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This is exactly why RS continues to attract new members and therefore keeps the hobby going strong and growing. No one is ever born with the knowledge so we have to learn it somewhere. Even the "experts" were green at some point! Offending new members which are looking for help only pushes them away and actually hurts the hobby as a whole. Keeping it a "family site" and very well managed by all of the moderators is certainly a big part of what make this work.

I just wanted to take a moment without derailing anything technical to say that I appreciate all of those who have been of help to me. @ebinmaine @clueless @stevasaurus @953 nut @Sarge @KC9KASand many others. Weve only had our Horses a few months, and I’ve had no experience with small engines up until then. Most things that you seasoned wrenchers run into and think “That’s an inconvenience, but do able” are “Did I kill the tractor?” moments for me. I’ve been able to get guidance here for everything I’ve run into so far, and picked up additional knowledge along the way. No one is rude, or snobbish, or condescending with their responses, and explanations. Almost everything that’s been explained to me was done so in a way that I could understand it , and without making me feel dumb. It makes it really easy to stay involved in the hobby knowing you can get quality information from good folks who’re genuinely helpful. As I’ve tackled each problem as it’s popped up, it’s made me a little more confident going into working on the next. It also makes it a little less nerve wracking when the next problem presents itself each time. All that to say: Thanks!

I would like to thank RS for the positive experience in selling my kw loader that I posted for sale on October 11 and sold within 1 week.Was nice not to have to post an add on CL and to have met another member who was knowledgeable on WH tractors.I have also mentioned to my significant other (Patti} that if anything should happen to me that all my tractors , parts and accessories is to be first offered to RS members.Happy new year to all and be safe Thank You.

Kyle, I agree with everything that Dick @953 nut, John @wallfish, and @Sarge just posted. I might add that I think we all get a great deal of satisfaction when we are able to utilize some of our experience to help solve a problem or answer a question. We do look forward to the replies from members like you who show their appreciation. I am certain you will soon be receiving thank yous from new members you will be helping. Welcome aboard.

The one thing I've learned in Life is to pass on your experience to others - that is how I grew up and learned all of these skills, from hanging around older folks that were kind enough to share/teach their experience and what they had learned over time. If you treat things like this as a Teacher, you're the better for it - and that has its own rewards in many ways through Life. No different than teaching a child how to do simple things, without the knowledge passed down from elders we'd all be pretty clueless on how to survive. One example of payback is my own son-in-law. What I have taught him in the last 10yrs or so is paying off - now that I'm in not so good health he can easily help me work on things and I can now trust him to do the job right. He is not a parts changer, as I put it - but a true mechanic and I'm quite proud of him and what he's accomplished. I look at this way - if we don't help the newcomers into a hobby, how will that hobby ever survive the test of time? Without a supporting community, I'm certain most of these machines would be turned into recycled junk imported goods like so many other things from our past. As a Journeyman Laborer - one trend I've noticed in the newer generations trying to come into our profession is a total lack of basic knowledge and skills. These younger generations did not grow up the same way we did as self-sufficient people that knew how to work around dangerous equipment and use basic tools. Trying to teach them from scratch with our Apprentice Program is not working too well - the lack the basic skills and building blocks to be qualified to do our work are not there and that requires a lot of extra class time that we cannot afford. So, the result is older members like myself being called upon regularly to go out and "babysit" on jobs to get things done. I'm tired, broken and worn out - time for someone else to take over and the younger generations, for the most part, aren't capable of that. There is some of our work I just cannot do anymore, especially in cold weather. I've gotten 5 calls from Operators and other Tradesman to go out and run a demolition job that will run clear through next March - not going to happen and the Contractor is getting fed up with the lack of production. Not sure what the solution is, but I honestly think as a society we really have to change some things and go back to teaching our youth the way we used to - and that starts with Shop classes in the schools that have mostly disappeared. I could never repay what I learned back in those days - except to teach the newcomers what I've learned during all these years and I feel like its a responsibility for us older generations to those who taught us to educate the next generation. Without passing on these skills we've become a disposable society - which I'm quite disgusted with on a personal level. So, I'll go out of my way to educate others with anything I can - and the only solution as I see it. I still learn new things from this site all the time and am very grateful to gain more skills with time, despite getting "older" - the plus side is a community of some truly decent people. We're all like family here, in today's world that has a value that can't be beaten. I love being here and participating and watching folks take something that was considered junk and turning it into a truly beautiful and useful machine. The one other place I've found like Red Square is the Toyota Land Cruiser forum - IH8MUD.com. Some of the best folks I've ever met from all walks of life and all over the globe with one common interest - Toyota trucks. I've had members stop in from all over - including South Africa just to have a brew and talk Land Cruisers and other Toyota trucks - pretty tough act to follow but Red Square is cut from the same cloth. We also have some of the most level-headed Moderators on any forum out there - I thank them personally from the bottom of my heart for their diligent work at keeping things friendly and the site what it should be - a community. When you throw folks with different skill sets from different walks of life the mixing pot becomes a very useful forum - RS is a great example and we have some very amazing members here with some crazy skills - I love it. Welcome aboard and share what you've learned - it is what makes this site what it is and with continued support should be around for a very long time to come. Sarge

