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Grandson claimed the "new" Work Horse! Says, "That's mine!"

Went on a little road trip to the southern part of the state today to pick this one up... Kind of a wierd story behind it all. A little over a year ago I was at the Kent CT tractor show with one of my RJ35's. I got to talking with a guy who said he had a RJ "with the belts" and "sitting in my barn"... I get these kind of stories all the time... so of couse I had to ask if it was for sale... answer: No. So we talk a little bit longer and I wright my name and number down and asked if he changes him mind to give me a call... 9 times out of 10 I never hear back... But this time would be different. Last Monday I get a call from the guy saying he and I met at a tractor show over a year ago.... and he was ready to sell his RJ35. At first I had no memory of the original encounter and had no idea what he was talking about, LOL! It wasn't after about 5 or 10 minutes talking with him that I started putting it all together... long story longer we set to meet today and what does he pull out of the "barn"? A sheet metal frame 1956 RJ35 with a "no-name" hood and original iron steering wheel... Now don't get me wrong it's got issues but nothing I haven't fix in the past or cannot machine an original part for... And it came with a plow and the original belt guard! I will be uploading a vid to my youtube channel tonight of this little RJ, so we can get up close and personal, LOL!

Do you know what these are??? Today, anyone under 30 has almost no idea what most of these were used for. Times change. Memories...

Went out to Canton yesterday to pick up a Lawn Ranger. Seller said there was rust on the rear rims. What do you guys think? Not to much rust hahaha

I was able to get a few hours away from working on the barn to take my son fishing on my 55' Crestliner with my new (to me) restored Evinrude 18.

One thing that works, if you think that pin is shot...and it looks like it, or will after grinding the ends...take a Saws All and cut the pin between the hitch and transmission on both sides...the piece in the trans will tap right out and the pieces in the hitch can enjoy a good soak in penetrating oil before you press them out. You will save yourself a lot of grief and time. You can make another pin from bar stock.

Made quite a long road trip today, but it was nice seeing the turning trees/grasses and the harvest in full swing. First is obviously an 88/89 520-H...runs great 8xx hours came with a 42" deck and a PECO bagging system. Second is a 12 automatic re-powered with a K321, 36" deck and a 42" dozer blade...runs excellent!!! Third is a HUUUUUUGE dump cart....I have seen VERY few of these (this is a factory Horse right?) does anyone know the part number???...it's in really good shape, I literally laughed out loud when I saw it in person for the first time. I think it's basically the same size as my 4 wheel wagon, but with one axle and dump capability. All in all and pretty good day scarfing stuff up....but not in Nebraska

Well my boy got his cart. Paid $75.00 for it and I thought that was not bad. He is in heaven and has already gave rides to his little brother. Helped the wife do some fall yard work and is learning to back it around. There are no rust holes and the only dents are in the rear lip.

I went to a Catholic school as well, which just so happens to be located just beyond the back yard of my parents house.. I agree with you 100% on all counts of what you said, that is the way is was when I was there during the 70's and very early 80's I got my hair pulled out plenty by my first grade teacher who was of course a Nun.. I can still remember to this day telling my Mom and Dad about it and the first thing my Dad said was what did you do to deserve that? When I finally gave in and told him I saw steam coming out of his ears for a second or two and my mom quickly blurted out no dessert after dinner for a week! (I think mom saw the steam as well) I should have just kept my mouth shut but looking back I deserved the missed desserts and the hair pullins,(watchin 6 brothers and sisters enjoying their ice cream after dinner kinda sucked!) I should have stopped throwing the broken Crayola crayon's across the class room after my second warning! (I have no idea why that was so much fun but it was!) Sadly there are no Nun teacher's there anymore, only the principle is a Nun. I'll be the first to admit that I got into my fair share of trouble in school, the nuns never snitched on me to my Dad who they knew personally as he is a Deacon at the church... Big old school German guy, it would not have gone well for me. Looking back I think they must have known that or Nuns don't snitch. If I got in trouble at school it was handled in house, and that wasn't pretty either... Good times...

I went to a Catholic School. If you acted up in school, the Nun would pounce on you and wallop the daylights out of you. On the other hand, If you came to school with a problem, that same Nun would give you a big hug and spend a lot of time helping you get through it. And of course their was prayer and the Pledge Allegiance every morning. We came to school dressed in shirt and tie and the girls wore dresses or skirts. We did not wear uniforms. There was no air conditioning. We walked to school summer and winter rain or snow. We weren't encouraged to fight, but we were allowed to work out our differences without interference but bullies were not tolerated. If we did get into a fight, we were offered Iodine and band aids but there was no punishment in most cases. Boys did not curse in front of girls of any age. I was sixteen the first time I hear a female use the F word. Underwear was a personal garment and dot displayed in public as all pants were worn with a belt and around the waist. Of course I was born in 1936. We grew up during WW2 and watched the movies that had patriotic themes and believed in them. I could go on and on about this subject.

