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I took the blade off the 312H and installed the front tiller. Then ground some dirt.

Rosie The Riveter Day is celebrated on March 21 to recognize the part American women played in America’s victory in World War II. As the Great War raged on in the early 1940s, all the able-bodied men were drafted to fight, and women were called upon to support the workforce. The symbolism of Rosie the Riveter stands for the millions of women who left their homes for factories to keep the country’s manufacturing processes going. After decades of sustained activism, the U.S. Congress heeded the calls and dedicated March 21 to this cultural icon. Rosie the Riveter Day is a fitting recognition of the legacy of working women in America, and the contribution of women during the Second World War. Being a total war, when every able-bodied man was sent to fight for the Allies, the nation’s manufacturing leg came to a halt. From heavy machinery to steel mills and freight ports, every male-dominated industry came short of personnel due to abrupt drafting. Hence, the federal government issued news releases to encourage women to join the industrial workforce as a patriotic duty. The iconic poster with a woman in a red bandana raising her fist was used to recruit women. There are conflicting reports about the real identity of Rosie the Riveter. The most legitimate claim comes from Naomi Parker Fraley, a waitress from California who disclosed the details to People Magazine in 2016. The total number of female industrial workers went from 27% to 37% in the years between 1940 and 1945. More than 19 million women held jobs outside of the traditional women’s workforce for the first time ever. Soon enough, Rosie became a cultural icon. Hollywood immortalized Rosie the Riveter in 1944’s critically acclaimed movie of the same title. The campaign proved to be a social reckoning that changed the nature of women’s involvement in the workforce forever. Riding on the hot wave of the suffragette movement, the U.S. government inadvertently became responsible for the second wave of feminism in the west. In 2017, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution to mark March 21 as National Rosie the Riveter Day, a day in Women’s History Month. The movement had lasting effects on the collective American psyche, and the resolution acknowledges this vital role played by women during the Second World War. American singers Redd Evans and John Jacob Loeb release a song featuring Rosie as a tireless worker, coining the term “Rosie the Riveter.”

@ebinmaine This is how we get logs out of the mountains to the sawmill, three at a time with the D4 dozer

Yesterday I installed the 42"SD on the 312-8. I find the electric hoist invaluable to pick a deck from the dolly. Then use the hoist to raise the tractor so i can roll the deck under from the front rather than to drag it under from the side. As we get older and weaker, we need to get smarter. And yes, I had my kneeling pad handy while connecting the deck and mule drive. Finished spreading the roadapples in the flower beds. RIP Jay. Installed the window flower boxes that I made over the winter. Ready for spring planting and mowing in a couple weeks.

Although I'm sure her story isn't unique, it sounds like you are describing Elizabeth (Betty Wall) Strohfus. We all knew her as Liz. She was from Faribault, Minnesota. We would see her all over during Air Show season. She was so much fun in her later years, I can only imagine what she was like in her 20's. We always had her as a guest at our St. Paul shows along with many other WWII personalities and dignitaries. One of the dignitaries was General Eugene Andreotti Jr., Adjutant General of the Minnesota Air National Guard. (His father was a member of our local CAF Wing). One day he was talking to her and pointed to the F-16 that was visiting from the Duluth Guard unit, "Have you ever flown a Jet Liz?" Long story short, a couple weeks later her phone rang. He had to get permission from the Pentagon. They were concerned if a 71 year old woman could handle a flight in an F-16. "I don't know anyone that could handle it better!", was her reply. When she arrived at the 148th's base in Duluth, she was fitted with a "G" suit and helmet and strapped in. Tim Cossalter, the Wing Commander was her pilot. Tim was very careful to give his "Elderly" passenger a nice smooth ride. They climbed to sufficient altitude and away from all other traffic and her asked her if she would like to handle the controls a while. "Would I!" she declared! She snapped the stick to the left. Instantly her "G" suit puffed up as the needle read "six Gs". "Easy" Tim said, "I don't have a brown bag up here!" "That's OK, you can have mine !" she replied. Soon they were dancing through the cloud as she took full advantage of the opportunity. Too soon they had to return to the Base. Her excitement bubbled over to all who waited for her. "They can have their 20,000 leagues under the sea. I'll take 20,000 up in the air just like that anytime!" The airport in Faribault is named in her honor.

