case bolts. The ones I took out are pretty cruddy.

Found this while visiting the Kentucky Horse Park. No one around to explain. Thought everyone might find it interesting.

My youngest Grand daughter likes tractors. They were at a Lowes in Dallas. Hence the JD. They were at my house this weekend. Hence the WH. Ya'll decide. Kids do the darndest things, the JD pic was totally unscripted! Dennis

Been working on a bridge demolition project - we've been doing pre-cut work on the main beams, torching out the flanges and setting up places for the explosives team. For the past week or so - this has been my view... Shot the first two spans today, detonation starts around 2:17 in the video. Sorry for the lack of quality, I'm over 800ft away and sitting 40' in the air in a man lift, with it running. Never thought about my arm resting on the console - evidently, its vibration was fighting the phone's video stabilization. Sometime in the next week the rest of the main spans will go down, the largest being the center one over the Illinois River, right in the navigation lane. The demo company will have a crane staged to immediately start retrieving those sections out of the water. In the meantime, back to burning iron to prep the rest of the last two north spans. Sarge

Installed the hub on the Raider 12 from a terrific member. Thank you Shuboxlover.

I think its probably the best looking 502 I've seen in a while especially with the documentation I have

Yeah I actually got it for free luckily, my uncle bought a cabin in Indiana and it was sitting in the basement of the cabin with an old fruit box on top filled with old documents like the receipt, price sheet, and original service manual, it also included a few magazines and advertisements from the late 60s and a replacement air filter in box replacement recoil starter spring in box and a new head gasket So I was never able to meet the original owner

When you look into the spark plug hole, you're NOT looking at the piston. You're seeing the space between the valves and the cylinder. It's a small area, but that's where the fuel and air meet the spark. The spark plug is not immediately above the piston like on car engines. If you have compression, the piston has to be moving. Jim

Just a quick update. I bought new coil and points and now I have excellent spark. The carb is in need of replacement. Looking for Briggs part number 99876. If anyone has one let me know. Until one pops up on eBay or elsewhere this unit will be put up and aside. I decided to build a corner shelf in the barn to store and display it. I was able to get the frame done and still need to install 5/4 t&g decking, bleach the wood so it matches the rest and install wood plugs. Last thing I want to do is get some of the paperwork out in a frame and hung next to it so the history can be displayed.

In between chores, I managed to get the front axle pivot brackets welded in. Still have clean up to do. Baby steps.

After taking a couple of weeks off I got back to work on the Ranger this week. I've got the block ready to paint, just waiting on a new pan gasket to get here. All the engine tins are painted so I hope to get the engine mounted this week. Once that's done I need to get started on the hood, wiring and final assembly.

Not sure if I should admit this in public but it's definitely a lot more often than that for me.

Perhaps that is the objective, he could get a delivery job!

Yup, but this is all that came out when I drained it a couple weeks ago. Nothing to leak. This machine has been neglected terribly. I found several things before I bought it and many more after I got her home. Rest assured I'll get her nursed back to good health. Pretty simple. 3/8" rod and nuts. The cart is an old generator frame. I simply laid out for the four holes using a gasket. I adjust the nuts up to clear the rod when scraping the old gasket and down to let the rod protrude to hold the new gasket in place.

New coil installed and she runs. Machine is now all done except for painting the rear wheels, and pulling the hood & fender for paint at a later date. Matt's foot control will be added later as well. Cleat

Ooooo..... I LOVE that !!! That's fantastic. Fair is fair. Teach them young. You want to play with big toys? Yes! Absolutely. And you can fix them too.

Lol That is the owner and driver of that high performance pulling machine. He broke it, he had to fix it.

@TonyToro You look a little younger than I expected...

Like Jim said, the spark plug hole is not over the piston.

some of my newer verticals are like that. Get us your model and we'll see about getting you a manual/wiring diagram. While your at the fuses check the socket. often times they get corroded. If you have a multimeter or even a simple tester check for power at the light and work backwards down the wiring to you find 12 volts. If you don't have a simple tester get one. Handy for other automotive stuff too.

