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Not one to leave well enough alone I began a gradual two part restoration. Sort the mechanical aspects then tackle the bodywork. The latter part was tricky to decide having viewed all these nice patina builds no doubt this tractor would have been a perfect candidate. In the end I decided that since I have an entire Body shop at my disposal which specializes in vintage restorations why not make it as beautiful as it is functional. The first aesthetic item to address was the wheels. I shod them in AG tires and tri rib fronts due to my steep terrain.

Most people enjoy the back story so here goes. My grandfather purchased a new 855 back in the day. His next door neighbor was so impressed by the little horse "possibly jealous" that he went out the following year and followed suit picking up this 856. When the neighbor passed my father purchased it and it saw mostly mowing duty as the 855 was worked much harder plowing snow grading etc. Growing up I have fond memories tag teaming yards for pocket money with my father on the one myself on the other. They were always struck me as simple reliable machines which required very little maintenance. That being said the machines found themselves eventually relegated to collecting cobwebs... Fast forward twenty years I got married, purchased a house and had my first born. Time I find is more precious these days and push mowing my hilly 1.7 acre yard ate far too much of that time up. My dad bless his heart felt sorry for me and gifted me the 856 which lived a much easier life of the two, and had a better chance of reviving with little effort. A few hours and some typical tune up stuff filters, fuel line, head gasket, spark plug, rebuilt the OE carb, fresh fluids, had her putting around once again! It served me well this past summer... but it deserves better! Like the million dollar man we can rebuild him...

I’m picking this one up this week. 2016 Tundra TRD Off-road package in Wheel Horse Red !! It’s a Toyota certified truck so it comes with a 7 year 100,000 mile drivetrain warrantee that starts the day I pick it up and a 12 month bumper to bumper warrantee. Dealer installed 4 brand new Hankook tires, brakes and a new battery so I should be good to go for along time. Also this dealer offers free oil changes for as long as I own it and free batteries as long as I own it

After almost 13 hrs and close to 700 miles on the road we are now the proud owners of a 1998 Chevy 2500. Both trucks made the trip with no problems at all...averaged 18mpg out of my F150, and to my surprise the Chevy averaged just a tick over 15, so pretty happy about that.

Fast forward a few months I'm in the finally getting the paint laid on and beginning stages of reassembly. The engine is off at a local machine shop as it needed a piston rings and bored evident upon dissassembly.

A mate of mine and myself picked up this C-125 a month or so ago. Unused for around two years and stored in a shed. A none runner and in need of some TLC. It'll not be a restoration. Yesterday it arrived at my workshop to sort out. Started on it this morning and I'll up date as progress is made. Mainly a case of fixing any issues and a general tidy up. It's to be a worker on the property he and his Good Lady have acquired, over the border in Scotland. Quote Edit

Body work lesson #1 don't paint over dents. Good illustration of why this tractor needed some love. Story goes the tractor was parked at the top of a 20 ft hill and either popped out of gear or was never left in one. It proceeded to careen into the side of my parents house bending nearly all of the grill slats. Name of the game if you are attempting a repair like this is to minimize filler. Take the time to hammer out as much as possible using a flat hammer on one side and a heavy dolly on the back to support the metal as it's reshaped. Avoid hammering the dent itself and instead focus on the outside edge of the dent and work your way in. Start with light to medium blows until you see how the metal responds. There are two types of filler shown in the picture. The yellow is thicker and coarser for building up larger areas it will need gone over with the pink later which is much finer. Once sanded these will need primered.

Thank you all for the nice words. I'll enjoy showing the progress and would be happy to include detail about bodywork. The decision to repaint was mostly because I'd like it to last another 50 years and I have access to the equipment. There was quite a bit of rust not seen in the photos which has now been stopped in its tracks. Another factor was the care (time) required to maintain a patina'd look through wax, oils, etc did not jive well with me. I want to hose it off and call it good...lazy I guess.

Not sure if I woulda messed with the originality tho. Must be the Minnesota in me talking...thanks @Shynon An 855 is now officially on my bucket list .. have to have a little brother for a 1055.....

Put the 56 up on the table and started the mechanical resto. Have one broken hub, Briggs is gone, worn cross shaft.

Incase anyone likes this color here's the paint code we chose. This paint is a single stage meaning it does not require clearcoating. It is the budget line that PPG produces. We have found it very adequate and cost effective for jobs like this. If I'm lucky a quart will do the entire tractor and deck. Also shown is a reducer and activator "hardner". The hardner is needed to speed set up time and the reducer thins the paint to the correct consistancy for the gun. There are formulas to follow that will get you in the ballpark mixing wise. Lesson #2 most important is the surface preparation. Whatever your painting it must be cleaned and degreased. A simple wash with soapy water and a degreaser like simple green or Awesome sold at the "dollar store" works nicely. Compressed air will remove water from any hidden recesses. If you dont have that available towl it off and let the rest evaporate, stick it in a heat duct, oven etc. Lastly a wax and grease remover will get any hand oils off the surface. If your feeling extra fancy a few passes with a tack cloth will wisk away fibers from the cloth you just used. Make sure the area you are painting in is as dust free as possible. We typically wet down the concrete floor to minimize dust and debris kicking up.

