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The other day I found this on a newly acquired '97 520-H. I know this had been sitting for the last year, maybe two... and was only on snowblower duty at that point. But with summer coming on quickly I don't want to run without proper cooling installed. So, I got the part ordered, and literally a 2 minute service to change the fan body, including r&r of the wheel. It's the little things that can make a happy spot in your day, right?

Little more disassembling completed.

I have an 18HP Kohler that I thought might be seized. I was getting ready to do the whole Marvel Mystery Oil thing and then my son in law took the tins off and found this mouse nest. It was so packed that the flywheel wouldn’t even budge. After a thorough cleaning we got it spinning over and running perfectly. The tractor had been sitting for a few years and the acid in the mouse urine actually ate into the block. Not enough to do any damage but enough to pit it.

I’ve been working really hard to get the pieces clean so my dad can paint them. Today I started putting it together. I put a lot of the pieces on today. I am trying to get it done before the twenty fifth because of a tractor show in Bernardston.

Not my 's but working on 's all the same. @WHX?? & I wet sanded the sheet metal for a club raffle tractor (68' Charger) as well as the sheet metal for Jim's 701. The raffle tractor received 3 coats of red paint today. Tomorrow it will be time for Jim's 701 to receive 3 coats of red paint.

This post is primarily aimed at members in the UK. I’ve been on the lookout for a source of PTO clutch linings this side of the pond. I found a company that supplies all kinds of bespoke clutches etc for classic vehicles etc. I’ve just ordered some 6 3/4” linings for around $10 each + tax etc. I realise you have sources of your own over in the States, but, over here things are not quite so plentiful. For UK members the name of the company is, Clutchfix ltd. They have a website. They supply to dimensions supplied by the customer. In my case, 171x108x4mm. Material RF40, suggested adhesive Araldite. Photo = reason for requirement 🙀 Doug.

Wasn't sure to hit the thumbs up icon or the sad... I think the sad is over - time to bring it on !!!

Well. No it wasn't. WE HAVE POWER!!! I've been looking at the trees as they filled in with leaves over the last couple weeks. Been realizing that even after we took the ones down last weekend.. there's still a fair amount there. So today I took the afternoon off from work to open up the access a little more. Red circle is the transformer. Below the blue line is what I opened up by trimming everything I could reach from an 8' stepladder. I was barely done and WOW here comes 2 Line Crews to connect the wire!!

I just started my save the sweet corn and cantaloupe program. Ed=3 Whistle pig=

8 speed 854 on field mowing duty. hoping to have this 854 all done up in time for the big show next month!

Finished up Grady’s wife’s She-Shed by figuring out the little wiring problem, putting a drain line in from a downspout coming from his shop next door that will run under the she shed concrete porch, finishing all the caulking around the outside of the shed, putting up the ceiling fan, last receptacle… Now I can concentrate more on my projects, like the C-160…

Yes I got the wire diagram and the diode - Thank you!!! The battery charger works great. Never used before. The cord was still factory wrapped. It's slick, 36 volts, 12 hour timer that goes to maintainer trickle when charged. Ammeter is pretty accurate compared to tester. Lubed up and greased all the fittings. @peter lena tacky red... Ordered a drive belt. Thinking 47+ year old belt might be ready... Just need to adjust chain drive. For some reason it is too tight... Overall thrilled... It's a fun little cruiser.

Crap he beat me to it! That raffle tractor hood looks sweet. We get the 701 stuff off your plate you got more quality time with a 953. 'Course that means I havta get off my keester and get at the 701! The before Dan run his magic color changer... BTW you want to tell them about a wrecked bearing plate seal or should l!?!?

Spent the morning with Jim wet sanding the sheet metal on 2 tractors, then painted one of them. Used the rest of my day to do some more assembly on my tractor. Made some good progress with the few hours that I had to work on it.

A little after work project. @WHX??'s 701 turned red today.

