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I was running through some old pic's. Typically I don't take many pics before, mostly during. Both of these machines were 6 month projects working off and on. The surprise was both engines were in real good shape. Anyone else got some before and after pics.

These two tractors were clearly 'parts only' machines. A 657 and a 500 Indy Special. After some mingling and hanky panky they emerged as this.

Did this in a month including replacing the hydro.

Browsing Ebay I came across this. I was totally shocked when I saw that it was located in Deland, FL, only about 15 miles from me. The paint was much worse than the picture indicates and the engine was a welded mess but I wanted it. I actually physically looked at it prior to bidding and it was the very same model my Dad brought home brand new when I was 5 years old. My proxy bid wasn't going to be beat but I ended up winning it for $285.00. Down to every nut and bolt then rebuilt. Both the 500 and the 400 are on display in a 4 season porch on one of the main roads out of Mishawaka now.

Trailer Couple tractors (sorry no before for the rat)...

All my pics are still before

A trip to Elgin to see the world famous @stevasaurus and we loaded this up. I don't normally name my tractors but Dino just seemed right for this one. Just a quick refresh and put it to work, right? I lost control somewhere along the way. I really haven't done much to it this summer other than rebuild (not restore) a deck for it. Heat up the garage a few times this winter and it will be mowing the weeds come spring. As she sits as of 8:07 this morning.

Red Planet Day, November 28, recognizes the planet which has captivated human observers for countless years, Mars. Right now, we know that Mars is red thanks to photographs beamed back to Earth from American rovers. For centuries, the naked human eye has been able to detect the reddish tinge of the solar system’s fourth planet, glimmering in the night sky. Little did scientists know, the red on Mars’ surface came from a preponderance of iron oxide, common rust. On Red Planet Day we celebrate our fascination with Mars, along with all the scientific advancements into understanding the dusty planet. Around 400 BC, the Babylonian’s began keeping record of celestial events. They called Mars “Nergal,” The King of Conflicts, ostensibly because of the association between the planet’s color and the blood spilled during armed encounters with enemies. The ancient Greeks and Romans must have made the association as well, because in both their pantheons, Ares and Mars, respectively, were known as the gods of war.

So while Trina was at our favorite small engine repair place yesterday to pick up the trimmer she spied this beauty.. 1954 Huot top. I'll let the pics tell the story. If anyone can identify the base cabinet I'd appreciate it. Replacement Craftsmen drawers on a (military green? ) base.

I personally think red is sexy! After all, “She thinks my tractor is sexy!”

Jim those came out beautiful. Really makes that tractor look sharp.

Some borrowed pics for mulling over... Silver or white, both look nice.

Original weights on my C160.....

I have seen some early Craftsman tool boxes that were a gray/brown cabinet with red drawers.

My eyes Joe. Ya shouda warned us to wear protection.

Lift lever and bellcrank assembly ready to be installed. Lift lever bushings installed into hoodstand. They needed to be lightly tapped into place as they are a tight fit. Make sure they are fully installed and sit flat. Trunnion greased where it will slide into the bellcrank. Trunnion slid into bellcrank and clip installed onto trunnion. Clip and washer slid onto left side of lift lever. Lift lever was greased where it will slide into left side bushing. Lift lever slid through left bushing and bellcrank. Lift lever slid part way through right side bushing. Key installed and firmly tapped into place onto lift lever. Lift lever coated in never seize where the bellcrank will sit (between the two holes in the lift lever). Bellcrank slid onto lift lever after aligning key to keyway cut into bellcrank. Lift lever greased where it will slide into right side bushing. Lift lever fully slid into place. Right side lift lever washer and clip installed. Bellcrank retaining clips ready to be installed. A little never seize was applied where the retaining clip will be installed into the lift lever. Left side retaining clip installed then the bellcrank slid over until it is tight to the clip. At this point the right side clip was inserted. I then cleaned up and extra grease and never seize for a cleaner look and called this job complete.

