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It’s times like this I wish we had the middle finger emoji avaialble …but I also know it would be worn out from overuse by now!!

I will say this: a wide set of wheels can be had for a couple hundred bucks. ...worth it! Mine turned out great. But I probably spent $100 in materials. And about 12+ hours of time. I'm glad I know how to do it now, but I'll buy the next set!

It's a 867 I donated ...

Take off the deck and make a show cruiser out of it. @953 nut's electric is awesome for this!

Tri rib tires help Steer only when the tractor is in motion. More counter weight behind the rear tires also helps lighten the front Steering reduction from a 520 is great option for a FEL tractor

As a teenager I was working as a carpenters apprentice on a job site and was looking for a bucket. I opened a 5 gallon spackle bucket in the dumpster. Lets just say that I’ll never do that again!

I’ve been tinkering with my 702 over this past week, going over it, putting together a mental list of what it needs with hopes to find at the big show, but the list keeps growing. I’ve kept the 702 stored indoors for over a decade now after the steering sector snapped. I have my trusty 401 that has been keeping my yard mowed for almost 30 years, so the 702 project has been at the bottom of lifes list of projects. But now the deck on the 401 is sounding louder than ever. Bearings are worn, shafts are worn, keyways are rough, but the deck is still solid. More oil is on the wheels than is inside the trans. Hubs are loose on the axles. I lost a wheel a couple weeks ago. Hub set screw threads are gone, so there’s a blob of weld holding the wheel on the axle. It’s in serious need of some TLC. It did get a fresh predator motor this spring. The last one was on there maybe 12 years. Still ran but was getting low on power and temperamental starting. Thought i’d get 702 going because I know the deck is good, or so i thought. It’s weird how time makes you forget stuff. Luckily it was just a woodruff key for the left side had sheared. So that’s all good now. Since someone had got all happy with nickel rod and welded just about everything together on the rest of the tractor, i just mig welded what was left of the sector to the shaft, mainly to make it easier to move around until i find replacements at the big show. i bought the 702 15-20 years ago as a “ran when parked”. Well sure enough, after a battery and carb n tank clean, it was running, but it seemed tired. At the time i had planned on occasionally plowing snow with it so no big deal. Shortly after replacing all of the tires, the sector broke. So once again, it was a “ran when parked”. Since then we had moved. The new tires got swapped on to the 401 because the original tires were coming apart and the front wheels were rusted through. The new place has a fairly steep bank sloping to the rear of the property. After fixing the deck on the 702, welding the sector, and charging up the 12 year old battery it fired up. I took it for a lap around the yard. At first i thought the deck belt was slipping, but no. That’s how quiet it’s supposed to sound. Lol. Poor little 401. But boy was that 7 horse struggling. So LOUD. I made the mistake of going down back. Had to disengage the deck and pulled the throttle out all the way, i barely made it back up the hill. So last night i was thinking about how loud it seemed and just so little power. So this morning i went out and sprayed soapy water around the head and cranked the starter. Sure enough, bubbles coming out near the exhaust side of the head. AH HA. So i pulled the head, gasket wasn’t complete toast, maybe the bolts were loose, but i zipped them off with an impact gun, so no idea. Soaped the valves and aired the exhaust and carb. Had some light bubbling, so i pulled the carb and breather and checked the valves. .006” intake .023” exhaust. Good enough for me. I got on the phone and located a new gasket locally but I figured i couldn’t make a 25 minute drive in 9 minutes before they closed today, so i cleaned everything up and put it back together. Finished mowing the level area of the yard with it. Struggled getting it out of all 4 gears every time i had to back up. It started to get a little better, but i’m hoping a new shifter pin will fix it because the shifter has a lot of rotational slop. A new pin fixed the 401 when i had the same problem. I did drain the trans and filled it with ATF to flush it out. Hoping it comes around. I checked the bore, 4 times. I kept getting the same thing. 2.882”. I don’t know what that is in dog years, but that’s what it is. I could push the piston around, as there is a serious gap to the cylinder wall and the piston is stamped STD. Obviously no visible crosshatch, but no scoring either. I couldn’t pick up on any rod noise, but it’s hard to hear anything over the steering shaft buzzing in the aluminum tank. After mowing with the 401 for over a quarter of a century, the 702 just felt odd. Maybe it’s just the whole low power, but it definitely seemed geared lower too. I like a 32” cut as i have obstacles and tight areas. I can wheel the 401 around quick and easy. I just don’t see that happening on the 701. Always loved the easy steering on the 401. All 4 tires are foam filled, and i have a pair of Taurus rotors that i filled the vents with lead, 25# each, so the 401 sticks to the ground. I’ll probably be looking for a complete correct deck for the 401 and another motor for the 702, some front wheels (the 702 is currently rolling on my old 867 tires and wheels that i foolishly parted out back in the 90’s) So yeah, that was my day. The 702 cut beautifully, but it’s had a rough life long before i got it. It might be best as yard art.

