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Well I saved another one. This was at a local auction full of vintage garden tractors. Unfortunately it was one of the last 10 machines to sell. Waited five hours to buy this one tractor. Well worth the wait. Here are my two youtube videos of getting it back to it's glory. Still have a few items to get but it runs and drives Part 1 Part 2

Got all my rafters painted and ready for metal. Hopefully in the next couple weeks it will finally be covered.

Service announcement: This holiday is brought to you by the "National Federated Association of Honey Bee and Ant Picnic Invaders United". Committed to helping you finish your outdoor meals.

Congratulations Jay! I’m not quite there yet but for the second time today I’ll say something I heard a long time ago. The older you get, the more important it is to not act your age!

Got back today from Chicago with the 702 that was in classifieds. Needs a few small things, especially a good cleaning, but it will be a good worker. Brush paint job but I may consider trying to wet sand to expose original paint/patina? Not sure what to do with it as of yet. Im not even sure if its a 702??? Very nice people that refused any offer of $$. They also gave me a 1978 Yamaha 650. Should be easy to get running as it was properly drained & stored. Just a bit dirty also.

From backyards to beaches, National Eat Outside Day on Aug. 31 proves that food tastes better in fresh air, encouraging more Americans to take their meals outdoors. The day boosts demand for open-air dining, with restaurants expanding patio service and families choosing to eat outside. As food moves beyond the table and into shared spaces, setting becomes central to how people plan, experience and remember meals. Many celebrate the day by trying something different, whether it’s dining at a new spot or finally cooking a meal they’ve been meaning to make. Parks, patios and shared spaces take on new roles as people bring food, friends and unfinished plans into the open. Backyard grilling creates a direct connection between food and setting that few other methods match. Cooking outside allows heat, smoke and timing to build flavor quickly, serving a crowd without added steps. Burgers, hot dogs, sausages and skewered vegetables cook well over open flame, picking up crisp edges and concentrated flavor from the grill. Grilled corn stands out as high heat enhances its sweetness and adds a char that’s hard to match indoors. Cold drinks complete the spread by offering balance and refreshment, whether it’s soda, beer or iced tea. On National Eat Outside Day, the backyard grill anchors the meal, turning simple ingredients into a full seasonal experience.

Congratulations on your retirement Jay! I turned 60 this past February, for years, I had earmarked 65 as the age to retire. However, life threw me two curveballs in October 2023. Unexpected loss of job on 10/11/23 after nearly 18 years of employment (new ownership...) and sitting in a doctor's office on 10/31/23 receiving the news "you have cancer". It was a helluva October. The good news is, I found a new (better paying) job that November, where I am actually appreciated, and the cancer (Prostate) is being managed. For those males out there in my age bracket +/- 5 years, if you haven't had your PSA checked yet, make an appointment! Retirement goal is now somewhere between 62-64. Life's too short! I have a few things to take care of before retiring, mortgage burning in two months, and a European vacation in 2026. Enjoy every day is Saturday. I'm looking forward to it!

All of my meals will be cooked and eaten outside today! And the next few days for that matter! 🙂

Yikes. Glad things have turned upward! From my soapbox, I will heartily second the PSA checks, gents. Borderline low but PCP insisted on biopsy. Bad. Treatment ensued. If I’d ignored him, I’d probably be dead now.

What, you will be giving up all those paid vacations to Hawaii. Seriously, what is so magical about 65, my wife and I pulled the plug at 61 and never regretted it.

A rack of pork ribs smothered in Sweet Baby Ray's will be going on the grill this afternoon.

Thursday, I got out my 25 year old Craftsman 18" chain saw and cut a sizeable limb that has been laying behind the tractor shed for 3 or 4 years. It is in the way and time came for it to go. This spring, when I last used this saw, I noted that the dome in the primer pump had a small split in it. Not enough to leak, but enough so i did not trust taking the saw into the woods for serious work. Worked fine to cut that limb into firewood sized pieces, though. I bought a new dome, but discovered that this primer pump is not rebuildable. New pump is on order. The bottom of the saw case was covered in bar oil. Guess I forgot to empty the bar oil tank before I put it away last time. I suppose I'd ought to chase that leak down someday. Then again, draining the oil tank after use is easier..... Today, I split the wood. I put Pack Rat, the Allis Chalmers B110, to work hauling the resulting cart load of split firewood down to the lake house wood pile. Treated Pack Rat to a new air filter element, too.

