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July 10, 1950 "Your Hit Parade" premieres on NBC-TV (later CBS) after being broadcast on radio since 1935.

I took this pic the other evening.

Well just an update: today marks two weeks since the fire. I have trouble recognizing that because we've been so busy that it feels like lost time or no longer than 2-3 days since it happened. We have learned alot about camper life. There was definitely a learning curve but we are getting there. One giant hurdle was waste disposal, but my wife bought me a new "toy" to traverse the distance to the septic that has been affectionately named Cuzzin Eddie. It holds the same volume as the black water tank on the camper and is touch free. While not my favorite thing to tow around, my Wheel Horse doesn't complain. Of other notes: Temporary power to the barn (fence chargers, battery chargers, and barn lights) is nearly complete once inspected and the the power company will connect to it and at least we don't have to stay here all the time. This will allow us to focus on all the other things that come next. Contractor is coming tomorrow to help us decide on a plan for the house itself. He actually built my home in 2007, so no one should know his work better than himself. The insurance company total lossed my Tacoma. I still have no idea why. But I'm keeping it anyway and will just fix it and have a salvaged title. It is unaffected mechanically, and just had some plastic parts with heat (no flames touched it) damage so fixing it should be relatively easy. So anyway, we are making progress daily and there is a faint flicker of light visible in the tunnel. I thank each and every one of you who have kept us in your prayers and a few who are close by that have helped us out in person. It won't ever be forgotten by me or my family!

I’ve been in this toolbox for over 25 years. I’ve never decorated it up with stickers like some guys do because i’ve never really found many that i was ok being “stuck” with. Kinda like deciding on a tattoo. I guess that explains why i have no tattoos either. But these stickers were an obviously worthy addition.

Early morning light on the 401.

C-81 with LED headlamp bulbs apparently.

I built one too a while back. @squonk will recognize the frame.

If I was there to see your face and watch the reaction when the "Experiencing Tech difficulties" screen came on, I would've been laughing so hard a Hearst would've been needed to take me home! I knew you were waiting for that moment to bust on me!

C-81 is still in the garage getting stuff taken care of (867 comes in next). The front attach-a-matic was missing the lower bar thingy. It came with one for me to install but it was super crusty. Luckily I had one in stock that was less crusty. Then swapped out the 22x7.50’s on the rear for the correct 23x8.50’s. Again these tires/wheels were stacked up in my shed, it’s great to have spares! Much better look

@buckrancher Got the rear cargo carrier slot hitch mount mocked up using pieces from the carrier kit and some scrap laying around.

Raining here so snapped pic in basement of C160 waiting to go out side and play

here is a pic of one I made a while back for one.

Glad to hear some progress is being made. My guess is the insurance company feared the air bag system was exposed to heat and could not be reliable.

And let us not forget "The Lucky Strike Orchestra" (aka The Coffin Nail Band) provided the music...

Wrong blower for your tractor. That blower is designed for a vertical shaft tractor and will not work on a HZ shaft tractor without modifications.

Thinking I can supply an engine for it. 12 or a 14. Bring the roller minus the boat anchor. BUT, and I've told this story before, Charlie Pitcher showed us a beat up rusted cylinder Clinton engine at the show. Inside the cylinder wall was rusted and it was a locked up engine. He replaced the rings with a set of chrome rings and put it all back together right there at the show. Then got it fired up! Huge smoke show and there wasn't a 'skeeter within 200 yards from us. He left it running just sitting there on the ground and the next day he sold a non smoking, running Clinton B1290 for an RJ or Suburban. Let's try it with that engine if'n you're up for it! I'm now hell bent on blowing up an engine as a display! We tried to get my father to let us blow up his engine we put on the 603 but he declined. We should've kept that Briggs engine we gave to @Docwheelhorse and blew that up. 10 - 15 guys were hanging around that have never seen an engine lock up so thinking it would be a learning experience. I have a 16 hp Teccy engine that runs but has ticking, knocking and head gasket issues so that's certainly a good candidate for blow up engine. Then give away the good parts like carb and coil to someone that needs them. Or maybe that engine you have turns out to be the one! Late Thursday after the crowd is gone and right in the middle of the field.

I run my belt on the small PTO pulley, if it was on the inner pulley the belt wouldn't clear the hood. The nozzle was just some sheet metal I had in the shop, I had a dound AC duct when I first built it but the 90 stuck out so far that it kept getting in the way.

I clamped a spring to the rod that goes to the pedal and hooked it to the rear axle. This isn't even a "Brake" unless it's on the later Sunstrand. It's a "return to neutral" actuator. The trans hydraulics provide the braking. We're not trying to land a Space X rocket here!

@Blasterdad, wait you can't do that ! making up something to solve a problem ? love the pillow block bearings , good for you , pete

Where is “Q” when you need him? And didn’t the assassin in “The Day of the Jackal” mask his rifle as a crutch?

I opened this an expected a on a unicycle!

