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Hello fellow wheel horsers, We are in the process of building stables (both animal and mechanical) at our home and I've been busy getting the site ready, after school tonight I had a helper ! I loaded and my daughter carted away loads of topsoil to an area we need to make up before seeding with grass. What a team.

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....

Here is some pics of my son" Andrew" preping the soil for a Pumpkin Patch with his Lawn Ranger.

Check all you connections at the fuses and relay. If the 30 amp fuse was melted you need to look into that. Check and make sure you are getting power through that fuse and through the fuse holder.

Here's my 854 this is the first tractor restore / rebuild I did this poor tractor had sat in a hedgerow for a long time when I found her after a complete tear down and rebuild last winter I built a stainless steel sickle bar mower for her Brian

I've been looking for a maroon stripe 414 or 416 with a Kohler for awhile now...this is what I ended up with from Craigslist....not bad for $50 but its not what I really wanted. Stole it anyhow though...Still a maroon strip but I Really wish a nice 14 or 16 would show up soon

i got this from the local scrap guy he got it from the orginal owners brother. i tryed to search for info but cant find mutch i think it was made buy MTD i gave a 50.00 for it i couldnt see it get crushed and sent to china. sorry i for got to shut the hood all the way for the pics

While crusing CL I ran across an ad for this little 4x5 ft aluminum tilt trailer. Seller said he used it to tow his "tractor". Called up and went to get it. It has two pins that you pull the clips and it folds back so you can drive a tractor right up without ramps! I figure it will make a nice little hauler for moving just one tractor instead of hooking up the 6x12 enclosed. Got it for $100.

This tractor belongs to my son Cole. It has an interesting past and its past is the main reason why my son wanted it. There was a thread A Tale of Two Horse's awhile back posted by Buckrancher. When my son read that thread and it told of this 854 being under 10 ft of water at Snyders fix it shop when the Susquehanna river rose 48 feet he was amazed. Cole commented that he would love to have this 854. It wasn't for sale though, yet anyways! Sometime later I heard it mentioned that it might be for sale at the 2012 Big Show. I told Cole and he said we could sell his go cart to get it! Well, the go cart got Cole about half the money. I didn't tell him about that little tid bit, (I covered the rest but I didn't tell him that.) Brian had to rebuild the motor (it was froze). Brian rebuilt the rear diff and anything else that needed it. It performs like a new tractor and everything works flawless. It is used to mow the lawn once a week and it gets cleaned after each use. I tried to use it this past fall to tow a small Wheel Horse cart filled with firewood but I got yelled at by Cole. He saw me thru his bedroom window and came running outside barefoot and told me to use one of my own tractors for hauling firewood!

1963 model 603 restored a few years back came from Hammerheads overstock.....

Newly restored 701 bought this over the winter just finished it up....

Thanks for the help and the info here are some updated pics ...

I have never used the 52" either but that classic 48" is a great deck. They are strong, simple design and cut great. Also, the design had been around for sometime!!!! Just stating the obvious I know!

It's my opinion there is really no which one is better I would just have more use for the smaller one due to things to mow around...

It would definitely help to know more as to which 52 inch deck you speak of. Your question is way to vague to narrow things down. We would know that by the machine youre putting it on.There was a 52" for the 200 series tractors and another for the XI series machines. From what I have heard (because I would never own either moodel) The deck on the 200 series machines was much thinner metal that the 48" from our B,C,D,3,4,5 series machines. It was a lso noisier than the "Classic" deck. Now the XI deck was supposed to be a bit better but I dont think you can go wrong with the 48 classic deck. They've lasted for 40 years and I bet they'll be around for much longer

Well, he is outnumbered so that makes him shy! Jake, thanks. It runs pretty good. The iso mounts are still in pretty decent shape. Its a very relaxing tractor to ride especially with the armrests.

My experiences with K532's was mainly service on the green machines, esp the 400 model , but there aren't any horror stories to tell on these engines, in fact they are very strong and reliable and can last next to forever if maintained half way right. Adequate power isn't usually an issue with this engine, although they do like to drink gas. They aren't as commonplace as other small engines found on tractors because they were only used on very high end garden tractors and commercial/industrial equipment. Rebuild parts are available, but don't expect to find them as easily as on the K series single cylinders. I think a lot of people who scrapped these engines out for lesser cost re-power 15-20 years ago are kicking themsleves for doing so now. These engines aren't quite as smooth as the Onans, but can eat them up with torque and can be rebuilt multiple times like the K singles. -Mark-

I'll second Garry's comment....get the correct switch for your tractor...or it can be COSTLY.....I don't take a chance so I buy my switches and belts from my Toro dealer....a bit pricieeeeeee!! but they work..... For your info, a local Toro/Wheel Horse dealer is Lumax....(named after his boys, Luke and Max)....great guy and good service.