I bought it. Runs great. Plow, mower deck, wheel weights and chains for $660

Got back fine with the above mentioned 520H. That's not running. I'll start a separate thread for that. While unstrapping there was a Jaxon sighting here...

I know this is not directly a Wheel Horse subject but may be a place to get a part or two. This code is valid until September 12, 2025 214692452193580832

Definitely. And I enjoy it. I sure do. I really like the added stability of the splayed forward front axles. I knew before purchase this would be divided up. Me. All steering system parts, whole front axle, all 4 wheels, rear wheel weights, frame? All guages, fuel tank w/sender, Someone else is taking. Snowblower, both transmissions. And another person. All hydraulics. Engine isn't spoken for yet. Nothin I'm interested in...

Last time I mowed, I went in a circle, felt guilty for the rest of the day

Lawn striping with the 414-8 and a 42”RD today…

Got her together, Thanks to the guys here that led me to the measurements for my missing parts.

Well she floats!!! No issues with new battery and topped off distilled water... My most experienced QA / QC crew ran it through diagnostics and field tests... IMG_3558.mov

We cooked a breakfast scramble on the Blackstone this morning and enjoyed it on the deck overlooking the lake. Tonight, we are planning blackened salmon, green beans cooked on the Blackstone and corn on the cob on the deck. Edit: Tonight was the first time we've tried cooking blackened salmon on our Blackstone grill. It was fantastic - better results than when we've cooked it in our cast iron pans. The Blackstone created a much better char anc crust of the spices coating the fish than the iron fry pans we've used in the past.

Ditto, I think this will be 6 years for me

We wouldn't dream of giving static about the hat ...

You left out the Yellow Jackets!

They are called pick tines. Designed for rocky soil. Father had a set on an very old troy bilt. They will not do well if you are till sod or grassy areas. Sounds perfect for your clay and rocks in Maine!!

Just eat the bugs 🐛 🐝 🐜 right along with the delicious food 😋 A little extra high quality protein...

Probably a plate shorted. Started discharging itself then a spark. Years ago I had an old Chevy Easter Egg truck. Was working at Napa so it was a 4 mile ride to work. Went home for lunch no issues. Went to leave at 5 and no start. Went to open the hood and I could smell the rotten eggs. Got the hood open and the battery was hot! I got lucky and got it out of there and into the woods before anything happened. Another time a guy comes into the store squawking that the battery he bought a year ago had exploded. Gave me all kinds of grief. I asked him where's the battery and he says in back of his truck. I go out to look and the battery says "Everstart" I gave him all kinds of grief back as he got in the truck to go to Walmart!

If you use the larger pulley, you'll have to modify he belt guard and possibly the foot rest.

Matt Taylor, of Taylor Retirement Services, always says it's better to have something to retire to, rather than retire from.

A couple factors that were part of my decision to retire at 62. Under the Allis Chalmers contract, I had earned 4 weeks paid vacation after 25 years of service and would receive 2 more weeks at 30 years. I was a month from getting the extra 2 weeks when due to the 1980 recession, Allis Chalmers went bankrupt and sold the Hydro Turbine division to Voith Hydro and they capped all vacations at 4 weeks. At few years later they also bought out the monthly pensions and rolled them into a 401K. Except for a few of us with over 30 years of service who were given a choice to keep the monthly which I did. I enjoyed my job but I needed more time off and I decided to retire at 62. My monthly pension had all ready been fixed , I started to roll my company controlled 401K into a Roth IRA that I could control, and discovered an interesting fact about my social security distribution. According to the USBof Stats. I would die when I was 77yo and if I did, the total SS I would receive would be within $100 of the amount I paid in in my lifetime. It did not matter if I started taking it at 62 or 66, the total was the same if I died at 77. I was able to use the COBRA law to purchase the same company health insurance for 18 months, but did have to buy a private health plan for the last 18 months which was a big chunk of change. Definitely a factor in making a retirement decision before 65 and medicare. I continued to work for 7 more years as a consultant, so I did not start my SS until I was 65 and got the maximum payment. I also did not take the survivors benefit option when setting up my monthly pension. Coming up on 82, I made the correct decisions on my SS and pension distribution. But I'm a gambler.....do you feel lucky? Value of your time Health insurance..COBRA ROTH IRA Pension and SS distribution

So after a wk of not touching the 854 and after ultrasonic cleaning carb and fuel pump. I believe I finally got it running. Need to play with throttle cable some to try and give me more adjustability.

