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May 21, 1980 The Empire Strikes Back premiered in the USA with a special showing at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. on May 17, 1980, followed by its wide theatrical release across the United States on May 21, 1980, becoming the highest-grossing film of that year.

Yep. Burning brush when it is safe to do it is legal outside any town or city limits. That is where I live. Trimming bushes and trees around my property accumulates a fair amount of brush that I burn once every couple years. For the past several months it has been far too dry, so the current pile has to wait until wetter weather comes. I should have done it over the winter but I knew that several different members of the local wild life had taken up residency until spring. By the time it was warmer it had also been dry for a very long time. I had a neighbor once who liked to build a fire in his back yard occasionally. We lived in town at that time. He would always bring out a pack of hot dogs, and place them beside his chair. If the police showed up he would claim he was cooking his dinner. Not my choice but it worked for him on more than one occasion.

Good point, I question even the cardboard and it's coatings not to mention plastics now. Our trash now goes through a transfer station, from what I understand it is the first step in sorting and recycling of trash before it goes to the dump. And I see the local dump siphons off methane as a byproduct. No issue with burning brush. Made me think about when my next door neighbors were at their other house in FLA and the smoke detectors went off. It triggered an automatic call to the VFD. They showed up, (I had the keys to let them in) and I must say they did not have axes but some sophisticated air sampling detectors. All donned air bottles and was very gentle on the house. Very impressive.

I sold mine for $50. It was in pretty good condition. Probably could have gotten more but the guy that made the offers was likeable enough, so I hooked him up.

@Ed Kennell I’m glad to hear that you made a good stop on the fire, but I agree with Mrs. K and you should have called the FD. Never in my 38 years as an active volunteer fireman have I gone to a call and heard “You shouldn’t have called the fire department” We as firefighters are there to help our community in a time of need no questions asked. Thermo cameras help us find hidden hot spots to prevent rekindling of fire. Also happy to hear that you didn’t get hurt and have no major damage.

Hi Joe! The Chucker is` doing great... we use it all the time, we'd be lost without that thing. Those forks you fabbed up for me worked out perfect. We should rebrand it a "manure horse". So, heres a good example. That 312A I got at the auction that somebody puled the steering wheel and shaft out of the dash (another thread) I took apart and beat it back into shape, reset the shaft and now it steers fine, but its not "perfect". Its useable. I know, I'm gonna be hard pressed to find anyone to buy this one, I'll be lucky to get $300 out if it, probably less. It fires right up and drives real nice, it has a mule drive on it, but no rear hitch and no deck. I might be able to put a hitch on it off one of the rollers. Even so, my point being.... this engine is perfectly intact, no smoke, looks unmolested. The engine is probably worth $300 then add on all the other fiddly bits that can be sold off. Its worth more in pieces. But... there aint nothing wrong with it. Why chop it? But if it wont sell, then it sits and sits does no machine any good. And as ya say Joe, selling parts only a niche market wants is a pain. Maybe I can trade it whole for something useful. Another option is, find a deck that fits it. Mowers here sell in the spring easy. Drawback is, thats going to cost @ $100 bucks, and it still wont be worth more than 400 so, factor in time lost in labor and..... well you see why selling the engine and a few choice bits is the quick easy dirty way to make it pay. These things are made like tanks, you'd think theyd be worth more.

I have been behind a few days just due to the yard work around here. The (I really need to pick a model name/ number for this machine) best worker got some mowing in. The Vanguard and the modified 48SD really work well together.

Exactly my point. Controlled burns prevent forest fires from getting out of hand. No underbrush, nothing to burn.

Burning trash might be a problem since we have no idea what chemicals are in our garbage. I will defer only due to that. But until the Forestry Service stops doing controlled burns all over my state, I'm still gonna burn brush as long as it's safe to do so. Right now it's too dry, but that will eventually change.

I do like how you didn't cut up the hood for the diesel engine

There were a couple of important variations on the gear decks to consider when parts swapping. On the ’68 deck, the cast iron bearing holder had raised shoulders around the eight holes where the gear holders attached through slightly larger holes in the shell to ensure proper alignment of shell to bearings/blades. On later models (’66 onward?) the spindles were ⅛” longer to accommodate thrust bearings (instead of only thrust washers) below the spindle gear increasing the longevity and smoothness of the deck. Hardest bits to find in good condition are the gears so if you have a decent set, hang onto them Keeping them excessively greased is the best practice (it needn’t be expensive grease). If you DO choose to dismantle the deck for parts, be sure to mark both face and spindle gears with the side of the deck they came from and the spindle gears with which side was up. When putting them on another deck, put each gear set on the OTHER SIDE since they will be less worn in that direction!