I’m thinking this is what you have... 1-6231 1968 Lawn & Garden Tractor Raider 12 8-Speed Kohler K301S-4712B 12 Wheel

Happy Birthday Jim WHX~?

I'll just say atta boy Randy! To answer your question EB I bet if I had the time (that being the key thing meaning retired) and money I could put together at least two orginals and probably two frankins with the parts I have. Last BS for me was a huge haul in parts, frames and hoods. Mostly in the generosity of several members here. A few other members that come to mind have parts collections that make mine look sick tho.

That is going to be a killer tractor , if you bring it to the BS don't let the Tractor Mafia near it . Pieces and parts will be headed west and you will end up with a pile of nuts and bolts.

I made it. My daughter has a decal cutter and I had her cut me some decals and threw it together. I thought about making some more to finance my addiction 😂

Yep the (Wheel Horse’s) Are the most reliable and trustworthy horse’s hooked to the wagon

You'll find the "real" wheelhorse leads the team. Look it up.

I’m seriously confused. I recently purchased this tractor. I was told that it was a 1968. When looking at different models online, I couldn’t find a 1968 with a combination generator/starter on one. The Model and Serial Number tag is almost destroyed by painting over it. I can make out a few numbers. 1 6281 400351 Can someone help me identify exactly what this tractor is? Thanks and God Bless

Pretty good shape with 521 on the clock. Also came with a nice later model 48” deck. The only real issue is where the seat mount bolts under the shift lever plate. Easy fix with some 11/2” angle. Decent deal for $550 in my part of the world.

I found this on craigslist last night asking $150. Is it a good deal or not. I don't really need it just thinking about it Description reads: "Looking to sell this tractor.It has a Kohler Magnum motor. Have not had it running.Got it on a trade and not what we are looking for. Has a good deck."

Been there, done that. Maybe twice

Like the horse blankets

I'm good for at least one oil change on the floor in our machine shed or in the garage every three years or so!

It's a testament to how tough these machines are, when they can be abused and neglected and still be repairable.

That sure is true. This is a great place.

This the way I tuck the horses in the barn. The 854 is in the garage yet, still trying to get the brake drum off

Only made for two years Cory, '06 & '07 replaced the 522xi. No idea why it is not on the master list? Might have been labeled Toro only?? Still a beast with a 22hp Kohler under the hood. http://www.tractordata.com/lawn-tractors/000/2/6/267-toro-gt550.html

Yep 68 Raider 12 like this one

You do not need to remove the lever. Adjustment of the parking brake is done from under the tunnel plate (what Jim called the control plate). Adjustment of the actual brake (like when you want to stop the tractor when it is moving) is done from behind the left rear wheel, also as pointed out by Jim. If you do not have one, I strongly recommend you download an owners manual from the Toro site or here. It will tell you how to do these common maintenance items

Thanks for the pictures. They really help. I believe that I have found something that will do the job. I will get back to you when I get them. Thanks

Thanks for the clarification Garry. It was my belief that late 67 went to the Bendix with possibly a few carry over S/G's in early 68. @Preacher's Raider is the first I've seen with a S/G which makes it somewhat rare if original. Any tags on the engine Preacher? No matter what nice survivor!

Thanks, Jim. I've learned something. That's why I love this group.

What is the model number of you 312-8 (Should be on a sticker under the seat. Some 312-8s had head lights that ran off the AC stator on the engine not the battery, Those lights would only work when the engine was running.

First, check the fuse...if good.. with the headlight switch on, jump across the headlight switch. if they don't work, then ohm the headlights themselves..if you get a dead short it is time to check out the wiring...

It depends on the head.Some heads have the spark plug over the valve area.Looking down the plug hole you may not see any motion at all,except maybe a valve.Crank the engine over with the plug out.If air comes out the plug hole then the piston is going up and down.Mystery solved!

Thanks, Richard. Building this for my grandsons has sorta got me hooked on these little Rangers. With a one year old granddaughter I just recently got another Ranger for her that I'm starting to collect parts for. Of course hers will be a slightly lighter shade of red.

New to me 315-8 on grass duty.

Here's a pic of mine I saved from scrap cleaned up runs great! This is my hundred dollar turd.