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Well when I pulled in to the property I realized I was going to get some seat time tonight. The leaves have begun to fall rather quickly. I could either let them all blow away OR I could hop on a Horse and pick them up with the sweeper. I chose the latter and enjoyed the ride! Here is the Commando 8 on leaf duty tonight. I sure hope there are some more leaves on the ground when I get home tomorrow night!

I flipped the frame upside down on mine. Also made drop spindles and used a early 60's front axle. Its as low as I want it. I imagine low profile golf cart rear tires would give a little more in the rear. Compared to a stock height tractor.

AMAZING RARE OLD PHOTOS Arnold Schwarzenegger in New York for the first time in 1968 Bill Gates' mug shot for driving without a license 1977 Muhammad Ali talking someone out of jumping - 1981 Audrey Hepburn shopping with her pet deer, in Beverly Hills, CA Jimi Hendrix and Mick Jagger - 1969 Madonna, Sting and Tupac hanging out. Paul McCartney, John Lennon & George Harrison performing at a wedding reception, 1958. The Rolling Stones circa 1963 Ernest Hemingway's passport photo - 1923 Robin Williams dressed like a cheerleader - 1980 The original Star Wars cast seen just before filming Cameramen recording the lion roar for the MGM logo Elton John at the piano bar aboard his private plane - 1976 Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein Queen Elizabeth during her WWII service. Elijah Wood & Macaulay Culkin - 1993 John Travolta & Olivia Newton John rehearsing for "GREASE" A young Osama Bin Laden with his family in Sweden during the 1970s. Bin Laden is second from the right in a green shirt and blue pants. Bruce Lee dancing Osama Bin Laden after practicing judo Hachiko before his burial in 1935 The Japanese dog was famous for his incredible loyalty. His owner passed away and didn't come home on his usual train one evening in 1925. Hachiko returned to the station every day and waited for him to come home for 9 years until his own death. The Beatles and Ali - 1964 Martin Luther King Jr, and Marlon Brando Steve Jobs sitting with Bill Gates discussing the future of computing in 1991. Adam West (Batman) & Leonard Nemoy (Spock) goof around on a drumset Amelia Earhart getting her last haircut - 1937 Early drawings by Walt Disney of Mickey Mouse The US-built ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was one of the first computer ever made Marathon Runners at the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens, Greece - 1896 The first Walmart store opened in 1962 Golden Gate bridge construction - 1937 Fidel Castro and Malcolm X discussing politics and family - 1960 Vladimir Putin as a teenager (2nd from the left, in a hat) Marilyn Monroe meets Queen Elizabeth II - 1956 Steven Hawking with his bride, Jane Wilde Robert Downey Jr. and Slash Hilter as the best man in Joseph Goebbels wedding Last concert of Beatles on a London rooftop - 1969 George Armstrong Custer and some of his fellow soldiers, during the American Civil War. [Colorized] Norway celebrates the first ever banana arriving in the country Alan Shepard, America's first man in space, puts on his Navy Mark IV spacesuit. Marilyn Monroe and Sammy Davis, Jr. Howard Carter, an English archaeologist, examining the opened sarcophagus of King Tut. Che Guevara and Fidel Castro Mt Rushmore construction - 1939 Elvis Presley during his service in the U.S. Army - 1958 Construction of Eiffel Tower in 1880 William Harley and Arthur Davidson, 1914 -- The Founders of Harley Davidson Motorcycles

AMAZING RARE OLD PHOTOS William Harley and Arthur Davidson, 1914 -- The Founders of Harley Davidson Motorcycles Pablo Picasso & Brigitte Bardot - 1956 A young Bill Clinton meets John F. Kennedy Frank Sinatra asks Lou Gehrig for an autograph in 1939 Steven Spielberg sits in the mechanical shark used in JAWS Thought you would enjoy these. I sure did. Glen

I have 6 snow blowers. Just finished restoring and modifying this one. Can`t wait to try it out. Here are the before and after photos. -- John

They say donuts make strange bedfellows. I read somewhere that Jack frost donuts is offering a promotional item this week with a baker's dozen.. Maybe you could drop by Brrly's to watch the game.

