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Dragged my Honda 5hp powered 656 out of the shed today, hasn’t run in five months or so. Typical Honda...fired up on the third yank! Decided to do something I haven’t done in awhile, cruise the trail that @Docwheelhorse and I blazed years ago for our kids to tear up with quads and dirt bikes (and tractors of course). It poured like heck yesterday so plenty of wet and muddy spots but she never got stuck. Just took my time...2nd gear with the motor just above idle. Enjoy the pics! This is the widest and deepest water crossing. Probably 15’ across and a good 10” deep today! Hard to capture with a camera but this is a pretty steep hill, had to up the RPM’s before heading up this one. Tony’s “woods art”. Classic New England stone walls are everywhere around here. Tree down!!! Somebody call maintenance!! Long muddy uphill trek to get home. And you can just see my house thru the trees...home safely!

With the exception of the seat covers this 953 is as found nearly twenty years ago, it is my go to and is dependable as the day it was built.

Working on the finishing touches. I figured out what to do with the unwanted holes in my nose weights. A couple of hole plugs adorned with some nice decals. Also working on repairing the cracks in the steering wheel. This is my first attempt at repairing a steering wheel. I ground all of the cracks back and filled them with JB weld, It still needs a couple of coats of a sandable primer, then wet sand & paint with a semi gloss paint. Hopefully it turns out OK.

I installed a set of @BOB ELLISON seat covers on my 953 barn find worker.

I have a poster of NASCAR driver Alan Kulwicki sitting on a Wheel Horse which he won for having woe a pole The Poster I was speaking of earlier was printed by Toro Wheel Horse after Alan Kulwicki's untimely death in an airplane crash April 1, 1993. He had won the Pole position for the Mellow Yellow 500 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, October 7, 1992. The prize for winning the Pole was a 416-8 (and some cash). He went on to win the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup.

So the C195 is mine. I bought it to help literally drag the machines out of the weeds. Story goes the guy I bought from had a friend who was an old timer who used to restore old machines. I picked up an original 1959 RJ with mower deck and clinton 1290. It needs a restoration but it is all there. My son Brennan Bo wants to do his first restoration so I think this will be a perfect candidate. I also picked up a super straight 857. Has been repainted at some point but is also complete with deck. Lastly, I picked up a Economy Jim Dandy. Came with a deck but that is shot. These were in the storage shed/tent that is long gone. The old timer passed several years ago. I am happy to have saved these machines. Outside of the Wheel Horse I am partial to the Economy machines. There was a round fender (1966ish) John Deere 110. I left that pig there Some pictures before, during and after a pressure washing.....

How about one of these Rich

Getting right down to the bones there really isn't much difference from the 70's on through the 3,4,500 series. As the years went by the electrical systems got more complicated due all the safety stuff so that made them a bit harder to work on. All the attachments that fit a pre 78 B, any C and the 3,4,500 series are interchangeable save for a couple of exceptions. I'm running a 76 48" deck on a 2005 Classic. 12hp will handle a 48" deck fine. I even used one on a GT1100 for years and it was fine. With that said I, and I think most here, will say the pre 78 B's and all the C's were the best ever overall.

I may bring some like this also.

Richard they came out very nice. I wish I had a seat like that. O wait I do have some of those. Good job and well done

Well “nut job”could be misconstrued so I’d have to go with the second one. Both are good

Only a little thing, fitted combined tacho/hour meter today

I like B overall and A a close second. If A said “ Factory Authorized Restoration Center” it would be cool. I don’t have any “factory authorized” accessories. Come to think of it they may not authorize my “restorations” either, especially since I can’t weld, don’t know how to use a bit set and am apparently dumber than I look. @WHX16

