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Not "with" my Wheel Horse, but with some wheel horse parts... My poor old yard trailer needs some love. It's built like a tank, but when my buddy made it for me 20 years ago it had 20x10x8 tires on it, and they just finally fell apart. I had stuck some 8 inch wheels on it, but if it sat low before it nearly drug the ground after. The dump feature was also useless. So one thing about doing tire wheel mods with 520 front ends was that I had a decent set of wheels and tires from one that I could use. So I cut off the axles and welded on a 6 inch extension and bracing, and slapped the 520 wheels on. Not perfect, but it will work great with my heavy rear hitches now and it also will dump properly. It still needs a little cleanup, but full functionality has been restored! First pic is obviously the "before"...

March 18, 1933, American automaker Studebaker, then heavily in debt, goes into receivership.. Studebaker eventually rebounded from its financial troubles, only to shut down the assembly line and transition out of the automobile business in 1966. The origins of the Studebaker Corporation date back to 1852, when brothers Henry and Clement Studebaker opened a blacksmith shop in South Bend, Indiana (seems we3 have heard of that place). Studebaker eventually became a leading manufacturer of horse-drawn wagons and supplied wagons to the U.S. Army during the Civil War. Around the turn of the century, the company entered America’s burgeoning auto industry, launching an electric car in 1902 and a gas-powered vehicle two years later that was marketed under the name Studebaker-Garford. After partnering with other automakers, Studebaker began selling gas-powered cars under its own name in 1913, while continuing to make wagons until 1920.

Same here. Once the tins go on you can only see the PTO side of the fins, and it looks nice and clean.

Well…winter storm “Elsa” is over in east central WisCo and she left a mess to clean up. Caleb is busy working and so I went to his house yesterday afternoon and surveyed the “damage”. Easily 12” on the level and several drifts that were in excess of 16”. However, the 520HC and two stage Ber-Vac were up to the task… The driveway looks pretty decent in this picture but as I trudged through the snow up to the house I walked through several drifts up to my knees! Hidalgo started without incident and even though the snow was heavy, and I had to drive slow but steady, the blower was handling the white stuff capably. I stopped midpoint down the driveway to grab this shot to give some perspective of depth. Nothing compared to northeast Wisconsin but the deepest level snowfall I’ve had to clear in a long time. I’m really thankful for this setup for Caleb. It will definitely handle whatever gets thrown at him in the upcoming years. I hope you guys affected by the storm all had “fun” on your tractors and stayed safe!

Getting involved with cars back in the late 1960's, one of my friends who was notoriously tough on vehicles bought a 1962 Studebaker Lark.He was the type to have 4 or more $100 junkers in a year. That car left him stranded a few times - its nickname was the "Steadybreaker"!!

This is the last of my tractors for rebuild or gone thru. It was about three years ago I pick this up from Stevbo. It runs pretty good. Many new parts.I think I made it better than it was. I had many others to work on before this last one. I thinking of keeping this one. Also I ordered a Gravely muffler for this also.SORRY FOR BAD VIDEO. I am rusty at doing Vids. I used do this in all my posts years ago…….. I hope you enjoy it..Fell free to ask any questions. IMG_1075.mov

Time to clean up shop for plow day! Just kidding, I have tons of work to get done before then!

I use the same acrylic enamel paint on the engine that I use on the rest of the tractor. I never paint the aluminum cylinder head or the bearing plate. The only place that the paint ever discolors is around the exhaust port.

Actually, he has a Colossal task ahead of him...

Our son got us one for Christmas a few years ago... we said no thanks... don't need another digital big brother...

Got to be sure you aren't using the Bohemian Rhapsody (6 minutes) or Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Chile ( about 15 minutes) or the chicken breasts might be a bit overcooked.

Rolled into the Delaware Beach house yesterday amid heavy rain and warnings oy 75MPH winds. Lucky the winds peaked out at 45MPH but the temp dropped to 28* this morning. I made the girls (Mrs. K and her two sisters) a deer hunters breakfast this morning. Venison scrapple, sausage, and puddin with home fries and eggs. Then took a walk on my crowed beach to walk off a few cal. t'wis a short walk at 28* and 45mph wind. 98.6* in the tub warmed the old bones up.

The C81 I picked up last summer had a common crack issue on one side at the back end of the Hoodstand where the Z shaped bracket, rear fenderpan and seat hinges bolt on. So didn't my parts donor tractor, but on the opposite side.... Looking down on the Hoodstand it is a 3 piece spot welded construction shaped like the letter "H". The solution was to split the left panel welds and do a mix-n-match of the better parts, reinforce those corners, and reassemble with pop rivets. I used 1/8" x 1-1/2" angle iron cut to shape and drilled for four plug welds each. This was easy to do with it split apart.... almost impossible to do together... I used the original hole for a nut & bolt and 2 pair of locking pliers for the fixturing.