@WHX24...you should bring your equipment to fix hubs to the big show in June. I bet you could set up a little stand next to @pullstarts lemonade stand and make a little money. I

I can save those hubs you get them to me. @Ed Kennell has the fix for those axles or new full length keyways can be cut into them. Cluster gear should be easy to find. Looks like your 1533's are decent? The detent balls install is also in the manual. Just be careful on removing the shift rails they don't go flying off to never never land!

When power is lost with this Sundsrand Hydrogear, IMHO, you'll find the issue is with the hydro pump itself. You can remove the pump from the hydrogear, but it may be easier to just remove the entire pump & hydrogear as one unit, then break it down. Open the pump and inspect the 9 brass piston slippers and all other internal components. I think you'll find conditions like in these pics. If so, refinish the contact faces to remove gouges and scars...using 220 400 800 grit sandpaper on a surface plate. Don't remove any more material than necessary to clear the imperfections.

Thought some of you Sportsman may enjoy these, only 300' from the house.

Bearings are fine . Broken teeth on the cluster gear . Both axles are damaged beyond my ability to repair , whatever the previous owners were doing with this it cracked and broke pieces of metal around the key way on both sides ...other side is worse . I have 1 hub that can be reused . @stevasaurus you had a video or a instructional on removing and reinstalling the detent balls I can't remember where it is

Well well well... It’s awesome! Jada snuck the button and shut the traction control off on me, it’ll roll a tire or two over!

Not too shabby.

These are definitely not vintage trucks other than the 86 K-20 and I will sneak in the 70 SS, hope that's ok. I did get permission from @PeacemakerJack to insert these trucks in here beforehand. All of these vehicles other than the SS were purchased new, and don't mind my fishing buddy in here pretending to be fishing before we launch the boat at the ramp, he does not get to go that often and gets a little excited when he does. As a matter of fact he bought the K 2500 ext cab from me in 2005 and still owns it with 175000 miles on it, I have been trying to buy it back but to no avail. Enjoy the pics.

dit dah dit dah dit

Various bits waiting to be primed. A sand blaster would have made this job much easier as cast "pot" metal is very difficult to get into the recesses. I do shy away from using abrasive media blasters on large flat tins like the hood or seat pan as it can do more damage than good. I used a 4'' poly carbide disc on a hand held electric grinder to do 90% of the paint and rust removal. PPE is a must as the dust is highly carcinagiac. Eye, ear, and lung protection always unless you like tinninitus and trips to the eye Dr. We will use a metal etching primer that does not require sanding and can be painted right on top of for these pieces.

I noticed a bit lighter steering with the tri ribs as well as a bit rougher ride over roots and small bumps. I think they look cool like a little big tractor so I'm ok with the trade off.

I am too Mike once in awhile. as WHX14 Learned abit about & some manuals for Amigos there. Busted Dan lurking there for green & yello…....

So few of us have a life long history with our that we love. Your backstory is great and it is so good to see the 856 getting so much love. I would think the 855 may be feeling a bit lonely now, you better go over to your Dad's and bring it home too.

about 5 blocks, I hoard and he comes and helps himself

Can you snowblow water? Would that be a 2 stage pond pump?

I'll start a new thread later but I did save 4 Cub Cadets from the scrap yard ALL for 1 price just lately a 1970 model 126 (12hp Kohler 3spd gear drive with creeper Hi/Lo box 3rd lowest production of the IHCC that I'm planning a full resto on) 2 series 7 model 1200 one that can be salvaged the other is basically parts built from 1974-79 12hp Kohler and 3spd gear drives and last a later model (1985-89) CCC model 1210 with aluminium grill shell and hydro transaxle that may very well end up a parts rig as well.

@ebinmaine, @PeacemakerJack, @pullstart ... I know this is NOT WH but since I was in the snow plow refurbishment business a coworker is/was looking for a CC plow so my boy in WV had one he got with a 482 but didn't have the correct moldboard (PO had modified a Sears/MTD/??? to the CC frame, got from boy let said buddy try it but was tweaked unlevel while lowered and wouldn't raise all the way without hitting his grille shell so today I had a very heavy duty 46" Simplicity moldboard that fabbed/converted today to fit the CC frame and the cool part is it can be angled from the seat as well. I still need to get 2 new trip springs and fab up an angle from seat lever. (6th pic is of a 100% IHCC snow plow set up.)