I sold plenty of well worn but running and driving with deck for $700. Can't find them cheap enough to fix up and make it worth it anymore.

Good work!

Recently acquired C-161 16hp Wheel Horse. It appears the clutch plate is wiped out. Where can I get a service manual that shows the parts break down for this assy. Any help on where I can find the model and s/n tag? Are parts still made for Wheel Horse? Thanks

Brings back memories of my spring bear hunts in Northern Quebec. The flys were deadly. I spent many nights in the woods with several cans of DEET in my sleeping bag and with a head net over my face. Before leaving the sleeping bag, you had to lay down a cloud of DEET to clear the flys long enough to jump in your cloths. One year we had a new hunter that failed to keep covered and was bitten around his neck so badly he had difficulty breathing. We had to rush him South to the Maniwaki Hospital. The strange thing was, the little Indian school children stood by the road every morning in shorts and T shirts waiting for the school bus. Seemed they were not bothered by the flys???

I agree to that Eric. I have seen your vid,s. You have a lot of clearing to do.

Hopefully they never do. The hippie tree huggers got their way in California and pretty much all forestry, including controlled burns, stopped. It is estimated that at the time the Spanish first made it to California a few million acres were lost to wild fires every year. By the 1970s is was under 200K acres. Since the controlled burns stopped it is creeping back above 1 million acres a year again.

I once knew a guy who frequently said "If it weren't for law enforcement and physics I'd be unstoppable!"

Just tripped over the 701 motor I got from you at last years show. Still in the same place where I unloaded it last year . I really needed it, oh well it aint eating nothing. Hoping you might share some shade again this year if I'm able to make it? Just Remember I make a good canopy ⚓.

Not that flight, bur Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh were very good friends and he was a part of the engineering team that developed the Tri-Motor.

Here’s what I did WITH my WH today. Put down some lawn stripes! “ 414-8 with a 42” RD “

Replaced muffler from parts 310-8 to 312-8 Ive been converting to Electric fuel pimp on. Got everything back together and fired right up, well after I let the epump fill lines and bowl up on carb. Works great this is one of the smoothest running 12hp kohlers Ive ever had powerfull and not a hint of smoke . Notice the tie rod in pic both look like that so thats next on list. Forgot pic of mower deck but its in great shape also. I dont belive this mochine was used alot it has a little over 500hrs showing on meter. This is the mochine I had to buy to het the 520H and really didn’t want it but glad I pulled the trigger on them .

Also I plan to paint rust o leam on the bottom hopefully to protect it a little bit more

Keep the deck clean and it likely won't rot like the old one.

Sounds like a wkrp thanksgiving....

Welcome to Red Square. This link shows where the ID tags were in 1978. That is the steering fan gear in the background. An odd location and they did not stay there for long. This is the 12 hp model but tag location will be the same. The tag should have the model number, serial number a 4-digit build date. Click on the fuzzy picture in this link.

Numbers would help. There were 2 available in 1968. The old style 6-2111 mounted ahead of the rear axle housing as did the models for the short frame tractors. The new style 6-4111 mounts under the rear axle housing and fits both short and long frame tractors. Here is list of what you are looking for. 1968 model 6-4111 - First to fit LONG & SHORT frame tractors and first to mount under the rear axle - Lift bracket behind crossmember 7716 A-frame - replaced by 1969 model [6-4112 + 6-9621] - First to have the lift bracket ahead of the crossmember 7716 A-frame 1970-73 model [6-4113 + 6-9622] 1973-74 model [6-4113 + 6-9623] 1974 model [6-4114 + 6-9624] 1974 model 6-2131 1975 model 6-2132 1976 model 6-2133 1976 model 66-42BC01 1977 model 76-42BC01 1978 model 86-42BC01 1979 model 96-42BC01 (1968 model 6-4111 to 1980 model 06-42BC01 use the same 7716 A-frame assembly but the lift tab changed according to the ipl's) 1980 model 06-42BC01 1981-1984 model 06-42BC02 (Up to here they are 42" wide) (Uses 104341 and 3771 index wires - See file for dimensions) 1984-1989 model 06-48BC01 (They are now 48" wide) (Uses 104341 and 3771 index wires - See file for dimensions) [M] 1990 model 06-48BC02 (Last blade to have 3 angle positions) 1991-1993 model 06-48BC03 (First blade to have 5 angle positions) 1993-2001 model 79350 - (105-1502 kit adapts 2001 and older GT Classic-Series blades to fit 2002 and later tractors 2002 2004-2009 2012 model 79364 - (105-1501 kit adapts 79364 blade to fit 2001 and older GT Classic-Series)

