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This is my old Dakota that I gave to my son and the motor blew as well as some other things, so he decided to turn it into a camper. It has more work to be done, but it's mobile now and off my car trailer, so bonus!

Thank you Wheel Horse Collector Club for all of the organizational skills that go into pulling off this great show. Also @Wild Bill in VA for your contagious enthusiasm that makes the show so much fun. Most of all I think we all need to thank one-another for sharing a great big family reunion. Looking forward to the twenty fifth Big Show!

I don’t know Steve. Our local tractor club puts on a show and we never charge admission. We do accept donations, but make money from membership fees, shirt, hat, and sticker sales. We always come out on top. I think the WHCC is much the same. They have dues that everyone displaying or selling should pay, shirt sales, raffles, etc…. When you put on a great event, people support it in other ways and you always end up to the good. I personally support them through all the means above. It’s a great show and I’m afraid entry fees would deter a lot of people that would otherwise be there. On top of that, it might make it harder for some to come - $30 in gas goes a long way. Not to mention that’s $30 they wouldn’t have to spend with vendors or on shirts etc... That’s just my $.02.

While at the show, many people noticed a fella named Donny cruising on his 702 at slow speed and an incredibly high rpm. My best guess is that engine was spinning 5k. @Jrblanke, Van (wheel n it?) and I were hanging out back by the loading docks (where all the cool kids hang out) and James and Van decided to ask him why. He had a simple and convincing reason. He was stuck in first gear! We quickly offered to help instead of wondering any longer if he was deaf… and used James’ tire iron to pop the super rusted shift lever out of first and got all gears working. That poor K-161 was screaming for over a day by then, smoking out the vent and all. We were sure he was gonna blow it up! Once we got him on his way, he stopped just before the ice cream social and asked if he could deliver it from Biglerville all the way to my house for a year long restoration project! I’ll be set to deliver it to next year’s show and have room to pick up the yellow machine from Jay! If it weren’t for James, having the no-shame attitude he has, we might have never met Donny and most likely would have had a split Kohler by now!

Well said and quite right. Rewarded with the hope for the next generations, not only for the talent shown but also for the kindness and willingness to help someone in need. Lets also not forget the title of post "tractor youth" for the choice of using it has a lot of meaning and it is well chosen. Many may not understand it but we on here do. We constantly witness it in our young ones, not only the skills and talents learned from this crowd, but more importantly the character built from associating with all the wisdom surrounding them. Stepping aside allowing and watching with pleasure someone over half a century younger skillfully complete a job one found difficulty with. That is character, and the kind of attitude that allows the younger ones to want to learn and emulate. It brings back memories of so many great men I was fortunate to come across in my life. Opportunity and recognition, two qualities unfortunately seldom shown to the younger ones Indeed Ed.

Thanks too you Bill and all the staff that make this show happen every year! I was also wondering if our current inflation/fuel prices would affect attendance…but NOPE! The place was packed! I did miss seeing a few regulars but also met a few folks that I didn’t know…so even-Steven right ! I have a “You only live once” kinda view on this and I refuse to let the state of our economy ruin something I enjoy doing only once a year. I’m also not on a fixed income so there’s that. My hotel was $142…fuel was right around $350 but @Docwheelhorse and I ride down together so that gets split in half, $35 at Texas Roadhouse, $10 at Apple Bin Grill (breakfast) and misc other food at the show and on the road at around $50 puts me just over $400. I think I dropped another $400-$500 on Wheel Horse “stuff” so I’m at $800-$900 for two days of FUN! Well worth it and I’ll do it again!

We finally got a video put together, of the cruising, parades, show, etc. enjoy!

@Wild Bill in VA you work very hard at the show. You make it a great experience for everyone there. Your knowledge about all of the models is incredible. You seemed to be loosing your voice during the Saturday parade but you didn’t shorten up talking to each parade participant. The young kids and adults really enjoy cruising with you on Friday nights. Nobody seemed to care about how much gas they were burning up because it’s a lot of fun. I liked what you said about Americans working hard and spending their money to have fun. It’s true. I really like getting to spend a couple of days with people who share the same Wheel Horse passion that I do.

