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Number 3 grandson sent me this. Can't think why?

The last two day we have had about eight inches of snow in Greencastle, Indiana. Not much for some places in the country but more than we have had for a few years. The DePauw University 1884 McKim Observatory is in my front yard on a earth raised circle. The brass telescope came from London and was made around 1880.

Ok I just got started on 1 of the tractors I bought. Its a B 80 4 Speed.

I must be the leader of the Ugly Ducklings.

Looks like you have a good start on it. There’s lots of help here if you have any questions and If you need a hand with anything just send me a message.

“Chief”

I built 2 out of old wheel barrows...

Those are spacers that go between the bottom of the axle and the snow plow bracket to lower the rear of the plow frame thereby raising the front of the plow frame. They'll give me a little extra clearance at the front of the blade while driving around and make it easier to navigate my rough terrain.

Got the plow back on Cinnamon after Trina painted the face of it the other day. This plow has weak springs so I pulled a couple extra off the pile and made up some longer pins. Then mounted the bracket and plow to Trina's 867. I installed the bolens weights on her tractor as well. We now have 2 plow tractors!!

I intentionally left a bit of exposed mortar around the drain, to allow the weep holes to work if water gets behind or under the tiles. My genius wife suggested instead of trying to completely disassemble the floor, pull the tiles back layer by layer then work part of the floor at a time. Me caveman. She smart.

Still my favorite tractor!

I think she’s perty...

So this spring i picked up this 656 with what looks to be the original engine. Came with a decent deck and i put that on my commando 8. The old tecumseh had a broken rod so i put this one on the backburner. I recently picked up a k181s with a bendix style starter id like to put in its place. It looks like it will run but i may need a little help here...i believe this motor may have come from a c81, b80 or similar...it appears to be missing the coil bracket and everything that bolts to it like the solenoid. Also i will be needing a gas tank and straps like the one on my commando. I will need some help on the parts ill need and the wiring to make it work as well but i think thisll be a good horse for the wife...she loves it!

That ice is a very common occurrence here in Southern Maine being so close to the Ocean a lot of snow storms end up changing over. As of right now we have 3 '' maybe an additional 2 ''. If the temps stay cold I may try for some Winter Trail Ride pics hoping you guys will add to, temps may climb by the weekend.

Give credit where credit is due, right? It’s working!

You win the internet comment of the day Kevin.

My misfit. Work in progress. Just going to keep color as is. Nice ducks folks!

Here are some inside pictures of the McKim Observatory from several years ago. No changes inside. The last picture is of the central mechanical clock that keeps the telescope aligned with the object that is viewing as the earth is rotating! Very ingenious device and made in the 1880's! The McKim Observatory has an Open House for visitors every first Friday of the month during the DePauw University academic year.

Heres the new motor sitting on it

“Big Junky” I had replaced the hood, but liked the nasty look of the old one, so it’s back on. Crooked old light and all! Some day it’ll get a nasty old race car muffler for a stack and it’ll really live up to it’s name.

I think this one fits the bill.

The Mona Lisa from a high tech robot mower! La_Joconde_tondue-1111 (4).mp4

That's pretty much what I was thinking. If you need parts, help or both send me a PM. And post LOTS of pictures. Us children likes our pictures....

Here is a good picture of the vent system that you will probably want to go with. It will need to go all the way to the bottom of your counter top.Not hard to do and should pass any code.

I love that look but the wife didn't seem too happy about it so we have 2 X 2 tiles. Would have been a lot more interesting if she had let you work yourself into a corner, thinset takes a long time to set up.

Just because it ain’t right, don’t mean we can’t be entertained a bit!

I have the river rock tiles cut to fit. Now to duplicate it! There’s plenty of filler pieces to whatever gaps pop up.

Take lots of pictures cause youll need them going back together. Don't know how far your going with your rebuild but what l used to clean up the rust is the electrolysis method. It removes paint and all! Post lots of pics!!

I'll second that! Quick text to my plumbing buddy says they are legal in WI. Looks like you gotta move the place here Caddy. He also says they are legal in every state you don't get caught!

Dang I didnt see one ugly duckling at all. All i saw was an era of equipment we will probably never see again. Honestly i still cant understand how Toro or whom ever it was destroyed the Wheel Horse. What I did see though was every single picture was a ooooooo and aaaaawwwww and wicked. Smiles

How about ol ugly here then?? I didn't include this one because it currently isn't one of my workers. I'm pretty sure it spent it's whole life outside until I got it from my neighbor a couple years ago. I got it running, but it has issues and I haven't had a chance to dig into it yet.

I thought so too, but apparently the 6” cloth tape can now be used for waterproofing or drywall repair. This was such a new change at my local store, they didn’t even have a home for the stuff yet, I cut open the very first case.. The second coat is complete. Man this stuff stinks! It is though, like a cast when it cures... so I will tolerate the paint high for the day, knowing it’s for the best of the shower! I am not sure how much it matters, but the back wall of the soap cubby in the shower is the same piece of cement board as the exterior wall of the shower, so I slapped some pink on that surface too, so it doesn’t wick from the other side. Overkill? Ubetcha but I had extra Redgard and don’t see myself needing more any time soon. That’s right, I’ll be taking a break from bathroom projects for quite a while when this is finished!