The best site on the inter-web! I agree you can't find a better bunch of folks helping each other with these little red mules oh I mean tractors. Cudos y'all !!!

Great to have you here. It’s that kind of attitude is that makes this place the best. All it takes is a little bit of unselfishness , a smidge of humor,a dash of gratefulness, some humility, lots of knowledge and people willing to share it and you get this place. My opinion totally though. I love being on here myself. Everyone I have met(some I haven’t) are great people.

And that you have been! I say “Happy to help!” whenever anyone thanks me for something, just force of habit. I saw it so often that when someone Thanks our 3 year old he says “No problem, happy to help!” and struts away 😂. I take pride in the fact that that’s what he says and that he knows what it means and says it, not just parrots it back. I’m also very grateful to have those with knowledge I don’t have who have that mindset as well.

I belong to several online forums, and I've always said that RedSquare is and will always be the best. We have hands down the friendliest and most helpful member base of any site on the web. I just happened to look and realize this is post #1,000 for me. I know I've got a long way to go to catch up with some of you fellas, but 1,000 posts on an internet forum is quite the accomplishment for me, some of these other forums I've belonged to for years and lucky to have posted 100 times, much less 1,000. Most places are pretty topic specific, here we share the common Wheel Horse thread, but we also seem to share more than that, like one big extended family. This is the only forum I belong to where we all pull together for each other through the ups and downs life throws at us, and one I am very proud to be a member of. Thanks to each and every one of you who contribute in your own special way to make this the great place that it is

Thank you for the call out Kyle. I'm glad to be able to help. I joined this site a couple years ago looking for information about my first tractor. Patriot horse. 1974 B80. I can't even possibly begin to tell you how much knowledge Trina and I have both gained from multiple members of this site. She and I are both very strong believers in Hands-On, and Use What You Have. I too have a great appreciation for everybody on this site in the knowledge that we have gained.

My first post here was answered promptly by a member from England, @meadowfield. He gave a very straightforward answer and it was followed up by several welcomes from others. I have learned so much here that I wouldn't have been able to find any other place. We are all here to help each other and it seems we make the "Jerks" feel uncomfortable so the go to other sited to spew their anger. Our moderators are a big factor in making it all work.. Garry @gwest_ca is so good about giving information and keeping our files straight. Keep asking good questions and we will continue to learn along with you.

All good ideas! The one thing you don't want to do is grind/sand the fins smooth. The roughness of a cast fin is added surface area and breaks up laminar flow allowing the turbulent air movement to provide better cooling.

@c-series don Those are some very good examples but you forgot the best one. The vehicles are the same color... Most of the time anyway.....

