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There was a fair amount of wear on the ends of the C81 Clutch Shaft where it goes thru the frame. Metal on metal, no bearings & not easily lubricated. I installed the bronze bushings on the 502 frame a while back, using the milling machine. The C Series has two sets of welded 3/4" diameter rods to hold the foot rests, the rear ones were in the way - could not do this in the milling machine. There were 3 choices - cut the rear rods off & reweld them later, do the work by hand, or - break out the 1950's ShopSmith 10E and use it. I went with option #3 - while the assembly & setup are extensive, it gives the best results. Pictures are for the RH bearing: the setup needs to come apart and be reassembled opposite hand to do the left.

What did I do today? Stuff. Dog and I took a 2 mile walk at mid day. The sun was out, and I noted it's low position in the sky and long shadows being cast. Tomorrow is winter solstice, so days will soon start getting longer and the sun higher. Stopped off at the local grocery store and ordered a 4lb rib roast for Christmas dinner. Stuck the new registration sticker on the minivan. Unloaded a few 2x4s from the truck. Lost today's cribbage game to Mrs 8n. I also was pleasantly surprised when I noticed how sharp and clear the view of the other side of the lake is without glasses through the new lens that was put in last Wednesday . Currently have a batch of peanut butter blossom cookies going.

Agreed. I'm not trying to be a hero and plow thru the frame in one pass. Drilling in progressive small steps - first .531 diameter, then .547, then .562, and .591. Then ream to .625 diameter. All light material removal & small chips.

I'll add that there Shopsmith system was designed to be primarily a wood working tool. But with proper tooling, feeds, and speeds, light metal work is possible. The ridigity of the machine limits the metal working capability.

That is what makes it all worth it. Remember, it's a hobby. If you don't finish it today, it'll be waiting there tomorrow.

It's a hobby...yes... but more than that to us here. It's our independence. Our acreage management. Our future. Sometimes we need things done that day and can't wait til the next. Snow plowing to leave the yard for work for example. Thats why we keep multiple tractors for different tasks. If/when repairs or maintenance is needed we still have a backup. Having the proper tools and skills has been an absolute game changer for us at times.

Now that @Brockport Bill has got me wondering how many years the C-165 8-Speed was produced, I had to go to one of my Straight From The Horses Mouth books and look it up. It shows 1980,81 not in 82,83 but then again in 84. I thought they were only produced in 80,81. In 82 16hp 8 Speed offered was the SK-486, or the Work Horse GT-1642. In 83 only the GT-1642 was offered. I find it odd that the C-165 8-Speed was available again in 84. I believe the tractor in the picture is original and not restored. The only thing I see is what appears to be not original seat pan bolts? I know, getting picky, right?!! One of the first things I look for when someone says all original is the carriage bolts that hold the battery tray in place. Many times people will paint over them, they did not come from the factory painted. Whatever happened to this tractor, I hope it ended up in the right hands. As I said earlier, it’s not too often that you see one in that condition. I’m sure that many of us here would love to add it to their collection.

Please become a supporter. You will run out of the capability to post pics soon with the limited space allowed. When you are a supporter you have unlimited space.

I’m converting my 314-8 to electric

The BBT and I played two games. We each won one.

2 words. " Coat Rack!"

Last big update, for a while at least: The guys who do our lifts at work are a small business. I wanted to make sure this was done right, and I like supporting small businesses, so I called them up to put mine in. Owner and his kid came out this morning and had it up much faster than I could have. Then I got the wife's car in for an oil change and tire rotation. Made the boy do it.

Then flip it up to the Vertical post position so that things will fall off!!!

I got one of those. I use it mostly for drill press and disc sander. The wife uses it for storage. Lol.

This discussion reminds me of a rather animated discussion I overheard in the concourse area at a Buick GS meet. The subject was over the proper windshield washer hose stripe color - white or yellow. My thought at the time was the proper color is whatever washer hose was loaded on the assembly line 5 decades ago the day that car was built. Got to remember that the car in question was just another job of 50 or 60 per hour running down the assembly line that day. It didn't get 'special' until it was delivered to the customer. That being said, the tractor being discussed is really nice. Would be interesting to find out what happened to it.

