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I've had alot going on lately, and it's been hot. But I decided to at least get started reassembling the K161. I had the block bored .010 over, the crank .010 under. I also found a NOS correct small bore OEM piston and a NOS undersized OEM rod. It took a while, but it was worth it. I also had the valves reground. Many thanks to the folks who provided the correct part numbers, because I would've never found them! Part of me knows it would've been easier to swap to the same piston and rod as the K181, but I like that ONE of my tractors is gonna be very close to correct. This one has sentimental value. My wife bought it for me on Father's Day nearly 20 years ago. She even recruited a few of my coworkers to go get it and deliver it. Anyway... I got to tinker a little last night while it was cool in the garage. The K161 is buttoned up, though it still needs paint and all the external stuff added. But it's closed up and hopefully good to go. I know one thing: 65 years ago, Kohler did some stuff differently than they did in later years with the K series and Magnums. Timing marks, reed valves, camshafts... this thing was odd! I hope I figured it out the right way. Maybe I'll have time later in the week for more. I got a M8 that belongs to Don to work on, and I figured assembling this one might "re-familirize" me with these small blocks. I got a feeling they might be way different...

National Blueberry Day is on July 8. We are celebrating this day to spread information about the health benefits of blueberries. The holiday is dedicated to our favorite, tasty, nutrient-packed, fiber-rich, and antioxidant-rich fruit. Blueberries are also loaded with numerous benefits for the health and wellness of our bodies. This tasty fruit is something that we all need on a hot, dry day to keep us feeling refreshed. The delicious, juicy inside of the berry explodes inside our mouths with a tasty flavor that we will always love. So let us enjoy this day by learning more about this fruit and its health benefits.

Mine was originally equipped with a 7 HP Briggs. Some creativity and it works great.

Returned home this afternoon after two nights camping with the 11 and 10 year old grandkids. We ate a lot of hot dogs and mac & cheese. All cooking was done outside over firepit or Coleman camp stove. No video games but we did watch a movie each night. We rode a few miles on bicycles. We fished, waded in the lake, skipped stones in the lake, took walks and engaged in conversation. Discussions included the need for flies (and the maggot's place in medical use). Wasps (these two have unusual fear of wasps) and what they are good for? They were in awe when one came inside the camper, and I was able to allow it to land and walk around on my hand before it flew outside without stinging me. Once question raised was "Will it sting me if I try to pet it?" Why does the "leaves of three--leave them be" plant (poison ivy) make us itch and a host of other question surrounding this plant. "How can that snake swim?" "Can we go camping again and stay five nights next time pawpaw? Not likely to stay five nights but we will go again before they out grow pawpaw. The cab of the pickup was mighty quiet coming home with heavy eyes and their heads bobbing with each curve. I think I wore them out--I was! If you zoom in, you should be able to see the rather large stone skipping. We settled for catching three inch long bluegill--might as well be record keepers.

Along with all of the above suggestions, there is a bronze bushing in the steering block that will wear and cause slop.

Thanks for thinking of me. We're fine, but flooding occurred in several areas about us. It's amazing I only had 4-5" of rain, while 15 miles from me in 2 directions had 12"-18" of rain. Many of these 10-20" rain bombs fell in 3-4 hour time periods. July 4th morning the Guadalupe River flooded above Kerrville, Camp Mystic, other camps, RV parks along river, tent campers, etc. The 20+ foot flood wave made its way down the Guadalupe river valley flooding several small river tourist towns. It was caught in Canyon lake which was at roughly 40%. A One day flow time. At the same time this rain cell dumped 10 -18" on the other side of the hills into the San Saba river valley. This is thankfully a very rural area. While farms were damaged, no lives were lost there. That water 125,000 cfs peak made its way down the San Saba River to the Texas Colorado River and then into lake Buchanan which was also about 45% capacity. That was a 2 day flow time The Llano River water shed also had 10-15" of rain July 5th early morning in rural areas. its' 150,00cfs peak, 24 ft flood wave, made it way 12 hours to lake LBJ where I live. I worked with dams on most of these rivers. One of the dams I used to work with ( Wirtz Dam) opened five 30x50 floodgates to pass this water over about 12 hours.. The next lake, Starcke dam opened all 10 floodgates to pass the water into lake Travis. The next early morning July 5th heavy rains 10"-20" fell in the Burnet, Leander, Liberty Hill area. Several large creeks reached flows over 50,000 cfs then the gauges were washed out. An important commuter bridge was washed out on FM1431 between Marble Falls and Austin. The west end of this heavy rain was about 10-15 miles from us in the Marble Falls area. Sadly the Marble Falls Volunteer Fire Department Chief was swept of the road on his way to a rescue and is missing. His vehicle was found down stream and is demolished like it went through a car crusher. He was a wonderful person and will be severely missed. This rain fell in the creeks that flow to the Colorado river, Lake Travis and down the San Gabriel River through Georgetown to Granger lake. The flooding on these rivers covers about a 200 mile circle of the Texas Hill Country. The Hill Country is very hilly, thin soils on limestone and granite rocks. It is know as the most flash flood prone area in the US. A sad plus of the flooding is that several storage lakes were very low and caught 10-20 foot of water. All of theses storage lakes are usually feast or famine and refill with floods. Thankfully most of those floods are not as sad occurring as this one. Twenty miles to the SW of me the Pedernales River had a small rise also. Member @Chrishar lives in its area. So over a 2-3 day period we had five Hill Country Rivers flooding. We've seen lots of search helicopters coming from National Guard, Foot Hood, Coast Guard, private, etc. heading to these areas. Area churches and communities have set up shelters and collecting donations to cover immediate needs. It we be a long cleanup and recovery for these areas.

