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Some of you might know that I live in an area of the UK known as gods country… a region called Yorkshire, North Yorkshire specifically. This is the largest county in the UK and the least population density. So those who live there get to enjoy the 3300 sq miles of beautiful scenery. we take the beauty for granted and some of you have often commented on the scenery in my posts rather than the content 🤣 To the point of this post, I’ve heard some of you go crazy on the latest version of All Creatures Great and Small. It’s a good series and we just live amongst those wonderful locations and occasionally get caught in the traffic and filming! Plus we did a wedding in St Oswalds church last Friday and it reminded me of another wedding… anyway here are a few pics of the last five years of me cycling and driving, you might recognise a few locations and characters…. during COVID I followed James car on a trailer up the dale into Arncliffe, where they film the outside of the vet practice Inside of St Oswalds church where james and Helen married Outside of the church Look who I bumped into Skeldale house Yockethwaite bridge and Helens family farm

With some drooling to boot ... Took a little drive to the driftless area today to see Kurt @608KEB. It's a large area in south western Wisconsin that was left unscated by the ice age and sure is beautiful country. He sure is lucky to live there. Valleys and hills galore much like eastern PA. I used to ride there a lot, very nice roads and scenery that won't quit. There's a tavern there that has the best Sunday chicken dinner ... maybe we do a chicken run sometime Kurt you get out the Fat Boy!. Anyway I digress ... picked up a nice set of implements for a price I care not to mention... Sorry @Dan 312-8 ... Bonus I got to look see over the rest of his fine fine harem and he let me take pics... ... Enjoy. Now it's no big secret I am not a huge LSE fan @c-series don or any tractor I can't run a furrow with or stick in the dirt in any fashion but I may have to make an offer he can refuse on this one. He's had it posted here before but fer sure worth a second look. All his horses are in very very well kept shape.

A few years ago I traveled to Ky and bought #423 of 425 60th anniversary with less than 10 hour. I drive it a few times a year and it still has less then 15 hour on it. Its in museum condition - maybe it should be in one instead of my garage in IL

Here's some pictures of the C101 I found earlier this year on FBMP, a little more than an hour from home too. It came with a 42"RD deck that looks better than the one a rebuilt last fall, so I swapped all the new parts over from one shell to the other and now have VGC spindles to make another serviceable 42"RD, just won't have the old patina, but it's not rotted out. I really have enjoyed going through this machine. I cut some grass with it yesterday and probable cut some more today or tomorrow. I runs smooth and strong, it's weathered and solid I went with penetrol and steel wool finish refurbish and I like the OG survivor look.

Been wanting a small lightweight jack that I can pop off the handle and toss in the backseat of my truck on road trips (think Wheel Horse show in a few weeks) in case my trailer was to have a flat. And of course to jack up tractors HF had this on sale for $79..regular $109.

This is from the experience I went through the last couple days. It pertains to a B 100 that I picked up a few weeks ago. It’s been quite the experience with the wiring on this tractor. I was trying to fix someone else’s mistakes. Yesterday was I guess you called a head banger or scratcher. Be cause everything I did did not work. So today I guess you could call it a premonition early in the morning. I decided to use a jumper wire form the solenoid to the wire on the starter from the Solenoid.. Bingo it worked. So Squonk AKA Mike was interested how this came about. So I told him. He said the wire was bad. I thought how a 6ga wire could be bad with no bare spots and the contacts were clean and shiny. So as I changed the wire witch is a 4ga brand new. Bingo I have contact. I have had a few of this model in the past. So I guess you could say don’t assume everything is good just by looks. I am not good with electrical never took the time to learn it.. if you read this and liked it say something or give me a thumbs up. Enjoy all your projects. This is something apparently I didn’t follow when I was doing it.

My neighbor finally broke out his slot hitch plow and busted through the pack layer - then followed up with the tiller. Here is my new (to me) C-160 Auto leveling things out. A little later, we decided to get the herds together for a group photo. You can tell they're all workers.

