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My friend I bought my tractor from called and said he had something for me. It's amazing this stuff survived four owners in 46 years in new condition. It was quite a surprise when we met up!

acorn and RJ inspection Brian

So here is the finished seat. You can tell from the before pics that this one really needed to be redone. The guy that I had do the work is an absolute Old world craftsmanship professional, I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. I was able to do some bartering etc. so I got a fantastic deal but if one was to just walk in the door and want this done you'd be looking at somewhere in the area of 700 bucks. So... to the guys that own a 420 you better make sure you take care of your seat and use a good quality conditioner on it. I'm also having a seat cover made for it for when I'm hauling the tractor in case it rains (and to protect it from the sun) and just in case a bird decides to poop on it..I really haven't stopped detailing this tractor since the day I got it, it has no doubt come a long way. Now that there is nice soft leather on the seat it is much more comfy!

Mom's other little girl .(almost) 15 year old Cassie . Who has the appetite of an Elephant .

We've had so many little/dusting snows lately that it was useless to get out the 5xi. But we finally had some snow worthy of the plow and I thought I would post a couple of picture of the beast.

As the story goes, I've got a German Shepherd that goes by the name of Chance. He's kind of like my best friend who doesn't argue much, is pretty good when told what to do. One heck of a watch dog. He keeps Linda feeling save when I'm out on tractor runs or swapmeets.

Not mine but Mom's . A very comfy Emily .

This happened a couple years ago when we had a slow winter thaw. This lean to roof was metal and this process took over a week to happen as it only slid a inch or two daily. Usually when snow comes off a metal roof it is all at once. Just thought this was worth sharing. Deer Whisperer

My Grand cat Charlie. He lives in Buffalo with my son. I have 2 Charlie Cats in the family!

Title says it all, last year had to fight an old Fergie to plow my drive. Not only would it take all day but it broke down and out comes the shovel. Have a real steep section and would have to back up as far as I could then pull snow down, find a place for it and repeat. The 414 with weights and chains and thrower eases down, sometimes trouble getting back up. But 3 passes and I'm done, with a little playing around at the bottom and top. Hour maybe hour and 15 mins. Waahoo!

I had a 73 no name for the majority of my childhood. We unfortunately had to get rid of it when I was 13 when we moved to Louisiana. I've missed it and have wanted one ever since. Well I finally got my chance. She's not much of a looker but she's all there and it was owned by a family friend. These things aren't too common I've found in the Deep South so I'll be traveling to Kentucky soon to pick it up. I look forward to interacting with you fellas and can't wait to get started resto-modding my new Wheel Horse! Jake Posting pictures seems to be a chore from a phone. I'll have them uploaded to Photobucket in a minute.

Acorn, " This snowblower is going to need a chain and sprockets.and that deck, just a good cleaning." RJ " Hey, Where's the hydro lever?" Cool cats! We used to have a grey and orange tabby. Tigger and Milo. I miss those 2 boys.

This came with my one owner 653.

So how did the block at an angle look spinning around on the lathe??? Blurred! So I thought I'd better turn the camera flash on which has the power to stop time for a split second The boring drill bit wasn't quite big enough so I had to use a boring bar to take the hole out to the right size.. Anyway, have a photo of a spindle stuck in a steel block at just the right angle A quick bit of reassembly to check block to disc clearance.. There be plenty I will be tapering both ends of the block to make it look nice, but also to give a bit more space allowing me to get the block a bit closer to the wheel.. Mounting the calipers should be easy, just make a bracket to bolt on the caliper and weld the other side to the block A bit of mass production, all machined to length. Turned down to the right diameter and one notched.. The notch is for fitting a rose joint.. This will sit about here... I need to bore a 3/4 inch deep hole in the block to sink the steel bar into.. Which will get the rose joint sitting about here... And that folks is this thread up to date once again... Making my own front end (steering and brakes) is certainly a lot of work and lot's of thinking is involved, but I'm really enjoying the challenge.. Your never too old to learn

This is a couple of our pets. We bottle feed our fawns for 50 days and then are released to there pens. The fawns are Sierra & Santigo. The buck is Santigo at age two last fall.

https://vimeo.com/120115471 Apollo playing my sisters dog and my niece my dog dragon I recently had to put down my life long companion Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

me and my boy Apollo Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think a double posted. Will I tear these up popping them loose from bead seat?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-yVvszx--s the grandson playing around before the truck plow showed up

