Leaderboard

Little Giant Tractor. Several things make the Little Giant tractor unique. The fan and steering wheel were cast aluminum, unusual in that era. Another out-of-the-ordinary feature is the spring-loaded hitch for smoother driving and operation. And a recommended fuel blend of kerosene and water delivered extra horsepower: The Little Giant was an unusually powerful tractor. The Little Giant was the result of the brilliance of the Mayer brothers: Louis, Lorenz and Conrad. The three opened a machine shop in 1895. There, they produced a mechanical hammer, a revolutionary tool that in essence gave the blacksmith an extra hand, one stronger and more reliable than that of an apprentice. The hammer (also called a trip or power hammer) gained quick success, and the brothers formed the Mayer Bros. Co. The company sold more than 18,000 power hammers during 99 years of production. Shipped to every state in the U.S. and more than 30 other countries, the Little Giant Power Hammer was the best-selling of all brands of mechanical hammers. The innovative brothers manufactured and refined diverse products: boilers, gasoline and steam engines, hoists, steel beams, manifolds, road graders and ditchers, dredging equipment, traffic directors, woodworking equipment, band and circular saws, lathes, drill presses, retractable clothing reels and even a V-8 automobile. Except for the Little Giant trip hammer, which was perfected to peak efficiency, most others were produced for only a short time. The Mayer brothers began development of a gasoline farm tractor around 1910. In June 1914, company literature said, “Our work has been completed. In design, we have created a tractor that is good to look upon. In material, we have used high-grade metals with a prodigality heretofore unknown in tractor manufacturing. In workmanship, we have called to our side labor most skilled. In practical durability, we have produced an article that will outlive and outwork the horse and the ox. Offer it to your customers with the utmost confidence in the world.” Thus, was born the Little Giant tractor to the House of Mayer.” The Little Giant tractor was as expensive, about as much as the highest-priced automobile or truck then available, but the company promised the tractor was years ahead in terms of features, design, material, workmanship and durability. The Little Giant came with an ironclad warranty: Any defective part would be replaced within a year of shipment. The company claimed to know of no way to improve its product. The Little Giant tractor offered not only quality engineering, promotional writers noted, but intrinsic appeal as well” … it will make farming so interesting that your boys will rather remain on the farm than leave for the city.” No boys? No problem. “Every farmer operating a farm of 80 acres or more can solve the hired help problem with the Little Giant oil tractor.” The Mayer brothers had ambitious plans during the early industrialization of America. Several articles in Farm Implement News reported the company’s success. In 1914, the company announced plans to triple the size of its factory. Although the expansion never became a reality, architectural drawings showed a vast complex of buildings, complete with billowing black smoke suggesting full production and prosperity. Meanwhile, promotional pieces in 1915-16 extolled the Little Giant tractor’s advanced features. But the brothers soon found themselves overextended. With a workforce reduced by military recruitment in the months leading to the United States entry into World War One, the company was able to fill just 75 percent of Little Giant tractor orders in 1916. Though trip hammer sales continued strong, the tractor and other projects had seriously diverted income and focus from hammer production. When hammer deliveries were delayed, the company faced bankruptcy. Mayers Bros. was on shaky footing. In 1917 the board of directors took over the newly renamed Little Giant Co., The Mayer brothers resigned their corporate titles and moved to Wisconsin Battling a bottom line in the red, new management eliminated unprofitable products and scrapped inventory in 1923. The Little Giant tractor was among the cuts. In the tractor’s eight-year production run, more than 500 Little Giants had been built

When you can't even afford to pay attention

Only if you drive exclusively in reverse...

Sorry guys, I guess the posts are limited to members of this local group. The story is , this old Deere yard art was dragged from a yard on to a rollback in the wee hours of the night. This grainy picture and the help of the FB group members tracked down the thief and recovered the tractor.

The last 8" triribs I put on I used 650 tubes in it in front of a heat duct for a couple of days. Then used Armorall get the tires on. Then put the 400-480 tubes in, there still enough Armorall on to seat the tires. I leave the valve out and use what ever pressure it takes to seat the tire.

