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I was able to receive a very special Wheel Horse Christmas present this year. I was able to purchase Scott's 1045 that he had listed for sale. It was a 700 mile drive (one way) from Chesterfield VA to Warsaw IN, but was well worth it. I combined this trip with a stop back in Ohio to visit my Mom just before Christmas. Here is a picture of the 1045 being unloaded, The starter/generator is bad, so I couldn't drive it down the ramps. So the Wheel Horse got a little help from his John Deere friend. I am giving the tractor a "freshen up" while waiting for a new S/G. It has been restored previously and is in really good shape. A belated Merry Christmas everyone!

John, No, not another 5xi yet, but a new, in the box (still factory strapped) 5xi plow setup. I already have one, but I came across this one and I couldn't help myself. They said that it must have been in the warehouse for 5 or 6 years and had been forgotten about. They even threw in the spiders that were crawling around on the carton. Like fine wine, it is going to age in the carton for now. Rick

And here is the RM425 deck I have restored to put on the tractor:

I lost my grandma on Christmas a few years ago. I say that not for sympathy, but to give us some pause. This time of year is wonderful for some, but hurtful for others. Just a reminder, keep your loved ones in your mind.

Hi there in new to the forum. Rescued my first WH from nasty scottish weather. Its been out there for some time but when I got her home she started with a new battery and petrol. But there are some problems. I have to hold the throttle and it does not like idling. If I can get it to do both I think I can go ahead with my plan to mount an oil pump to work a log spliter. Thanks

On the road and bringing this home today from the mountains of Maryland. They regularly see snow out there, let's hope I do.

Run that clock on a warm summers night and you'll see what I mean! My B-N-Law won a neon clock at a Advanced Auto store opening! He was all proud and smug and I didn't say anything. His dealership is in a swampy area. He worked late one night with the doors open. That clock drew in things you would see in a stevasaurus home movie!

Give him a chance.

You should download the Sundstrand manual, It has an excellent diagnostic section. Three most likely candidates here are first (and most likely) Control linkage adjustment. Charge valve and acceleration valves are also mentioned but I would look at the linkage adjusment first.

One thing I forgot to put in that post was a disclaimer that my wife sees fit to tell everybody. "DON'T LISTEN TO A THING BOB SAYS". It probably would have saved a perfectly good GPS unit.

Steve If you want better "Karma" you have to either listen to a rendition of "Feelings" or if that is too much to stomach you have to listen to an entire Herb Alpert or Trini Lopez collection before each game. I may have to make a leaf for the table!

Take a picture of your notebook after you update it and post that.

I better make sure I get another bag of those buttons to pass out at the show this summer. I got this neon wall clock in a grab bag gift exchange. Always wanted one of these to see if I could take it apart and make it a Wheel Horse Clock. It said Man Cave before I made it a Wheel horse clock. Now to find one with a red tube.

I FINISHED THE CLEANUP ON MY 1988 312-8 TRACTOR. HERE IS THE FINISHED PRODUCT. I WILL TRY TO SELL IT IN THE SPRING. IT HAS 3 YEAR OLD 42" DECK AND 610 HOURS ON TRACTOR. BOWTIE IN OHIO

and many more!

Looking great!

you are doing a fantastic job on the tractor jake. that paint looks very nice....

Love that foot control Martin! If I had a with a hydro, I'd have to own one of those. It just seems like it makes more sense. I'm glad to see how that Onan turned out, and the progress your making on the tractor. Matt

Another fine product from the Upper Midwest, you betcha. They state that it smells like pine. It is pleasant though. There are four sachets in a box and they are not to be used near traps as traps attract mice. http://www.earth-kind.com/

really hate to over use a word... But damn, that is really, LOOKING GOOODDD!!! I would hate to see the quality of work you would produce if you put your heart into it and loved doing it!!! Scratch that... Would "love" to see the quality of work. LOL..

My wife can tell when I have been in the garage!

Thanks for the encouraging posts! The spindles my friend sent came in, and got them rebuilt in short order, so that I could assemble the deck. I really love that these spindles can be greased! Still waiting on a couple small things to come in before I can mount the deck, but it will be mowing soon. Matt

On the road and the new addition finally home mingling with part of the herd. The big guys are still in the garage. I think that it is ironic that I picked up a snow thrower on a 57 degree day in December. BUT - the forecast is for snow on Thursday! You can't beat U-Haul for cheap transportation I think that I am ready for winter now. I'll take a picture of the whole snow crew Monday, heavy rain is forecast for tomorrow. Maybe I can use my 48" squeegee. It is a 1989 520-H with 643 hours along with a 1997 42" snowthrower and a 42" RD mower deck that had been hanging on the wall for 15 years. I really did have my mask on for this one!