@Pullstart and clan dropped off my second E 141 today! Came from @buckrancher via the Big Show. Great shape. Quieter than my other one. Overall in much better condition. Looking forward to getting it all lubed up to @peter lena standards so it’s ready for train towing and lawn mowing duties… perhaps snow plowing this winter…

The bench hook is a useful simple jig used on the bench to perform various tasks which would be somewhat difficult without it. It will last a long time but it is disposable, a new one being easily and quickly made from any scrap piece available. I make mine a combination of bench hook and shooting board to true miter or square cuts. Once one starts to use it , quickly it is realized how hard it was without it. A simple board with stops square to edges to hook on bench side and provide a stop or guide for work. Can be any convenient dimension and made from any scrap. Stops are made from rabbet cut off. Removable miter block for trimming mitered pieces Rabbet as guide for plane allowing cutter to be perfectly perpendicular to edge being worked on Trimming a mitered edge Trimming a square edge Opposite side used as a cutting stop not allowing saw to damage bench top. Mounting stop away from forward edge allows use with Japanese saws which cut on pull stroke Used as a stop to work on very small pieces

Although I can barely bend, my back eased enough that the kids and I got the roof on the shed today. It wasn't pretty to watch, but we got there. Still has felt to go on top, but at least it affords some shelter to everything that had been sitting in the yard. We had to dismantle parts of it that had been incorrectly assembled by the previous owners, then fix the bodges that has been made as a result. Some people just shouldn't be allowed tools! Will paint it up and add some trim etc next time I am home.

Not to be critical, but rather offering suggestions... I'm seeing a frame that doesn't look strong enough to me. Those butt welds don't give me a warm fuzzy feeling. And 'twist' looks like an issue also. Some cross bracing and sistering onto those arms looks in order.

Since I started this thread back on 2012, I guess I'll end it by saying that it looks like gas prices didn't seem to affect most of you. Lots of talk about how "it's going to cost me a fortune", and "going to have to get a loan", and "the bank just approved my mortgage" and many other comments. But despite the fuel cost, most of you made it, and the show was a major success once again. I missed seeing some familiar vendors such as @Vinylguy, and @wheelhorseman, and members like @stevasaurus, @WHX??, @Achto and others, but there were some new vendors and new faces who filled in the gaps, and as they say "the show went on". Hope to see you all next year.

Pullstart Uber Services delivered some packages from the Big Show on time and with no damage!!! Thank you Kevin!!! My thanks to @buckrancher for a beautiful condition E 141. My second!!! New York to Pennsylvania to Michigan… And thanks to @mike’shorsebarn for the beautiful yard art that now graces our yard… love it!!! It looks great! Mrs. Sylvan is happy with where it landed as am I. Denali wants to know how to drive it without opposable thumbs… Ended up using the come a long to get it in trailer - that locked up rear end made moving it a bear… I’ll do a thread on the E 141 in the electric tractor section… Thanks again Pullstart clan!!! I appreciate your detour to make the drop!!! Enjoy your Black Hood!!!

A number of years ago there was this poor kinda trashy family that rented a dumpy house up the road. Once and awhile the kid about 12 or 13 would ride by on his bike and stop say hi check out the tractors cars etc... One day he stopped by asked if could borrow a shovel, a cordless sawzall and some of hand tools. Sure I figured he was building a treehouse or whatever. A couple hours later I drive up the road I see him with a big hole in the ground by the side of the house. I stopped all confused I asked what he was doing. Here the water line broke a week ago the landlord was no where to be found, here the kid had enough of his family having low or no water pressure and he dug it up himself with the shovel and spliced a piece of plastic and clamped it. I had a new level of respect for that kid that day. Don't know what ever happened to the family they moved shortly after.

