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I ended up buying the 856. I’m not sure yet what I’ll do with it, but here’s what I got. 1. 856 tractor 2. 36” deck, RM-366, that needs 1 new spindle. 3. HL-5 head and tail light kit 4. AC-675 cultivator, 2 piece 5. PP-101 plow and coulter 6. ST-376 snow thrower, 37” 7. DP-871 disc, double 8. Extra belts and blades 9. Original documents and keys 10. Trailer, home made

Dug out my 77 B-80/8speed today. She has never run well on the Chinesium/Amazon carburetor. At the big show last week K&B Wheel Horse Parts had rebuilt carbs with brass floats for every motor imaginable. Snagged one for this Kohler 8, installed it this afternoon and she is running sweet! @76c12091520h

Got the holes drilled and the exhaust lined up on the 551. The Kohler is shorter than the Tecky so the stock holes don't work. Trying out an " air gap " heat shield arrangement. It didn't take long to cook my leg at the show with no shield on it!

How to build a Midget Tractor The March 1954 edition of Popular Science Magazine offered plans and information for those who wanted to build a yard tractor of their own. I will share a few pages of the article with you.

Not happy with the silver exhaust…high-temp black fixed that. And now it matches the headlight housing

77 B-80/8 speed … first time outa the shed since last October

Norman before we hit the turnpike, at the tourist trap truck stop junction of 76 and 70:

Well I am fairly happy with the results going to use some 2000 grit sandpaper real lightly on it then we will see if it holds gas. Used a black ziptie to add plastic. I used a soldering iron to do all this I used it in the v groove before even adding plastic to try to get that crack welded.

A few notable front ends:

Seven Fifty Me 753, sickle mower machine. Front mower for looks at the time, but an 80” wide cut would be sweet! I found a spot where the tube was popping through the tire, so I tossed a spare on before it went bang.

C’mon guys! All the “new” rigs bought at the WHS last week should be generating some fresh Front End Friday and Side Shot Saturday pics. 857 (bought at the show)

I have the same tractor, I inherited it from my step grandfather. He’s the guy that introduced me to Wheel Horse tractors around 1984. I’m thinking down the road it could be my next restoration? Here’s a not so great picture of it in the upper right corner. I’ll be following along with your restoration 👍🏻

Traveled in Spain with a group of students on the high-speed train between Grenada and Madrid and then on to Barcelona at 180 mph. During the ride one student turned to me and asked “Why don’t we have trains as cool as this in the U.S.?” Good question. No easy answer.

Growing up in the sixties, with depression era parents, it was a time when making something out of nothing was the theme. i watched my family and neighbors do things that now seem down right dangerous. Like making your own wooden ladder with old slat wood and nails. The article just fits the old mentality perfect for a tight old do it yourself-er. I still have a belt driven power saw that the old man used with i believe a washing machine motor. The cover showing a 150 MPH train is interesting too. The first time I rode the ICE train in Germany sealed the deal on going fast down the tracks. I remember riding along and looking out the window. Then another train passed going the other direction. So startled, I screamed like a little girl. A lady sitting next to me just busted out laughing. Said in broken English, "first time"? Yes.........I will leave it at that.

This is Rob, his son Jason is on the WHCC board. We’ve been friends now for a good amount of years and he loves giving me a hard time about my loader project! He video bombed me while I was trying to start my new B-120. The recoil wasn’t playing nice with others.

My BIL’s new tiller machine from the @roadapples collection, a Raider 12:

Also brought home this 856… which has found its way to someone in Massachusetts already. The 857 can be seen photo-bombing in the background

Day 1: Today was really just a strip down day to be able to see everything and get closer to paint. I took the hood, fenders, gas tank, floor boards, mower deck, and mounting brackets off today. And I also took out the predator engine.

I never screamed, but to keep from getting sick, I learn to focus on the horizon and not the utility poles that were zipping past my window. Working in The University of Switz. IMEHF lab., I rode the Rocket between Geneva and Lausanne many times. The train system in Europe is amazing with nearly a station within biking or walking distance. Where I was uneasy was riding the cogged mountain trains. Feeling the jolt when the trains connected to the cogged rail reminded me a gear tooth was providing the movement...and the BRAKING on those steep Alps. The cogged train ride to Zermot and the cable car from Zermot up the Matterhorn was unforgettable.

I ran it an a 45, but @pfrederi told me they are definitely intended to sit on the ground. I agree, it makes more noise when suspended at any angle. I can see it flex, and I’m sure that does not do the knife pieces any favors!