I have white weights on white wheels on my C-141 8-Speed and I think it looks good. I don’t think white weights would look good on silver wheels though, as nothing else on a mid eighties model is white. I found this picture of a 418-8 for sale a while ago. It’s a very nice tractor and it made me want one even more. I’m not sure whose tractor this is or was , but the whole setup is nice, tiller, front weight bar etc. The only thing I’m not in love with is the same color weights and wheels. Not long after I saw this picture a 418-8 popped up in Massachusetts for a reasonable price, so I drove up and bought it. I gave it some love that it needed and now I’m thinking it needs some weights. For now I’m going to finish restoring the tiller I have for it. I already have a C-165 Automatic with a tiller on it, so this might be for show? However I’ve never tilled with an 8-Speed so I’ll probably use it. Funny thing is that I don’t have anything to till anymore other than the ten horseshoe pits for my fire department horseshoe tournament fundraiser. Eventually I’d like to put some 23x10.50 ags on it and the one bottom plow I have. Once again, I don’t have anything to plow but if something comes up I’ll be ready 😂

Now I think we have the answer why the PTO now stays engaged.

Yes, the two PTO and seat safety switches functions are: 1. one switch breaks the starting circuit preventing start up if the PTO is engaged 2. if the driver leaves the seat with the engine running and the PTO engaged the other PTO switch breaks the ignition circuit stopping the engine Neither of these switches electrically disengage the PTO although if they are badly misaligned, they may mechanically prevent the PTO lever from fully engaging.

Red , Black and Linen Beige. Doesn't matter. I've seen them from the factory on Cub Cadet and AMF in white. Whatever the tractor manufacturer tells the foundry what color they want they got.

Original 70's weights look like they were red on white/ Mid eighties original were silver wheels and black weights? I like this one. If she's for cook'n....not to big a deal If she's for look'n....whole nother ball game.

Next upgrades will be painting this intake neck for GT14 to black and installing it. Then an NOS Kohler GT14 muffler.

The biggest advantage to the factory WH weights is the fact you can leave them attached to the rim and still get access to the lug bolts.... Worth the price - maybe. Weight is weight-period. I prefer functionality over aesthetics in a seasonal accessory. Besides, all my tractors are old enough to vote twice over and are "Working Girls" with old clothes and grease smudges, not Cheerleaders in their Prom Dresses. These colors do look nice though... The cast weights have an additional 20 pound barbell plate behind them that blocks off lug access. I'd rather have the weight. Besides, it helps keep the snow out!!

A week or so ago I stopped in to my favorite small engine repair place for some reason. While there we were shooting the breeze about the rough terrain and tall grass and how to maintain that area. He recommended a heavier duty commercial type machine and said he had one.... not that it was for sale. He showed me this and explained why it was supposedly awesome-er. Then said he'd be selling it... sometime. How about now?? Well he had to do a tune up and replace the carb. Trina picked it up yesterday afternoon. Looking forward to giving it a proper workout.

Check the spring that locks the cam at the bottom of the cam on the PTO engagement lever. It could be weak or disconnected. I actually added a spring on my 312 to keep more tension on the rod. It helps to keep the PTO cam locked in the on and off positions and stops the rattling noise.

I have a set of rear factory cast weights and I am going to put them on a 418-8. I am currently preparing them for paint and wasn’t sure if I should paint them black or red? I’m not sure if they came black, I know the fronts did. Maybe leaning towards black, as I have a set of fronts that are black and could use a fresh coat. I don’t think I’d use black on an older tractor with white wheels, but it might look nice on the silver wheels of a mid-eighties tractor? Thoughts?

Yupper dupper. I know them very well but I don't see them coming into play with mechanically holding the PTO engaged. Another yupper dupper.

Did it go something like this?