There is no doubt about it, our world needs Nerds and Academiacs to develop theoretical concepts for tomorrow's unforeseen wants and needs. But those Intellectual individuals will need a house to live in, transportation to work and a workplace where that can carry on their scholarly pursuits. Unfortunately our state legislatures and bureaucracies are full of Nerds and Academaniacs who don't appreciate the value of a tradesman. They make our schools dumb-down learning to the point that most students need to go on to collage before entering the work force.

In my Junior and Senior years, I took Auto Tech at the county’s vocational school. As a Freshman and Sophomore, it was wood shop in my home High School. My senior year I also worked Co-Op at a local tool and die shop, so I was fortunate enough to become quite versed with bridging the gap from thousandths to eighths to brake jobs and engine rebuilds. Though I’ve worked with my hands since I can remember, having Christmas and birthday toys disassembled and reassembled a few times before that day was over, I have to hand it to my shop teachers and instructors for the majority of the base skills I’ve gained over the years! My senior schedule was to work from 5 or 6 am until school’s lunch, go to one class, then drive to the skills center. From home to auto shop was a good 45 minute drive and my auto instructor’s wife was in college in another state... so after school was out, we would often stay and work on projects until 6 or 7 at night, probably 4 days a week. It was a kid like me’s dream school schedule! I also have to say, I was not always the best kid. Those teachers had some thick skin putting up with hundreds of punks like me over the years! You fellas teaching the trades probably know plenty of young Pullstarts!

Started putting up my new LED lights I got off of Amazon. I picked up 6 - 8 foot strip lights and got two up when I got home from work. Already a big improvement ! I have 9 foot ceilings in my shop and this is helping illuminate my work area so far ! I should have the rest of them up in a couple of days !

That is the kind of storm where trees fall down. Be careful out there Mike.

Starter was toast had to rebuild the tractor. In all honesty just a total repaint and refresh. I enjoy making them look new again. You are right about the 60!!! My frame is ok but I would put that thing north or 200lbs all day, took it off the trailer hon solo.... Not my brightest move. I cut with my 312 so that deck will never be put on the 520 again. The 520 will be a snow cow from now on.

My trailer I built is heavy 10 gauge box. It only has 6" high sides and and no tail gate. The axle is centered hauling a load of dirt you can't get as much on the rear so I have never had the problem Eric mention. The 6" side helps when loading with a shovel.

Note the highlighted word above. I'd like to add to that just a little bit. The trailer that I use is the orange 10 cubic foot Agri Fab dump that I moved the axle about 14" backwards. That particular trailer is very stable uphill or downhill. Trina uses a 1976 or 77 Ohio Steel 10 cube trailer which is still in its original state with the axle centered in the box. When she goes up hill the tongue of the trailer lifts up and greatly reduces her traction. We have a 17 cubic foot trailer of unknown brand. All metal. Built rugged. At least a couple decades old. That one has the axle even a little bit to the forward side of center of the box. Use great caution going uphill or downhill. The question with these particular tractors is not normally whether you can PULL something but whether you can STOP something.

She’s done (except for graphics)!!! Field trials await...

Even at a dead stop a non-synchro transmission can do this. For that matter, a synchro trans can do it at a dead stop especially when the synchros are worn. It just means the teeth on the slider aren't perfectly lined up. When you release the clutch a little bit it turns the shaft just enough to line them up and allow the shift. Lots of times you can try to put it in another gear first and it will jostle it around just enough to let you have the gear you want.

My first coat is done! I spent most of the afternoon trying to track down more mesh to lay in the Redgard. Ends up being they combined it with drywall tape and made it super sticky! It was nice dry fitting everything, except inside corners. It was much easier to lay in the fiber mesh when the Redgard was wet. My first layer was complete by about 12:30 or so this morning. Them saying it might have a strong odor is like saying the bathrooms at a tractor show might get used a few times! It stinks yet this morning, but it’s rock hard and ready for coat number 2!

I could not have said it better myself! It sort of fuels the disposable world we live in ! If it dont work any more go out and by a new one.🤪

Nah Ed..... I was just able to start Christmas shopping a lot earlier this year - which is when I normally get reminded of this "historic" post. P.S.> Hard to believe that I've been at that same "real job" 11 years this past August!

Faithful L107 hauled in the Christmas tree today. Came from the patch over my shoulder.

And this one popped up today for $200. But it's a 4 hour drive one way to get it. Much nicer tractor and much nicer price. Wish it had fenders.

Got the c81 all ready to go and yet to have any snow to push lol

Thank you. I agree. It’s great that we can give these kids the opportunity to learn about and apply learned skills to interesting projects. I like what you’re doing with formula club. Very cool.