Kyle, wait until you go to the Big Show and meet a bunch of us. You will definitely be part of the Family then. Thanks for all the kind words...all of you. HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

Scored the best score of 2018 for myself yesterday. '75 c120. Blower. Mower original cab. Grader blade. Dual feed wheel horse seeder spreader. Two wheel horse cultivators. Wheel horse aerator. Wheel horse wagon. Two axel heavy cart. Not sure if wheel horse made one of those? But it is wheel horse red. Snow blade. Wheel horse lawn vac. Crate full of parts and belts. 2 sets Wheel horse wheel weights. It was was a great day. Pictures when I pick it all up.

I took a muffler off a old 10hp Briggs and modified it a little and put it on the 552 (has a K181 Kohler). I do need to brace it. But I am not sure I like how it looks. What do you guys think. It is quiet lol

Sarge, I agree with you completely. I’m able to cook, bake, and garden so well because I learned from my parents, grandparents, and all of the retirees that lived around us growing up. They shared their secrets and their way of doing things, and each had their own. I baked a pie a few months back, completely from scratch and was asked “What brand is this?”. It blew their minds that I’d baked it myself. But that was from helping Paw Paw as a kid. Just so happened no one in that pool of people was a wrench turner. My old man was when he had the time and need, but we also didn’t have a lot of equipment that needed maintenance or repair. While I loved my old man dearly, working with him usually ended up the same way as when Ralphie tried to help his dad change the tire in “A Christmas Story” 😂. By the time I was old enough to have an interest and understanding of the work, he had passed. Thats one more positive thing that has come out of living with my father in law. Much like you, he’s made sure that if he’s doing something that relates to the house, property, or any equipment we have, he involves me. There have been a couple times that I’ve done something that he showed me because I knew it needed to be done and/or done THAT way, and he’s said “You’re learning!”. It’s nice to be part of a community of people like that instead of having just one person with that mindset available to me. Wallfish, that’s exactly why after only a short time I became a supporter. I wouldn’t have sunk what limited funds I have to play with into it if I didn’t think it was worth it.

Now John, no hitting below the belt. The barber that found the wire was a young lady that had just started working for my 80 year old long time barber. She was trimming the hair on my left ear when the wire stalled the clippers. She freaked out and refused to finish the haircut. The old timer got a needle nose pliers from his tool box and yanked it out...then finished cutting my hair. BTW, as you know, I have very little hair so the barber only charges me $2 bucks for the haircut. Then he adds on $2 for each eyebrow and each ear for a total of $10. Sorry for the Eric, @ebinmaine, but it's John's fault.

You're killing me Ed. Can only imagine what the Proctologist found

When I remove a deck, I always remove the mule drive with the belt installed and store it with the deck. Much easier than removing the belt from the mule drive pulleys. Plus, I use the front attach-a-matic to install my plow anti sway/height control system. With a series of holes drilled in the control rod and with a washer and hairpin clip under the flat bar, I can set a minimum blade setting for plowing on the stone road, and remove it for full down pressure for scraping paved surfaces. This can also be accomplished with the height dial-a-matic on manual lift tractors. I only have hydraulic lift tractors.

Old school baby!

I have used 6" dia. wire wheels and scotch brite pads on a 4.5" angle grinder to clean fins. Make sure you have good protection as the wires break and fly off and if the pads get caught, they explode. My barber found a wire stuck in my ear lobe during a haircut a few years back.

I’ve been a volunteer firemen for over thirty years and I have to say that this place is like the fire department in many ways. Number one is people helping people because it’s the right thing to do. Two, everyone kinda has their area of expertise. The guy that is an expert on RJ’s might not be the guy for a charging issue on a 400 series. The guy that drives our FD tanker may not be a good secretary/treasurer. Three, people come here for all kinds of things not just advice on tractors. People go to the firehouse not just to go fight fires. Four, if you’re a jerk you will not make the cut and be asked to leave. That’s just a few examples I could surely come up with more,but you get the idea. Red Square is great all around because of the company we keep. Happy New Year my friends 🍻

Not much time to mess around with the tractor today but I was able to use the pilot light as recommended by Richard @953 nut to sort of, reuse the old one as well. I put the guts and the nut and washer from the new one onto the original lens and it looks like it should hold okay. I also got another ignition switch for this one. I went with a Standard part number US14. This is a direct replacement for the switch that was in the tractor even though it is not actually correct for Wheel Horse application because it actually is a 4 position switch. As much as I love putting things back to the way that they were built, sometimes it isn't justifiable to me. This switch was nearly half the price of the Cole hersee switch.

