Leaderboard

Had the herd out earlier so I thought a pic was due.

For consideration I present to you my 1963 Model 653, that I purchased from the original owner back in the fall of 2011. Here's a short video called "Passing The Torch" I made the day I picked up the tractor from Bob...not everyday you get to take ownership of a piece of history originally purchased 48 years ago...so, I definitely wanted to honor the opportunity with more than just a picture. h Bob stated to me that he actually had this tractor listed multiple times on Ebay, but couldn't seem to find anyone who would commit to purchasing it once they found out it was a Tecumseh powered unit...I guess their loss is my gain, because it's been nothing but a great little performer for me. I mean look at this little guy...hard to believe it's half a century old this year...and still going strong. The first couple of detail picts are the day it arrived here at it's new home...the rest are different configurations I've had it in over the past year and a half since I've owned it. We've definitely had nothing but fun with this little for sure...still mowing, and showing with the best of 'em.

Well I finally got around to doing some much needed tree trimming today. It's cool day but a bit windy and I used the tools available to me like so many of us do here. Here's a few pics of trimming the huge pin oak along side the driveway. Getting to work... I think you can see the B-60 in the background with the trailer to haul the brush to the burn pile... a couple more of me reaching new heights... Things had gone pretty well to this point, but I just couldn't shake the feeling that I was "out on a limb", and then it happened, a gust of wind sent me scrambling for something to grab... and away I went... .................................................................WARNING!! THE NEXT PIC IS GRAPHIC!! CHILDREN AND SQUEAMISH ADULTS SHOULD NOT LOOK BELOW v v v v v v v !!!! They say it's all fun and games till somebody breaks a hip... I think I branched out.

Spent the entire day yesterday painting (base/clear) the RJ fiber glass hood... light scuff/buff and then the a mad dash of assembly... PA we're coming for ya...

......Well, that is the road trip to Nashville to pickup a 520-H this weekend. Bought this nice 520H just outside of Nashville and decided to bring the wife and enjoy a little of Nashville while we were there. Left early Saturday morning and got there around 9:30am and loaded up the 520. Then drove to Nashville's Music row and took in the sights, sounds and good southern food while we were there and stayed the night. Drove back today. Wish all road trips were that much fun Got it home and my 8 year old really put it through it's paces. It is a really smooth running Onan. Thad (Ohio)

My vote is to put some non-ethanol gas in it with some type of staybil and run it dry when you are finished.

You can store it at my place, so we don't have to worry about an inactive horse! Sent from my 416-8

Great minds think alike, funny...I was just thinking the same thing Al. Jake picked him up one of those ultra rare, lunar rovers.

After seeing the first picture, I thought you had installed satellite radio!! That is a good looking machine.

Jimmy, great question. I think what Marv was asking is there really any reason to listen to folks who - for lack of a better way to put it - brag about using larger size wiring in order to increase the performance of starter circuits or lighting circuits. In the past #4 gauge welding cable was all the rage for starter circuits. This philosophy would be similar to walking into someone's remodeled basement and have them brag about how they plumbed their water lines in the house with 3 inch PVC instead of 3/4 inch PVC. Okayyyyyyyy. Whyyyyyy ??? Less pressure drop they say. Fills the toilet up faster. Yes, 1/2 second faster and you paid 5 times the $$ amount for the pipe as was needed - but they seem to feel good about what they did so you just snicker to yourself, drink their beer and go home. Would you rewire your house with welding cable, or put 4 inch exhaust pipe on your Honda Civic, or a 1000cfm carb on a 6 cylinder engine cause bigger is ALWAYS better? #6 AWG if fine for stock applications and #8 AWG will be fine for some smaller displacement engines. #4 AWG or larger is overkill in stock applications. There will always be a performance hit in a heavy amp draw system once all the areas that are susceptible to corrosion start to age. Folks who see a performance increase going from #6 cable to #4 cable probably saw the performance change due to going from CORRODED #6 to CLEAN #4 - nothing else. They would have seen the same performance difference going from CORRODED #6 to CLEAN #8 - but then there would not be the ooooh's and awhhh's from the folks who respond better to sexed up myths than boring old math.I will promise to spend some time in the next few weeks finishing off a corrosion and voltage drop tutorial I have been working on and get it posted up here. Now you will have to excuse me. I have to put some STP and Moroso stickers on my car to make it go faster.

