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I've always liked the '72-'79 ford trucks (especially the split grill's). I searched locally for a while now and unfortunately all of the Ohio trucks where too far rotted out. I picked this neat 1977 F100 Flareside short bed up out of Mississippi. It sat in a barn for about 20 years. (the squirrels where nice enough to make nest's everywhere including the a/c duct work). After inspecting and replacing multiple things it is almost ready to be put on the road. It has a 351M and a 3-on the tree. Power brakes, trailer hitch, and new bed floor are coming soon.

The model 854 has been on my wanted lost for a long time! Whenever one comes up for sale it’s either a zillion miles away, beat beyond reasonable repair or overpriced (in my opinion anyway). So when @stevebo calls to say he has a nice 854 for sale AND he is giving me first refusal how could I say no! I have dropped over $7500 on a couple home projects in the last 30 days so my slush funds were hurting, but Steve gave me a week to make my decision. Of course I bought it and my wife and I rode out to Steves today for it. This one has had a couple previous Connecticut owners (we love to buy and sell among ourselves 😁) Pics of course....

Shown is my solution to retrofitting a C-195 with LED headlights. I 3D printed a holder for the free (with purchase) Harbor Freight 3v pocket flashlights. It took 4 of the flashlights using 2 on each side. That's 96 LEDs total.. Sprayed the holder with chrome paint. Wired in series you can use them as is with a 12v system. Pictures of working headlights are really useless for comparison purposes. What I can tell you is that the LEDs are significantly brighter and whiter. Total cost less labor was around $5.00 not including the purchases for the free flashlights. I also overpaid for the polycarbonate lenses, which was $4 of the $5.

Yesterday, a fellow and his crew came trolling through the neighborhood to do some tree work. My neighbor had them take down a couple of trees for him. The guy shot me a price for one of mine that was way under my usual tree guy. I was actually waiting for winter as work is slow then and it is easier to bargain. The tree was a good, solid oak tree (plenty of acorns ) but had issues with the base. With the house going on the real estate market next Spring I didn't want to scare someone away. It took them about four hours and finished close to dark with it by then drizzling. Now I have my work cut out for me! Good thing I haven't sold the log splitter or chipper yet! With well over three hundred trees on the property, a nice grassy plot is appealing for the next house.

I finally had a chance to work on Road Runner again. I got the engine mounted. I had to make 1" spacers to get the pulley heigth correct. I then found a couple of weld on grab bars for a roll cage that I had lying around and used them to make a header for the Briggs. They were the exact same diameter as the exhaust pipes already on it. I cut the pipes about 3/4" from the flanges and welded up the header. I've got a piece of 2 1/2" stainless exhaust pipe that I'm going to make a straight pipe for it. I had wanted to make a muffler like a 520 has on it without much baffling, but Emory came down and said he thought my tractor would look better with a stack on it, but he said I had to do what I wanted since it is my tractor. I also got the decals from Terry and they are awesome! I showed Emory all of them except the seat pan decal with his name. I might just pop before Christmas gets here! Funny thing is that I'm working harder on his tractor than I ever have on one of mine. It's just more fun!

Hmmm...

Decided to be pro-active and have a new boiler installed. The old one was approaching 21 years and was a slight leaker, not to mention it was a cheapie steel boiler. Now have a Weil McLain Gold cast iron unit. Hoping to see a reduction in my oil consumption 👍

My son and I brought this home today ---

Pictures, lot of pictures. I will start off with the only Wheel Horse there, my 416-8.

Hey, look up ahead...is that a squonk crossing the road?

I see you use the same blue nails I do.

Also today I thought I would try my pattern on some plywood for my fuel tank before I have the aluminum cut. Looks like it will work just fine.

We had a full sized beech tree begin to bud back in spring, then just stopped, dead. No worries about the tree... We live in plenty of forest... but I've been mulling over how to fell it for 5 or 6 months. It was leaning Towards the back lawn and septic system... Bad place to drop a tree. Well this last tropical storm took care of it for us. Here in Maine we get a lot of bad storms that are Nor'eastah's as we say so the trees grow to withstand them. This one came in VERY strong from the southeast and took down A LOT of trees. Massive power outages across much of New England From the downed trees. That tree? Blew Exactly where we needed it !! Off the lawn and away from the house. Good ole mother nature.

