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Our granddaughter from Florida recently signed at Lake Sumter State College with a full ride for her softball skills. Our daughter, son-in-law and her came up to visit and we decided to take advantage of a picture perfect late fall day and walk around one of our favorite places. This should tell you where. I took a ton of pictures but unfortunately I could not get many of them to download from my phone. There are many statues throughout the beautiful campus. We walked into Purcell Pavilion and the men's teal was practicing. I hope they worked hard on their 3-point shooting. A trip to the campus would be well worth it just to see the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Pictures alone just can't do it justice. Of course I had to include this iconic structure. Even with the leaves nearly gone from the trees this is a beautiful place to visit, Notre Dame fans or not. Spending the best part of the day there with our family is truly a special memory.

Broke the poor E16 out of it's corner for the first time in way too long. Time for the mower to come off and mount the snow thrower/cab.

Hard to tell what a lost cause really is like! Parts, patience, elbow grease and persistence can turn a lost cause around!

What did I do to my Wheel Horse today? Brainfade! I ran two tanks of gas through the backpack blower and 1/2 a tank through the hand held blower clearing the leaves from the fence row and around the building. This morning, I rolled the horse out of the shed with the thought that I'd start it up and let it idle to warm up a bit while I hooked the lawn sweeper up. Yup, It started, settled into an idle, then quit while I was getting the lawn sweep. No fuel in the filter - maybe the fuel pump gave up? Nope. Disconnected the fuel line at the carb & cranked the engine - feeble squirts of fuel. Clogged fuel filter? Maybe, as no fuel ran out when I disconnected the out side of the fuel line. I went to disconnect the in fuel line to the filter, and noticed that it might be kinked. Unbolted the retaining strap, and noted that the fuel line is in poor shape. I have some new fuel line, how much do I need? So I trace the fuel line back to the fuel shut off valve - and the light comes on. The valve was still closed Got everything back together, went to start it, and the starter just bumps and turns the engine a partial turn. OK, did a lot of cranking before I realized the fuel was shut off, so the battery is probably down, right? Push the tractor around front of the house so I can get a jump from the truck. Jumpered to the truck, same thing, partial crank. Turns out that I bumped the PTO lever somewhere along the line, and it was not making the safety switch. Anyhow, once I got going the RD deck and lawn sweeper made a good leaf pick up system. Only thing is, the ground up leaves didn't burn as well as un mown leaves. Got the leaves picked up around the house, but not around the lake house. It started raining this evening, so the lake property will wait until another day. PULLSTART - Thanks for the offer to use your bead breaker. We'll see how the next week plays out. You got any day that might be better than others in the next 10 days?

So against my better judgement my son brings home a Commando V7 home from the scrapyard. We found out all the idlers in the drivebelt system are shot and that parts for this tractor are near impossible to get. He has the idlers and drive belt ordered from a local shop that found some info. In the meantime we got the original 7 hp Tecumseh running. It runs like crap and has a nasty knock. Need to repower. I know where to get a 24hp v twin B&S for free. Well we’re modifying it as little as possible and it’s going to be a cool little obnoxious thing to play with😂😁😁 IMG_6498.MOV IMG_6498.MOV

Quite a transformation there. I'll bet that took a minute or two. Nice work!

Calendar shot there!!!

I got wires, a cab with heat, and a 48"plow. Everyone needs a heated cab.....some just haven't lived long enough to realize it.

I would like to take a minute to thank all of our Servicemen for keeping us safe so that we may enjoy this Holiday in peace, to all the members and families and especially MR @roadapples to keep him in your prayers and that we may all enjoy this Special Holiday.

First stop using emory cloth it can leave grit behind which causes burning which leads to more corrosion. Use a metal points file, borrow your wife's metal nail file or even a new clean $ bill.

If needing tubes and a clutch were enough to render a tractor junk, 99% of us wouldn't be on this site. Those are easy things to deal with. I can understand being daunted by tasks that you have no experience with, but there isn't really any reason to be. Take it apart and learn. There isn't much to mess up. I have never taken anything to a shop (aside from a machine shop, obviously) to be worked on and I don't plan to. You get a sense of satisfaction when you do something yourself. Your wallet benefits as well. You can buy a tool that you'll use for years for less than what you'll pay someone to do the job once. If your tires don't leak, leave them be. Sidewall cracking has nothing to do with the carcass of the tire. If they do, buy that bead breaker from HF that was suggested a few posts back and put tubes in. HF also has tire spoons for about $5 a piece. You'll want two. YouTube is your friend for learning how to do just about anything. As for your clutch, do a continuity test as was stated before. Also inspect the state of the wires underneath the sheathing. It almost looks like I see a crimp connector in the middle of one of the wires. If that's what it is, they are prone to corrosion when they are exposed to the elements. Could be where your issue lies.

Excellent points. Thank you. This one won't be outside in the weather unless there's a breakdown or unforeseen circumstances as stated in one of the previous posts. Perhaps farm tractor gauges would be a good idea? One would think that they would be weatherproof? I believe the adapter itself is going to end up being the beverage holder on this one. Big hole in it. 5" diameter I think....???

