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This is a common with RD decks (at least mine, and I have newer ones). Typical causes are: mowing too fast, grass stuck under the deck, deck at the highest cut height position. The later two seem to impact how much lift you can get with the blades to stand up the grass. It also tends to occur in cornering. One other thing to look at is any damage to the center spindle. I picked up a old 36 inch RD deck and the PO's had cranked down on the mule so hard that after 35 years, the spindle actually tipped forward and to the right. This had the effect of leaving a bigger gap between the middle blade and the blade on the left and no gap on the right side. The solution I have implemented to to have my wife cut the grass.

Very nice !! This is one of those RJ35's converted over to the 58' trans. Vinsrj and Clay (rj35 hunter) can tell you much more about this.

So it's been a while since I've posted an update...I got it running and driving last summer/fall, only to find out that third gear was slipping. This spring I dug in to the trans and replaced the hi/2nd gear, along with some bearings and seals. Finally got everything back together and it runs great. Only thing left now is the wiring. Also, the deck and blade need to be refinished, but I'm in no hurry as I don't plan on using them. Here are a few pictures of how it sits today...

Check your blade length too. When I got my 42RD it left a stripe too. In checking it out, if figured out it had the wrong blades on it. Some previous owner had put the blades from a 42SD on it. A new set of the right Toro blades and the stripe is gone.

Just can't do the bending over for long periods anymore. Think it's called getting older, which by the way stinks. So I had to come up with a way to bring the tractor to me.

hyd cylinder was leaking so I cut in half went to hyd place put in new seals welded it back together good to go

Got a pic of cylinder post repair?

Wow I think linder is trying to make our horses have to haul around a few extra pounds

Since I am a couple of hours away my plan is to drive in early on Saturday and return home Sunday afternoon. Ryan's has a great Breakfast buffet, Sunday morning brunch would seem good in my opinion. I would be glad to pitch in on the pig roast or we could keep it simple and do burgers and dogs on a gas grill ( I could bring one). We don't want to have you working your tail off, just glad you have offered to host the gathering. Thanks for all you are doing.

You will also need a ring compressor and a torque wrench.

Along with what Don said...I was reading one of the deck manuals yesterday...it said if you were cutting high or damp grass, the center, anti-scalp wheel could depress the grass enough to not be lifted up by the natural suction of the deck. The cure was to remove that roller.

Hey guys I raised 2 boys always had hungry teens by the dozens riding in on snowmobiles and atv,s Im used to cooking for an army and thought a small 100 lb pig on a grill rolls slaw beans and salads would work for friday when people are arriving they can just go and grab a dish or it could be for saturday or both whatever also the grill would stay hot coals for a few days after cooking a pig so people can bring their own fry pan or foil and cook their own breakfast I could have a huge pot of coffee going Also something good and easy would be a huge pot of chilli and beans and rice once again easy.. If anyone wanted to donate toward food it would be graciously accepted. As for a cake I dont know I need research on that one,Hey we have a farm and farms always have food,and I dont mind cooking I just need about 2 hours morning and night for farm chores unless someone can hand milk 2 cows LOL My neighbors and best friends have an Ice machine that makes 450 lbs in 6 hours so Ice is no problem, maybe bring some extra paper plates plastic silver ware etc I will cover the main meals and all of ya'll can cover the snacks and breakfast meals , Never fear Linders in wheel horse gear, maybe a week before we can get a list of possible rsvp would be very helpful, thanks guys;-) I also like Ponders Idea on Ryans for one meal on one day Input guys thanks

So no one leaves without seeing an amazing video. The elephant pool was cool also!

I'm not that concerned with 700-800 hours on the KoCo. If it is well maintained, I feel that there are hundreds of hours of life still ahead. It's the overall condition and wear and tear evidence that will allow me to pull the trigger with no reservations. I have an appointment to check it out on Friday. The owner and myself both work long hours and that's the earliest I can get to it. I am going there with a trailer and cash... just in case. Too rare in my market to miss the opportunity. He is pretty firm on the price (and I love to haggle). His local dealer told him to list it for $3500. He started at $3000, and two weeks ago lowered the price to $2500. He says that's his bottom line. I told him that I will gladly pay what he is asking IF everything is in the condition that he claims. Honestly, I have been trying to find a nice 522xi or 523Dxi (impossible in Michigan) for a while, so the trigger finger is already itchy. I will let you guys know what happens... TO BE CONTINUED...

I understand they actually had to tell a little old lady that her non-Wheel Horse she was riding was not allowed at this year's show. At an "All Wheel Horse" show, that's the way it should be.

