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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!

It is coming along very nicely Kevin! The floor is really looking good and I have big time envy about that “trough drain”—that is gonna be really slick. Good thinking Mrs P on those weep holes...👍🏻

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.

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.

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

Thanks. I will need lots of pictures. Next week the car will be out of the garage. So I will have lots of room 👍

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...

I'm not sure I can answer what causes that but my cinnamon horse c-160 is the same. That is also an 8-speed. Transmission is in 1977 with unknown but low hours. Very crisp and tight transmission. I would not say that that is a problem. I would say that it's just the nature of that beast. We have driven several other tractors and most don't do it as often as this one needs to. I notice the same thing with the trucks I drive on the road. You can get me 2 trucks that are supposedly identical and they will behave a little differently.

My gut is hurting Jim!

From personal experience being a Master Plumber in Mass, New Hampshire and Maine all three states go by different Plumbing Codes, Mass has their own code, New Hampshire goes by the International code and Maine by the Uniform code. In Mass and Maine they are not allowed, and in New Hampshire they are allowed with some restrictions. It would be a heck of a lot simpler if every State would be Governed by the same code so we would not have to study 3 different code books and take code classes and fee's and new code books and exams and the list goes on and on and wonder why we have to charge what we do to earn a living. Sorry for the rant. Just my . I almost forgot, to vent a sink properly when there is no vertical or outside wall to do so the preferred way is to install an Island or Bow vent which is much more complicated but the correct way to vent in some States.

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.

My wife years ago helped out an old lady. The lady gave her a fruitcake at Christmas. We didn't want it but my wife didn't want to throw it out. I figured I would have a little fun with it. At work was a guy who was a complete slob who drove a big old late 60's Caddy. The inside of his car was a mess. The amount of stuff in it would have filled 2 full size p/u trucks. I took that fruitcake and buried it inside the Caddy figuring it would be there for eternity like a cornerstone of a building. About a week later he comes in and says " I don't know who put that fruitcake in my car but it was great!!!" I found the only person in the world who likes fruitcake!