I Impressive Highways system above the Rainforest in Sao Paolo, Brazil Beijing International Airport, China Super Moon rising above Sierra Nevada Sequoia National Park California The Amazing Stone Mirror in Istanbul, Turkey Amazing view of Schwerin Castle, Germany The water is so clear it looks like the boat is hovering! - Bora Bora Pearl Beach Heart Island in mangrove delta of the Vaza-Barris River, Brazil Escalator of the New World Trade Center Airplanes rolling over highway at Leipzig-Halle Airport in Germany Amazing walk at West Side of Taihang Mountain in Shanxi Province, China Impressive Swim Pools Balconies at Bandra Ohm Residential Tower in Mumbai, India Mesmerising Niagara Falls - Rainbow Bridge, USA Ferrari World Theme Park In Abu Dhabi Amazing Corinthos Channel in Greece Awesome Singapore - Dance of Light World's Largest Ice Cave in Austria World's first billion dollar house in Mumbai, India - 27 Floors Ambani's Palace Amazing Landwasser Viaduct Switzerland =

As I've learned in the last year at work, shielding against electromagnetic radiation is a pretty tough nut to crack. Even on our systems that are engineered to keep the waves out, it's tough to get a good seal without a lot of testing and fussing around. You can try to squirrel things away in aluminum foil or in a metal box, but any little error in the structure is just going to create a slit antenna that lets the radiation in thus potentially frying your component inside. If you really think this is something you want to prepare for, you really ought to create a special EMP model with a manual start diesel engine. I guess the 512D might be the ultimate factory EMP special, but they didn't sell them here in the US. A diesel engine might be capable of burning a wider range of fuels and would have no electrical system to be corrupted by errant currents induced by an EMP. There isn't much to an old engine, but I'd guess that the windings of wire in the coil or magneto might suck up EMP energy and cook something. Despite their simplicity, even the oldest and simplest engines would be vulnerable. I think the big problem with being prepared is that you're sure to draw a crowd of unprepared folks to your place. if they know you're living large compared to them, they're sure to come knocking. You can't shoot them all either, someday they'll surprise you on their terms. I related a story to Duke once about the 520H he converted into his snow chucker, I can repeat it here since it seems appropriate: I responded to a CL ad for a fairly priced 520H and I was wanting one at the time. The price was right and we agreed on a meeting time at the seller's place. The directions he gave me were very thorough and ended with "turn down the dirt road..." Anyway, I found my way out there - trailer in tow - and proceded down the dirt lane through a grove of trees. In a clearing was a nice little farmhouse, a couple barns, a huge garden, and a bunch of goats wandering about. Not a soul in sight. I spied the 520H sitting over on the edge of the garden, so drove over there to prepare for loading it. When I put the car in park, I looked out my window and standing right on the other side of the glass was the owner. i have no idea where he was hiding because moments before he wasn't anywhere to be seen. This was a completely open field with at least 200' of clear radius in all directions. It was like he came out of the sand. And, he was accompanied by his big dog. I opened the door and we greeted each other. Nice guy. As we exhanged cash and loaded the tractor we talked about the tractor, gardens, goats and goat milk, watermelons, the Cardinals, etc. You know how guys are, takes only minutes to become like old friends. i told him what a nice place he had and how I was envious of his location. That's when the conversation got more serious. He told me that he had enough of living in the city so moved out there for more room. He and his family could live as they liked and nobody bothered them. Sounded great to me. Then he got real close to me, took a careful look around, and told me in a hushed voice that "if the XXXX ever goes down, you're welcome to come out here with us...". It was nice to know. But I was instructed to bring things with me other than money if I came. Apparently he had quite the arsenal stashed away in the house, barn, etc. Plus extra stuff hidden and buried in the woods in case he ever had to retake his place after being driven out. He also had two years' worth of food canned in mason jars. Two YEARS. Plus the goats. In addition to the property I was on, he also has another place somewhere to the south that was a 3 day walk away. He knew it was 3 days, because he's walked it before. And, evidently, a person can carry 3 days of rations on their person if necessary. I found all of this fascinating. He had no need for a tractor to live out his plan. But he also has a head start on things compared to pretty much everybody else I have ever met. I can't say I was completely comfortable out there n the middle of nowhere alone with this guy, but I didn't feel unsafe either. Seemed like a perfectly smart, sane, normal guy with some rather impressive prepping habits. You meet the most interesting people on a Wheel Horse... Steve

These are piercing leads for testing that I've used for many years. Just thought if you guys didn't know about them I would put one on here. You can hook it to a meter and go like crazy or put a test light into the banana plug end and do the same. Makes life fast and easy and does no damage to the wire.