Racinbob, I can't take pictures since you cannot see the switches but if you look at Ed's picture that is the style of tractor I have. It's a 416/8 I assume it is late 80's to early 90's all the info is gone. Behind the PTO lever and tucked under the panel are the 2 switches they are mounted together. 1 of the switches was very compromised crossed over and touching the other one ( basically a short circuit ). All better now. You would not even know it is there unless you follow the wires to it. While I was in there I also changed the Nylon bushings for the PTO handle. When my son comes home he can load up a picture if he can get one. Hope this helps!

Yes the bottom is Craftsman. I had the exact same box when I started working in 79. The first shop I was at I had to move from stall to stall and it really wouldn't handle the stress of movement so I had to upgrade. My current Mac box isn't much bigger but it was built so much better and over twice the weight empty.

I'm with Ed on the confusion here. Was the tractor starting and running prior to the switch change? Those switches can and are often bypassed (of course they shouldn't be) and play no part in mechanically holding the PTO lever in the engaged position. Two of my tractors have that style PTO and don't even need a switch in place to mechanically operate. Can you post pictures to help us out here?

Someone was kind enough to post a picture of the wiring at the switch. That will show what goes where. Did you see it? If not click on the picture of the switch in the link. It is one of the thumbnails that comes up.

20+ years and I still learn new stuff. Welcome to the sickness!

Seen that before. Does look nice!

When the PTO is engaged it presses on the 2 levers of the switches, which I would assume is the safety switch and it was kicking it out of safe operation standards for the tractor. A pretty important switch for operating the PTO I'm constantly learning about these machines.

I have a pair that are the same color white as the wheels on my C-tractors. Not sure if it's the original paint or not but it looks to be. They definitely need repainted. Post pictures of how yours turn out once you decide on a color and get them mounted. If it weren't so frickin' cold out, I'd go out and get a picture of mine.

Just wanted to get back and to everyone. I have figured the problem of the PTO lever popping out once engaged. The problem was the PTO interlock switch which is actually 2 switches. Went to one of my spare tractors and pulled the switch after testing it for continuity. Went back to my tractor which had the problem and No continuity and replaced it with the one from spare tractor and Bingo! It no longer pops out and is holding steady. Thank you to everyone who had suggestions. I had even gone to the dealer and they had no ideas or at least would not share any info. They just kept saying to bring the tractor in. I believe I saved myself quite a bit of money on labor. A replacement switch was only $10 or so dollars the labor would have been the big expense. Doing the diagnosis would have been killer money.

@Ed Kennell Good eye Ed! Side wings on backwards is something I usually look for and missed it this time! When I first read this I was thinking about rear tire pressure. I’m glad to hear that’s all it was! 👍🏻

Here ya go! 😁

Yeah, now that the blower is completely lowered, maybe we should change those side wings that are not installed correctly.

Pretty sure we could come up with a font end tach-matic adapter for that!

@cleat You do finer work in the places you can't see than I do on the parts you can... Simply amazing as always!

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Rafter" a group of turkeys oten called a flock HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone.

Meh... Get the paint department goin' on red... Those are really nice!!! Maybe take the blade off a snow plow and bolt / rig it up to the frame in front of one of your "spare" C-160's...

It is amazing how fast the past 18 years have gone. Thank you all for your support and patience over the years. It has been quite the journey. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to you all.

Loaded the car for weekend visiting. Off early tomorrow. - borrowed tow-behind core aerator - the camp generator I re-engined - a set of kids building blocks I rehabbed - bike rack parts - “go” tool bag (there are always small repairs needed!) - some wheels to drop off with @ri702bill - a stereo to “pass on" - cooler for our Thanksgiving meal contributions My spouse asked if there would be room for her!

We're( Mrs. K and me) are now over 80 and attend the Silver Sneakers stretch, balance, and strength classes at our Anytime Fitness gym three days a week. Although they receive many grunts and groans, squats are included in the programs.

The bracket is simple U shape from sheet metal here is the link to lights on Amazon LED lights