Fuse block contacts cleaned. Fuse block contacts greased with white lithium grease (that grease will be used on all wire harness connections). Rest of wire harness connectors greased. Wire harness ready to be installed. Tractor ready for wire harness to be installed. Edge trim ready to be installed to bottom of front cover. Wire harness fished under front plate and roughly in position. Fuse block bolted to bracket. Relay connector bolted to front plate. Fuse block and relay connector installed. Throttle cable clip ready to be installed. Ground wires and throttle clip bolted down also PTO switch wire connected. Wire harness routing also showing edge trim installed. Wire harness clipped to hoodstand. Wire harness fastened to battery support. Wire harness fastened to battery support also taillight wire clipped to hoodstand. Taillight wire passed by hydro and fastened to hydro control plate. Wire harness installed. Fuses and start relay installed. Note there are only two fuses because the charge fuse is now to be inline by the starter motor solenoid.

If a person is well organized and has limited space the Shop Smith is a good alternative to a well equipped woodworking shop. The biggest drawback is setting everything up for the next operation, can take an hour of setup to do a ten minute job, but it got the job done for you.

It's obvious - the ShopSmith!

You didn't do anything wrong, Wheel Horse just designed these trannys to hold less than what we think they need so a lot of guys just take the shifter or one of the seat bolts out to fill them up with 1 1/2 to 2 quarts of oil instead of just the one.

Got me curious - here's one in nearby CT - a newer version with lots of toys. Under $400... Others nearby priced for even less.

At Bill’s mention, and curious, I did searched CL for ShopSmith in my vicinity. A Mark 5 with only table saw and jointer for $75 and another with “the works” in upgrades asking $6,000.

The second time I worked at Brown & Sharpe I was in the Validator Department. First assembling, then calibrating the CMM's. A lot of folks used a CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine) to reverse engineer damaged parts when there were no drawings available to repair / remake that part. The CMM program could determine the original center of elongated or wallowed out holes digitally!

Here's how I set mine up: Worked great for years. Then mechanical pump started to fail so I just put a fuel pump on couple days ago.

Funny you mention that. Two reasons. While sweeping the bore for the best lineup, the existing hole is elongated. Gotta go slow. The next task is to drill & ream the Axle pivot & spindle holes for bushings. All show elongation of the original bores. One of the spindle holes looks to be centered on one end of the casting - the exit is off center by almost 1/8", partially due to wear - leaving a very thin wall. The plan will be to move the hole away from the thin wall using a boring head in the milling machine to reestablish a round bore

And there is always the question of where should the center actually be? Sometimes it matters little and sometimes a lot!

That is the best way I've found to turn an oval back into a round hole.

Not sure why that double posted? I tried to make a new post and it wouldn’t let me? Anyway, @WHX?? I did notice the PTO brake but didn’t say anything because I wasn’t quite sure. Now that I look at it again and hear it from you I’d agree!

That's a patience struggle for me at times. But I've been learning to invest in my own time instead of bringing work elsewhere - when it's practical. I figure the drive time I've occasionally saved along with whatever learning experience I encounter is a win.

@ri702bill good idea / nice work , always after any repetitive problem , and how to eradicate it , regularly look at a change , as to function , needs a tweak ? or good to go ? my first thought at looking at your frame ? perfect time to lay in a frame length 5/16 steel break line ? tucks right into the upper inner corner of frame , eliminating a lot of fuel hose break down debris , extend out each end of frame , and cap off ? then its just a short run from tank , and to carb with a fuel resistant hose . BTW have also experimented with bronze lube , obviousely lucas green , but also super lube hydraulic oil . extreme temp range and loading makes this stay with tough spots , every inch of my cables has super lube as well as a spring pull assist to close / stop ? that spring set up assists every move . might also add a small perforated metal pull point for that spring assist , your shop set up is easy to see a what if ? type of experiment , regularly do that , pete

PTO brake would not have been silver either Don. Other hardware doesn't appear to be original either and no grunge at all around the motor. I think it was cleaned up, some stuff changed up, used for mowing a couple times and put away dry. Got that right ... I'd add that to my harem in a NY second and I'm not a huge B Hood fan like Sylvia.

