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So I have been working on this chicken tractor coop I thought I would share with you guys. The coop is from vevor not sure I can fully recommend it as it's not that great, but it is cheap I paid about $180 for it. However I also bought the 4x4's which were about $70. And couple bushings, bolts, and screws The coop I had to add some additional bracing with some old galvanized water line piping I had pulled out of the house and barn. Cut those to fit and used self tappers to attach those. All the metal I used, I already had laying around, the wheels too. I have not yet attached the "hitch" to the front of the coop yet. The other part goes to the sleeve hitch on the Wheelhorse so that will lift the front. It's all getting painted regal red! I am thinking about enclosing the coop more but have not yet decided if I will used this for the egg laying hens or if I need to build a actual coop and possibly use this for broilers. I had been thinking of building a coop into the bottom of my barn but reconsidering that now, due to dust from the chickens and I have a concrete pad they would be pooping all over.

Why do I feel like I’m gonna end up with pie crust crumbs and a dirty napkin

Hold out for a Root Beer float! Don't let them guys hood wink ya!

Hello everyone, Show is getting close!! So... say you have a 520 with a puked Onan, then another 520 with fwd swept gear reduction and good engine and yet a 3rd 516 / eaton 700 for parts such as the non louevered hood (yes!!!!). You want to build the 500 you always wanted... first step? Yank that junk from between the fenders and gently set down a MANS power plant! Yah baby!!! Onans are for guys that only need 10 hp because back cylinder left chat or never idle there motors unless they want to imitate the Tecumseh surge!! (Chain yanking engaged lol) Remember I was dared to do this... Love you guys and this group Tony 20250529_102350.mp4

but what is the thing hanging underneath? I vote, counterbalance for chair

Ha ha, some of it, the wet wall there is mine, the drywall is my son. Heres some of mine from a few years back.

Get out your gardening gloves — May 29 is National Learn About Composting Day! We all want to do our part to conserve natural resources and reduce our carbon footprint. Composting is not only an environmentally safe fertilizer but it can help you save water, energy, fuel, and money! It also keeps toxins from getting in our run-off and groundwater through the use of chemical- based commercial fertilizers. The use of a natural fertilizer made from compost will make your garden hospitable to wildlife helpers like honeybees, hummingbirds and of course, worms! So, what it compost? Compost is organic matter that has decomposed. In a garden, decomposition is a good thing! Compost can be made from kitchen scraps, lawn clippings, newspapers, leaves wood chips, coffee grinds — almost any food products except for processed foods (no Twinkies in the compost!) and meat or fish products. Composting saves resources, and because of its high nutrient content, it adds to soil stability and reduces soil disease. It will help your garden grow lush and promote healthy growth in seedlings and plants. It’s for all these reasons gardeners call compost “black gold”. Composting allows you to accomplish the big environmental three: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

I picked up this wheel horse from a buddy of a buddy from back in may NAPA days. Supposedly One owner, and 186 hours on the clock. Both Claims are dubious. At $350 I probably paid too much. It was an hour drive, but I hadn’t seen this guy in a while. He was my small engine mentor. With chains, weights and plow included I think its a decent deal, but no great bargain. The tractor found me, not the other way around so it has been fated into my possession and I won’t argue it. It’s a bit smaller than the C series I was looking for, but the body style is similar, and I’m quite acquainted with this model of Briggs and Stratton motor. I wanted a geared tractor to replace my lumbering 1979 sears and this 1971 800 special fits the bill. As soon as it was off the truck and back home I fired it up and quickly discovered that dumping the clutch in 3rd gear turns it into a Wheelie Horse! The shift pattern will take some getting used to as I feel out this 54 year old machines quirks. Once the rain stops I’m eager to clean it up and see how well Its been maintained over its life. I’ve already ordered the carburetor kit, and stickers for the hood.

Well since you’s asking, you just pay @Sparky for that 657 for me and I’ll buy you a slice of pie

ended up buying a tractor back that you sold at the Big Show? Or for that matter, any large items? Watching the buy / sell thread I bet it happens. I sold a 520 to Squonk and bought it back the next year.

This is a family friendly forum here. You can't go around exposing too much though a little tractor porn is appreciated as long as it is done tastefully.

Very cool!!! Maybe you and @Pullstart can race them...

After yesterday’s work out, I slept in a bit today and took the day off. Perfect timing, I found a big fat possum walking out of the coop with egg on its face. The .22 might not have gotten the eggs back, but it prevented losses in the future!

I bought this from you Joe at the BS ... Wanna buy it back??? I just posted it on the buy sell thread. You need to ... keep from Pullstart taking the right angle grinder to it ...

You got a free with the purchase of a snow plow, chains, and wheel weights.