I'm probably all alone here, but I really like that paint scheme and the small racing steering wheel. I would be tempted to leave it as is and just bask in the fact that I own my dad's tractor regardless of the paint and motor. Mike..............

The Blackberrys are finally ripe. Now Mrs. K can do her magic and make one of her "to die for" Blackberry Pies.

The 36 Inch mower decks had a nylon slide and slide black that the idler puller arm and spring ride on. The nylon slide blacks have lasted well for 40 plus years. No longer available thru Toro. I have saved a few over the years when decks are disassembled and parts saved for reuse. I am running out of the old saved parts. I rebuilt two idlers today. The four carriage bolts that hold the slide blocks down had outlived their use. Rusty and they wobble in the deck so the idler starts to wobble and widen the hole in the nylon slide black. Would like to see if anyone else has seen this problem and what you may be using for a replacement slide block !

Picked up a RJ35 over the weekend. The guy I bought it from says it's a 1955. It has a K91 engine, that runs pretty good, and has a 5003 transmission. From the little research I've done, I found that the 5003 trans was a dealer installed option. The trans is dated 024-9. The tractor is in decent shape, came with 2 good decks, deck belt cover and a homemade hitch. Needs a few things like a drive belt cover, correct seat, exhaust shield, steering wheel has a chunk of the rubber missing, one hub has an broken tab and uses a through bolt, etc. Right now, I'm having issues with the belt/trans. There is not enough slack in the belt when the pedal is pressed to stop the drive pulley from rotating, thus I cannot shift in to gear. I bought a bit longer belt, but that did not work. Any thoughts on what the issue could be? And as always, here are a few pictures.

Nice job at the DMV on the ticket switcharoo!! You have my number in case you get stuck with that Dodge.... (just kidding pal!) Nice truck for sure.

Thanks! Terry - I believe the seat was purchased at a lawn tractor junk yard in western PA in the mid 1990's. The original seat was in really bad shape and mostly just foam covered in duct tape. My dad and I started the restoration in the mid 90's when I was 10-12ish and drove out to the junk yard to pick up some parts, including the seat. It's not perfect, as there is a tear at the front left of the bottom part, but still a lot better than what was there.

The rebuild tools named are essential.If the cylinder needs boring,and the crank needs turning then a rebuild can get expensive.The cost of the deluxe rebuild kit on E-bay is reasonable but if you include the price of the tools you need it might be more cost effective to find a good used or alternate aftermarket replacement.If you plan on doing other engines in the future then you can spread the tool cost over more than one.Most of us that rebuild our own engines have the tools so the parts and machine work are the only expense.I'm not trying to talk you out of a rebuild but again the costs can add up quickly.JMHO,Luck,JAinVA

Not just you Terry. I did get sort of that same feeling. Like I said earlier, the steamers are their focus. I think to them the garden tractors are just an add-on because it's the new trend in antique tractor shows. It didn't help that they had those prior year issues with tents not tied down in the wind and peoples tractors getting scratched, etc, etc.... .

you will need a bore gauge and valve spring compressor and a mic to check the crank their is other stuff that will need checked to but thats the basics that i can remember off the top of my head and sum feeler gauges too

Yea, you're probably right Brandon.

I think a comma was missed in there... A T656, WITH a manual transmission. But what you have is a 3 speed transmission on a 1966 wheel horse, a fairly collectable tractor. I would NOT recommend pulling with that.

I attended this show last year....and Yes, it was a Nice show with Nice grounds. I even came back Sunday for a couple of hours just to talk to the steam tractor guys. I work for a large electric and gas utility in a high pressure steam powered electric generating plant myself ,so I Had some informative and interesting conversations about steam power and coal as a fuel. But, personally, I didn't feel very welcome by some of the people helping run this show and the restrictions at this show were a bit much in my opinion....so it's not a very good chance I would ever return to this show. just me I guess........

I like to find a old parts deck and use it to cut my patches out of it that way the bends and curves are already the same. I turned a 36" SD deck into a 36"RD deck this way couldn't even tell that i replaced the whole corner of the deck when i was done. I should of took pics now that i think of it!

I have an oxy acetylene rig. I could use that to heat it and hammer it over the deck shell. I think I will try to find some thinner stock as I would be afraid of the heat and hammering deforming the deck shell...

This is were a rarely seen item in a home shop would be handy. It's called an "English Wheel." I would suggest maybe making a wooden buck and then using a ball peen hammer to shape it. With a lighter gauge steel (1/16"?) you probably could form it over the deck.

