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Did you know that National Blue Jeans Day lights up our calendars on December 5 every year? This special day honors the timeless appeal of blue jeans, a staple in wardrobes worldwide. From rugged workwear to a fashion favorite, jeans have truly seen it all. Their durability and versatility make them a go-to choice for any occasion, easily paired with casual or semi-formal attire. This day reminds us of jeans’ unique role in fashion and culture. Their adaptability allows them to blend with any wardrobe, earning them a permanent spot in fashion. It’s not just about wearing jeans; it’s about celebrating their journey from workwear to a fashion statement.

Balmy... Trail cam at @ebinmaine's place this morning...

Thanks Don for the thoughts on the bolt. It was handy (like your avatar) and I’m on a time constraint (I leave for Israel on Monday). This upcoming summer, I’ll get a custom rod made up. Today’s project was to clean up the hood and fender pan, then load the tractor, and head to Caleb’s house. This tractor is in such good shape (the seat notwithstanding) and so I felt that the chalky hood would shine up nicely… I wasn’t wrong…I only spent about 20 minutes on it for now but was excited with the results! Not bad for 37 year old paint! my little 5’x8’ trailer was “just big enough” to fit the tractor with blower attached. Caleb got off work about an hour early so that he could be the one to clear his own driveway for the first time! For those of you that have known him for a decade—can you believe that he is now a first time homeowner??? unfortunately the throttle cable is not functioning well. We are going to need to outsource a good used one or find something better. however, even at about half throttle, that Ber-Vac was handling the snow with ease and the torque of that Onan is impressive! For those of you that enjoyed reading the Iron Horse thread, this picture is also there. This is my dad in 1975 clearing the snow at his first house with his 1965 875. 50 years later, his grandson is clearing his driveway at his first house with a 1988 520HC! Wheel Horse—a generational experience for the Stertz household (like it is for many of you!) Job well done for the old machine! using the bagger frame to hold some weight (about 100 pounds) may not be the prettiest situation, however it works just fine. Caleb has a full rack of suitcase weights but no bracket. I suppose that next spring/summer we can fabricate something to hold those. At least, he can now clear any accumulative snow moving forward this winter…

Sort of. I FOUND them in one of the older local hardware stores - on the side of the road. This place is the hardware store is the go to when I need something unusual.

I have bulk cable & sheath in stock. If the throttle lever is in good shape, I can hook you up with the parts for a new cable.

Watched this 13yo lad operate this 10,000 lb. plow machine. He plowed from 8AM to 4PM with an hour lunch break(for the Belgians). He turned about 5 acres.

A Haiku... I have very good jeans Hear tell Sydney does also So where is my check? A Limerick There once was a man with great jeans Who really liked to eat beans His flatulence was known far and wide And it really did damage his pride That people thought Sydney had better genes

I don't wear blue jeans. I don't even own any. But I don't mind Sydney advertising them for me.....

Here too!!! The old furnace is getting a workout.

Carlisle 9.5's Right - about 8 years old Left - about 4 years old One made in USA, one not... Unfortunately, not a new problem.

Now that is funny right there. Good job whoever took the pictures.

Great thread for modifications as well as the family and generations points! Definitely some of the things here that drew many of us to these machines and this hobby!

Proof positive you only need 5 horse power to turn a single bottom plow...

But, what did she actually do? Pull the head, clean things up, reinstall with no gasket, didn't change any oil or filters, etc. Didn't checked the fuel or change it. I give her prompts for some of the things she did, but it kind of seemed fishy or fake from the get go. I want to believe it's real, but with so much fake stuff nowadays, has me doubting.

What did you do today... Here? What did I do? 🥶🧊🧥

Love those old stores...

Normally I would say between these the Kohler is superior. A Kohler Magnum engine is nearly bullet proof with decades of longevity built in. The engine in your pic is unfortunately not suitable for Wheel Horse in any way due to the stubby PTO shaft. No adapter made will make it capable of supporting the side loads generated on these machines. If you made it work, it would eventually fail and likely damage things even possibly the operator. If the Briggs has at least 2 and 3/4 inches of PTO shaft it will work better in this case. If you have to sleeve it to 1.125, it is still a safe option. I'm a huge fan of Briggs Vanguard v-twins. I have several of them. That being said, I do not expect them to last like a cast iron Kohler will.

