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Recently my wife and I went out to dinner for our 32nd wedding anniversary. One of our favorite places to go is usually a 30-40 minute drive, however we are camping in a county park that happens to be only ten minutes from this restaurant. This place is as old fashioned as it gets! It’s got wall to wall carpeting, wood panel walls, and music playing at a low respectable volume from the 1950’s to the 80’s. The name is the Modern Snack Bar and it’s anything but modern! Everyone that works there is in a good mood and happy. It’s been in the same family since it opened 75 years ago! Some of the waitresses have worked there for over 30 years. Now two of the brothers run it with one cooking and one who will come to your table to ask you exactly how you would like your cocktail made. And let me tell you, he knows how to make cocktails. Be it an Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Martini or a summer time watermelon mojito, this guy nails it. Their motto is “Great home cooking’ on the North Fork of Long Island” which it certainly is. One of my favorites is their classic pot roast that you can cut with a fork. They are also known for their soft shell crabs which @Ed Kennell would love! When I saw crabs on the sign outside I thought of Ed and decided to take a picture. Across the street is the last duck farm on Long Island. That’s another one of my favorites, their roast duck. If you still have room after a delicious dinner they have homemade pies to finish you off. I thought I would start this post so others can share their favorite old school mom and pop style restaurant. My wife and I prefer this type of place over a chain restaurant any day. So post up your favorite place with a story and maybe some pictures and enjoy!!

Vic-n- Jennies Restaurant in Clyde N.Y. Grew up there from the 60's to the 70's. Vic and Jenny were long gone but the name stayed. Run by a family. Al Stirpe Sr. was the cook and he kept one ear out into the dining room. If there was a debate going on among the town folk came out of the kitchen like he was shot out of a cannon and joined the fracas! His wife Anna and her sister Connie were the waitresses complete with heavy Italian accents. Loved them all. Every Fri. night all of the stores stayed open late and the owners would be in for dinner. I sat with the local Ford dealer Jack many nights. Building has been gone awhile now. It was an empty lot for quite a while which was really sad. They have a little welcome center there now. Here's Al at the controls! Jack on the right.

This past weekend I acquired this tractor from one of the tractor pulling families. They said it ran 4-5 years ago. (Maybe I believe it) Anyway, Over this past week me and @TonyToro have replaced a few ends on the battery cables, new solenoid, good used starter as ants were coming from the old one, all new fuel lines, new ignition switch, carb cleaning, rebuilt the metal Kohler fuel pump, new spark plug and changed the oil. Today we finally got everything put back on and within a few minutes it fired right up. It also came with a snowplow which I believe is a 48”. Needs a good degreasing and a PB blaster and scotch brite pad cleaning. We did a little on the fenders and it came out pretty good and at least smooth. Going to run it for a little bit and change the oil again as it was very black. More additions to come soon as this will mostly be a plowing snow and dozer blade work tractor. Enjoy the pictures! IMG_1006.mov

Just in time for Halloween VID_20251023_182838325.mp4

thanks to @Shynon selling me this mower deck and bagger system back in 2021–it still works great! Zach drove Blackbeard hauling full bags back to the compost pile. A cool addition to the 523Dxi is the color matching zero turn take off seat from a Ferris. It works AWESOME—so comfortable. I sound like a broken record but I still can’t believe that a 9 year old (Zach’s age at the time) did over 80% of the restoration work on his tractor!

A day early but anyway here is the C-160 with newly painted wheels and vredenstiens. The front wheels appear a lot “whiter in pic but mach the back better in person. Must be the fresh paint.

In a couple weeks you can put a big turkey on there with him for Thanksgiving, Then with Santa for Christmas, Then he can be the grim reaper for New Years, Then strands of beads for Mardi Gras, Then decked out in green for St. Patrick's Day and on and on.

Great time today Kevin! Thanks a million for bringing the plow back from @WHX?? plow day, the help today and your welding skills!!! I'll post up hitch fabrication details on the C-125 Blackhood restoration thread... Looking forward to plow day 2026!!! Oh, as you can observe, gonna need a wee bit of weight up front... IMG_3634.mov

I'm kind of a dive bar guy myself. My wife & I frequent a place that we have both been going to sense we were little children. Fact my parents used to come to this place back when they were dating, some 75yrs ago. On Friday nights we can stop in, see friends, each have a couple drinks, eat some great fish, and go home with a full belly + some leftovers. All for the under $40 including tips. Do take out some times for under $25 for the 2 of us. The Golden Nugget - Open from 4:00pm - 9:00pm Friday's only. A local instagramer recently stopped buy the Nugget.

The BBT and I are not much for going out to eat. But on occasion, we do. There's a place up here in Cornish Maine. Next town over from our own. Krista's Restaurant. https://www.kristasrestaurant.com/ I can not overstate to you folks that this is absolutely the BEST customer service I've ever had in my entire life. We've only been there once. It isn't cheap. But you do get what you pay for.

In addition to hardware disease I'm an impulse buyer. A pair of Ropers on their way home, the 8hp machine sold before coming off the trailer.

