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Don't want to jinx anyone here in Maine but have not seen piles of snow here this high in a few years. This was cleaned up with multiple machines. Good ole time Maine Wintah.

Did something crazy today! Drove 735 miles from Andover Ct to Shippensburg Pa (round trip) took me 13 hours and 10 minutes, spending $130.24 on fuel…to come home with a C-145 Hydro. My wife packed me a lunch, snacks and a couple waters so I only had to purchase a coffee. Left my house at 5:30am and pulled back into my driveway at 6:40pm. Was supposed to be a clear day…hardly! Hit snow on I84 west headed to Scranton Pa, and hit it again on the way home . But no hiccups or truck issues so I’ll say it was a win!

I’ve had this for about three years now. I decided on a fall assembly. I started cleaning one part at a time that’s how I do things. I clean everything by hand. So I’ve been working on and off on this one for that much time. Did multiple restorations on other tractors over the last few years to by and sell,and this one sat in a corner so I decided to start working on it this winter to finalize assembly. Either keep it or sell it not sure yet. The last few pics are the day I bought it. The last picture is the lineup of the one I just bought. Also dockwheelhorse . I believe wallfish in there also AKA- Sparky and his son Bradley tractor. This was in a dirt pit where very old from the 30s 40s and up,in a pit in Colchester at Zachary farm in Connecticut. Hope you enjoyed the pictures.

Update: It’s a 1984 and has the original/correct Kohler 14 under the hood. Hubcaps are off and undergoing a cleaning (they will be up for sale soon). It’s nice to buy a tractor that has no rips in the seat, a battery that’s still good after you get it home, tires that aren’t flat after you get home, working head and tail lights (LED tail lights ) Wheels will definitely need to be cleaned up and painted.

This one is from years back on the road to the family farm in upstate NY.

Today I was gazing over what I hope to be a mushroom patch. For the past two years I have been able to harvest a few mushrooms but this year I stepped up the process. Starting about four years ago as I found morel mushrooms, I'd bring them home and wash them then pour the mushroom spore laden water in the area pictured below. A couple of years ago I found four and this past year I think I found six or seven. Last spring, I read about making a slurry with mushroom spore water, flour, and karo syrup. A fellow puts the spore water, pieces of mushroom and the afore mention ingredients in a blender for a few seconds then transfers to a bucket, aerate it for 24 to 48 hours, dilute in additional buckets then pour on target areas. I spread up and down the fence row and in the asparagus patch. The articles said it may take 3 or four years to be productive with maybe 40% chance of success. We ended the year 3 1/2 below normal rain fall. December was one of the driest on record. This past summer I watered the mushroom patch. I guess I'll know next spring. In the meanwhile, I had fresh pork shoulder, cured it this past week and smoked it today.

I'm a fan of a wider track width. Better stability. IMHO looks better too. Was it me I'd get spacers for behind the wheel as mentioned above. Can you cut the spindles? Sure.....

This is from a friends house last year just north of Oneida Lake

Old black hoods, I call them rattle hoods, I think are some of the best machines WH made. The C series with larger rear axles and the big Kohler engines, pound for pound, just plain tough. I guess my question, at what point in the trip did you say "what am I doing?" I know I have been there! Every tractor has a story and my C145, that still have, is a good one. About an hour trip to pick up. Myself and a friend went to look and buy a c145 that lived it's life moving boats. It was at the owners home and went to take a look. It ran great, but had the old plastic seat pan broken and it was weathered a bit. Did a little negotiating and was at a stalemate. Real close tho. It was a hot evening and I noticed the guy had just came back with a box of long-necks and put them on the porch when we show up. I told him to throw in a couple of the beers and he has a deal. Oh he was real happy. went down and put the case in the yard and we had us a couple. My friend told me we need to go or we are staying. So we got another tractor and made a friend. Picture from a 50/50 redo.