I do not know much about this, and have not really tried it, but , depending where the holes are...a propane torch and some lead (with some wax as flux) could do the trick. In the old days (before bondo) body guys used lead as a filler and torched and filed to make things right. It does depend on the thickness of the steel, but you are not using a lot of heat to melt lead...but you do have to get the steel hot enough to accept the bond. It is a lot cooler then welding...kind of like brazing...but cooler then that. Think of it like solder...to a point. I have done a lot of lead work...it is easy to work with. Another option would be some type of bondo. Using plastic wrap taped on the back side and filling the hole...sanding...etc... boom, shak-a-la-ka

Welding skills I DO NOT have. If you look again, it says "I had mine welded". I am lucky to have a friend who has the skills of a surgeon, and will weld anything for me.

Back the hole with a copper or brass block...Then lay in the weld with the MIG.

Nice freakin seat I'd be finding a way to get that bad boy in the living room . . . add cup holder, flick on TV

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It's the first time this winter that we finally got a decent amount of snow to try the 523Dxi. I had been predicted that our area was to be in the 4" -8" band. It ended up to be about 4" or a fraction more. It was nice, fluffy stuff due to the cold. I was out for almost two hours doing mine and five neighbors driveways. I'm happy with the tractor and cab but due to the design, I don't get the heat like the classic Wheel Horse. The airflow is moving forward for cooling on the 5xi series. With the fan drawing the air from the cab cooling the radiator for the diesel, there is quite a bit of air passing through the cab. On the 5xi cab there are actually two vent instead of windows on the rear to draw air from the outside. One advantage though is I don't have to deal with fogging the windshield! I have ideas for next winter on how to reroute the airflow. The single stage snowthrower is everything everybody says it is. A useful piece of information by JerseryHawg/Glenn though. He found out from a dealer that the torque produced by the engines used in the 5xi can tear the single stage apart. This is especially possible with the diesel so I am going to install a tach. I have actually been using a 1/3 throttle setting wihich seems to be the right amount for today. The diesel has been sipping fuel I am glad to report. With four hours of use, it has used approximately 2-1/2 gallons. My Kohlers go through a tank (4.5 gallons of Premium) in the same amount of time! Today's setup. Starting down my one neighbor's long driveway Why you need a cab. A nice plume. On the return. Looks like a toy against the trees A job well done! My Wheel Horse "Gate Guard"

Took the day off to shovel the 24" off my roof. Quite the task, only managed to get the first 7 feet off but it has to have lessened the load on my roof framing....right . Then I cleared off the snow that went from the roof to my walkway and decided to take a couple snaps before I got back into the house for a warm up session! The walkway: The roof (of course): Gotta make sure the mailman can get my bills to me: No sunbathing on the deck for awhile: My dome/tent shed...still standing: Have to be able to access any WH parts so a path to the shed is a must: Been keeping it off the top to prevent a collapse...but the sides are a whole new battle: Lets call it insulation: How about a romantic pic of my WH in the snow next to a lamp-post...can you see the WH: Better pic on my plow machine: The worlds best tires: The worlds best tires leave their mark: On one of the backyard trails: That's all from Sunny but cooooold Andover Connecticut! Mike.........

This our little one, ZuZu

If you use the old gasket, torque to regular specs. Also, you can use a credit card and a shop vac to scrape off any carbon under the head. The 857 is a great tractor, as you find out. That picture of it in the snow like that is probably the last time...save that picture. The next time that horse sees snow...it will be plowing your drive way. I know...I have an 857.

Not knowing much about front end geometry myself I do not disagree but understand your description. What is very obvious to me now driving it around, is that it is an improvement like night and day from what it was before with the stock end which of course was also terribly worn. The wheels are not in close to spindles because current wheels are incorrect for a RJ.Correct wheels do sit right next to spindles. Being a bit more informed about front end geometry from your description I am now going to closely compare it to the original system and see how they actually relate to each other. PS: I do not feel at all like someone is "rainning on my parade". On the contrary I welcome any information or input in any of my posts regardless wether it is positive or negative. I am always open and willing to learn something new and welcome any and all comments. After all besides the opportunity of meeting and knowing a lot of great people, learning is the other major benefit of this forum to me.