Went to the show on Friday morning and was surprised to find the amount of Horses on the grounds , Had a wonderful time as always looking over and admiring all the models of Horses no matter if they were in rough shape or show room quality, they are a testament of good old fashion American ingenuity and know how !! Thanks to everyone who brought out their Horses and to those who put this show together every year, it's the only time out of the whole year i take off work to do something for "me" that i enjoy doing, so again i would like to thank everyone for making this show happen each year! The only issue i seen with the show this year which i can totally understand is it seemed to be a lack of vendors selling Wheel Horse parts opposed to previous years which like i said ....I completely understand with fuel prices the way they are, hopefully , good Lord willing , next year will see us all through some better times. Thanks again folks for putting together another good show, Good Lord willing we will see you all next show..........God Bless

I put $250 in the tanks before leaving town yesterday, another $200 in this morning. I never paid attention to the totals on the way there. Sold enough stuff to make it there and I’m so glad I did! @Wild Bill in VA I was cheering you on when you were talking about the hard working Americans making it happen to get to the show, that’s what the Wheel Horse Story is all about!

Hey All; I actually posted a couple times before I realized there was an intro forum but since I found it I figured this should be my next post. I hail from Durham, NC since the mid-80s where the Horses aren't as abundant as where I came from in PA. My family has all had Wheel Horses at one time or another so while I don't really have a need per se, I came across a package deal last month and decided that more projects were in my future. I'm fairly well versed in mechanics and while my wife and I only have a small plot of land (understatement #1), I told her that this to me is similar to what her art is to her, which is very true. I've since acquired a donor (an incomplete but clean 8-speed, 10hp yet to be discovered by my wife ) since my c-160 auto has a poorly repaired frame and will need to be a solid stable mate for my auto-12. I have two decks, one in decent working order, a dozer blade and a tiller as well as quite a few spare parts so I will likely be lurking and gathering knowledge from y'all who clearly have plenty of that. Anyway, I've already gained a bunch of information and it's clear that this is a great place for more than just the nuts and bolts of things which I can really appreciate. I'm replacing the deck on my house so work will probably commence slowly but I'm really looking forward to reviving some worthy subjects! v/r Randy

After filling my Chevrolet 1 ton pick up and 2 gallon fuel can up with gas Wednesday then paying $147.00 to do so ..... yes I was upset. I wondered just how many people would show up this year for the Wheel Horse Show? We had left at 4:00am here in Richmond and headed north, yes it was a little misty once in a while but then the weather got worse the further, we drove. I figured the rain would stop once we got over the Catoctin Mountain well the weather still was not good. Right before we got to the South Mountain Fairground's I was nervous to look over to the right from the road to see into the parking lot and just wondered .... was anybody going to be there? Whew I saw trucks with trailers with Wheel Horses on them I thought ok there's enough to be called a show. Even standing in the rain talking with all the Wheel Horse folks was fun but I noticed the attendance was down a little .... was it the rain? Once the weather broke in the afternoon the fairgrounds started to fill up with Wheel Horses but still way below normal. Friday morning the sun came out and so did the Wheel Horses, fairground was filling up. I was flabbergasted at the amount that showed up! Never thinking the show would turn out so big. The signature white pants and shirt went on and I went to work. Before the parade I did make a commentary about Americans worked hard for their money and dang it they were going have the fun they earned too! The parade was fun and again a big Thanks to Jo and Linda for the help. Believing that people have been couped up too long and they wanted to just get out and have fun. With the RJ-58 being the featured tractor next year where else would be a good place then at the show to find a RJ-58 raffle prize tractor. Daryl Horning and I found two RJ-58's at Jason Reigner's supply of used Wheel Horses for sale in the flea market section, now we had to do some negotiating because we only wanted certain parts from both tractors but an agreement was made and we taught a few youngsters to art of negotiating. Ok so now I have a wrenching project on my hands that had to get done. Since we are at the show we are going to have fun with this, with microphone in hand I made a bet to see if anyone could guess how many minutes it would take before I would get grease on my white pants and the winner, I would buy lunch for. Well Craig tried to get grease on me by getting his hand dirty first then grab me and Jay in NC ran up to me with a squeeze bottle of gear oil and shoot me with it! Afterward the youngster taking the names and times told me that six people came up to her and said "he will not get his pants dirty, we have seen him do this before". Once the general member ship meeting was over it was time to get back to business, the ice social and the Cruise Night with the oldies music playing over the loud speckers! I love to watch the expression's on people faces who have never seen it or been in it before ..... it's like watching kids on Christmas morning all having fun. The Cruise Night somehow takes people away from all the problems of world so they can have fun on their Wheel Horses. It amazed me that when Daryl and I signaled the cruises that it was time to shut down by waving our hand across our necks that people signaled back with the thumbs up sign meaning "ok will do" and they did. Yes I was impressed by that. Saturday was the last of the buying a short parade and then the raffle prizes given away. Packing up to go home is always hard because of all the people I want to talk to, next year's show is coming, and I can't wait for the 25th Annual Wheel Horse Show! Wild Bill in Richmond VA