So in my initial investigating of Wheel Horse, trying to figure out what would suit me, I had a craving for the larger Kohler twin engines. But I often stumbled upon opinions and comments on the big Kohlers that went something like this: Prone to failure!! Will explode if your lawn is not 100% flat, due to bad lubrication. Bad cooling, will loose compression on at least one cylinder. Costly to repair. Not long lived Would prefer a single cylinder any day! Etc. Etc. Well, I know this is the nay sayers version, but still this is something I came across often, and it almost made me back out of my wish to have a big twin. Luckily it did not, I took the chance, and have had the pleasure of a few of these wonderful engines. In fact I spend the last week rescuing a 417-A, that turned out to be quite the opposite story. It was a hugely neglected non runner to start with. Rusty, like it had been sitting outside its entire life. Clutch was worn to bare metal. I pulled the tractor apart, and it was obvious it had been run to the ground, and then some. Highly creative wiring and a failed attempt to install an electric fuel pump, due to the OE pump having died, probably persuaded the PO JA ,to let it go. The rest of the tractor took some work and paint and patience, but it became decent. The thing of amazement was that Kohler KT17. It had newer been of the frame, that much was certain. It had no air filter, No cab over the points, Oil substitute was more brown gray than black. There was no spark, there was no side tins on the engine to guide the airfow. There was no screen on the flywheel. Most cooling ribs and the backside of the flywheel was densely filled with many years buildup of hard grass compost mud gunk. And the carb was jerry rigged to bypass the governor and run full throttle, and full of gunk, and leaking from rock hard gaskets. Oh and there was no fuel filter of cause, not that it matters in this picture anyway. I was thinking this was a write off, and looked over to a line of repower options I have on the shelve. After all this had been running on something that may have been oil many years ago, and proper cooling was not in it's vocabulary. Then I got a bit crossed with the stupid doorknob that had treated it like that, and decided to give it a try. I took it a bit apart, flywheel and so, and gave it a go with the pressure washer. Next I tested the compression to see if there was meaning in doing more, and to my surprise, it had good and almost uniform compression. Had not seen that coming for sure, so I gave it new points, condenser, plugs, oil, air filter, rebuild the carb and set it up with governor etc. Rewired the tractor completely, including the electric fuel pump. You know what! It fired straight up, and now it purrs away with no bad sounds or anything. This is where the Nay sayers will jump inn and say " Yes well we do not know how many hours was on it, and bla. bla. bla.". Well yes that is also true, and kind of part of the amazing story. The hour meter stopped working at some point in time, only God knows when..............At 2.137 hours.!!!! So yeah, we do not know how many hours is on it, but likely a bit more to be cautious. I don't know about you all, but I think this is a statement on rugged reliability, under really the worst conditions I can imagine. My hat is off to Kohler for making these engines.

Out in the shed today for some “gate fabrication “ and decided I am tired of looking at this poor girl just sitting there. Removed the floor / firewall and cut the old floor frame off and got it back to just the firewall. Have a different direction I am going with the floor. Hope to resurrect this project out of neverland and get it going. Would love to bring it to the show. Awe who am I kidding?

thank you very much for posting this, that is awesome!!! Would be awesome to find that exact 416-8, Great driver from wisconsin and great machine and sport cant get any better then that!! Thanks again!

Boy are you in good company here Ritchie!

OR "FACTORY AUTHORIZED FANATIC"

lol, yeah, she'll do anything to get out of it. Do I get demerits then for bastardising the hood like that? I thought I had extra points for actually using a car seat. Seriously though the basket does come in handy for things like a bit of rope, a few tools, a pair of gloves, etc, even if it does look a little odd.

Just finished mounting rebuilt and painted engine to the 653. And it fired up as well (bonus.) Restoration almost complete. My daughter is ready to go needless to say. Another snowy day in PA tomorrow. Going to bring mower deck down and get it ready. Does anyone happen to know what size the belt is from the motor to the deck on 653?

I don't post much off topic stuff, because I'm pretty tried and true with the Red... But a friend of mine just sent me a message couple days ago that was pretty cryptic. It said only "Do you want this?" And had the following photo attached: So, those are pretty unique and not just for the paint. I recognized it immediately and responded in the affirmative! I've always had a soft spot for these ones, but they're so hard to come by. He sent a few more follow-up pics: Theres another pic not included here but it just shows the non original engine as I guess the original wore out? She's now sporting an 8hp Briggs recoil start. Direct bolt in. Apparently they're cleaning out grammas garage and nobody in the family expressed any Intereste, so they reached out to the only GT guy they knew. I'm due to pick it up next weekend, so we'll see then if all goes well.

I just got these today. I think they will make a good snow tire for my Electro. Real deep thread and made in the US.

If you can find a 418-C you would have a winner, Simplified wiring, larger front spindles, higher forward speed Hydro with power lift and a Kohler twin engine. They were built specifically for commercial lawn service.