Great pictures! I was in the body business in a former life.

Looking good. Now all you have to do is load them up!

EMP?

Ekennel, best wishes to your son for a speedy recovery. I'm relatively new to the forum, but this struck me as a very timely topic. Our house is shingled and has a fairly low pitch, but cleaning gutters every year is something i dislike. I used to do them by hand from a ladder, but I've been using a leaf blower on the roof for several years. I'm pretty convinced that almost anything is safer than trying to reach sideways from the ladder. I use a rope tied off to a tree across the roof. I tie it to my belt and readjust it often so it wont let me get to the edge. After reading this, I'm thinking i will get a rock climber harness and a climber's rope for this job. Thanks to all who commented.

I Have an 8 horse power C-81 with a Kwik Way Loader. The 8 horse power is more than enough to power the pump.

BACON MAPLE DONUTS!!!! Can I change my picks?! I'm fearing I might do too good this week.

No basement for me. I'm staying where it's cool this year. Send over some doughnuts and cider on a tea cart!

That is not a 1991 and it does not have a forward swept axle. The hydro stick between the legs makes it a 1988-89.

Man, we must all be pretty bored today..

I did what Richie did by adding the 60s front axel but instead of flipping the frame, cutting the axle pivot off to weld it back on, I cut the trans mount off, flipped that over and welded it back on to keep it looking stock Flipped the spindles on the 2 seater

I don't know about the team, but the Hawkeye cheerleaders are packed and ready to go. Hope they're still fresh for game time..

Chipwitch, have I got a deal for you: http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/EB00/121GMF.oap?keyword=121gmf Steve

wh500special, that was quite a post! I always feel bad when I respond late to your answers, but my work load right now prohibits me from getting behind the computer as much as I’d like. Prepping, Survivalist Mentality, Self Sufficiency? This will always be a “Grey Zone†where no one is completely right or wrong. Everyone will have a different opinion. Having served in some real sh*% holes in the past internationally, I’ve observed the people who survive and the ones that perish. The ones who survived had one thing in common; They were self-sustaining. Weather it was food supplies buried underground or keeping the carbs on their vehicles working with duct tape, some old springs and baling wire, they utilized the “solutions†at hand. As well, they planned ahead. A part of that planning also involves “finding a teacherâ€. Learning from others is a key ingredient to survival. I don’t care if it’s bending the ear of some old Master Chief on the ship, or asking for advice on a forum such as this. There is a wealth of knowledge to be gained if you’re just willing to ask for advice and listen carefully to the answers. Not every answer will be to your liking, but for the most part, it’s all a part of the overall equation. Sure, I have no doubt that for every “survival solution†I come up with, there’ll be some A-Hole that’ll be trying to steal it or kill me for it. That’s the way of life. I just know I’m not going curl up in the corner of some room and give up. Not without a fight! So, if and when the time comes that the system takes a cr*p, I’m going to keep the LED lights on, be nice and warm next to my barrel stoves, keep my solar chargers and batteries topped off and know my Wheel Horses are ready for tilling and planting. Will I survive for long, probably not. But at least I went down knowing I did everything I could. And I wasn’t a taker......I provided for myself and family. Sorry if this sounds like a rant. I appreciate all your replies. Best Regards To All, Dave