I have been using a GE hybrid water heater for 15 years, the only issue was a factory fault that was fixed for free. Installation is the same as a standard water heater but clearance around it is necessary so it can move air and a provision for the condensate water is needed.

Could be a really nice find! Not sure how familiar you are with but check the frame for cracks where the 4 bolts attach the uni-drive since it obviously has history pushing a dozer blade. Not a deal breaker but checking is a must.

On my first meeting @wallfish, he lent me an RJ to tool around the Big Show. He emphatically cautioned me about its touchy clutch and willingness to wheelie. Having driven standard shift vehicles since before having a driver’s license, I paid heed and never had the front wheels more than a couple inches off the ground. Predictability and muscle memory are essential for clutching. We more mechanically-inclined and capable members do have to keep in mind that things mechanical and electrical can intimidate some of those who join the forum looking for an assist. They often need very specific and detailed answers along with reassurance.

@stevasaurus

PTO clutch lever cotter pin slid into hole without washer. This will make the next steps easier. PTO clutch lever 5666 nyliner bushing installed. I rotated it so the slit in it faces rearward as when the clutch is engaged it pulls the clutch lever forwards. PTO clutch lever washer slid on then grip ring installed as close to the washer as possible. PTO clutch lever cotter pin and washer installed. If you have the grip ring in the right place there should be no in and out play of the clutch lever but it should rotate easily.

And lets not forget... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levi_Strauss but in my working days ... I wear Duluth Trading cargo pants for the sole purpose of being able to comfortably carry a stupid phone. But there's an idea... blues jeans with cargo pockets?!?!?

Just caught this thread Jack and looks good so far. House looks to be a fine starter for a young feller. Looks like he could use a shop/garage/man cave but with our combined sliver wizardry skills I'm sure we can bend a nail or two. You need any help Dan is sitting right here ... Don't forget I have some 520 parts. If he still needs a deck I have one here I can't let him have but he certainly welcome to borrow it!. Really ...He sure has come a long ways!

Another example of "shrinkflation"..... I noticed the other day there has been a lot of food packaging getting smaller too. Just an example a box of Ritz crackers is not near as tall as it used to be .

Just thought I'd toss this thought out there. I have a GT-1848 that was re-powered by a previous owner with a Honda GX610 V-twin. Apparently this is/was a "sanctioned" re-power by Wheel Horse back then, but I know it's a very expensive engine. One downside is that the stock muffler requires a cut-out in the right side of the hood. I took that muffler off and put a stack on it, so now I'll be putting an original un-cut hood back on it. These engines are used a lot in generators and pressure washers, so maybe a good used one of those could be a donor? I love this engine, would not have loved buying it new. Got the tractor for $200 a few years ago, put new tires on it, and it is a beast. Good luck with your search for a new engine.

Somewhere on here is the algebraic equation, but essentially it is: + I x 2 Where: = Wheel Horse Tractor I = Implement x 2 = the minimum number of additional 's and Implements per . As you can see, it is like infinity - it never completes the circle...

I got my first Wheelhorse back in late 2016 I think. A few months later Trina bought hers. She now has 6. I have ... I dunno. Maybe 10 or so?? And we share the Wally Digger Backhoe. Yes.... it's "catchy"... Buy just the fact that you have a planned task for your current herd of three shows - IMHO - a proper initiative for practicality in the collection. All ours have jobs too. As they should.

Like the high efficiency natural gas furnace we have in our Mo. property. I had not considered that. Back into research mode. Last night, I was reading about hybred heat pump water heaters. They operate like a refrigerator, except they take heat out of the room air and put it into the water. The hybred part means that it also has conventional heating elements to kick on when the heat pump part isn't keeping up. One of these would be a much easier install than LP fired tankless unit. I checked both elements in the sick water heater with a VOM. They checked OK. That pointed at the thermostats, so I picked up upper and lower replacement thermostats while I was out walking the dog today. I replaced the upper thermostat- only because it was easier than replacing the lower thermostat. It passed the smoke test, and the water has been at 125 degrees for several hours now. Looks like it is back up and running - for now.

Nice looking rig! My first machine was a B100A. Bought it used and I ran the original engine until it was just tuckered out. Replaced with a new 12HP that I got from Northern at a decent price. It was like a timex, just kept on ticking. Only trans issue was a striped axle key and ended up changing an axle and hub. Seemed like it was a lot cheaper to fix then. Pullstart was here on his way home from a pick up and had one on his truck. I tried to talk him into selling it to me but no go. Might get another one someday or not, who knows. Spent a lot of seat time to plowing snow, dirt and cutting grass. It also survived two teenagers.