Wait... isn't being married effectively the same as contraception...?

Just dabbed a little on with a Q Tip.

The Firestones from Miller date code is 2033 (22 July 2023). The carcass, tread, beads, sidewalls, and nubbies are all flexible (well, as flexible as 4-ply rating ever gets ). These are not NOS, they are made in SE Asia under a licensing agreement with Firestone. That they’ve been in stock for three years is no surprise to me--demand for these cannot be very high. Only a few WH and Cub model GTs seem to be using them and lots of owners prefer ags (6-12s are fronts on some larger tractors, but again, ags seem to rule). My take on tires is that age takes them all, regardless of usage. When my 854 came to me, its BF Goodrich rears still had some nubbies yet the tractor was kinda tired. Learned that the PO had swapped on new wheels with AGs when it was only a year or so old and the “original” wheels & tires were stored in the shed only to be put back on when he sold the tractor! There were age cracks and hardened lugs in the tread within a year of me running them (tubes kept them aired) and a big sidewall split (cord failure) was the final straw. My assessment? Any tire more than 25 years old has a short working life expectancy. These new Firestones should outlive me.

I'm making slow but steady progress on the M37 engine overhaul. The new pistons and exhaust valves just arrived. The valves are 21-4N stainless steel, and I've asked the machine shop to install new hardened exhaust valve seat inserts to pair with the new exhaust valves (we haven't decided what kind of inserts yet, maybe sintered metal), so the engine will be properly set up for using unleaded fuel. The shop will be boring the cylinders .020" to pair with the .020 Silv-O-Lite pistons, which are a hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloy that expands less when heated, so they are sized for a closer fit in the bore, and the silicon helps keep combustion heat in the chamber. They came with new piston pins (floating type), and I'll check the piston pin bushings in the connecting rods and replace the bushings if necessary. I just ordered a set of .020" oversize Grant piston rings. I'm also gradually moving ahead on the chassis and cab work. After removing the cab with my engine hoist, I rolled the chassis out of the garage and lifted out the transfer case with my front-end loader, since my engine hoist is still hooked up to the cab. The transfer case was covered with a thick layer of decades-old hardened dirt and oil that was about as tough as epoxy (or so it seemed at the time). Here's how it looked after SIX cycles of de-greasing and pressure washing. Not too bad, but there is still some dirt left to be removed, and of course I'll make sure it's spotless before opening it up to see how things look internally. Hopefully it will be in good shape, but I'll replace anything that may be needed. At the bare minimum I would be replacing all six seals and all gaskets. I still have to finish cleaning up the portion of the frame that was under the cab. As mentioned, the frame is actually in pretty nice shape. I just need to sand a few small areas of light surface rust, de-grease it again, pressure wash it again, let it dry thoroughly for a few days, and then prime and paint it, followed by all-new grease fittings and a thorough lube job. BTW, the olive drab paint you can see on the center section of the frame that was under the cab is the original paint. Not bad for 72 years old. It's raining off and on today, and I'm taking a bit of a break. Should be nice weather tomorrow, and I hope to get moving again on the frame cleanup.

Yes it can and I did!

It also appears like it's rubbing the PTO hoop. I think a 1/2" belt will slip on the PTO pulleys because they are designed for a wider 5/8 belt and not variable like many aftermarket pulleys are designed. Maybe that's why it's so tight but IDK. If the pump pulley will handle a wider belt then go with a wider belt. The suction hose doesn't have any pressure on it. But use a stiff hose because stronger suction pressure could collapse a flimsy hose. The reason for asking about the color is to see if it's ATF or motor oil. It possible it could've been changed to hydraulic fluid too.

Hi all! Been a while. Still kicking around. Still building. In regards to building there's some heavy stuff that needs moving from time to time. Most of it I did with the diy spear but that has it's limits. I've been looking for a lifting mast (is that what you call it?) to go behind the 585. Yesterday I finally picked one up. Lift height is 2.8m (~10ft.) and lift weight is 2500kg (5500lbs). That kind of lift capacity is great and all but it now (the lack of) weight of my tractor is the limiting factor Any way.. here are some pictures. *edit 2.0 picture issues resolved, supporting member status renewed

I fileted over 100 fish this morning. The club held our annual kids fishing derby today. We had 68 kids signed up and they landed some lunkers. The winner was a 26.25 long 10.2 lb. rainbow. Those smiles are the best prize.

Quality Inn 1465 Doran Dr. Scotland Pa ( Keep the car wash vacuums open for impatient truck drivers! )

Got some logs pulled outta the forest today.

