UncleJerm76 103 #1 Posted November 20, 2017 (edited) Found Dad a project 854 over the weekend that was sitting under a shed, sent it to him and he jumped on purchasing it. We checked it out as much as we could for a non running tractor, steering didn't have excessive play, nothing more than surface rust, mower spindles turned good with no play in the bearings, drive guard was present, hooked up jumper cables to it and starter spun the motor just fine. I put my hand over the exhaust and it had enough compression to move my hand, checked the coil - it was even sparking just fine, but it was missing the condenser so we cant fire it up just yet. This one looks like a simple tune up kit and she will be running again! He negotiated a nice bargain (at least to us) for only $150 ...and it was local too. The toolbox and hood support (AKA shifter tray ) both had at least 2" of dirt and leaves and I just expected it to be rusted through with holes. They also contained a bunch of original spare parts. Mower blades, original hood thumb screw, two hitches and original hitch pin, and a few nuts and bolts. Sorted all the parts out, then hit it with the shop vac. I guess being protected from rain by the shed — both of them were in great shape with not a single rusted through hole. After all the loose dirt was vacuumed dad hit it with the pressure washer to give him something clean to start from. Now for the missing/wrong parts: Will need to buy a ignition and key since the starter key has been replaced with a push button start from a 701 Will need to fill two holes in the hood support. In order to kill the motor a white push/pull lever was added to the hood support above the starter button button. Next to it a second push/pull lever was also added, presumably lights at one point? ...but we have not yet traced back the wires for that one. Plan is to remove those and fill the two holes. Will need to find a starter belt guard as its missing Will need new choke and throttle cables as they are frozen Will need to take a apart the two-piece gas tank and thoroughly clean it. Old gas was not left in it, but it is dirty looking with a flaky like mold or something that is on both the outside and inside of the aluminum tank. Will need to find a replacement glass bowl as it has been replaced with a more modern brass 90° barbed fitting Will need new tires as they are shot, we can put air in them enough to move it around, but they are dry rotted and crumbing to pieces and the air leaks right back out. This seems like its going to be a great project tractor and I cant wait to help build it with him. Edited November 20, 2017 by UncleJerm76 10 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,441 #2 Posted November 20, 2017 Fantastic find! I would think that Wheel horses are somewhat hard to find in your area (my uncle lives in Lakeland). 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 51,520 #3 Posted November 20, 2017 Wheel Horses in Florida are scarcer than hen's teeth, nice find! 1 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A-Z Tractor 243 #4 Posted November 20, 2017 Hello. I do wheel horse salvage and would have new throttle and choke cables, new ignition switch and new glass fuel bowl. Also I would have the belt guard for the starter belt on the engine used. If you are interested email me at aztractor255@gmail.com and I can get you prices. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris G 3,274 #5 Posted November 20, 2017 Nice find! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UncleJerm76 103 #6 Posted November 21, 2017 Ok experts we need your help. He took his drive belt cover off and the trans pulley seems very misaligned. To the point that it just couldn’t be right, but I went and looked at my 701 and it’s the exact same way. Surely this can’t be correct? Both our pulleys are as far inward as they can go. How do we get our pulleys in-line? You can see the damage it’s causing to the belt and I’m sure it isn’t helping the tensioner pulley bearings. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,441 #7 Posted November 21, 2017 Is the pulley on backwards? I tried to snap a pic of the one on my 854 but it's kinda dark. If you flip it it might sit closer to the the tranny and allign better. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,487 #8 Posted November 21, 2017 (edited) A great little tractor. Super find. Best of luck. My 854 is in storage, I will look back at pictures, see what I can find. Do those pulleys spin free, or are they have froze up and jambed? Glenn Edited November 21, 2017 by JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UncleJerm76 103 #9 Posted November 21, 2017 (edited) 4 hours ago, JERSEYHAWG / Glenn said: Do those pulleys spin free, or are they have froze up and jambed? Thanks Glenn, they spin perfectly free when not in gear on both our machines. Look forward to seeing how yours and other members drive pulley are aligned. 