Hi Im a new owner from Kent England, had my Raider 10 for about a year now and really enjoy firing her up and mowing the meadow while the neighbours are pussyfooting around with their muffled Hondas etc. She came with a plough, set of 3 gang mowers and a trailer, I would love to find a snow blade but will keep looking on ebay for one suitable. Only thing that I have had to do so far was to renew the fuel line and clean out the carb, she runs great now. I have just encountered a transmission problem which I sincerely hope someone will help me with, she came to a halt unexpectantly and on looking I saw the nearside rear wheel (drivers left) had sheared what looked like a small bolt and taken out some metal, so no transmission. The power does not get to the wheel, I think I need the inner flange that the wheel bolts onto. How do I detatch the flange from what is presumably a half shaft and where would I begin to look for a replacement part? Thanks in advance for any help on this, a great forum, just wish more Tractor owners were in UK. One last question, how can I find out how old my Horse is, it is a 3 speed with reverse and has decals Raider 10 on the side but I cannot see anything else that would indicate, to me, the year of manufacture. Regards Rob

Well, I've talked about it and thought about it a lot, and inspired by some of bobs fantastic creations and a few others I finally got started. For those who are wondering what the hell I'm on about here's a few of my faves - there's a doe triple d there too built by Simon here in the UK. The idea of a 4x4 wheel horse attracts me as well as the fact I like big tractors and the oversize ags that go with them. I've a big pile of spares and a Raider 10 minus the engine that looks like a start point Here's the first prototype.... It's a bit weak on power and steering - as well as a few other obvious omissions . This actually let's me see how the transmissions sit. This is more what I'm thinking though.... So armed with two gearboxes, I started the measurements and plans....

I have to admit it. I have been a "looker" on this site for awhile now, ever since I aquired my Raider 14. I sure have learned a lot of neat things about Wheel Horses and how friendly Redsquare members are. I received my Raider through a trade for a Craftsman that I had found as the PO wanted a 2nd mower. The Raider didn't have a deck and he knew I would love to have it as another GT to play with. I was fortunate enough to receive the loader from a friend here in town who told me I could have it if I mounted it on a tractor and brought it to the summer town celebration show. We've been bringing restored big tractors and I've been bringing a few of my GTs to the show as well as running one in the parade with our FFA Alumni Chapter. I couldn't turn down that deal. Here's a few pictures of my loader fit-up to the Raider. It originally was fitted to a CC Original so I went ahead and created a new set of bracketry. Just looking to share what I've done with the help of the forum and to see if you have any other suggestions/comments on the design. I won't be working it too very hard - probably just moving the pile of snow at the end of the driveway when the city plows me in. The next steps for me include making a stabilizer bracket for the exhaust and detemining where the tranny leak is coming from that I discovered today. I should have figured there might be an issue seeing that it was quite low when I topped it off. Thank you again for a great site full of information and good people.

OK. I'm in on this one, with my 1963 33E Lawn Ranger. It came out of a cornfield in Greencastle, Indiana. Rear-end completely locked up, motor frozen, and generally in very sad shape. I paid $40 for it, and wondered on the way home if that was too much. It was always going to get a Kohler, but other than that the restoration started off as being a return to factory condition: But then one day some inspiration hit me, and I just had to bastardize her:

Thanks Amanda!

Well, come to think of it, I did feel a jolt.

Hi thanks for the replies so far, she has a Kohler engine fitted if that simplyfies the aging. I had an idea she might be around 40 odd years old amazing really that she is still in such good condition. Looking at the damaged hub it appears that the set screw has somehow ripped off, its not there and theres just a jagged hole, I have found what appear to be two half moon shaped bits of metal about 1/8" thick by 3/4" along the flat laying in the grass where we stopped. Off to bed now so will catchup at breakfast. Regards Rob

Hi all, Wanted to post some updated pics of my 657. I've changed fluids, new battery, air filter spark plug, stole the carburetor from my lawn ranger, and also put the mower deck on and sharpened the blades. I've also repainted the front wheels, and put new tubes and decent front tires on. This thing always starts right up and runs great, I have been using it to mow around the house and it cuts great. I really like the rear discharge deck. In the summer I plan to paint the rear wheels and maybe put a new seat on it, then I'll call it good. I like the rusty look. Well here are pictures, ~Jake

Love the tractor Jake, that is what I started out on, I still love riding it around, the only issue I have is every once in a while the clutch sticks and I wind up doing a wheelie

Jim, I'll bet you got a nose bleed to get up that high. Great pictures Jim. Did you really get Karen to take them.

You know Jake every time I get on RS it seems you have another Horse in the stable. As young as you are now I think by the time you are 30 you may have one of the largest collections in the WORLD!

The red (yellow?) headed step children are tucked in the barn!

I hate paint Started to paint the parts (all 65 of them) last week, and had considerable trouble. I am using PPG Shop-Line single-stage acrylic urethane. At first I thought that it was the weather. Since it's only been in the 50's, the first day that it reached 65 I started to paint. Since I don't have a paint booth, I paint in the driveway. Some pieces turned out good, but most appeared to have lot's of little specks. So after letting it dry overnight, I wet sanded and reshot the paint only to have the specks appear again. Now I'm thinking dirt, pollen, or some atmospheric phenomenon. So I took the hood, fenders, and belt cover to my body shop friend. He's been painting for 30 years. He said he would paint them in his booth and I could pick them up the next day. When I got there the next day, he's as frustrated as me. Specks all over. His opinion is the PPG Shop-Line paint is BAD. It does not cover well, and something is causing tiny specks to appear, and it is not dirt. Well there is not enough time for a do over, so the paint is going to have specks in it. Next time I am going to use a better quality paint, and I am going to try base coat/clear coat. Here's some pictures as of this morning.

