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I've been looking for a little round hood that I can put to work. It will be mostly clean-up plowing in the winter and tow a trailer around in the summer without using 5 gallons of gas. I was able to work out a great deal with Devin for this sweet 854. I think much of it is original (let me know what you see, i dont have an eye for these older models yet). I'm not going for factory original, I just want mechanical soundness. It looks like the right rear axle has some up/down movement so I may be replacing the transmission with an 8 speed. Havent decided whether to do that or to dig into the transmission and hunt down parts. The hubs were replaced with 5 bolt, there is a cigar lighter that's been added to the gas tank (... ), the headlights are on a reproduction bar and are not original obviously, and there were 4 holes drilled in the top of the hood and two of them started ripping. The seam is also coming apart a bit. All mostly minor items (except the holes that bug me). I know there are a lot of people out there in the keep it original camp: what would you do with the holes (at least one has sharp edges which may cause harm to an errant finger)? It came with a spare 8HP block (the block on it is cracked a little at the exhaust) and accessories, I got ags, and tri ribs, a pretty good condition rear discharge mower that turns smooth and has solid metal all around. I even got a plow for my engine-less 551 project. I am very happy with this haul, and feel like I got a very fair deal. Devin's a good guy.

Come join the FUN!

50 degrees & no more freeze in the forecast . Time to put the winter stuff away .

Who's name will be "etched" "scribbled with a sharpie on masking tape" or "immortalized with a label maker" on the most prized possession known to mankind? Hollywood and the Society Set are breathlessly anticipating the big forthcoming announcement. Behold the Grand Poobah of Awards in it's original unmolested state!

I know I'm not gonna miss that thing. Think spring buddy!

Last year I bought my 88 520HC with 1400hrs had new 60inch deck and nice 44inch dual stage snow blower. Everything worked great still original condition with 25 hard years of abuse and it still runs great. I know it was beat because my best friends dad owned it since new and him and his 3 brothers beat the hell out of it lol. Put 76hrs on it this year between mowing and snow blowing thing didn't skip a beat paid $1400 worth every penny to me. I'm going to look at the 520H tonight I'll let you guys know how it goes. Thanks for the replies! Here's my 520HC

Evening all, well after the shock of finding a fully grown tree outside my workshop when I arrived! I started to sort out this mess of wiring.. And by the end of the day, the Beast has awakened

Okay so we finally got some decent weather and I had a chance to put all the pieces together to complete my GT 14 3 PT hitch and platform (good for 400 lbs plus). Hope you like it tried it out today with my wife on the platform and it work flawlessly.....

Depends on how much you have to plow. The hydro is much faster in reverse if your plow pattern requires that. Hydro lift of the blade is nice.. depends on your age and condition of your shoulder.

All I know is this series one, Kohler twin is a snow plowing beast.

Sad for u but I am ready to cut some grass! Great looking rig you have and like the dolly set up

Nice pickup. A good work horse you have found, and I agree..the three speed tranny hauls the mail for sure!! I love my 854. Good luck with it.

Nice haul. I'd leave it just as it is except for the hood, but I'd keep the hood. I would be able to fix it by welding it, if you aren't much of a welder you could use the liquid steal that comes in the clear tube. It has a Play-Doh type consistency and is real easy to work with. (Wear rubber gloves) With a little effort you could get it so no one would know the difference.. The patina on the hood matches the rest of the tractor perfect which is why I'd keep it.

I agree, look for a hood. Or just tell everyone you got that tractor at a police auction!

I have been working on a box blade and foot Control for my hydraulic lift and I finally had a chance to try them out. It's been raining 2 to 4 inches at a time for weeks. I didn't think we would ever dry out. Foot Control works great as well as box blade. Now I just need to add teeth to the blade and make adjustments to the pivot part and find or build the pedals.

Keep a camera rolling just in case Don ! Without pics it didn't happen. As the creator of the hard hat award, I expect nothing but the best.

I added a new horse to the herd tonight! I have always wanted a 953 and now I finally have one! I paid $250, but it does need some TLC. Needs a seat first of all, and some lights, but it does runs very well with no smoke. Also it pops out of 3rd gear so the tranny needs some attention. The hydraulics seem to work well though. Oh yeah, and i also drug home what was left of a 1045 lol. It was a great day!

