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Vietnam Veterans Day is annually observed on March 29. It commemorates the hardships suffered and sacrifices made by nine million Americans during the Vietnam War. However, the holiday does not only honor the former soldiers but also their families who supported them before and after the war. The Vietnam War was a lengthy and costly conflict between Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It occurred from November 1, 1955, to April 30, 1975 — a total of 19 years before the fall of Saigon. As Vietnam’s principal ally, the participation of the U.S. significantly determined the fate of the war. In 1961, former U.S. President John F. Kennedy sent a team to Vietnam to report their conditions. It was found that there was an American buildup of economic, military, and technical aid to Ngo Dinh Diem to defeat the Viet Cong. Due to the “domino theory,” which suggests that if one Southeast Asian country falls, the others will follow, Kennedy increased the American aid in Vietnam. By 1962, the U.S. military presence in the country reached up to 9,000 troops. By March 1965, U.S. aid continued in Vietnam with the support of Lyndon Johnson, Kennedy’s successor. By June of the same year, American troops reached 82,000. A month later, 100,000 more troops were delegated, and 100,000 more a year later. By November 1967, the number of U.S. troops reached 500,000: however, 15,058 were killed, and 109,527 were wounded. November 5, 1969, there was a massive anti-war movement in Washington. More than 250,000 Americans participated, calling for the withdrawal of military troops from Vietnam. On March 29, 1973, U.S. President Richard Nixon officially withdrew the American combat forces from Vietnam. A year later, the first Vietnam Veterans Day was held.

This downsizing is not working out. Took some furniture to my MILs new residence at a nursing home and came home with this. Never know what may happen when you talk tractors with strangers.

Put the motor back on b-80 and mower deck. Just need some adjustments. It’s running rich but starts right up. Verified battery is charging. Ordered some new battery cables. The ones I have were to long. Finishing it up tomorrow.

Had a couple out today stretching their legs.

Today I changed the plug on a 220V outlet in my shop so I can use my welder. I had no power to the plug. Here's the plug I replaced, conveniently close to the breaker box: None of the breakers seemed to feed it. This is from where it's actually fed. 😐 I now realize how much "fun" I'm going to have identifying the rest of the circuits in my shop. Now I'm waiting for the Walbro carb to the 414-8 to finish in the ultrasonic so I can reassemble it and put it back on. 10 minutes to go.

@ebinmaine I think I did back when I first got the 308. I squeezed the throttle rivet with pliers and its been fine ever since. I did do it bit by bit though so I didn't immobilize it.

@AlexR Didn't Know you needed weights... I dropped off about 250 lbs of dumbbells and machine weights at Kevin's today...! I could have slipped a few into your trailer!!!

Tractor did excellent at the plow day even in the mud traction was better then expected, the carb was dialed. The only two things I would change in the tractor setup is some more weight up front, and need to get the throttle lever tightened up so it stays where I put it.

Credit to @Pullstart for the senior.

@Pullstart plow day haul... kinda a short frame long frame auto now 3 speed kevinized special... Will be a consignment work in progress... power tbd... gas diesel all on the table... Thanks to @WHX?? for the belt guards... I'll try not to get any curd juice on them when I cut them up...

Two hours, give or take, two spots, six fish total that she landed. She got one a little bigger than those two, but it got away while I was trying to get it on the stringer.

This one pictured was a deck that came with a 1986 312-8 that I restored both deck and tractor. This one as yours with nothing attached to the holes. This was an original owner tractor when I bought it. @Bar Nuthin

Nope, it wasn't me.

Its called the "Carolina Lean."

Unfortunately I have lol as a recently reformed sub-25 nutbag I can at least say this was for functional reasons

You just can't get away from those surveillance cameras. Sorry to say your reputation for being a total goof off has been blown.

Started messing with this old gear drive deck for my 857. New grease and one new zerk. Drive pulley bearing is a bit tight. Getting a PB Blaster soak (already started moving)

I have a saw-zall and a welder. I can make anything fit.

My wife's bird feeder caught me doing some spring cleaning in the backyard.

I went to school with David Morse. Grew up in Hamilton, Ma. He was in all the school plays. Bit of a rebel too. Firebombed the Patton Tank in the park. I still have the newspaper clipping. 1971. BTW, that's me on the barrel.

❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️ Spring? Ya wanna see spring?? Welcome to Maine!!

i have rehabbed a number of the 42 rd decks -- i have found installing a piece of household baseboard vinyl ( has a natural curl ) with carriage bolts to be a simple and inexpensive way of deflecting the grass clippings downward -- especially important if you have a H tractor rather than a gear tranny so as to avoid the clippings going on to the Hydro fins. Good Luck, Bill

If you had to replace all the bearings and seals it would cost you about $200. A lot of times some of the bearings are reusable. But if I open a transmission I always replace the outer axle needle bearing and all the seals. JMHO. Yes the boot you have pictures looks correct One of our vendors “Wheel Horse Parts and More”. Sells transmission overhaul kits.

