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Wanted to clean the new to me C-145auto but the garage was 28 degrees and it was even colder outside. So just a scraping, shop-vac and rag cleaning today. Also installed a belt engage/disengage lever (completely missing!)

Early birthday present for myself. Not perfect, but for the price I couldn’t resist.

Today I took a portable train layout for an assisted living facility for show and tell. I had some pictures projected upon a screen of how I made some of the items and a video of my layout at home. Talked about how I got into trains (wife's uncle passed and left them to us). Answered questions how I made mountains, buildings and other items. I anticipated spending 30 minutes or so and ended up over an hour. The residents (some 20 of them) seemed to enjoy and appreciate The activities director asked who and where they rode trains. Interesting stories. Lots of laughter and memories for these folks. One funny part. I normally run my trains pretty slow--just looks more natural. Someone asked "will it go faster?" Another "Yeah, lets see it go fast." So I opened up the throttle and nearly all of them cheered! Not too bad for a 79 year old engine.

Does buying one count?

I haven't named any of my tractors, even if I thought of a good name. Nothing against it at all. It's just that I can barely keep all my kid's names in my mind so I'm just trying not to confuse myself...

Forgot to post this one from last month.

January 15, 2009 The "Miracle on the Hudson" the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River on January 15, 2009, after a flock of geese disabled both engines shortly after takeoff. Thanks to the skill of Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and co-pilot Jeffrey Skiles, all 155 people on board survived.

Yesterday we brought home my grandpa's 1967 Cub Cadet 122 so I could tear into and replace a headgasket, reseal the motor, fix the clutch, fix some fatigue welds, go through the mower deck, get it all degreased, flush and refill tranny, and probably some other stuff that I cant think if off the top of my head. Anyways, I have been taking photos as I go along. And when we were taking it off the trailer the left front spindle broke so I'm in need of one of those.

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.

I keep one in the drawer with my dual-purpose screwdriver.

First look it reminded me of a belt keeper on er/guard for a early RJ ... thinking now a spring tooth. Tell ya what it really is ... a part to build an entire custom franken horse around... You start out with that one piece and end up with a running driving tractor.

This is true. I did the tranny a couple of years ago in order to fix a a bad 3rd gear so with a fresh engine it should be good for another 60yrs.

Todays adventure - rebuild the steering system. To start off I turned a portion of 5/8" stock down to 9/16" and threaded it to 12 pitch. Next drill a hole in it and tap the inside of it to 3/8-24. Then use a parting tool to cut it to length. OK, what am I building here ?? Remember the fan gear that the PO messed up by welding the drag link to it? The hole in it was too large for a heal-a-coil. So I tapped the hole in it to 9/16-12. What I made was an insert to repair the require 3/8-24 hole in the fan gear. Inserted with Loctite plus I peened the edges to ensure that it does not move. Next - take a peace of 5/8" x 4.5" stock, turn a 15/16" length of each end down to 7/16" and thread it to a 20 pitch. One new drag link. Now for the tie rod that was butchered up. First off, position the front axle and spindles so that everything is held strait. Then cut a 1" x 5/16" flat bar to length. Use a transfer punch to mark the outer holes. Drill the 1/2" holes in each end and the 3/8" hole for the drag link and test bolt things together. Looking good, now it was time to turn the two 1/2' bolts into part #3949 clevis pins. Cut to length and then drill an 1/8" hole 1" deep into the end of the bolt. Drill & tap the end to 1/4-28 to a depth of 3/8" for a grease zerk. Drill an 1/8" cross hole to meet up with the 1/8" length wise hole so that grease can get to the pivot point. Front end repaired & almost ready for some paint.

Seen this for sale on FBMP Metric and American??

To my knowledge, no. What does matter is that you do not want the entrance of the wire going into the condenser pointing up. The wire acts like a wick when it rains; if the seal fails the condenser shorts out from the trapped water inside.

I just brought that 875 home a few hours ago. I even thought about going to look at the Electro as well. I'm pretty amazed that there are forum members everywhere. Not the first time I've seen posts about tractors I wanted to buy

Security camera footage of one of the more notorious and most wanted ringleaders:

Well, we got around 6" or so of snow last night and it is snowing heavily right now. Another foot or so is forecast for today so I plowed some just to stay ahead of it. If I get too much then the big tractor and blower may need to come out. The 520HC is resting in the heated shop now. It is currently 9F with a wind chill of -2F so I wore my warm jacket and insulated pants to stay warm.

Actually done this yesterday but forgot to post it. Mounted new Deestones tri rib’s on 73 12hp-8 also new front wheel brgs., made up a short frame snow plow, put snow plow and bracket on 857. Took 1257 home and 857 to Moms and waited on snow that never came.

I have an 875. First year for the "Wheel a Matic hydro which has slight differences with the later Hydrogear and Piston Piston models. The only more modern attachment that can work that I know of is the long frame snowplow if it has the extra hole to move the rear mount bar closer to the front.

Got it apart, what you think? A little JP Weld might work. Got a cat scan done, confirmed, cam fubar.

My wife recorded me plowing snow on Dec 11 but I just got the video from her now to post it. The 520HC worked well as always.