I can't disagree that an electric car is not currently the right tool for the job of trekking back and forth to WalMart from your home 26 miles away. But they're really not marketed or intended for people who don't live in an area where they have long distances to cover. I have a 30 mile commute each way to and from work. I could easily plug in to the building at work and obviously at home too. An electric car could easily meet my daily needs. So could a big-block 4wd 1-ton crew cab dually. Neither one are ideal choices. But I do have that choice. Likewise, an electric tractor isn't a fit for many of us. But for some of us - me included - it might be an ideal solution. I have a decent sized lot in a neighborhood. I would love the relative quiet operation and convenience of not storing gasoline in my garage. Whether or not it makes economic sense isn't really a huge issue for me since none of these tractors make economic sense. I have a Lawn Boy push mower with a 2-stroke engine. 2 strokes are notoriously fuel inefficient, but at the speed I can push that sucker and with my reasonable physical endurance to stay on it for an hour or so, I can cut my yard several times from the can of premix I keep in the garage. To use a tractor - and I have tried many of them on my lot - I use way more fuel. I'd guess the cost of operation is at least a factor of 3 higher to use the tractor. I've never pencilled the actual costs out since it isn't a significant part of my budget and time spent on the seat provides me value in ways other than monetary efficiency. Wheel Horse entered the market since GE had established a foothold with - by all accounts - a great product in the 1970's. They stuck it out with the E141 probably because other manufacturers were also selling electric equipment at the time and gas in the early 1980's was very expensive in real terms (http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/Inflation_Rate/Gasoline_Inflation.asp). Why give up market share for something that was relatively easy to execute? There aren't any conspiracies holding things back. Fuel was cheap for a long time so there wasn't an intensive effort to bring alternative fuels into the mainstream, including battery electrics. Until it became fashionable or socially desirable to "go green" there has been no consumer demand for these things. When the Prius and early Honda Insight hit the market in about 1997 I remember thinking it was an extremely innovative product, but you hardly saw any of them on the road. I have a spreadsheet somewhere that shows I bought gas for my truck in 1998 that was only $0.69/gallon. Consequently, I gave no thought to fuel economy beyond the fact that I would have liked to have gone further on a tank for convenience. Until recently, it just didn't hurt the average American enough to care about anything other than power, space, and comfort. Well, maybe perhaps machismo. The Tesla is a special case. Not only is it an electric car, but it is meant to compete in the same class as a Mercedes Benz S-Class and that ilk. Given the technology and overall content and quality, it is a good value at a starting price of $85k. I'm not about to buy one though since it certainly doesn't fall into the category of vehicles that fits my needs and desires. A newer, smaller, cheaper model is on the horizon and I would seriously consider it. With recent shifts in regulations and tax incentives - particularly in California - you're probably going to see your preference of Hydrogen powered vehicles become an eventual reality since that's where the market is being steered by the hand of regulation. Hydrogen is incredibly abundant, but it seldom exists on its own. Usually it's tied to something that doesn't want to let it go. As in water or methane. Getting it loose is ALWAYS energetically uphill. The processes are getting cheaper, but thermodynamics tells us it will never be energetically favorable. The use of hydrogen really is just a means of transferring some other form of energy (electricity, fossil fuel, etc) into something portable that we can relaibably deal with. 30-40 years after their debut, the electric tractors are definately a profile in obsolesence, but they were pretty good designs (the GE versions at least) in their day. They serve a purpose, perhaps not universal, and are reportedly capable machines. I'd love to add an E141 to my fleet. Steve

Hey Buddy My wife and I are both cancer servivers you will be on our prayer list here at home and at church. As soon as we find a box the right size we will send some goodies. We will keep the hot stuff here as that might be the best for you. but then again you could just keep till 100% again. Keep tinkering with red stuff, keep that mind busy. Your friends in the lone star state JIM @ DEE Rodgers

Thanks guys AMC, here is the speedex, picture is kinda old, only thing that has changed is the plow is now black and silver

I'll do my best to keep you laughing here everyday... and keep you in our daily prayers too.

Thanks Steve. As I age my appreciation for photos that take me back to a special time in my life are priceless. When time seemed so much simpler. As you reflected on your trips to the barber I too have them. My late father and I leaving the barber shop, he with the flat top and I with the pear cut! Remember that hair style? The barber working the razors edge on that leather strap and the smell of shaving cream and aftershave. Then I with my grandfathers old rusted round hood with a replacement Briggs and Stratton engine and the day I thought I blew it up when I figured out how to pull the engine governor linkage to make it really fly. Knocked the points right out of there mount! Those memories are always in the back of my mind when I try to capture a special day like I have the past couple of years at Scott's Meet and Greet. Not only does he have a wonderful family, but all the time and effort he puts into this event is incredible. Those snap shots we all take may not seem like much today but hold on to your shorts because there just may come a time those photos might just knock them right off! OOps another photo opportunity! Let me not forget to make you aware of the master mind involved in the creation of you on the grain silos. Im not the type to kiss and tell however I will tell you he has a son named Jake ! Enjoy and Reflect my Friend And for you Neil, All edited photos were handed over to Scott of the event and there were plenty of tractors on property. Be really nice to Scott and maybe he will post a few of his favorites when the kids take recess at school!