Funny things happen on eBay. I sell most of my items on eBay. (Over 1,000 in last 10 years, much prefer via Red Square members, = much more professional & understanding) Sales on Just eBay — lots of questions, mostly because they did not read the entire description, re: size, colour, quantity, model. Then most expect me to send it first because of a hurry —- I’ve learned from that. eBay is tough & very $$$ especially on sellers , buyers have lot of safety protections. As a seller it is $$$ with eBay fees, PayPal fees then shipping, I understand why many sellers don’t want to ship overseas. Those videos from Alumilite are excellent, that’s exactly how I make my stuff they are only 80 minutes away, exact same products I use (I also use pressure pots + a vacuum chamber). Glen

Lucky he doesn't charge a "Finder's Fee".

Trust me, that cat will eat you for lunch!

Spray painting indoors requires a lot of prep. The area where you paint must be sealed from any living area. Fresh air ventilation is a must with large enough fan to change the air frequently. Proper breathing protection is also a must. Many paints, especially acrylics, are extremely hazardous to your health. My advice is NO spray painting indoors. Brush painting with alkyd based enamels is okay as long as you can ventilate the smell.

Not rushing things here in NY.

I picked up this Generator at 60% off. Smashed Air Cleaner Assembly. Crushed Heat Shields. Oil soaked paperwork. First inspection it appeared the quart of oil must have been crushed as the unit had only half the amount needed, usually for shipping purposes. The muffler didn't have any oil on or around it to have leaked out if the unit was flipped onto it's side? (not even sure if oil can leak out that way on this engine design?) I managed to re-shape the metal parts, however the plastic cleaner cover is shattered along the left flange, so will try to contact Briggs again on that might get lucky? They did make an exception on the manual, which is rare, extremely rare to have a true hard copy, not a PDF, wait and see if truly does get here. I cleaned the original with Dawn. Started right up even looks fine considering. I did paint the re-formed parts and used heat resistant on the heat shield. All in all a good find at 444.69 for 8500/6250 30@ unit. I am still wiping excess oil off the manual pages, but it's functional. I left the PDF's in anyone needs them. Oldman gfqntEXAnfBhU7y.PDF ngjoALQ8p8ZVj5K1w.PDF gfqntFXAnfBhU7y.PDF 030592-01.pdf

A happy New Year to you all at

[ shhhh! these guys thought of it first]. https://hondanews.com/channels/powersports-heritage/photos/honda-s-1963-you-meet-the-nicest-people-ad So i own several of each maybe that makes me the nicest guy around???

We would catch fish...guaranteed.

More goodies have arrived for the ole nag. Can't wait til NAPA gets done with my hoses.

Quite simply COPD, and in some cases DEATH. The new acrylics use isocyanate (super glue) as a hardener. Once breathed into the lungs it doesn't come out. It hardens. Paint suppliers recommend forced fresh air full face masks and full body covers. Now that I have properly scared you, regular aerosol cans usually contain no hardeners and are safe enough to use with just a simple mask. However, my philosophy is, if you can smell it, you're breathing it. Err on the side of safety.

And from Felton, Pennsylvania, USA VID_20181223_170638.mp4

Thanks Sarge. I had an extra hood knob that I used for a handle and the lid is heavy enough that I don't think it needs a latch. I think I'm gonna shoot the inside with some bed liner.

I bet you could find an aftermarket cone filter and adapter on eBay... for a go kart.

