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And I thought you were asking about the MPG fuel stats on Mrs Ks favorite ride.

I don’t know my birds of prey well, but I am continually attempting to improve habitats out back. As much as I don’t want mice, I know they have a place in the food chain, and they move in with the habitats I create. Along with having my chickens and cats around the place, I have more eagles, hawks, coyotes, and other predators around here. It’s a nervous balance of mine, to keep the habitat growing and keep our farm animals on the ground.

Tony boy does that bring back some memories good and bad. I’ve had four of these 1257 one of my favorites. It has a nice feel at the steering wheel and the foot rest. I’ve always liked sitting over the tractor not in the tractor. The engine sounds good. Nice smooth idle.

Got my latest C-160-8 to pop off today. Think she was auctioned off because starter motor was bad. Fixed some wiring issues replaced starter and she popped.. ( can't spray carb cleaner and film at the same time) This is the tractor with the unique K 431 engine.

I figured I should get in a ride while the getting is good because of the uncertain weather conditions nowadays. I used the Side x Side to pack roughly 6 '' of snow on the ground. The 418-A is my mowing tractor and it's nice to get behind the wheel with no mower deck and wind it up some. This was on Thursday after lunch.

So as may of you know in September I bought a 1257. We fully rebuilt the transmission. I got a new ignition switch a few weeks ago and put that in. Then we got snow so it got pushed to the back. Today we finally brought it back in. Cleaned the points and it fired right up. More to come later today. IMG_1453.mov

Throttle knob ready to install. I like the T style knobs the best. Hair dryer used to heat knob for easier installation and so knob dos not crack. This little hair dryer is used a lot in the shop whenever I feel the heat gun might cause damage. Block of wood and dead blow hammer used to tap knob into position. Throttle knob installed.

Went for a drive to visit our friend yesterday. Got some lunch and went for a nice woods walk. Fresh squirrel tracks. These stone walls are very unusual in our area for several reasons. The height is extreme at about 4 feet in the middle but the length doesn't justify that for any obvious reason. It's only a few dozen feet long and also follows a pretty steep downhill. And... the rocks are flat!

I only modeled the hydraulic surfaces from the intake to the discharge. So I never got involved with the size or shape of the upper and lower reservoirs. I only needed the max and min water levels and the flow rates to conduct the model tests. There was one TVA project where the prototype index test showed 4.5% less HP output than the model test. After extensive testing and inspection of the new runners we supplied and of the modifications we made to the draft tube shapes, we determined the turbine was not seeing the correct flow. Divers were sent down upstream of the intake and discovered a silt build up that was blocking a lower corner of the intake. Using a Garmin depth/fish finder with GPS I made a map of the silt and installed the same scaled down obstruction on the model. The model test now matched the lower output of the prototype. There is a lot of reluctance to disturb these silt deposits. I do not know if TVA ever removed the silt or just lived with the reduced output.

Thats a fantastic rescue story, well done for showing such care and responsibility by doing the right thing. We have all kinds of problems over here for our birds of prey. From road collisions killing owls as they hunt and gamekeepers poisoning hawks to stop them taking game birds. But we have success stories too with reintroduction of some species that had been extinct in some areas. We are only a tiny country and space is in great demand for housing and other building projects, so our government ignore wildlife at every turn and only pay lip service to nature conservation. Look after your wildlife, while you still have it.

Yes you can solder the hole closed...after you get all the gas out. use a soldering gun not a torch

Lift. PTO, and Tach grips ready to install. Mid tach latch ready for grip to be installed. Mid tach latch grip installed. PTO lever ready for grip to be installed. PTO lever grip installed. You will note that the grips used are the older style as I don't care for the larger new style ones. Hydraulic valve control handle ready for grip to be installed. Hydraulic valve control handle silicone applied to retain grip. Hydraulic valve control handle grip installed.