Looking forward to this 4 Day holiday weekend because I'm going to be spending a little time getting organized and making a pile 'o parts. The paint department has requested that. I've been processing things in my head about how the brake and clutch linkage is going to connect. One of the big challenges in my head with this project was figuring out what to do with the linkage because of the spacer between the transmission and frame. Here's a couple pictures of the sheet metal from the 1977 C-160 I'm going to be using. Looks to me like if I can keep the geometry the same all I will need to do is lengthen the rod that goes to the brake shoe and figure out how to attach the clutch pedal return spring at a different point. Probably right to the side of the adapter I'm going to be using.

That would be @WHX24 not @pullstart.

Oh yes, we understand!

All I can say is If we all liked the same exact thing it would make for a very dull and boring world... 2 gents from PA (above) prove my point 😉.

29.5 Inches from front tire to wing tip My Electro with K-341

I am also a Castrol fan and the only reason I chose the Valvoline is because it is the only oil i have used in the 86 chevy K-20 since new and now with 104000 miles the engine runs the same now as it did the day I drove it home from the dealership and that engine still runs flawlessly and has never been apart.

https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/topic/75377-it-has-begun-the-701-551/

@ebinmaine I climbed the Eiffel Tower today. And I have as much proof as Randy has!

I can't tell you how many carburetors I've rebuilt because of Ethanol. especially bad in old boats when they first started putting it in gas.

Now that statement to me sounds like a good clue to the spark being weak. The starter is pulling a lot of amps and with a weakened ignition it could sap some of the 'juice' from the spark and when released would throw that extra 'boost' to the spark letting it start. Do a thorough ck on your ign system, especially points, condenser, coil and connections.

Thanks for taking us with you Bob. Breath taking for sure.

You might consider some of the digital gauges available on flebay

I am in Ann Arbor and looking outside Am in view of the football stadium. Daughters landlord makes massive amounts of money renting parking spots and providing tailgating. He keeps mowing down the leaves,but her second story deck needed clearing, so all got cleared off by me and mowed into the yard I kept going and made everything disappear from the front yard and street gutter to keep from getting into the house. I put the mower away and want to leave a note. Which one is best? " Mowed the leaves. Forrest Gump". Or " Mowed the leaves and put gas in it Bring it to the shop. You need to change the oil. Karl Childers"

Pictures boy!! Where's the pictures???

Hope to get some more going soon. Had to pack all the stuff away for a bit.

That makes me think of back when guys would put a V8 in a Chevy Vega

Perfect for one of @19richie66‘s cups!😉 i like the idea of the gauge plate, if you are going to lay them face straight up though, make sure that their operation won’t be impeded. Moisture and possible function could present a problem as most gauges are on a vertical surface of some sort. I’m sure it has been done before—just a little research on the specific units you are planning to install would be prudent. Cant wait to see what the paint department does with the newly acquired sheet metal!!!

Yes, i guess that is me, lol. Just dont have the skills or means to become that addicted, yet. Maybe a good thing🤔🤣 But i definitely should get one of those patches...!

Here is what I have been pulling. (There would normally be larger loads on the cart, but traction issues driving up the hill to my working wood pile necessitates this size.) Nothing exotic. Just red oak from two large tree trunks. I paid a local tree service $800 to drop these a year ago. They brought their bucket truck to trim out the upper limbs. Both trees would have probably hit my house if I had tried to drop them. This photo shows before I started hauling wood. You can see the stumps on the right edge. My ‘endangered’ house is on the left of both photos. PS - Both of these trees died off 4-5 years ago. Probably because of the retaining wall added to my driveway in 2000 followed by the horrendous heat and drought we had on 2012.

I sat on Jane and caught up on after a day of running wood through the mill.

No deck needed, just @Burnerman the grass!

wheelie like pullstart !

I figured I’d start a new thread for him. He forgot his login.😂 We’re going to foot throttle it and leave it loud. I can’t wait to see it move. IMG_6490.MOV

I got pussified with age and use a cab now. The ol'lady doesn't get it is as regular as she used to so it's clear my manhood is definitely diminishing. Oh well, anybody got a mini cooper for sale? Might as well go all the way.

I grew up in Ann Arbor! I’d be careful...Guy from Ohio on this particular weekend might get locked up for adding greenhouse gasses in excess of the allotted amount allowed by AA City ordinance!!! Unless of course you used a solar powered blower or invested in green aquaculture and secured the necessary carbon credits!!! oh wait...ain’t there a game or something this weekend? You bein’ from Ohio and all, I’d go with signing your note “Forest Gump.”...