From a purely numbers perspective, the ability of the US to replace every lost plane, boat, and tank with two more is what finally broke the axis down. In short, we would have run out of warm bodies long before running out of machines. It can (and often is) argued that our manufacturing power more than anything won WW2. That is why they are referred to as "the greatest generation". It took the collective efforts of all. As a veteran myself, I will never say anything that in any way slights the sacrifices made by those in uniform. That being said, when home has your back there is no limit to what you can achieve.

Yesterday I fertilized all of the flower beds. I haven't been able to balance well enough to get around without a walker since my stroke so I just crawled on hands and knees. Today I realized the location of a few muscles that have been under utilized for over a year. Some Bayer Back and Body seems to be helping. Today I will be changing the oil and air filter on the 310-8 and lubricating it in preparation for the first mowing of the season.

I (finally) finished modifying my sandblaster, and it works quite well. I added a metering valve. One benefit is I only use a few cups of media at a time. I replaced the "view port" glass with a couple of pieces of window glass and a stick-on plastic protector sheet. I replaced the 4 mm screws & nuts with longer nuts, retainers, and thumb screws to facilitate easy removal of the glass & protector sheet. I added 2 EXTERNAL LED lights. I made & installed a sheet metal intake baffle to draw dust downward & away from the view port. I added a pressure regulator and distribution block, ran 1/2" tubing (and 1/4" for an added blow gun), a foot pedal, and a better blast gun. I connected a big shop vac and dust deputy which eliminates dust. I caulked all seams, added weather stripping where needed, and doubled up with foil HVAC tape on outside seams. I removed (an apparently useless) screen support, & cut down the screen to allow it to sit lower in the cabinet. This allows blasting slightly larger parts. Last pic is my "test" blast.

@Pullstart I found me a David Bradley sickle attachment on marketplace. Asking $150 but seller accepted my $50 offer right away Kevin, did you do anything with the front sickle yet that I found for you at the show?

Goin to cut up the mother of all maples tomorrow at Dan's. Get by with a little help from my friends

Once EB is in tip top shape, he’ll be available for rent to save that Cat some fuel!

Awesome Chuck! I moved it from one spot to another the other day!

In 2020 I picked up a Toro riding mower off the curb for free. Nice looking tractor with a 20hp Kohler single in it. Hooked a battery up to find that it had low hours , pulled the dip stick to find it had no oil, put oil in it and ended up with a puddle of oil on my foot & floor. Well now we know why it was free. Broken rod, ?? Nope turns over, has compression. Found the crack in the crank case near a mounting ear, apparently the casting is so thin in that area that they are prone to stress cracking. Replaced the engine with a brand new 19hp Poulan Pro labeled Loncin engine. Literally plug & play installation. Sent it down the road for a few $ profit, still see it out doing it's job with the new owner from time to time

I gave the Signature horse a sludge change…

I wish more women had stayed in the skilled labor workforce. We'd be FAR better off and advanced by now. Our friend has been nearly obsessed with most things military and all things World War II forever. When they got 2 kittens a year or so ago Trina helped name them. Rosie and Amelia.

we love

Ok, im working on my late father in laws Troy bilt tractor w/ Courage 20hp, single cylinder, 597cc. I did an oil and filter change, spark plug and air filter change. I know, kohler was getting cheap and they wanted to makes an engine for Troy bilt, husquvarna and any other brand of tractors. Horizontal and vertical shaft. OHV vs flat head. Cast iron vs aluminum (i guess?). I mean the 14hp K321 (512cc) would be the only compatible engine. I mean my B80 (312cc) would plow the driveway and runs circles around that Troy bilt!. Compare them; i guess. It’s like comparing an orange to a bowling ball i guess!!