Getting to choose the paddle from the principles closet to be corrected with. Sent from where I am.......

Get leaked off at the guy who stole your girl & punch each others brains out . Back then in a couple of hours you licked your wounds & became friends again . Today , they call the SWAT team / FBI & the commander in chief & lock the school down .

Good subject for sure. I was a Cub Scout in grade school...I always wore my Scout pocket knife on a (like rabbits foot) chain hooked on one of my belt loops. I probably carried it in Jr High also. I rode my bike to school all the way through High School (up hill both ways)...never locked it up (never had a lock to do that) and never had it messed with.

I can remember in the early 1950's when I was in grade school. All the boys carried pocket knives or some had hunting knives. We had a target drawn on the boys outhouse wall ( we didn't have in indoor plumbing ) We would throw our knives at the target to see who could get closest to the inside circle. The school only had 2 rooms and grades 1 thru 8. Heat was produced by a pot belly coal stove in the center of each room and the boys had to take turns going out to the shed for a bucket of coal when the bucket got empty. We lived 2 miles from the school, long walk in the snow. Them were the good old days !!

Some of the things I did in our one room school in the 1950s. One teacher for grades 1-8. We listened to the world series on the radio during class....pre TV era. In the spring and fall, we combined our lunch break and recess so we had time to play a baseball game. The teacher was a good pitcher. The older students helped teach the younger classes. Older boys maintained the central coal fired heatrola furnace. Younger students swept the oiled wood floor and cleaned blackboards and dusted erasers. I carried a my coon trapping equipment including a 22 pistol to school and checked my 3 mile long line on the way home. And, no It was not up hill both ways. The High School was a 17 mile ride over the highest mountain in Pa., 3000 ' + Mt. Davis. It was not uncommon to use tire chains for weeks at a time. We had many dead end pick ups on the 17 mile route and got stuck many times backing into private lanes. The 30 + students would off load and push the bus. We had 4 school sponsored sports teams ..Baseball, Basketball, Football, and the Rifle team. The NRA taught a hunter/firearms safety course in school long before the State required a hunter safety course. School was always closed the first day of deer season. This is the Monday after Thanksgiving, and If you showed up for school with a 5-6 day old unshaven face, you were expelled for 3 days and could hunt the rest of the week. The GOOD ole DAYS

Been looking for my first Wheel Horse and located just what I wanted. It's an 854. Like I was told on this forum, get ready for a road trip. So I did , my wife and I drove from Texas to Missouri and picked it up. We got home and I put a battery in it and it started right up, no smoke and it drives in all gears. Going to dig into it tomorrow to see just what I really have. The seller was nice and threw in an original pan seat . I'm happy with the 854 and will be asking a lot of questions of this forum. Thanks.

Now I know what routes not to take.

