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It has been snowing steady since yesterday at noon. Since it was wet I pushed last night when we had about 6”. I was amazed how well the 161 pushed the 54” blade. This morning my son and I both worked on the additional 6” we got overnight. It was his first time pushing snow and he did pretty well. After I finished up ours I did a couple of the neighbors drives. It pushed the 12” snow great too. It was pushing a pile darn near the size of our couch. My wife was even impressed. Enough bragging on the old girl. Here are a couple pics she took.

My son wanted a Dodge (any Dodge) when he got his license. Found him a 1997 Stratus and he was pleased as punch. Said "someday I want a Charger". Well he's 18 1/2 works his ass off at Georgina's banquet hall and goes to colllege full time--and earns good grades. So.... with Mikes ( @sparky ) help we picked up my sons new to him 2009 Charger SXT. Congrats to him he deserves it and thanks Mike!

That's for a short frame tractor(657,857)... not the long frames 1973 newer ...B,C,3,4,500 series garden tractors.

I had to do some work this am on attaching a newer type snowplow to my 854 tractor. I used a hard lift and moved the rear attach bar on the plow forward to fit on this tractor. I normally use this plow on my B-80 but had a mower deck on that and recently sent a 314 I had to my brother David with another 42 inch snowplow on it. I also have the correct showrtframe plow for the 854 in my basement but did not want to haul it up to the garage. The plow fit fine and the 854 did some good work this am as the snow was wet and heavy. I also had to charge and fire up the Lawn Ranger with starting fluid today which I normally do not have to do but it was sitting for quite a while this year with no activity. I usually start the motor up every month during the winter season but have not done so this year. I wanted to see what the snowblower would do when running in this heavy, wet snow. Seemed to work on . I also took a video or two for you guys and gals to look at with the Lawn Ranger hood off and replacing the hood and steering wheel after starting -something you don't see done that often! 083.MOV 091.MOV 094.MOV

I finally got to play in the snow!! I only did one pass for the sake of saying I did... that one pass taught me that I need more weight, and more traction. But dang it, I got to push! 😂😂 Figured you’d rather see my wife’s pretty face rather than my old mug 😂 After working, I took the Charger 10 out to play for a bit. Everyone else was shoveling and I was playing

A friend of mine had been after me for over a year to buy his 310-8. He called me to tell me to just come take it cause he was sick of moving it around. Nice straight tins and the paints in good shape. Needs a little bit but should run. Not bad for the price of free.

Take that mule off and then you can make up (or get made up) a stabilizer to hold the plow nice and straight. Takes a lot of stress off of the rear attachment points. Here are the plans I drew up. Snow blade stabilizer.pdf Here are a couple of pictures of mine. To mount the plate with the hole for the rod to pass through I just installed the stabilizer into the front attachment bracket on the tractor then pass the rod through the plate and clamp it onto the blade so the rod is as close to vertical as possible then drill the 2 holes and bolt it up. Once it is clamped you can remove the stabilizer from the front attachment bracket on the tractor, then disconnect the lift link and rear attachment bracket on the tractor so you can pull the blade forward a little to make drilling easier. Then just slide it back, re-attach everything and you are good to go.

Part of today's haul. Not running as of yet. Been in storage for a long time. My first Economy Tractor.

I have to remember that I’m working with pieces of steel that are approximately 56 years old. Things get leaned on and pushed against, run into and dropped. The left fender is a bit tweaked, but it’s close enough for who it’s for. Show’s character, right? Time to finish bolting her up, if ya’ ask me!

I just found another McLean for sale on the Indianapolis and Muncie CL sites. It's actually located in Ladoga, Indiana. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ladoga,+IN+47954/@39.9166496,-87.0771221,10z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x886cd33e013892cf:0x1dc016ad7909d8c8!8m2!3d39.9136554!4d-86.8011182 It appears to be missing a few parts (like the grill), but it appears to be fairly complete otherwise. " Runs and operates as it should. It's complete minus the grill" The logo on the side of the hood is especially interesting, IMO.

I transferred my checklist to some cardboard. Now I’ve got a reminder of what I should be doing. What house work? It wasn’t on my list? This thing is getting a bit closer to taking another stroll outta’ the shop!

Working on Frank’s other fender tonight...

Not much progress to report on, but little progress is still better than no progress. Broke down and bought a parts washer last weekend, best $100 I ever spent. Got most of the pieces to the transmission cleaned up. Looks like everything besides bearings should be able to be salvaged.

Calendar Shots!