These are surely among the MANY reasons. Many of these reasons apply equally to Europe, though, where high speed trains in Spain and Italy, in particular, have been built or expanded in the last 20-odd years. But the political will existed to obtain the suitable rights-of-way and terminal space, engineer mitigations to noise and vibration, blunt the lobbying of airlines, and subsidize the funding. Last year in Italy I traveled comfortably round trip from Rome to Montecatini (a small town outside Florence) and back to Rome covering the 400+ miles using four trains in about eight hours including a one hour delay (a stalled truck blocked the track ) and time for a nice meal near the Florence station. The same trip in a car? Similar time but exhausting!

Yes, the 103119 spindle shaft assembly should get you back up and running. However, it looks like the remains of your old 103119 are still inside the housing and will need to be removed first. They are pressed in to the housing.

Played around with the mount for the compressor head a bit tonight. The bracket is from a garden tractor lift that was tweaked and the hood is from @Pullstart! Giving life to a beat up hood!

It was a pleasure to met you „Mr. Victoria Secret“.. 😎😂😂😂 Hope i can made it once again! 👍

As many of you may remember last fall I got this tractor from the guy I work for neighbor, His name was Richard Kelly. He was a big time wheelhorse guy. We got a few of his tractors a few years ago that weren’t being used. But he was still using his C-161 to mow his yard. Then last July he passed away and before he did he said to me that I could have his tractor. So last fall I picked this up. He put a predator 420 in it for some reason. And I wanted to make it original so, I searched a little and found someone that had one and I got another C-161 from a more then generous Wheelhorse owner. So I am going to make both tractors into one. It has a sunstrand transmission. When got it the tractor ran great and everything worked perfect and no weird noises or anything. Now that it sat all winter the engine wouldn’t start so I figured it’s time to start this project. First I have some questions. On the rear of the transmission I saw it has this like output shaft thing. It doesn’t turn. But I was wondering what it did. I have a picture I will upload maybe someone will know? I got found the model number and was wondering what year it was. Maybe someone can decode it. I will try and post every time a do something or get some parts for it Thanks for reading! IMG_7087.mov

Did a little pushing in the woods today with my beater 42” plow…

I have gone both routes for any Wheel Horse I've owned or while I serviced them and rehomed them. If you do go the replacement route, remove the bowl and spray the insides out really well. Many of the replacement carbs had some gritty cosmoline-like substance in them. Also, it is a 50/50 if your choke lever is completely opposite. If so, I've reused original choke-plate shaft and never looked back, but this seemed to be more common on Magnum models. It has been almost ten years on the imported one on my C165 and it hasn't given me any issue. My original carb had such worn throttle shafts, and I had no reamers or other tools to complete the job properly, so I went that route. Good luck!

You bring that up to Maine and I'll "generously" fix it for a measly $1290. WOW. That's ridiculous. Oh and by the way..... That carb kit isn't even remotely difficult to find....

unbelievable.....and when two trains pass at 150 mph + it is like getting buzzed by a fighter jet. I was only in the Alps once. It was a holiday and our host ask it we wanted to go up and have lunch at a cottage. We drove winding back and forth for 3 hours. Left with a polo shirt 72 F, and when we got to the cottage people we going by on skis.

Looks much better !

I don't get any flex at all but it is the shorter 42". Also if it did want to flex it would be eliminated by where I'm supporting it when angled.

Zounds! What a nifty collection to get all at once. And the tractor seems in good condition. Good find! If you are not familiar with the RM-366, firstly they do a great cut once set up well. There is a single cast iron frame beneath the shell that holds the bearings for the spindles--two bearings per spindle. Also, note that the spindles themselves had different lengths over the time the RMs were produced. The slightly longer ones had thrust bearings atop the housing below the bevel gear. These, when clogged with dried grease, can easily be mistaken for thick washers! I believe the spindles were hardened at the points which formed the inner race of the needle bearings so I’d be surprised to see a bad spindle.

@daveoman1966 thanks ,was aware of the bearing application , also aware of how my thinking , is not the regular way to look at a problem . always looking for a fix , pete

I mentioned the eyebolt lag keyway used. It works great, other than the impossible task of adding the PTO bell! All great things must come to an end… I forged this cold on the anvil of my pipe wrench. @Lane Ranger and Rodney Burger had a front row seat to that show!

Thanks for the replies. I haven’t gotten a real chance to work on it the last few days. Just moved back to the states from Italy with the military and all my tools are still in storage. I’ll take your advice, and give the carb a good cleaning. Also want to ask if you think a bad 9 pin connector could be the culprit. I started it up yesterday and moved the 9 pin connector around to see if I could get it to do something and it cut out several times as I was moving it. I checked the plug, and a couple of the pins seem….browned. Not burned, but they’re off color. I opened the pins up a bit with a screwdriver to get a better connection, then started it up and moved it around. No stalling this time. Could it be that when the connector got hot from running it started to cut out? Either way, when my tools finally get here, I’m going to cut that connector off and replace with heavier duty, weatherproof connectors.

