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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!

Just got back in town. Had a buddy at work telling me that one of his family members had a 520 that they wanted to get out of their barn, I'm game I said! What I did not know was all the attachments he had that needed to go as well. I was very lucky to drive away with a 900hr 520, 60in deck that is very clean, tiller, and blade (small frame) as well as a bag full of filters fir the low low price of $200. Cant wait to get started on it

I would write a poem, but eh. This club is self explanatory. It's for the people who don't have show queens, just the imperfect working tractors. Let's see the Ugly Ducklings.

We got 4 or 5" of snow today, so I finally got a chance to plow snow with my 877. The more I use that tractor, the more I like it It seems faster than my Commando, but just as agile. It's sure nice to push the handle either forward or backward and move in that direction. Can't hardly wait to have to plow again.

Whoa. I’m just going to do one at a time. I just want to clean it up and paint it replace all warn parts and anything that has baling wire on it. Haven’t seen any on the B80 yet. But the raider has several. The tie rod is wired on

@PeacemakerJack @WHX24 @pullstart... This is rolling coal and sod ... Josh I know this ain't right by any bit... But us being CC ,diesel , and plowing fans it has to be seen (BTW my boy WV sent it to me is how I come by it) Enjoy.

Its not going back in my garage. My very good neighbor said I can park it in his garage !!!!😁 And these came in today

Seat time consist of sliding down the driveway on your rump. No Fun. Weather stinks here to, a quagmire of frozen crap. Got home to late to push it off.

Nothin like skating to the mailbox!

The way things look that won't happen till February...

Hahahah see what I mean.....That exhaust tube swept back can only mean one thing......this tracktor has passed the 7 mph club, it was going so fast the air formed the tube itself......thats an ahhhhhh to say the least, on our alky drag car we call these turnups, heheheheh, and if you put a spark plug on that tube at night youll see flames shooting out.........thats a WHAZOOO when you see it at night heheheh, sheeesh I gotta get back to work here, Im gettin too excited!

Calendar Shot !!!!

Welcome to I live in Oklahoma City, go by Daddy Don. If you find one down this way and need me to go look at it just let me know. Good luck with you project.

Well we received four to five inches of wet snow last night and we are expected to receive some more today. I was able to get the 314 with 42 inch snowblower out about 7:30 am this morning. It worked very well but I had the snowblower shoes up a little high. So after the snowblowing was done I fired uo the 1958 Wheel Horse RJ with the 42 inch snowplow I bought and repainted this year. It worked fine but my older RJ plow in the basement seemed to work better for some reason. I have chains on the RJ this year. I always liked to see the snow roll off the RJ snowplow!