One thing you can do to get an idea of what is going on inside. Use a flexible magnet and poke around in the fill hole and see what comes out. Might just tell the story.

Of course we are just speculating on what might be going on inside. Could be more carnage could just need a couple of bearings. Only one way to find out tho. Yep Dan scored a whole tractor for 100 just for the eight speed. Spare for a pulling tractor he says. That said you maybe just patch it up & run like ya stole it while being on the hunt for a replacement tranny. Bad part about that option is your not exactly located where they are abundant. Say what Joe??? Yah little noisy but I saved her.

IMHO and experience this bearing is trash. Using a transmission like this will only compound your issues. It needs to come apart.

Like KP said getting it clean enough. JB weld might work. Guessing you might be putting a band aid on a bullet hole tho. Something caused it to crack and if you don't find out what it is more damage may happen.

Clean, clean, clean it. No oil residue left at all. Then clean the oil off! LOL (Nothing will stick to oil) Use some sand paper after that to remove the paint or at least rough'n it up. Seal it with an oil resistant compound such as Seal-All or one of the Permatex oil resistant products and then press a washer of the appropriate size into that sealant to cover and protect it. Yes you could use something like JB-Weld epoxy too but that epoxy stuff gets hard so the next guy will certainly have a much harder time cleaning it off to change the plug. That's just worth of backyard hammer mechanic advise to get'er done.

When you can find a parts tractor for a hundred or so, it makes rebuilding and fixing much easier. I’ve run much worse, until I found a donor transmission to swap in. My first available was an 8 speed as @953 nut mentioned, and I did the work with a little thinking but zero guidance. Back then, it was out of necessity. Now, it’s custom.

The thinner motor oil pointed out a problem that may have gone unnoticed until a catastrophic failure occurred. Rebuilding would be costly up front but is the best long term solution. @JoeM's suggestion to find a good used transmission is probably the way to go for the short term, lower cost and a lot less work up front. BUT, you will need to find a 1969 or earlier six speed or three speed transaxle. If the replacement unit has one inch axles you will also need to get the hubs with it. 1970 started the eight speed transaxle and the brake mechanism changed, it can be done but a bit of extra fabrication will be needed. Kevin @Pullstart did the eight speed swap and this thread will give you some guidance should you decide to go that route.

You're wasting time trying to seal it. Tear it down and replace ALL the bearings or get another transmission

Good morning, all! My name is Derek. I'm from Churubusco, Indiana. I was told about this forum from a guy named Bob. He said that this forum was the place to be to find info from some really helpful people. Bob drove 1.5 hours to buy a Wheel Horse mower deck that I was selling and he told me about this forum. I've just recently gotten my first Wheel Horse tractor. It's a '98 312, at least I think its a '98. The tractor came with a mower deck and a snow blower attachment but I don't have a need for the mower deck nor the snowblower. I just want the tractor. I want to use it as a trail rider. I bought two other brand tractors for my wife and my daughter because the prices were nice. I'll be doing the wrenching, as needed, so that we can go riding together. Anyway, I'll keep this short for now. I'll browse the forum and I'm sure I'll be back to ask questions and share pics and stories.

So replaced the brake lining on my 857 today and wanted to give a review of the brake lining I got from @rmaynard. I am very pleased with outcome. This little tractor has always been a bear to stop going backwards especially with a load behind it. I'm glad to report it has brakes going backwards know .

Our local go-to eatery is the Gazebo Creekside Restaurant. Hardly a week goes by without us eating there. The Muffuletta is my standard order unless it is Wednesday when the have Lobster Bisque, soooooo Gooooood. Save some room for dessert, they have a great selection.

Put the newly painted vredenstien tires and wheels back on the C-160 today. I dont know why they appear so white in pic. The shade is more like the back wheels. Its Rustoleum Canvas white which I went to after they quit making the Navajo white which I liked just a little bit better.

@SylvanLakeWH stopped by for some Mexican food and some seat time plowing the side of the garden! Saddle up partner!

http://farmerbrowns.com/wp-content/gallery/main-menu/main-menu9.jpg I worked here from grade school till college. Met Leslie Nielson there sophomore year. Have an autograph somewhere. Unfortunately Nebraska beef makes N.C beef taste like cardboard. So I do not consume it here. Hope to get back there someday. New owners from when I was there. Still slinging the same biz.

National Jamaican Jerk Day is celebrated every year on October 24. This day is set aside to celebrate jerk cooking — the unique Jamaican way of seasoning and grilling food. Celebrated across the country, the day is not about the food and the delicious seasoning alone. National Jamaican Jerk Day is as much about Jamaican culture, music, dancing, and community, as it is about the food. Jamaican jerk is the food that brings people together so they can celebrate their history, culture, and identity. Jerk is an important symbol of the Jamaican identity, and the people love to celebrate this iconic seasoning.

Any loose needles inside the Unidrive will surely find their way into the mesh of gear teeth at the wrong time and irrepairable damage will occur to the gears. You MAY wish to drain the oil now and look at what comes out - needles or metal chunks mean it's time to open it up Having that much water in it may have also help gum up the fork detent mechanism too.