Recently purchased this lawn tractor which I believe is a lawn master for a whole $75 with hopes of restoring it to its former glory and eventually getting some attachments and using it. Trying to identify and get most of the parts I need to do so but have been stuck on the trans axle mainly but also what this thing started out as. Has the frame painted like a porter cable and one other lawn master I’ve seen but obviously was repainted red and even found some small spots of yellow paint on the frame. Anyways can’t find any peerless models that match the trans axle exactly and with some research found out when dura corp first started making the lawn masters and moto mowers they used a trans axle they built in house. But with how much was modified on this thing I’m hoping with these pictures someone on here can help me. On the bright side the 6hp kholer isn’t locked up and still has plenty of oil in it, the gas tank was dry as a bone when I picked it up and the gear oil in the trans axle doesn’t look all that old so my hopes are high for getting her going again, just gonna need a lot of cosmetic and electrical work. I appreciate any and all advice and tips!

The ebay price 875 for a 48 SD deck only with rust perforations letting light though (no front mount carrier no gauge wheels) is ludicrous.

Thanks Karl! I have a spot for a direct line 40 feet to my cleanout port but a longer walk to the main dump point so this might be very helpful!

Kevin, I don’t know how far the septic inlet is to where the camper is parked, I have one of these built in to my 5th wheel and it will pump pretty far through a garden hose, something to consider if you will be living there a while. https://camcooutdoors.com/products/rhino-macerator-pump-kit-e-f

And those mods are not minor. There should be plenty of correct blowers for sale in your area for around a $100. Maybe another trade deal.

We have a growing bear population here in Missouri and even have a limited hunting of them. A couple of years ago my brother-in-law and I were camping and hiking a trail in a state park when we came across a sign warning sign about bears. We decided that if the state had only one sign, it was wise of them to post in in the middle of the length of the trail. I looked down and he had worn a clunky pair of work boots and I had running shoes. If needed, I felt pretty safe that I could keep ahead of Larry.

Thanks for becoming a Supporter! Now that your a lifetime supporter, here's what they didn't tell you up front. Horses are herd animals. Once you have one, other's jump on your truck and trailer to join it. One you have several you just move them around so the wife only see a few at a time. The attach-a- matic makes it easier to change implements, but that's no reason to not have one tractor per implement, plus one spare to joy ride on, then the kids or grand kids need some to ride on. My wife doesn't ask me how many tractors I have and I don't ask her how many sewing machines she has But I do keep a comfortable chair in the shop in case I need to sleep there.

Bought lifetime supporter $200. Thank you for the idea! Didn't know.

Shorter throw, higher leverage. Needs closer tolerance of the adjustment at the brake band. Understand that locking the brake does not necessarily lock the wheels--it locks the bull gear of the differential. In practice, if either of the rear wheels loses traction while braking the tractor can continue to move with the wheel having traction turning in the direction of travel and the other wheel turning in the opposite direction! I once experienced this most alarmingly on a decent downslope. Fortunately, I could steer to safety.

The suspension for the leaf blower is an old Mule Drive and some scrap metal. Here are a few pictures of it.

Yep, @953 nut This one

Guess I could wait until he opens wide and then stick the walker in his mouth.

Crazy, I know. Today I’m sitting here after setting a new PR deadlift of 375. My right arm won’t lift or twist much because of a low speed onewheel oops.

Before you guys decide to start blowing up Briggs motors and Tecumsehs and Kohlers and Onans.... I'll donate a new in the box Predator 212 and you guys can do WTF you want to it!!! Don't make me cry over watching a Briggs etc... murdered This show was ridiculously busy for me for whatever reason and then I went home with 4 new to me Briggs tractors... traded my 516 for a GT1800, traded my tiller attachment for a GT2500, bought a GT2500 on the way to the show and I don't even remember how I acquired the other GT1600 lmao... then I bought 2 NOS never run Briggs 5's and a C111 spare engine (Briggs 11) plus tires and other "stuff" and a Briggs 8 Wallfish gave me--Thanks!! When I got home I got a message about yet another GT1800 non running parked forever with a beat to death seized snow thrower---got that for dirt cheap and had it running the same day because dragging hydros around sucks!! Please @wallfish leave my poor Briggs motors alone.....

Aaron got this sweet shot on his GoPro last night!

So the Flip Flop Kid cheats Death yet again.....

Had to fix 2 flats on the ol hay wagon and used the C160 to haul them and tools around and out of the barn yard.

Hello Everyone I'm from California. Just signed up. I own a 1973 Wheel Horse C-120 with the 12hp Kohler. I use it mainly for mowing and snow plowing around the property. It’s been a solid machine and I’m slowly working on getting it cleaned up. I'm joining to pick up tech tips, parts info, and to see what other guys are doing with their Horses. I’ve got a lot of respect for the history behind these tractors. Appreciate any advice and glad to be part of the community.

Mike: Stick one in the window. Maybe a 8000btu? There cheap Ocean StateJob lot stores. you can also put a divider in there get yourself a cheap tarp and run it along the ceiling so the air-conditioning only goes in that one area and I think you can think the same way if you want for at winter time for heat I pretty much did that when we built the garage and it had no sheet rock and insulation in it. but once we put sheet rock in insulation in it, it’s pretty warm in the winter with the triple burner,propane heater. I also have a two burner once the garage is fairly warm. I switched to that.