grandson just back from 3 weeks in europe , did all his travel itinerary on line , definitely going to repeat , met many people with similar interests , ideas . exhausted , but already planning another trip. figure with his welding craft and rating , at submarine finish grade , he is already signed up / hired at a metal fabrication shop in ohio , letting him do a wide verity of set up , finish layouts . be over tomorrow for lunch and talk , my granddaughter is now in england , / scotland doing a similar look around , with her collage , for 10 days . encourage / emphasize , what they are doing , wonderfull , back and forth talking exchange , very happy grandparents , pete

On the replacing of the piece I would avoid dismantling the back of chair. You will be creating issues that you don’t currently have and a lot more work. I don’t know how long those pieces are compared to the dimension between seat and back hoop plus the depth of mortises for them. The ones I did , I deepened the bottom mortise on the seat to allow me to insert piece and then push it up into top mortise. It was glued during that process and then I pined it through back edge of seat.

There is a good reason why that center piece is made out of plywood instead of solid wood. It will be hard for it not to possibly crack in several different areas as you make it, and if successful,in the future crack from pressure exerted on it is altogether likely. You would have to choose pieces with absolutely straight grain both in the length but most importantly in the thickness of piece to have a good chance of success. Most likely all the damage on them is what I see on the photo, cracked and missing pieces on the faces but still sound as a whole. I have done this exact repair in similar chairs in the past. 3/8 ash plywood is expensive and very hard to find. What I did was to fill the missing areas , sand both sides removing all finish and then veneering both sides with ash veneer. Veneer both sides simultaneously by pressing or clamping as a sandwich using straight 3/4 pieces for cowls. If you are not very familiar with the process using plain veneer you can get it with a thin backing usually a paper backing . Can be also obtained with a phenolic backing but it’s more expensive and thicker. That type can also be glued using contact cement although I am not a fan of that method. It can then by trimmed using a bearing flush trimming bit. You will have an original looking strong stable piece without the work involved in cutting the designs which is more difficult than what it seems. If the original piece is not salvageable I would still use 3/8” plywood and veneer it.

I finally did an oil rehab on my 416h. Pete finally talked me into it. Does look a lot better. Also did a foot pedal control upgrade. Jury still out on whether I like the foot control or not. Nothing wrong with the product what so ever just personal preference

Gotta love it when the ocd kicks in and shop towels under things...

Oops, Bill types real fast.

Our prayers with all involved !!

Unless I overlooked it, Steve…I think you just started it…😎

Mechanical fuel pumps and vacuum/ pulse fuel pumps share a couple of thing that make them prone to problems. If the diaphragm leaks you will get gasoline in your engine oil and if one of the check valves fails the pump won't pump. I began running electric fuel pumps about fifteen years ago and have them on everything except the "Barn Find 953" which has not been altered.

Depending on the strands left and their orientation left on the plywood after planing it. It may be rather flexible. Another way using solid since it looks like you have it, would be to make your own “plywood”. Laminate three pieces of 1/8”. It will be stronger than one single 3/8” piece and resistant to cracking in the delicate area with little left such as on the rosette.

I’m a day late…just mowed with the ‘77 B-80. What a pleasure to operate!

