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Every winter I like to crawl into my cave (garage) and work on restoring a tractor. This past winter was no different, other than the fact that this year I decided not to start a post about my build. Why?? IDK , just thought it might be fun to wait & reveal the finished product at the end. Before I show any pictures I have to thank a few people for helping me make this years resto come together. For helping me out with some odds & ends parts, I'd like to thank @WHX22 and @dclarke. Thank you both for setting me up with needed parts for this project. I'd also like to thank @wheelhorseman for providing all the parts to keep our tranny's working properly. Last but definitely not least thank you to @Vinylguy for for the awesome decals that he produces and for putting up with me on all of the alterations and custom work that I wanted on my decals. To open up my introduction to "Radpferd" (and as kind of a teaser) I'd like to show off Terry's work. A reconfigured dash. BTW his 3 piece decals are great & much easier to install. Finishing touches for the engine. I'll leave you with these teasers for a bit. Let me know if you might be interested in some more pictures.

Freed up a frozen hitch pin today... on Jada’s Barney Fife. I used the MAP gas, then the oxy/acetylene torches to warm the hitch, then quenched it with WD-40. After doing this a few times, I started trying to twist the pin with a big pipe wrench, as to not mushroom the driven side of the pin. After some success working back and forth, driving it with a plastic dead blow hammer, out as far as I could, then more twist, drive it back in, twist, etc it freed up. I used another pin and the dead blow to finish driving it out and it appears that it’ll clean up nice in the lathe for future use.

Got a certified mail form McMaster (Cost them $5.60) I had purchased a steel shackle from them made by Crosby Group. apparently in testing they failed below the goal of 6 times rated load. Never failed at or below rated load. They will pay to have it returned for replacement/credit. Think any of the Chinese shackles at the big box store are covered like that.

Norwegian Elkhound...when I was a young lad say around 7-8 my parents got me a mixed breed Elkhound and for 12-13 years that 45# dog decimated the ths ground hog population almost entirely by his own self from about the time he was a year old till he passed there wasn't a ground hog that moved in that didn't get it's eviction notice served by Rusty...still not quiet as a trap but ground hogs disappeared, just my experiences good luck.

I trap about 20 every year for the farmer. I have Conibear body traps but prefer to use the box trap so I can release the rabbits, possums, , cats and dogs. I dispatch the hogs with a .22 , but a decent air rifle would also do the job. Or if you prefer, they can be released in a more desirable area. I use any fruit for bait. They love cantaloupe and apple peelings. BTW, our local pair of bald eagles luv groundhog, so they do get recycled.

I have a Modified C-180. It started out as a C-120 then a C-160 and now it's a C-180. With a 18 HP Briggs Vanguard. It's a tight fit and a couple modifications have to be made.

Finally was able to mow with the C120 auto for the first time since I bought it in November! Wanted to wait until the wild flowers went to seed before I mowed it. Probably should've done it a few weeks ago, but oh well. Overall, I'm plenty pleased with the Tecumseh that's on it. I've always been a Kohler or Briggs guy but this one runs really good other than the carb being finicky when starting cold. I have to back the screw in the float bowl out a few turns to get it started, but after that it's fine. I sharpened the blades but they have a bunch of chunks out of them. I'll order new ones before the next time i need to mow. It appears to have used less than 1/2 gallon of gas in the hour that I mowed with it. Here's a quick picture i took of it.. Started pouring rain about 3 minutes after I parked it. I need to get those darn Husqvarna wheels off of the front of it!

My dad and I stopped to see my uncle today. He just changed the transmission fluid in his 2165 Cub Cadet and was having problems with it going into reverse. So I started to look for used and new tractors for him to consider. It is just crazy what a comparable new Simplicity or John Deere costs today. Some transmissions are not serviceable without removing from the tractor. My Dad has had WheelHorse tractors for close to 35 years. They have all been 8 speeds. They are well build and easy to work on. I know the challenges of government regulation and overall cost put an end to Wheelhorse along with people wanting zero turns and lower up front costs of a new machine. WheelHorse is the best Garden Tractor ever made for the average owner's needs. I know other good tractors were made, but Wheelhorse stuck to the KISS theory and produced quality products.

OK, OK enough teasing. No wait I forgot one more decal, but it does show part of the engine, For those who wonder, that cap is not JD green. It is the right green, Oliver green that is. One question, GOT DISH???? I took 4 7.5 inch rims to make these bad boys. 10" from the bolt pattern to the out side of the rim. Sure makes the 26x12x12 tires look fat! Now a step back to take it all in. I wanted to have some thing short & fat. Just like Jim says he likes his women. But I really wanted it to look like it was a forgotten factory option. Hopefully you guys think that I pulled it off. I have plenty of build pic's if you guys have any questions.