Good advice for all members.... but the bearing assembly 103119 is a sealed bearing for the older 36" decks with 'Double-D' configuration ...impossible to apply the Red Grease ' cuz it can't be opened up from either end.

A partial answer to that question lies in the layout, age, and condition of the railways system here.Passenger trains here are basicaly a "Greyhound" on tracks. Mostly short hops along the way.... Most eastern states railways were used primarily for freight - they move slowly due to restrictions that are mostly geographic. Trains were the last to arrive - first the topography, then the settlers, the roads, and last the trains. Here in RI, the Acela "high speed" passenger train goes from Boston, thru Providence, and to New York City - but NOT at 110 MPH as it used to in RI. More like 60 or so. Why?? The overall deterioration of the railbeds and complaints about noise......

I never drove through any full bridges, but I saw a couple bridge projects in my rear view mirror!

@Pullstart. hope you didn't have to go under any low bridges with the sickle bar standing tall on top of Norman.

Excellent advise - bearings do NOT tolerate impact......

I agree.... you must remove the remains of the old bearing 103119 from the cast iron housing. Using a press of some sort, or even a large vise, press out the old one. CAUTION...press it out from the SMALL end of the housing. Put the new one in from the LARGE end...using a press, NOT a hammer.

The bifold ramp gate works real well. This is my bifold ramp. It reduced the wind drag from the one piece ramp.

Mower DNA 42" side discharge 1966-1967 model RL-426 replaced by 1968 model 5-1421 1969 model 5-1422 1970 model 5-1423 1971 model 5-1000 1971-1972 model 5-1001 1973-1974 model 5-1010 1975 model 5-1011 1975 model 5-1012 1976 model 65-42MS01 - Online Toro parts illustration is the 48" SD deck 1976 model 65-42MS02 - Online Toro parts illustration is the 48" SD deck 1977 model 75-42MS01 - These 42" side discharge decks all use blades with 5/8" x 3/4" double-D center hole unless the spindles have been upgraded (Do not have operator manual) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These decks all use blades with a 3/4" center hole. 1977 model 75-42MS02 replaced by (Do not have operator manual) 1978 model 85-42MS01 (Do not have operator manual) 1979 model 95-42MS00 (Do not have operator manual) 1979 model 95-42MS01 (Do not have operator manual) 1980 model 05-42MS01 (Have operator manual) 1981-1983 model 05-42MS02 1984 model 05-42MS03 - Last year for bearings with 3/4" ID 1985 model 05-42MS04 - First year for bearings with 17mm ID unless older spindles were updated. 1986-1988 model 05-42MS05 1989 model 15-42SC01 1990 model 15-42SC02 1990-1992 model 15-42SC03 1993-2007 and 2009-2012 model 78345 - These decks all use blades with a 3/4" center hole. Mower DNA 42" rear discharge 1976 model 65-42MR01 replaced by - (Has the flat spindle belt idler pulley mounted on a triangular plate.) - (Has multi-link hardware at the gauge wheel support) 1977 model 75-42MR01 - Both use blades with 5/8" x 3/4" double-D center hole unless the spindles have been upgraded. (Has the flat spindle belt idler pulley mounted on a triangular plate) - (Has multi-link hardware at the gauge wheel support) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These all use blades with 3/4" center hole. 1977 model 75-42MR02 replaced by - (Has the flat spindle belt idler pulley mounted on a flat bar) (Has multi-link hardware at the gauge wheel support) 1978 model 85-42MR01 - (Has the flat spindle belt idler pulley mounted on a flat bar) (Has multi-link hardware at the gauge wheel support) 1979 model 95-42MR01 - No ipl available 1979 model 95-42MR02 - (Has no multi-link hardware at the gauge wheel support) 1980-1983 model 05-42MR01 1984 model 05-42MR02 - Last year for bearings with 3/4" ID 1985 model 05-42MR03 - First year for bearings with 17mm ID unless older spindles were updated. 1986-1988 model 05-42MR04 1989-1990 model 15-42RC01 1990-1992 model 15-42RC02 1993-2012 model 78350 Note - 17mm is .669"

Need room for two beverages, though, right?

Yup, looks good. Maybe some sort of rope, string, or cable on the pin would be a good idea in the case of fumble fingers?

I have the same ideal of using 2 dash units but the passenger side would be an ice cooler for beverages. The space between the two dashes maybe a beverage holder.

Got another carb to clean out. I'm trying lacquer thinner on this one. The gaskets were glued on by a previous owner/ installer so I had to wire brush them off. I'll run it through the ultrasonic cleaner a few times and get it back together.

For sure. If you were looking for a worker 8-12hp 8-speed there were plenty to choose from at fair prices. If you were willing to do some work, there were bargains. Heck, some guy even managed to sell a snowmobile on one of the hottest days of the year ( @stevebo )