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Alright I am out mowing when a neighbor down the road stops with his new big box store lawn tractor in the back of his pickup. He just bought it and told me what a great price he got on it and that it was on sale. I really did not pay attention to what it was. It was red and grey is all I remember. He looked at my tractor and said "Why don't you get out of the stone age and get something more modern" I sat there and thought a minute and decided that there was no since in trying to explain Wheel Horse VS. Big Box POS. He just laughed and said I would be sorry I stayed with this old junk. He then shook his head at me laugh some more and went on home. This is what I was mowing with. I think it does a good for a 34 year old tractor. Just can't wrap my head around what he was laughing at. Think maybe the joke was on him?

Getting rid of derelict, wanna-be red tractors.

So I finally got around to taking a couple of pictures of my new 603. This was a one owner tractor I picked up in Bay City, MI. Has both deck and push blade in very good condition. The gentleman that owned this lived on a small city lot and took very good care of it. I haven't had a chance yet to look it over or try to get it running yet. Here's a few pictures.

I use my 1977 B-100 8-speed for plowing snow, hauling brush, and general activities around my wooded property. My other B-100 is fully restored, as are my 701, and 857. They follow me around to several shows a year. The Commando 8 is fully restored, but has taken to doing back flips with me in the saddle. She has been banished to the shed until her behavior improves.

More pics and dirt video's

Today was picture day. Yesterday I had to move my truck and trailer 3 times due to screw ups. I am now on a first name basis at the camping shed. When I drive by now they all wave. Good crowd today. perfect weather. Yesterday the sky was blue and it still rained! I kept seeing a certain Dino around the grounds. Consrtuction hill was awesome. They had a Euclid dozer that came on 3 trucks and they put it together there. Has 2 screaming six cyl. Detroit's on it. I got a video of it as well as the noon whistle! Pics are not captioned. First group has our flea market site, My display that Dino that kept following me around and my friends B-80 that caught fire when 2 wires fell out of the ign switch and shorted on the throttle bracket. We got it out in the nick of time. 2nd video the thumbnail didn't work but the video is there.

I'm very happy to have finally found an original in such great condition Glenn. For now, my plans are to clean it up and leave it as is Ken B. It's had a light coat of color sprayed on it, don't know why as there's no rust. Will know more once I have time to clean it up. She turns over and seams to have good compression Stevasaurus. Need to clean the fuel system and see what she can do. I get a big smile on my face just looking at that seat cushion Neil. Here's a few pics of my barn so far Ken B and Denny. Outside 28x40 The back 12 feet is divided into two equal sized rooms. One is a guest room, the other a paint booth. I've insulated the floor with 1 inch foam and double bubble with a foil inner membrane and 3/4 subfloor. The barn wood is going on two of the walls in the guest room or as we call it , the bunkhouse. Some of the wood that's 5/4 and 6/4 will be kept for furniture projects. The rest will be used on the inside of the barn on the wall that separates the two rooms from the storage area. As you can see, I've got a little bit of work to get done before winter sets in. This barn project has curtailed my tractor projects. With the completion of the barn and paint booth I'll be able to catch up on tractor projects this winter :)