7 hours ago, Sparky said: Is the pulley on backwards? Thanks for taking the time snap a couple pics. Unfortunately our pulleys are not offset, if we flipped them it wouldn’t change their position. Is it possible for you To stand from the back of your machine and try and snap a pic of your drive belt alignment? ...similar to my pic above? Edited November 21, 2017 by UncleJerm76 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 4,874 #10 Posted November 21, 2017 UncleJerm76 Very nice find I hope you and your Dad enjoy it for many years to come. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris G 3,274 #11 Posted November 21, 2017 It looks like the pulley is on backwards. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 10,257 #12 Posted November 21, 2017 I agree, backwards. The input pulley should be hugging the transmission case. It looks like it's offset in the picture but you said it wasn't so if that's the case it's the wrong pulley. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UncleJerm76 103 #13 Posted November 21, 2017 OK, maybe our eyes are deceiving us, we will pull it off and see if its offset like its supposed to be - thanks everyone! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,941 #14 Posted November 21, 2017 If stubborn, use caution pulling that cast pulley off. Use NO three jaw pulllers here. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UncleJerm76 103 #15 Posted November 21, 2017 3 hours ago, AMC RULES said: If stubborn, use caution pulling that cast pulley off. Use NO three jaw pulllers here. Wow I really appreciate that advice! Any good tips on getting a stubborn pulley off if jaw pullers shouldn't be used? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,941 #16 Posted November 21, 2017 Recently had good results using a cheap kit like this one found on Ebay. PM'd you the link. ... 2 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,487 #17 Posted November 21, 2017 Hope this helps some. Glenn 2 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UncleJerm76 103 #18 Posted November 22, 2017 2 hours ago, JERSEYHAWG / Glenn said: Hope this helps some. Yes that helps tremendously thank you very much. His pulley does not look like that (at least not that side of it), hopefully it’s just on backwards. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,487 #19 Posted November 22, 2017 8 minutes ago, UncleJerm76 said: Yes that helps tremendously thank you very much. His pulley does not look like that (at least not that side of it), hopefully it’s just on backwards. Keep us posted, were here to help. Good luck. Glenn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UncleJerm76 103 #20 Posted November 28, 2017 On 11/21/2017 at 9:23 PM, JERSEYHAWG / Glenn said: Keep us posted You guys were correct! It appeared to us to be a centered pulley, but there was so much grease and dirt on the inside that it was covering up the offset part. So we flipped it and its perfectly aligned once again. Why in the world would the PO put it on backwards and then go to the trouble of modifying the belt guard to make it work without scrubbing the pulley? Is there ever a situation any of you can think of where you would need to reverse a offset drive pulley like that? 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,487 #21 Posted November 28, 2017 People do strange things. I cant think of any reason why on that pulley. Just my 2 cents. Glenn 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 10,708 #22 Posted November 28, 2017 Maybe the PO didn't realize that he put it on backwards? And then just tried to make it work the way it was? 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 46,693 #23 Posted November 29, 2017 Just chiming in to say congrats on your nice score and to follow Uncle. An 854 is on or should be on everyones bucket list here! Your parts required list is very doable but yes let us know if we can help. Iv'e got a few good links. Keep us in the loop when you get that girl running. Sounds like your getting the usual excellent good RS advise already. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UncleJerm76 103 #24 Posted November 29, 2017 On 11/20/2017 at 1:23 PM, A-Z Tractor said: Hello. I do wheel horse salvage and would have new throttle and choke cables, new ignition switch and new glass fuel bowl. Also I would have the belt guard for the starter belt on the engine used. If you are interested email me at aztractor255@gmail.com and I can get you prices. A-Z, did you ever receive my email? I sent one shortly after your post about a starter belt guard but I haven't heard back from ya yet. No rush - I just want to make sure you got the email. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UncleJerm76 103 #25 Posted November 30, 2017 (edited) Dad cleaned out the tank and also installed a few new parts: fuel line, filter, carburetor, spark plug, wire, condenser and points. ...Getting closer! Hooked up a good battery and the starter generator doesnt seem to have much umph. Turns the motor VERY slow - much slower than my 701 in fact. It seems to stop after a rotation or so and then turn again before stopping again ,,, almost like the ACR is not working. Is that possible? Have you guys ever seen one of these K181's not release the compression? Edited November 30, 2017 by UncleJerm76 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