Glenn, The N series Fords are nice "5 acre" tractors and have gotten cheaper in recent years as newer compact utilities have hit the used market. In my part of the Midwest, decent 8N's can be had for about $2k. 9N/2N's are cheaper. Really nice restored and rebuilt units are more, but still reasonable. You can find an 8N for $1500, but it's going to cost you something in some way to get t ready for working. We had a 1948 8n and it was a great mowing tractor with a 6' Deere finish mower on the three point. But it wasn't perfect. Dad replaced it after many years with a new Kubota and we wouldn't go back. A few thoughts: If you want something to work with, you want an 8N. The 9/2N look about the same but have a couple disadvantages. First, they have only 3 speeds vs th 4 on the 8N. That extra gear is helpful. They also have the left wheel turning brake pedal on the left side of the tractor next to the clutch. Both brake pedals are on the right side on the 8N. It makes operating the 9/2 a little awkward. I think the engine on the 8N is marginally stronger than on the earlier ones. The 3pt on the 8n was also improved a bit and offers both position and draft control modes. The earlier were only draft control. Draft control means the tractor actively fools with the adjustment of the hitch to maintain draft load. This is useful when plowing a field, but not helpful when mowing or blading. Late 8N's had their distributor on the side of the engine instead of behind the fan on the front. It's hard to adjust the points on the early 8's and the 9/2's. They all had 6V electrical systems except some of the 2N's that were hand crank, magneto models. A well maintained 6V system is usually adequate and can still be jump started with a 12V battery if necessary. All were positive ground which seems goofy today. All N's have transmission driven PTO's. This means two things: when you push in the clutch, your mower stops receiving power. And, the mower itself will act as a flywheel that will continue to drive the tractor forward despite your best efforts to stop it with the brakes. You will need to add an "overrunning clutch" to the PTO shaft. Those shafts are, by the way, also 1.125" instead of the modern 1.375" in most cases. Bushings and adapters are available. The hydraulic pump that actuated the three point hitch is driven off the pto shaft. So when you clutch, you can't lift the implement. It takes planning to mow tight quarters with one of these things. N's are very light weight and don't have great traction. That's what made Harry ferguson's draft control invention so brilliant and efficient. The 2500 lb 9n was a match for much larger ih and JD tractors when plowing. The 3pt was only available on FOrds and ferguson's until the 1950s when the patents ran out which is why you don't see any other makes of old tractors so equipped. For some reason a lot of old timers are confused by the N series model numbers. The 9N was introduced in 1939. The 2N replacement was essentially the same tractor but was introduced in 1942 to allow a price increase during wartime (and could be had with steel wheels and no electrics). The 8N was a big improvement released in 1948. It was a new model required since Henry Ford and Harry Ferguson's handshake deal had fallen apart. 1953 saw the NAA series. The 53 model was a huge improvement with more power from an overhead valve engine and live hydraulic power. The 53 and 54 models were identical, except the 53 was known as the golden jubilee in commemoration of ford's 50th anniversary. In 1955, ford quit building a single tractor model and replaced it with a range of power and transmisssion choices. Cecil Pond apparently was a Ford man and modeled the Rideaway hood after the 53 and later fords. We also had a cub and h farmall too. Great machines as well, but the low-slung utility style tractor with wide front end of the Ford makes a more universal tractor. Fords don't seem to be really considered collectible by many. I think it's because there are just so many of them out there and they are so familiar and common. Good luck! Steve

Worked on the 854 project today, started the tear down and most everything seems to be in good shape with the exception of the carb. Every other screw was broken off or missing and even some sheet metal screws were used in place of the machine screws. The only other problem is the steering wheel, its kinda stubborn so I have it soaking in penetrating oil, hope it comes off the 3/4 in. shaft with out damage.

This stuff brings back a lot of memories...some good and some bad. I had the pleasure of getting made fun of, in 1st grade, because I held the pencil in the wrong hand. The teacher kept taking it out of my left hand and forcing it into my right. I am still a true left hander, but I found out a couple of years ago (when I fractured my left wrist) that I could still sign my name with my right hand. I guess I should thank her for that.

Well since I live in the country and not in a state where whiners have not taken over yet , I am well prepared for unwelcome visitors now. It is a sorry state that this country and leadership has gone to over gun control. I never really thought much about needing to be better armed. I had three shotguns and used to keep one loaded where I could get to it easily. Living out in the country there is no use relying on the Sheriff to send a deputy in time to do much good. That's why I now have a CC license and three .45's with a gate I can lock at the end of my 400' driveway.

An all points bulletin has been broadcast for the lower eastern Pa area for a white Cadillac Escalade towing a big trailer. Pay particular attention to all routs coming from Kentucky.

Having experienced personally what can happen when a horse rares up and gets away from you, I will not let my grandkids drive any of my tractors without me being at arms length, tractor in 1st gear, and trottled back to idle. I know there will be those who disagree with this as I have seen many youngsters at the Wheel Horse show driving everything from Lawn Rangers to D250's. But as we all know, accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Whatever you decide to do, exercize common sense.

Well...at least they're easy on and off.

Bob, Well that's one way to look at it but on the other hand maybe I should bet against them more often!

I used to like N'western when they lost 8000 games in a row. Now they are starting to get into my shorts. I rank them right along now with the Queenies, Cowpukes and DA BEARS!!!!!!!!

Very cool weights and special time with dad, priceless.

Baby steps huh? Can't wait for this week's post! Moving on up! Dino,you couldn't have said it better when you told Jim you would be right down!!! Is that belly up or bottoms up???? Lol There is No doubt that Iowa is not the savior for the Big Ten. I could only Hope for the Days of Hayden Fry. Remember Duke the days of being #1 and 2# going at it the 85' season Iowa kicked a field goal Final score Iowa 12, Michigan 10, yes days of yesteryear. I will always have those hopes and I say that the Hawkeyes will reappear!!!! With all of that said it's time for, as we all Know, Go Hawkeyes!!!!

When you get yours apart you'll see why. Go back and look at all the pics I posted in here, the problem is not getting it back in.