Just wanted to share a cartoon drawing of my 1977 Wheel Horse pulling tractor that was done by artist Donnie Dana of New York. Three pics posted are the line drawing, colored version, and the original photograph used by Donnie to make the drawing.

Hey Decksetter, thought you might enjoy seeing these pics I took yesterday of a project I parked 15 years or more ago. Depending on how the Summer goes, I might try to at least roll her over. Brand new tires, shot from sitting in the dirt and the right two are blasted now that they've sat flat for all those years. Made my heart sink. Will try to maybe this weekend get back to where I have it stored and at least see if the tubes'll still hold air.

"STEEEEEEEVE, YOU BETTER NOT BE PLAYING AROUND ON EBAY AGAIN! Now get in here and take the trash out!" screamed Mrs Bo

a little slow but More progress. its been so bloody cold here -32c(-25f) this morn, its hard to get the garage warm enough to paint with my little propane heater lol. Got the engine cleaned up and repainted . didn't need to tear it completely apart cause it ran good so just the tins etc ,removed flywheel and cyl head for bead blasting. A.few other small pieces done and installed. First coat on the rims and running boards painted cause they were in good shape and didn't need any fixin.

I am not sure how rare it is but I have not seen another one. My father saw it one day and never seen one before also, so he purchased it. Sorry I don't have a better picture of the planter.

Well, I have wanted one of these for a LONG time and now I finally have one. This 420 was used. It seems like it was at least taken care of mechanically. The oil was full and pretty clean and the air filter was pretty clean as well. The 20 hp Kohler runs excellent with 250 hrs. on it and its pretty friggin fast!. Cosmetically it could be better.. The paint has some chips and scratches here and there as well as the decals being a little scratched and marked up. The seat has a few tears where you sit. Thankfully I work for a leather company with a 60,000 square foot buiding full of leather so matching it up shouldn't be too difficult. The chrome isn't too bad other than the steering wheel. having EVERYTHING rechromed is pretty much out of the question because I'm pretty sure that will put me in the poor house. I'm not too sure on whether to fully restore it or leave it as a survivor.. I know I won't be able to do it this year as I'm hoping to sell my house this spring if all goes well. There just enough enough room in my current garage to properly restore this tractor. Anyway, here is how it has cleaned up since yesterday...

I have a 314H and would like to use it to pull my TRAC VAC in the fall. Are hydro's happy pulling something other than a lawn cart?

sweet!!! thanks for sharing the link check out live at the moore

Here's a little Mad Season for you Bert..

Wow, nice! It's funny that you mentioned $700 for the seat, Ken. I recall distinctly that Ed from Toro said the seat alone on the 420's was $700 when they built them new back in '86. The seat on mine shows the 300-ish hours of mowing it accumulated. Still looks good, but not like yours. Great job on this tractor! Incidentally, an earlier post mentioned there might be as many as 226 of these built. Ed looked it up before he retired and confirmed that only 200 serial numbers were issued. So the total was one prototype that I believe toro has in storage and exactly 200 production units. Steve

Looks good! It definitely is capable of doing more "damage!"

This one is almost identical from Cole Hersee , even has the screw terminals.

Great video and tractor, just make sure you push the snow back far enough so that you have enough room for future snows..... other wise go this route.

That was advertised before and I kept a photo of it from earlier last year ! I agree with ol550 the first picture shows what may be a Ross steering gear (wide tube) and that means it's a 1963 953!

This is Reidsville NC Was down rustling 3 and parts.

I always ran full throttle when using the two stage blower on the 522xi. That is what is recommended in the manual, and the blower always seemed to run best at WOT. I have lots of seat time blowing snow, and never had a vibration problem with it. It must be the extra load that the fan puts on the system that smoothed things out. Lock washers and thread locker, and give it hell. Never saw a snow bank that I didn't want to move. Rick

i love it, maybe a toolbox, fuel tank or sandwich box behind the rear seat? a stainless steel brushed metal fuel tank would look amazing!

Dupont's line was was all No.7. They had the car polish, rubbing compound, and the chrome polish. I used them all on my 61 Millennium Falcon

Hey I have one of those, it's a 518 hydro. Sandra wants one of your round hoods Craig.

I don't know how collectible it is to everyone but here is one of my cherished attachments.............