This is the joy of long distance and blindfolded troubleshooting. Rarely is everything exactly as described and rarely if ever do I believe "all i did was .......". Good troubleshooting. You are now well on your way to having a sound, long term fix in place. One more "new gas sucks" falsehood now placed on the actual culprit. E blend gas is indeed different, it's here to stay, and workable if you understand it's characteristics. We just need to stop grousing and learn to adapt to its use. Perform more frequent gas line changes, replace rubber lines with polyurethane, pay more attention to proper storage conditions of the gas and the machine with the gas in it or not in it. No real use in complaining, get over it, E blends are probably here to stay. Plan your strategy and deal with it. If your outrage is such you need to register your concern worldwide on internet forums, redirect that energy and effort and start petitioning the parts suppliers to begin using E blend resistant gaskets and resistive coatings on parts that can oxidize, flake and collect in fuel delivery passages. .

Say what...he doesn't play well with the others?

Lowes sells non ethanol 4 cycle fuel in qts that is 92 octane and has a shelf life of 2 years. If it's a parade tractor and not used much that's not a bad way to go. Has all the good stuff in it. I use the same stuff only 94 octane from my ope dealer in both 4 and 2 cycle versions.

Well here's my construction material of choice (Free) A 16ft RSJ from the old garage! It's 3/8" so pretty chunky, but fun to work with. This is the start of the centre pivot - kinda the most important bit of an articulated vehicle... Implement lift pins and bushes from the agricultural merchants down the road seem a sensible buy compared with making them... And a start was made on selling holes for the pin and bushes. Here's the various stages of cutting and shaping. And the plate that mates to the end of the chassis getting tapped to accept 3/8 bolts. here's a quick 2D sketch of the pivot. Mark

If I recall a post from Chuck (SOI) a while ago, there are a bunch of different starter solenoids, but usually the difference between the 3 and 4 prong ones are that the 3 prong is grounded through the tabs that attach it to the frame, and the 4 prong has a separate ground stud. I think there are also some oddball ones, that have a 4th lead that is energized in the crank (start) position for some old ford engines that required higher output for a hotter spark when starting. I would imagine there are others, but chances are you would not have gotten one of those unless you specifically asked for it. I do not understand what is happening exactly from your post, but I think you said that it does indeed start in the start position. If this is the case, then chances are you have got the correct wire to the activation tab, and the ground to the frame is OK. When you are in the start position, the activation tab is energized, and the plunger electrically connects the other two studs. Once things are running, you release the key to the run position, the studs are no longer connected, and the solenoid should be out of the picture. I know on my 414 there are bunch of leads grouped on the stud where the battery + cable is connected. (the - side is just a single cable back to the battery). Is it possible that you put some of the other stuff onto the - side? or that you took the ground off the old 4 prong and attached it to the 3 prong? That would cause all sorts of problems,I would imagine. might help to know what model and what exactly is happening...

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:

Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!

A trick I learned from a guy who works for lincoln welding is to weld a washer to the "stud" thats sticking out,then weld your nut to that. It does make it easier to penetrate whats left sticking out, and easier to weld the nut to. Just a thought. Good luck Joel

That last pict...sure looks like you did Jim.

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

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.

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...

I've had my C-160 for over 3 years now. It came with crappy looking running boards and a rattle behind the belt guard with the belt engaged. I decided to fix the rattle when I got new running boards. Last year I parted out another C-160 and had the running boards sandblasted. I Primed them 2 month later when I got them back from the blaster. I finally painted them last month. Now it's 95 deg. outside and I decided today is the day. Must be the excitement of the upcoming show. I fixed the rattle with a wave washer where the belt control pivots.

Im of the opinion that one must pace ones self. I mean, if I was to do everything I was supposed to do, when I was supposed to do it.... well one Id be extremely grumpy but in a larger sense then theoretically I could possibly run out of things to do. Not a bad thing if they are "honey do's " but running out of good stuff is a definite no no . What would I fix (mess up) next ? Which would mean Id have to find or buy more stuff to keep me occupied then all sorts of bad stuff could happen. Life is too short to run out of fun stuff to do Speaking of "stuff" to do.... did I mention that for the past 2+ years or so my wife Margo has become an "Extreme Coupon' shopper ??? Much of my "spare time" is spent building more and more shelf's and rotating can racks for the stuff she buys and then moving said stuff from one shelf to another across them room then back again for no apparent reason. We have a huge room filled with stuff. Seriously its like a grocery store in there. I call it Margo Mart , I guess that makes me the greeter. We even have our own shopping cart to bring in the "stuff" she buys Oh well, It makes her happy, but isn't that always the case ? My torment makes her happy. Thank the good Lord for Midnight Moon Apple Pie I bet you couldn't tell that my word of the day is "stuff"

I don't know about a full restore. But I'll be happy keeping it from getting any worse. I don't mind keeping old steel sharp, but I haven't the patience to make old steel new again.

WOW, what a string of great music...I think a little Ozark Mountain Daredevils might fit in here real nice...If You Want to get to Heaven. and speaking of Ozark Mountain Daredevils...you got to check out this one..."Chicken Train" really off the wall. This is workin' on yer tractor music.