I agree too, seems like most of the other tractor forums have faded out. this one seems strong and alot of involvement. and great info, so your stuck with me for 2 years now

So we have concluded that you cannot make an LS out of an 8 pinion with the spring from a 10 pinion if I am reading this correctly. It is my idea then to redesign the spring so that we can achieve our goal of making the 8 pinion an LS. I agree with the gap in the spring causing the jerking and the ease of installation indicating the need for a larger and stronger spring for the 8.

Paint is actually a bit of an insulator They make special thin black paints for radiators as regular paint interferes with heat transfer...why paint it

They had 4 different systems. Spring only, spring with a hydraulic damper, strut only and spring with little damper that only came into play at the end of the idler arm travel. I'm betting the last one is what you have but, like Garry said, we need the specifics on your tractor. In any case I'd remove any gizmos and just use a spring. Most likely problem solved.

Certainly not worth the health risk.

Needle scaler

Yes I have did some D series short and fat hydraulic cylinders I have the seals on hand.

Thanks for all the helpful info got my plow all setup today now we just need some snow to test it out ! Gonna put the tire chains on tomorrow .

Don'k know if that would work out for us, I'm sure some of us drive our much more than 36,000 miles in three years!

Kyle, not your fault, just lack of information. The stuff I've told you I learned from others, that's what so great about this site, nobody's judging, just trying to help. I'm always asking questions and always learning something. Hang in there my brother, you'll get it working right, if not there is always next year, oh wait that's tomorrow .

There really is no easy way for a home setup to paint in cold weather - unless you want to build a fully ventilated/filtered booth. Doing so will also require a huge number of heat BTU's to keep the temperature up high enough to get the paint to flow out, that's why no one really does this stuff during the colder weather season. When I worked for a specialty woodworking shop we had 2 large furnaces running at full power to keep the temperature controlled when using the ventilation fan. Once that job was done, the fan off and temperature stable the furnaces had to go off as well to prevent the risk of explosion from a buildup of fumes in the building. This whole setup required it's own building - no way we could do it in the shop with all the dust, of course. Auto body shops have dedicated booths that will keep the air temperature stable and ventilate the fumes when painting parts or a whole car - all of that air has to be filtered as well. Due to hazardous materials used in the paints and solvents, full body protection is a must as well. Now, for off-the-shelf spray can paint? Same deal - there are volatile solvents in almost every spray paint available, which is why it clearly states on the can it must be used in a well-ventilated area and breathing protection (respirator) is required. Do folks adhere to these warnings? No..but do so at their own risk. Paint solvents and especially enamel hardeners can actually penetrate your skin and cause nerve/lung damage in short order - this stuff is nothing to play around with and a lot of people are risking their health when they ignore the warnings. Using any of this stuff in an enclosed space increases the risk of fire/explosion very quickly - by the time you can tell the fumes are building up it is far too late. I have painted some small parts in my shed with a Tyvek suit and a respirator in the dead of winter. Running a propane heater wide open to get the small 10x12 warm enough to paint, shutting it off to get the part(s) painted and turning it back wide open to dry them. The finished parts aren't all that great but acceptable. The trick here is the shed leaks enough fresh air to prevent curing fumes from building up and minimizes the risk of fire, but I don't recommend anyone attempting to do it themselves unless they really have the experience to know when the fumes are past the threshold limit. It's a real balancing act of keeping the parts warm enough along with the air temperature, which is why the final product doesn't turn out all that well. Shorter answer - you'll have to build a booth, filter it and provide enough of a safe heating source to sustain the temperature. Sarge

Today my wonderful girl and I spent pretty much all day working in the downstairs workshop on both the 867 and this cinnamon horse. For whatever reason she's had even more drive today than (her) normal (which is crazy high compared to the rest of us) and just wouldn't stop moving. She even spent some time reorganizing and picking up the shop a bit and the workbench so that we could make space to put the engine up and clean it off. Preparing it for paint. Here is where the cinnamon horse is for today.... The front wheels are the ones that will probably live on this permanently once they are repainted and spaced out correctly. The rear wheels and tires are just temporary ones to hold it up off the ground and make it a rolling chassis so we can move it around easier.