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Got my 1968 comando 8 out today. Found this place and thought I'd share. Hello all!

I took the 42SD off the 312....about fie minutes. Installed the tiller....about 30 minutes. Tilled the garden, strawberries, blackberries, and shrubs.....two hours. Then added the roadapples.

Been a little busy at work. Putting together this 4000 bottle wine cellar here are two pieces so far. These are the lower part opposed each other. They will hold 72 bottles each cabinet. All made from Cyprus. Still have a couple weeks left on the build. l'll post pics as we go !

Some of the load today . 2000 miles round trip .

The trails out back that I used to cruise on a Wheel Horse are real overgrown now that me, my neighbor Tony @Docwheelhorse and my son don’t have quads. Constantly buzzing around in the woods kept the trails clear. Today I ventured out for a cruise, first time in a loooong time. Used my 657 for transport. In a couple spots I couldn’t even tell where the trail was! Definitely not as nice as Jim’s @JCM trails. Had to detour around many fallen trees, may have to bring a saw with me next time The old Craftsman is something Tony dropped in the woods so we could watch it “age”, in the pic with no tractor you can see a deer watching me intently. Pics of course:

Isavetractors got new carbs back in stock...mine showed up today . Now I have something to do this weekend! Treated myself to a new keychain as well

Headed to Georgia last minute this week 8x20 trailer this can end up bad 🤦🏻‍♂️

Started shining up the 655 today. Someone repainted it, I think with a roller lol. I went after it with 1000 to find what’s left of the original paint, then 1500 and a buffer. Killer patina, and sparkly. Very sparkly, like a holiday

4000 bottles of wine, Randy? That job for Stevasaurus for Christmas?

I’m not sure she was the best negotiator in the world, but she saved 5 bucks off the asking price at least! One thing’s for sure... 6th gear is ROAD GEAR!

I bought this little valve spring compression tool and it works great on small engines. From $20.00 to $35.00 . They work well in the tight space of the Kohler.

So true, I never got worked up about them till I owned one. First thing was to swap out the pan to metal. Only bad thing is steering is somewhat awkward but that could be fixed with gear reduction. Love the way that tractor is set up Craig Gotta be a dirt plowing beast!

Simplicity 9020, the hydro will be overhauled reattached to the trans-axle then installed into my Alis Chalmers 720, no essential parts were cut or ruined. The unused parts will go into dry storage. PO tried to install an newer model Onan and butchered the frame with a cutting torch, I purchased the 9020 from the previous owner then located the proper engine. Fell in love with the 9020 then when this Alis Chalmers 720 with a FEL became available I purchased it from a fellow in Alberta. I was aware of the hydro on the 720 being damaged from towing the tractor trying to pull start it, but the damage was way more than hydro issues. After finding another used hydro then installing it found that the transmission would not shift into 2nd or 3rd gear. The used hydro turned out to be very weak. Each tractor purchase came with implements, the 9020 came with the snow thrower, 60 inch 3 point roto tiller and the large 60 inch belly mower deck. The ribbed front tire with AG rears. The 720 came with the front end loader and now have a spare mower deck, wide front tires and big boots on the rear neither of which I care for. I'll use the agricultural style tires - thank you. The Onan on the 9020 has served me well these past three years, never fails to start even on our coldest days and believe you me our Canadian winters are brutal. Both tractors were manufactured by Alis Chalmers its just that one was branded and sold under the Simplicity banner. In the past I've refrained from posting about either of my other brand tractors in the Red Square Wheel horse forum as they're perceived as party crashers. After almost two years of being a member of this forum I now feel the same. Forums are great places to ask for and or offer information and tutorials but I feel they' can also be harmful to ones mental health. Once I'm done with the repairs on the Alis Chalmers 720 I'll only have one large frame tractor with enough spare parts to last me a lifetime.

The 64 to 65 Before . To after. I hope you enjoy the picks.