I want to be out at 59 1/2. At least semi-retired. I'd like to get to a place by then that I can work a part-time job and take some side work to make ends meet for a few years.

Weather permitting I eat most of my meals on front porch. It may be cooked inside but I like being outdoors. Sometimes my wife joins me other times it just me, the wrens and humming birds. I keep a Coleman white gas stove in camper and the shop. We don't cook in camper except in microwave. I cook fish, shrimp and other stuff in shop that otherwise may leave lingering odor in the house. I've been cautious with what I eat since gallbladder removal a few weeks ago but I sure miss brisket, ribs or pork shoulder in the smoker. I must not forget the steaks in the green egg. The dutch oven has been a staple of cooking in the shop as well. Below is home grown cherry's in turnovers last week while camping. That little smoker has cooked meats listed above as well as biscuits for breakfast and our rib eyes last week at the campground. Eating out for me is NOT fast food it's eating outside!

Turns out that the 8 HP engine does NOT like the added fluid weight we installed. Particularly going uphill. We have a LOT of hill. The replacement clutch spring we put in at some point was also a tad weak. Th combination of the above items caused the belt to prematurely wear out. Rather quickly in fact. So today Trina replaced the belt. I replaced the clutch spring. And the two of us combined drained 4 of the 5 gallons of Rimguard fluid from each rear wheel. That's how much would empty by gravity. She also drained and refilled the engine oil. Pigpen or Piggy is MUCH happier.

10/31/23 receiving the news "you have cancer". I received the same news on 12/27/23 for stage lll rectal cancer. I have been getting regular colonoscopy checkups every four years and PSA annually for years. Good luck on your retirement! I have been looking forward to my retirement for years and I Intend to enjoy these years Jay

Absolutely. The 6 inch spindle is an inch taller than the 8 inch spindle. I use them on my woods tractors for extra ground clearance. If you use a 6 inch spindle and mower... be aware that you may have fore/aft deck line-up issues due to the height difference.

Thanks for the information everyone. I’ll swap the pulleys today.

I'm more interested in if it's street legal.

The shed did not make the move. Bummer, but I have a blank slate for concrete!

Right !!! Catches on your shoe laces or pant leg and twists you right in there so now your body parts are the garden fertilizer.

Sylvia ... you've seen what that acid does. Had to make a mess. Had to be hydrogen build up and then a internal spark. Were you charging them at the time? Batteries will generally out gas the most during charging. We always put the smoking lamp out when charging batteries on the sub. Funny the fill caps didn't blow off or did they? I bet that had to make a hell of a noise those casings are pretty tough. Was interstate worried about liability?

Kev you forgot to mention use some schlip n lube and clean the crank end first. Might be the 14 ran a hydro thus the bigger pulley.

Congratulations Jay !!! Always think of doing nothing as something to do and you will be OK.

Great Wheel Horse day today! Had them all today to stretch their legs… Been awhile since the 520 ran, and I noticed some dirt in the bowels of the snowblower since last being used, that’s been bothering me for several months since I noticed it. Finally got the rear rock shaft assembly completed. I bought a rock shaft kit at the Big Show from Dale’s Mower Service in Kempton, put it together awhile ago and the ball pulled off the aftermarket cable that I got. Fortunately I am not that far from Dale’s shop, so I made the drive a couple of weeks ago and he swapped it out with a brand new out of the pack OEM cable, what a difference. I must have spent at least 45 minutes shooting the breeze with Dale. We’re definitely old school. Still working on getting the RJ running, the gas tank is about to get an internal restoration. Hope everyone is enjoying their day!

11 years and counting, next to marrying my wife 48 years ago it the best thing I've ever done, but every now and then I think it's may be the best thing.

I worked for the same company for 40 years, after a vacation dispute I retired in 2004, then worked another 6 years as a consultant. Looking forward to seeing you at the big show in June. Enjoy your retirement Jay and "Don't Let the Old Man in".

Mrs. 953 Nut says Wheel Horses are a labor of love, not an investment. However her sewing machines are an investment, she thinks.

Abused it.. today i abused my Wheel Horse. And i was pleasantly surprised when i found out it does mow in reverse with no problems