Great nephew got to come home with me after church of course it was tractor riding time when we got home. Started with the C160 then the 520H and also the 312-8 but forgot pics of him on the 312. He is really a good operator already pays attention well and has a good understanding of what it takes to run the tractor just still to small to reach everything.

I have one last set of 2 inch wheel spacers put away for the next time...

Buy the tractor I'll tell ya ... Just a farmer fix.

Bill gave this treatment to our non-FEL 312-H and it radically reduced steering effort. While examining steering bits, look closely for bent spindles, too. This spindle shows the HD bracing--also an important strengthening.

Saw this in a clip, another idea for cutting straight on a rim.

The last several days have been taken up with processing about 10 heads of cabbage from the garden. I think I used 4 to start a new batch of sauerkraut (weighed 4 pounds of cabbage), so the last couple of days I've gotten to hear the pleasing sound of an occasional "blurp" from the crock. Yesterday, I chopped the other heads, got them cooked down, and stuffed into quart jars. This morning I put 7 jars in the pressure canner.... just took the canner off of the heat, waiting for it to cool down. It's a lot of work, but very satisfying, in a lot of ways.

Yes, but you don't want to use too much, it just takes a light coating to protect the connection.

@Docwheelhorse. Dual exhaust?

That was probably supposed to be a "B". A 32" B Belt is #B29 or 5L320W (Gates)

You been in that side room in the shop again?!?!?

Yes.

Ah, correct. I never run a mower deck. I'd still go with a 5/8 belt though

You can get a 31" belt, you have to measure the outer circumference. It is an 1/2" or A belt width. The 31" is called A29, the 32" is a A30 Should use suction hose for the pump input Hydraulic Fluid is AW32 Works good in all weather conditions. Not sure if yours has a suction filter or it may have a screen in the tank on the output, might pay to check.

Sure, Im good with it, post it. Just give credit to wherever you got it or the person that wrote it up (if you know)

103990 is a very popular switch so should not be hard to find. There is no substitute. There is a good chance the B terminal overheated because of a loose or dirty connection. One thing to check before plugging in a new switch. Click on the picture of the switch to see the connector.

I've discovered a forum about Honda outboard that looks reasonable. After reading that, I think I am going to order a full pump rebuild kit and a spare impeller. There is a line of thinking that mixing new and old pump parts might not be the best of ideas. I did not change the cup that the impeller runs in last year - it still looked good to me and was still solidly in its plastic housing. Who knows? The other think I wonder is how fast do those impellers come apart? The number of impeller shards I found inside the pump suggests that it might happen more in a matter of seconds than minutes.

Real nice of you Bill really. Any profit I make goes to a new rosary and cassock for @Achto

The scope of the invasion, the reality of the commitment, never fully registered for me--it was just numbers and statistics, right?--until I was fortunate enough to walk those miles of beaches and bluffs and meadows led by an exceptional guide.

I predict that the most sought-after item will be the one you looked at and left home because you convinced yourself no one would want it.

I was at Wheelhorse when marketing did this. They did complete the Baja desert race with a STOCK 520-H. It had 3 options from the catalog. 1 dual tires, 2 cleated tires, and 3 aux fuel tank. I restored a 1991 520-H which came with the original baked, cooked sticker on the hood. since I planned on using it I put the replacement sticker on the seat. A body shop painted the hood and fender. Its a sharp tractor I still use

Yup - I'm athinkin' it's an alergic reaction to to gold wedding band on her hand...

And 10 months later the population doubled.

And add an AHHOOOGGGAA horn. Ahooogha.mov

@953 nut @squonk can Noalox be used directly/In between electrical connections? I was always under the impression that it could be but was scolded once for using that way but believe the other guy was thinking about dielectric grease and I was using Noalox.

They had bicycles in those days

Mine came with Trans fluid in it. Bought it with very low hours . Changed it twice, never an issue.

I recently spent an inordinate amount of time searching for non-ag 6-12s and even considered 6.00-12s (which fit the same rim but have different profile). The was only one other option, a knobby style with a rounded profile. I bought the Firestones and I’m very satisfied.

We lost my Uncle Floyd over there just after D Day. I have his Purple Heart and 2 telegrams that were sent about him, one stating that he had been injured, the other announcing that he passed away, He was brought home by an Honor Guard and my grandmother (his mother) wanted the guards to open the casket so she could see her son one last time, but they wouldn't allow it, so no one really knows how much of him was brough home to rest. Even though I never got to know him, he is a hero (all veterans) to me! War and service has touched so many of us here, I have a large family and my father and most of my uncles were over in Europe, and I'll always be grateful for all they and the others did for all of us! C-85

My 1950s drive in movies offered several educational programs. 1. alcohol use and abuse We always tapped Pappys hard cider barrel before we left for the drive in. 2. sex ed no details 3. smuggling 101 How to stuff six kids in the trunk of a '55 Ford

Added some creature comfort to where most of them sleep...