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let the ladies out to play today and do a little sun bathing Brian

Well...with a beautiful weekend behind me, and another beautiful day today. I actually think I may have this one ready for the show. I painted the belt cover, fender pan, and hood Saturday and Sunday. Both the belt cover and fender got dust in the paint, so I hand-worked them with 2000 grit paper and compound and they turned out nice. That's the good thing about using an acrylic paint. It's hard enough to sand and polish in less than 12 hours. On Sunday, I painted the hood. Put two coats on and came back to find a family of gnats doing the back stroke down the middle of the hood. So I got my tweezers and gently removed them, sprayed a third and final coat, ran the hood into the garage where I was hoping to keep it out of harms way, but no. Check on it last night and at lease four more gnats had found their way into the back of the garage, only to land on the hood. So this morning, I carefully picked them out and spent 3 hours wet sanding with 1000, 1500, and 2000 grit sandpaper, followed by an hour of compounding. Anyway, I guess all is right with the Wheel Horse gods as I am proud to present these pictures. Couple of other items of note. I rebuilt the engine back during the winter, but never had a chance to start it and see if it ran. So last Thursday, with 3 of 4 grandsons standing with fingers in ears, I cranked it over, it started immediately, and ran like it was brand new. No smoke, and only a small tweak of the main jet. As you can see, there is no seat. Dave Burley (Funengineer) sent me some custom-made two-piece seat covers, so tonight while relaxing in the recliner I will finish assembling them. But otherwise, it looks like a go for Thursdays journey.

To any Redsquare member who would like to stop by and socialize with other members is welcome to stop by our campfire and chat for awhile after the cruisin' to the oldies only thing you need is a folding chair and your favorite beverage hope to see some new faces Brian

Here is the prototype of the new unit with the steering wheel. We might even be able to afford one.

Outside of working them, that is what these tractors were made for. Here are a couple of pics. from April of my granddaughter and my just acquired 312-8. She loves the thing.

And to top it all, the same morning I was approached by one of those sort of guys you know that bat for the other team , if you know what I mean. What a morning.

That I had to finally get some pictures of the whole herd together! If you click on the pics, they will get larger. I've been using this one to mow the lawn, I'm Loving this 42" rear discharge deck! I still think the Column Shifter is Awesome! My main "worker". Taking this one to the Big Show, so if any of you wanna see the all-trails in person, keep an eye out, because I know there is a lot of talk about them! Hope you guys enjoyed the pics! Can't wait for the show! I'll see a bunch of you there!

yes it will be at the show and I won't be pushing it around ether Thanks the green one is a bolens 1957 super ride-a-matic yea I have 40 all together Brian

Heck you could have had my Senior for $4000. Now that's Wheel Horse history!!!

The Series II has an oil filter port cover on the engine block that is behind the PTO on a Wheel Horse application. The bottom of the cover is under the top of the drive belt in the photo below. The cover can be removed and an oil filter adapter or remote unit can be installed. There is also a port for adding an oil pressure gauge. Wheel Horse did not use the oil filter. You can jazz up the engine compartment of a Series I by adding the chrome air cleaner from a 417.

Grandpa (shynon) taking the girls for a ride. Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

It is good that you escaped from New York...with out getting pregnant.

Thats what I was thinking too Mike!!! I'm not kidding either, I'll do it

Holy Cow Neil...talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time!! Hopefully you just witness some road rage after this. "Get on the right side of the road you pelican". From Crocodile Dundee.

See ya soon Neil, keep an eye on Steve especially if following. YIKES!!!

HMMMMMM 6000 could get me into a nice used 4x4 tractor with a front end loader.

to get them ALL out, he would have to take the entire month of June off!

As much as I love my Xi and Classics there's no way I'd part with $7k+++ for a new one. I can get a 4x4 kubota Bx for a bit more. It'd be money better spent. Lets just be thankful that Toro has been good with parts. For how much longer who knows. Until then I'm riding a horse!

IMHO - there is a market for a true garden tractor (by true, I mean a tractor that has the guts to pull a moldboard plow if needed) that comes in for less $$$’s than a SCUT. Needs to have foot control hydro and a 60 inch deck option. I think the 5xi would fit the bill for this, but need a diff lock too. MTD has their 2000/2100 series tractors, but no sleeve hitch for them. Simplicity is similar with their Prestige, though, supposedly one is available, but rare. The Deere x700 and Simplicity Legacy tractors are almost as expensive as a SCUT. I find fit amazing I can outfit my 520H with a 60 inch deck, pull a moldboard plow and put a front end loader on it. Same for the 5xi tractors. I hope Toro does something positive with a garden tractor. Dumping the Wheelhorse for an MTD box store tractor with red paint and a Toro logo was an all time stupid decision.

