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Happy Labor Day!!! Now get back to work on your of choice!!!

Hello, My name is Don and I am not new to small tractors having had 2 Cub Cadets (1962 Original & 1966 model 102) but am new to Wheel horses. I recently found an add on CL for a RJ for sale in Ohio. I live in Southeastern PA. Contacted the seller and made a 6 1/2 hour trip to see and buy my first WH. Thank you Mike (@ML3). It was my pleasure to meet Mike who is an awesome man and a new friend. Since you all like pictures I am including a few.

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.

666 hours (yes, exactly 666.6). 42 inch rear discharge. Runs great.

Per your suggestion, I just pulled the front axle pivot pin to inspect it. All of the fasteners were nice and tight, so I don't think it has been shifting around. The pivot shaft is still in good shape, and there was no damage to the hole where the threaded portion of the shaft passes through the frame member. I lightly polished the shaft, cleaned it, greased it, and reinstalled it. The axle pivot action seems very smooth and snug.

Hello everybody. I’m new to the forum, but I’ve owned a 2001 522xi for the past 17 years, which has served me well for multiple purposes, including snow removal, rototilling, lawn mowing, and moving my empty flatbed trailer around the yard. I also have a plow for it, which I've never used, since I have other equipment for pushing stuff around. I recently added a new member to the stable: a New Holland GT18, which I understand (correct me if I’m wrong) is basically a Toro Wheel Horse 518xi wearing a blue suit and sporting a few trim and logo differences. The new-to-me GT18 came with a very solid 48-inch mowing deck (no deep rust or rust holes), which is one of the main reasons I bought it. The tractor runs well and has less than 400 hours on it. However, the tractor and mowing deck were both in need of a some repairs and adjustments, which I’m currently in the process of taking care of, and I'll post that process soon.

Ah Labor Day... such work...

Our village does not have any big holiday festivities during the summer. Except Labor Day week end, that is a big deal for us. Craft sale all weekend down town starting Sat. morning. A very good cover band Sat. night, festivities all Sun. with a great fire works display at night. Just got done with an 1 1/2 long parade, followed by an excellent chicken chew and more music. Been a busy but fun weekend. Now my wife had me laboring over the canning stove. Guess the fun is over.

I'm really disappointed no one thought it was a tire tube patcher.

I got bored in the recliner nursing this back that I strained trying to cock a 150 lb crossbow. So I cut a chunk of aluminum pipe, drilled a few holes. Now I only have to pull 20 lbs on the windlass to pull the 150 lb cable.

Hydro wire brushed, sanded, and final degreasing done. Primer applied (it is still wet, that is why it looks shiny).

Emma M. Nutt Day is marked on September 1 each year. You may wonder, “Who is Emma Nutt?” She altered norms in a field where men predominated as the first telephone operator in history. Some of us still recall the time when telephone operators were around (even at the risk of sounding ancient.) The first thing that springs to mind when you think of a telephone operator is the sound of a woman’s nice, welcoming voice. However, there once was a time when telephone operators were young men. As you can understand, this situation could not continue. The world’s first female phone operator, Emma Nutt, opened doors for future generations of women, and that is where her narrative begins.

cut the grass today with the commado 800 and the deck DavidTmercer sold me, little bit mulchy but it was very tall.

The peach cobbler called for lemon juice, so I dug out the Rival Jucerette yesterday.

So the devil made you buy it... that's a good one...

Fired up the "new" splitter and put it to work. Cycles twice as fast as the old one after swapping a few parts. I kinda' like the color.

Starter solenoid clears by a very narrow margin. The engine has actually shifted back slighty in this picture, so there is more clearance than that. Once the engine is in place, the drive belt guide will fit perfect and even mount up to the standard SAE hole location on the CH13.

Serial # says 702 ... nice save ML

Although you can’t see any of the stripes in this picture I mow it a different direction every time. It’s good for the grass and helps eliminate rutting.

Wait... I thought juice came from Krogers...

So..........old geezers will know what it is huh? You just made my day. I thought I was an old geezer but apparently not cuz I don't have a clue. I guess that makes me a youngun. I still have no idea. 🙃

Today's progress: Added HF winch to the front end. Has both wireless and wired controls. I'm thinking wired with quick disconnect for this tractor and using the wireless controller as a remote safety "kill switch" for the A-60 when the Littles are driving... Thoughts?

Wheel Horse best kept secret! soooooo easy to drive and mow! Welcome and you have grills on those machines.... nice! I have several and some parts if you need to know something send out a pm.

Great way to honor your Dad!!

Here is a picture of a 312-8 with 8" wheels on the 6" spindle. Mower deck still works just need to adjust the rod.