See, never bet against your team.

I would like to vote on kicking Northwestern out of the B10. All you guys have to do to get a N.W. game right is pick the team I dont.

I took my hunters safety course in jr high I all so remember tapping maple trees outside of the school in 1st grade and making maple syrup Brian

Keep it above the line and in the spirit of the title and the mods will have no problems with it. As for things that i did in school that won't happen again, Watching the space shuttle launch in a school assembly! Via Tapatalk 4

My son goes to the the same high/trade school I went to. The smoking lounge is gone "I think that's a good thing even though I did use it when I was there". He runs cross country for the school and there is no late bus so he has to wait till we can get there to pick him up which can be almost a hour. Even though there is a, "yes security guard" at the front desk till 10:00pm, he is not allowed to stay on school property to wait. He has to leave school property and go across the street to the Dunkin Donuts or the shopping center around the corner. We live 2 towns and about 20 miles away. For one we never had any type of security at all. Heck we even had a rifle team which they no longer have. I think as a country we are toast! It will never be the same. The one saving grace is there are some places in the USA that have not gone off the deep edge. My brother moved to Great Falls, MT. back in 1982. Have been visiting him ever since. I can tell you that it is pretty much the same as it was back then. Sure it has grown a little and they have modernized some but no where the levels we see here in the North East.

Here's pics of my 45 minute ride around the tree farm today. Got the fancy yellow saddle on the horse and leaving the pony at home! And Back home again!

Here's a few of my original condition machines! Enjoy! Most of these I bought from the original owners, mostly old folks!

What better day than today to spend some QT with my dad making some new wheel weights. Better add a pic of us [emoji2]

Just to add to WH500specials post.Some of the IH 154 and 184 lowboys did come with a factory 3 point and the IH "creeper" gear. Those however, are not real common. Mark

I don't know much about the loboys. We had a 51 cub with a 42" belly deck. Those suckers are only something like 9hp so the mower was a load for it. It is a real tractor though and can haul, plow, and do other things pretty well. They started life as 1947 models with a 60 cubic inch four cylinder with no sleeves. They run amazingly smooth and quiet. The same engine was used on other IH equipment of the time. I think the engine got hopped up a bit through the years but stayed similar. Very durable. They used a 3 sp transmission that found its way into the cub cadets in 1961. Tough tranny. I don't think any of the cubs ever got a three point hitch from the factory. Some in the 50's had the IH Fast Hitch which was pretty revolutionary, but proprietary. The first loboys were offered in late 50's and are a standard cub with the drop housings on the rear end rotated 90 degrees to lower them. I think the wheelbase shrunk as a result by the same distance the height was lowered. Shorter spindles on front probably lowered it to match. I see a lot of the newer, boxy loboys still around here so they must be tough little suckers. They share some mechanical commonality with early cubs but were updated and freshened to complement the cub cadet line. I saw a loboy 154 (I think) sell recently at an auction near my house in southern IL for $1300 in running shape with a deck under it. So they are affordable too. If I had to pick between a Ford and a Loboy, I'd pick the Ford since it is more versatile to me. And the Art Deco styling is nice. Both are cool suckers though. Steve

I bought this at Harbor Freight yesterday at the big tent sale all weekend. As u can see with the improvement it is at working level now not on the ground. No more bending over and straining the neck to see what I am working on almost eye level and under a $100.00. Enjoy the video. Gary B..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=wOgcoIXLZ3c

How many of you know what "Union Hardware #5" is?

It seems to be the world we live in now, and I don't like it a bit. That's why I'm constantly trying to go backwards, back to a simpler and better life as much as I can anyway.

AJ...BIG THANK YOU.....that was so cool. Enjoyed the machine shop pics. And the weights are beast. Glenn

LOVE EM !!

It rained hard here this morning and I decided to play on the terramite in the mud. Installed curtain drain and gutter drains on one side today. Tomorrow I need to coat the front of the foundation and then I can install the curtain drain in front.

I do that with my sled for the summer months . Makes working on things a breeze .

First thing find the rules of the club you want to pull with. Middlesex tractor pullers and our rules are totally different.

I'm still working on a new formula. I have 3 games I've decided on. Still on the fence on the others. I'm taking Steve's picks adding them to Brrly's and dividing by 12. Then multiply that by 3. I'll take that number and add the number of snow plows Geno has and then multiply that by the number of items currently in Craig's magic shed. That number will go into a hat which I will pick out blindfolded.

We'll apart from the stack & a different fuel tank & seat , although I still have the seat but is the base is toast , my gt 14 is original