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THE RISE OF THE INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER CORPORATION International Harvester traces its roots to Cyrus Hall McCormick, a great industrialist during the 19th century and the son of a farm machinery inventor. Although Cyrus McCormick’s father failed commercially, Cyrus Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps and developed a successful farm machinery company. At twenty-two years of age, the second generation McCormick invented a better reaper for harvesting grain and got a patent on it three years later. This success milestone prompted him to continuously improve his reapers by adding elements that enhanced the machine’s efficiency. In 1837, economic panic befell America. Martin Van Buren, the President at that time, would later note that the crisis resulted from the ease of credit access and rampant speculation. This led to a widespread lack of employment, economic depression currency devaluing, bank failures, and financial failures. Economic difficulty saw the company take a financial loss driving the business into bankruptcy. This would also see Cyrus Hall McCormick take seven years to repay his debt; luckily, this was not the end of his story. In the 1840s, he discovered a bigger niche for his machines on large farms out West in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, prompting him to move his business to Chicago. While in Chicago, he improved his machines, added other agricultural products, and expanded his factories. Cyrus and his brothers mastered the art of marketing and distribution within this industry as they had over 10,000 dealers, further making the business grow. After surviving the 1837 economic panic with great difficulty, they had to battle the rising number of competitors. Deering, Milliken, and company, whose inventions leapfrogged the McCormick machines, led to intense competition for the farmer’s money. By the 1890s, both the McCormick’s and Deering’s had big factories, and both competed for dealers and farmers, which strained the McCormick Harvesting Machines Company. The fierce competition led to the 1902 merger between the McCormick Harvesting Machines Company, the Deering Harvesting Company, and three other companies to avert the awaiting tragedy. This merger gave rise to the International Harvester Company.

I have been using my shop with only a 30 amp service but with the equipment I'm adding this will no longer be sufficient. The panel is also too small so I purchased a 100 amp 20 circuit panel and have been collecting the 1 1/2" conduit left over from jobs that was going to be thrown in the dumpster. A couple weeks ago we pulled out some #2 al ser cable used for temporary. There were a couple of long runs that did not get cut up as usual so I was able to get enough to run to my shop. My neighbor has a small Kubota with a backhoe so I asked if he would have the time to dig a trench for me he said sure no problem. As it worked out he has a small storage building he wants to wire up so we did some bartering and he got my old panel, conduit and wire I had intended to run for my shop that was no longer big enough so he gets a 70 amp service to his storage shed for digging my 150' trench. I also gave him 100.00, an old compressor I no longer use and bought all the fuel and gave him 5 gallons to have on hand. Last Saturday my son and two grandsons come to help me install the new service and water line. Of course a wheel horse had to be involved so Hank became the wire tugger. Old service. New service Wheel horse tugger Hank has some grading to do after the rain quits for a couple of days.

Just picked up a new to me tractor this morning. It needs its share of tinkering but I think it will be worth it. Good chance to show it off lol. @ebinmaine says I now have a 1967, 1277. Thanks Eric.

Hey guys, here’s my take on life so far. First off I wish I would have taken a job with retirement, medical insurance, pension etc. I didn’t. At age 12 I started a neighborhood lawn mowing business with my dad’s B-115, which I ran for about 10 years. Also at 12 years old I joined my local volunteer fire departments juniors program. In high school I went into a work/study program, where I would go to school for a half day and then work the rest of the day. My father would faithfully pick me up at school and bring me to work. I worked as a welders apprentice and then a carpenters apprentice. Both of them great experiences because the guys teaching me were no bullshit, knew the trade, old school guys. At age 18 graduated from high school and went straight to work. My father was very upset I wasn’t going to college. He was very academic and had more degrees than a thermometer. There was nothing I wanted to learn in college and didn’t want to waste his money. I wanted to operate heavy equipment, I was brought up around that stuff. My dad was half owner of an excavating company. And so that’s what I did, got a job running equipment and continue to do so. I also joined my volunteer fire department at 18 years old, which I am still an active member of today, 36 years later. It’s like my second family. I can’t believe that I’m one of the senior members and the younger guys sometimes come to me for advice!! Also for the last ten or so years I’ve been the president of my community association that owns our old one room schoolhouse. We host many community events throughout the year which I am in charge of. It’s nice bringing the locals together and having fun, making a few bucks to help maintain our building and grounds. When the pandemic hit and I didn’t have to go to fire drills, fire school, department meetings and community association meetings I realized that this is how most people live. They don’t have all these additional responsibilities, suddenly I had time for me! Don’t get me wrong I volunteer because I want to, I can stop whenever I want. I do however feel some obligation to the fire department to stay and teach the next generation of firefighters. I have two homes, one I live in and one that I rent. My goal is to have both paid for when I’m 62. I’m pretty much on track for that so the rental income will be part of my retirement. There’s also the LOSAP ( Length Of Service Award Program ) in the fire department which will provide a little money at age 65. If there’s any social security left by then I’ll get that too. I started paying into that at 14. A little over a year ago on New Year’s Eve I overserved myself and the next day decided I should take a few days off from drinking. Well that few days turned into a few weeks, then months and now over a year. I honestly had no plans for this, maybe just god’s way of saying that’s enough? I don’t know? Basically now I’m going to slow my role volunteering and concentrate on me and my wife. My kids have grown up and moved out and are successfully living their lives. I feel as if I’ve done my time helping others and making my community a great place to live, so now it’s me time! Now I want to spend time with my beautiful little granddaughter, family and of course my Wheel Horses. Thank you for taking time to read what has essentially been my biography! God Bless ❤️