Looking at some pictures from the Fawn Grove show, reminded me of an incident that's worth relating to you guys. You see the guy in the green shirt on the right side of this picture. Just as he got to the top of the hill near me, the left front wheel fell off his electric wheel chair. He is handicapped. A quick look and I see a broken off bolt in the end of the axle. I didn't have the proper tools(drills and easy-outs) with me, but found an old wood chisel and a tubeless tire hole cleaner tool. Tapping with these, After about a half hour, I was able to get the bolt to move about a 1/4 turn, but was not having much success getting it out and was near giving up. By this time a small crowd had gathered and a young lad, maybe 12yo, said let me try. He laid down on his side and using the tire awe as a punch and by tapping with skill , he backed the broken bolt out in about 15 minutes. The bolt was a 7mm that is not common in my tool box, but we found the basket on the back of his buggy was attached with two plastic knobbed 7mm bolts. A few 5/16 washers for spacers and the wheel was securely back in place. The old gentleman looked at me and was reaching for his wallet. I pointed to the lad and he was rewarded. There is hope for this world........teach those kids to pull wrenches and be self sufficient.

I had the easy job of flagging him down and holding the flashlight. You are the one that fixed that shifter! Well done sir. Also, I'm assuming you tagged me since I'm a year younger than you, which makes me one of these "youths" and you the older generation. 😆😆😆 In all serious, thanks for the shout out. Having grenaded a K181 about 5 years ago due to over revving, I recognized the situation and didnt want him to do the same! Lots of great people in thus hobby. @857 horse tells about his first show where his wheel fell off and before he could get off the tractor, @wallfish and several others were already sliding the jack underneith like they were part of stock car pit crew. Great story @Ed Kennell, thanks for sharing!

Replaced center spindle bearings on the 1969 re-purposed deck, put back on the No Name 12 auto & gave it a test mow, hums like new! Deck will be torn down & painted this winter. Brought in the C-120 in prep for a new fuel pump then opened up the new to me 520 H to clean her out, dirty ol' girl... This should look familiar to you 520 guys

I looked for several years to find a C-161 hydro with lift. They are getting very hard to find in decent condition. I looked at a few but they were total rats. Finally found one in great mechanical shape about a month ago. The paint is shot but all else is very good. I agree that the K-341 is under-rated in power. It could be the horsepower is correct and it just has gobs of torque, but it sure does seem to be unstoppable. The one I found is very close to a nut and bolt original with a very solid deck with a crappy paint job and incorrect wheels but it cuts beautifully and runs quietly.

I put it on a wh shaker plate that I solid mounted, just had to drill 2 new holes in the plate and it lined up the pto perfectly. I used a battery ignition key switch and a relay to kill the engine on shut off. The exhaust was kinda a pain you will have to flip the muffler over and extend the pipes to clear the hood, I've since this photo replaced that clunky loud muffler with one off a 520. Still had to modify it but it's a bunch quieter and way smaller! The pto is debatable, some people say you can't side load the crank and go electric, this is my second year on this with no problems. If you could use the thrust bearings from the original gt1800 engine you will be good with nothing to worry about. You will need the pulley anyways off it cause the crank is 1 inch. Any other questions just ask iam happy to help!