A few weeks ago the BBT removed the S/G belt and replaced it. She also attempted replacement of the main drive belt. Turns out that transmission pulley was a semi universal that would accept either a 4L (1/2") or a 5L (5/8") wide belt. When using a 4L the belt sets lower in the V groove. The belt we had put on a year or three ago was an inch shorter than stock. No new belt that size handy so she put it all back together. A week later Trina disassembled the side of the tractor again so we could install the correct pulley and belt. Wrong size pulley bore. She put it all back together. Thanks to @Achto I ordered the correct sleeve. Trina disassembled the side of the tractor again so we could install the correct pulley and belt. Wrong size steps on the keyway. She put it all back together. I looked at 6 million ways to Sunday for the correct key. Nope. Well fine. I figured I'd test my skills with the new to me drill press. The adapter sleeve came with a metric key. I shaved ONE 128th off one side and shaved it from 3/16" to 5/32" for the small part of the step. I did the "shaving" by taking several dozen tiny downward cuts with a four fluted flat bottom mill bit. Effectively used it as a drill bit. Very slow. Very careful. Got it done. Here's some pics of the project.

Congrats !!!!!!!!! ---- Really like the black hood C series - have two of the c175s --- and now trying to save a C165 which grandson and I rescued but likely needs engine rebuild --- have been looking for a C145 for few yrs - - hard to find - prefer the H model -- drove 3 hrs to see one in Pennsylvania 2 yrs ago expecting to bring it home, only to find when i got there a frame crack in the frame plate connection to the tranny -- decided not to take it - probably would have been worth the time and cost to repair the crack.

More expensive more like original and holds on pretty well.

Controller, Alltrax AC2, was little bigger than I was expecting but got it mounted

Many do not realize the importance of fresh supple fuel hoses. The rubber must be soft enough to grip the hose nipples. What happens is the pump suction will pull a bubble of air between the hose and the nipple and then it expands that air bubble to a teaspoon full size with each vacuum stroke and not having duration enough to pull fuel with it before the next stroke happens. They will allow air to get sucked in but not leak fuel out so does not get noticed. That is why fresh fuel hose often fixes a fuel starvation problem or an electric pump installed at the tank works. The fuel between the pump and the carb is never under a vacuum so air is never drawn in.

Good to know. One area of wear & friction is where the steering shaft engages the lower steering block. The underside of the pinion gear wears into the top of the block; the gear mesh into the fan gear pushes them apart wearing both the shaft and block bore. The bottom end of the shaft received six shallow grooves to retain grease. I address this by flycutting the worn top surface smooth & flat again, then drilling & reaming the upper bore to accept a thin-walled bronze bushing. Once installed I drill thru the wall at the grease fitting. I use a thin - .015 or so - steel shim between the cast block & the steel gear. Grease fitting... I also add one to the lower portion of the block where the lower steering shaft lives. No bushing in the lower, I added one on the shaft...The 502 I did now has one-finger steering...

I see a new handle in your future ... SparkyX??

January 3. 1938, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the National Foundation of Infantile Paralysis (later called the March of Dimes) to find a cure for polio, a disease he had been stricken with in 1921.

My new ride

This is probably one of those occasions where we understand the difference between what we CAN do vs what we SHOULD do.

I missed a good one in the winter of 1968. I had a week of leave time from the Navy and went up to Syracuse, NY, to visit my family. They had been having some very good weather for weeks so I wasn't reluctant to drive my '63 Buick Special (with about 5" of ground clearance and skinny 13" tires). A couple days before the leave was over we saw how bad the snow was in Chicago so I decided it was best that I head back to Charleston, SC, early. Drove straight through the next day and when I called home to let them know I made it OK Mom said they had over two feet and it was continuing to snow, total was about three feet if I recall correctly.

I put a couple of washers and a 3/4" collar on the back side of the rims of my 1971 Raider. I used some new rims with a 3" wide hub.

The easiest repair method in that location is fiberglass as @ineedanother describes. But, if you have sandy soil like I do, a fiberglass patch is probably a temporary patch, due to the sand blasting action while the mower runs. Being a retired press & die engineer, I'd get out a ball peen hammer and a log with a shallow depression in the end and try to beat out a reasonable facsimile patch panel. Might be easier to match the contour with a 2 or 3 piece patch. I've got some patch work to do on my decks, so that was more of a pep talk to myself.....

