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Hopefully this post won't be in bad taste, but..... I have been very pleased see Terry posting again this month -- I always viewed his commnents as being very insightful

Dave! My winter lay off began December 1st. I was quite occupied with "real life" up until that point. I'll get scarce again around the end of January.

Lane ranger you could not have been more correct. 1 washer the size of a quarter and I am in business. Also I figured out how to adjust the threaded pto lever a few turns because I wasn't locking the pto in the on position. I also realized I bent my plow lift lever,I put a piece of fence pole on it and bent it back I to shape, which allowed my button to be able to be pressed. I can't get it to lock in the up position, but I used it and it worked like a champ! I paid 75$ for the 312-8 in the fall of 2012 and the snowblower for 75$ also. But didn't run it last year due to surgery. Man I get it all now. I picked the wheelhorse because it was a great price,but after going thru it and seeing the practical engineering I am so lucky I just kind of To"Forest Gumped" my way into the world of wheelhorse but I am loving it. Thanks everyone

Though I haven't been involved in this hobby recently, I am an accomplished amateur cabinet maker. I used to make reproductions of old hoosier-type cabinets. Here is a link to one of my creations. This cabinet was built from scratch. All lumber was purchased from a sawmill, then worked in my shop/garage. http://homebuiltforum.com/topic/62-reproduction-sellers-kitchen-cabinet/

I dabble in some photography every once in a while too.

I guess I'd better post my Raider 20 6X6 here then You all know the story by now.. It's been dragging on for long enough She started life as a humble and very worn C-125.. A body swap soon had her looking like this... Enter Garry and some beer.. And the idea was born Over four years later she looked like you know her now..

Here's my 4x4 C-101

I just placed my order for a couple dozen caps to start. I am very happy with the quality of the stitching and detail in the sew-outs. These are being sewn right here in my home town and in fact in my old shop. Nice lady and her husband and kids are Garden tractor people too. they build Custom Pullers and enjoy competing when possible. She has a silk screen business that she has been running from her home till she rented my old location. We hope to be able to ad more products early next year.

The 953 and 1054 tractors use a unique transmission. The axles in particular are longer than the "normal" Wheel Horse transmission. and the mounting bolt pattern is also different. Best bet would be to repair the trans that is in it. These models used a spider gear differential which works really well, but is relatively weak. An 8 pinion diff can be fitted with a few mods, and I think this is the way to go.

I did not know that...sorry. I thought that seal looked a little different, and I did see the canister in the picture. I did not know about the seals being different in the hydros. Dang...I just hate it when I learn something new. Thanks guys.

Yesterday was a monumental day for the Tractor Club. Last night I was able to attend, and present, the school board meeting. In order for the new building to be started it must go through the proper protocols and have the donation accepted by the school board as a formality. Though most just breeze through without any opposition, we were somewhat nervous that we would have to come back with more details as it would be a building that would be placed on the school property. I can understand their reasoning to keep the property looking clean and pleasing to the eye. After many different topics were discussed during the meeting it was time to address the club building. They asked me to come forward and share what was happening with our project. The overwhelming support and smiles that I received were amazing. I still feel like this whole thing is very surreal and hoping that no one will pinch me to wake me up from this dream. I did not get asked one detail about the building itself but they were all very eager to hear about what the kids are doing. Needless to say I was on cloud 9 last night as I left the administration building. So good news is............WE ARE APPROVED! Now the building can commence as I do the leg work to get things prepared....ie electric, permits, site work, etc... I am so thankful for all of those that have made this project a huge blessing to these kids. No matter what you have offered up to the group, it is an amazing gesture and one that is very much appreciated!!!!! Unfortunately there will be no club meeting tomorrow night due to the cold weather and no place to work. The good news is...........that will be changing soon! Merry Christmas and a Happy and healthy New Year to all of you from the Harrison Elementary Garden Tractor Club!