I have looked for years and finally found a pedal tractor on ebay. It came with the correct sheet of new decals. I just finished painting and reassemble. It looks good. It was built by AMF in Olney IL. I grew up near there.

Over the past two weeks the 854 got new Firestone Town & Country rear tires. Very pricey but so far they are just what I was hoping for. I took the opportunity to strip and repaint the wheels using the Cottage White (formerly Navajo White). Mounting always leaves marks, so in anticipation of the Big Show, I even did the touchups. Looked so good I got out the can of Regal Red and touched up a bunch of the scratches and scrapes that a worker acquires over time.

I bought aftermarket wheels for RD deck, $7 a piece, and I installed zerks . Slightly narrower than original but color is right.

Today, I pulled 2 of the 3 usable tractors the 312 and the C-141 out to get to my ATV with a winch to move my Snowmobile around. Frank, The C-141 definitely likes the more constant use even if it is just moving it out of the way. I haven't had a problem starting it for months. Yesterday, I put a new deck belt for the 37"SD on the 308. I got a few years out of the same old one, and it wouldn't keep tension without needing to extend the adjustment screw on the mule drive.

@953 nut and I both preach " CHECK ALL CONNECTIONS!!!! " I put a starter in my C160 about 4 years ago. It was used. Always fires right up and isn't overly noisy. I mowed this AM and shut it off. Mowed this afternoon and parked it in the driveway so I could blow the grass off of it like I always try to do. Tractor sat for about 4 hrs and when I went to start it the dreaded " Solenoid clicks but it doesn't crank." Everything looked pretty good and testing at the starter terminal revealed 12.9 volts with the key in the start position. Here is a picture of the starter and cable. Really doesn't look bad at all: I put my hand on the terminal with the key in crank and a spark!!! So I yanked off the terminal and inspected it. Looked fairly clean but I got some sand paper out and polished things a tad and she fires up so I don't have to push it! Just goes to show you what a little "fuzz" on a connection can do.

Did the first actual working of the 1257 today. Hooked the land plow up and plowed where I will be attempting to grow a 1000lb pumpkin. I couldn’t get as deep as I wanted since I found out really quick that I need a new belt. But ran great otherwise!

June 6, 1944

Cleaning out drawers in shop today and came across a couple of papers that I've kept for more than 50 years. The first is the bill of sale for the El Camino when I bought it new in 1971. I was suppose to be practicing walking and seating for my high school graduation but dad and I were at the Chevrolet dealership. $3,688.00 brand new. Still have it and drove it a couple of days ago. Apparently, dad had to sign the loan for me. The second picture are from a Sedan Deliveries Unlimited club that I joined in the mid 1970's. Sure was a simpler time when a fellow awaited for the monthly (or bi-monthly) periodicals of his favorite club. I've still got the little round window sticker on the wing window in the delivery from the club. The club dissolved many years ago. The third picture is from the Sedan Deliveries National Meet in St. Paul Minnesota. My delivery (lower right) was one of the cars that was pictured in the monthly mail out that I mentioned under picture #2. Considering that delivery was rebuilt and made running in a small shop whose floor was sidewalk pieces removed when the city replaced them and laid together like a puzzle to make a floor that made a creeper useless. Paul and I were just out of high school, had no/little experience in restoring vehicles but young and dumb we jumped into it with both feet. We sandblasted the delivery using sand we sifted through a screen wire from the local lumber yard. It was my first road trip outside of my state of Missouri. I took about every tool I owned and the only issue that I recall was loose starter. The Montgomery & Wards engine overhaul kit is still holding together. I was probably 23 years old. Now that I am a grandpa, I can only imagine the worry of mom and dad as I struck out in basically and untested vehicle and more than likely no contact with them until I returned back home. Going to a far of city with only a paper map. My, how things have changed!

701

Since it looks like we are gonna make it this one will be there for sale. A choice 867 @Sparky has dibs on. Will get it out, cleaned up and more pics Mikey. Will also have a 856. Stay tuned for pics and lots more other crap. Stuff will be priced to move ... need gas money & gotta get the old lady off the street.