I have used this technique to create a matching patina on sheet metal that required some welding repairs.

Wheel Horses were designed to work ...not stop and sit around....

Oh…and this repair was completed in my garage at 95 degrees

Thanks for the suggestions. Amazon did a “free” overnight delivery. Got here a few minutes ago. I will still tape it ,but like the cover and its pockets.

My "New to Me" D160 Kept pushing the dip stick out of the tube. I knew that wasn't right and did some digging about the Onan B43 in it. Took apart the breather reed valve assembly and was surprised that Lufkin made the reed; boy that reed was stiff too! You know what? Lufkin also made feeler gauges and this reed measured in at .0275". Me thinks bubba was at work here. My OEM replacement reed was a little more flexible at .0060". I think the reed problem is solved.

Went out for a test drive.

I’ve been tinkering with my 702 over this past week, going over it, putting together a mental list of what it needs with hopes to find at the big show, but the list keeps growing. I’ve kept the 702 stored indoors for over a decade now after the steering sector snapped. I have my trusty 401 that has been keeping my yard mowed for almost 30 years, so the 702 project has been at the bottom of lifes list of projects. But now the deck on the 401 is sounding louder than ever. Bearings are worn, shafts are worn, keyways are rough, but the deck is still solid. More oil is on the wheels than is inside the trans. Hubs are loose on the axles. I lost a wheel a couple weeks ago. Hub set screw threads are gone, so there’s a blob of weld holding the wheel on the axle. It’s in serious need of some TLC. It did get a fresh predator motor this spring. The last one was on there maybe 12 years. Still ran but was getting low on power and temperamental starting. Thought i’d get 702 going because I know the deck is good, or so i thought. It’s weird how time makes you forget stuff. Luckily it was just a woodruff key for the left side had sheared. So that’s all good now. Since someone had got all happy with nickel rod and welded just about everything together on the rest of the tractor, i just mig welded what was left of the sector to the shaft, mainly to make it easier to move around until i find replacements at the big show. i bought the 702 15-20 years ago as a “ran when parked”. Well sure enough, after a battery and carb n tank clean, it was running, but it seemed tired. At the time i had planned on occasionally plowing snow with it so no big deal. Shortly after replacing all of the tires, the sector broke. So once again, it was a “ran when parked”. Since then we had moved. The new tires got swapped on to the 401 because the original tires were coming apart and the front wheels were rusted through. The new place has a fairly steep bank sloping to the rear of the property. After fixing the deck on the 702, welding the sector, and charging up the 12 year old battery it fired up. I took it for a lap around the yard. At first i thought the deck belt was slipping, but no. That’s how quiet it’s supposed to sound. Lol. Poor little 401. But boy was that 7 horse struggling. So LOUD. I made the mistake of going down back. Had to disengage the deck and pulled the throttle out all the way, i barely made it back up the hill. So last night i was thinking about how loud it seemed and just so little power. So this morning i went out and sprayed soapy water around the head and cranked the starter. Sure enough, bubbles coming out near the exhaust side of the head. AH HA. So i pulled the head, gasket wasn’t complete toast, maybe the bolts were loose, but i zipped them off with an impact gun, so no idea. Soaped the valves and aired the exhaust and carb. Had some light bubbling, so i pulled the carb and breather and checked the valves. .006” intake .023” exhaust. Good enough for me. I got on the phone and located a new gasket locally but I figured i couldn’t make a 25 minute drive in 9 minutes before they closed today, so i cleaned everything up and put it back together. Finished mowing the level area of the yard with it. Struggled getting it out of all 4 gears every time i had to back up. It started to get a little better, but i’m hoping a new shifter pin will fix it because the shifter has a lot of rotational slop. A new pin fixed the 401 when i had the same problem. I did drain the trans and filled it with ATF to flush it out. Hoping it comes around. I checked the bore, 4 times. I kept getting the same thing. 2.882”. I don’t know what that is in dog years, but that’s what it is. I could push the piston around, as there is a serious gap to the cylinder wall and the piston is stamped STD. Obviously no visible crosshatch, but no scoring either. I couldn’t pick up on any rod noise, but it’s hard to hear anything over the steering shaft buzzing in the aluminum tank. After mowing with the 401 for over a quarter of a century, the 702 just felt odd. Maybe it’s just the whole low power, but it definitely seemed geared lower too. I like a 32” cut as i have obstacles and tight areas. I can wheel the 401 around quick and easy. I just don’t see that happening on the 701. Always loved the easy steering on the 401. All 4 tires are foam filled, and i have a pair of Taurus rotors that i filled the vents with lead, 25# each, so the 401 sticks to the ground. I’ll probably be looking for a complete correct deck for the 401 and another motor for the 702, some front wheels (the 702 is currently rolling on my old 867 tires and wheels that i foolishly parted out back in the 90’s) So yeah, that was my day. The 702 cut beautifully, but it’s had a rough life long before i got it. It might be best as yard art.