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have made some progress on the 606. slowly fixing up the engine so it will run and today worked on the steering shaft so that the locking collar and steering wheel would fit on. Had to cut the old steering shaft out last spring so I could remove the steering wheel from it using a press. Here's a couple pics of the 606 while we were working on it.

According to folklore, you can predict the weather with a persimmon seed. Here's how to do it: Cut open a persimmon seed. (Find persimmon fruit in your supermarket. It should be locally-grown to reflect your weather.) Look at the shape of the kernel inside. If the kernel is spoon-shaped, lots of heavy, wet snow will fall. Spoon = shovel! If it is fork-shaped, you can expect powdery, light snow and a mild winter. If the kernel is knife-shaped, expect to be "cut" by icy, cutting winds. It's best to use ripe seeds. Last Saturday, a friend told me he cut open a persimmon seed and saw a SNOWBLOWER!

Sanded down the runs on the hood and fender pan and repainted. It took three times and over a week of sanding then respraying but I FINALLY laid down the paint on the hood without any runs! What a pain! These pictures were taken immediately after painting so there appears to be some orange peal on the fender pan. Once the paint settles and the acetone evaporates there will be little to no orange peal. I should re-take pictures of these once the paint drys but I'm a little exited to finally lay down a smooth coat on these surfaces. I've had no problem with runs or orange peal on the small stuff but the hood and fender pan have taken over a week to master.

Thats a very nice looking tractor! :handgestures-thumbup:

Hey Guys: Now that I'm a semi high tech Redneck (and have figured out how to post pics), here are some pics of my 312-8 I bought new in April 1991. Not the greatest pics, and cell camera lens probly could use some Windex. Quality should get better as I get more practice. The 312 is better looking in real life than in these pics, and I'll post some sharper ones later. Next I will send some pics of the 417-A. Also will post some pics of JD 140 H3 and IH Cub Cadet 1650 in "Other" section of RS. Enjoy! Van

total restore is the way to go Bob

nice upgrade with the bigger front tires Van. everyone scroll down to the post Tilling With Hydro , yesterday i posted pictures of van tilling with this tractor With the small tires. Jay

Great looking tractor.I have 3 or 4 312-8's.They're one of my favorite Horses.I currently mow with a 312-8 and a 42 in.RD mower.Very capable machines.But,then again,aren't most Wheel Horses very capable of working??? Have fun.

Hey Van if you want more of those wheel weights let me know I have a stack of them that I am looking to sell.

Looks real good Van. I am trying to figure out when I can come see it in person.

:text-coolphotos: Except you cut it's head off in a couple of 'em.

Ken, you are right. My grandson Ryan came over to spend the day yesterday. I had taken the hood off to take pictures of the bottom bracket, and Ryan decided to go out and take a look at the my new acquisition. By the time I got out there, he had gotten his tools, and well...a picture is worth a thousand words... With a little help from me, by the time he left last night, it was down to the frame. I guess the decision has been made. More to follow...

I powder coat mine with Oyster White, RAL-1013.

Take 'em both down to bare metal, enjoy 'em like that until they develop a nice rust patina, then restore 'em back to factory paint at some point down the road. Use either...paint or powder coat, we then we can debate whether or not they've been over restored. :ychain:

Do you have any more daughters?

Thanks Brian, good to know. Krazy horse, what do people use these days to soak their carbs during a rebuild? 20 years ago I used laquer thinner. just had to make sure that all plastic and rubber was taken off. I have had good success with Berryman's. Comes in a 1 gallon can with a basket inside. Les than $20 at Walmart, PEP boys etc. Thanks, I'll look for that when I'm ready to do a rebuild!

Not too many options next door to me but there is a NAPA just a town away and they do pretty good with my small engine needs. sometimes my best bet is PARTSTREE. our local NAPA went out of business, so all I really have next door is a mom and pop small engine shop and the former ace hardware. also a john deere/ toro dealer, but they're rather expensive and not much help with wheel horse stuff. I thought Martin would have a good laugh when he see's the new name of the former ace hardware store(same peoplework there) .

i love my c-161 it's my plow tractor . yours looks great! i know my decals are on the wrong side but it still looks better than the medium blue metalic it was when i found it. you willbe very happy with it. Jay

Great lookin' machine, Gerry

Dang Perry, I did not know they made that for an old Briggs. I learned something new today! Thank you :)

GOT IT HOME!!!!!!!! so excited....BUT I guess it only has a 426 Hemi in it...not the 528 I guess 438HP will have to do for now.

I think I have a taker, CRE1992. Seems like it was meant to happen for him. Glad to see it go to an enthusiast! I live in Atlanta. The mower is my dad's in Lex KY. I just took a (John Deere) to him from Atlanta that my wife inherited. The Wheel Horse had not been used for a few years due to wiring (or alternator) issues. He's had it around 35 years, one standard residential yard, stored in heated garage. -I cut the grass with it when I lived at home. The last few years a neighbor kid cut the grass with his own mower, but the kid is now gone to college. So, enter working John Deere, exit Wheel Horse. I know it is a solid machine mechanically, and I'm sure somebody can fix it. Especially amongst enthusiasts. I know (and you all know) there really is no comparison: The JD is all plastic crap vs. cast iron and steel on the WH. But keeping a 40+/- year old machine running is not easy, especially when you need to use it every week or so. I sure can't do much from Atlanta. I'm glad there is a community that appreciates these machines. And I'm glad to contribute it to this community. So, thanks to Bob Maynard for pointing me to this forum and thanks for Charles' interest in keeping this machine alive. Ken

Did some more painting yesterday but was too hasty on the hood and seat pan so I made a couple runs in the paint. But the other parts came out very well for this amateur. I really really like the hvlp top fed paint gun I'm using - I've never been able to paint this glossy before. Like a mirror!

Here's my makeshift paint booth. Don't tell my neighbor this is what im doing with his pop up canopy