I was at Wheelhorse when marketing did this. They did complete the Baja desert race with a STOCK 520-H. It had 3 options from the catalog. 1 dual tires, 2 cleated tires, and 3 aux fuel tank. I restored a 1991 520-H which came with the original baked, cooked sticker on the hood. since I planned on using it I put the replacement sticker on the seat. A body shop painted the hood and fender. Its a sharp tractor I still use

I just bought #32. it has 1300 hours and is in very rough shape with an SS (super stupid) emblem on the hood. It will not start and run. it will fire for a few seconds with starter fluid. it has all the chrome and a 48 inch deck with a hole in it. #32 George F Schleicher now owned by Norman D in Rockton IL

Mowed the old cemetery where my great great grandparents are buried

@MainelyWheelhorse brought up today... and someone else I don't recall just recently... That I MAY have a few tractors. A problem? An addiction? No no no of course not. So I commenced to countin'.. Running and usable: 1. 1974 "Cinnamon Horse" C160-8. 2. My own fully restored 1975 C160 Automatic. 3. "The Ugly Bruce" tractor. 1978/9 C121 Automatic. Projects: 4. 1974 C160-8 Tecumseh/ Briggs Vanguard swap tractor. 5. 1977 B80 8 speed that needs an engine repair or swap. 6. "Hollis" 1975 C160-8. So named for the town it came from. 7. Pile o' parts to build a complete new (520-8 based with C series sheet metal) chassis for the Wally Digger Backhoe. 8. COLOSSUS PROJECT. (Thanks @SylvanLakeWH) 9. Enough other parts to build at least one more 8 speed mid 70s C series. Maybe two??? So maybe 10......??? Oh man.....

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.

I fileted over 100 fish this morning. The club held our annual kids fishing derby today. We had 68 kids signed up and they landed some lunkers. The winner was a 26.25 long 10.2 lb. rainbow. Those smiles are the best prize.

Replaced the ammeter on my one tractor, the one I replaced was a new one but it was a 30 amp gauge which is a bit high for these tractors and the needle just went everywhere with the vibrations. This one works much better!

Shall we get a " Poll" started? Chicken or Egg? Bed or Colossus?

Well this hood has been primer coated about 5 times, each after finding another ding to tap out and fix. Actually got another coat today. But it looks pretty good right now. I'll go over it tomorrow with 800 grit and scope it over once more. And I've made up my mind on the fuel pump. Now I have to figure out where to put the thing. Not alot of room on a 701 to hide an electric pump...

Can have this genny there. $600 Cecil Pond signature included.

So many young men paid the ultimate price to end the tyranny of the Nazi regime. Few of the survivors remain with us today but we must not forget their sacrifice.

There fixed that.

Looks like we are gonna make it after all. Gonna take @Achto big red gasser truck. Still only get 12-14 mpg but better than diesel. Gas came down a bit around here ... less than 4 a gal. I topped off yesterday at $3.85.

Started putting the deck on for my first time. The one in backround has always been good to me and me and Buddy's have done lots of beating mudd bogging and cut a lot of land with it but she's just had it. So time to utilize the c100 for the reason I bought it. To work it like a horse

Are any of you guys going to be able to go see this as it comes through the East for the 1st time?? I've seen it a couple times when it came through Geneva and West Chicago, Ill a couple years ago. It is worth it if you get the chance !! This is worth seeing ...there is only 1. Go on You Tube and check out it going through the Feather River in the Rockies. Out standing for sure!! A schedule...

The cables in the pics looked new but suspect to my eyes. We had an electrical clinic at the Napa when I was working there. Had a nice set up from the Rayloc rep. A battery with nothing in it but 6 D cell flashlight batteries, A 4 ga. cable with only 1 strand connected inside of it. Key switch ,solenoid and starter all on a big board. Pretty cool. We invited all the shops to attend. We had a 12 volt test light , multimeter and jumper wires. One by one we had guys trying to diagnose various bugs we put in a circuit. And still I had to go to garages and find problems that stumped these guys including 2 the very next day! Moral of the story: A 12 volt test light only tells you that electricity is present. Most of them have a 6 or 9 V bulb in it so it will glow with 3 volts. Get a multimeter and learn how to use it. Electrical circuits on a WH are like a road map. Start at the battery and follow the positive side until there is a stopping point like a solenoid. Watch the video's I posted about grounds and solenoids. A multimeter would have found this problem in a minute.