Yup, patience... By the looks of it, it is time to remove the hexnut and guard to get a better understanding of the idler pulley's bearings. Note where each spacer goes - they are not the same...

I had to drive from The Geneva NY thruway exit to the GM training school that was in Depew (Buffalo) in an 85 Toyota PU with the 5spd 4 Popper. Just as you merge onto the main highway you're going up hill so I'm winding it up pretty good to get to 65 MPH. There is a bridge partway up and it's a cold morning. I got on that bridge and the truck changed lanes in a blink of an eye. Every bridge I went over after that I felt the back end starting to switch lanes until I figured out to coast over everyone. Made for an interesting trip.

Unfortunately, not just with polio, we are witnessing a substantial decline in vaccination rates - perhaps reacting to the Covid 19 vaccine debacle - information / disinformation / lack of trust - as well as cases from people coming here from other parts of the world with less adequate health care. Such massive historical success worldwide, yet so easily diminished by a newfound lack of trust due to Covid. I hope the powers that be and the March of Dimes type organizations learn from it and can win back previous success levels.

I was about to ask what the supporter meant. As soon as Christmas bills roll in, I'll see what I can do. Money is tight. Not airin' dirty laundry but by God's grace I just kicked inop stage 3 cancers' butt. You can imagine the costs I'm sure. My wife has been diagnosed with inop stage 4 cancer & she's not doin' well. Not responding to treatments. They said 4-12 months without treatments. I got the 312-8 to get me outside and help get my head on something positive.

If your gonna get a borescope, Get one with the wiggle end https://depstech.com/collections/video-endoscopes/products/ds630-two-way-articulating-borescope Fast forward about 13 minutes.

Don't know what this one is ... and I ain't gonna go out to the barn & measure ...in my jammies and too cold out...

‘84 C-145 Auto

I remember that one too. I was in the garage restoring a 67 Chevelle and couldnt believe it outside. I had a Ranger that went like a tank and went in town to get some tailpipes custom bent. Through town. The shop was closed. So I got on the highway and was surprised there was no traffic. When I got home I found out it had been closed. I70.

with one of those I could do my own colonoscope well, maybe not!

If you have enough solid metal under and around the height-adjustment bracket, then I think you could get by with fiberglass and resin. If the height-adjustment bracket has lost much of its support, then if it were me I'd opt for welding. IF it's just a matter of expediency and looks don't matter, then a welded repair should be pretty easy. If appearances are important, it will take a bit of work to do a nice-looking welded repair, which would involve cutting back the rust until you hit good solid metal, and then cutting and shaping the insert(s) to match the opening and the original contours. Some extra strips of metal could be welded across the seams underneath the deck if extra strength is needed. Shaping mild steel sheet isn't terribly difficult for small pieces. If you don't have fancy equipment like a metal stretcher/shrinker, English wheel, bending brake, body hammers, dollies, etc., you can get by with a vise, a leather bag full of steel shot to pound against (or just some soft wood with a depression in it, like @8ntruck suggested) and a couple of sizes of peening hammers. Here are some photos of one of my more recent sheet metal repairs. It's not a mowing deck, but the approach is basically the same. BTW, I'm NOT a professional body man, but I like doing some sheet metal work from time to time. Before (bad welds and repairs by previous owners, rusted and cracked metal): Disassembled and chipped off enough old paint and body putty to assess how extensive the damage was, which revealed several cracks, rust, and bad brazing work: Straightened out a few spots, cut the cracked metal and rust spots back to solid metal, and started welding a few places. Not all of the repair areas are shown in these photos. New metal shaped, welded in, and rough ground: After a few small dabs of Bondo, sanding, and priming: The result after painting and reassembly (plus a new badge): If you haven't done sheet metal restoration before, fixing the deck could be a fun little project.

Doing some mid season inspection/maint on the 702. Relocated the exhaust because it was originally turned down on the snowblower controls. Used what I had in garage for that project. Adjusted the governor also. Found a few loose bolts too. The 654 is next for inspection. All the Tecumseh haters can say what they want but that tractor is the most reliable of my entire collection.