Wanted to share this simple idea that just snaps on. I didn’t expect it to work without a spring or clip of some sort. It is just 6” Fascia that is bent to the form of the guide points.

I’m sure you know this, but make sure to jack the front end up BY THE FRAME and inspect that front axle pivot. They are a weak point in the design of these beasts!

Happy Labor Day! I’m digging in the yard… looking for my lost treasures. So far, I found an old danish wrapper, and a rusty ball valve handle.

That little RJ sure is getting the road miles in! I took it in on trade this March from mid-Michigan, Mike met me in PA to pick it up at the Big Show, he brought it back to Ohio and you brought it back to PA! Fun stuff, enjoy!

Shop day!! Started with coffee ☕️ 😋 Trina's been working on another woodstove. This is a much more efficient one for the basement apartment. She's got the interior cleaned out. Exterior sanded/ brushed acetone wiped. Exterior painted. This morning I drilled out a broken bolt in the door. I got a work table all cleaned off. Just vacuumed some of the workshop. Now on to whatever grabs my subconscious.....

Hydro rear end now has two coats if IH red.

Retirement is the best job you ever you'll have. I have been at it for 21 years now, and never had a better job. You can plan you day, or wait to see what happens.

Happy Labor Day! Now I gotta mow all day!

That is what my wife and I decided on, we were 61 and wanted to enjoy life without the job stress that we had. The first year we had no income and did a bunch of traveling. We could have worked a few more years and socked away more money but felt comfortable with early retirement. We had enough in our IRAs to feel confident though it was a real leap of faith to give up two good paying jobs. One big help was my employee health insurance continued with a me paying a reasonable premium and covered both of us until I turned 65. In fact the Medicare deduction from Social Security was about the same as I had been paying. At the time we retired there was a provision that allowed you to begin drawing SS at age 62, stop drawing for a month at 65, repay what you had received and then begin drawing full benefits. A few months before I turned 65 the rules changed and that went away so we have been drawing the reduced amount but it plus the Required Minimum Distribution from IRAs meets our needs so all is good. That is a big concern for all of us. When one spouse passes away the household income is cut in half and the bills are probably only cut by 25%. I our case we both took the cash-out provision in leu of pensions which made a substantial increase in our IRAs. As long as Social Security remains solvent and inflation doesn't outrun the stock market we should be fine. If not then I wonder is Dr. Kevorkian makes house calls!

I'm about to get to for the day, but I'm not sure any of the WHs are going to get a big workout. Today's main task is to try and scrounge up some more fire wood. I pulled out what I had left and it looks like I might only have 3/4 of what I use in a year. I know there are a few down in the woods that should be good to use, but I don't think the tractors are getting in there.

May be able to use some citrus paint remover to get back to the patina.

I picked this one up from Sparky a.k.a. Mike. I had it for four years took it to many shows. Sold it and made a few bucks on it. And down the road It went like all the other ones that should have kept.

one factor i have not seen discussed on this topic -- is financial security $ income and/or assets for surviving spouse? Retirement plans of the prime earner should always be consideration for surviving spouse since we don't typically know which of the two will predecease - including plans for social security "bump up" as well as if a survivor defined pension plan benefit for the remaining spouse to back stop the lost pension of the prime earner -- of course this is all in the context of invested/saved assets - any life insurance benefits --- if mortgage, or owned home etc? We don't get an email saying how long we will live so whenever I am asked about retirement age -- i suggest if you are financially able, or you just really, really love your job and have little else to do in your life then retire early to mid 60s -- dont wait!!!!! 60's can typcially be active enjoyable years physically and mentally -- much can change physically and with health in 70s --- so if you want active retirement years then the decade of your 60s will be more active than 70s or beyond - working through 70s unless necessary financially leaves few years for lifes other joys -- but of course its all a matter of personal preference - do what's best for you and yours !!

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

A little update on James. The skin graph has almost completely healed and he will be getting fitted for a shoe or maybe an insert for his shoe soon. He is getting around good and has worn out three special walking shoes and is now on his fourth.

Mowed just the front yard this afternoon…managed to get 2 machines in the side shot

Got the Herd out!!

to @Blue Chips

68 for me, after a buyout. I was still enjoying the work, my spouse was still working, and I was happy to pad the retirement account. Important stuff (IMHO) including some that I could have done better: - health (current and likely future) and understand health/long term care options - Social Security (the timing and rules can be complicated!) to optimize for your goals - Pensions, if any, including impact of final years’ earnings. Often the more money you can pull into the last full year(s) W2 boosts pension and SS payouts. For example, at one company I was laid off and opted to take my severance for Jan-Mar in December as a lump. The higher earnings for that one year raised my monthly pension at age 62.5 by a couple hundred dollars.

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.