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The search is now over! I have finally found a 42” mid mount grader blade for my 1257 after searching for about 8 months.

July 7, 1986, former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter spend a hot summer day in Chicago, celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary while building a home in the West Garfield Park neighborhood for the Georgia-based nonprofit Habitat for Humanity.

Hello Everyone I'm from California. Just signed up. I own a 1973 Wheel Horse C-120 with the 12hp Kohler. I use it mainly for mowing and snow plowing around the property. It’s been a solid machine and I’m slowly working on getting it cleaned up. I'm joining to pick up tech tips, parts info, and to see what other guys are doing with their Horses. I’ve got a lot of respect for the history behind these tractors. Appreciate any advice and glad to be part of the community.

Got to try out my new hitch that I made for the 520H. “Opie” approved also he said it beats walking….

I would go with an older C series like a C-120. There is enough sheet metal and bits in the way on the newer 300 series when it comes to getting at the rock shaft connection when changing attachments. Plus I think the metal and paint is more durable on the older models.

We spent a total of 40 minutes at the buyer’s house, and we were back on the road home. I dropped my buddy Aaron off to his wife at a reasonable meeting point and kept trucking. Stopped by the bank to deposit the cashier’s check (it cleared @stevebo) and just pulled into the driveway. 31 hours even on the road and about 1950 miles travelled! As a bonus, my road got tarred and feathered (Chip sealed) while we were gone!

That’ll show those tailgaters!

Calander shot right there. Beautiful dog, barn, and tractor.

Actually that "patina" tractor came from Rodney Burger. He took it to the LeSeuer , Minnesota Swap Meet in April several years ago. The hood was painted purple. My brother David Ralph bought it and it set unused for several years -a waiting some attention. Craig Hearne told me how to paint a tractor with "new patina". I cleaned it and lightly sanded and steel wooled the entire hood. I did not think you could do it but it worked real well. You take Rustoleum red primer, flat black and and red you want (I use Rustoleum Regal red) and lightly spray the three at different intervals until you have a "new patina" finish. And, yes I was skeptical but it worked great. Last photo is the "new patina" RJ as sold to the new buyer.

Thank you all for your kind words, care and thoughtfulness. It means so much. This truly is a community where each one cares for one another. The picture was on Rita's 72nd birthday last year at a birthday party for my daughter's mother in law's birthday party for which they shared the same birthday, and they honored Rita as well. Warmest regards, Dan

C-81 is still in the garage getting stuff taken care of (867 comes in next). The front attach-a-matic was missing the lower bar thingy. It came with one for me to install but it was super crusty. Luckily I had one in stock that was less crusty. Then swapped out the 22x7.50’s on the rear for the correct 23x8.50’s. Again these tires/wheels were stacked up in my shed, it’s great to have spares! Much better look

So my oldest “kid” just closed on her first house. Nice property, about 1/2 acre, decent sized gravel driveway. The previous owners are leaving them a JD L110 with some minor issues that will allow them to mow grass the rest of the season but is not the right solution. They need a proper tractor. I’ve already decided I want to find/put a WH together for them…..or course this happens just weeks after the big show…DOH! Anyway, son in law is mechanically capable (daughter, not so much) but I’m close enough to help with the learning curve. Here are my thoughts, please feel free to add suggestions or ideas. i think I’d like to find them a single cylinder tractor with a hydro trans and preferably hydraulic lift as well. Something like a 314H or similar. 42” or 48” deck would get the job done. Worst case, I could slap my old 36” RD on it. Also thinking a plow setup for winter. I think that would be preferred over a snow blower due to the gravel. Son in law is a chef, and they have had nice gardens at their previous places. If it works out, I wouldn’t be surprised if they would be plowing out a decent garden in a year or two. I was thinking this setup would give them the biggest flexibility with the least complexity. not a help/wanted ad, just looking for input from anyone who has done something similar for someone

If the correct part number was used to order it, then it looks like he sent you the wrong lever. I'd ask about a replacement before trying to modify it.

There fixed that for ya...

Don't let that stop ya. I have two. One from New York and one from North Carolina. USPS.

Good safety suggestion, always try to avoid rear-end collisions.

