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I lived near a guy who had a restored pair of non lever steer Gibsons that he would bring to the Memorial Day parade every year. He had a few others and I think a collection of vintage tractors. I wish I had gotten to know him because at the time he was already an older guy and that was years ago. He told me the Gibson would pull a Cub backwards in a tug of war. I’d like to see that contest but doubt I ever will. Anyways I saw this lever steer and though I’m sure many members have seen or know Gibsons, maybe the newer guys haven’t, so here’s today’s find.

Good day all. I've been into Garden tractors for a long time and have always wanted a Wheel Horse, but they were always elusive, too much money, or rusted away. Went to an estate sale Saturday and picked up two garden tractors including a WH Raider 12. The other is an '83 Allis Chalmers 917H with belly mower. I'm stoked. Lots of parts in a cardboard box, but so far the only thing I can positively identify as missing is the coil and the retaining brackets and bolts for the PTO friction disk. Starter was removed and didn't work, but after taking it apart it was obvious why. The lead wire was separated from the lug that the battery cable hooks to from the solenoid. It also came with a belly mower, snow plow, snow blower, and a WH branded leaf rake. Still sorting out if I have all the extra stuff needed to run the implements. The only thing I really wanted was the belly mower but the rest was part of the deal. Spent today cleaning parts and waiting impatiently for the ignition coil to arrive tomorrow. Anyway, I appreciate all I've read so far and am looking forward to getting this thing going. Take care. Brannon

I been driving a couple trucks around Southern Maine today while my Tire Changing Department spent some time between 7 million other tasks getting the Cinnamon Horse C160 ready to go to @JCM Jim's this weekend. Had to take the fluid weighted wheels and tires off and swap them for regular air-filled ones. Saves over 250 lb going down the road. She took this to share with you folks.

Hey everyone just finished my Wheel Horse 418-A Project today!!! After long hours and days of working and painting it is done!! I thought it turned out pretty nice it runs great and everything is back to working condition!!

Sorry, thought I'd posted these but ... Mower version, though the mower looks non-functional! Dozer version Oh, and Cinnamon was there! And the tribute tractor and it's sibling.

Just checked a pencil. .029 - .031 I think would be a good spec. Can you tell I'm getting bored, waiting on parts?

Drill holes in the piston crowns and you'll have handy pencil/pen holders.

Just a reminder here is “before”

I love the hooded Gibson's, and they seem a lot rarer than the other models. I've goy enough to work on, but if that one was for sale near me it would be on the trailer and I'd be begging for forgiveness. .

@Achto and I both have one Mine is a '47 not sure what year his is. That one looks to a 50's model Mine Dan's ...I got to drive his a couple o times and they are a blast!

Throw a vertical shaft predator on it and it would be perfect for kids or grandkids to put around and pull a wagon with. Randy

so here's a follow up question - ( it's a 520HC ) - and thanks for that info -- where does the air go? Seems like there would be an "air bound effect" -- i dont know a technical term. I suppose if the fill tube is used for the second filling "topping off" the oil after doing the tractor movement you suggest then we would expect the oil to displace the air ? yes/no? But how does air escape???????? As a side note when i did the tranny oil change - i added the new oil through the fill tube.... but i had totally removed one of the two bolts in the top of the tranny housing that holds seat bracket down allowing for "venting" -- but now i have those two bracket bolts reinstalled. Thanks again !! I attached 2 photos of before and after cleaning and some modest painting - the tractor was covered in "black caked oil" when i got it this spring.

We had some seat time today… but Rylee broke my knee!

Just out for a Sunday ride!

I made it live again... Posted an introduction last night, but the short version is that I picked up this 72 Raider 12 this weekend at an estate sale. Motor was partially disassembled but not locked up so I took a change because the price was right. I had to fix the starter, clean the carb and points and replace the lost coil that wasn't in the box of parts it came with. After all that, voila, she lives again. Yes, I know it's dark video but when you're excited you work at night when the parts show up Few things please me more than making someone's "junk" run again.

Yes it definitely is.

Just to make it clear.... thats the way I got that engine...... I did not blow it up !!! Hope you got some good parts off it @squonk !!

Well that's different. I don't have a lot of knowledge of the older round hoods. I'm going to say Custom Build.

Nice paper weight collection you have there Mike.

This one is a '78 JD 317. Still has the original series 1 KT17 in it and it runs great. This one had been sitting in a barn for 20+ years and the rats had made a home under the hood. Took some rewiring and some new points, fuel pump and lines, and it runs great on two new front tires. This is a strong machine.

