Leaderboard

The body shop called today and told me to bring my tractor in tomorrow to be painted, been waiting since September for that phone call. Hope it's worth the wait.

Well guys just got back from checking out this wheelhorse... and well I couldn't just leave it there so I bought it. It came with a small pull behind cart and a couple of attachments. From just looking at the decal Im guessing its a 855 1965 Lawn & Garden Tractor 855 4-Speed Kohler K181S-30108A 8 Wheel Horse 5049... am I right? The Hub caps all look great, and the headlight work. I haven't really had a chance to check it over to well yet but will update later with some pics of the attachments... Here are some pics of it. If you guys see something I am missing on it let me know, I think some pieces are miss from the pto... also came with a set of ag tires for the back!

Howdo all, so far it's taken me 45 min's to tripe this much!! A mixture of watching the very strange weather and a feeling that I might get a photo opportunity I have been waiting for!! Anyway, onwards with the left fender and time to sort out the last bit of rust in this corner. As I needed a repair patch with a curve in it I thought using this fender pan off cut would be ideal.. Would you look at that... I didn't know these "Raider" and others style fender pans were different sizes!! I can't remember which fender pans these were/are before I cut them up! Marked out for cutting and an undersized patch.. New over sized patch welded in Trimmed, welds cleaned up, and bolted down.... I wish all my other repair patches had turned out this good! Front fender mount tacked on to the chassis. This will be bolted to the chassis but I need to buy some new drill bit's first! What you couldn't see from the last photo is the fender mount has now moved inside the fender. It keeps the outside of the fender looking clean with only a couple of bolt heads showing. So there you go peeps, the left side fender is officially finished as far as fabrication and mounting it... Tomorrow I'd better make a start on the other side.. Just in case you were wondering... The photo opportunity I had been waiting for was a chance to get a good pic of this beauty...

I will volunteer to be the first to post a candidate. It is a very early production 1955 RJ35. Before and after pictures. I did a complete restoration on this one as it was just too far gone to keep original. Motor was redone by Charlie Pitcher and runs sweet with about 5-10 hours of run time. Pictures were taken prior to the lift lever fabrication.

Very nice Perry. The community I live in owns a few acres of land in the woods, the hurricane brought down at least 20 red oak trees. Not to many of my neighbors are willing to work as hard as me so its all gonna be mine. I just bought a new log splitter so I'll be putting that sucker to some good use. I'll haul it into the woods and split on site instead of hauling heavy logs home.

Ever since I've owned my 76 C-160, I've had fuel pump issues. They will pump like crazy if I move the lever by hand. But on the engine I can't seem to get any while cranking. If I fill the bowl and get it running it will stay running. If I run out of gas, I have to fill the bowl again. Lately with the hot weather I've had fuel starvation issues. I have gotten several pumps and they all do the same thing. I'm starting to get the feeling my cam lobe is worn down. So with no grass growing,no rain in sight and at least a couple of weeks before I might have to mow again, I've decided to bite the bullet and install an electric pump like Brian miller suggests. Got a Facet universal pump from Napa. Part # 6101051. About 60 bucks after I cut loose with the tax. Pump mounted on hood tower. I used 1 existing bolt and marked the other hole. Harness made up for the power from the coil. I'll run a 5 amp fuse in the holder and power a relay from the ignition circuit. I got a common relay that is used in many cars. I just so happened to have a remote starter that I tore out of my son's car that had 5 of them. Got spares! I'm supplying power to the pump from a battery tender harness I already had on the tractor. Plug and play. The ignition circuit turns on the relay so the tractor wiring itself only operates the relay coil. The tender harness supplies the pump and there's a 10 amp fuse in that.Hooked it all up and just bumped the key and the little pump putters! All that left is the fuel line connections but it's too hot. I had the A/C on in the shop but when I'm fooling with gas I want the door open. More to come

Has anyone had luck restoring a hood ornament? Mine has some pitting and one of the tabs broke off while I was removing it from the hood. I tried some Nevr-Dull - gave shine, but still is pitted.

