Leaderboard

During the couple of years I've had the 316 it's been undergoing a program of gradual improvement rather than a full on resto. The dashboard project began over a year ago with me sending some photos and dimensions to Mark for the decals. Didn't want the tractor out of action during the mowing season so perhaps in Autumn (Fall), which turned to Winter, and two dump cart restos later, finally Spring. The decals came with the dump cart order so having completed the trailers thought I'd best crack on with it or the tractor will be out mowing again. First thing was to test that the tachometer would work with the Onan, which it did, just needing to be calibrated against a hand held optical tacho (just out of view to the right). The next step was to fab a new dash panel from a piece of recycled WH. I really can't recall what it came from but it was the right thickness, the right width, and it was even possible to utilise two of the holes already in it. A bit of drilling, cutting, filing and painting later things were taking shape. My original intention was to reuse the engine hours meter and voltmeter but visually the original voltmeter looked out of place so I got a matching Durite voltmeter from the marine range. I also fitted a new ignition switch to replace the one that a PO had added a screw in eye to relace a lost key - result a key wouldn't operate the switch any longer. It was always going to be a tight fit but the measurements taken said it should. and it did (just) though adding the connections to the main wiring harness was challenging given my chunky mechanic's fingers (sometimes a blessing, sometimes a curse). The net result is, I think, good - just got to do the top panel with all the warning lights next but I suspect that will have to wait till Autumn now. Re the ignition switch, having had an aftermarket switch fail after little over a year on another tractor, I ve taken to getting these from the US. Choose the right supplier and even with shipping its no more expensive, and they're by the OEM, Indak - even have the correct letter codes for the terminals. Andy

It is a 2014 Silverado...2 wheel drive...8' bed...regular cab...v-6 (4.?)...Tungsten Metallic... Getting the cap put on before Mentone. This truck was on the lot and was pretty much what I would have ordered. It came with power windows and mirrors...I would not have ordered that. It was half the cost of Brrly's Land Yaht...

I remember you (Craig) having success with your aftermarket Tecumseh carb, that's why I thought this might be a good way to go. By the time I buy a genuine used carb and invest time and money into it I could have unpacked this one, installed it and be off and running. I really want this 1054 to be my tractor show putt-putt but with work and travel have very limited time to work on it. Once again I'll be in Georgia Monday for a two week job so nothing on the 1054 gets done. Before I know it the Zagray show will be here and I wont have it done. This carb could be a great time saver! Mike........

So I picked up some goodies from bowtie guy today got a blade for the lawn ranger it was missing the mounting plates 4123 so here are sum I made

Had my new 1277 FEL tractor out for an oil change today.

For those of you who throw away those sealed ball bearings , I thought I'd include this little how to : These bearings can indeed be saved if you're careful . In the first pics , I'm using a jewelers screwdriver to gently remove the seal(s) . First apply some light machine oil to the tip so it wont bind on the seal , then start pushing inward & down on the inner part of the seal then push the screwdriver in the other direction as to get " under " the seal: Then clean the bearing & seals in your favorite solvent & blow dry : Then repack with your grease of choice . I'm using Mobil 1 synthetic . It has great protection against water wash out & this is one of the bearings from the one way assembly in the primary clutch of my Outlander 400 but the principals are the same ; You'll be surprised how easily the seal slides back into the grooves of the inner & outer race ! Here's one all done & ready to go back into the stock sleeve . This bearing in this application allows for engine braking upon deceleration on a C.V.T. belt drive system . I hope some of you guys will try this & see just how easy it is . Thanks for reading . -Gene

Five or six years ago our oldest daughter called me up saying a neighbor had a a lawn tractor for sale. I ask her what kind, she said she didn't know but it was red in color and there were items to go with it. I said I'd be in there in shortly. I didn't even get to her house when I saw a red Wheel Horse sitting in the neighbor's yard with a for sale sign on it. I'd seen the Wheel Horse there many times before with an older gentleman mowing the grass I picked up my daughter and went back to the neighbor's place. A knock on the door followed by a nice young fellow coming out on the porch. He and his wife had just bought the place, the previous owner, the elderly gentleman had passed away. I asked about the Wheel Horse. Turns out is was a C-145 Automatic of 1983 vintage. The young man was wanting to sell it, saying the battery was always dead when he tried to use it. I asked the price, he said $150 and everything went with it. The "everything" turned out to be a 42" deck, a like new snow thrower and a hard to find Wheel Horse winter cab. I forked over the cash immediately then made arrangements for a buddy with a trailer to pick up the C-145. The Horse arrived at my place the next day. I jumped started it and it ran fairly well. Long story short, I swapped out the voltage regulator, rebuilt the carburetor and replace the rubber hood hold downs. Also changed all fluids and the transmission filter. My daughter used it for a couple of years then left it set in her garage. She's buying a new mower. I picked up the C-145 a few days ago then changed the oil, put on a new front tire and deck drive belt. With some good gas in its tank and a quick priming of the fuel pump, the K321 Kohler fired right up. Next up will be a transmission fluid change and some engine tune-up work. After that it will be my back-up mower in the summer and my prime snow removal tractor in the winter. The classic Wheel Horse tractors are great pieces of equipment.