Go ahead and restore as you are healing (could help the process). I'll pray for you and your family.

Dig a hole and drop it in.....lol. j/k Now there is a good question. Will be following this. Can I ask why? Glenn

You know I really don't see why anyone would want one myself. This whole electric power thing is a bunch of BS. I can just see you now trying to push it back to the shop after the batteries die. It gets me every time I see that Nisson ad on TV. You know the one where a guy says they have driven them 800 million miles without any gasoline. Just how many times does 40 go into 800 million? Until there is some giant leap in battery technoligy it is not feasable to mass produce and drive total electric cars or mowers. It is 6 miles from my house to the grocery store, it is 26 miles to the nearest Super Walmart so you see what I mean. Before I got back from that Walmart the batteries would be dead and I really don't believe that mower would mow my 4 acres on one charge. OK now all you guys with electric golf carts don't get you panties in a knot and tell me how long yours will go on a charge. Now think of this, you are not going 55 to 65 mph for the 52 miles to Walmart and back and you are not running a mower deck for a few hours either. I've just about had all this 'green' BS from all these " the sky is falling" as*&^%$# I can stand. Why Wheel Horse ever got involved in that is just beyond me and look at when they did it. If the really want to go green they need to do the Hydrogen thing. You could have a little hydrogen generator at your house for little cost and you would actually be able to fill your own vehicle up at home and go anywhere you wanted. The reasons that will never happen are simple. 1. The state, local and federal government wouldn't get their cut. 2. The state ,local and federal legislators would not get their ''kick backs" from the lobbiests from the oil companies. 3. It would be an industry they couldn't have total control over 4. The stock market and comodities traders would loose their perks. 5. There would be outcries from all those FBI, Bureau of Tabacco & Firearms, Homeland Security and other agencies about a redily avaiable terrorist weapon that is not regulated. I did see something at least 6 months ago about some revolutionary new energy power source that was completely self contained and very affordable. Like everything else on the news these days, I wasn't paying close attention at the time and thought I would hear more about it. Well excuse me but there was never another word about that. Wonder how much the oil companies paid to shut that up? Well I guess I have and that's a fact.

Tractor club was back in action again tonight. We didn't head out to the barn but rather took our first field trip of the school year. This has become a lot of fun and very interesting for the kids, as well as the adults. Unfortunately we were missing a couple of members due to some conflicts but those that were there were able to get bombarded with a wealth of information. The night was spent at Warsaw Buick GMC here in town. One of the club members has a father that is a service technician at the dealership. He set up the appointment and took us on just over an hour tour of the service area. The kids were impressed with the technology and were blown away on how much the tools cost to be prepared to do a good job. Here is a photo awaiting our tour! Here we are on our tour getting a peek at the day to day operations in the service center along with the tools and equipment and tools to be successful. At the conclusion of the tour the kids had the opportunity to meet Mr. Nine who is the owner of the dealership. He asked them some questions about what they had learned and then presented them with their very own set of over 200 tools that is exclusively for the club. We are very thankful for the generosity of yet another donor that has supported our program. Here they are receiving their tool set! Of course the night wouldn't be complete without a chance for one goofy photo! Next week will be Fall Break and we would be unable to meet. The kids were so bummed that we agreed to try and meet on Monday so we didn't miss out for the week. These kids are dedicated!

Update... one week out... like it never even happened, LOL!

Hi Chipwitch, I have seen posts and pictures of loaders on the roundhoods with single Kohlers at 6HP to 8HP. The loaders were smaller than the Kwikways and my Ark Loader but the pumps were probably comparably. I have to agree with the comments made earlier by bmsgaffer on the HD front spindles. WH and later Toro/WH required the HD front axle kit with the loaders if you wanted to keep a factory warranty. I have seen C series tractors that ran FELs and what those front spindles looked like and stories of how many broke. The gear reduction steering on the 520's make a world of difference when lifting and turning with a bucket full of material. Even with an empty bucket, they are hard to turn with a mounted FEL.

