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It always great to see out schools hosting local veterans! Thank you to all our veterans and @Rob R looking good as always!

I like the jet bicycle or the helicopter. LMFAO at that bicycle but but gotta give the guy some credit for what he did.

Here's a video of me tearing it up with my 1076

Well I figured I'd wrap this up. I forgot to post pics the other day when I finished foot rest and seat. So I'm doing it today. I spent some time working it today pushing some compost piles and I'm super happy with this machine. I will still add lights when I figure out how I want to do them. But the main thing is its alive and officially a worker on the team!

Shorts and flip flops? Don’t you know it’s 33 and snowing!!! looks like a job for an automatic, eh?

It ain't as easy as it looks ..takes lots of eye/hand cordination ...guess that takes most of you s out of the running! Dan and Mike @prondzy were the big money winners ..... Mike had picked up a nice 877 at the show that Dan shoulda bought for me and was a fast little tractor!

We better get practice'n

I did it just for fun to make something different

I hope @WHX21 or one of the other GTM Members will post it, it is a riot! You stretch out a long chain, attach one end to your hitch and then go forward and back moving your line over an inch each time making progressively shorter passes until the chain is neatly stacked in short rows next to each other. Hope I described it properly.

I started lowering my 856. I flipped the front axle and lowered the frame in the rear 4”.

As specially requested by @pullstart Here is a series of pictures with a tape measure showing the brackets for the mid mount grader. The grader blade itself is 40 inches wide and roughly 8 inches tall including the Curve. Please feel free to ask for specific measurements or further information.

Found the ad a couple days ago on craigslist. It was pretty vague, but listed a phone number to reach him and was able to get some more info and pictures. The tractor was listed as a "418C, high hours but runs strong. Comes with deck and plow". The price was initially a bit of a turn off as it was more than i spent on my last two "nice" wheel horses combined, but after some research it was looking like a better and better deal due to the models rarity and the plow/weights/chains. Was finally able to align my schedule with the seller last night to go see it. From what i am told, he got it from the original owner who used it for a lawn care business, hence the hours. The hour meter lists approx 2400hrs, but the rest of the tractor does NOT seem that way, so maybe the key was left on a couple times. The tractor is in awesome shape, MUCH better shape than the 1600hr 314H i restored and sold last year. The 48" deck is in fabulous shape as is the 48" plow that it came with. Though i think it needs the carb cleaned, it ran very well, the hydrostatic drive and lift worked great, the PTO engaged easily and the deck was silent (new blades even!). I could tell that the fella who owned it for much of its life cared for it. It does need what the previous owner thinks is a starting solenoid. It wont start with the key, but will by jumping the terminals. My dads tractor (a 314-8 classic) also has this issue, so ill be diving into that this evening most likely. I was apprehensive about this tractor being hydrostatic as i didnt care for my last hydro tractor. However, the floor mounted lever as opposed to the column mounted lever definitely changed my mind, along with this tractor not being as worn out. I ended up paying 700 for it, which i thought was a fair deal considering the plow/weights/chains. I figure that stuff is worth a minimum of 200, so i came home with a very nice, and rare, tractor for around 500 bucks. As an added bonus, the guy i bought it from saved a set of chrome hub caps from the scrap yard. The fronts exist on the tractor, but he misplaced the rears since the wheel weights were on there. He will be getting them to me when he finds them. The biggest added bonus, buried treasure, hens teeth, was the hidden chrome rear wheels! Cant wait to get those things cleaned up! He said someone came to look at the tractor and offered him cash plus another set of wheels/tires in trade for them. Was that one of you guys?! I have attached the few pictures i have of it. Got home around 930 last night and didn't even get a chance to get it off the trailer. I look forward to getting my hands dirty with this one in the next couple days.

So I have a shop full of expensive sign making equipment and here I am experimenting with Lola's Cricut maker machine. Tried scoring on copper colored thin metal sheeting today. I cut the edges with a dull carpet knife but still happy with the look of this. Will burnish down the rough edges when the paint is dry but I wanted it to look a bit rustic anyway.

We was doing a buck a pile John ... half to the smallest pile ...half to the show sponser.

There is a range / size of pile that works out well before you run out of time, but I'm not givin' away any secrets.

We could just anchor part of the chain to control the sandbagg'n

if ya practice in the snow just think how good you'll be in the summer on some nice clean grass

Looks like fun. Kind of like any good game. Easy to learn but difficult to master

Never saw that before either. That's something we could do at the big show! Is it $5 a man and winner take all?

It’s still dirty I have some cleaning left to do but I have two pictures to show what you do. You cut the bottom two transmission bolt holes off of the frame and put them on top it’s a really simple way to lower one.

Ended up and drove to next town and got a kit from dealers for 10 bucks All is good now Thanks

Yup...unless your fond of gear grinding and front end lift offs. Gotta be really quick with the clutch/shifter!

very nice pics! your a helpful person and this site is lucky your a part of it

Pretty much spot on Richard. We're don't really look for a nice neat pile though. We start with a 30' chain & each contestant is given 2min to make as small of a pile as they can by pulling it forwards & backwards to fold it up. Hydro's definitely have the upper hand in this game, but it can be won with a gear jammer.