'Cept maybe the yellow "thingy" in the shed? :smile:

Jake, I like that look too!! Plan on doing the same as you(rusty look with painted wheel and maybe some newer tires) with both of my original looking lawn rangers. Your 657 looks very nice!!

I like the looks of the rear discharge deck too and I like the looks of the rusty stuff to but I like to restore them

Today I did, cleaned it up etc .......it's cracked ......I didn't even notice that until you pointed it out in the pic.. not even messing with it ....getting replaced .

Definatly easy on gas when I used mine. Had a 36" rear discharge on it, and even with the gov opened up it still sipped fuel.

Figured something out of the roll away for my 1533 extraction, whenever I get to Lowes or Sears, I'm always picking up those little nik nacks for a couple of bucks, in this case ( man do these lttle guys come in handy ) Lowes had a whole bin of these little 4 inch vise grips for like 2 or 3 bucks a piece , bought 4 .....bottom jaw got under bearing perfect came under with a 13/16 deep well impact socket w/10 inch extension striking the clamped jaws of the grips and presto .....came to me after I went to bed last night .

hang in there Buzz we're praying for ya hope you can make it just would'nt seem the same at the show without you brian

I use Vaseliene

That is why I like to trim trees about 1/2" off the ground!

In the last pic, whats that limb growing out of???? LOL!!!!!!!!! Seriously though.... Hard work!

You worked so hard that a nap was required ?? Mike...............

That tree trimming work sure looks like a PITA.

I think this will work

Its worth whatever you are willing to pay for it. Thats the thing with thee tractors, if its something you want and its in your budget then its worth it. Personally Id say about 350 if its nice.

well here is where the work stops for now.the hood needs some major repair work before i can paint and finish the tractor.

seems easy enough to drain the gas and replace it with gas from another source no need to guess on that part of the troubleshooting

I like SEAFOAM better than STABIL for gas treatment. Stabil to me seems to be gummier in the fuel. Carb cleaning does help if the bowl is gummed up!

Update on my progress. While I am sand blasting all the parts, I decided to take time today to open up the transmission. Now I was really curious as to how this thing would look after 52 years. Every transmission that I have opened has had water in it, and the accompanying rust and junk in the bottom makes for a gooey mess. But when I drained this right after I got it, nothing came out but oil. The previous owner said that he changed the oil frequently, and tried to keep it out of the weather as much as possible, but all things considered, you have to be a little curious as to how a transmission that is 52 years old and never been serviced can still look like this. After inspecting all the gears and bearings, and finding nothing in need of replacement, I am going to button this little beauty up and call it done.

Rich, Sorry to take so long to answer, but after I soaked it in Berryman's Carburetor Cleaner it was gray. So I soaked it in my ultrasoninc cleaner in a mix of water and Simple Green. That didn't help much, so I took it to the shop and worked it with a 6" wire brush on the bench grinder. I was quite amazed at the finish I got.

It's been a while since I updated my progress on the 701, so I figured I'd use this thread that I started back in October to continue the saga. After having the engine spec'd at the machine shop, I had the cylinder honed, valves ground, and crankshaft journal polished. All of this was covered in the thead "How good is a K161?" After 51 years of use, virtually no wear. I installed a new set of rings, replaced the governor stub shaft, installed a new set of valve springs, and finally reassembled the engine enough to get a fresh coat of paint on it today. Over the winter, I rebuilt the carburetor and the fuel pump. I guess they will go on next. The rims have been powder coated and the tires will be mounted as soon as I get a coat of tire paint on them.

Here ya go.... Ancient pic of me and the RJ-58....2004- fresh restore and homemade duals for my first tractor pull running on 20% nitro/methane.....yeah I wore a racing helmet (legit)

I'm having a fun time working on the horse. I get home and say na I'm not going to work on it tonight and then american Idiot comes on and I'm like I'm going in the garage Woman this show is making me dumber. The hydraulic bracket/steering holder is pretty messed up with rot. So I took it all apart blasted but it has a lot of pitting, but its not seen. So I blasted it and this is the best I could get out of it. I did get the side hood supports painted (still wet here) And I'm still blasting and collecting things to go to the platters for Zinc with yellow chromate. I hopefully planning on droping it off Monday. It only takes a few days. Here is some of the tank support the other two pieces are done but the tube holder is drying now.