Heres one of my old hobbies. Sad but true, I actually sold her. Only reason I sold was because I don't always feel right being diabetic, so rather than have something happen at a high rate of speed I opted to sell. Shes not far away at all. John

It's a very kind thing that Lane has stated in starting this thread, along with Craig and Karl's additions. Also that we were given a second chance of having a Euro Section on the Site and to try and make a 'Go of it'. I think I can safely say that we (Euro Peeps) are all grateful and hope that many will utilize it and contribute regularly . I was mainly on the WH.org site from 2008 initially, but didn't get my hands on the WH I had my eye on until Sept 2009. So I had a lot of time to research the whole WH history and Model lines etc for a year. I was directed to this Forum by Members of the other one, and yes, I admit I 'Lurked' until 2010 , then my conscience would not let me keep gleaning info as a member for much longer without contributing. Now we have a good many Euro Members, and I'm pleased to agree that there are also a lot of younger Members in UK and Euro Mainland under the age of 20 ....... Always impressed how they interact on here....... we need 'em. It's good that we're able to interact with people virtually worldwide through a common interest in these Red GTs (and others) .

Here's mine taken a few years in the planning and 6 weeks to build

416-8 FEL & Hoe

Lots of hammering and pounding on this one... the entire build is on YouTube (link in signature)... the ultimate goal was to clone the RJ tractor on the cover of Straight From a Horse's Mouth Second Edition and the original 1955 RJ advertisement. The sad thing about the project... my computer took a dump about a month ago and I lost every pic and vid of this project... at least most of the vids are on YouTube and the project its done, LOL!

Well heck i'll through my 1967 Diesel Lawn Ranger out there for consideration. It has a 7hp Yanmar Diesel electric start engine with custom foot throttle. I added a voltage gauge, hour meter, key start, master battery switch and electronic actuator to shut down the engine. I had to "shoe horn" in a battery under the seat as you can see in the picture. The fender and seat had to be raised up with stand offs to allow enough clearance so the battery terminals wouldn't touch. The belt guard had to be shortened and tilted up to compensate for the different engine location. The hood had to be raised and steering shaft lengthened to accommodate the engine. It took about 6 months to complete and a lot of fabrication. It's a blast to drive and really turns heads at the local shows. I reduced the pulley on the transmission down to a 2" one so it really moves.

here's my RJ58 custom stainless Brian

I had a dissapointing time for my first storm. I have a 89 312-8 with a single stage snowblower,tire chains wheel weights all set to go. I hit my first snow, heavy and wet snow that got rained on. Didn't throw any and clogged the auger. Spent today chipping it out. So I took it off and tried putting on my plow......... It is a 6-2132........it is to small. So I put the blower back on....... now my lift arm button isn't locking it in the up position. And I keep shearing out whatever I put in the cotter pin slot below the snowblower that the bar attaches too. I am not giving up,but I am having a few bass ales and staring at it.

As promised. The pictures aren't the best and I didn't get pictures of everything. But I bet most of you see stuff that I don't even know what it is.

This is how I've attacked the steering problem, I've done about all that I can think of and it's better than its ever been, but it still slips some! I really like the roller chain idea and if I had seen that before I bought the snow hog tires I think I would have tried that first.

She could do a lot worse. As a matter of fact she has a couple of times. I think they call that the Mother Teresa complex, bring home the losers and lepers and try to heal them.

Good job Zane! I'm sure looking forward to seeing the finished product, but... "you can't rush perfection".

Nice one Lars - trouble is that now I'll have to make sure I don't leave my laptop on in the barn because if my horses see this then they'll demand better winter stabling!

That is the great part about this forum.....the things I am learning.....just wish I could retain that knowledge

Don't be afraid of aftermarket parts to keep the cost down. If you get junk parts on Ebay file a complaint if the seller won't take it back I always use paypal when possible just for the insurance. I rebuilt a Wisconsin V-4 a few years ago, Wisconsin parts are way higher then Kohler parts trust me they wanted over $400 for a set of rings. I was able to find an online retailer that sold Hastings rings for less then $60 Try here http://www.perfectengine.com/Hastings_Piston_Rings_s/127.htm

Yes the hydro's use a different seal than the stick shift's

congrats on winning the boobie prize. one step up from the "thanks for participating" award given to the NFC east champ.