Europe: if you leave Berlin driving West at the posted speed limit and drive for 2 hours you have crosses two international borders. US: if you leave Dallas and drive West for two hours at thebposted speed limit you are still in Texas. If you did it at rush hour you are still in Dallas.

I believe the caution sticker says "Don't rest your feet on the blade". Is there anybody who doesn't use their feet for downward pressure? It's easy to tell how much downward pressure you have and then let off on low spots. I have the newer wider push style also. It has a wedging action contributing to down pressure. They both have their advantages. I like to loosen up the gravel with a weighted drag section before I grade. It does a better job of uprooting the weeds that have crept into the driveway. After grading I rake up the uprooted weeds with a leaf rake. I need to find a safe weed killer. I'm leery of Round-up.

Gist of a long conversation with a seatmate on a flight from Frankfurt to NY in the late 80’s--mostly in German, some English (back when I was fluent): Handy Don: Vacation or work trip? German Tourist: Vacation HD: What are your plans? GT: I’m renting a car and plan to drive to Niagara Falls, Washington D.C., Boston, and then back to NYC. I’d like to spend a day or two in each place. HD: (initially speechless) You may not realize how far that is. Probably close to 1,500 miles, or about 2,400 km. How long are you staying? GT: I leave next Saturday on the overnight flight. [We are on a flight arriving on Sunday at about 7 PM--so not quite six days] HD: Are you aware the speed limits are less than 100km per hour on most of your planned route? That will mean many hours in the car. He wasn’t. I tried to convince him that 12 hours driving for an hour or two at Niagara falls wasn’t a good use of his time, but that NY, DC, and Boston were each worthy of several days. The Falls was non-negotiable but he agreed to skip Boston!

Sweet, so my idea should work. I'm thinking of using one for a brake light switch for my tractor.

Should be normally open. It closes when the peddle is depressed to complete the circuit between the key switch and the starter relay.

Picked this up yesterday. Was only an hour away. Seller said it was sitting for a few years so he had it serviced to get it running. Was asking $800. Got there & cranked w/no start. Ended up getting it for $300! Got it home & after using my small benchtop 20v blower to pressurize fuel tank it started right up! Everything appears to function. This will be new tractor to use with my Bervac. After the heat wave is over I'll go through it addressing maintenance & any possible needed repairs. Paint is faded so hopefully I can get it reconditioned. Have to get manuals printed off & definitely wanna address the "known issues" with this model. Onans are all new to me. 20260702_160202.mp4

Busy week. Picked up the exchange student we hosted in 1999/2000 schoolyear and his family (5 kids 8 to 17, and his parents) at O'Hara in Chicago last week Sunday. Went to the Art Museum on Monday and the Field Museum on Tuesday - downtown in a Transit 250 15 passenger van. Drove to our lake house in Michigan on Wednesday. Went Shopping inLansing (1 hour drive) on Thursday. Chilled out at the lake Friday and Saturday. More shopping in Grand Rapids (1 hour drive) on Sunday. Drove to Dayton, about 5 hours, today. The rest of this week looks as busy as last week. We will end up in Bowling Green Ky. before returning them to O'Hara for their flight home next Sunday. I absolutely loved watching his kids at the lake. Just made the lake house really come alive. I'll have to mark up our travels on a map of the US to show them how small the area they traveled is compared to the rest of the country.

Install an electric fuel pump.

I have used this technique to create a matching patina on sheet metal that required some welding repairs.

I missed this, and my 701 isn't yet finished- but here is my submission:

These solenoids are not polarity sensitive, use either big terminal for the battery and the other to the starter. Likewise either small terminal can be grounded and the other one goes to the wiring harness.

At the big show I got a frame from a round hood, tranny, and dash tower from @Pullstart. I also got a short frame square hood, and the dash pieces from @Mike'sHorseBarn. I got a pullstart 8 horse from one of the guys in the barns and a steering wheel from one of the guys set up in the in field. When I got the steering wheel, it still had the roll pin and part of the cut off steerong shaft in it. I soaked it for a few days with kroil and worked on it yesterday. That was the easiet roll pin I've ever had come out once I figured out how to hold the wheel. The chunk of the steering shaft also came right out. I put it in our press and barely had any pressure on it and it moved. Today, having no power and it being hot, all I did was put the dash pieces together and set them on the tower. It's been 100 degrees and humid here since we got back from the show so I haven't really been able to work on very much.