Funny how fragile many people think original W-H paint is now, or was back in the day. NOT! That my friend is how original patina is done. Looks great, and he sanded it people!

My berries are planted around the perimeter of my barn. I keep a trench tilled around the edge to keep the grass out and for irrigation.

Like the others have said, . That's such a great little, I have two of them. They'll do just anything you could want them to do. Easy to work with or on. Easy on gas and very manuverable. Enjoy

You guys!!! Nice work Randy! Mine will hold 168 bottles.

I've always been pleased with tools made by Lisle an American company, not to be confused with some Chinese knockoff. The trick of using the c-clamp style is to give the screw a turn or slightly more to add pressure onto the valve spring, then tap the top of the thumb screw lightly with a dead blow. This action breaks the bond, now your ready to fully compress the spring. Lisle Corporation has been manufacturing custom tools for over 100 years! Check out our website to see our selection: from battery brushes to mechanic

I'm pretty excited about this one! I hestitated to join forums/facebook groups as they always make me want to buy more of the brand. Already loving the Wheel Horse crew.

A dab of grease holds the keepers onto the valve stem while the spring is depressed.

Oh, it'll probably happen eventually. I mean, if people can embrace MY weirdness, I should embrace the black hoods weirdness ...and ANY opposed flathead twin is an automatic double thumbs up in my book!

Something about sitting at the helm, that makes it feel danged tough. Though my Briggs Twin don’t like me, I’m not convinced it should be written off yet.

Been working on my Lawn Ranger recently, trying to get this dang Wisconsin to fit. Since this Lawn Ranger doesn't have a battery in it, the starter-generator sits fine. Up front, it fits okay, but only with the air filter removed (see pics). If I add the air cleaner, the hood won't fit. I have a "dry" filter, as well as the "wet" oil bath one, but both are about the same size and won't fit. The only thing I can think of to make this work, would be to add a section of straight pipe between the exit of the carb, and the up-turn elbow that goes into the bottom of the air cleaner. This would make the entire air cleaner assembly sit outside the hood. However, even if i do this, i will have to notch the hood where the "extension tube" would fit. For a battery, I was going to put it under the seat. I think im going to have to make a new box for the fenders to bolt to due to the bigger wheels / tires im going with, so making it accept a battery won't be a huge issue. Exhaust would be fine, id have to do an elbow directly out of the block, the a straight section. That would clear I think. As you can see by the pics, the hood I have is pretty clean and solid. No rust on it at all, and no cuts except a pair of odd holes on the top. I really wanted to make this work, but I dont think this was destined to be. Wisconsin did offer a "straight through" Walbro carb for some of their engines (like a typical kohler). Alas, they never made one for this particular model, so that is off the table unless I made one fit from something else. That would give me better hopes of fitting the carb / air cleaner behind the stock hood. I do have a K181 with electric start on my shelf, as well as a K181 with a recoil starter. In addition, ill be picking up a K91 with a recoil starter this weekend. I'd like to make this an electric start though (either starter or starter-generator). On the flywheel side, the clutch / brake pedal does clear the belt, but id seriously consider fabing a guard, as id hate to catch the tip of my shoe in that belt. I could also make new brackets to put it up high like a Kohler unit is, which would help get it further from my foot. I do have a little room to move the engine backwards, but then id have a shorter belt (not a huge deal), and the stock gaurd won't fit (something I was trying to maintain). What do you guys think? Should I quit while I'm ahead and just put in the Kohler since I already have one? Or keep working on this to try to find a way to make it work?

Kickin' it!!

Yes sir. Decided to go that route instead of the running boards. The running boards were to clunky. They didnt flow with the rest of it

Still trying to figure out the hood conundrum. So figured I would start mocking up another part.

I started Cleaning up the frame and painted it. It wasn't bad to start with.

That is what I use, for the keepers I use a spring loaded tool with magnetic jaws. Just put the keepers on the magnets, line them up on the stem and release the valve spring will push the tool down capturing the keepers.