Foot control pedal assembly ready to install. Foot control rod end ready for Heim joint. Foot control rod end Heim joint jamb nut screwed on fully. Foot control rod end threads greased. Foot control rod end Heim joint screwed on fully (this will be adjusted later). Foot control pedal slid onto shaft. Foot control pedal retainer installed . Retainer is just a large nut drilled out and a set screw added. Heim joint bolted to foot pedal. Heim joint bolted to foot pedal with temporary non locking nut (a nyloc nut will be installed once final adjustments are complete).

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January 11, 1838, First public demonstration of telegraph messages sent using dots and dashes at Speedwell Ironworks in Morristown, New Jersey by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail.

Check forward and reverse valves springs are known to break. One of are vendors have them. Clean and check valve bore and piston for smooth operation

This service work was done for a 30 year customer by me in their Master Bath installed by others. These fixtures are at least 35 years old. The tub faucets are in polished gold finish which have been very well taken care of over the years. The Symmons shower valve is brass but the trim is not. Always enjoyed working with quality Plumbing products and buying OEM parts knowing full well you could walk away and stand behind your work. I use food grade silicone grease on all parts on reassembly. In todays world you keep your fingers crossed and walk away. One of the main reasons I work for certain customers on a semi- retired basis. Lately I have been going through a LOT of stock and it bothers me to toss it out but I just will never use it all. SAD

What a lot of folks do not realize is that Symmons will replace all the tub & shower parts, except the brass body, for free as long as you own it. I remodeled my bath in 1985 and installed their Model B unit. About 8 years later, the hot side would not shut off tight. I could not remove the metal 3 flute knob! I called their Customer Service, and a VERY knowledgeable person told me the exact steps to cut it apart and remove it. I received a new loaded valve stem, gaskets, new style plastic knob, and snap-in cover. Shipped to my house - for the bubble.

Can you push the tractor with the tow valve closed? Lift means the Charge pump is working OK. Mark the axle ends make sure the axles an wheel are turning together . no sheared woodruff key on the axle.

If you don't have a problem with the colors I've bought a couple of these when they go on sale for under 9 bucks. Four-Way Trailer Wiring Connection Kit, 25 ft. They separate easily and are very flexible. I do keep some red and black for certain things.

Decided that's the way to go here. I'll have to drill holes whether they're 2.25" or 2.5" OC. The larger bearing mount is substantially more heavy duty than the original WH one. It also has its own set screws. The larger spread will also help ease of spacing for fasteners. I also decided to make a serious upgrade to the locking collar. Getting on & off the tractor without using the steering wheel as a handle is extremely cumbersome for me. The existing single set screw is degrading due to corrosion. I've personally had them move and I've seen several other tractors with that collar moved down the upper steering shaft from previous owners apparently doing similar. I have a 2 piece collar with 2 screws. Pics later...

Envious of the snow, yesterday we had about an inch of rain... Definitely digging the maintained survivor! She's a beaut Clark!

I love my 1257, had it since my dad gave it to me 10 years ago. My favorite WH tractor. Yours looks like a solid rig 👍.

Stevasaurus would say that ...

I have a soft start module on a Magnum 18 with an electric PTO. It makes a huge difference. I originally ran it with a manual PTO so I knew exactly how much of a difference it made.

Oh man. Like I need more bad ideas.

@WHX?? sold me a 1257 with a HY2 unit installed. Brought it back with me from the Big Show in PA. and it is awesome. Have a 48" snow plow on it. You will love it. To quote @WHX?? from another thread, "Just sumin special about looking down the long square hood of a 60's model Wheel Horse". May not be exact quote but close enough for guberment work. @TonyToro Jr. hard to tell in pic but does it have the 15" steering wheel also.

Good looking rig! I’ve got a soft spot for the 60’s square hoods

Doing some mid season maint/inspection on the 702. Relocated exhaust because it was originally turned down towards the snowblower controls. Used whatever pipe/connectors I had. Didn't wanna drive out in the rain to get parts......all the cars are washed & clean in garage 😆 Also installed some rear wheel weights that I cant even remember where they came from. There's only 2 bolt holes in weights & of course only 1 hole lines up. They really fit well into the rim tightly so I think just the 1 bolt is enough because they they fit so good.

Absolutely beautiful trails in the snow! Always good to take the horses for a brisk walk on occasion!