I picked up this C120 a month or two ago with the intention of just fixing whatever needed it and using it to mow with this summer. After rebuilding the carb and fuel pump the engine runs like a top so I set it aside and took the rest of the tractor apart to see what it needed. Nothing came out of the tranny when I went to drain it so I opened it up to see what it looked like. I replaced a couple of gears and the bearings and seals along with the shifter. This is the first tranny I've had that I could just tap the hitch pin out. The front axle pivot hole was worn and the pin was broke so I replaced those along with the rear lower steering shaft support. The dash stand was cracked in several places and the lift lever was bent "out" almost like someone was using it as a handhold to get on the tractor. I welded up the cracks in the hood stand and a couple in the seat pan and replaced the lift lever, next I took the tins off the engine and cleaned it up. I took the starter apart while I had it off, one of the magnets was broke so I replaced the starter and also picked up a good Nelson muffler. With the engine back in I made a new wiring harness, put in a new ign. switch and battery, new tail light and front lens and a new seat. I also got a new set of decals from Terry and got those put on today as well as the grip tape on the foot rests. The shifter plate was missing and the one I had was shot so I had one made out of 1/8" plate, hoping it won't bend like the old one. This is written under the hood. I've got 4 new Turf Masters, front wheel bearings, new belts and an idler pulley on the way and a new set of hub caps from Glen to finish it off. I have a nice late '80's 42 inch deck to put under it.

SWEET!

I agree 100%! I have no regrets buying my C-175.

Nice one. An 854 is next on my list. Devin is a great person to get deal with.

You won't see it for at least 8 months . Unless I have some questions for you fellas while I'm replacing the driveshaft & jackshaft bearings this summer .

Model?

I'm a blackhood fan, but if you are looking for easiest, cheapest, and simple to maintain I'd go with the 312. You have the low maintenance 8 speed, the pressure lubricated 12hp magnum (which will easily spin up to a 42" if you want to mow with it) The single cylinder is good on gas and dead simple to maintain. Complete rebuild on a M12 is about $4-500; rebuild on a KT-17 $1000+ and the extra horsepower wont do you one bit of good plowing. Because of the transmission I think the general consensus is that 8hp will plow as well as 18hp as long as you have enough traction! I dont believe the C-175's ever came with a series 2 (I could be wrong). I believe they were switched when the 417 came along.

First I had to do my least favorite chore. Since Paul didn't take my hint and travel south with his power sweeper, I had to hand rake for about two hours to get the stones out of the lawn and back on the road. Then I hooked my favorite worker to the roller and got two hours of quality seat time rolling the lawn and the road. Also rolled in a breaker to turn the water off the road.

Oh duh I should've known that. Ok thanks I'll check them when I get home Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Check your fuses.

You do have to wonder Motor but back when these tractors were new nobody gave it one thought about them becoming collectibles. They were just used to get work done. I shutter thinking about some of the things my Dad did with his first two new ones, a Suburban 400 then a 704. Even back then it bugged me that he removed the hood from the 704 and used it that way so he could service the engine easier. I guess at least that saved the hood but I'm thinking it may have been trashed in storage. He did, however, use a drill for the holes and not a .38

I wonder what people are thinking when they start drilling holes everywhere. At least its all repairable. Great find, I looked for months for my 854 and it was worth it, gotta love the round hoods.

I'd keep that tractor all original. Great patina. Keep the hood. Find a body shop to weld in flush plugs/patch panels and leave it alone. No paint. Raw repair. A good welder can also repair that split seam on the side of the hood. Don't paint it. Don't get a different hood. Save that one. Nice find. I like the lights and the original paint. What in the world did they have mounted to the hood? PO that did that should be hauled off and hit by a firing squad.

Now, Phoenixville is pretty far to tow a steel roller Ed. If I'm branching out that far , I think I better add hydraulic operated road tires to each side. Then I guess PennDot will require a title, license, inspection, and an emission test.

Nice haul... good looking project Brandon.

Thats great news Bob! Doesn't it just make your day when you are able to shop local and pick up what you need for a great price???? When you consider that price includes the switch, which i think was around $12? that ends up being a great deal..... and you get to check it out before buying it, nothing worse than coming home to a new arrival at the door step and you open it up and it has some damage or you aren't completely happy with it......

The lights,,,,,,great. The right reax axle movement, bearings maybe, replace them if so. That 3 speed has plenty of ballzzz. Imho, no need for the 8 swap. find a hood, holes, no good. I think beyond repair. Maybe others have a suggestion. Looks pretty stock looking. I like that rear light to. Best of luck. Good grab. Deck looks good. Glenn

Those holes are pretty ugly I really like the lights though

My only Indian Craig, But she likes to work and really sounded good pulling that roller.

Scotty, It doesn't hurt to make sure you have brakes! Put your tractor on a little grade or hill and push the brake pedal in. If it doesn't stop it in an instant, adjust them. I know when my brake is not adjusted correctly and I'm plowing, I'll get the symptoms you described if I'm lodged against the snow I just pushed and I'm going from a forward gear to reverse.

Here's the reverse. A cab for a C series on my 520h.

That horse sure does look good against that green background!