Looks like Kevin and I started a truck buying spree this past week. I never was much of a Toyota guy, but I must say that is a nice looking rig, and the right color is an added bonus

@JCM Nice looking stuff there Sir. Maybe there'll be a '99 old style Suburban in your future....

l cant beat what Eric has! lets try these im in !!!

Andy did ( Andy who ? - Andy from RedSquare lol ) the thread is fairly recent - maybe this past summer Andy installed different pulley - and also installed LED lights if I can find the post - I will provide the link

Pulled the headache rack off the truck this morning...hated to do it cause it really gave the truck that look I really liked, but the main thing I bought this truck for was hauling our camper, so the rack had to go. Kid I work with was sure excited when I gave him the rack for his truck

Oh there's a list, Pete. It now runs after a points clean up and setting. And sweetly after a warm up and carb adjustment. Carb seems to be a plastic one. Works OK though. May need a new HT lead. Doesn't look to good. Drove it in and out of the workshop ok after blowing the tyres up. Doing that let me know the rears are water ballasted. Wee'd on the floor. I also think the brake needs attention. Stops dead when you depress the clutch. You can push it about easily though. Another steering wheel is on the cards. It has a 'eck of a wobble. The steel insert in it is very loose. The shaft is fine. Engine oil will be changed and trans drained, flush and refilled. Some nice cream in there. Gear lever boot is practically none existent. Axle seals etc. etc. etc. First thing though, is to sort out the charging system. Cos it isn't. Electrics not my forte and my tame electrician is currently sunning himself in Spain.

Prolly easier to teach her to how to do it than her old man!

Great, I’ll try keep up on postings , I have. 55 and 57 to do

So last week, the salesman told me that the accessories like the tonneau cover and seat covers (dealer installed) added no value and that I should sell them outright if I felt like it. I listed them this weekend and ended up selling the truck to one of Mrs. P’s coworkers! He gave us more for it that the dealer was willing to pay and in the end I’m happy that they won’t make money twice on the sale of the same truck! The sales guy seemed quite happy for us when I told him the news. It’s a funny feeling to be one truck down in the Pullstart fleet, even if it’s for a few hours!

Looks like a small elephant to me. With it's tusks on the wrong end.

Sounds like that tractor would've been the better candidate for a resto. The paint on the 856 looked excellent - I wouldn't have been able to bring myself to erase that part of its' history. Looks like you'll have a nice looking tractor when you're done!

This one’s a 4 cylinder turbo gasser with an 8 speed transmission. It’s got 310 hp and 348 lb/ft torque. The loaner surprised me that it was half an engine for a full sized truck!

Thanks I appreciate it...a very close family friend that's originally from down there was there visiting his family...he saw my FB post about it and went and looked it over...but thanks again

There's a place in Massachusetts called Thenandnowautomotive.com That sells rebuild kits for your original aluminum pump for around $30. I've not bought one personally yet but I've never heard a bad word about them. I'd go that way if I needed a pump.

‘29 Ford Model A Roadster (replica) It was built in 1981 by a company called “Shay” they were sold thru Ford dealerships only. its Ford Pinto Chasis & drivetrain with fiberglass body. this one Only has 2400 actual miles. Yes 24 hundred, not thousand. I’ve driven it twice in last 7 years. Last time 3-1/2 years ago when I parked it where it’s at.. I plan to get it out this spring. We’ll probably sell it.

I keep telling all you screwballs that say you don't have enough snow to come on up to Maine. We will fix you up.

Hey I've been prepared for the last two years for snow and I'm still waiting but the beer is still cold LOL! we are having the fifth wettest winter here in Tennessee! Been raining all day

First and foremost, I love reading about hunting, cool blacksmith forge stuff and shop stuff! Glad to hear the updates too! No worries on off topic, it’s all good Second, what in the sam tootin’ is scrapple? If it’s got deer, it must be delicious! Third, we need actual winter to arrive before the starches turn to sugar for us. I haven’t even touched the evaporator since last season, it’s still in my buddy’s yard. With some upsets like the flood and extended housework, I didn’t get as far as I planned on a new brick arch maple syrup machine, but the Mantucket Syrup Factory should do us alright. Maybe though, we’ll be able to bring it in to the back barn with the doors open and fashion a makeshift condensation stack to keep the barn dry. I picked up my Christmas Doe from the processor already, it was such a quick turnaround it wasn’t even funny! For the time being, $100 well spent.

Thanks for the update and the good news Dave. Your buildings look like a great place to spend some retirement hours when that time arrives. Kev @pullstart, I hope you don't mind this stuff, but all deer hunters are connected. BTW, I was thinking of you guys while eating breakfast this morning. Our local Yorkana Gun Club made scrapple from six deer last Sat. I fried some this morning and smothered it in home grown Somerset Co. maple syrup. Sorry I didn't get any pics, it disappeared too quickly, you'll have to trust me...it was gooood. Got your boiler ready Kev ? Sap running time is just around the corner.