Keep us posted on what you come up with. This one's in the shop now for multiple hydraulic leaks. Maybe try and clean up some hose mess. I think it was @Handy Don was asking about hard lines once and at the time I thought he was nutz. He ain't lookin too crazy now. Also fuel delivery issues including either electric pump or your route.

A “Sparky”

Exhaust covers and air deflector ready to be installed. Engine ready for exhaust covers to be installed. Right exhaust cover tucked under side cover as it was originally. Right engine lifting lug loosely bolted through exhaust and side covers. Both lifting lug bolts have never seize applied to threads. Left engine lifting lug loosely bolted through exhaust and side covers. Note the exhaust cover is on top of the side cover on this side. Both engine lifting lugs loosely bolted through exhaust and side covers. Air deflector sat on muffler and loosely bolted to exhaust covers. Chrome muffler cover attached loosely with the two center screws. Chrome muffler cover attached to muffler with all 6 screws, this also firmly attaches the air deflector to the muffler. Note, all screws have never seize on the threads. Air deflector bolts tightened making sure that there is no contact between the exhaust covers and the intake manifold. Exhaust covers and air deflector installed.

Looking good, there! For the last one I replaced, I put a dab of hot glue in the knob slot before tapping it back onto the lever arm.

Wow... give a guy indoor plumbing and the lectricity and bam - you are so much more than a fried cheese curd... Beautiful work!!!

Me too, as I would pass you on my 418-C that is 1.1 MPH faster 🤣🤣🤣

Nice save! Glad you got it running again!

Depending on the implement being driven by the PTO, the instantaneous engagement of an electric clutch may be an issue; better done with the traditional lever type where you can ease into it. All I use are lever style. My ...

The generator bulb socket is a special one. Both the - and + are isolated. Just a heads up.

Muffler ready to install. Muffler gaskets used. Engine ready for muffler to be installed. Muffler gaskets sat in place. Muffler bolted into place and torqued to 120 in-lb. Bolt threads have a coat of never seize. PTO pivot plate assembly ready to be installed. I used 1-1/4" bolts to maximize thread engagement into engine block. Engine ready for PTO pivot plate assembly to be installed. PTO pivot plate assembly installed and torqued to 20 ft/lb. Muffler and PTO pivot plate fully installed.

@Handy Don @kpinnc and @ebinmaine thanks for all this info. Will be handy if I get to look at this 520 in person.

As Don said the PO may have changed some things. I've only ever seen the 7.50 front tires on the swept axle 520 models, but have seen them with 6.50 as well. I put both on my modified 14hp tractor. The difference is minimal. The pics below are 6.50 and then 7.50. Same exact tread pattern, so it's quite hard to see the difference. Tiny bit more bulge in the sidewall is about all that is visibly different. The third pic is a close up of the 7.50 with weights.

I suggest money

That outta do it! You've already been thinking about it. Awesome!

Well after an inaugural run yesterday to get some logs outta the forest I've found there are some changes to be made. On the plus side I really like the stability of the wider & longer wheelbase and ease of steering the tri rib tires. Belt. I've known for awhile there may be an issue with the drive belt. It "slaps." Yesterday I tried hauling a heavy load uphill and the belt slips too. There's a bent/kinked spot in the belt from shelf setting over time. I may swap another heavy duty spring on and see if it's better before swapping for another belt. Axle stops. The top of the axle has cast in stop bumps to prevent the axle from twisting too far. These are a LOT bigger than on a standard straight axle. Going through the forest there were several times that one of the front wheels was off the ground. 😬 Engine..... well..... several things. A. It lacks RPM. Likely fixable. B. Carb adjustment is VERY tricky. C. Most important... there's a near constant ticking noise. Valve adjustment has been verified correct. Is it a normal noise?? I dunno. I don't think so. At whatever upper RPM I can get it's very concerning. And I'm nowhere near full 3600 yet. Is it a good reason to swap in a Briggs Vanguard 20 HP V twin? Yes.

Bushings are in place. Here's a wheel installed. Next project is to build tie rods.