I have completed the transformation from 67 Lawn Ranger to working suburban prototype.I have reconditioned a free 36" inch deck and cant seem to make it adjust level.Well only on the lowest setting( mohawk setting)I need little insight.I have adjusted the front bump stop in all positions.When I adjust the cutting height lever,only the back raises.How do I finish strong on this passionate philly? lol

Found it buryed in the snow a week ago litterly buried to the fenders. Old guy wanted it gone so made a deal. Went back Friday and picked it up. He had it running and had his son winch it out. Only running on one cylinder. While loading it found that it had three pt, rear pto and turning brakes. After loading it he asked if I wanted the attachments that came with it ? Uh ya, so also got a good deck, pushblade and a belly blade. No extra in the price just glad to see it gone. Got it home and started checking it out all that was wrong with it was a bad spark plug Runs great strong hydro !

Nope... but a member did a long time ago. He's built several from different models and brands.

Wow! Gotta be careful when stating opinions round hear even when their solicited. Captain defensive will come to the rescue waving his challenge badge. I would rather have just given my first general response to the question "was I to hard?" and moved on but was personally attacked by the local tractor sherif waving his barny fife badge. Making judgements of my property and technique based on a picture of my tractors sitting in a back lot that doesn't even get used as a drive way. Think he might be A fish outta water on this one. Never intended to offend anyone, thought this was an information / educational forum, if someone has a constructive criticism he shouldn't be in danger of personal attacks on character. I mean for cryin out loud the guy asked. Some people just have to take the fun out of it for everyone else. I always try to edify others even if I disagree with them guess I will take the high road and walk away.

Love it when old threads pop up at the top of the pile from deep in the archive - you get to read and see things you'd otherwise miss. Great find and deal - but then I love these tractors Andy

You know we see this all the time where you guys on the east coast find these great deals. This is at least the third time in the last week for a great score there. It just makes me . Just

Before the friendliest tractor discussion board goes astray, let me add this little story. My father, who passed away over 20 years ago, was an engineer who despised anything non-functional, anything "extra". On his cars he wanted nothing to do with power locks, power steering, power brakes, A/C; you get the picture. I followed in his footsteps with the love of simple elegance and bullet-proof mechanicals. But then I moved from sunny SoCal to New England. Then to blistering hot North Carolina. The need for A/C was real. The need for power steering when the steering fluid had all but frozen was real. The convenience of power windows and doors made things more pleasurable and perhaps even safer for the kids. My point? Dad's advice was good, but there are exceptions based on individual circumstances. My dad never drove in sub 0 temps or 98 deg with 100% humidity. My bigger point? Until you plow another man's drive it is hard to be critical of his technique. Jeff

Excellent. That could be the winner. November Custom Workers (All models, all years best overall modified worker)

Thanks for all your advice, sorry that i did not have a pic, will give everyone a update this pm

back to the original question. to answer, "maybe" but we were not there. work it, dont abuse it. I push tremendous amounts with my horses and have no issues to date. i try not to ram anything or even slip a tire if at all possible.try loading your tires with washer fluid. I have a 300 ft drive and 100ft of it is about 8% grade and i cant think of the last time I slipped a tire pushing even heavy snow. loaded tires, chains on turfs, my 200lb+ butt, 42" blade, and some practical knowledge / experience = no ramming needed. I have seen some videos on here of high speed snow ramming and tires spinning, throwing gravel, and what seems to me just a lack of understanding of how to operate a machine. if I could give advise I would suggest filling those balloons with liquid, slow down, reduce the plow width, (to wide of a plow blade makes the tractor to small for the job) plan a snow removal path, cause when I see vids like that all I can think is to get rid of those balloons for tires, stop just ramming snow in all directions, slow down before they break something, and angle the blade and go back and forth until a path is formed and the snow is "plowed" out of the drive area. I never saw a state truck just ramming in all directions aimlessly at high speeds. just my humble opinion.hope I wasn't to preachy. make sure the hitch bracket is properly installed and not wore out and by all means, pin the levers closed. just have fun out there!