Too bad it wasn't built that way originally!

Maybe snow removal equipment will be the feature???

You really need to do some research on those Balance gears as soon as possible. 50, 55 years ago when those were first introduced that type of advertising slogan was accurate. Now however, things are worn out. Do a search on the site.

Nice job on the engine Kpinnc!

I just picked this guy up today. My plans are to clean it up, remove the mower and use to run the trails on my property and carry firewood.

Is you suggesting a 5hr trip???

I agree. My phone is bad enough.

I've never actually said that, I just insist that anyone I know who has one unplugs it and de-powers it before I go into their house.

@c-series don @wallfish Ya gotta start em young.

As usual, these "betcha didn't know" posts caused me to did a little deeper into the subject. From today's reading it was expected to orbit for two thousand years but due to unexpected drag (and some other scientific calculations), it will re-enter our earth's atmosphere after 240 years. Very Interesting.

The show grounds and events sound good. The snow plow on the front of the "D" might be indicative of early May weather possibilities in Indiana.

Mrs. 953 nut has "Seri" on her I Phone as a personal assistant distraction. Seri can give more incorrect answers in one minute than anything I've ever seen. Mrs. 953 will ask it a question, it will respond with "I did not understand your question." Ask it the same question phrased differently and it will tell you where you can buy what it thinks you were seeking information about, but not the information you were seeking. Some times you will be having a conversation about a subject and Seri will chime in with some worthless information. Yesterday Mrs. 953 asked me how wide the straits of Hormuz are, Seri chimed in and said she would give us driving directions. NO THANKS Seri.

Not sure how much snow we actually got due to the high winds and drifting, but I would say somewhere in the 8-12” range. IMG_4747.mov IMG_5124.mov

You get any snow down there Jeff? Thoughts on me just putting chains on the fronts? Fronts not loaded ... they claimed it didn't pay wouldn't gain much weight? They would be much easier to get on and off like our horses. You look like you got pretty much flat ground Plunger. At the love shack I got hills that won't quit.

A quick update… dad came over yesterday and we assessed the situation. I suggested using this old spare third arm that I had acquired years ago with a parts tractor. Dad skillfully fabricated the upper “ears” and welded them on to the lift arm—works great! he even cut a slot in them for a little bit of float like the factory arm has. next up: we took and old spare crank rod and fabricated a bracket and welded a hook on the end. It works like a should! Today, I’m going to pick up a belt (gonna try a 5/8x65 as I saw that suggested somewhere on here). I also need to get two helper springs. I have the bolt for the front attach-a-matic and I purchased a set of turnbuckles but realized that the sheet metal where the turnbuckles attach is pretty thin. So, I cut and drilled a piece of flat bar stock to reinforce the area behind it. We are getting close to delivering this to Caleb’s house for winter snow removal duties!

I did some light reading on this Vanguard performance site and it looks like the heads for a 12.5 - 16hp are the same. The 18-23hp heads have a larger combustion chamber. To my understanding it looks like the bolt on application for each is the same. I.E.- use a 16hp head to bump up the compression on an 18-23hp engine. Do some reading to confirm for yourself. May also be a good contact source for any questions that you may have. I would try to get what I could by reading though. Apparently they get 1 Benny per hour if you want to talk to them. https://vanguardperformance.net/shop/p/large-valve-head-a3g2k

Excuse me while i do a dance!! It’s my first C160! And an 8 speed! It’s pretty good shape for 52 years old. The F plate is alright. No, it hasn’t had a plow; cause the mount in back would mount the same way the hitch is. It seems, that it was just a tractor with a ball hitch attached to it? Who knows!! Now the down side: it doesn’t have a PTO clutch and the lever to engage the PTO. (I have all that!). Air filter and cover is completely missing. The ignition switch has been replaced with something funky, Chinese carb, the loud muffler. Etc.. Upside: 2 link chains, a set of krusty and cracked #75 wheel weights, a set of Firstone AG tires and a welded up sturdy ball hitch!! I have a spare 8hp muffler… maybe I’ll make that work. The carb… just the regular air filter gasket and three screws, the regular air filter box? The man said “it runs” and “ran last year”…. So; ill install the battery, new fuel line, fuel filter, carb clean and new points. The best part is; i got the C160 for $150!

You could also paint the fins with hi temp silver. Then paint the base of the block sunrise Red.

NO

Already searching the classified ads on Red Square!

Yeah I was just gonna fill the trailer with crap and park over by Ed Dog but it I don't wanna have to sit there all day. Rather hang out on Squonkie's corner or just tool around.