Did it bite a hole in your pants?

Andy: was that the RJ for sale on Marketplace that was in Downers Grove, Illinois? It was bargain basement priced but you got a good one!

Thank you. It's not as grippy as I'd hoped but I had them bent up for me 20+ years ago so I've stayed with them. Best so far is what I put on the 523-H. Those things are like magnetic gravity boots! Wherever you set your feet, they stay.

While visiting Niagara Falls a few weeks ago, some of the locals told us about Ray's Tavern outside Youngstown, NY . I think we ended up eating there three times during our five night's stay. The food was good, patrons were friendly, large servings and one fellow, I assume it was Ray or at least the manager, made rounds to be sure everyone was satisfied with their meal. (I'm sure he introduced himself but I don't remember his name.) We were given advice by locals of other places that we tried and they were great local restaurants as well. We were fortunate the rental we stayed in was only five miles away. Locally, here in Bolivar, MO I enjoy eating at Roosters BBQ. Family run, and where the local workers often times have lunch -for one reason a fellow can get in and out pretty quick or spend an hour if some of the buddies show up. They are only open for lunch five days a week. A sandwich such as pulled pork, chips and a drink is nine dollars. I usually get half baked potato with either pulled pork, pulled chicken or ham plus toppings and a drink for seven bucks. A whole baked potato is only nine dollars.

Apparently high enough that we should all consider not buying electrical parts from Amazon. I've heard similar stories about spark plugs bought there, some counterfeit as it turned out. This is going to seem unrelated, but bear with me... One of my very favorite guitarists at the moment is a guy named Davy Knowles. The first time I had the pleasure of seeing him play live, he mentioned one of his albums, at which point a guy in the crowd yelled out that he had just bought a copy off Amazon. At which point Davy suggested very politely that we not buy his albums off Amazon, because "that man has enough of our money". I think of that every time I consider buying anything there. Glad you got this sorted out @formariz You may have already shared this Mike, but who is this guy?

I ran my bore scope down in the trans and it actually looks really good for being full of water. I only paid $200 for this machine anyway but spent another $250 on parts to get it running. I am still waiting on a few parts to see how the motor is so I may end up shoving this one in the corner until I decide what to do with it. There were no bearings or metal tha came out when I drained the water but I will stick a magnet in there and see what comes out.

Holy molee Kevin if you got Mexican food to go with plow practice I need to plan a road trip!

All this exercising and still had time to slap together the deer stand!

If the engine oil is dirty I would guess the PO didn't change the fluid and filter in the hydro either.... may want to do that

This when you are glad it is a hobby!

I'm guessing 10w 30 ? Or maybe 0w 20 ? Run it around a bit with the motor oil then switch to the recommended 80 90w. This will slow the leak down, but sooner or later that tranny's gonna need surgery. May cost up front to rebuild it, but it should last many years when it's done.

Wow. I say split and fix the right way. Either a heck of alot of pressure or corrosion did that. Or both... If the outer caps are deformed like that, you have to wonder if other sections internal of the race are as well. If either of those needle bearings fail, that main shaft will misalign and could destroy the transmission. Short term you can clean it well and spackle on some Flex Seal or similar. You just want to hold the oil in it. I wouldn't use anything epoxy-like because of the difficulty it could cause later.

I am wondering if it maybe was the water in it freezing and pushing it out like a freeze plug.

It seems to be one of the best I have so far. But haven’t even really even driven it around much yet.

Reminds me of a physics prof who joked that new refrigerators were getting so large inside compared to the enclosure thickness that their insides would soon be larger than their outsides.

EXCELLENT upgrade. We do this to every tractor.

Finally got to replace the O-rings in the pump for the Hydro motion control on my 1973 12 auto. Thanks to @pfrederi he was kind to send them to me . I decided to have a go without separating the trans. It’s doable thanks to the cut out on the right side ,was able to remove the motion control out of the way enough to replace the o-rings. hard part was putting it all back together. Some how one seal was smashed as if someone had this apart at some point and didn’t line it up correctly. I also replaced the axle seals wile I was it. Already for winter,hope fully we get some snow this yr

Spent a few hours at @Pullstart acres getting some needed plow advice, fitment and other worldly advice... New to me Brinly plow, imported by Pullstart from @WHX??'s Wisconsin compound (thx Jim!). Hitch customized by me initially, with welding assist by Kevin... Hitch now functions for a back blade, York rake and the Brinly. Some fine tuning remains, and gonna need a bunch of weight up front , but I'm very pleased with how it turned out... Great Mexican place in town for lunch!!! IMG_3631.mov

Can't wait to see the first snow plowing video!

Looks like it is very complete and unmolested. Hope the hydro works well too.

Thank you for the good review.

Getting close to the end of mowing season…bummer. But got in some time on the ‘77 B-80/8 speed with a 36”RD today. FYI: I don’t own a dog,, and dog crap is way easier to clean out of a tri-rib tire