We have moved the geese into the new Goosehenge pen. It’s attached to the layer coop/run and I’m working on a 7x8’ addition for the geese mainly. The water will likely move into that pen to force the chickens to mingle along with the automatic door. I have a 12v 300 lb actuator that I’ll stick on a full size door. I’m not positive the expanded metal ramp will become permanent or not.

Marvel mystery oil in the spark plug hole is one option.

I have filled an entire engine with motor oil and let it sit for a year with great success. I filled EVERYTHING, even where oil shouldn’t normally be.

Yah well come take care of my coon problem. I don't seem to be up to the job.

It’s 70 and sunny. Rylee had eyes on the whistle pig hanging out on a bus tire. We’re just waiting for it to present a safe shot. We kicked sand back in it’s hole twice now today. Now, we are prepared for it’s return to the den!

Your belt is probably shiney and worn-out. Go to Tractor Supply and buy a Kevlar 5/8 X 83 belt and away you go.

The C161 I have just bought had a similar problem. Won’t move in 3high, on gradients, fine in other gears. Reason, wrong type of drive belt. It did not have the Kevlar? Reinforcement and had stretched in one section, and thinned, ( like a stick of liquorice when pulled). Fitting correct belt completely cured the problem, much quieter too.

if it runs and doesn’t smoke, I’m going to run it. After stripping the wiring out, I can see why it had trouble running.

The 76 and 77 B's and C's have same frame and transmission. The 74 and 75 B's have a 2" shorter frame. That may give you some additional challenges but I can't be sure of that. I purchased a 76 B-80 brand new and it wasn't long before I had a K-341 on it. Assuming the shorter frame won't matter make sure you get an engine spec'd properly for a Wheel Horse. That's actually very easy. I purchased my K-341 from WW Grainger when the K's were being phased out. It was spec'd fine for my use. The threaded mounting holes under the oil pan for the right side bolts were there and the shaft was fine. Because the crankshaft is bigger it required the PTO bearing to be replaced. The K-181 uses a 6935 bearing while the 341 uses a 6658 bearing. The bracket that mounts on the engine is also different. A 104732 on the small block, a 104729 on the big block. Initially I was able to adapt small block bracket and it was fine for many years but I finally did get the correct bracket. Other than those items it was a very simple swap. A few minor things will come up but are easily solved. A few other minor differences between the B's and C's for those two years were the rear tires, 23-8.5 on the C's, 22-7.5 on the B's. I swapped those. High back seat vs low back. Again, an easy swap. Headlights aren't standard on the B's but I bought a kit when I bought the tractor. The steering wheel on the B's are 13" vs 15" on the C's. I left that as it because I prefer it. Because you have a 75 4-speed your axles will be 1" vs the 1.125" on the 76 & 77. Don't fret that. It's got plenty of strength. You might notice the lack of a 'B-80 8 Speed' decal on the side. I removed them back when I did the swap. I now wish I wouldn't have. I always thought about ordering a couple 'B-160 8 Speed' decals but just haven't yet. Good luck, have fun and show us the results if you make the swap.

NOS 1975 A-60 Hhhmmm... maybe duallys?

NOS 1975 A-60

I was pondering taking the 12.5 briggs out of this 98 Murray because I know where it came from and only used about 15 minutes a week. Anyways thought about the A100 36" I have and got to looking it just need a new 90 bottom of tank the other one screen was trashed and rusted. So cleaned it up took battery out of another. Pulled the air filter splash of gas and a temp gas line to test. Fired up runs great smoked a bit at first from carb cleaner etc. Blades run just quick spin test since haven't gave deck a once over. Looks to be a nice little 10hp rider.

Getting her ready for the show with finishing touches. Thanks to a fellow wheel horse guy. Thank you Vin

The B100 automatic would be very handy for mowing lawn. Much easier to change direction and speed. The Raider 10 would be better suited on the tiller. A standard transmission does a better job of maintaining ground speed while the tiller is trying to push the tractor forward, As a general rule most prefer a standard transmission for ground engaging implements and a hydro/automatic for mowing or snow blowing.