Remember where it was parked?

I noticed a JD on a trailer while I was there. I suspected some one bought/brought the wrong color tractor!

Great story Derek and even better to own both of these machines! Glad you got them both. I had a 953 when I was a kid and then we traded that in on a D200! Wish I could find either one of them bad boys!

Being from Indiana, I'm sure you can find all kinds of wheel horses. I can tell you they are hard to find in kansas but if it was close to me I'd buy it in a heartbeat especially since it comes with a snow blade!

ABSOLUTLY outstanding...I was there and didn't see half this stuff....

What a great story! Thank you for sharing!

This hobby of ours (read that addiction) sometimes makes us, and others, happy in ways most unexpected. I've posted pictures of my recent '73 10-8 refresh, but there is an underlying story to all of this which many don't know. When the engine blew (due to a unbeknown broken dipper) and needed to be rebuilt, my original intention was to simply rebuild the engine and put my "worker" back to task. During the rebuild stages something unexplainable kept nooging me to do a restore, so following my gut that's what I proceeded to do. While doing the work I was updating both Red-Square and Facebook with the progress. Some background is required at this point to explain the rest of the story. In 2007 I was reading through posts on another tractor forum at about 10pm on a Friday night and had just exited a thread-group when I noticed the thread-group I'd just left was highlighted again. Not knowing what thread within I might have missed, I went back in to look. The poster must have added the new thread just about the time I was exiting, and his post read that he had a '73 10-8 for sale in my zip-code. I messaged him immediately, we messaged back and forth several times, and scheduled a visit for the following morning. I went to look at the tractor, which had been sitting in a shed for almost five years untouched, and talk to the seller. The neighbor saw me arrive and came over to replaced the battery. Together he and I filled the gas tank, got everything primed, and the tractor started on the third turn of the key. I decided right then to buy the tractor with pretty much no hesitation. Later on, when I returned to retrieve the tractor, I found out the "rest of the story". It turns out the man who owned it before me, Victor "Cody" Pavolic, Sr., was a Freemason like myself (as are several of his sons), and he had purchased the tractor and all its implements brand new from a local WH Dealer in 1973. When he passed away (from a massive heart attack in 2002), it had taken his widow five years to bring herself to sell her deceased husband's "baby". He was one of those 1970's Wheel Horse owners, like the guys in the red striped shirt advertisements, who really understood the quality and value of these great machines. Knowing how expensive they were for the times, Cody took out a loan from a local bank, and then proceeded to take unbelievably good care of the tractor over the following 34 years he owned her. When I picked up the machine, I departed with the words that I would eventually restore the machine and would also let her know when I did so. That was almost eight years ago. Fast forward now to a month and a half ago ... Since our first online discussion in 2007, I have been friends on FB with the second oldest son, Victor. We would say "hey" every so often, and Victor would ask how "Dad's Tractor" was doing. I'd give him the latest news and that would be it for several months. I'd only met the wife/mother, June, in person. Victor was the only family member I had any contact with, of the 6 children in the family, and had never met him in person because he lives in an adjacent state. When I started the restoration I posted pics on FB and tagged him on a few so as to keep him abreast of my progress. Victor messaged me one night and asked that I befriend his sister Sissy on FB so she too could watch the progress. Sissy and I messaged back and forth several times throughout the following weeks, and along with Victor, I could feel and sense a level of excitement from both which I'd never quite experienced from a "Non-Wheel Horse Collector". Though I couldn't put my finger on it, I knew this machine had a very special meaning to these individuals, and for this family. Little did I know! Once the machine was nearing completion, Victor messaged me again on FB with a special request. His nephew Zach had graduated High School this year and the family was having a graduation party on Saturday, July 18th to celebrate the event. He invited my wife and I to come to the party, and if possible, could we bring the tractor along with us as a special surprise for his family. My wife and I accepted the invitation, and I proceeded to prepare the machine for the "surprise visit". Not knowing what to expect, I simply polished her as if we were going to a show, and figured my wife and I would find out how this would turn out while there. Yesterday we loaded up the machine in the morning and went over to their house a mile and a half away at the appointed time. When we got there and Victor met us in the driveway as we pulled in. Most of the family had yet to arrive, and even in the little time of our brief introductions, my wife and I could tell this was going to be something different, and something special. Victor asked that I put the machine in a spot practically in the middle of the party area, in plain view of almost every corner of the property and the street, almost like a center piece on a table. As each family member arrived they were presented with a view of a brand-new looking 1973 Wheel Horse 10hp 8-Speed which they recognized immediately as "Cody's, Dad's or Grand Pa's Wheel Horse". It seems this Wheel Horse had played a very prominent role at every family event and get-together for the 34 years it resided at their home. This tractor was there during most of this family's entire life, all the way down to the grand-children now in their late teens and early 20's, and played a central role in many of the events held there. Everyone in attendance had a favorite story to tell about their particular recollections of good times with Cody and his Wheel Horse, and nearly all had some mutual stories to tell. You know how family stories are, especially when you come from a large family. The story goes around and around, with each family member adding, arguing and laughing, over every detail. My wife and I just stood there, practically in shock, with quick glances of amazement at each other, and listened in awe as the stories were replayed by each and every family member. We could see and feel the joy, and the sorrow, as the stories played out before us. Each family member truly loved their Husband, Dad and Grand Pa, and the machine that was "his baby". My wife and I are so blessed to have witnessed this outpouring of love, affection and admiration, and to receive all the compliments and thank yous for bringing the machine to the party and bringing it and them back to better days. They were all truly appreciative, and it was quite humbling for us to say the least. Sometimes things are just meant to be, and this is most definitely one of them. Below are some old and new pictures from the party. Victors family had put together a poster of images from a 1999 family party where all of the grand kids were in attendance. This gave my wife and I a feel for how this tractor played a role in this family's history. The family and kids even recreated some of those photos they had on the poster. Enjoy. I know we did! THE POSTER IMAGE 1 - FROM THE POSTER IMAGE 2 - FROM THE POSTER IMAGE 3 - FROM THE POSTER IMAGE 4 - FROM THE POSTER VICTOR TAKING A SEAT IN A FAMILIAR PLACE THE GRAND-KIDS RECREATE SOME OF THE IMAGES

