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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.

What happened: I replaced fuel lines on my '77 B-80 a couple of weeks ago. I serviced it, and got it ready for mowing also and put it away in the shed. Started it up this past Saturday to do some yard work and it wouldn't stay running, then finally wouldn't run at all. Fuel pump checked ok. So I assumed carb needed cleaning. So yesterday I remove the carb and opened it up to find debris (which I was expecting) in the bowl and needle seat area. On closer examination, I determined it was rubber debris from the new fuel line hoses. What I learned: To flush new fuel line hose before installing. P.S. I got it installed and adjusted and now it runs sweet!

Ya just can’t leave us hanging! Huh? What? More customs coming down the pipeline? C’mon Jim!

Think he is gonna let us stick it in the dirt??

Cant wait Dan! I have to ask about the name of the tractor though

Can I charge my cell phone or run the pellet grill off the cigar lighter? Keep it in your shorts Denny. .. it's gonna be at AJ's!

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.

I’m surprised I haven’t read the obvious answer yet... after all this is a tractor website! Hook a length of exhaust pipe from your most potent and run the other end into the ground. When the canary don’t chirp, air quality ain’t much good underground.... right?

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

Did the diesel not work out to your expectations???

Doing a closer inspection on the Mowerdeck itself. while i try to grease the Spindles, i see, one of the fittings isn‘t longer tight, the reason was a rotten Thread. Set a new thread in oversize (M8) to one of the mowerdeckspildles to fit with a new grease fitting. After that, because i‘m on the Way with my Thread cutter box, i prepared the fix pin for the Magneto Clutch also with a new Thread, to be able to enlarge this Pin with an longthreaded Nut and an M8 Bolt, to fit with the new Magnetic Clutch, if my ordered Bolt comes. I hope it does.... This pin is urgently need, because it prevents the rotating of the Clutch itself, but with the new Clutch the Original Pin was to short. Sorry, no Pics today, but if the Weather stay‘s dry and if my Bolt will be delivered tomorrow (what i hope) i will sharpened and mounting the mowerdeck, than i put some Pics of what i did today.

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

Bingo, I just did this with exhaust manifold bolts on a 300k mile 7.3. Worked like magic with a crappy 120v flux core harbor freight welder because my friend didn't have 220 power to run anything bigger and insisted we do this in his dirt floor shed instead of at my shop.

It would be called Awesome-H, I believe.

Paid our home of in Feb. Now all we owe on is a CRV we bought 3 or 4 years ago. Will pay it off late this year. Yeah!

Congratulations! About 2 years ago we owed A LOT of unsecured debt (credit cards, personal loans thru our Credit Union)... We are now debt free besides our modest mortgage. As most Dad's say, if you "put your mind to it" you can do anything. My Dad and Brothers finally got it through to me about some stuff like that. Lol. Go Dave Ramsey's advice! Cory

Kathi means Dinner for a Tractorhead must look like This.... 😂😂😂

I have a set of deep dish ones with crap tires I'll give away if you cover shipping/packaging supplies. I'd rather they be used then tossed in the scrap pile.

Hey All- Apologies for the late update as I headed out to Vegas after going to look at it. I am indeed the new owner of this fine little unit. As stated above I bought it just to turn a few heads. The metalwork is nothing to write home about it is a good '15 footer'. I primarily purchased it to take to a friends house once a year when he throws a party over labor day weekend and everyone brings their mowers out for races, pulls, and just show. I believe this guy will fit the bill 100% for that purpose. Will definitely keep updated if o more importantly so when i make any mods\changes. Thanks all for the 'Welcome' messages. Looking forward to getting to know these machines a little better.

When I am doing spot spraying I carry a 2' piece of 3" PVC on a short rope; Put it down over the weed, spray inside and surrounding plants are protected.