Why yes... yes I do... Nice grab!!!

Had a great Time with my RJ pushing 4” of wet snow. Pushed with ease even without weights or chains, but ground isn’t frozen solid yet. Tried to represent those old ads of those Pipe Smokers.

Completely awesome! And thanks for including the early ads.

Stealth WH units trying to hide among the JDs?

I've been tinkering with the B-80 for the last week or so and I'm making progress towards driving it in the near future. The fuel system has been completely redone including a carburetor rebuild. The condenser is installed and I was able to start the engine to see if it helped, and I believe it did. It started and idled just fine and also accelerated just fine, no more missing or surging. I'm guessing the condenser was the biggest culprit, thanks for that tip! Once the fuel pump filled the bowl the bowl started to leak, something it hadn't done before. Of course I had just finished cleaning the bowl and it was corroded in the bottom but I didn't see the tiny pin hole when I reinstalled it. I have a replacement bowl on order. I also drained the gearbox and at first I thought it was just muddy fluid but then realized it was about 4 or 5 to 1 oil to water mix. By the time it was done draining it was probably mostly oil. I'm going to fill it with diesel and let it sit until I have it drivable next week and then I'll drive it for a few minutes, drain, refill with diesel and drive again for a few minutes before draining and filling with gear oil. It certainly isn't as bad as the 656 was Having a gantry crane to lift the front end sure makes changing oil easy. Also, the gravely muffler is installed and looks and sounds great. I'd find a small tail pipe to point the exhaust out to the side. I have been looking but haven't found anything yet. I did learn a hard lesson yesterday after I had it running for the first time. I noticed gas on the ground so I leaned down to get a closer look and put my hand on the muffler to support myself. That was a mistake Hopefully I won't do that again....

What's faster than a Ferrari? Raceinbob on his birthday!

And then it can take a bit of repetition to adjust your muscle memory for releasing the clutch!

PTO clutch lever and rod ready to be assembled. PTO clutch release spring cotter pin installed. PTO clutch lever and rod assembled.

I used a piece of 1/16" thick angle iron cut to the shape of the broken piece. Cut out the damaged part and welded the new part in place. Oops, Bill types faster.

I cleaned mine 3 times without a kit. Each time the surging got less so I kept cleaning till it stopped surging.

More efficient.... sure. .. but carefully consider the whole picture. Our 40 gallon electric water heater was about $400. For the record, installation was discounted and we only paid a couple hundred bucks. If it was a retail job we still wouldn't have had more than $800 or so into it. For a propane setup we were quoted THOUSANDS. Anywhere from $6K up to $15K NOT COUNTING getting a new tank and regulator. Point being..... our experience shows us... It would take a VERY long time even at a high usage rate to catch and pass the initial investment. Over and over and over again.... I've had conversations with people who get all freaked out about electric heat and/or electric hot water. It saved us WELL over a thousand dollars per year compared to the old oil system.

The tankless unit only fires when water flows, the tank type keep on using gas all day. Much more efficient than an electric tank type.

Cool idea, but I'd do shelves... weight on those plastic hanging on those edges might give way...

22 years on a tank water heater is living on barrowed time, We have a Navien tankless water heater going on 15 years with no problems, If you have natural gas or LP that is the way to go.

Not so much me as the wife, but she found this idea on the facie-page maybe:

Yes, I think that would help with the math, but to be honest, while enhanced heating efficiency would be something to aim for, I'm actually more concerned about working in the shop in comfort, without a cold draft from the window blowing on me. I guess I'm getting spoiled in my retirement years.

Hydraulic oil filter base ready to be installed. Note the extra set of holes for the filter base mount in the fender support bracket. The two rear holes are used for rigid supply and return tubing to the valve and the front holes are used when rubber hoses are used for the supply and return lines. Hydraulic oil filter base installed. Hydraulic return line fittings tightened at rear axle and filter base.

Fuel tank supports ready to be bolted to fender support bracket. Fuel tank supports and fender support bracket laid down flat on the front side. Bolts all loosely installed after getting a smear of never seize to prevent galling (these are SS bolts). All 4 bolts torqued to 17 ft/lb.

Hmmmm, about 1 hr away.....