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@Pullstart would be so proud! I think this one goes into the "What could possibly go wrong?" catagory... Look at the left rear tire twitching... https://www.facebook.com/reel/798946695880620

Old guy I used to work with was a prankster. He had this old 50's Ford truck that he put a Briggs recoil on the grill. He also had a starter button hidden right next to it. He would stall the stuck out in front of people and then climb out and pull the recoil and hit the starter button at the same time. Folks thought it was a rope start!

Wild Foods Day is celebrated every year on October 28. It is a holiday dedicated to wildflowers, fruits, and veggies. Humans have consumed plants and gathered food from the wild for thousands of years. However, these wild foods are now increasingly appearing on menus in gourmet restaurants and raw food restaurants due to them being trendy. In addition, wild foods are free of preservatives and pesticides, and consuming them contributes to an environmentally conscious lifestyle. In many cases, wild foods are more nutritious than their farmed counterparts. This is most likely due to their natural survival mechanisms. For example, some plants grow thorns or emit an unpleasant odor to prevent predators, while others produce bitter-tasting chemical compounds. These substances are known as phytochemicals, and research reveals that these can offer us health benefits if consumed regularly. Wild Foods Day started being mentioned regularly in the print media around 1974. Euell Gibbons, a wild food enthusiast, who became a minor media celebrity, most likely inspired the popularity of this day. He is best known for his debut book, “Stalking the Wild Asparagus” and commercials for Grape Nuts cereal. Wild Foods Day is a celebration of all things wild and delicious that the planet has to offer.

Repaired where the seat support brace connects on the 315-8. This was one of the worst I’ve seen. Good to go now. Planning to use the 315 as my plow tractor this winter.

Battery box fabbed although with countless other holes and things welded up front axle pin was excessively worn. Luckily axle itself was ok. The pin and frame not so much. I machined a bushing with a through hole and used a 1/2” grade 8 bolt . The front axle and steering are now whisper smooth and tougher than it ever was

Work Horse that was completed in the spring of 2025 hitched to wagon.

I like the 953s. Mine is an early model w/ross steering. s/n 62-613. My rear wheel weights are painted white also.

Replaced cutting edge on snow/dozer blade and got it mounted on 1257 with the hydraulic lift. Wow how much easier it is to lift and lower plow . Just had to drill and extra hole in lift link to get sufficient ground clearance. Still has enough movement to barely lift front tires off ground. Also have option of moving link to the slotted hole for a float plow situation .

Little picture overload hard to pick out my favorites

What about Roadkill - is that not a wild food???

Not a lot of progress but decals on. And some other odds and ends things. Mostly buttoning up and fitment addressing. Kind of stepped back to see what else I need part wise and tried to get some of that on its way

Last of my grandfathers tractors to restore. Procrastinated on this although have been gathering parts for several years. I knew the tractor was modified but to what extent I had no clue. Ross steering boxed had been a problem for years luckily it was still there. Fuel tank and battery swapped positions and rock shaft and hydraulic lift was stripped long ago. Someone added a longer steering column and smaller steering wheel. Motor was swapped with a Briggs at some point. None of these original parts remained. Belt guards where thin tin type material. Toolbox rear sections was long gone replaced with plywood. Of course seat was missing along with frame so I began THE GOAL: for it to be close to factory as I could get it and function rebuilt Ross steering box and replaced column or tube with correct length one and remade toolbox to the best of my abilities

I added springs to my 857 and 875 and what a difference it made on the ride!

All my protein is wrapped in fur, scales, or feathers.

PETA - People Eating Tasty Animals

Did you all hear the angels singing when that thing fired up? I did!

Oh yeah just about forgot had such good luck rebuilding fuel pump on 857, I started rebuilding fuel pump off of 701. I couldn’t believe how much junk was in these pumps and I thought I had fuel systems clean . Letting it soak a day or two first.

After about 15 years of no snow, I removed the BerVac from the 520 and got it under the hoist. Ready to load and go to a new home in NE Ohio next week. Then put the 48" blade on the 520. I had to change the bend in my custom blade angle lever. Something was different from when I had a 54" blade and a different frame????

Fixed it!