Hello I am Michael from Oxfordshire, I Have 3 wheel horses, getting them ready for sunny Portugal, Each wheelhorse will carry an implement, a plough, rototiller, and harrow. They are all c series being 10hp, 12hp, and 16hp. plus i have 2 good mower decks (rear discharge) i want to add a 70lb spring to lift arm uner tractor to help with plough. any ideas would be gratefully accepted. Thank You mike

My mom and dad were both in the Army during WWII. Mom was in Texas, and Dad was in Africa.

Proves she had bigger balls than most male counterparts... I sure as heck wouldn't tow a target for new recruits to practice shooting at. They don't make ropes long enough for such things! The men of that generation were tough. The women were too!

One of the most interesting people I ever met was a lady who had been a WASP (Woman's Airforce Service Pilot) during World War Two. She had flown everything from the P-51 Mustangs to the B-17 bombers but wasn't able to get a job as a commercial airline pilot because she was a woman. She also flew planes towing targets near training bases so that soldiers and sailors could practice live anti-aircraft gunnery exercises. The WASPs flew new airplanes from the factory where they were built to US military bases to free up military pilots. They frequently flew cargo to bases near ports and flew planes back to factories when refurbishing was needed.

" MEASURE WITH A RULER, MARK IT WITH CHALK, CUT IT WITH A TORCH! "

Both age and inactivity all winter long are plaguing me. Since mid December I have been rather inactive while caring for my wife. Now that I am asking my old body to do things it hasn't been doing for months it is rebelling.

@953 nut my wifes aunt was in the FBI during the war , was in the related military , issues , area , her soon to be husband , was in the 3rd army , as a forward scout , with patton , was one of the first to find the " camps " he had photo albums , seen every stage of extermination , he had a aura of humanity about him that could only be acquired , in massive death areas . could also make some the best food , you have ever eaten , starting in simmering pork fat , aunt catherine , is 98 now , we will be at the family gathering , she is still sharp ! amazing , pete

A few here have noted that the C-160 Auto (Sundstrand 90-1140) has an internal Parking Brake. Not to be picayune, but the correct term is PARKING PAWL. The PARKING PAWL looks like one of these two, either of which will LOCK the gears of the transmission to prevent roll-away. NEVER....NOT EVER--- pull UP on the Parking brake lever while in motion. You MUST come to a FULL DEAD STOP before engaging the Parking brake/pawl. For the same reason, you would not throw you car or truck into PARK while moving...would you? Note the wear chips on the Pawl 103888 below...those STEEL chips float around in the fluid of the trans and make their way to the soft BRASS internal parts---piston slippers, base of piston block, and thrust plate---scarring precision ground mating surfaces which leads to loss of hyd pressure---resulting in power loss. I have to add that to just rebuild the HYD PUMP and not the HYD MOTOR would be a mistake. These have a common fluid and it is ALWAYS a safe bet to rebuild BOTH...

I've been wanting seatback for my 854 sickle bar tractor and many thanks to @WHX?? I now have one. Knowing it could use a fresh cover my original intension was to find a local upholstery shop to but the boss lady said as long as I didn't mind it not being professional she'd make one for it. I told her that would be better yet. She had the material ordered before the back arrived. The foam was showing its age so she picked up a piece of 1" to replace it. I like it!! The tractor has a Mrs. Buckrancher seat cover on it and I think the vinyl matches well but I haven't actually had them together yet. The 854 is still in its winter bed and considering that we have horizontal blowing snow today I'm not risking my life going out there. Geez! It was 70° yesterday.

We have had a brief stretch of unreasonably nice weather so I got a little spring fever...... Sharpened blades & greased mower for the 654. Ready to install. Im not taking snow blade off just yet.

@1mor Project, the WASP I knew was also very adventurous. Her father had been a commercial fisherman and after the war she bought a boat and joined him in business. She met and married a former US Navy UDT (frogman) who joined her in the business and after they retired they spent several years bumming around on a house-boat in the Caribbean. I first met her when they joined the group that led to the formation of the UDT/SEALs Museum in Fort Piercer, FL. I told her many times she should writ a book about all of her exploits. As I recall it there were less than a thousand ladies the made it through WASP training. She did a great deal of work contacting people who knew people in high places to keep the ball rolling. The day of the groundbreaking there probably weren't and Admirals left in the Pentagon, they were all lined up with shovels in hand. She was also working on the formation of a WASP Museum but didn't live to see that happen.