Yes, i hate them, at least from today on. As everyday i try to start in the early morning my Car, what was followed by a light „ buff“ noise, followed by smells like burned electric than i just hear the Starter cranking, but no more happened. I know immediately, that‘s no good sign at all. I jumped out of the car and opened immediately the Hood and a first look doesn’t show something spectacular, just few chewed Pipes.... ok, martens was here, i understand that. And a light smell of burned Electric. i try to see something but on first view, everything looks so far good. Because nothing more is visible, i give it another try, maybe Heater Fan resistors is blown... Hey it‘s an 25 year old car, that can be happen, nothing spectacular and a known fail after over 20 years on that Cars. Fan also doesn‘t move, that seems to be evidence enough. while also no dashboard occurs ( no lights no meters at all) i gram my Laptop. A try to get interconnection to one of the Control Devices with my Vehicle laptop fail‘s completely Vehicle Data bus was corrupted or maybe complete out of order and prevents any interconnect. - oh oh, no good memory of the electric smell comes up and i guess i can stop searching for an error, that damage will be bigger. no dashboard comes up, no dashlights, just cranking while key was turned. checked all fuses, 1 60Amps are blown and few others, but mostly all Fuses are Engine dependent. after changing all Fuses another try, nothing, same as before, just crank no dash, no engine relevant lights. all Fuses stay, just the Fan works again, so i decide this must be a bigger problem. A closer inspection shows, the marten has biten nearly all pipes and also raged a lot in the cable harness close to the Fusebox, where the Engine management was located. After i followed the harness with my fingers, i get on one spot a light copper vacination. The cable harness was also biten at a very bad visible place between Fusebox and Engine control device. While i switched the key to run position, i inspect the harness and see lightly damp occurs from the Engine Control Device. That thing was real hot! Enough to burn my Fingertip. I tried to take a pict from the Wire Harness, but it was once to unsharp to see anything or it was to small to trigger the button for a pict to display what‘s happen, i just can finger along the wire harness or with a spotmirror. I’m Trying to take a pict via Spotmirror but that was also not useful possible, but i see enough, to know, that was the final end for this Car. Especial while Engine Control Device works like a heater. A Wireharness and Engine Control Device even used, cost more than a other cheap Car. Ok, that‘s definitiveley the worst case what can happen early in the Morning, it makes no sense to change that things, who knows what devices are burned down.. Engine Control Device, ignition module, sensors - To much things to change for an unknown issue, as long as Vehicle readout was impossible. To fix it can be a barrel without bottom. Sadly That‘s it - No Oil damage, or engine fail - a marten has killed my Car. Now they are on my „most Wanted“ hunting list. have to find quickly a „other“ Car, best i found the same again. Have a lot of stuff, that i had once in spare or parts can be changed because they fit. Does anybody know‘s, are martens grilled delicious? I think i go now hunting.....

Rylee was a trooper and helped to whitewash all the bathroom shiplap. It’s ready once I prep the wall! I hung more Sheetrock today and decided to raise the half wall into a most-wall. This required some extra lighting in the shower area and we found these little water resistant LED buggers. Now all the exposed studs will get cement board and redguard sealed. I need to start the shower floor slope before installing the rubber shower liner too.

if you can get the tires to stick to the ground it's amazing how well something small like a seven or eight horse engine will pull. Us and our tangents.....

Weak /no spark during cranking....but runs OK once she is running.... you have had a lot of cranking going on lately with it being hard to start...maybe the battery is getting weak, cranking drops the voltage so much the spark is weak.... If you have a load tester check the battery, no load test put yoor multimeter on it and observe voltage while cranking...less than 9 volts a weak tired battery may be a problem.

It would very much be a great idea to clean up the points to verify spark is strong, but you said it’ll fire up on spray. Try pressurizing the fuel tank (SLIGHTLY) with an air nozzle blowing through your hand and a rag... it might help push some fuel to the pump for the time being...

Cool idea - May want to account for waterproofing, as gauges will be lying flat and water / snow could pool on top and seep in... Also may be a good spot for a beverage holder...

It would be difficult at best to move it back far enough to effect anything. I'm uhhh.... Large.... And the balance of the tractor hasn't been changed. The seat pans that flip open can be bolted down... or like mine .. I put a deeper notch in the lock. If anything it's favorable to have a little more drive traction.

KE5TJA here...licensed since 2008

https://offgridsurvival.com/california-officials-declare-ham-radio-no-longer-a-benefit/

I dont hsve any pics most havent seen, lol...n my pics rightnow are pretty stationary/boring at the moment anyways... But in the last week or so, ive removed the snowblower, added pigtails n a Battery Tender; removed the front pulley/bracket for the lawnmower; removed the rear tire chains. Yesterday i changed the oil. Nextweek im hoping/planning to buy a floor jack, and if the weather holds, or we get a warm day, change the hydraulic fliud out... Oh, yea...and lastnite i contacted VinylGuy about a set of decals😁 Hopiing to do more over the winter ( maybe get the tires pulled/tubed), and i look for lil things to try and do...verymuch wish i had a heated shop, tho. I wont freeze tryin to get my Horse back on his feet, lol. Otherwise, you can bet, it is going to be a busy spring!😉😊

nice, please do keep this post updated

WOW! And WOW again! Gorgeous shop! Great write up on how it all progressed. How ya gonna feel when some old rusty relic looses all its tranny fluid on that beautiful floor!?

so here it is the 701 is done for now. took it out this evening for a ride.