Can do Denny. Not sure if the Harley battery will run the pellet grill for 6+ hours, but it should charge your cell phone. I bought this tractor about 3 years ago. As with most tractors that i buy it wasn't much. This one worse than most. When I saw this tractor for the first time, in a dark barn I thought that it was a 1045. but alas no dice. I thought about just parting it out but then @ACman thought that I should make a big block short frame. Big block I did not have on hand, so I thought I'd step it up and add a diesel that I won on an auction at work to the equation. A picture of ground Zero

Been there...it works for moles.

Dry ice. Works on rats it will work on groundhogs... kills nice and quiet, they go to sleep as the ice “melts” into gas and they don’t wake up... pour ice chunks in holes, seal quickly with dirt then piece of wood... no smell... pre-buried bodies... cheap... Done....

I have a 5' fence around the garden to keep deer and dogs out.We have 3' chicken wire fence around the bush beans.Hogs dug under the fence.Made it easier to trap them.They popped right up at the trap entrance.I could have taken them for a swim in the stream but they are just trying to survive.

I put a fence around my garden before I set the plants. I like to watch the rabbits trying to find a hole to get at those blue lake bean plants.

LOL -- just read that! Reminds me of once there was a certain member, who shall remain nameless, that brought a 8 hp to my plow day once and it was smoking like a bandito. We all said hey Dino that thing is gonna blow. Right in the middle of a furrow sure enough.. Had to tow it back to the trailer. we all had a gut buster over it and it turns out he had plans to overhaul it anyway! So much for remaining nameless @stevasaurus !!!!

The bottom front left hand corner of the hood side was almost rotted away from standing water. I had to cut the rot out and make a new corner and weld in a new bolt that serves as an adjustable locator pin. Don’t judge the welds, I’m still using my worn out flux core, but did get good penetration. Should be good for another 40 years or so😁.

That my friend can be arranged! 0 You want a big block in a short frame Jeff? Stick around .. more to come from winter builds..hehe ..

Lets hook the plow up & giver a go. We'll see if he can roll some coal !!!

Spec sheet on that beast.... that’s the EL TORO of Wheel Horses! You and @857 horse Howard are going to have to get together for some really .

I’ve been waiting for this one to pop up, Dan! I even dumped my tap and die set and did ‘t care to just grab a seat and indulge myself in your project! NOW, PLEASE SLOW DOWN MY AREA’S CELL RECEPTION IN PICTURE OVERLOAD!!!,

Post ‘em up, Dan. Can’t wait to see this.

Cool Cas but they still look like shifter knobs... you know what tho as long as you are making ladles you could cut some notches in them and make spaghetti ladles like this. I call them men scratchers but would work good when Ed churns out them bow ties? My go to pasta ladle...

I thought maybe you meant run 'em down with the mower deck engaged, I did that to a snake in the ditch a couple summers ago... equals pretty good meat grinder.

So now you are telling me I need to complete my '67 model line up!?!?! .... ok I will...

Just occurred to me with all these awesome answers I can't believe none of us had suggested calling Bill Murray yet

LAST NIGHT I REMOVED THE DIESEL FROM MY 1054. TIME TO PLAT WITH ANOTHER MOTOR IN THIS TRACTOR.

it would seem that only by a slim margin that the prevailing suggestion is to fix snapped head bolts and run it till it completely dies which may be not in my lifetime because the days of hard work are over for this old gal. My only conundrum now is it worth the $$ boring the cylinder out because of the very noticeable wobble of the piston in the bore. Right now im thinking a machine shop will know the wisest financial course only after seeing it in person. Looks like i have a teardown to do today. Thank you everyone for the guidance it is immensely appreciated

Now, I’m no judge when it comes to custom... make it your own! But wouldn’t that be a C-185 given the blackhood era?

As I get older, it seems like I am less and less fond of clutter. Not sure why but I have been trying to reduce the amount of things I have up the pole building. (I'm not allowed to have my stuff at the house according to the wife). I am down to maybe a half dozen machines and a bunch of associated parts. My bother calls the other day and needs a ride on machine to cut grass. His yard is not too big but is nice. I said good I got just what you need. Chomping at the bit to remove more clutter. I had a old 211-4 with a rear discharge that I picked up for next to nothing and it needed a little work so I fixed it and took it down to him. When I showed up the old Toro that was limping is out and I ask what is the deal on that machine. He said when you leave it is going with you! I don't need it in my garage! That is how it goes sometimes. I like tinkering with the wheel horse stuff and it keeps my sanity. It is a good hobby for me.