Looks like the mice had long term residency plans.

heres the foot control video...... at the end of the video the engine started hunting at low to mid rpm, choke helped, so i knew the idle circuit had picked up some more crap from somewhere. must still be some in the carb as i have a filter in the line before the pump and before the carb. pulled the top of the carb and here it is...... i pushed a tip cleaner through the tube and you can see the junk on the end....... eventually it will either clear up or i will get sick of cleaning it out and soak the thing instead..... heres #1 and #2 together, what a happy couple......

testing how good they go offroad.... be for i realised what i have will get some close up shots asap

I put the crank center line in the same location also. I raised the Vanguard 7/8" to get the right height with two 1/2" x 2" flat bars and a 3/8" plate under the engine. I also used the standard C-120 belts and belt guard unmodified. I also have two washers behind each bolt on the PTO bracket as I modified the original engine mounting holes. I also used a spacer behind the PTO in the crank shaft. I did drill two new holes in the battery box and turned the battery around to move the battery post to the rear. I also sawed a 2" hole in the gas tank tray and have to remove the gas tank to change the rear spark plug. Rotated the solenoid switch up as far as possible on the starter to clear the battery. As I have said before it's a tight fit on a C-120. I needed the pressure oil system as my yard is far from level. By back yard slopes 16' in 200' with a few 35 degree slopes thrown in. The front is some what better with slopes on the upper and lower sides.

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE !!!!!!!!!!!!!! chasm

I think there was actually two of them. I thought it was cool. Didn't it look like she had the 'deer in the headlights' look? I do like the updates. I'm thinking we all should stick to talking Wheel Horses but this is still fun. 8 minutes to the Pinstripe Bowl!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE...HAVE A GREAT DAY.

maybe a bug zapper grid upgrade?

Well it is what it is. Looks like Michigan QB Devin Gardner is out with a bucked up foot so Shane Morris a freshman will be at the Helm. Things keep going from worse to more worse! Looks like me and the Capt'n will be sailing tonight he says he can deaden my PAIN!

Steve, I ran out and took a picture. Also did the math and its not quite fifty years old. Its a 66 Chevy short bed. Her grandpa bought to use for a farm truck and that's about all it was used for. Its on the list to do after about ten other things.

very nice looking 1045...... of the 60s tractors that i still want, this model is at the top of the list....

That is a fine piece of snow-removal equipment! Thanks for the video. I can't believe you don't have a back-up camera in there!

Mine lives in the basement where the hot water heater used to be.

Moo

The way you get things done Martin, I was beginning to think that you never sleep. Looks like it's true.... Great thread and a great job on this tractor!

Well, I am 0 wins and 4 losses at the moment. I burned my magic pencil...I threw out my TOM TOM trying to do the GPS thingy that RacinBob did...I tore apart my Shaman books...I went out and bought another bottle of Rock & Rye...I even lighted an "I'm sorry Michigan" candle. Nothing is working. It's OK...I am still not picking IOWA over LSU...I'll go 0 wins and 29 losses first...and that's all I've got to say about that. My picks still suck...I had a 50 / 50 chance at every game and I am still batting a 1000 (the wrong way)...the Washington game is still going and it is close...I am looking at 0 wins and 5 losses... Gloom, Despair and Agony on Me... Deep Dark Depression... Excessive misery... If it weren't for bad luck... I'd have no luck at all... Gloom, Despair and Agony on Me.

I may be, but nobody will be able to understand what I have to say.

The pulley sounds like your culprit here. You should not have to shim it. The pulley may have gotten out of round where it meets the shaft . If you used shims that suggests that is the problem to me.

Finally got some stuff painted. The fenders and belt shield go to the 401, the rest is to this. Frame is just about ready for primer now too.

Finally repainted my hood AGAIN!! it turned out extra nice. I'm surprised now all I got left to do is my tool box that I just got in the mail, break caliper, wheels and seat pan. Then for reassembly..I'm getting scared..

When you start one up the neighbors just have to see what that aussie is driving this time.

Bill, thanks for the comments. on your running on 1 cylinder onans, easy enough to do a compression test first off, since it seems they are complete and running (although not very well) and then if you find one cylinder down, investigate from there. adding some oil to a down pressure cylinder will tell you if the rings are bad or not. pressure goes up , oil is sealing the rings and they are bad, no pressure increase, valves (or seats) or something else. pulling the heads would be next and usually will reveal a whole lot more about the condition of an engine, good or bad........ more and more i see that although these onans are awesome engines, but they do require more tlc than your typical kohler and will cost you a bunch of $$$ if you neglect them.......