Here was a mod a PO did. Possibly to access the tank shifter area ??? This is on a carcass The Pullstart now has custody of. They did a nice job almost looks factory complete with the countersunk screws.

I finally got all of my parts in today to convert to points. It was a really easy job and the engine is running great now. Thanks for all of the recommendations guys.

There is supposedly only one rock in the county I live in. ...it's about two inches under the dirt- everywhere. No kidding making a hole for a small plant requires breaking out the Maddock or prybar or both.

WOW ... 953/1054 the hardest of models to restore @Achto knows.

Today I added decals from Redo your Horse(Terry) to the C-141.

Awesome Work! I like attention to details. Making the weights match the wheels.

Of course I replaced the fuel tank and relocated it to the tool box slot. We made a nice tool tray for the opening. @JPWH has this now. He should buy the 2054 to go with it 😁

Ah, the mystery in Mystery Meat.... did it walk, crawl, or fly???

Thanks Chuck. I remember the problem of getting access to the tank straps. I think I used some of my long fish hook removing forceps to reach in there. If I ever did another one, I would also modify the straps and blocks so all four bolts of the tank straps could be bolted to the removable cover before the entire assembly is dropped in the hole.

pictures please? @19richie66 did a great job modifying a seat pan too.

That can be arranged...

It's actually not a short frame, but it definitely looks like it in the pics. The frame and transmission are from a C120. I'm a big fan of Vanguards. I have 3 tractors that use them.

I've welded them back up and ground them back round. That was back when I could still see to weld. As Richie has said it still do some of that " Blind ______ welding " . Over 48 years I think I repaired the mid hitch on my C-120 twice that was with a 48" deck and a little with a grader blade.

Yes, the overhang is the factory ensign. If look under the frame angle you will see 2 bolts going into the bottom of the oil pan. Your grey block is probable a factory short block, or red parts are from the original engine.

If I want a rock of a particular size all I have to do is get a plant with a pot the size of the rock am seeking and ask my wife where to plant it. There WILL be a rock the size of the pot right there, never fails.

Friend of mine has one he shows at the local meets. My shop teacher in HS had one he plowed snow with. He'd hit the banks and the back wheels came off the ground. One time the wheels landed but the bed was a few seconds behind!

There’s plenty in New England! Zagray’s is 3 times a year and it’s huge. It’s not a tractor or brand specific show (Colchester Ct). Up in Mass is the Bernardston show which is also a great one. It’s in May and I always try to attend. Plenty of smaller shows as well. The Scantic Valley show is moving from Tolland to somewhere closer to you for next year.

Hey Don I'll weld stuff for you any time! Always good to get together and talk tractors anyway!

I've used the HF winch on my blade for couple years. Working on adding one to back of another worker for a rake, back blade, single bottom plow. Works great and can't beat the price...

Wonderful job, she's a real beauty. Even better than off the assembly line.

Yes, the two 1/4-20s that go into the tool box would be better off being relocated to the removable cover.

thank you bill and ed. i mixed up some dawn dish washing liquid and hot water in a bucket. i used an old paint brush and applied it all over the tranny. then rinsed with the garden hose. then i drove around the neighborhood and parked it on a BIG piece of cardboard in the garage. no leaks. i think it was just some residual ATF from when i resealed the motion control shaft.

Tony, that is an impressive transformation, your grandfather would be so proud to see his 953 looking better than new.

The Tractor Supply 82" X 5/8" Kevlar belt is what you need. Some belts sold on the internet are a bit wider than 5/8" and don't work.

Sad, but the hack "fixes" are seldom, if ever, followed by more robust correct long term ones. Their motto - "Good e'nuf is good e'nuf"

1961 701

And then the other day I also used some brake clean and wiped away someone's attempt to do the Kohler lettering and redid myself with a white paint marker

Here are some pics of what I did. Originally bought the Craftsman plow and intended to mount on the Exmark. Looking on the internet for ideas on how to mount it I found a company in Mansfield Ohio that I bought the needed mounting hardware from. The Craftsman blade lets me be able to angle the blade and has the tip mechanism. I’ve used it the last 3 years and it has worked well.