Yip . . . wet sand, motor oil, salad dressing, baby oil, rub hard, clear coat . . . .

Hi Ray (I guess) First off looks to me as though there's a little more work to do first in that I try and get rid of rather more of the brown stuff before treatment, particularly on the outside. I've found one of these to be amazing. It's an Oakey abrasive wheel from B&Q or other suppliers and it really gets the surface back to steel almost as good as dry shot blasting. The only down side is that these shred easily if you encounter a sharp edge. Even then treatment is essential - I favour products containing phosphoric acid rather than fancier ones that magically change colour but something that converts any remaining rust, which is an oxide and holds water in its crystalline structure that you cannot remove by drying into to phosphate. The underside of the deck will always to an extent be a lost cause whatever you use to treat and then paint. Unless you are just regularly trimming a neatly manicured flat lawn, only ever cutting when the grass is dry, then the speed at which the blades spin will fling grit and small stones at the paint inevitably shot blasting through both paint and the treatment underneath. I've tried all sorts of treatments and paints but basically over winter the deck has to come off for cleaning and dealing with any damage to the finish used. Cutting long wet grass, which I've had to do quite a lot earlier this season means getting all the soggy stuff off that builds up underneath after every mow - a foul PITA job that's just about manageable without taking the deck off but it does help to reduce deterioration under the deck after all the work you've put into it. Just a few thoughts - Andy

I know Bob...I am not going to count on them making an announcement. If we know when to expect taking the picture, and all read this...it should work and be before the parade starts. As usual, we will take the picture of who is there. If they will announce it, I think that is the best time for all that goes on there...and should be the best time for the members showing up. I plan to take a lot of people pictures, so if they can not make the big picture, we can still get a picture of who is there. So, to all, if you can not make the big picture...stop by and get your mug shot anyway. A lot of us hang there all weekend...stop by and introduce yourself.

I may be wearing a pair of Union Jack shorts to the show, I hope people don't think that I have brought the British weather with me, We got caught in a huge thunder storm yesterday and got soaking wet, , I actually thought you RS guys had arranged the storm to me us feel at home . 3.30 AM as I wrote this post, still can't get used to the time change, would be 9.30 AM in UK. Spoke on the phone to Mike Martino last night & had a good chat Had a Skype call with steveasaurus just before we went out to evening dinner, ended up talking for ages so didn't get dinner lol . Anyone that gets a chance to visit New York should got to the 911 museum, all I can say is , WOW . Another WOW, 2 New York bagels , 2 latte coffees 1 choc chip muffin $35.00

Found these in a barn. Got them for free!! I wish I had taken before pictures, I was thinking of taking a few parts off and scrapping them myself. They were so covered in dirt, dust and grease they were almost solid grey. The tractor is missing a few parts and the fuel pump doesn't work but it fired right up on starting fluid. Since it started, I figured I'd take it down to work and pressure wash it and see what I really had. When I brought it home my wife said she doubted if I would've gotten them for free if the guy had cleaned them himself. Enjoy the pics Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk Found a before shot, sitting in the barn. Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

Well, I did it again! Only this time I can justify a portion of it. While looking for another David Bradley, I found this nice 196? Gravely Model L 6.6 hp with a 26" snow cannon, 30" bushhog, gear reduction hubs, and dual wheel adapters 1/2 hour away. The tag/plate is gone so I can only guesstimate the year. I bought it mainly for the bushhog as I really don't need another snowthrower. I already have backup for the backup! It will mow an embankment that I used to use my trim mower or weed trimmer. After my foot surgery, it has been hard to do so this should make easy work of that. These walk beehinds can take up to a 60 degree bank with the Gravely T-Head engine. The blade is 3/8" steel on the bushhog. I am the third owner and the 1st owner painted it grey for some reason. In the next few weeks I hope to return it to the proper colors. I also need to find an electric start for it as my arm is tired already.

yes I bought a new pit

Next to the cruise, it was my highlite from last year!

heres a thread i did on making one for my c160, should be very similar, if not the same as yours......