Yes there are Kev. Very popular out west and in Canada. There's a towing/recovery company here in South Portland that has one. It puts the weight of the truck/cargo on the axles split 2/2 instead of 3/1 to make the different bridge formulas work. They're really cool looking. As to the above "Tractor"... I think engine swaps are neat if done right. This one a bit Ummmmm... Ugly ish.

I usually try to be upbeat and positive but what was the thought.I think this is the worst thing I have seen done to a tractor.Oh wait the John Deere farm tractor that was joined to face in opposite directions was even worse.Life is to short to put this much effort in to something this dumb.JMHO.

I'm a fan of the 418-C for snow removal, that hydro lift and Eaton Hydro coupled with a Kohler twin is great. Makes a good leaf blower too.

Here is where I currently am with the project. We had our first child three months ago, so the project has really slowed down. So over the summer I did a lot of painting so the paint could harden really well before assembly. - Parts sandblasted - Quick run over everything with a DA with 80 grit. - Cleaned and degreased - Sprayed with etching primer. - Scuffed with a grey 3M scuff pad - Cleaned and degreased - Two light coats of red followed by a third, heavier coat

Went to an Estate Sale last Saturday at at house and farm shop where the guy had a small equipment repair shop down near our farm. Everything was to pricey so I didn't buy anything. My sister called today and said the family is holding a "Garage Sale" tomorrow because there was a lot of stuff left. She's going to scope it out for me in the morning, and if things are reasonable, i'll head that way (to go deer hunting at the farm of course) I've never seen a Eaton up close, so wondered if this is a 700 or 1100? It didn't have a place for a filter to mount directly to it. But it had the 2 hydraulic tubing lines and I wasn't sure what they were for? Axles are 1-1/8" looks like its been sitting out in the weather awhile didn't find any tag on it? A few other items I took pictures of. There were a few more goodies if the price comes down!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB !!! Hope all is well with you. Have a great day Mate.

If you get all the parts it is a simple bolt in (you might need to drill 2 more holes in the frame if you go with the reduction setup but that is simple to do). Cheapest way is to find an old blown up 520 and harvest the parts required then sell what is left (swept axle assemblies often sell for more than an entire 520). You could even put your old parts back into it and sell it more or less complete. If you find a 1990 520 or a 520HC it will be non reduction steering but with all the other goodies.

It does get played that way some times.

Hey Chris I really like your color choices on this tractor the acents of red against the gray really looks great!

The tie rods on the 520s (top) are automotive type vs those spindly little 3/8 style on all the others(bottom)...

I picked up some Skate Board Griptape on , even comes in RED! It was about $ 6.00 delivered.

Great pictorial “write up” Eric. Thanks for the detailed photos and measurements. Well done my friend!

Just... ...on a good day.

Thumbing through the Facebook classifieds this one caught my attention. I had to take a double take but sure enough looks like a double front end . Now this one looks like fun!

Terry could have been a left over from a 66 or 65?

The 2nd front axle was probably needed because of the excessive weight.

The previous owner of my 854 had the gas tank welded also, I've never had a problem with any leaks. So I'd say go for it.

Quite true. Spray cans really are a different science than a proper gun altogether. I wish I had the skills and tools for the full size air guns. Likely a future investment for us. I too have that lack of patience. That's why I originally stopped using primer and switched over to 2X. We're not at all trying for a show grade long term finish. I'm assuming our machines will last 3 to 5 years before needing a repaint. Time will tell. It's awesome that folks are so willing to share knowledge and experience here!!!

I think that switching to Rustoleum from a qt can is a great idea. Switching to the Nason 2K primer is a most excellent idea. This is my primer of choice on my sheet metal parts, a good high build primer that will take out imperfections and will never shrink under the paint. This primer should work great with the paint. Prime your rims with self etching primer, follow up with the 2K after the etching primer flashes, let them set up (over night should be fine), wet sand & paint. This would be the process that I would use. Lacquer primer will work also but the 2K is a more durable primer. I recommend self etching primer for sure. It actually eats into the metal & gives your primer better adhesion, plus its high zinc content helps prevents rust. Don't feel bad about this, I don't have much luck with Rusto spray bombs either. I just don't have the patients for them I guess.

It will physically hook up but you likely could not steer. The front wheels will hit the deck. You would need the swept front axle. I have not mounted my 60" deck in 2 years. The 48" does the job almost as quickly. It does take some power to spin that beast as well. Makes the 20HP Onan grunt.

That's on my list this weekend I'm a little further north of you in Ohio 30 miles west of Cleveland just finished mulching leaves with my zero turn.

Thank you, Shynon! The center cap arrived today. I can't thank you enough!

Very nice Mr. Squid! How did you mount the squirrel cage? Could you Sir post a few pic's? Sir? I need one too! (Take notice of how polite this Jarhead is when he needs wants something. ) At Camp Lejeune we used rakes. Aboard the USS Guam, stood in chow lines. Last for morning chow call, forget it. You would be 1st for lunch. Thinking, "Greeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttt!"