I presume it's a Briggs and Stratton engine, yes? The first two numbers of their "Code" number are the model year. In your case, 1988. Somewhere along the line, I think the Bolens name was sucked up by Garden Way which was the company who took over TroyBilt. Eventually Garden Way became part of MTD. I'd imagine there is just some confusion that Garden Way - who made the "Horse" tiller - and Wheel Horse were related. Steve

I hate em both. Like the Queenies and Bares!

If you run jumper straight to the started from the battery pos to pos. neg to motor and the starter still doesn't spin and motor is not locked its a bad starter

I found this picture of Brrly1, when he was a young Hawkeye fan, on his way home from one of the Iowa vs Iowa St. games. Some thing never change.

THAT IS THE ENGINE CODE, NOT THE UNIT CODE. THAT ENGINE MAY HAVE BEEN ON A WHEEL HORSE AT ONE TIME.

See what retirement gives you a chance to do??? Very nice Jim.

CHICAGO FROM AFAR A DESERT OASIS IN LIBYA THE ALPINISTS INSIDE THE OLD METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE TITANIC'S ENGINES UNDERWATER SUNRISE OVER LONDON'S TOWER BRIDGE ((((((((((OUR SUN ERUPTS)))))))))) SNOWMOBILING THE NORWAY-SWEDEN BORDER A TINY HERMIT CRAB CLOSE-UP THE COCONUT OCTOPUS A CLOUD ILLUMINATED BY LIGHTNING A TINY RIVER HOUSE IN SERBIA A SUBMARINE SURFACES THROUGH ARCTIC ICE A WALL OF FALL AN AIRPLANE CROSSES THE MOON LIONESSES AT THE WATERING HOLE DEATH BEGETS LIFE MOUNT FUJI FROM ABOVE THE VENEZUELAN POODLE MOTH THE PERSEIDS METEOR SHOWER AN X-RAY OF A STINGRAY MOTH TRAILS AT NIGHT JUST A PINCH EVOLUTION OF THE NEW YORK SKYLINE AN ELEPHANT MEETS A SEA LION AN OLYMPIC FULL MOON (now this was a clever idea!) BASE JUMPING IN RIO THE BOMBING OF DRESDEN WHERE THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA MEETS THE SEA THE CHICAGO SKYLINE FROM INDIANA LIVING ON THE EDGE THE MOLOKINI CRATER IN HAWAII IF JUPITER WAS THE SAME DISTANCE AS THE MOON A SEAHORSE INSPECTS A DIVER'S WATCH EVERYBODY WAS KUNG FU FIGHTING MOUNT RAINIER CASTING A SHADOW ON CLOUDS 'Our planet is full of amazing sights if only we take the time to look!' =

Just keep us informed, I'm sure a few of us can make it...

Now we are talkin': Photo of my super wheel horse, only truly a wheel horse. I have it planned already...... Just have to start the process.... (2) xi's will be combined into 1 to make this: It will look like this, just a WH - version. Yes, tracks will be used and a 30hp. diesel engine..... The biggest cost to this entire project are the darn tracks. If we are talking a SUPER HORSE, Horse should be a Clydesdale - IMHO! Rob

Here is a short video of the Swamp Rat off roading. Foolish stuff but a lot of fun. Couldnt attempt that without the 85Lbs hood weight in there. http://youtu.be/4J59CEZrwt4

thank you all very much my grandpa happened to come over today and being a lifelong collector of any old lawn and garden tractors knew exactly what to do and we discovered it was in fact the solenoid I put a different one on there and it fired right up thank you very much,

I've thought of doing this too....but it might consist of only me out in my shed drinking beer and talking to myself...so, basically I have a meet and greet almost every night

Just for the record, I went with the almond color and I am very happy with it. Ed

NOS 420LSE Brian

I didn't do to bad here my neck of woods I bought my D250 with deck and snowblower for $700.00. I also have 3 D250 Decks up for sale. My D250