More fab work today. First item was this nice comfy seat, this item was a pretty easy task. I did mount it on some isolators in hopes that they might take up some vibration. Next item took a quite a bit of sypherin', figure out how to suspend a set of wheels 5" off the ground and 5" behind the rear tires. After some head scratchin' & measurin' I started out by cutting some card board for a pattern. I then transferred my card board pattern to 1/4" sheet metal. After the sheet metal was rough cut I had to figure out how I could hold everything in place in order to drill mounting holes into the hitch. Best way I could figure to do this was to tack weld the wheelie bars to the hitch. With the wheelie bars tacked in place, I moved the assembly to the drill press to drill some holes for mounting the bars to the hitch. After the holes were drilled I installed bolts and nuts through the holes and welded the nuts to the inside of the hitch. With the ability to now bolt the wheelie bars on, I cut through my tack welds to remove them from the hitch. Then ground the welds smooth to remove the evidence. Next a little shaping to make the wheelie bars a bit more pleasing to the eye. The whole assembly can now be bolted in place. I might add a cross bar between the wheelie bars part way down for a bit more rigidity.

worked on the c141 dash it was pretty goofed up. two coats of matte black, white paint pen trim and two coats of matte clear over all. sure made a difference.

Drove this morning to look at a few Horses. Guy is 87yrs old & recently had a leg amputated. His health isn't good & is unable to live at home anymore. Tractors are buried in junk! Has two 312A, C120, 520H, 1257. He has some snow plows, short chute snowblower, & looks like some misc parts. Probably a few more things buried in the mess. Interested in the 520. It cranked but battery was weak. Might be interested in the C120 & 1257. His neighbor said they all ran about 2-3yrs ago. It will be a huge ordeal just to get to them.

I don't use plastigage... I use tooth picks. After they flatten out nice I send them to @wallfish and he makes RJs out of them.

Oh Balls ... now there's a treasure trove of knowledge right there. Now what makes you jokers think we don't ? Lest you forget these were made in cheese land... 'sides this ain't exactly my first rodeo! Never heard it run but was told ran when parked 40 years ago. No more than usual but certainly not enough tar oil in it. Perplexing part is my big end crank measures 1.855 spec max 1.850 but the after market part number on the rod suggests a 10 under rod. Possible my eyeball yardstick is off but off tomorrow to my official scorer. Going to get a new rod regardless. "Sides these s would be on my @$$ like a dirty DEPENDS. I don't do it right. My pleasure Sailman. I think it was because the rod was installed backwards and poor oil changes. The hole in the rod must face the camshaft. Also there are what are called match marks on the rod and cap. They must always be together and face the bearing plate.That puts the hole towards the crank. Pics in abit.

Geez you didn't say that when you was suckin down our apple cobbler...

The 315-8 earning its keep today…

Quite the collection! That'd be a great adventure. Not necessarily a negative. Just be sure the current owner and yourself agree to a price keeping your extra effort in mind. Any one of them would be great workers.

Went to the blue box store today and picked up more supplies for my continuing interior trim project. Today's project required some work with my Bailey #5 plane. I think that is my favorite tool of all my tools to use. It has a pleasing feel, sound, and when used with the proper wood, creates a wonderful aroma. I bought the plane at an antique show at the local mall several decades ago. Think I paid 35 bucks for it.

Nah. It’s only 5/16”.

Well years later and I’ve started back on the Horse. She still runs great

Little inspiration here guy. This one lives today... Think to fail and you will ... think to succeed and you will.