Here it is, with its first load. You happy with this @953 nut? That tailgate eats up about 4mpg with the trailer empty. More than I expected for a low utility trailer that weighs somewhere between 800 and 900 lbs. Interestingly, put 600 pounds of tractor on it and you get about 1mpg better than empty. I'm thinking the gain comes from the turbulence caused by the tractor reducing drag for the tailgate. Kind of like the wat dimples on a golf ball work.

Just as long as you’re not transporting Coors east of the Mississippi…….😁

A bowl of spaghetti into functional machine. Little by little.

I brought this 604 home today to maybe revive it.. but what is the thing hanging underneath?

So far today’s tractor fix has been wiring up the C141 to a K321 with the 95 312 wiring harness. I’ve got a schematic for the 312 and took out the safety stuff but there has definitely been a learning curve. I do like a challenge though. And, the day isn’t over.

Automotive door hinges often have flanged bronze or nylon bushings for the pin. Perhaps a body shop could help. From my GM experience.

Build it like you want it- I always say!

I saw natural and garden, I figured it was get naked and plant something day!

Had a nice morning at the community garden. One of the ladies found a piece of rock sticking out of the grass, it always catches the mower blade so I decided to pull it out and fill the hole. Two minute job...... Turns out the rock was a bit larger than I anticipated. So I dug around it and exposed more of it. Then a bit more of it.... We tgi know it's a window sill from the old house tha used to be on the site. It was demolished in the 1960s. Having got it out we needed to shift it. So the old Roman rollers came out and we made like the Egyptians to move it across the garden to a shrub bed where it can rest till we find a better spot. Not exactly the small rock I was expecting, a carved piece of stone from the 17th century, buried for sixty years.

Back at work we had large hydraulic pumps. The electric motor shared a bearing with the hydraulic pump where they bolted together. The bearings had one more ball than a common bearing. This gave the bearing a higher load rating. Those bearings cost a lot more than the standard bearing.

Nope. I kinda like it myself.

Today’s Tractorpalooza started off after being called into work at 7 am, The painted rims and tires went on the 308, fixed a paint issue with the drivers side rear rim, then started on cleaning out and assembling the carburetor with an online schematic for the K341. I lucked out since all the seals interchange between the K and Magnums. I already had many of the gaskets I needed from the leftover M12 pack I had. I still need to get an oil pan and fuel bowl gaskets though. After putting the carburetor on, and slimming down the K341 physically and electronically I moved on to the C141 project. I drilled mounting holes for the upper dash, primed it, and the shift plate then mounted the upper dash, cleaned up the key switch contacts, and hoisted the K321 on to the C141 chassis to possibly tinker with later tonight. Maybe…😁…phew.

Alex would win! Mine gets stuck easy!

Umm, you have a tool in your shop that spins things and allows you to cut them to make cylindrical parts any size you want. Just sayin'

Go to ACE and buy a couple Hillman #58087, 1/4" i.d. x 7/16" o.d. x 1/16" thick bronze bushings.

Learning curves tend to get straighter every time you push through one

I definitely recalibrate my driving when towing; those longer stopping distances need respect.

What number ignition switch are you using? Should be a 103 990. Your Kohler K series engine will need three wires to the engine, one that has power with the key ON or in START and two wires from the stator to the voltage regulator AC terminals. Use this as a guide.

Just don't paint it green!!😄

Finished!!! I used a drill mounted wire brush to clean rust and old paint off. Then used the dark green self etching primer, And finished with a nice almond colored spray paint!! Also to keep the tires taped off, I used duck tape (since I don't have any spare playing cards). Next, looking to make a hood ornament......

I have that same 18HP Briggs with literally thousands of hours on it. All I ever did to it was change the oil excessively! I don’t want to talk badly about Onans though because I have a 416-H and I don’t want anything to happen to it!!

The order confirmation does say allow 3-5 days for processing, so there is some time left. It is the Cub Cadet website so I don’t think it is a scam.

That puts a new meaning to pull start.

We went from a piece of steel to a new dash panel. Wiring is complete, it’s almost show ready!

When I was a kid and grandpa called me "single minded" I always thought he meant stubborn. Now I'm rethinking my whole childhood!

It was that time of year when out local club has it show and pulls. It’s always nice catching up with friends and spending time with the family. There was a good heard of horses with Rick and Chuck’s. I believe altogether we had 14-15.

My eyes... Can't feel my eyes...

Good Lord ...

On a 1277 score ... jacket & sign pics courtesy of @D_Mac

Took inventory

I typically take the tailgate off and put it in the trailer when driving empty... makes a difference...

Just a peek. Any guesses?

I vote Japan. More balls = less wear.