It is a lot of work, did one back in 2010 only because of the challenge. Started with a brand new unit still in the box. As stated above, made a new shaft and moved bearing outboard. 2 idler sprockets added to reverse rotation and made a sprocket cover. Made mounting bracket and tensioner assembly. Still have never used it, its my back up for the 2-stage which hasn't failed me yet. Craig

I attach a strip of rubber with magnets to protect this area where the cab rubs the hood.

I cut out a few pieces and they have been laying on the work bench. I've been real busy with some family problems that we won't go into. I've also got old with eye problems bright lights bother me. My welding not what it used to be in other words it ain't pretty. I can still put two pieces metal together that take something bigger then a Garden Tractor to pull apart. I think this is an original ideal but I would put any money on it. It's a removable 2" receiver hitch with a single pin mounting. This tractor all ready had a 2" receiver hitch but the winch has taken up perment residence.

...And we all thought we'd never really know the answer... now I can rest.

To get that squonk...of course.

If that happened my wife would be thrilled. She wants chickens!

Found a C-121 while looking for another puller project, but this one is a true Barn Find. Got it from the original owner, other from paint wear it is complete with all the decals in tact and in great readable condition (looks like new), the deck has no ruct, no rust on any of the metal, The choke and throttle still has the lettering on then. The seat has been replaced with a dealer replacement with no logo on it. The original seal had the dealer logo on it, but it was discarded about 2 weeks ago. The only body damage is a small dent on the grill opening. Still has 3 of the original tires on it and not weather checked or worn very much, always stored inside the barn. The 12 hp Kohler hasn't run for 4 yrs. but is free, the reason they parked it, the outboard bearing on the PTO clutch seized. I want to paint it but the decals are in such good condition I hate to disturb them. It is a well maintained Survivor and I think just wipe it down with a scochbrite pad and clear cote it. The original owner bought it new in 1981 and used it until the PTO gave out, then his kids got him a zero turn, I bought it from him, C-121 8 Speed 91-2K802-25294 168 Mod K301AS Spec 47648d Serial 9701798 12 HP

Maybe so but not having one WHOLE side in place (could) cause a small, slight leak. .......

Trying to but this time change makes it hard. The blue is fuel proof

Looks like your making great progress!

Axle and spindles were a little on the worn side. Reamed out the axle to just under 1" and installed 7/8" id x 1" od brass bushings. Waiting for a 7/8" reamer to finish this up. Should take out all my slop.

Their all yours Tom ...I got no more room!

Nice Mike!! My 854 is my favorite!!

Starting in 1980 they became a C-125 until the 300, 400 & 500 series. He very likely bought it new in 1981 though. I bought my new 1976 in January of 1978 right off Chandlers sales floor.

I have both the single and the two stage that I use on 520's. Both have minor advantages and disadvantages, but I can see no huge difference in performance. Wet, heavy snow will really tax a 14 HP, I have worked 20 HP to the limit with either blower.

Well, after having this car about a year, almost the only thing semi-original is the chassis and that'll soon change too. I'll be attempting to stretch the wheelbase 11" and build a more rigid cage as well. It's now got a Subaru 2.5l non-turbo engine, longer travel front and rear and more upgrades on the way. here's a link to a VW forum with my build page: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=662104&start=0

THANKS for the fast answers gentleman. I normally creep along with my single stage anyway so going slow will be no problem. Hell I am old so slow is a daily event!!