I used the @squonk method for throttle cable lengthening to get a god reasonably smooth installation. Got the choke cable movement to a decent level also. To install the rear attachomatic hitch I needed to make top brackets. I want to ad a 2" receiver sometime. I figured now's the time to make the top pieces for the future hitch.

Oh, sorta like never use your 4WD to get to the boonies. Then you can always use is to get back home.

You have to consider the age of these machines. Over the years previous owners will have made changes and or modifications to keep them in service. Finding one completely original dosnt come easily or cheaply for that matter. Clearly its going to need some work. Thats the fun part, making them your own. What ever has been done, can be undone. What ever needs to be done, can be done. Its up to you to figure out how much time and money you are willing to part with. I have been known to spend more then I should have on both of these areas on some of my mine. That being said, I have always been very happy with how they came out. A few I have kept, most I have passed on to the next person. That person could have redone, none, some , most, or all of the changes I made. I get my kicks out of bringing them back to life again. I love getting them running and driving again. For the right price I would load that in the back of my truck and be happy as can be to have it. Cant tell much from photo but Im guessing it is a Wheel Horse 654 ? Im not very knowledgeable on round hoods. Im only guessing. What I find off pudding is the muffler being on the same side as the pull cord. Maybe thats normal, I dont know. Someone will be along shortly who will know exactly. @Achto , @Pullstart @WHX?? , @squonk

I had these 6 ply mounted on 8.5" rims at the tire shop, He put the first one he grabbed the small blaster the tire hardly moved. He had to charge up the big blaster to get the tire seated,

A fun day of playing put together / take apart, a game that I have gotten good at with this project. First, unbolt the tranny & throw some paint on the ladder bar reinforcement that I made for the transmission. While I was waiting for the paint to dry I moved on to making a guard to take care of the excess exposed belt issue. Seemed simple enough but this took up a fair amount of my day. To make the guard everything was carefully measured with a micrometer, marked with chalk, & cut with an axe. By the time I finished making the belt guard the paint was dry on the ladder bar so I bolted it & tranny back in place. (hopefully for the last time) With the tranny bolted back in place I was also able to bolt the adjustable hitch back on.

If you get stuck you can always back out

Yep, When I had my cataracts removed and left the office, I couldn't find my car. It had changed from a gray to a tan color.

Mike the most interesting way I ever heard of wire diagram. Even a cave man can understand.

I used one of those like this. I had a section of exhaust pipe from a blown up KT-17 that I used on the end to direct the exhaust and still use the PTO

Here is a video about Ed's John Deere subject. Looks like the thief will pay for the crime.

They're not $20 anymore but that's where I first found them years ago. I'd buy 2 or 3 of those at a time. Use them on all my customs. Always used to load up on stuff from Pat's but their new website is just about useless. So hard to navigate and find parts that I don't bother any more. Plus they back ordered stuff on me a couple of times and screwed up the orders while wanting more money.

@peter lena, @CCW, I hope both of you, when you get the chance, and remember to do it… Tell both of those servicemen thank you from Horse Newbie !

Oh yeah @Shynonturned me on to them years ago. They have a real nice mellow sound ... you can put a tink tink on them ... they fit right on a 1in nipple... And best for us with 30 tractors... affordable. Cub bracket comes right off.

The complaint on Horshoes in the review section says they are larger than advertised... Well, that's new.

Another year and another show buy/trade/sell thread here! Post whatever you are looking to buy/trade or sell here.

Lots of bead lube - and- about 30 to 35 psi. Then Bounce the tire on the floor! DO NOT be a hero trying to catch it - may end up with quite a pinch! May need to bounce it several times - it works!!

Thanks again for making this thread. I used it again today.

Hi Mirror!

Looks like they may clean up well.

@Wild Bill 633 That poor frikking dog!

Couldn't have said it any better Mac. Prolly used the rod for pulling it around? It can come off along with any frame work as required.

The Reassembly Department got more work done today.

Wow took some cahones to heist that. Nice he got caught tho. On a better side note Ed there is a group called deer processing butchering that is just awesome.

I like Regal Red and Almond. Oh, to the

I think a softer rubber compound and less ply’s will provide better traction. Personally would never buy a 10 ply for one of my tractors.