Found this picture a while back. Hope it helps. Not my picture.

Yes I got one - and actually it was also for a 1054! This was last summer and when it came in I was very pleased with appearance/fit/finish etc it and bolted right up and went to install cables --- uh oh, the choke butterfly was backward! Oh well, the butterfly/shaft off the old carb was good and I just switched them out. I see from the pics that they must have addressed that problem since theyre showing the other shaft. Oh, and the 1054 apparently could care less that a Chinese product was giving it fuel - it ran perfectly... and hey, the cost was real easy to swallow compared to other brands!

I worked at a Chevy dealer for ten yrs thru the 90's. Things were pretty clean and simple under the hood thru those yrs. Now, under the hood of some of the GM vehilcles in the 80's were a mess. I hated working on them, Vacuum hoses everywhere (usually leaking) and just an overall mess to work on with carb's etc. Steve's truck is a Chevy so Steve won't ever have to work on it other than oil changes.... I think overall it would be a breeze to work on if it should ever need attention. I have always been a fan of regular cab short and long beds. An extra cab for me only means more room for crapola. Besides, I think the regular cabs make it look kinda mean and macho.. Very nice Steve!

Looking under the hood makes me remember why I don't work on cars anymore!

Nice lookin truck, Steve!............ One of these in your receiver would look pretty good too. Terry made the decal.

Now, the only option it's lacking is one of these.

I would have bet it would have taken at least a week but guess not. Jason I can't believe you listed it on Ebay already! Feel sorry for the new member you bought it from. Let this be a lesson to anyone else who is selling something. Be careful WHO you sell to and please ask for advice on somethings value before you do so! It may be worth a lot more then you think.

Anyone use an aftermarket "Kohler" carb? Looking at one on E-bay for possible use on my 1054. These are pics from the ad. Thought? Pro's? Con's? Mike.........

Not for sure where this falls in topics, but look if you want to. Specialwheelhorse Jim would have taken 1st and 2nd place for show but they wouldn't vote wanting to make all feel as had best. We hope in the future more of these shows will come this way. Many good folks, food, parts, implements, and memories! I am still wondering what I'm gonna do with the plow, although have been wanting one since acquired WH in 1981 Ummm, jambalaya, sausage samich, home made ice cream and tractors! Footnote: Yes I realize this is a WH small tractor forum, but I am proud of our American mechanical engineering ingenuity. I tried to get some of those fine examples, represented pictorially here. Brings back the farm hand days.

Hi all, Just joined, and happy to to be here. I used to work for the Toro company, and sadly watched the last Horse being crated and shipped off. That was already a number of years ago. That was when I became intrested in the older Tractors. From that intrest, I ran across a Lawn Ranger from mid 60's with no motor, and purchased it. I am doing a custom restoration. I took it all apart, took it to Toro in pieces, and had most if it powder coated Toro red. Since than I moved, and restoration came to a hault. I am now working on it again, and picked up a new 6.5 hp Predator engine from Harbor Freight. Looks like I can make it work without too much fuss. Can someone tell me the best place to ask questions and advice on "this" rebuild on this form? Thanks, Dave

I bet the mid grader blade has only been used a couple times! The tiller has hardly seen any use either!

How do you get yours to stick to that 90 degree incline?

Dave, know you are looking for parts, but this manual, click on link and download, may help with part numbers and all: You can cross reference on asite using Toro Consumer and find diff models with same part numbers. Example site:http://www.smallenginepartswarehouse.com/p/toro-parts?aribrand=TO. Put in riding products in select box, pick 1965 year, and then find your LR, then select group it falls under. Next take your part number over to right side and enter. When it comes up, at right end says "select model". That will give you a list of models part in question will fit.

Looks damn tidy Andy! Gonna have to get my tacho mounted soon...

I hated working on Ford's. What leak, I don't see no leak! As far as my least favorite GM motors to work on it was the Quad 4 (headgasket no fun) and the Olds 307 gutless wonder boat anchor...