Thanks . It has history .

I picked this up used about two years ago. Great machine. I have about $500 in it. I goes for $2500 new. 17 CFM. It's not their top of the line model, but that's ok for my needs. Fills the tank from 0-125 psi in 4 min.

Yep 420-lse 1 of 1 ever made speed ex diesel

The Commando-8 is one of my favorites ! This is mine....

Yep. There was a guy in town years ago who made wheel weights and my grandfather had him make him some. Good eye!

from a bit north and east of ya! Nice ride, that 8 horse Kohler will surprise you every time!

If that was one of your kids you need to get them into Wheel Horse therapy right away

The Barn Door as it looks from outside.. just if you look closer, you will see my „rework“ the lock and the formerly hinges, they act now as Windprotector. this stick‘s just 2/3 the Way it could be in. simple solution and relatively good hidden. today some more parts arrived, so i can prepare the Powermeter to get connected. i just juse the 230V and leave the 400V Plugs unused for the Moment. final check - and we be able to plug in. so tomorrow finalize the installation and than i be ready. also ordered today a Siccors Lifter. For 3,5 To capacity, that shall be enough for my needs.

Got the poor wife to video me and the little guy doing some crazy hauling again. I’ll probably give her a heart attack one day. IMG_4751.MOV

Spent the morning cleaning the pavement (sidewalk?) on our street, removing overgrown weeds and grass and sweeping the soil away. Looks a lot better now and the path is now wider. Then off to a friends to replace all the compact flourescent bulbs in her kitchen with LED equivalents. Then off to an antique shop to put up a set of display shelves. Been a bit of a day all in all.

For the small F-head engines this style of spring compressor gives big thumbs more room in an already constricted space.

I think if you get a black hood with a metal seat pan you’d grow to enjoy it’s weird look. It’s an acquired taste but I think the older ones look pretty menacing and the twin Briggs is a monster. This was my Dad’s

Loam deep rich humus Straight furrows curl parallel Wheel Horse waits anxious

Ahhhhh. One for the plow dogs. Nice. @PeacemakerJack @Achto @WHX24 @pullstart

Took a route up through the White Mountains yesterday. Beginning of foliage but it's quite dull because of the current drought.

Too bad. Suck it up buttercup, you're the bed AND pillow. Adorable niece bro. She'll be restoring her first WH before you know it.

Martl told me few day‘s ago i can have some fresh Wood, he mentioned i shall do a rework the Barn gate, it was old wood and looks rotten with it‘s Patina and nearly fell apart. Don‘t ask how he looked if i answered, Hey - i love that rotten look how you called it or „Patina“ how i called it. so nobody identify‘s there can be something inside of interest or even somethings have changed It is still hidden and nondescript. - perfect! So i reworked this Gate the last 2 Day‘s, because the original nail‘s begin definitively to fall out and it was pretty instable. I decided to check the status of the Wood itself and it was in good shape. So i just must exchange the loosen and or rotten nail‘s with about 200 galvanized and black painted Screws and fixed it back again until it becomes dark and starts to rain. - i know, no pict‘s -> nothing is happen.. but it was too dark today Than i found on his dump place few old Wooden things ( maybe an old border of an old Trailer) cutted in halves but with good usable wood he wanna trash and i can Save it. Why? - now i like to built 2 Windkeepers on the lower part on the Gates out form few old rotten Metalparts, they prevent a Swing on stronger Winds. I think that be hinges maybe but rocksolid and with a fantastic Patina, they stick into that old Woodpards, what fit‘s perfectly the oldstyle Optics of the Gate. Just the Screws are new. After i do a try about the recreated stability i was impressed how stable and good that old Wood itself is. it was lightly curved over the time but stable just on very close to the bottom it was bit decaying. now it‘s stable again like freshly built, but looks still the good old style.

Had a little help washing Joe and Leroy today... She reminds me so much of my girls when they were this age!