Coarse skateboard grip tape. Works great and wears well. One piece does both footrests.

well i went to junkyard today and seen a snowblower there. both tires holding air and no dry rot on them. sooo i picked them up for 10 bucks for the set. so i am going to fix the pits in original 753 rims and repaint them to go on my 701 since i want 701 to look more original. and ill use the temporary rims i have on 701 on the 753 with these carlisle snowblower tires, now the 753 has a mismatch set of tires on front right now. so this will make it look better. i plan on fixing the pits in original 753 rims with jb weld. i have had good luck on previous things so i am going to give jb weld a try on the rims and see how it holds. it probably wont happen for a week or so i got other things to do

First off They’re only original once. My no paint just buff and wax and you’ll be amazed. My all original 1057 had a quick wet sand by @stevebo with 2000 or 3000 grit (Steve will have to tell ya what he used) then a buff and wax . It turned out beautiful. Yes there’s some chipping on the grill where I had a dent hammered out but it’s all part of the tractor’s 50yrs history .

Finally - The answer to the age old question: "why did the Chicken cross the road?"!!!

Here is a video of Whirled of Hurt #2 in use mounted on the resident Mule.

Gave my wife a new rake and a new tarp. She gave me a concussion.

Surprisingly most of my customers have never been to the forum. Most of my phone up customers do not use the internet. A family member or friend gave them my info. Standard questions are Where can I get parts? or What color to paint. Or What year is my tractor. I would say 50% of my customers have their Father or Grandfathers old Wheel Horse and are trying to refurbish or restore it for sentimental reasons so I always tell them to go to wheelhorseforum.com they will help you save your horse.

Early morning rustle with @Terry M while @WHX12sleeps

The guy I bought my 2stage from ran it on a 314-8 then a 315-8 and said he never had any problems blowing 18"+ snow falls with it, and with the helper spring wasn't that bad lifting it, but yes the twin cylinder Onan didn't seem to mind it in 2'+ a couple winters ago, and another one I missed before I got mine was on a C160 with manual lift, low range 1st or 2nd should keep chugging/chucking along, Jeff.

If I remember, @buckrancher rebuilt that tractor so it's better than new!

One thing to remember is that hydro on the 314 will take 2 or 3 hp’s away before you even add the 2 stage. That blower was mainly designed for the 520. Even though the 314 will run it, you will be tasking that motor the whole time your running it. It will put a lot of wear and tear on it. Also that 2 stage is designed and meant for big snows. It works best with big snows. Big snows translate to more hp’s. Yes you can put it on a 314, but I would not suggest it.

Well thank you for letting me know about my misunderstanding of this. I guess you always learning in life that there is always someone with more experience and knowledge than you.

I'm a GM guy too but I'm with 12Horse ^^^ Looks like a cool project . Those 70's Fords were the only ones with any style to speak of . My boss has a '17 4 door 1 ton and he thinks it's the greatest show on earth . I think it looks like a cracker box with wheels . Don't get me wrong , it's probably one helluva tough truck , but it just has no CLASS . Good luck and keep the pics coming ...... -Gene

Ray- I think it should be fine on the 314. You may have to go a little slower in the deeper stuff.

I use my park brake all the time on both my 520H's They are a very important safety feature for me. I have lots of hills and am on and off the tractors on all different terrains.... I would be very interested in learning more about the mods. you are considering however......

@squonk Do you check the internet daily for stories that you can use (names changed to yours of course) or do you have a black cloud hanging your head or did someone give you the evil eye. You need to move before we read " Local man mowing yard if killed by a truck load of live chickens wreck" , no chickens hurt in the accident.

I Well, after sleeping for 3 hours after getting back from an overnight camp out with a couple of other dads and their son, I finally got a little more done on Emory's tractor. I managed to clean the dash tower and frame rails, knock a few dents out of the hood to mount and adjust it, and reassemble the sheet metal for a dry fit. I also cleaned the engine a little and ordered a set of custom decals from @Vinylguy. Emory asked if he could sand "my" tierods and of course I said yes!

I really need to get a set of those - maybe I'll start hunting CL or something for some decent ones . I about crapped the first time I fluid filled the rear tires and bolted the weights on it - 145lbs just about drove my spine out completely - was not expecting that much weight and the next year I had to have a major hernia repaired . I've been using long pry bars to set them on the studs lately - those dollies would be a lot easier . Sarge