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You asked for it...

Another freebie. Got me a 70s two stroke Eskimo ice fishing auger. Appears to be intact. Engine was loaded with water. But it seems clean and rust free. Hopefully it’s recent. Will be a nice wall hanger if anything

Hi All, New member here. Been lurking for a while and finally found myself a proper garden tractor. I bought a '97 314-8 with 42" SD deck. I have been able to answer a bunch of questions through search on here but there are some things I can't figure out! 1. It has 24x12x12 rears on it with 8.5" wide wheels. Based on my estimated measurement, it looks like about 6.5" of deep dish on the outside, and about 2" on the inside, measured to the hub. Did the best I could but the tires are so wide they don't let me be accurate with them bolted onto the tractor. From what I gather, this is not normal for this model. They don't rub, but they are about 1/4" away from the inner frame near the gas tank - definitely can't fit chains on if I want to. Should I find new wheels as well as rubber if I want to do that? Also, the valve to air up the tires is on the inside, not outside, not sure if this is normal, or if someone flipped these wheels to make the big tires fit. 2. Fronts look like they came off a Deere or Cub, they are yellow with what appears to be a crappy black plasti-dip job. The rubber is in good shape so I may keep these a while. 3. Where should I be looking for parts? Best to just get new from Toro? How's the used/part out market? I need a battery tie down (this thing has a zip tie holding the battery down lol) and one of the deck blade spindles underneath is partially broken (see pic). I am also missing one of the square hood inserts for the headlight openings. 4. The engine oil light doesn't light up when I hit the test button. The rest of the systems work, and the motor runs great, starts right up, and doesn't blow smoke of any color even on startup. It's at 790 hours. Something simple like the bulb? Is there somewhere this might have been bypassed in the past and I can/should reactivate? Other than the above, it seems solid. no rust on the tractor, and just some superficial surface stuff on the deck. Excited to get her cleaned up, sharpen the blades, and put it to work. Of course the needful. Below some pics!

I made this today. Still need to paint it. Hooks in the front tach-o-matic for towing a non running horse.

So is this what I can expect at the Big Show ?… a bunch of old farts sitting around, having beverages of their choice, and talking about old cars and tractors ? Can’t wait !

Well I guess since Mike was nice enough to ask in the first place I'll post a few actual "office" pics. These two are for Trina because she works from home several days a week. This is our backyard. These two are examples of the crane load charts I was studying a few weeks ago. And the rest are things I've seen at or to and from work...

A good bath would add the most value. I like getting them like that and not having to deal with used paint jobs or oily patina applications. (the latter makes for tough paint prep if restoring) That machine looks like it has nice metal and not been beat up. It is real hard to get any money on these machines to compensate for your time if your not going to keep and use them. Got one I started working on just to get running, got in deep and decided to restore, now I want to move to something else and sell it. Got hundreds in parts, and way north of 100 hours of time, in a $800 tractor........but it is a hobby. Some people collect baseball cards!

Gotta say, I'm kinda jealous of the views that some of you guys have from the "office". The only view I have is a generator, viewed through a dirty window with the reflection of my computer. A 21.9 liter 400kw unit running on natural gas today.

Some of my past views when I was working, just a boring life now Thats me in the second pic on the hook ladder, in the basket in the next to last pick and in the nearest bucket truck. I really miss it sometimes. Bob

Here’s today’s view

Yep, you'll fit right in! But be prepared, some times we STAND around and BS!

Rules man… rules… Where are the pictures???

Laid down some more Rustoleum…

Can't wait...70° this Friday!

Good question Chris...the answer is they are exactly the same...as far as what is inside. The 854 came with the #5025 which is a 3 speed...brake drum on the 11/44 tooth gear. The 74' B-80 came with the 4 speed #5080 or #5084...brake drum on the cluster gear shaft. As far as the differential pinions, Paul is correct, the #5080 had the pinions with the separate shaft...the #5084 had the one piece pinions. I doubt either is stronger then the other, usually it is about costs. One thing that might make a difference, the 4 speeds had longer axles (all of the 3 & 4 speed had 1" diameter axles) because they had wider tires and had to be set out more from the chassis and to clear the new fenders. This would put more pressure on the outer axle needle bearings, but would 1" or a little more make any difference really. I don't know. Except the Heavy Duty 3 speeds had 1 1/8" axles and the bevel gear differential.