Personally I would opt for a manufactured aluminum or steel flatbed. Just bolt it on and go after it gets back from having the rear axle done. This way you can start using it, as opposed to having it still outa commission for weeks/months/years etc. This is just an example, plenty of less expensive steel ones for sale.

Got some logs pulled outta the forest today.

On Sale!!! $400.00 $300.00 Working Man's 856. Fine fine steed that is ready to work. A real chick magnet. Pulled a plow nicely at plow day. Patina to die for. New to check list, some updated wiring, fluids changed, new shifter boot, new petcock, new carb & throttle cable. Good battery. Lots of TLC done. Left rear tire leaks air but very slowly. Service K181 runs great. Right rear hub a bit to wonder at but holds tight. If you wanna get fussy I'll throw in a good hub for a extra Jackson. No extra charge for broken in saddle.

I predict that the most sought-after item will be the one you looked at and left home because you convinced yourself no one would want it.

We lost my Uncle Floyd over there just after D Day. I have his Purple Heart and 2 telegrams that were sent about him, one stating that he had been injured, the other announcing that he passed away, He was brought home by an Honor Guard and my grandmother (his mother) wanted the guards to open the casket so she could see her son one last time, but they wouldn't allow it, so no one really knows how much of him was brough home to rest. Even though I never got to know him, he is a hero (all veterans) to me! War and service has touched so many of us here, I have a large family and my father and most of my uncles were over in Europe, and I'll always be grateful for all they and the others did for all of us! C-85

Some WWII trucks on this D Day

My late father, an Army Combat Medic, 30th Infantry Division,105th Combat Medics, 2nd Battalion " D " Company, 120th Infantry Motors 81 MM, Omaha Beach June 9, 1944. He is and always will be my hero, along with all those of that and later generations that heard the call of their nation too defend her!

I am! I’m also from that era being a 1966 model myself

Thanks to the "greatest" generation.

Finished up some lawn art. The old MM plow on a somewhat raised bed. I had these old timbers just laying around. I planted grass around the perimeter and Zinnias in the area under the plow. Get another pic when they come up. Watering the snot out of them.

June 4, 1896, in the shed behind his home on Bagley Avenue in Detroit, Henry Ford unveils the “Quadricycle,” the first automobile he ever designed or drove. Ford was working as the chief engineer for the main plant of the Edison Illuminating Company when he began working on the Quadricycle. On call at all hours to ensure that Detroit had electrical service 24 hours a day, Ford was able to use his flexible working schedule to experiment with his pet project—building a horseless carriage with a gasoline-powered engine.

I used my 864 to pull my dad's 1257 that I forgot to check the oil level in and snapped the rod on, on a 6 by 12 trailer to the garage with more room to hopefully get the tractor out back together soon. I had the trailer balanced so that my tractor was just pulling and not dealing with the tongue weight and bouncing of everything.

Oh don’t be blaming me! Doesn’t your wife drive a Prius??? Fuel it up or plug it in or whatever it is ya do to make those things run and get to the show!! Maybe rip the seats out so that 867 will fit in the back…think outside the box Jim!!

June 2, 1962 Ray Charles' cover of Don Gibson's "I Can't Stop Loving You", from his influential crossover album "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music" hits #1 on Billboard.

The scope of the invasion, the reality of the commitment, never fully registered for me--it was just numbers and statistics, right?--until I was fortunate enough to walk those miles of beaches and bluffs and meadows led by an exceptional guide.

@WHX?? triple up with @Pullstart split the fuel and tolls 3 ways . Hook your trailer to Kevin's Taj Mahal and each bring 1 tractor. It's not like you need to pay for a hotel room also. You'll be kicking yourself and flapping around like a Batam rooster if you don't go.