I had a set of 6 ply's that I had to leave out in the sun for an afternoon. (to cheap to take them to the tire shop)

Put a battery in and went for a maiden drive. Machine is very fast with the hydro pulley on the engine. However, low 1 is still quite slow so it should be just fine. Now I just need to order the decals and I am good to go.

Added a big sticker on the 523-H hood. Tried to talk the wife into putting one on her truck window, but she said "no thank you". ...Or might have been "I'll kill you"? I wasn't really paying attention.

Hoods back from my painter. One is for this tractor and the other is for a 520-8 I have been working on. These will sit here until the snow melts and can move the tractors from the garage out back easier. That will allow the paint to dry more as well.

My pin hole seems fine as the pin fits real nice and the hole is round. I have bent hitches in the past, here are two I have as spares. I just thought a spacer would be something different for this one.

Ah yes. Is yours powered by the 5.0? I have a car like that, too. It has seen two light winters and been garaged most of her life. Every time I take her out people stop and ask about it since most think it is a former police car with nice wheel on it. Few have ever heard about the LX Sport model.

Well it got up to plus 2 degrees C today so I got the front wheels wire brushed, sanded, and painted today. Wheels in primer. 2 coats of silver paint. Tires cleaned up. I will give the paint a few days to dry then re-assemble.

I bought that F150 new in May 2020 and I baby it way too much It now has 6,000Km on it (3,600 miles) and has never seen snow and rarely sees rain. I can't wait till spring to get that and also my other toys out.

Well it got just above freezing today so good day to do some wheel degreasing and washing. You can see the wash sink I use just behind the house using a short hose that I keep inside and drained. Not warm enough yet for sanding and paint however.

I have begun work on the seat mount pivot plate. I modified this one a few years ago as it was badly worn. Spacers were welded in and stainless steel shoulder bolts used as pivot bolts. When it was disassembled I found the spacers to be rusty. Well that won't do so I drilled and tapped the shoulder bolts to accept grease fittings and drilled a cross hole to direct the grease to the center of the spacer. A shot of grease now and then should prevent rust. Just need a warmer day for sand and paint of the seat pivot plate, mounting brackets and springs.

Another small but important step complete. Brake and foot motion control pedal shafts were left as bare steel for pedal installation. I punched 3/4" holes in pieces of heavy paper to act as a painting guide. Shafts were then given 2 coats of self priming paint using a foam applicator. After drying overnight I cut the paper and carefully removed it from the shafts. This is how the tractor looks now. I will give this paint a few days to dry before installing the footrests.

Brake drum installed. Brake band installed and adjusted as per manual. Side view showing progress to date.

Always top quality work👍

That's after a day mowing when it was dry. Definitely dusty! Makes the "dry dusty conditions" comment in the service manual make more sense. It always gets a wash down after it cools. Maybe not soap every time, but the dust gets knocked off. Better than my FILs Charger after getting up leaves. It was solid dirt- no visible red whatsoever. He stops at least twice while working just to clean the air filter out. But his engines are always pristine.

I think I'll bring you my 520-H for one of your "clean ups"... You can call it number 6! That thing looks like a restore in my book!

Engine installed. Drive belt and hydro cooling fan installed. Throttle and choke cables hooked up. All wiring and vacuum hose hooked up. Battery installed. Engine filled with 30W and hydro filled with 10W30 oil. Wheel Horse hydro filter installed. Fuel line hooked up and fuel added to tank. Installed PTO assembly and adjusted for proper operation. Started and ran engine and also exercised the hydro motion and lift to purge the hoses. Adjusted hydro control cam for proper operation and no movement of rear wheels with foot control in self center position.

Fuel tank cleaned up and installed. Dash and steering wheel polished up. As you can see, I simplified the wiring on this one and eliminated all the warning lights but the low oil pressure. Plug installed where motion lever was.

That was a warm day at about 55 degrees and even warmer in the sun. The driveway has some hard packed ice on it that is slow to melt even on a warm day. I paint small parts all winter long when I can just step outside with the part then quickly paint it and move back inside. The shop furnace is kept at 43 and the paint seems to dry just fine.

also, i see snow on the ground with a painted frame - - do you paint outside - what temps do you safely paint in -- 50 f or lower?