Jim! You shouldn't! Just in case you can't find my house on Christmas Eve, I'll send you my mailing address so you can be sure I get it!

Now that's funny!!!! i already have A so B for me

Don't discount the later C models, my 81 C125 is my go to tractor for most any job I need to do. Didn't like the looks of the blackhood models at first, but after buying this one they kinda grew on me

Keep in mind that the late 70s and early 80s B-series were not the same as the earlier B-series. They were more like the mid 70s A-series. And the earlier, more desirable B-series top off at 10 hp.

Been waiting on you Bob. #30

81-12K801

I don’t have a thread started in the tractor till have to gather up the pictures and get one going it hasn’t been a year yet but getting close Labor of love. My wife may not think but I sure do lol

Yes thank you for posting that @953 nut ....wonder where that tractor is now? I'll be getting a couple Terry ...good stocking stuffers!

Starting to think... we might still be push/blowing snow at this years big show... & it will all be Ed Kennell's fault.

It being for a yard business, raises the question: What will it eventually be used for? I mean, I second what has been said, but would like to add this: Hydro for mowing is sweet, and the hydraulic lift mid and rear is priceless. I would go for the biggest single cylinder for lowest maintenance cost, and I would not give a hut if its an early C or a 3-4-5 series. I would find one with an eaton 1100 rearend, and then I would strip all electronics and do a no nonsense wiring for reliability. Just my The big single will pull the 48" with ease, and till and what not without being strained. In my mind it is better to have power ENOUGH, than to have maybe adequately enough . I would suggest C-160, C-165, 414, 416 etc. Yes the 416 can be a single, albeit an 8 speed. (not saying twins are bad, just a potentially more expensive engine to service.) The above would make a rugged, plenty powerful, no nonsense, lowish cost/price gardening machine, that can last long and do most everything. Again, just my on this specific situation.

Lots of from your ride Mike, thanks for sharing

Looks like an awesome place... for a meet & greet Mike.

I'm guessing they kept filling the oil with the amount listed in the manual and couldn't figure out why it seemed over filled. Instead of just checking it with the filler cap unscrewed and resting on the edge of the hole, they made it easier to check by threading the cap in to check it! LoL

More possible clues written on the back of the hood. BTW the engine does run nice!

So... is this your coming out party?

Thanks for the info on the Predator - I like options later when things can fail. My interest in generators north of 10,000 watts is driven by power tools and welders - almost would rather go that route than buying a very expensive engine drive and having a dedicated welding rig truck or pulling a trailer for one. One of these days I need to finish my welding trailer and compressor build, but that is a separate unit. Besides, the generator would come in handy for small portable jobs and when our power goes out. Beats freezing to death in Northern Illinois... Sarge

Use the 4 position series 56 connector, just leave the unused position empty. That is what I used when I rewired my C125. Works perfectly

That is a sharp looking tractor and a cute little kid! Do you have a thread started to document the restoration of the 653? If not, you should start one in the restorations section of the forum—looks like you are doing a good job and passing it on to the next generation!

I too like the grey wheels. Maybe go with a gray seat or a gray stripe on the bottom edge of the hood to tie it together

At first I started to veto the gray, but it's growing on me. Kind of makes me think of the old Massey tractors. Good job!

Any 10W-30 oil will work fine and will be easier on the starter when you start it in the winter. And, you should run every engine at least once a month. Most members on here use Mobil 1 . I personally use Quaker State 10W-30 in all my tractors, cars, and trucks and have never had any engine failures. So glad you followed through with the suggestions and resolved the problem. Thanks for reporting the results.

In my old K-series motors I run straight 30 in the summer but go to 10w30 in the winter in my cold weather workers. 35 years ago I didn't see any additional consumption with 10w30 in my 76 K-341 but I sure do now. Geez! You would think that wouldn't happen after 42 years and a gazillion hours. Seriously, oil is so much better now I feel that by changing it often enough you'd be hard pressed to go wrong.

found this in one K321 manual that I looked at: "Straight 30-weight oil is preferred. SAE IOW-30 oil is not recommended above 32F. Using this oil substantially increases oil consumption and combustion chamber deposits".

Their yours if you want them. PM me your address.

I just bought another Kohler Twin the other day, love the power and sound of the one on the 418-C. Will be doing a Kustom Job on a 953 and can't think of a better power plant than a twin.

Another video