I like Randy's idea and hate to see any horse go to the glue factory but the boys on the the other side of the pond have good points and horses of any flavor are hard to find over there.

Knew this was buried in the barn someplace...

Looks like a great little tractor, have fun with that snow blower down there.

Cleaned up the snow blade on my 857. Regal Red painted with a 3" roller and the help of a brush. No snow sticking this year.

Thanks to everyone who helped me

Mighty small pencils you got there, how do you keep from breaking them?

Based on your model 81-08k801, the OEM belt is #7478 and is available here for about $45. https://www.psep1.biz/arinet.asp?aribrand=TO#

No, I am going to start there again from square 1. Yes, and yes. My digital multimeter is not the most expensive one, but I get a reasonable idea from it, better than without it at least.

No, the spring is all that provides the belt tension. The lever does look to be pretty far to the rear which would cause the spring to lose rotational torque on the shaft. Check the roll pin that fixes the lever to the shaft. It may have sheared allowing the lever to move on the shaft. If the roll pin is OK, A new belt may be required. The position of the trunnion on the threaded rod only adjusts the position of the brake pedal.

Great job! Another one saved!👍🏻

Did you paint it? Rattle cans? Looks very nice!

I reckon that cylinder 'bout lost it head, sir!

The valves are still seated and have no damage. I have the cylinder head off and the piston move freely. The valves still move correctly. Front cylinder has plenty of compression.

Is the “touchy clutch” not coming all the way back after to move your foot? Maybe the spring providing tension is wiped-out. Or…sometimes these tractors have a gas shock to prevent dumping of the clutch and wheelies. Maybe that gas shock, also called a dampener I believe, is not letting the clutch/belt fully engage.

The curl on the dipstick has a small opening in the end for a vent. Often that opening is blocked with debris or the curl is crushed, so check that it is clear.

Here in Belgium they go for upwards of 400€ In the US I guess a 100-200$

SM for the Eatons says essentially the same. Start the engine and at low RPM cycle the lift several times. Then drive forward and backward several times slowly and then at full speed. Then check the oil and add as needed.

I will only speak to sunstrands. No bleeding required. Just work it forward backwards and use the lift if so equipped a few times... Then recheck you fill level.

I finished making Norman even more capable, squeezing a 5th wheel around the turnover ball gooseneck setup. To top it off, my buddy has a 16k hitch he said he’ll swap me for my 14k. I’ll be dragging a 5th wheel to Daytona this month, along with picking up another trailer soon.

I have tried those $10 Amazon pumps. They didn't work out well for me, hope you have better luck. I always block off the original pump opening.

There's a place called Evan's Notch about an hour north of home. It runs along the Maine/ New Hampshire border following route 113 through a beautiful area of the White Mountains. This past weekend we went a little to the east of that for a night of unplanned but absolutely excellent wilderness camping. In the great desire to get away from the general crowds on the more well known trails we try to find lesser known/visited locals. Normally that area would be sparsely or uninhabited. Unfortunately there was a group of 8 or more very nice but very loud folks camping. They also had a pair of lovely but loose dogs roaming around. That's NOT an option for our own Meeha Mirror because of her issues. Sooooo, we decided to grab some supplies and head into the forest a ways.... The area was likely settled by European folks in the late 1700s. There are several families that sent soldiers to the Revolution and the Civil War. The Butters family is one of the older names there. The gravestone pictured below is that of two Butters children that passed in 1819. That home's cellar hole is the first pic. One of the mountain peaks is named Butters. There are other peaks honoring local families as well. Mt Meader. Durgin. Likely others. In the above mentioned effort to be away from folks and their dogs while hiking Trina and I have been spending more and more time "bushwhacking" hikes. Typically we'll start out on a trail but veer off when/where we see something worth exploring or staring at. Because the campground was occupied and because we wanted to wander the back country we found some pretty awesome stuff including the site we chose to set up camp. Butters family cellar hole Trina's title for this pic is: Not to bee messed with... And the rest....

Starting another 8 Horsie.

Just trying to get somewhat of a value on this 702. I am redoing, I'm redoing a d-160 with kohler engine. Thinking about selling the 702. Thanks for any info. Located in mid Michigan.

Picked up a couple snowblowers a couple weeks ago. 2 for $100. Not in great shape. In fact the auger was thrashed. Using some tips from here set to work. Not show quality but hopefully flings snow.

Our new collie pup. Nell. Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. OH! YEAH!