Distracted with lots of other things at the moment, but managed a few hours with the grinder and lathe... Turning this Into this It's the front prop shaft bearing holder and flange. Still got the keyway to cut and mounting holes to do. On jollies for a week, so there will be zero progress for a while. :D

Thanks for the welcomes and advice. I will have to take a few pictures from hear on to post. When I get time, I will check out the other areas of the form. Thanks again! Dave

If you will flush it out mix diesel and ATF 50/50 it'll clean it up and give it lubrication while driving it to flush it.

We have a section for restorations, post your progress and questions there. Mike..........

Thank you all for your positive feedback about my kits!! I just PMed bionicfisherman to let him know I still have one Gen 1 kit in stock that he can have for a discount.

Had them all out today

to . In the manuals someone posted the pics of "Final Assembly", I would have just loved to have touched some of the stuff. Like all professions it looks more fun/enjoyable outside; I believe I'd gone home satisfied everyday, though. Also have a Lawn Ranger roller, have the engine, but not ready to scratch it up till get more done on LR. Morphing it to a tall boy with intentions of 8 spd conversion. For the restoration end I've committed sacrilege, but I look like an elephant on a pea otherwise, ha! Good luck and speed with your project and please save/get some pics!

is the rubber shifter boot still there? maybe it got in that way. Koen

Good deal in getting set screw out Now align the shift rails ,may need to use a flat blade s/d to pop them in place, install shifter & new set-screw. Turn set screw in till it stops ,Back out 1/2 turn, & lock the nut. Run threw the shift pattern to see if all is OK ...

A larger cal Beaman air rifle would be nice for the ground hogs but the moles I never see. But this is what I am talking about. Thanks Francis

I worked at Chevy from the begining's of Computer Command Control carbs up through the use of Multi-port injection in the trucks. The 90's trucks were awesome with the throttle body system and almost no hoses or wires. I used to hate working on the Ford tuck trade ins. The valve cover that sat under that stupid giant manifold always leaked.

Nice ride Steve, that'll get you back for some more golf Tom

Well Dino... I guess its an OK truck..... Unless it came with a rock-n- rye cup holder .... Stay thirsty my friend Just not when your on the road ,,,

Yeah, I know that too. But, maybe, just maybe. I will get lucky and get it running. It may just become a diesel if the Le Car engine gives me too much grief. I wiil get some pics when I get it home.

You will enjoy those power mirrors when you get into the truck when your all tired out from the 6 hrs. in the gym. And you find out some hosebag has moved that right mirror so all you can see in it is your mug! ( And I don't mean your R in R mug either!)

what a stunning truck Steve , i would love to own one of those , although the price of fuel in UK would spoil the fun

Well, hate to bring this thing back, but springtime is coming fast... Anyone have any idea what's up with this old cast aluminum heap? I messed with it for the whole afternoon... timed it, cleaned the carb, tried another coil-plate... STILL wont run! Piece of garbage... Did get it cleaned up though. Anyone seen another of these? I need a LawnBoy!

Just installed my new decals from Terry on my 520-8. I think they look great !!

You pass them driving fords.

Where do you add the nuts? Looks nice for a chevy. Lol

Real nice truck Steve! I love the grill, has a nice tough look. I think that motor is a 4.3 V-6. Mike..........

Hey Duke, Why dont you put a couple foot switches on the foot rests. You could have one for each direction of chute rotation (which I assume is the most commonly used one). Then left foot does chute rotation, right foot gives fwd/rev, right hand can adjust the chute height/steering and left hand is lift/steering... Back on topic... I will be buying a hydro pedal from matt as soon as funds allow for the C-165 that I am in process of (re)building

Condensation/moisture

1994 520-H all original.

I love healthy discussion with a few tongue in cheek comments thrown in Chuck, it's one of the great things about RS. Sound idea Chuck. It's simple but effective and I'm sure many would benefit from having one and even want one. The possibilities are endless when it comes to applying electronics, my problem is lack of time despite having retired (so don't count on it too much!) On the analogue (and probably digital) tacho front, they can give indication of a faulty electronic ignition module (aka igniter in the US I believe). If your engine starts missing a beat or two and the tacho flicks at the same time then its often the ignition module that's on its way out. This led me to think about sensing the dwell angle if you're taking pulses from the points to bring an LED on if its time you need to clean, adjust, or replace them. A bit beyond the F2V chip idea but it's possible. So many ideas, so little time, and so much grass to mow etc. Its a hard life even after retirement! And why not - it's going to make me happy too when I get round to actually fitting mine to the 316. Each to his own, and all happy horsemen - what it's all about! Andy

Definitely the gizmo addiction for me Chuck. Like many things we do to these tractors, nothing really necessary or sometimes useful. However watching the flicker of that little needle just makes me happy.