Ok, hate to admit it, but this just shows you what kind of guy @WHX21 is. He’s a super guy even though he can’t keep a garage as neat as I can😂. Things like this are why this is the best site out there and the only one I belong to!

Tension spring should fit in there, but it is not always easy to do so and then sometimes it is too loose. You don't have to worry too much about the surface rust on stator. It is not going to affect how it works. Just clean the grime off of it. Sometimes when being too zealous with cleaning these old things one does more harm than good.Lamination's are fine, lots of them look like that. As for the contact marks on stator and flywheel i see that often. I think most of the times is metal stuff that gets attracted to magnets and creates contact. If it was a serious contact believe me you will know it. Just make sure when you put everything back together that flywheel is properly seated and tight. There should not be however contact with the ignition coil case. Make sure that it will be all the way in and that it is secure so it does not creep out. If you are committed to that engine and I hope so, its a good time to replace also points and condenser. Get familiar with the setting of the timing on it , they are very sensitive to that. You will need to remove the head to do that properly and it is a good time then to clean it it and inspect the condition of the bore and valves. The presence and location of carbon or lack of it in certain areas will tell the condition of things such as the rings. Ill get you some information on the timing and correct points and condenser. Last but not least you will pay for all the help you get by passing what you learn on to someone else. Knowledge is not our property nor it is meant to be hidden or kept. We are merely caretakers of it.It is our responsibility to use it, add to it and pass it on.

Now that is what I call a FRIEND!!!!!

I will say a couple of hot babes in bikinis would probably be better, but then this is a family forum

We didn't get as much snow up north in Chicagoland, but it was still enough to get both machines out and work them a little this afternoon.

Saturdays are always laundry day...good part of that is it gives me a couple hours to hang out at the shop while my clothes are washing/drying up at the laundromat. Did some decorating today, one of the nice things about last years calandars is they give a guy plenty of good pictures to hang on his wall. Also hung up my new thermometer and Farmall tractor sign that came in the mail the other day. Farmalls are one of my other passions, gotta keep everything RED . Also splurged a little last weekend, went to Tractor Supply and bought a parts washer. We have one at work I have access to anytime I need it, but every time I go over there I always have 5 or 6 people see my pickup and stop with the same line...I know you're not open today but since you're here can you fix my tire? So having my own will work so much better

You are correct.

never liked the 6" wheel , always thought it made the tractor look cheaper, always changed over to the 8" wheel , retaining the old school look. pete

Glad you Ranger "got her done". i love my L107 and use her year round but she and her snowblower didn't work well in my situation. The first pass down 300 or so feet of driveway was painful. lots of clutch slipping she doesn't go slow enough.. After the first pass it was better as I could decide how much I wanted to take each pass. I had a C-81 at the time and she only worked because I could go in 2nd or third low range.

You got to love this place but mostly the people in it.Just spending a little time relaxing and all of a sudden without asking , looking or thinking about there is a great idea for something you had a concern with. Like I said in another post, knowledge is not our property, we are only its caretakers. It is our responsibility to use it wisely , add to it and pass it along. No other place besides here that I know better exemplifies that fact specially when one considers how diverse the membership is as to our geographical and cultural differences .

That blade was for 73 and up Economys. Older blades had the trip springs in the center close to each other

Thank you for the kind words but I am far from being an expert. I do know a little bit about them, particularly h55s and here it is why. My first tractor was a 551, shortly after my son had acquired a 753 .The 551 was well worn and needed a lot of attention particularly in the engine department. Up to getting that tractor I really had no inclination or desire to work on or know about small engines . I just took my stuff to the repair shop. However, that little red tractor just created a spark in my already curious nature in wanting to know how things work. Little did I know at the time that this particular engine,really would not be the most conducive one for one to learn on.It was rare, unusual, not too well known, hard to find parts and hard to find information on. It became an obsession, I just would not give up on it. Believe me when I tell you that that little tractor changed my life. Things have never been the same. The harder it was to get it going the more determined I became. Success was just a matter of time . I still have it and it will never leave here. To say that it tough me a lot is an understatement. Besides the obvious, it taught me to have respect and appreciation for these old tractors and many other things like them form a time period when there was a certain pride and care for whatever it was one manufactured. 58 years later and it will mow an acre of lawn and plow snow in winter. You have to respect that.

This should be our forum's motto! Well said.

Cast iron is actually quite malleable, as long as you're tools are sharp should go quite well. U know our Ace hardware sells taps with the correct drill bit packaged together.