What I would suggest is pop the head off first. If I recollect right you suspect a broken rod? If that is indeed the case the piston can then come out the top end. Yes start a thread and follow disassembling in the manual to the letter. Take plenty of pics.

Update: I can only guess why someone scrapped it, however , both the PTO belt and the drive belt were seized fast to the pulleys ( PTO belt was in the wrong groove too ) and would not let the engine turn over. Cut the belts, checked the oil, rigged up a can of gas, put a jump pack on it.....purrs like a kitten. 20240210_154051[1].mp4

As I've said before, our collision center overlooks our corporation's scrap yard......first thing this morning out my back window it was sitting in the red circle. It's somewhere safer now.

I'll add to that from my signature above "If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"

For sure, take it all ...never know what you may find.

" The Harder The Struggle, The Greater The Victory " Get them all. If you leave any behind you will only regret it later.

I would settle on a number for all of it. Then systematically get each out.

I posted the shelves in another thread but thought I would add them here. The same neighbor that dug my ditch took the old shelves. I also moved.some tools from my workbench wall and moved them close to my work table. I removed all the pegboard from over the workbench and I am building a tool rack and shelves for that area.

If my eyes don't deceive me, the oil hole on the cap is facing the wrong way.

The cable is in conduit at 24" deep. The water line is in the same ditch about 12' deep.

@Ed Kennell https://flylordsmag.com/biggest-chinook-ever-caught-in-patagonia/?utm_source=The+Flylords&utm_campaign=28ad9bf498-Newsletter+2%2F4%2F24&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_985ec1d746-28ad9bf498-347915934 here you go ED , must have been some hook up / fight , Pete

I have saved all of my nose hair clippings in 3 large zip lock bags. I think I finally have enough for that toupee you've been wanting!

I've never me @squonk, but that is hilarious!

Striped down a 181 for a shelf motor or for sale. What I think to be a service motor for off a 875 or 6 due to the color. Have not run the spec number yet. PTO pulley gonna be a stubborn one. Heat wrench is next.

As being enough WH to have at the show? Seen it on FB. David Bradley WH cross breed.

I definitely would ... she gets sideways on ya you can bend both that way!

It is painful Richard. We do have a scrap yard close by that sells metal (bar, angle, round,channel,pipe stock) by the pound.

Not if you load 'em up @Pullstart style - 8 is easy, with room to spare!!!

Time to get another job Ed. I know the feeling, it about kills me when I need a short piece of anything that I could have pulled out of the metal dumpster at work. Guess thats the price we pay for having retired.

You Wisconsin boys are always looking for the easy way out. Pull the piston and do a ball-hone to get a nice cross hatch, and replace the rings. As Bill said, Plastigage the crank journal. No sense in doing the rings and such if you're not going to check the other stuff.

No, thank you for taking the time to share your bio. with us. I am so thankful that I got to meet you this spring. I knew from the gitgo, you were one of the "Good Guys".

OK - much like the adult undergarments, it "Depends"... Sounds like you are pulling the piston / rod assembly out anyway to re-ring it. The piston is flat topped anyway, so that MAY not matter how it goes back in. That gives you a better look at the bore and the crank journal. Myself, I would reassembly just the rod and cap in the desired orientation, but using Plastigage across the journal, Torque the rod bolts and pull it back apart.IF the squished gage shows a problem, either a taper or oversized (not enough squeeze) it's time to address that. Possible turning the crank undersize and a new connecting rod. The oil hole is there to lube the cam - how does that look??

Under the rod

I would say that is kind of rare. But stranger things happen. I guess if you can't turn it by hand...... don't buy it. and if you can turn it by had get a feel for internal issue like roughness or a clunk. Not fool proof but might help on the choose. I was at the show a few years back in one of the buildings getting some belts and odd ends. The guy at the table was selling the stuff stopped me and said hold on, I got to go check on that guy over there he likes to walk out and not pay. I was surprised to say the least. But you know they are everywhere. Selling and buying.

Something like "United we stand, divided we fall" ??

Someone punches a hole in my engine risks having one punched into them... I would never step foot back on that property. The very attitude says all you need to know. He thinks you are too stupid to breathe the same atmosphere as him. There aren't enough old flatheads left on earth to still create this issue. Maybe 40 years ago, but not now.

Confirmed. It is a broken tap extractor.

Also getting the plow stabilizer ready for installation.

Gee @peter lena And I thought these 2 were big.

A nose hair trimmer for @squonk ?

The first two pics were yesterday, the C-81 didn't see her shadow either, it was behind her,lol.