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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.

Hi all, I’m new here and new to the Electro 12 and new to tractors. Never worked on, ridden on or started one. Just acquired an Electro 12 that’s been sitting for at least 5 years. Don’t even know how to start it. Seems to me, the first thing I’ll need is a battery and some gas. Don’t even know what kind. Any help would be super appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Trying to use up the spoils of my small garden, before it spoils that is. Tonight I made some spicy tomato chutney and some hot pepper relish. The pepper relish is extremely spicy hot, but has really good flavor

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#

Facet Posiflo I have used the 4psi and 2 psi about $39 Made in USA no failures I have 4 now...my $10 cheapie died after a few hours use.

@Gregoryes it has been painted not rattle can, it was painted with enamel paint and pneumatic paint gun thanks!! All new decals as well

If you want more traction for off-roading besides you pulley drills. Don't know if more tension is the answer. replacing that spring with a stronger one will give you more tension

Hi Jacob, it looks like you’re working on a B or C series, based on the brake rod. That spring in the photo is all the tension you should need. If you feel like it’s worn out, you might find what you need at a hardware store… just bring the old one in with you. If your belt is still slipping, it may just be time for a new belt.

There is a ark loader on here for sale I have thought about buying, looks like it has no frame so I would have to fab one up, and its here in Indiana. Thanks for the link i will read up.

Sometimes staying original is more trouble than it's worth. Leaking gas into a crankcase= not good Leaking sediment bowl onto a battery = not gooder!

Can't say I've ever had one on rough ground but on the flat amazingly easy to steer. I did give that guy in TX with the parts a call Ollie and he would have come down abit but shipping would have been a killer. I woulda been better off having you pick them up then me road tripping to see you. I put the Gibson project on the back burner till I retire and don't have the time but for now she's safe and sound. I had a line on a restoed model D one for 2K that had some nifty HY on it with a front blade I shoulda never passed on.

Your a total newbie for sure…but you have come to the right place to answer all your questions. If you can, post us a picture or two or three of your Electro 12. We can determine quite a bit just from pics. GAS / Regular 87 octane pump gas is all it requires. BATTERY / Standard lawn and garden 12 volt. Try to get one with at least 300cca

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.

I have used all the penetrating oils mention here and some that were not. also candle wax and ATF/Acetone blend. None work every time....When it finally frees up i am never sure which of the several i used on the stuck part worked...

Check to see if the pulley is slipping on the transmission shaft.

Mine originally had some dirt/oil, not sure if it was actually clogged. I cleaned it with a long pipe cleaner (pinched from my grandkids' art supplies bin) that I sprayed with "gunk remover". Took just a minute.

This indicates it is running out of fuel. Try removing the fuel tank cap. Check the flow of fuel from the pump by removing the line into the carb. and cranking the engine. As stated above, Vertical engine lawn mowers do not have a very goood resale value.

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.

Peanuts. No deck or tool lowers value a lot, and the A series are just not that desirable. Non runner puts is, I'm sorry to say, just about scrap value in my book. Was it running fine, then perhaps 150 on a good day. Just my I would part it out. Just saying

It was stuck in reverse. Then, in trying to rock tractor while moving shifter as I did when I initially bought it to get it out of gear, the shifter popped out. However, today, I put shifter back in place, and tried again and low and behold it's free again and shifts! Both of the 1054's I have that were stuck came out of ssssaid stuck gear today. Idk how or why, these old machines have their own sort of personalities I swear 😂

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.

Ready for the party…! Post party post: Perfect day!!! Great train ride through the neighborhood to the lake… Kids had a blast as well as the adults - including my 94 1/2 year old Dad who had his first ride on the SL&WHN RR…! IMG_0826.MOV