I love my stainless table, but every single item sat on it rolls around. And the engine is easier to move on a paper towel. And I would never be one to make excuses...

Very nice 1961 model 401 Suburban.

Kohler and WH used 3 different ignition systems on late 60 early 70 Tractors. It is important to know hat ignition system is currently on your tractor (as some original systems failed and were replaced by other types. Pleas post a picture of the front of your engine

Tie 'em down three more in the hauler... Who's the fruit cake hauling a sno mobile to a tractor show?!?!?

@Pullstart

If the vertical (steering wheel) shaft is lifting up and disengaging the fan gear, you may be able to loosen the set screw and tap the thrust collar up to prevent the lift. Chances are the plastic thrust bushing is worn out, but to replace that would require removing the steering wheel. Could also be the lower shaft is worn and moving or the ears on the bearing block may be broke.

Welcome! There is a shaft collar on the upper steering shaft that may need to be adjusted. Is there a lot of upward play when you lift the steering wheel?? If so, you may be able to remedy that by adjusting the collar position. One more thing... look at the frame mounting tabs on the lower steering block - the one with the grease fitting. Those ears break quite often... if they are broken, the block moves around when you steer.

At this point, I am looking to be there Friday. Hope to see a lot of you guys from the area.

and thanks for keeping your pa’s relic in the family! So many inheritees asking how much it’s worth… It’s worth more in your garage, than in your pocket!

Hell, Moody Blues was my first concert. Boston Music Hall. Poco opened and recorded "Deliverin". I'm officially old, I guess.

Serious oldies. I discovered them through a college roommate.

I just did a facet pump on my C-161 and I have zero regrets about it. I would just do as previously stated, grab some new hos barbs, swap them out and you're good to go.

I start every day with my red, white, and blueberry breakfast.

Carbole pump is identical to Facet. The threads are 1/8" pipe. Get some 1/8" pipe 1/4" hose barbs.

I started using vacuum pulse pumps on Kohlers whenever ever the mechanical pump fails. I make up these mounting plates. Easy to make if you have a drill press. Use a quality OEM pump. Kawasaki PN 49040-0803 is my go to for this application. Pump is made in Japan by Mikuni who makes most OEM pumps for Briggs, Kawasaki and Kohler.

If you have a jumper feed the coil (+) with battery + when you go to start. Remove jumper when it starts.

Click on the tractor in the link and you can view the wiring from the page that comes up. Also there as a pdf file. Sounds like your ignition switch has failed.

Played the wrong CD today - Moody Blues Greatest Hits. I played Time Life Rock N Roll 1961 yesterday.

Dropped the transmission out of the 314-8 that I picked up at the show stuck in low range. I suppose there are a lot of different ways to drop a transmission. This is one way I do it. I put jack stands under the foot rest rods. Place the dolly under the center of the trans with a block. Jack up the front untill the trans rests on the block. I removed the high low pin and unbolt the trans from the frame. Low the jack a little so there is room to remove the high low shiftier. Of course I am splitting this one and have removed the hubs, brake drum and drive pulley. If anyone has a high low fork they are willing to part with let me know. tks.

Would be cat's meow on any tractor

Is the number 2868906 just the patent number by chance? Here is the Indak website, perhaps you can come up with the correct number if you know the function of each terminal and how they connect internally.

This would be the ideal plywood to use. If you were closer I have 1/4” and 1/2” prefinished and unfinished in stock. I made most of my drawers out of this material . It’s also known as Apple Ply. Expensive but the best plywood there is bar none with no voids or inferior materials in the core. It is also glued with waterproof glue so it can be used outside. Always the hassle either way it is that it only comes in 5’x5’ sheets making hard to transport in my van and also awkward to handle.

Yum! I was thinking hostas!

Thanks! I saw that link to the diagram on someone else’s post but when I downloaded it it was an empty file. Trying to trace the wires under the fuel tank while getting eaten by mosquitos was very frustrating. I’m excited to get this running tomorrow!

Looks to be a very intact survivor. Don't be surprized if the 2 piece gas tank leaks. It is repairable. Even the removable curved side panels on the deck are there. Well done at $100......

I watched back to the future... I know how rock started

Richard. How fortunate we were to be teenagers in the '50s.

Pleasant surprise!

I think I accomplished the impossible today... Got the bell crank off the lift arm without destroying either. The original center column was trashed. I replaced it but had to recover the lift assembly. 64 years of brown weld certainly has a grip! The pic below was obviously after cleaning the shaft up.