If you are rebuilding your snow thrower, many models from the 60's, 70's and 80's, use the same bearings for the chain drive shaft. ST-323, 6-0200, 6-0201, 6-0202, 6-6212, 6-6213, 6-6214, 6-6215, 6-42ST01, 66-42ST01, 76-42ST01, 86-42ST01, 86-48ST01, 98-42ST01, 06-37SB01, 06-37SX01, 06-42ST01, 06-42ST02, 06-42ST03, 06-42ST04, 06-42SY01, 06-42SY02 and others. The bearing part numbers are 107743, 100908, 101702, 101781, or 1968. If you have checked, you probably found that replacement bearings from Toro cost you around $60.00 each. These are the bearings that are inserted into the 3-bolt flanges that hold the shaft on either end. They look like this: The inside diameter is 3/4", and the outside diameter of the widest part of the outside is 52mm or 2-1/32" +/-. This is called an insert bearing, and the outer housing is curved so that when inserted into the flange, it's allowed to self-center. Here it is in the flange To replace both of these bearings will cost at least $100 with shipping if you buy them from Toro. If you search for this bearing online, you will find that a 3/4" inside diameter insert bearing is available, but with an outside diameter of only 47mm, or a little under 1-7/8", which is too small to properly fit into the flange. Here is my solution. I purchased insert bearings with a 7/8" inside diameter. This bearing has the proper outside diameter of 52mm. I also purchased bronze bushings with a 3/4" ID, and a 7/8" OD. I removed the 1/4-28 x 1/4" set screws, and pressed the bushing into the new bearing. Then I drilled and tapped the bushing, and inserted two new 1/4-28 x 5/16" set screws. My total cost for two new bearings, which now is a perfect fit for the flange, was $30.00 which included shipping. On my snow thrower, the outer bearing (closest to the chain) was attached to the shaft with a 1/4" roll pin. Since these bearings only come with set screws, I rotated the shaft so that the set screws avoided the holes in the shaft. There is really no need for a roll pin at that location. 7/8" Insert bearings - UC205-14, $5.63, Bearingson.com 3/4" x 7/8" x 1-1/4" SAE 863 Bronze Sleeve Bearings, #2868T172, $2.51, McMaster & Carr 1/4-28 x 5/16" Black Alloy Steel, Cup Point Set screws, $.11 each, McMaster & Carr All the prices are plus shipping. Hope this helps someone to get their snow thrower running quietly and smoothly again without having to spend an arm and a leg on Toro bearings.

We just got in our new custom trailer yesterday that we are going to turn into a "Wheel Horse Hauler". This is going to be the small one, 6'4" x 12' dovetail with gate. Next spring we'll be doing a larger double axle one. It's already going to pick up 3 more tractors, 2 blowers, a cab, and other things tomorrow so we don't have time to do it all at once. We have already painted the hubs and wheels but that's all. We still have to paint the trailer red and stain the floor Ivory for starters, then the fun begins. More Wheel Horse logos than you have ever seen. I have a friend named Scot that has a Computerized plasma cutter so I called him this morning. He made me the 2 prototypes and had them here by lunch, pics are below. He is making 1/4" steel or stainless or who knows what yet horse heads and written logos for it. They will be recessed into the bed and be about 45" wide x 45" long. He is also doing the older italic Wheel Horse written emblem for below the head (pic is below) but it will be the text only, not the horse head. The smaller ones on here will be on the drop gate facing each other when done with the written logo in between. There's a lot more but you will see it as it is done. There is a poll to which horse head logo you guys think will look best. I had him cut each piece of the logo separate for easy painting and touch up. Each piece can be painted separately then screwed or Velcro attached into its recess. They can also be removed for repainting without taping. I'm gonna use this thing so it will get scratched up I'm sure. He just left here after making a couple of prototypes and said I could put a link to his website on here, there is nothing he can not do. It's all kinda fast but I hope to have him here as soon as next week as a supporter and vendor if the leadership here allows. Here is what he can do - http://www.phoenixcreativemetal.com/ Look through the gallery and you will be amazed. If you guys have any ideas for this please let me know! The construction will start next week.

Wait until something is wrong with it and what it costs to fix it...if they can fix it. Wheel Horse was just made for all of us "Shade Tree Mechanics".

Awesome find on the 603. Are you planning to keep it original? Looks like with some cleaning and detailing and it will be ready for another 50 yrs.. I love what you plan to do with the interior of your pole barn. That kinda stuff is right up my alley. When I can't find authentic aged wood for a project I enjoy taking a new piece of wood and adding patina, bumps and bruise's, the right colors and the like to make it look like its 100 yrs. old. Some more info and pics of what you are doing in the barn would be pretty cool if you ask me.

The previous owner died 6 years ago. The tractor was kept in a shed in the back yard and has not been run since. The pictures are just as it was when I picked it up. I haven't had a chance to clean it yet. Ive got to finish a couple projects before I can work on the horses. I've been finishing the drive and landscape around my new pole barn and cleaning some old growth white pine barn wood for finishing the interior.

This is my inexpensive GT14. ($20) The previous owner had a K301A motor mounted on it and that just wasn't going to work! He gave me this K301S and I installed it. I don't have any history on this motor so I didn't know what to expect. First attempt to fire it up with carb cleaner was a success! Looked like Westley's garage on "Last of the Summer Wine". Smoke rollin out the door! That was yesterday. This morning I put somemore parts on the motor and tried to start it with the temporary fuel cell. Would not start, no fuel to the carb. Removed the fuel pump and disassembled. I never saw so much rust in such a small space. (sorry, no pic of that) Wash it in the sink, reassembled and installed. Restart? YES! It runs on it's own . Even took it for a ride around the yard. Not too good up hills but the belt is way too long and slips. OK ... it's back to the garage. Here's the pics.