Copy the line below in blue word for word, and place it in the search box on eBay. You will find the correct shut-off valve with screen, plus a new grommet for only $8.99 and free shipping. Toro & Walker Gas Tank Fuel Shut Off Valve & Rubber Bushing •Fits 1/4" LINES To make your tank look like new, clean it good, then coat it with VHT Vinyl Dye. I use satin black. Makes the tanks look like new.

Great work and build Matt, I like the look and design of the Case Models. They must be rare in the UK, as I don't see any really. Just wondering...how close is the Hydro pump body to the Inner Rear Rim?. Picture look's like it would be pretty close. Never seen a Wrist Pin clip make a bit for freedom like that before. I love the sound of my K301after a 20 thou shave and rebuild. I bet that K301 will look a treat when you've finished with it, judging by your other Engine projects . Love the work and colours. Look forward to seeing your next progress pics. Regards

Scotsman, Make sure you place a 5/8" flat washer between the lift rod and cotter pin,

I live north of Pgh. Pa. I have 2 Wheel Horse dealers that I buy from. 1st is Jacks Toro Wheel Horse in Sarver Pa. Lots of parts in stock, they carry quite a bit of stuff for 300-400-500 series. 2nd is Labuda Farm Service in Herminie Pa. Not only do they carry lots of parts,but they also have a tractor junkyard, I got the pedal for Matts foot conv .for $5.00. There is a women who works there behind the counter who is quite knowledgable about Wheel Horse.

Rexman, I have a 44" two stage as well, and have changed that bearing before, what fun. Blowers are loud to begin with, especially when they are not moving any snow. If you listen carefully to the noise, can you start to get a feel for how fast the parts are moving that are making the noise? The augers and the fan shaft don't really rotate all that fast, so I would think that a noise from them would have a fairly slow frequency. Have you greased the zerk fittings on the fan shaft bearing and the upper jack shaft? The chain drive and it's associated sprockets are moving much faster, and will produce more of a roar when something is failing or too tight. I know from experience that you can vary the pitch of the blowers noise by changing the tension of the chain. If it is too tight, it will let you know, i.e. very loud roar. The manual calls for 1/8" to 1/2" of deflection in the chain, as measured in the long run from the lower sprocket to the top sprocket. I would guess that I have about 3/8" deflection in mine. A bad bearing in one of the idler sprockets could make some noise too. The belt drive is normally pretty quiet. Of course you do have four pulleys with bearings in the carriage, they should all spin freely. If you are working around the blower, make sure that you do not have any loose clothing, drawstrings, etc. hanging down near moving parts. Bad stuff happens fast! Be safe. Let us know how you make out/what you find. Rick

I mentioned this to a number of people, one of my favorite parts of RedSquare is our international community. The Euro section as it stands today is actually take 2 on the area. The first attempt was in 2008, which was a complete failure. After 6 months I removed it since mine was the only post in there. I think that it was just too soon, without a large enough member base. This second iteration however is awesome. For us Americans, where else could you possible see a Wheel Horse in front of Stonehenge? Sure, it's in the book now, but it was HERE first! I look forward to more and more members joining and making the Euro section even larger!

From my 416-8. Any questions ask. I will post more pics from book. Glenn

As most of you regular forum members know, we have been in a transition period preparing for retirement. At this point we have completed the move from our store to home with all our equipment. We will be finishing up a rather large sign order soon and will be able to attend more shows and focus on our website. 2014 will be a welcome and exciting change in our lives. First part of our plan for the website is to add a clothing category to the webs store. embroidered and silk screened items of all kinds will become available in the coming weeks and months. Also there will be a new promotion for SUPPORT MEMBERS for 2014 (More info on this after Christmas). We have added free shipping anywhere in the Continental US and will continue to do so for the entire year of 2014 Thank You all for you support and patience over the past 6 years. We are looking forward to seeing many of you at the BIG SHOW again this June. Feel free to post any ideas for the clothing category.