This seat from TSC is very comfy and adjustable. I always mount them on u shaped seat springs I get out of a scrap yard

I have shipped a couple with Fastenal...I like them. Your transmission is about 75 lb...it is about 16" long...24" wide and 7" high. My Fastenal has pallets...I just take it to them and put it on one of their pallets. They tie it down and ship it...when it comes to the Fastenal by you, they call you and you go pick it up and pay for the shipping then. When you fill out their form, they will come back at you with the price for shipping.

Love it! Ive been in my '08 Ram since 2010 and I LOVE it. Mine is 2wd with the high output 4.7 and 3.92 gears. (The 4.7 prior to 08 were anemic, they redesigned them and with a tune on 95 gas i was running 310+hp). Still isn't a HEMI but it will reliably pull whatever I throw at it! Bought it with 28k on the clock and just turning 117k.

There is a good illustration on page 4 of this manual http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/files/file/2160-mower-rotary-60in-sd-1997-1998-78390-om-3318-950pdf/ Garry

I had the same thing in mind, a few of us could bring gas grills and dogs or burgers, others could bring coolers with other fixins, whatever is a specialty for them. Sort of like a family reunion picnic that a lot of us are accustomed to. I am really not into camping and would be spending the night in a nearby motel, perhaps others would also wish to do this and we could establish a "Host Hotel"

I think that's a great idea. As time nears and we can get an idea of how many are coming, we can make up a food list and volunteer to bring the type and quantity of food needed.

CAKE! Where, when, what??????

Well no, I don't want Bert and Linder to spend alot of money feeding us. That would not be reasonable. I would stress that food does have a way of bringing folks together. It did make Jay's Meet and Greet very successful. Maybe we visitors can all bring a certain something to cook on the grill to show our appreciation of Linder and Bert's kindness? How does everyone feel about that?

Let me know how I can help. Sounds like you guys are off to a good start, porta john, and room to camp. How about food? Any restaurant around? I like the parts swap too. If someone is needing something they can bring it. Also if someone needs something moved from lets say wva to atlanta ga I can help move it. I cant wait, to hang out. I find it so much fun talking tractors and meeting new people.

This is a nice little steam show with beautiful grounds and a nice little flea market. I won't be able to make it this year. They get a fairly good variety GT turnout, but their focus really is their steamers. I was surprised at how many guys just showed up to take their tractor through the parade and then never saw them again all day. Seemed to me the Wheel Horse guys were the only ones who hung out for conversation all day.

I never would have thought there would be a link to DUCATI from a Wheel Horse. I don't envy your task James, Ducati electronics were never a good thing back in the day keep going though I'm sure you can do it.

I don't know... for a $1,000,000... I would sleep fine at night, LOL!