I have it on good authority there will be a trailer at your place Saturday... It'll fit... I can "store" it for you...

Or as Taryl says “It doesn’t have enough courage to stay running”

Thanks 953 nut. I have a Tractor Supply not far from me, but have not heard of Wheel horse parts before. I'll have some time online this evening and do some scouting around. Getting this thing going has been a bit of fun actually, so I am guessing getting looking good will be also.

A few years ago I acquired a set of quality kneepads for a one-off task and thought I’d rarely use them after that. Ha! Now they are an essential in my “go” bag. Yes, I look silly wearing them all day when only on my knees occasionally. Fortunately I’m mature enough not to care!

This demonstration clearly proves to us that we should prefer a C161 transmission....Because everyone can and will forget the parking brake one day..... Thanks Dave for this very good document!!

Seems recently I get complaints from muscles and joints every time i do anything. I guess it's due to age and cabin fever. Keep it moving Richard even if we need to work from our knees. I have kneeling cushions located at several locations where i have to work from my knees.

No no no Dave ... It's I cut it off twice and it's still too short!

If you mean field ploughing there is plenty of that action here!

Putting the tractors back in the barn, I found myself laying in the rafters for a cool photo op.

If you did that with all of your stuff, you wouldn't have time to get hurt!

This is not exclusive to the Kohler Command. In 2010, multiple lawsuits alleging misleading horsepower labeling on lawnmower engines were settled, with Briggs & Stratton agreeing to a $51 million fund to cover consumer claims for mowers purchased between 1994 and the settlement's finalization. Here's a more detailed breakdown: The Lawsuits: The lawsuits claimed that manufacturers of lawnmower engines and OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) engaged in a conspiracy to inflate prices by manipulating horsepower ratings. The Allegations: Plaintiffs argued that consumers believed higher horsepower meant better performance, leading to higher prices for mowers with inflated horsepower ratings. The Defendants: The defendants included manufacturers of lawnmower engines (Briggs & Stratton, Tecumseh Products, Kawasaki Motors, etc.), OEMs (Deere Co., MTD Products, Toro Co., etc.), and retailers like Sears. The Settlement: Briggs & Stratton agreed to a $51 million settlement fund to cover consumer claims, with potential payments of up to $75 per consumer who purchased mowers with engines from the affected period. Settlement Details: The settlement covered engines made by Briggs & Stratton, John Deere, Sears Roebuck, Toro, Electrolux Home Products, and Tecumseh Products. Class Action: The lawsuits were class action lawsuits, meaning they represented a large group of consumers. Settlement Timeline The claims process concluded on May 22, 2019, and individuals and businesses who made successful claims received their cheques in May and July 2020

Thanks to @adsm08 for getting the pulleys off the deck for me. They were very much rusted on to the spindles! I sincerely appreciate your time & effort to help me, a stranger, remove them I owe you one!!

I did TEN push-ups this morning!!

Strolling around the yard this afternoon I found asparagus in the raised bed. Earlier than I expected and it was a cool 29 degrees this morning. I've got a few peas breaking through as well. Yee Haw! Spring is here Now to see if the morels duplicate growing along the fence row behind the house like they did last year.

Looks nice Bob. Good to see yer happy with it and can use it. If your on a tractor for extended seat time i can see it.

It has not been mentioned here yet but there are the cheap plastic replacements. It's been hit n miss tho if you get one that works and stays working .

I lucked out with this one, all I had to do to "restore" it was replace the shaft collar on the coulter & put a new sticker from Terry on it.

I got the camper out of storage yesterday, so a few things had to move around in the barn. It was good to stretch the legs of so many toys! The old Pontiac looks pretty blah with the stock wheels on it…

Lots of very nice tractors here! Here's my 64 854.