Thanks. Google "ShopSmith" - it is a clever versatile tool. Setup horizontally, it can be a lathe, a horizontal drill, a table saw, or a disc sander. Set up vertically, it is a drill press with a 3 foot throat opening! Later versions modified the tilting saw table to become a small bandsaw too. The three motor speeds as supplied are achieved with stepped pulleys. This application has a larger driven pulley to slow it down... Latest version has a built-in variable speed control. It does a lot, but with compromises... and the components are heavy! "Big Dollars"?? Maybe not.... this one, although not complete, was FREE - I had to get the Jacobs chuck & key, the 3 quill handles were missing too. I use it mostly as a vertical drill to touchup small engine valve seats using tapered mounted stones. Works well for that.

December twentieth is the day to observe National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. Wear your most garish knitwear with pride, add some tacky accessories and organize a jumper auction to fundraise for Save the Children. Lurking in the murky depths of many people’s wardrobes is a colorful, brash and (in most cases) highly embarrassing novelty Christmas sweater which, were it not for National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, would probably never see the light of day. The English language doesn’t have a special word for something that’s both ugly and cherished, but other languages do. In Japanese it’s known as busakawa. In French, it’s jolie laide. And the idea is that there are some things in life that are so ugly, they’re beautiful. National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day is all about honoring those things that are so ugly that everyone loves them!

No doubt, it sure is purdy. And I hope @WHX?? that it certainly did not go mud bogging...

Looks like you have some nice tools to get the job done. A big

nice work!

Happy Birthday @gt14rider, we are glad you were born.

Ok.....hope da Bear has spotted what he thinks he's spotted! I saw an old D-200 (tall gas tank) up against a tree in neighbors yard. Hood is off.... Covered in branches and snow...... I have seen my prey......now I bide my time until I see owner outside in the yard. (I don't want to be the stranger knocking on doors at inconvenient times for homeowner). I might be able to bag a parts tractor if the price is right (insert evil laugh) Do others find themselves driving along focused on snooping in backyards? Or is it just me? 🤔

Excellent work and nifty mentoring as well! And no oil on the floor...yet!

A tie?!

So comparing a Peloton bike or treadmill or ShopSmith as a coat rack/storage system, which is better?! 🤣

Be sure and cover those hydraulic line ports. The smallest amount of grit allowed into the system can destroy it. Think surgical clean! And if it had ATF in it before, keep using it.

It's definitely not Bill ... lots of little telltales that it isn't but it's a mute point. Whatever was done is very tasteful. Definitely not like one of EB's franken horses. Reminds me of that C-85 I think it was that Mike @Sparky picked up awhile back.

Eric, I’m sure if you found one it would be big dollars. But like you said it’d be nice to have one. Enjoy your weekend.

Used to do a real tree when kids were younger & lived at prior house. Had 16ft ceilings at that house so I would get huge trees. Kids were young & we would go to local tree farm to cut down. Those were fun times back then, lotsa memories. Now, since we moved to a much smaller house & kids are grown we just put up a smaller 6.5ft artificial tree. I miss the live tree but dont miss the mess.

@c-series don you posted while I was typing,lol. Oh well, Jynx...

He appears to be one well fed bear! Looks like me on my tractors! I hope all of you and your families have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Fake. We haven't done a real tree in decades. Wife likes to get tree and all the trimmings up early--this year the first of November and it will come down before New Year's Day. These pre-lit trees sure make my job easier. I do enjoy the soothing ambiance of this year's tree.

You should have the cylinder jugs and crank measured at a machine shop to see what needs to be done before buying any parts. No need to spend a lot of money on rods, rings and gaskets only to find out that the engine has other problems.

Really glad to hear everything worked out well for you