I use old seat edging I save from worn out seats. Some people use split gas line.

I went the fiberglass route with one last year. I have a wire welder but molding steel patches was going to be messy at best and the repair I was making was a bit less than what you have. I layered 8 oz. cloth on holes as well as thinned areas and it has held up well so far.

I’m pretty gloomy about the prospects, frankly, given that unpasteurized milk is being touted as “beneficial." We have a measles hotspot in the county across the Hudson from us. At least one unvaccinated child has died (and there have been many serious cases.) Initial exposure was from a visitor from overseas. Despite all, that community’s vaccination rate remains at around 50%. My wife and I are fortunate to have access to any vaccines we choose to have due to our (ahem) advanced age plus our medical plan covers them. Hence we are current on everything. As registrar at a private high school until retiring, my wife had increasingly difficult times with a few students’ parents trying to get non-medical exemptions to the required vaccination policy. One ill-informed parent thought she could transfer her daughter to public school to avoid vaccination--then the public school refused to accept the transfer (same policy there). The student ended up suspended. She pled with her parents to let her be vaccinated and they finally relented.

Ran it twice with God's grace, had prostate cancer in 2019. God had me then too. Thank you, sounds like you're familiar with that road too. Sister is big into herbal meds. I took a lot of different ones she told me about.

I started using that several years ago because I could see the fuel through the line. I like that quite a lot. Problem is, it was going stiff and needing to be replaced after about 2 to 3 seasons. A year or two ago I switched over to the one my local small engine shop recommends and uses. Actual Briggs & Stratton part number. I am now buying that in bulk. Bill's Place may be the cheapest one. Not sure. The part number is, 395051r. That's a 25-ft roll. What I like about this stuff over the regular rubber is, it's quite a bit more flexible. A lot easier to use. Does not kink on sharp corners anywhere near as badly.

1/4 inch ID and a fuel filter. I buy the rubber stuff bulk in the jungle. Some of the other guys use the blue stuff and like it. @ebinmaine might have a source for it. Just harder to work with in the cold. I would definitely pull the gas cock to check and replace the rubber grommet.

Most of us use 1/4" rubber fuel hose available at ant auto parts store, get some new clamps and a fuel filter while you are there,

1990 510-8

Franklin Delamare Roosevelt was an amazing man who faced tremendous challenges thought his life. His charitable act of founding what we now know as the March Of Dimes benefitted society so greatly that we all owe him a debt of gratitude. My school was one of many that participated in the initial Salk Vaccine tests, half received the real vaccination and half were administered a placebo. Lucky me, I got the placebo and had to have a second round of shots the next year. Unfortunately, one of the girls in our school who received the placebo contracted polio prior to the second round but was given the vaccine anyway. She faired much better than most polio patents did, though she needed braces she was an active person well into her eighties.

HAHA! When I woke up and it was 16 degrees out…and again in the first mile as my truck was creaking and groaning and I was wearing gloves so the cold steering wheel wouldnt suck all the heat outa me . And again near Scranton PA in a snow squall that was sticking to the roads going up a hill and the rear tires broke loose and traction control kicked on going over a bridge..apparently the bridges DO FREEZE before the roadways!

The damaged area is much larger than it appears on the outside. Once you grind that surface to expose good parent metal to weld to, you will be amazed how much is gone. Folks here have used either metal or fiberglass cloth & resin for that type of repair with acceptable results. Third choice is a replacement shell...

Tell him Don. I coulda picked it up (61 mile) and stored it till the Big Show.

Glad you made it home safely Mike. Now you know the rules, we are going to need plenty of pictures of that tractor once you get it off loaded. But judging from the pictures so far it looks like you got yourself a nice tractor! 👍🏻

A few weeks ago now, but I heard the magic words: “No, you don’t need a new prescription." Haven’t had the borescope out for a while, but the grandchildren are fascinated with it. They scope under and/or behind all the furniture and beds, occasionally finding interesting stuff. They’re allowed to look in certain closets and the pantry, too. Keeps ‘em busy for at least an hour or so.