Agreed @953 nut Guys at work use seri to set timers all day. It misbehaves A LOT! "hey hows your bacon doing chef? its been a minute?" Shoot, no timer! I personally listen to good music. Rock music my father listened to. I know in about two songs turn the chicken breast. Two more and done. easy peasy

I have done the FREE give-away a few times with great results. Not worth sitting around attempting to sell a couple old tires for a $ 1.00 when there are so many people to talk with and trailer queens to drool over.

Back in my Sanford and Son days I would run across the old round glass globe clocks that had companies logos on them at yard sales and flee markets. The ones in great shape were a bit expensive butt the ones that the cord were cut off or the motor didn't work and had some aged look (patina) were cheap. Over the years I collected several, some you could just replace the cord and they worked, some a little tinkering would get the mechanism and they worked which make the back light work. I hung all of them in my shop running or not, a few years back I bought a battery power mechanism and put in one and it fit good, a couple of washer and it ran just fine, no light though. Put it in a few and they worked.

Geez and to think I was just using Alexa to track how many girdles she was buying. Seriously ... try saying "Alexa ... where are my horse parts ? ...

We used to watch our 3 granddaughters every day. I loved pranking them with Alexa. Best one - I programmed Alexa to respond to a specific question with a specific answer. Me: Alexa, who farted? Alexa: I'm pretty sure it was Grandma. She might need to go wipe. Somebody, open a window. The girls thought it was hilarious. They would bring neighborhood friends in, just to ask Alexa who farted! The giggling was priceless!

Something like:

I just didn’t want to you to continue the wheel weight and tire damage from the chains being installed inside out and not filling properly. The C160 seems to be a favorite on here.

Alexa, I do not consent to being listened to, recorded, or having my statements saved for any reason.

Few more pics of the 2026 snow removal duties. Finally installed the 2 LED lights on the OTC Cab, a world of difference trying to get @Raven out to work at 6 15 am in the morning. I usually start plowing around 4 30 to 5 am. Tractor had 383 hours in 2018 when I bought it, now a little over 650.

Did some spring greasing and swapped some wheels and tires around to free up a set for a new project Found a cracked shifter boot on the c165 and replaced it with a new one I had on the shelf. It stays under cover but glad I got around to doing some routine maintenance and caught it.

Too scary for me!

Help others when you can. That’s what it’s all about!

And a very lucky dude to have you facilitate that WH & blower! I’ll assume a mower deck will appear in time for grass cutting, too. As for the generational thing, I am so aware of my good fortune to live long enough to see these next generations making their way in the world. I was close to one grandfather born in 1899 and it’s very possible a grandchild of mine will witness the start of 2100. Oh to have had this understanding of time while in my youth!

Just caught this thread Jack and looks good so far. House looks to be a fine starter for a young feller. Looks like he could use a shop/garage/man cave but with our combined sliver wizardry skills I'm sure we can bend a nail or two. You need any help Dan is sitting right here ... Don't forget I have some 520 parts. If he still needs a deck I have one here I can't let him have but he certainly welcome to borrow it!. Really ...He sure has come a long ways!

Thanks Don for the thoughts on the bolt. It was handy (like your avatar) and I’m on a time constraint (I leave for Israel on Monday). This upcoming summer, I’ll get a custom rod made up. Today’s project was to clean up the hood and fender pan, then load the tractor, and head to Caleb’s house. This tractor is in such good shape (the seat notwithstanding) and so I felt that the chalky hood would shine up nicely… I wasn’t wrong…I only spent about 20 minutes on it for now but was excited with the results! Not bad for 37 year old paint! my little 5’x8’ trailer was “just big enough” to fit the tractor with blower attached. Caleb got off work about an hour early so that he could be the one to clear his own driveway for the first time! For those of you that have known him for a decade—can you believe that he is now a first time homeowner??? unfortunately the throttle cable is not functioning well. We are going to need to outsource a good used one or find something better. however, even at about half throttle, that Ber-Vac was handling the snow with ease and the torque of that Onan is impressive! For those of you that enjoyed reading the Iron Horse thread, this picture is also there. This is my dad in 1975 clearing the snow at his first house with his 1965 875. 50 years later, his grandson is clearing his driveway at his first house with a 1988 520HC! Wheel Horse—a generational experience for the Stertz household (like it is for many of you!) Job well done for the old machine! using the bagger frame to hold some weight (about 100 pounds) may not be the prettiest situation, however it works just fine. Caleb has a full rack of suitcase weights but no bracket. I suppose that next spring/summer we can fabricate something to hold those. At least, he can now clear any accumulative snow moving forward this winter…

I had fun splitting this Oak. My home built splitter was defiantly up to it!