Traveled over to the Auburn Auction Park in Auburn, IN last night to get our display set up for the show this coming weekend March 13-15. There is already a great turn out of machines and the folks have until Thursday night to get their stuff under the roof. I am set up this year with a small club that I am part of known as the Northern Indiana Garden Tractor Club, where we will have over 40 machines together. The show hours are as follows: Friday 9-6 Saturday 9-5 Sunday 9-3 Parking is free but admission is $7 or $10 for a 3 day pass. They have food available on site, big tractors, little tractors, old farm trucks, old farm tools, farm toys for sale, craft area, and much more. I believe your paid admission will also get you in the automobile museums across the highway. I will be on site Saturday and Sunday so please stop by and say hello. My display is set up at the table with chairs. I would love to meet you. This picture shows the 1965 Jacobsen Chief 800 that I purchased last fall from Clyde Potts in Wooster, Ohio. They asked me if it could be displayed on the main stage next to my good friend Billy Orr's beautiful 753. Here is a photo of the C-120 that the tractor club is working on thanks to David Rice, Crawfordsville, IN. It is the tractor located on the right of the photo. Here are a few photos of my tractors, along with some from our club. We have a great turn out so far and can't wait to see what the place looks like once the show begins. If you are getting a little cabin fever and excited for the show season, stop on by and check out what is going on!

I have heard a power broom works. Without one, the spring tooth rake will have to do. I did pickup a very heavy duty lawn dethatcher which I intend to try when the mud recedes. The dethatcher did a nice job raking my driveways level, very nice, when it was dry last fall. The weight of the Horse would certainly compact the wet clay loaded soil I have. Staying off the lawns but, the decks are being maintained while resting on heavy duty saw horses. I would rather mow than push white, wet, cold, nasty stuff. Grandsons are nutso! They want to plow, plow, plow. What's with that?

Hang in there Jim........prayers are coming from Indiana! Keep that humor and positive attitude up.....this is just a road bump! Looking forward to hearing some good news!

Thanks Martin. After researching a little, that's the conclusion I came to. I just came back from a store called Hoober, Inc. They are an IH-Case dealer, and a dealer for K&M Seats. They used to be located about 30 miles from me, but moved this winter to less than 2 miles from my house. So...I ordered the KM-123 and seat switch for at total of $103.00 plus tax, NO SHIPPING. Will have it in about a week when the K&M truck comes in. Also came away with a rattle can of IH-Case red spray paint. Closest thing to Valspar Restoration Series IH red that I have found.

https://www.turfseats.com/p-1859-km-123-uni-pro.aspx

You can find belt webbing at any farm implement dealer or TSC....used to sell it by the foot.....6" and 8" wide.....or buy a junk ROUND baler and get all ya want!!....if you were close to me I'd give ya 3 or 4 feet....just saying!!

Here are my RJ's starting with an early 55'...

Don't get me wrong. I think it's a great endeavor. As the title over my avatar implies, I started building my collection with B-100's. After three, I decided to branch out. Had I started collecting earlier in my life, I may have chosen the same path as you. Being retired now with a limited amount of funds available for the hobby, and far worse, a limited amount of time to collect, and far less available horses in my area, I need to build my collection base on what happens to come my way.

Good point, Pit bike parts are cheap to.

An update is long overdue and it seems an age since Mark (Meadowfield) called by with the decals. Trouble is that with the good weather having finally arrived there's been a backlog of work to do outside and the little added distraction of the WH trailer. Anyway, today I promised myself I'd spend it on the project but the morning was lost to helping a neighbor work on his car but in the afternoon the Ranger saw the light of day for the first time since going into the shop. Most of the decals are on and excellent they are Mark. Thank you. The hedlight blanking plate still needs tidying up but I thought I'd put in in place anyhow and the hood ornament is yet to go back but you can begin to see what it's going to look like when finished. I've been pondering for some time as to what to do with the fender as the Begium made examples were fitted with a standard B / C series fender of the period which clearly doesn't really fit properly, overhangs the tires to the sides and there's also excessive overhang at the rear and the big offset cut out to the front. Not a lot going for it really! It looks all wrong and out of proportion with the rest of the tractor. Hardly surprising as the US model had a fender specially made for the A-800. To scale the fender down would require about a 2" strip cut out from front to rear down the centre line and another crosswise through the middle leaving four pieces to weld together. The problem with this is that there are so many curves that a lot of tweaking of metal and enivable use of filler to achieve something passable. A further issue would be that the standard rear decal would no longer fit, it would be too long. Looking at photos of the US fender gave me an idea though..... It's not at all in the style of the contemporary B and C series so....... I have in stock the fender from a 210-4 parted last year. Like the Ranger it had rather smaller than usual wheels at the rear so let's see what's possible. Having removed the flaps then cautiously removed strips of steel half an inch at a time..... I think this might work and I'll be able to cut the H gate for the gear shift lever like the US fender panel has. Yep, sizewise it's much more in proportion with the tractor and the tires pretrude slightly as I feel they should. Sure there's a mix and match with a later series but it's not too out of keeping with the US fender. Once the 200 series decal is replaced with the red and white rear Wheel Horse it will blend in. It's probably difficult to see in the photo but I was really pleased with the improvement made by a scaled down fender, so much so that I went on to work late experimenting with the seat mounting. Photos of that in the next post after the weekend. Andy