In 2019 I had already prepared to visit the Big Show with a flight ticket esta and some vacation, but than unfortunately Corona crossed my plans. In 2020 and 2021 the dang Covid do it as well. This year it was clear that I couldn't, because the son is getting married and that's why we're very busy. But I already have it firmly in my plan for 2023. with 2 Weeks Vacation at least.

I see an opportunity here for someone artistic to so some body work on the front of that - maybe make it look something like this?

Great pictures and the E-141 is in great shape...but you guys should really look in the mirror before you leave the house. "There is another Wal-Mart Ethel !!"

Steve, even with no entrance fee, the club always carries a substantial surplus of money from show to show. It's worked for 24 years. I don't know what more the club could do with money from an entrance fee.

I’ve had enough spots froze off me and a couple cut off me to where I don’t mind shade. As I get older, the sun cooks me even more. I guess it just depends on where you live. 👍

I have happy for you guys. That building will be nice no matter how you do it. Anything to get out of the sun for me is a plus.

This isn’t the whole thing but I believe I saw you and your son!

Thank you everyone for supporting the forum. The Eston C-160 is on its way to its new owner. We hope to be able to run more of these in the future!

Yes! Once it is up to throttle the meter gets super steady and shows above 13v! Happy...

A whistling sound is usualy a clue that there is a vacuum leak. I like to use WD40 with the straw to find where it is coming from. Run the engine at the throttle setting that makes the most whistle noise, and gently spray the WD40 onto the perimeter of the mating gasket. If there is a leak, it will suck the liquid in and the RPM will increase. You may need to spray where the mixture adjusting screws thread into the carb body and if there are any externally plugged cross drilled passages. Remember, it IS made of "Chineseium", after all....

If it's a V frame like this it's too short. Frame like this should work. Make sure it's similar to this one and not for a vertical engine tractor:

Well said. I saw a lot of folks having a great time and when I asked vendors "how is your show going" I got mostly positive responses. One insightful fellow pointed out that comparing to last year's show, as it came after the 2020 cancellation, and to pre-pandemic shows wasn't useful--too much has changed. He wanted to look forward toward where the WH hobby and interest might be going and he felt it still had a strong future and that the Show, WHCC members, and everyone interested would find ways to adapt.

Up here we call them cairns. I like your description quite a bit better though. There are two predominant types of trail markers. If there are trees you will see a blaze which is normally a painted rectangle or other shape whatever color the trail is designated. Our particular case for example was a light blue rectangle. If there are no trees on which to paint a trail marker you will see these rock piles about every 50 to 100 ft. They can be anywhere from two or three stones in a triangle to as much as 6 ft high or more.

Looks really nice Alien rock pile. Seen about the same thing in Aruba on the Western side of the island. hundreds of them.

Congrates Maybe next year admin can give a real one away!

Looks like he is the model for this banner Terry @Vinylguy sells.

Those "oven mitts" would have went well with the "Cowboy" outfit!

I pull my 520s apart every year to clean and then lubricate all the moving parts. You will find plenty of debris under the gas tank causing rust if it gets wet. Your electrical issues are 10% Wheel Horse and 90% caused by someone that should buy a disposable tractor.

I see the tire missing Ed, great work guiding and trusting in the young’n to work that tiny thing out!

Sounds like Ed got the real reward! Would have like to see the smile on your face.

Excellent story!!! Thanks for passing on. We need to hear about these events… they do happen everyday, we just never hear about them…

Tecky snowblower engine… seems stock other stuff. The air cleaner is fun, it caught my eye along with the color. It’s a copper pipe, holes in the pipe, wrapped in scotchbrite cloth and zip tied.

HELL Yeah!

Don't think too bad of us, that live west of Indiana, that were planning to go. It was not only gas prices, but motels and restaurants that have priced us out of doing things like that. It's been a tough few years for a lot of us. It's getting harder to save money for trips when you are on a fixed income. You still look great in White Bill...and the show still looks great in Red...and I am feeling Blue not being there.