Terry you amaze me. You"re like an encyclopedia when it comes to tractors. I'm sure glad we have you here on this forum.

I am finally the owner of a Wheel Horse! (and speaking of "finally"..I think I probably now hold a dubious Redsquare record! I was a member of this forum for over one YEAR before I even owned a single Wheel Horse tractor! (or any tractor for that matter!) But after a year of thinking, musing and research, (and asking many questions here! thanks!) I finally own my first tractor. I decided early-on that I definitely wanted a Round Hood.. I like all Round Hoods, but I decided to narrow my search to only a RJ58 or a 854 for my first tractor.. Everyone knows the RJ58 is a classic (if perhaps a light-duty machine) and personally I consider the 854 to be "The Queen of the Round Hoods"..the ultimate example of her kind..So those are the two I wanted to look for.. I wanted to find a "rough and ready" machine..working, servicable, but didnt have to be pristine..(I was looking for somewhat "rough" mainly for lower initial cost, and because I actually *want* to do a restoration myself!) my tractor will do light chores around the house, some mowing, hauling a cart..possibly someday some light snow plow duty (although that is a low priority) My goal is more of a "fun hobby tractor" than an all-out workhorse. I have no real need for a big model B or C, or one of the more modern tractors..I plan to use the tractor for a year or two, do some tinkering and upgrades, learn about how everything works, then eventually (in a few years) do an all-out teardown and full restoration. (Her 50th birthday is coming up in 2014, that might be the ideal year for a restoration!) So about a month ago I put out a query here on redsquare, saying I was looking for a RJ58 or a 854, and a Redsquare member replied saying he had an 854 he was thinking about selling! (Thanks Brian!) So yesterday we finally had a snow-free weekend day, and I made the drive down into the Finger Lakes to meet Brian and pick up my 854. (It had snowed the night before, and on the drive down I saw THREE Wheel Horse tractors at work plowing snow! One in Victor, Geneva and Interlaken, NY..I thought that was cool.) So here are the first photos of my 854! In her new home, with her only stablemate (so far) my 1971 Ariens snowblower. Some things I know about the Tractor: I am only the third owner! the original owner lived in Victor NY (near Rochester)..He bought her new in 1964, and was the only owner until Brian (the 2nd owner) bought her only a few years ago. I am now the third owner, and she has spent her entire life in Central-Western NY. Brian thinks the original owner's sons might have treated her a bit rough in later years..she was a bit worn out..Brian replaced the frame, and did some other needed repairs. The engine is original, never rebuilt, but could use a rebuild..smokes a bit on startup, but then runs clean..starts nice and easy though, and runs great. Transmission is very smooth. The gas tank and dash are not original..both are the wrong style for a 854. Thats a very minor concern for me..I might replace them eventually, when I do a restoration. Starter system is not original, and obviously the seat is not original..(although I like the look of the white pan seat!) The hood has seperated at the seam, and will need to be welded.. and thats about it as far as "issues"..which I dont really consider big issues at all. Overall she is in good condition for her age, and having never been restored! Just the thing I was looking for.. Right after I got her home, I had to use the snowblower on the driveway! (since I left early in the morning and didnt do it then) But after I cleaned off the driveway, I fired up the tractor and did a few laps around! Then put her away in her new home..just in time for the start of the Super Bowl! Im sure I will be asking a ton of questions!..and eventually I will create and upload a webpage to document everything I do with the tractor, including an eventual restore..So thats everything for now! for all the help and the sharing of knowledge I have recieved here already over the past year..much appreciated! Scot

Great thread, as the guys point out we are gaining in momentum albeit slowly. I've made some great friends and it's great that on my travels I can call in and see other addicts The spirit behind the euro section is amazing too. I remember around 3 years ago when I was rebuilding my C-101 and I'd accidentally chopped up my pto control link..... Richard (anglotraction) just bunged one in the post and sent it down.,I've had similar support from Ian (stigian) and Neil. Neil has been kind enough on a few occasions to invite me to break up my journeys to Cornwall and stay overnight. Not sure why, but the chance to see Neil's awesome collection of horses and literature always tempts me I sell a lot of decal sets, oddly over half my customers are not on the forum and have no interest in joining! It's shame, because some of the guys have done great jobs and the restorations and pictures could be enjoyed by the whole WH community! Like Neil says too, we all log on 10 times a day to get our fix too. It's a great site! Thanks Mark