Just started a ground up restore on a 1968 Raider 12. Step ! was going to be the transmission. Made a cradle/work table and armed myself with all the required manuals. I just split the case this afternoon and was amazed at what I found. I had rebuilt the transmission on my 60 Suburban and had sludge chipped teeth and a broken casting. I found none of that. The guy I bought it from told me that 3 of them had used the Raider to mow a small cemetery until they got too old and or hired a contractor to do it. They either took extremely good care of it or this is a replacement or was rebuilt a while back. The pictures are "as opened". the only thing I have done was wipe the excess oil out of the one case half. Cast you well trained eyes (I don't consider myself anywhere near an expert on transmissions) ((wife says I am barely housebroke)) I would appreciate your opinions on wither or not I need to do a complete rebuild. As a side note: All the ball and needle bearings are clean and rotate freely; Thanks Bob

Usually a piece catches my eye having natural curved grain for it or a natural defect like the finished one shown. Then it gets put aside as spoon material. Hmm gun stocks.

Really neat pieces. I was about to enter a guess of gun stock for a muzzle loader pistol. Then you pulled them out and exposed the curved ladle handle.

Adding room for more junk in the trunk on our RV tonight! This is a dock box with some GennyGo brackets and I’ll be relocating the spare tire.

1961 Wheel Horse Suburban survivor tractor for sake at LeSueur. Has a 4 HP Kohler with good compression and original showhead muffler with small crack. , Both original heat shield and belt guard. Plus original mower deck, foot rests, hitch, etc. 'See Rodney Burger or Lane Ralph at LeSueur on Friday or Saturday.

Go too sleep. Go too sleep.

Just a thought......i see your in md,,,,,,, the BIG SHOW (all wheelhorse) is a few miles from gettysburg pa.... Someone is gonna have one for sale,,,,,,,200 venders,,,,,1000 people...500 red tractors..... and you will have a ball...... just a thought...!!!!!! good luck......seee you there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

used to shoot prairie dogs in montana when we could not fish due to wind, regular stuff. the ranch owner used to have a guy regularly come out , just to shoot. he would rent a chevy carryall 4x4 for a week to carry all his guns, by the end of a week that chevy smelled like a mafia staff car. pete

THE DIESEL HAS BEEN VERY GOOD, JUST TIME FOR SOME THING NEW., I WANT TO TRY STEAM ,BUT I WILL HAVE TO SEE.

You are the best. Thank you. I am not sure about the silver wizard part. The little woman calls me something totally opposite all the time. She gets a little incoherent when she is mad but I swear it sounds like something related to a donkey's anatomy I think. I'll send you some of the home brew so you can sip while preparing a good meal at the bench. You can also wipe bench with it, it's a great sterilizer.

I'm relatively new to the Wheel Horse world, but have always had a collection of tractors that seems to be ever changing and evolving based on my interests at the moment. I definitely acknowledge that I'm a bit obsessive, but so much of the fun to me, is the fun of the hunt. As a collector, I've always looked to complete a "set" of whatever that may be. I realize I don't have enough space in my buildings or my wallet to collect everything that interests me, so I try to narrow it down to ie: pre 1962 Wheel Horse's, or maybe more specifically, RJ's, or even more specifically, RJ35's,etc. It's fun to set a goal and than the hunt to try to complete, or round out a set. That said though, it's very easy for even the most organized collection to get out of hand which is a line I seem to consistently be walking as it's a whole lot more fun to add than it is to sell; for me anyway.

Ok here's a little story. My grandfather put-up with those furry pain in the A** for years they would get into the garden, dig holes ect. Well one day he found that they had dug under the footing of the garage and that was it. He backed his truck up to the hole and ran a length of hose from the tailpipe down into the hole and filled in around it. You know how this played out, Right? Well he fired up his old truck, went inside and eat lunch, come back out smoked a cigar and did a few things around the yard. 25 years latter there are still no woodchuck!

If you want an easy way to catch them outside to avoid waiting. Get a harbor freight drive way alarm and you will know when they come out. I have a sniper blind set up and approach it from the blind side He never knew what hit him from a long range prairie dog Hunter

Placed an order with them. I was amazed how fast it got to me. VERY impressed.

1/2" long spacer part number 101757 is on the outside between the pulley and cover. 5/8" long spacer part number 101734 is between the pulleys. Spacer ID needs to slip over 3/4" shaft Garry

thank you so much for the offer 82Caddy If you could let me know how much we can make a deal. I actually wanted to buy a new wheel, but this is even better, and if you seen this tractor, it just wouldn't look right with a new wheel anyway also thank you dave

See what others say. But I don't like the looks of that crack......

Ahhh ...yeah.... right!

Because I don't drink or hang out with the guys. I love old iron and old cars and trucks cost way too much to restore. It keeps me at home with my family and I get great satisfaction from bringing one back. Helps me teach my kids the value of taking care of your things. New is not always better, buy my cars used. Never have to finance a depreciating asset. It boils down to cause I can, and I like them. I mean how can you go wrong when you get a 416h with 48" deck for 240.00? Need a little TLC and a couple of cans of paint. For what most of them pay for the box store mower I can get 8 of my old horses....more is better.