Disconnect the wire to the condenser and see if the symptoms go away. An engine will run without the condenser, it is there to protect the points from burning. If an engine idles well, but runs erratically when revved up, like it hits and misses, pops and backfires, then chances are, it needs a new condenser/capacitor. And always install a condenser/capacitor with the wire facing downward so rain water and/or when washing off engine, water will not enter inside condenser/capacitor, ruining it. With water inside the condenser, this will also allow it to idle well, but cause it to run erratically when revved up.

I finally got to have some plowing time

After a relaxing day yesterday, I worked on the 42” RD deck today. I figured since it was 90% apart I’d paint the pulleys, springs and the parts you could see. It was in the 80’s and 90’s today so perfect painting weather. With the exception of a small rainstorm which then the painted parts went under cover, the weather was great. I’ll let it dry and put it together later or tomorrow once it dries. The plan is to get it working good, and put it back under the 308 for now. The goal is for my parents to use the 308 for now as my parents Cub Cadet lawn mower went to the great lawn in the sky over the weekend.

There you go!

Just a beautiful weathering job by Mother Nature!!

Absolutely not. Sometimes she has a camera handy but not often at home. Seriously though... My physical health issues prevent me from being in go mode all day. Anyone who knows Trina personally can vouch. She has incredible energy. More than anyone I've ever seen. She just goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and goes.....

Am I the only one that has noticed that it is always BBT working in pics and @ebinmaine is taking said pics.....

I got one load of small hardwood sticks outta the forest from beside the house this morning. For me, for this time of year, it's just too hot 🔥 🥵 to work physically for very long. Had to stop at the one pull. There's at least another trailer full out there for another time. The BBT got her Millie tractor out for chores this morning. Here we see her in the natural environment. Forest. Tough to see with the bug net but that's an official Redsquare hat from @nylyon

I'll have to be careful not to end up like this guy

Measure the hole size with a ruler. Draw it out with chalk. cut it with a torch!

A few years ago you couldnt give me a hydro Ive only had 2 hydro's a GT14 great mochine but didnt get along with not having a brake and these 520H's with the Eaton 1100 hydro's which I think are the top of the food chain as far as hydro's go. Pushed snow last year with a 1257 4speed but had a HY2 unit installed and it will be very hard to go back to a manual lift and I think that is a big plus with the hydro's as well, hyd. lift

Gear oil change today.

Absolutely agreed. Here at We will not likely ever build another tractor later than 1977 for that very reason alone.

@Slampig I needed 2 sets of these for some Suburban projects. I was having a water jet company make me some other parts, so I had 25 sets of the main parts for the Suburban Control Assembly Direct copies of original parts. They are carbon steel, so they will need to be painted silver or color of your choice. The levers do not have the little dimple at the top that helps hold the knob on, so just like on the original I reccomment a dab of silicone or adhesive inside the knob slot. I just got these. I'll try to get together a list of the misc. bolts, screws, washers and clamps that complete the assembly You should be able to get those misc hardware items in all those drawers at you local hardware store. If your not in a hurry I may try to see what buying the hardware in bulk to see it it would help with total cost. My cost was $35 for a set of what's shown in the picture, plus postage . When you get you decals from Redo You Horse (Terry) you can get a chrome decal for the cover plate. https://www.redoyourhorse.com/1960-400-suburban-decals/ You can get the plastic triangle knobs that go on top the levers at https://wheelhorsepartsandmore.com/product/early-60s-triangle-knob/ $7 ea. If your interested let me know.

It was in the 60’s so the group came out for a triple side shot. The 308 got salt cleaned out, the 312 did a test mow as the front yard needed it. I also took a ride on the C-141 too. I got some seat time on them all.

Took the 418-8 out today with 50” mid-mount grader blade to fix my neighbors driveway. It was really just an excuse to get a little seat time and make them happy at the same time. Forgot to take pictures during the job so I snapped a few when I got back home.

Still looking for tire chains but the 875 is ready and waiting.