I found my place where i feel comfortable.... would this eyes tell you lies?

Near miss but I got by it okay...

Talking about these two girls EB what was you thinkin!?!?!?

Looks like you need to turn a little to the left, you don't want to run over it.

93 520-H 89 312-8 in the background 99 K 2500 86 K 20

The square head things on the back part of the hub are the set screws to hold the hub and woodruff keys in place. Should be two on each hub and a hex jam nut on them keeping them tight

If your plan is to flip the tractor for a profit, get it running and sell it as is. You can never make a profit on a complete proper restoration....even if you work for free. If you are looking for a project you can be proud of and are not planning to make a profit, restore it. After it's finished, you may decide to keep it.

Keep it as is.. would be worth more to me as is and not with someone else's paint on it.

Normally I'm the first canopy as you walk straight in. (Got to get the spot first! ) Look for the 12 X 12 gray Coleman Canopy. Last year it was the "hospitality tent" Even these 2 stragglers @Achto @WHX?? hung out quite a bit. We even traded lawn chairs!

Remember to bring a folding chair and a c_ _ p sack to hold all the small parts that you buy. Check out @Ed Kennell magic bucket trailer. He might even sell you a 5 gallon bucket .

Looks like someone caught a picture of me, how’d you get it?

A little overcast today, but the temps don’t suck!

I was never afraid of Heights I respect electricity greatly. It's not for everyone. I loved it though! Bob

Don't let @Pullstart see that next to last picture - He might be able to get figure how to get 40 or so complete tractors on it to take to the Big Show ....

Better than having to explain the blue goo stain to the boss....

True.... 4'6" 300 lbs but that's ok my second girl was a bit more and quite abit heavier....

If you use a pneumatic needle de-scaler after you weld, it will relieve the stresses introduced by the weld. The de-scaler leaves a layer of compressive residual stress in the part that will help prevent fatigue cracks from forming or growing.

Hold on a minute! Let's let Kevin dig his own hole

Yah Sparkeye it's a sign from above... mission from God. Build it they will come...

You prolly got squatters rights ther Squonky....'sides one of yours or @rjg854s dung piles still ther from last year to mark yer spot...

Yes Jim. I had to say that because Richard would point that out if I did not.

And back in the day when transmission housings were may of iron not plastics!

Nothing like a good shop dog Slivia... all the critters Pullhosen's got he doesn't have a shop dog. Many of the shops around here have a shop dog door greeter.

The port-a-john reminds me of when they built 485 around Charlotte NC. They had just opened it and had named it after a former governor. With in the first week they had an accident with a port-a-john truck and got it properly christened.

My "Office" picture used to be stopped stuck in traffic on 95 either going to or coming from work - no more. Retirement kind of keeps me home around my10,000 square feet .... a 100-mile round trip commute - an hour and 5 minutes in the dark of morning - an hour 20 minutes at best coming home. - a white knuckle ride in the winter ....

Not disagreeing, just too many words. Here is the correct version: Most people don't know how to drive

We had a Safe Step walk-in tub installed a couple of years ago - love it- BUT it uses 70 gallons to completely fill it up. Just finished up adding a separate 30 gallon heater to preheat the incoming water to out regular 40 gallon heater. A somewhat popular method in upstate Vermont and Canada. Best part is I can turn the 30 down, maybe off in the summer .... Bill

AS @JPWH mentioned earlier, I am one of those that added a reinforcing plate and diagonal braces to stop the frame flexing. Plowing or tilling imparts a lot of vibration and stress on that plate and the welds to the frame rails. This is what I did on the C81 this year - all 3 pieces BOLT IN using existing holes. (The plate has the spacers welded to the backside and it COULD be welded into the frame plate - I did not, my frame was in great shape already). The 2 braces have raised features that pilot into the lower holes to lock them in place.

All good points about a nice solid tractor. But… At the end of the day, it’s yours…. Do what you want to do with it! Typically won’t get your money back on a full restoration if you include your time, in my opinion, and a new paint job may turn many buyers off…

But if you put a 300 lb bear in there, you may only need 10 gallons?