My wife and I love hiking and looking for remnants of old home sites in the park. We were hiking in an area this time that was told to us to be where Dolly Parton's parents and family had lived. We came across this old chimney There were some old pots in the chimney an old wash tub near a spring house and some other unidentifiable metal objects surrounding the area. I continued down the foot path looking for more artifacts and came within one step of stepping on this fellow. His head was facing the other direction until I backed away to a safe distance and began yelling for the wife to bring the camera.Thank goodness. Came across this interesting fungi. If I googled correctly this is called a stinkhorn. Thanks for looking Mark

If I was able, I would at least come out to meet everyone. On Saturdays, it's me and my infant son and all the shenanigans we can muster, but my wife is off Sunday, so it's the only day we have together.... and I'm not confident I could convince her to go!

Looks like its coming along nicely! Most guys say you need a support......but I never have. I feel that if the threaded stub goes into the block nice and deep you don't need the support. Mike..............

I can't imagine one good reason why... you stopped that gorgeous to entertain his nonsense in the first place. .

Test fitting the muffler. Should there be a brace on it someplace?

For anyone following along , I'll update this . Last Sunday I had a spankin new Echo over my shoulder & the plastic card in the other . As I was walking toward the checkout , I just had to take one more crack at this thing . It appears the rubber tip of the needle valve was the culprit . Once removed I wiped the little rubber tip with a rag soaked in mineral spirits , blew a dose of choke cleaner in the seat . Blew dry with compressed air . Replaced all the fuel lines & primer bulb & it fired up on the first pull . I had to readjust the high & low but after a little research this thing runs like a top again , powerful as h.e. double hockey sticks ! Here's to another 17 years my old friend !!!

And just what will your neighbors tractor look like in 34 years? I know, a recycled beer can!

Just finished mowing my lawn with my 875. I also mowed the neighbors yard for the 2nd time this season. It has only been mowed twice, and I did it! GT-14 snow-plowing last winter, B-80 garden plowing.....The list goes on and on...

Take the belt cover off and take some pictures of the entire assembly with the clutch released. Then have someone take a picture of the belt and idler when the clutch is depressed. Take some pictures of the inside of the belt cover and the tabs on the engine end. You said it's a new belt, but it is the correct belt?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX4qUILtQ1Y http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wld62B5AeeM

Thanks guys, the words of encouragement really help! It's great to hear of your success Martin, I'll see how I go. I've had to mail order a honing tool as the local car factors around here don't have any (!) In the meantime I'm struggling to get the pulley and the flywheel off but I'll keep at it. The rest of the tractor is apart and now being stripped of paint and rust. More photos and progress to come

I use my 312- 8speed for mowing & my 1054A for plowing the garden & my 857 for my snow plowing .

I use my C141 for tilling, weed spraying, and sweeping the leaves. The 314 is right now only for mowing and lawn fertilizing. If I could find a tall chute snow blower for it, it would get some winter work. The 520xi is used for mowing, lawn fertilizing, snow blowing, and dirt moving either with a dozer blade or with a FEL.

I use Wheel Horse tractors for all the following with my various attachment: Mowing, hauling (with dump cart< tilling (36 inch tiller), snowplow, mid-grader blade (for dirt and gravel), snowblower, electricity at job site ( WH 3000 watt generator, yard waste and leaves (Mighty Mac Hammermill attachment for WH PTO), garden plow, disc, spiked tooth harrow, cultivator, dethatcher, and Brinly aerator,

Thanks, I will have a look. I used the acid/scotchbrite technique, just finished in fact, I was amazed with the results.

Latest picture as im nearing the finish line. Progress has been slow with all the summer activities. Basically I just need to finish the hood and apply the decals. After that I'll try to summarize how this restoration unfolded. I'm hoping to attend the Warsaw event October the 4th.

Just a little to bring this back to the top. Maybe some of the newer members have some input? Always great to read the stories of what brought others to this addiction. Post'em up guys... and enjoy reading the old ones!