Great Vidio. I guess eating two tins of cookies would add a little weight in the seat as well.

This is going to be a REAL tough decision on who to vote for this month! For me it might come down to Eeny Meeny Miney Moe.....

Thanks Ken! I got to ride it today!! The K301 runs fantastic, and tractor feels great as well. I still have to paint the grill black, and install the headlights. I still haven't started on the mower deck either, but I'll get on that soon. I'm very happy with the way its tuning out, and I know Gary would love it! Matt

Thanks guys ! Sorry for being scarce, but life has been getting in the way lol. Anyhow, figured I'd post this one up also. Any guesses what this one morphs into? It has big fluid filled tires... ,,,and double hydraulics like a C-195, and a foot operated DCL (from Doc) Electric PTO clutch on a Kohler K341 16hp. If you guessed that it's a C-160 HD, you are correct. Complete 520 chassis with gear reduction steering and a complete mid-1970's C-160 body.

Thank you RMCIII, Craig, and Jake for the encouraging words! Thanks to my amazing wife, I had a new set of shoes show up for the Case today. They are Deestone 23x10.50-12 6ply tires for the rear, and two Firestone 16x6.50-8 Tri Ribs for the front. These are my early Christmas prestent, and I must say she has fantastic taste in tires!

I managed to spend a couple hours working on the Case this afternoon. Finished bolting up most of the accessories to the engine, carb, muffler, shroud, etc.. Also added a few more decals, and I love the way new decals set a tractor off. Matt

My other hobby is boats....buying, selling, repairing, and getting my own on the water. The boats I buy typically have problems such as bad motor, rotten transom, soft floor, bad outdrive etc so I get them cheap and have a friend that has been in marine repair his entire life so that helps for parts and repair tips. Pictures are of a few that have been through here in the last year or so, I keep the ones I like the most for myself so currently my boats are the 21ft blue Four Winns cuddy, 18ft offwhite/brown Starcraft and the 26ft red/white Searay I am into these 3 boats for under $2000 total, the Searay is getting parted out in the spring and will be a huge money maker. The yellow Hydrostream was my go fast boat that I had to let go when the kids came along and a 70mph speed boat was not a good idea.

since brian is hogging this month all to himself and nobody else is posting up their tractors (and theres quite a lot of very nice customs by members on the forum)............ edit: i see that fireman just got one in before i finished this post....... i will post one of mine...... most of my tractors have small custom fabrication but look basically oem, the one that stands out the most i guess is my 1057, it sort of fits into this category.... not what you would call a full custom or whatever, but it has a few non oem details, first and for most would be the vinyl 'blackouts' on the hood and seat pan. another not readily noticeable custom touch is all the cast iron has been smoothed before being powder coated. and speaking of powder coat, all the paint on this one is powder, everything, which means all of it had to come apart and be painted individually, because theres a lot of parts on these tractors that doesn't like to be heated to 400 degrees f for 30-60 minutes....... heres some pics of my 1057......

well I also have this little ditty my 701 with stainless frame I started with this and after 5 months Brian

One of my dozer blades was kitted for a 520. I removed the extensions but kept the offset lever and it works great on my 416 and GT-1848. When the blade is angled fully to the right, it's easier to reach the lever. I'm not too sure about footrest interference on the earlier tractors.

Leave it to the very generous and thoughtful Terry Dennis to come up with a new logo for our garden tractor club! His creativity and generosity amazes me and I greatly appreciate his friendship! Here is our new school garden tractor club logo....... Thanks again Terry!

So.... how bad is the torque-steer ? Or do you have some type of damper ? Or have you gone " whole-hog " & adapted some form of DPSâ„¢ or P/S ?

Look up the 854x4. That's more what you're talking about.

There have been some amazing ones done by one of the members here. These are all Bob Rock originals. (I don't remember seeing a build thread after its reveal)