Thanks for the help guys. And 546cowboy and boovuc? I am going to peen the seat. Just because I want to try it. Unless this tractor literally goes to hell in a handbasket? It will never be sold. If it doesn't work? Then a Re-Power will be in order. I use stuff until it can't be used anymore and then ladies and gentlemen. It becomes a parts donor.

The .2 hours is because every tractor i'm sure was test run at the factory.

I think it is.

You mean a John Deere collector ? Mike.........

Actually standing under my canopy is welcome if it rains. The more hands keeping water build off the roof the better.

Make sure you save me some! Maybe we can buy a whole pie and split it!

Same here, If any one of your guys need me I'll be at the food stand. I'll be the one with a piece of rhubarb pie in each hand

I think this is as close as they're going to get to building another GT. pretty bad ass I must say! http://www.toro.com/en-us/professional-contractor/trenchers-vibratoryplows/vibratory-plow/Pages/Model.aspx?pid=ProSneak365VibratoryPlow-25403

Monday forecast update: Weather bug is the same. Accuweather has an increased T-storm threat for Thurs. night but a decreased rain threat for Fri. and Sat.

My old bones tell me that there will be a light shower on Thursday morning followed by sunshine, Friday will be sunny all day & Saturday will have a light shower in the morning followed by sunshine.

Hello Ray, good progress on the Deck Shell. I have to get around to doing the same at some stage. I agree with the guy's suggestions here and the materials quoted (i.e. Kurust or Trustan 24) , they are tried and tested. In answer to your question and assuming you are removing more of the rust before prepping for paint, rather than neutralising it with a rust treatment, then you can't do much better than use a 'Weld Through Etch Primer'. Alternatively do the weld repairs first, then de-rust, treat and prime straight after when thoroughly dry. Regards

Hey you are missing a nice one. Will you be bringing it? :)

Yeah...that's hot... I dig the look.

C'mon... that can't even be half of them.

It doesn't look like much different from the pics above but the painting is a pain in the _ _ _! Just when I think i'm done there is something else that needs to be done. It's really getting old but I've come this far so onward I go. Really in the home stretch. Of course I also ran out of the red paint. I think i've used a dozen cans so far. Got to work tomorrow so I won't get back to it till Tuesday.

Hi, Kurust type products work well. Mark

pity the dealer didn't store it with the same enthusiasm that they have for its rarity and price. how much effort would it have taken to cover it properly to keep the dust off it while sitting there all this time? reminds me of the ones you find outside in the weather that the owner won't let go for a fair price. won't look after them, won't let somebody else save them, just let them sit until they have lost most of their value, but still want top dollar like they just rolled off the production line.....

FOOD?!???!! Did someone mention FOOD? "Growl!!!!! Food, comestibles, eatables, sustenance, provender. See also: nutrient. GRRRRRR." "EEEEEKKKK!!! It's a Thesaurus!!! With huge dangling participles!"

I would'nt push it around ether Brian

Don: are you sure that just isn't the usual expression when seeing Van? No shine for me at the show this year!

I don't think it would leak. But why would you start it? Your paying through the nose for a museum piece. The uniqueness of this machine is that no time has been placed on the tractor. The second you spark that fuel in the motor, you might as well have dug a hole in your yard and thrown money in it. I don't want to talk down to you Jason and please don't take it as that but unless you have money to burn as in your a former top ranking VA Hospital Manager, a CEO or CFO to a bailed-out bank or automotive corporation, why would you want to run it? (Just know that it will run because there isn't any reason why it shouldn't run). Gun collectors pay through their bloodied fingers to acquire a weapon that is NIB and NBF and they will never ever fire them. That is their niche, their claim to fame! Just like this tractor has NBF. Do you see where I'm coming from? PS.....I have bought new cars that depreciate as soon as you title it let along put the first mile on it but that new car isn't a collector's car already nor is it old.

I stand by my statement. When I first started tinkering with engines in the mid 1960's, we used to get a catalog from a company called JC Whitney. They sold everything automotive. But the funny thing was that their catalog had ads on every page like, "add this to your gas tank and improve gas mileage by 30 percent", or "this product cleans all the carbon from your engine and boosts horsepower by 15%, or "mechanic in a bottle, never have to tune your engine again", and on and on and on. So if I were to buy a load of those items, I would have never used any gas, my little 6 cylinder Chevy engine would have been increased to V8 power, and my engine would never need a tune up. We all know that that is pure BS.