I am planning on it...at least Saturday.

An Octoberfest sounds like a swell idea to me Karl. I like the Kent Show but I can easily do both, if I have to choose one or the other I'd be in for the Octoberfest. I think the secret to good attendance and getting some guys to drive some distance is the lure of a good swaporama. We all love to go home with a little something extra, big or small.

I'm glad you linked it from Suburban International as well Lars. Fantastic Work! The harrow turned out great, and with it on the back of your Suburban, it looks even better! Matt

You just stay in VA and leave our wheel horses alone!!!

Or Vinsrj ...

My canopy that I got on eBay from a Chinese vendor with shipping from Texas, (the one I had at the WHCC show) was so crappy that I insisted they give me my money back. I got the full $159.99 back.

that's amazing!

WOW!! I'm so glad you put the link to this. I missed it. Another pic saved when I build my 2015 calendar. That's a great match.

You can do the Alton Brown Garbage Can Smoker which is inexpensive and easy to make!

Rumor has it there was a new Buckeyes fan spotted in the shoe yesterday..

First sensible thing said. Everything can be restored... the difference is a hard resto vs an easy resto.... or should I say low cost resto vs expensive resto...

Thanks Nick, yes it was actually made for a Harley Davidson with a dual coil twin cylinder. I bought a new old stock Kohler K582 that was made in 1995 and added some of the parts from my 18 Automatic's K482 along with some new parts. The chrome air cleaner cover is from a Kohler 17 HP series 2. I put a metal bodied mechanical fuel pump on and have a new old stock oil pressure sending unit and gauge to add.

So now I'm a RS Supporter. As soon as my profile gets updated I'll post more pics Hmmm a 50's setting eh? (we really do say "eh" a lot) I may be able to come up with something John

Hi John I saw pictures of your tractor when it was for sale and if it wasn`t in Canada I would have went for it.This tractor is a tru survivor ,from what I can see the only original parts missing are the engine tins ,Schnacke recoil assembly and the belt guard.The Kohler Schnacke comes up on E-bay from time to time.Excellent find! Keep the photo`s coming Chuck

Do you plan to replace the Uni drive with an automotive rear end or use a gear reduction 90 degree box and belt drive? That would be a real test of engineering! Love it!

Thx Brrrrrly.. well just ship em over the pond LOOOOL Thats right Neil.. im really happy that i found it.. Thx Garry.. cool to get some info about it.. Thx Amc.. it was funny to restore it.. but i have some other stuff that's need TLC to.. so im busy LOL...

When Brian's canopy does need to be replaced, will the new one have a stainless steel frame? This reminds me. time to get the canopy out and set it up to find out what part mysteriously broke while sitting in the bag all winter.

I really like this tractor. It would look good behind my 46 Willys cj2A if it were all together. It wears a the same paint even has the big white star on the hood. The lights on the tractor even look similar to the Willys turn signals. The glass is more cone shaped on the Willys though. Mark

jason them part numbers are stil good.

I guess my story is a bit sentimental. Everytime I see a wheel horse....I can see my dad. My dad past away back in 1998. The first memories I have as a child is my dad and his 1963 Lawn Ranger (which I still have). I guess there are sights and smells that get "ingrained" in a child. My strongest memories are of the smell of fresh cut grass... And the smell of our garage and of the wheel horse itself (gas and oil). My dad used to put us on his lap and that is how we learned to steer. Then when we were old enough he let us "solo" and I can remember him walking along side the tractor as we drove it. My brother was not as attached to the tractor as I was. So I always got to mow the lawn with it. I got older and met the love of my life (my wife) and we bought a large plot of land. The grass was too tall to cut while riding forward...(the grass would just bend over under the deck and not get cut)...so I drove that little lawn ranger backwards over 4 1/2 acres. The acreage was too much for the little tecumseh and it gave out. I felt responsible so I ordered an 8 hp tecumseh and installed it for Dad. Finally got married..... Dad was there again. He gave me that 1963 Lawn Ranger as part of our wedding gift. I used it for a couple of seasons and bought a bigger tractor (a B-80). Then I designed and was building the home we live in. My dad was there mowing the lawn. I think he really enjoyed driving that larger frame tractor. And he came almost every day to help me with whatever I needed to build our house. So all my collecting is on behalf of the memory of my Dad... God rest his soul...... he was the best.