January 12, 1966 "Batman", starring Adam West as Batman, Burt Ward as Robin, and Cesar Romero as The Joker, debuts on ABC.

That shouldn’t matter..you think you’re the only Eric? Or me the only Mike? Clyde is still my choice …. Now make it happen

Did some cleaning yesterday night. And came how way better then I was expecting. Still have to clean the rims and find a belt guard though. Do have some other plans for this tractor as well

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

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.

Don’t really need another tractor but I saw someone selling an 875 for $100 in my area. From what I can gather it’s a 1965 model year only, first automatic? I’m assuming none of the later attachments from the C series and 300 series fit. Just wondering if anyone has any input. Like I said, I definitely don’t need another tractor but for $100, it caught my eye.

January 17, 1984 Supreme Court rules (5-4) that private use of home VCRs to tape TV programs for later viewing does not violate federal copyright law.

Took the C-145 for its first trail ride. Stuck and spinning more than moving along…back to the garage she went. Scored these used rubber tire chains at last summers WH Show and today they paid off! She went pretty much anywhere I wanted to go. Would have been unstoppable if I added wheel weights I bet!

I don't have a C-160 but I do have a C-120/180. If I subtract the 20 from the 80 does that make it a C-160.

It says 8-10in., no way you could use it for metric.

'Course not to far off there EB. When I first succumbed to the addiction I had to look for them. Now they seem to fall out the sky. Some for free and many $100 rollers with a motor that fired right up. Some really nice ones for short money. People would see my junk yard and line ups from the road and just stop and see if I ran a tractor repair shop and ask if I was interested in another horse. She has since made me move them to unseen quarters Alice the C-120 came from a drive by for very very short money ... 200 ... ... with a magnum, a deck and a show tiller!!! Widowed PO just wanted to see it a good home.

Whatsaa mattah wit' you... That's not metric & american. That's so you can use it on bolts that face each direction.

Oh, you would fit in this cab. I have not even started this tractor yet this season but I am keeping the battery charged so it's ready to go.

Still lifting, still trying to be healthy. Tuesday, I received my 8 gallon pin donating blood. I donate often enough, that being on a regular schedule they say I am 1 day off of eligibility and have to wait until the next 8 week visit from the blood center. So it’s been 24 weeks now, but I’ll be back in another 16 weeks. Since I donate double reds, it takes twice as long for me to be able to donate. This morning, I lifted 360 lbs!

For $100 it would be in my shed by now. Worry about what fits and doesn't fit later.

Front tach and hood pivot ready for assembly. Front tach lock assembly ready to install. Front tach lock and shaft partly inserted then E clip installed. Front tach lock spring slid onto shaft then shaft full inserted and E clip installed on opposite end from spring. Front tach lock slid over on shaft then the final E clip installed. Front tach lock release grip installed. Front tach latch assembly ready to install. Front tach latch pin has one E clip installed and is greased. Front tach latch pin slid into place and second E clip is installed. Latch shown in open position. Hood stop rod of my own design ready to install. I think Wheel Horse dropped the ball a bit on this design as the cotter pins get hit by the hood brackets. I use a solid 1/4" rod (you could use the original for this) slid into a piece of 3/8" tubing that has one hole drilled through to accept a cotter pin that holds everything together. Mine are all stainless steel but that is not required. Hood stop rod installed ready for cotter pin. Hood stop rod fully installed. Hood pivot assembly ready to install. There was some wear in the original rod and pivot brackets so I drilled the brackets and housing to 1/2" I then made up a 1/2" rod with holes drilled to accept cotter pins. Hood pivot shaft partly inserted and Right pivot bracket slid onto shaft. Hood pivot shaft partly inserted and both pivot brackets and washers slid onto shaft. Hood pivot shaft fully inserted and pivot brackets and washers slid into place on shaft. Hood pivot cotter pins installed. Front tach and hood pivot assembled. This is the tool I use to install the E clips.

January 13, 1888 The National Geographic Society is founded in Washington, D.C. for "the increase and diffusion of geographic knowledge"

Colossus II

↑ Same bat post?

We have been having some awesome sunrises and sunsets in Indiana too! But the moons the last three months have also been very bright and beautiful!

the left handle and the clutch pedal are on and add rubber pieces were your feet set next thing is getting the engine together and on the frame and the fenders and the pan painted gas tank mounted on the hood and both of them painted too a lot of work to go still

I actually made the pin hole a bit bigger with a dental pick. Then just shook the gas out and set it in a warm place to evaporate out. Soldered up good to go. Edit: I thought it was the 702 ... be dammed if I can find those pics ...

Not very picture heavy today. One of today's goals was to clean the engine up to prepare it for paint. Part of that goal was to investigate the oil seepage from the head gasket. When I pulled the head, this was the scene. Way too much piston wash for my tastes, not to mention the small puddle of oil laying on top. Given this knowledge, well.. this happened. Thanks to @WHX?? for helping me tear the engine down. Measurements were taken and it looks like it will need a new set of rings & some gaskets. Not a planned event in this resto but nothing that can't be fixed.

I have a pile of floats. I could send you one.

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

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.