Thanks!! I've had a few people inform me of this one. I would like to own this one but the price is waayyy out of my reach, specially with the travel time figured in. I do like the decal on the hood but I'm not sure if it would be right for mine. Then again with so little info available, what's right?? The hood on that tractor is a different shape than mine. It opens from the front instead of from the back. All the other pictures that I have seen have the hood attached to the grill and hinged at the bottom of the grill like mine has. In fact that is the first picture of that style of hood that I've seen. I'm very intrigued by the one for sale & wish I knew what the grill looked like from the factory.

I should be be able to get to it from inside my new tool box, with the seat removed fairly easy.

Work Fast!!

I have three more cups I have to finish before I take on anymore. They have been real patient while waiting for them. I had to start 2 over after the clear messed up. Really a setback with all involved. I realize that may not sound like much but with all I have going on around here plus working overtime It is hard to get these finished. And this started as just a hobby. @The Tool Crib @KyleLengerich Please shoot me a pm with what you think you might want on it and we’ll go from there. 👍

enough to make a bit of a mess 2-3 tablespoons... hold your finger over the hose end that will help

I’ll check with my wife and adult daughter but I think I know the answer I’d get. Haha

Maybe except for our ugly mugs in the pics but thanks. LOL

Here's what I'll call illustrative instructions...these 2 pieces are what's on the frame, then the angle lever gets changed out to move it back from hitting the PTO bell.

@Lane Ranger We got 3" of snow overnight, but with above freezing temps all day, the roads are all clean and the drive has melted. I didn't even fire up a tractor! The older I get, the less I want to plow this crap!

its something to be proud of yeah it was fun working 40 hours and going to college full time, and partying. I did it. in 1994 when the new style mustangs came out I was in high school there was a yellow on the cover of some car magazine (I wish I knew what magazine), anyway I worked at it putting extra money aside and when I was 20 or 21 I found the car a 96 gt yellow convertible and handed the guy a wad of cash and drove off buying it free and clear. I still have the car

Paul: This Tecumseh motor is sometimes hard to start but once going on this Lawn Ranger L-157 she does the job. Did not stop once today.

Today I had all my parts lined up and put the transmission back together. Now the hardest time I had was getting the little detent balls to go in on the shifter forks I think I spent two hours. In the process I went to Napa and ordered the seals for it with no problems .

@cleat, @WVHillbilly520HGreat idea on that stabilizer. The sideways deflection on the plow always concerned me. Will be making one soon.Thank you guys!!

Congratulations nice car. Good luck with it and keep up the good grades.

Because of you and owning an xi, here's my version...

Stefan, do you have a way to duct warm air from the engine to the oil filters for winter use.... then remove it in summer months? i am thinking like a flexible hose. We have readily available 4” clothes dryer hose, etc. I agree with Eric too, reading about your hardships and overcoming has been a great read!

No problem honey. Here's your new push mower and snow shovel. It's so wonderful you decided to take on these chores. I'm going for a long ride with my extra time. Luv you!

Here I go again ... what was that tune by Whitesnake ??? This time we got our one and only @Zeek on the cover of the Rolling ..... well maybe not on the Stones cover but sure is a nice tractor! Congrats Tom and if you get tired of wandering down south like a gypsy come on up to Wisconsin. I will put you up in a nice condo with a well equipped shop to turn out more... I know ......it's Wisconsin but that's just geography. Nice job @grnlark

Just for safety’s sake, may be a good idea to redact the numbers in the pictures if possible. I’ve gotten to the point where I won’t deal with people unless I know them or can speak to them. Have a feeling I may have just gotten burned on a purchase, luckily it wasn’t expensive. I’m trying to rent a house out and you’d be amazed how many people text “what’s rent?” Or “do u take pets”, etc. If you can’t communicate like an adult, are you really the kind of tenant I want? Probably not. Unfortunately proper communication isn’t a priority anymore 🙄 Ive started sending a screenshot of the merriam webster definition of rent, or the link to our local Humane Society when asked those questions via text now. Amazingly I’ve never gotten a follow up text after that.

I replaced the rubber mounts on my ‘78 C-161 with solid mounts and didn’t notice any added vibration. I did get much improved power transfer though the belt. The rubber mounts deflected so much that the drive belt never achieved full tension on the pulley and would cause slipping. By the way, don’t be scared of the Briggs. It’s the only Wheel Horse engine I’ve never had to work on or rebuild.

No worries indeed Dell. He didn't have room for it on the truck anyway!