After work today I washed the top side of the Cub deck (this is a sharpen blades and clean underneath project)… no painting the deck this time. Sharpened the two blades, and of course I had to paint them… Washed the other deck parts…

Kerosene & Marvel Mystery oil in cylinder for about a week, then put a breaker bar & socket on the flywheel nut. Work it slowly. small amounts in both directions. Soak it some more. Work it some more, small increments at first. Good Luck.

Bucket trucks are right handy for this stuff! Enjoy the power.

In pi one acceptable reading is 6,000 to 10,000

@ebinmaine was just talkin with my son , has his 312-8 just going on 25 years , no rot / rust , always garage kept , always used MOBIL 1 , lubricants from day 1 , never an issue , he agrees that people are brain dead , and do not have a clue . thanked me for getting him under a car , and waking up to what's there . thats the interest you want to inspire , his son is doing a mile timed swim today at navel ocean survival training , told him it was his inspiration and initial road runs and swim time that made marine training easier , proud dad

Thanks! Its a nice 2 mile back country ride- farm equipment is not uncommon. Course they're probably not supposed to be parked at a bar either Just gotta go real easy on the refreshments and enjoy the ride instead....

She went to her temporary forever home this weekend and went straight to work dragging logs all day. Aside from a little chunk of dirt in the fuel inlet which was quickly resolved, she never missed a beat. I cant get over how much grunt and capability these little buggers have! I put her up to a couple dang big logs and she dragged em around just off idle like nobodys business- will easily dig a hole before it runs out of power!

@Jedaco glad to see you are on it , for your tight cutting areas , would recommend a REAR DISCHARGE DECK , lets you get very close / in tight areas , that is available in both a 36" and a 42" size ,your small area might do very well with the 36". key to deck life is maintenance and getting the under side clean , propped up the the sun and an oil spray down , that gets hot and soaks into the metal . lightly sharpen blades , fine file , red grease in your related bearings will help life and cut down on noise . also do that oil soaking before you put it away over winter , kills off the grunge and stops rust . just some ideas , pete

3-1/4" crankshaft length should be adequate

Woah woah woah Van, let’s not make Mike’s head any bigger than it already is!

Ed, where is the fun in doing things the easy way! You know we all get a great deal more pleasure from accomplishing tasks the difficult way.

Much easier to swap an engine than to swap an Eaton into a Sundstrand. Just sayin Jim.

Thanks for sharing as I've never heard of him before. He must love the sound of that old guitar or something.

An old Kohler engine with good compression. You're pretty much already there. All you need is a little fire and fuel and you're good to go...

I’m hoping it runs as I would like to put it in my GT14. It seems to have good compression. I’ll try to get it fired over soon. The rest will get taken apart and stored in the meantime. Hope all is well my friend!

YouTube has apparently figured out that I've been watching a lot of Davy Knowles videos recently. This one just posted a few hours ago, from a show near me that I wish I'd been to (sigh). Guess I'll be up for a while tonight...

Getting these four ready for the big show, the C-161 8 Speed hadn’t been run in over two years! All signed by Cecil Pond except the Work Horse.

I currently have 2 hydros, 5 manuals. Ten years ago, I would have never had a hydro. But as I got older, I found that a hydro with hydro lift and a foot pedal motion control suits me just fine. My daily worker is a 416-H with foot control and hydro lift. I have not had the nightmares that come standard on the 20 hp Onan engines. Again it all depends on what you are going to do with your tractor. My grandsons love the manual transmissions and I always take a couple of them to shows for fun. Plowing snow, I like the hydro. Cutting grass, hydro. Just me. I'm 73.

Someone else was inside this transmission before me. So no broken piece. They just turned the bolt around and put a nut on the outside to seal the hole. I’ll talk to a welder and see what they can come up with. I guess this is why I was procrastinating on this one. I’ll start on the kohler while I figure this out. Thank you.

My dads friend told us we could use his sand blaster to get the paint off of the parts. It saved us a lot of time.We are trying to get it ready for a show in Bernardston may 27 to the may 28.