Only reason I got one of mine done is it was the first lol

Go get it. You will soon learn we are “enablers” around here. Check the condition of the rubber boot at the top of the transmission that the shifter goes through. If it’s in bad shape/missing and the horse is parked outside that where water gets in the transmission. If you see a lot of oil has leaked out the shifter hole That can mean water is filling the bottom of the transmission and the floating oil is coming out the hole. The 3 speed transmission are easy to rebuild and used parts are relatively available. Take an oil drain pan and a 1/4” ?? Allen wrench. If you see oil out the top ask if you can quickly pull and reinstall the transmission drain plug. The plug is on the bottom a little in front of the rear hitch. It is recessed and probable full of dirt. If you get pure water In my opinion, this becomes a $200 negotiating item. If you get white milky oil than may clean up with a diesel flush or two. Sine he was pulling a heavy trailer, check the rear wheel hub is tight on the axles. The hubs have a woodruff key and are locked on by the jack bolt on the hub. If the rear axles, brake shaft, input pulley shaft are leaking where the shafts comes out of the transmission there is a 50/50 chance a new seal will fit it, or the shaft bearing is worn allowing the shaft to slightly wobble around enough to wipe out the seal. With all the above said, buy it anyway. These old horses need some someone to show them lots of love when needed. Im in Texas, and like Florida not as many horses, and many that are here have been rode hard and put up wet.

Here is the check list I had when I bought my 856. 1. Parked in woods and left for 20 yrs. 2. Tires and wheels buried half way in the ground rotting. 3. Weeds and trees growing through the frame. 4. Plants and moss growing out of the seat. 5. Covered in dirt, rust, and crusty as can be. So after I found one that checked all these boxes I dragged it home, cleaned it, cleaned fuel tank, installed new carb, new battery, put new tires and wheels on it, gave it some fancy pinstripes, changed seat. It is now one of my most reliable Wheel Horses I have ever owned. They are bullet proof. Yes it's an 8 horse power but it is always ready, willing and able to complete the task it is asked to do.

For many of us the Big Show is about the people more than the parts and tractors for sale. Last year my truck was loaded fully and the only thing that wasn't pre purchased was a belt guard that I picked up for another member. If an item is priced too high people are not shy about letting you know. If you don't accept their offer it is unlikely that they will return to make another offer unless it is a hard to come by item. Best bet is to post it in the Big Show pre-sale thread at a fair price, most people will be willing to pay in advance and pick it up at the show.

Today is our 38th wedding anniversary so we went out for a lovely meal. A pub called the Dunkirk about 16 miles away (that's a long way for an English man to travel for dinner). Can't believe it's been that long since two kids not long out of their teens tied the knot and settled down. She looks just as gorgeous now, the dessert is a treat as shes been losing weight really well fir the last ten weeks.

I had 2 of them. Sold one with a tractor. The other one was longer.

Had the same thought. Gotta wait for it to dry up some but I'm gonna see how they do disking the garden, pulling the moldboard with the old tires at times I was steering with hopes and dreams

Felton must be a hot-spot. No petunias here, just daffodils & forsythia. Hay fever is in full swing, though!

I agree. The grease zerk holes in the belt guards put it into the mid-'80s

Back in 2010, I bought an 856 for $75.00 it included a snow plow. I didn't run. However, after replacing the spark plug, and installing a new Woodruff key in the transmission pulley, I had a fine running tractor. I unfortunately sold it in a package deal and regret it to this day. As far as the price of $400, I think that is not a bad price in todays market as long as it runs with no smoke or unusual noises. The transmission must shift and run in all 3 forward speed and reverse. A bonus if the mower deck works.

That high/low shift lever was no easy off either. It was rusted on and I didn't want to use force to remove it. Lots of patience and rocking it back and forth with pressure underneath got it. Threw a little Never Seize on it when I put back together. Someone will appreciate that someday I hope

Wow, Look how young I was! LOL

I gave a lot more for my 855, and it had sat a lot longer. I also got a snow plow with it. You should see if he has a snow plow for it. After 10 years sitting all mine took was a spark plug, a battery, and some fresh fuel and away we went. I've had to chase down a few other issues in the years I've owned it, but it's 60 years old, and I have yet to come across a single part that couldn't be sourced between Brian at K&B or Lowell at Wheelhorse parts and more.

Don't you buy most of the tractors that are still wearing "For Sale" signs by that time?

If it’s Saturday 11 am when it sells, me and @Jrblanke might have to test drive it together!

Here are my 2 Radio Flyers. A friend of mine and I made these a few years ago. I used to push / pull my nieces kids around at car shows. They have long since out grew them. They need to go to new home for more memories.

Had to put a new ignition switch in the '68 Commando 8, so while I was at it, new fuel lines, shut off and filter.

I had a Troy Bilt Pony come in to repair a leaking wheel axle seal. I found someone had tried a repair previously and had gouged the axle badly trying to remove the leaking seal. I had to put the new seal in about half way to put the seal on a good surface. The repair was successful, the machine hasn't come back and the customer has brought other in work since.

Boston has some of the best doctors in the country! Good choice. Wish him the best.

Picked this little guy up a few years ago. Gave it some paint. Never did try it out living in the city in all. All of your pics are making me want to give it a try.

There's another thing that shouldn't really exist at this point but still does. As far as I know, all of the new fuel pump and carburetor rebuild kits and fuel lines should be ethanol resistant. I have heard of several instances where something gets rebuilt or replaced and in a very short time there is little bits of rubber in the bowl.

I said "looks like"...

Ready and willing and able!

Yup We had a guy drop quite a few around the house that were ruined from a big ice storm years back. There's a big difference between the pro that does it every single day and the "handyman, jack of all trades" that's cheaper in price. Like Dan, I can chainsaw on some stuff but dropping the hairy stuff is best left to the professional. What a tool bag! LOL

Time for some half assed painting! Decided to pull the muffler, brush it off and give it some paint. Once I pulled the muffler off, I found a whole heap more gunk to clean out. I think I'm starting to find the end of my tether with all the scrubbing and cleaning. Ordered the oil gasket, and the filter grommet. Once all of this is back together, my new oil filter should have arrived and I can give it fresh blood.