I was gonna take the one off of my uncles C100 since its been here for 2 1/2 months and he hasn't gotten me the parts for it yet. But if you have one thats already off of the tractor that might be easier then fighting with one to get it off

Welcome to Plethora of knowledge here. We would love to see pictures of your horse!

Lane you did an excellent job bringing this round hood back to working order, or a nice show piece. Enjoy it every day.

Back around 2000 my parents took a month-long road trip to go from Massachusetts to Southern California and back. On the way out they went south. On the way back that came across the north part of the country. Texas was the only state that they did not cross in one day.

Do you have one Howard? I may if you don’t.

It is more than a buddy who’s willing to take a 2,000 mile road trip to keep you company and help pilot. So down to a school bus that still needs converting!?

If you made the diaphragm taut across the body of the pump when you “recut” the holes, then you made it impossible for the mechanism to move the diaphragm up and down to pump fuel. Worse, if the mechanism pushes hard enough against the stretched diapharagm, it causes the rubber to split and gas flows into the oil sump. The holes were likely correct. Some aftermarket diaphragm’s stems are not cut precisely and do require minor adjustments. Correct install: FIRST, plate sand the faces of the body halves to be sure they are flat (the pump body flanges are fairly soft and can be warped by excessive tightening of the closure screws). Connect the diaphragm stem. Put the screws through the upper body, gently forcing the diaphragm onto the screws. Operate the actuator to its limit in one direction or the other to fully pull the diaphragm to its maximum travel. While keeping the actuator pulled, align the screws with the holes in the lower body and gradually tighten the screws sequentially across the body. The diaphragm edges will “scrunch” to make a good seal. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN

No actually that "patina" tractor came from Rodney Burger. He took it to the LeSeuer , Minnesota Swap Meet in April several years ago. The hood was painted purple. My brother David Ralph bought it and it set unused for several years -a waiting some attention. Craig Hearne told me how to paint a tractor with "new patina". I did not think you could do it but it worked real well. You take Rustoleum red primer, flat black and and red you want (I use Rustoleum Regal red) and lightly spray the three at different intervals until you have a "new patina" finish. And, yes I was skeptical but it worked great.

Wheel Horses were designed to work ...not stop and sit around....

Prayers shipmate I thought of you a couple of times at the BS and wondered how she was doing. Sadly now I know and I'll say a prayer for you and her every time I see a mid mount.

My family has been praying for you and your wife since you first told us about her being sick. We are deeply saddened for your loss. Please reach out to me anytime day or night if you’d like to talk. We are sorry we cannot attend the funeral service today. As I mentioned to you, our doors will always be open for you if you’d like to stay with us to get away for a little while. God bless you my friend, may Rita rest in peace. 🙏❤️

@squonk love the cultivator set. I will play, Here be mine.

Here's the 701 I had. Sold it in 2019. For some reason this tractor gave me more fits than any tractor I ever owned. The best one was when it was running perfectly at the Steam Pageant and I was at the farthest away from my spot and it just died. Had to push it a couple of miles! The float broke into several pieces!

My 701 before i cleaned itt up a little.

Always worth showing again!

Thanks Mike !! I saw a picture of my old 702 there. It still looks great and I hear it still drives nice.

3rd hole from the bottom. Make sure the clamp on the throttle cable on the valve cover is tight.

Ok I took the flat muffler off the Kohler K91 motor I am working on for my RJ Patina Special. I broke the top bolt (snapped the nut) which as rusty as it was I figured one or both would snap. But bottom one came off nice. Lo and behold the exhaust port appeared to be threaded! Like Wallfish and WHX indicated I will use an NPT tap and clean the threads better but I used my dremel tool to clean the threads and ran a short 3/4 pipe I had just to see if it was going to work it way in ok. 👍 looks like I am in business for an RJ exhaust pipe set up.

Lane I really have a thing for those tires, someday I’ll even own a set! I almost bought a non-wheel horse tractor at Portage just for the tires, I should have done it and tried to flip it with another set!