I got a call from a friend who said his buddy had a old Wheel Horse that was junk and wanted rid of it for cheap, I love these calls! I went to look at it about 20 miles away and the guy said it was in rough shape. I checked it out and it had some issues but over all it was in pretty good shape. The 12 hp Kohler had a cam shaft that had some teeth missing and that was the worst thing. The head was missing but the head bolts were scattered around the machine. The left front spindle was broke off too. He kept saying how rough it was and may be a parts machine. I saw the hydrualic lift on the side and figured that was worth a few bucks! The seat is in great shape and seems to be a rare style of WH seat! I've seen similar seats on Ebay for $300 or more! So I asked him how much he wanted for it and he said to make him an offer. I said well is $50 enough for you? He replied rather quickly, that is was plenty! So it's a early 1970's Electro 12 with hydrostat drive, nice back tires, rims and hubs, dash is intact with all the goodies, lighter, pto switch, head light switch and a good pair of choke and throttle cables, hydraulic lift set up, nice steering wheel with center cap and a nice intact decal even! It also has the mower deck on it but it has some rust holes but not too bad. Good deal for the money! KJ

yea I tend to go over board

I will enter my 56 RJ35 when I bought this tractor she had just been thru a flood for the seond time in six years the poor girl was 10 feet under water this time after a complete and total rebuild

This is my 1953 walk behind. It has a siklebar and cultivator.

I'm gonna put my pair of 55's up. The Ride-Away Senior and Ride-Away Junior. The big brother and little brother together.

One of the best catalogs that I own is a Toro publication Form #492-0392....it is a 94 page document that will tell you every thing you need to know about Wheel Horse belts.....it is titled 1956-2005 Lubrication Recommendations Drive Belt & Mower Blade Usage Chart. Its contents may be in the files somewhere ....but I find it easier and quicker to use this hard copy catalog. How many members know that a WH belt # 7473 is a HB/5L belt (HB meaning that it is an agricultural belt 21/32" by 13/32" and is 81.95" in length)? Now you know why I pay the price and buy all my WH drive belts from my Toro dealer....they fit and they will last longer than the years I've got left to live! PS...I bought this catalog from my local Toro dealer...I think it is still available.

oh the joys of having more than one horse! most mow & pull carts & sweepers. i leave the snow plow on the raider 9 the c-161 8 speed does most of the garden chores. but the 310-8 will help some this year. the raider 10 - 12 mutt does duty in the goat pasture. the smaller tractors commando 8, workhorse 800 & commando 800 mow with rd decks & pull trailers, i used the 518 yesterday to pull the car trailer around as a long workbehch. & honorable mention goes to the a-81 rear engine rider for quick steering & a large footwell for mowing along the road & picking up BOJANGLES trash & other assorted litter oh and i forgot the designated kid tractor a charger V8 automatic, it brings smiles to all the younguns that run it. but too much ideling around has started to seise up the KV181 so ot will soon be replaced, i have lotsof tractors & most get used weekly no show tractors here but this is the commando 8 i took to the big show last year, goot topic Jay

Golly Britt, That's some great video, makes me feel like wrenchin'. Have you put that on instructional on here, Thanks

just a note of interest (at least to me) about my rebuild. i worked in the shop of my dad's auto parts store for 17 years rebuilding alternators, starters and generators.we used a metal stamp to mark repaired units with model #, date of repair and company name. (i still have the stamp). this moto-gen. was on the 701 when i got it last march. i rebuilt it april 11, 1986. reminded me of my dad and days gone by.

it's far from finished but i did get a good start on putting it together today. have to weld it at work as i don't have a welder.

the deck was beyond repair so i'm building a new one. i cut the wheel brackets off to use as patterns and had new ones made from 1/8" steel so they won't bend as easily.