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I have wanted to make this post for the past ten months; today I drove a Wheel Horse for the first time since my stroke! My wife was a bit apprehensive about the whole thing and I wasn't even sure I could get on the 310-8; but I did and it felt SOOOOOO GOOOOOOD

Hate these long winded threads.

Except that MTD will look like trash and not “art” ! Nothing wrong with letting one retire. I clear-coated this one to stop it from rusting away. As you can tell I love showing it off as much as my running driving machines !!

Did da wittle Tweety scare da Big Bear???

Tesla Tractors? Famed inventor and physicist, Nikola Tesla worked for Allis-Chalmers in Milwaukee from 1919 to 1922. He spent most of his time working on perfecting the Tesla turbine with Hans Dahlstrand, the head engineer at Allis. The Tesla steam turbine is a bladeless centripetal flow turbine patented by Nikola Tesla on October 21, 1913. It was his 100th patent. Nozzles apply a moving fluid to the edges of a set of discs. The engine uses smooth discs rotating in a chamber to generate rotational movement due to the exchange of momentum between the fluid and the discs. The Tesla turbine uses the boundary-layer effect, instead of the method employed by more conventional turbines, wherein a fluid acts on blades.

I am posting this late because my last snowfall was in February, but after a lot of work I was finally able to blow snow for the first time. Ran into issues this winter including a muffler that kept falling off and the driveshaft pin on the blower going missing. Now, after attempting my first mow of the season, the tie rod fell off every time I'd go downhill. Maintenance seems endless, but I'm learning and enjoying it.

My son just sent me these, I don't think he likes his new , I haven't even mowed my yard yet, .

It's about 5 hours one way for us and we will be there

The phillips head makes a rather good centering device to drill out the old bolt with a 13/64" bit and re-tap the 1/4-20 threads. Once you snap off the head it is much more difficult to center the bit.

My "514-8" mutt had developed terribly sloppy steering lately. Since it had 520 tie rods and front axle, and the upper steering shaft bushing was tight, I knew it was the dreaded fan gear base. So I took out a spare, and added bushings top and bottom. I had to bore both to have thicker bushings, but it worked. And of course replacing it on a complete Classic machine is loads of fun... But, most of the slop is gone. No matter how many bearings, shims, and bushings you add, you never get it all out. Next I want to experiment with tightening up the gear lash. Short of replacing the fan gear with another pivot mechanism, that's the only place that slop exists.

Had a couple hours this afternoon, So I took a closer look at Wally. I pulled his tusks. I don't know what the PO used them for, but they were bolted on with 3 grade 5 1/2" SAE bolts that are capable of pulling 36,000 lbs. Got the junk wheels and axle off. The spindles look good, but are still stuck in the axle and soaking. The rear wheels look OK and one is even holding air. The hubs, axles and keyways are OK. The tranny is free and works in all gear and needs axle bearings and seals. No water in the case. The shower head is rusted thru. Engine is locked and probably junk. Check these long hub set screws. The steering wheel is stubborn, but I will win. The deck shell looks good and the cast iron spindle support is not broke. It's locked up but I didn't attempt to free it yet.

Easy Peasy.

Old eyes, die grinder, micrometer. And alot of Ibuprofen...

Yeah me too. Probably have both grandsons 11 and 8. I am going to have to shake them two birds down.

I give mine the @peter lena treatment...

Manual Impact Driver. Amazing how well they work. I got one several years ago because it was recommended by several people on this site. Definitely one of my better investments.

Tossed a decent bid at this C-125 8 speed at the auction and was the winner. The ice worms got the fender and deck, but otherwise it’s got hope. I checked it out before placing a bid. It’s filthy, but the transmission oil is topped right off and beautiful, the engine oil is a tad low but fairly clean. It sure has had a critter in there and needs a battery.

This is on a 420-LSE, a little different but similar.

There has been MUCH discussion on this before - back up the shaft below the plastic hub with a 2x4 propped up to a wall stud. Use a ROLLPIN punch of the correct size, punch perhaps held in locking pliers and hit the punch with a 3 pound hammer. Even with the pin out, they can be stubborn. Fifty or more years or being rusted into place does not come loose in 2 minutes......

I knew you would have it fixed by the BS.

We knew you would.

Well done Richard!!!

Shooting non game migratory birds is a federal crime...

When we first move out here 23 years ago we planted corn in our garden protects by chicken wire down low and electric above. Corn grew nicely got big and started to mature...Crows got it all. haven't wasted our time since the farmer down the hill has a big field of it and we get what we want cheap...

I'm gonna find a way. If a Murray or Craftsman mower can have snug steering, so can a Wheel Horse.

I have an old chunk of paraffin wax sitting in my torch tray. That heat pulls in the wax and lubes the threads well.

Ask me how I know...

They calmed down when I said "pick one", and there's been no more fuss about it. Sibling rivalry is alive and well. I have to say it is good they are interested in these.

I've taken many out by grinding a slot. Not sure, but the heat and vibration from the grinding may also help.

I’ve had luck with heating them up and instantly spraying penetrating oil on them. And then hit them with a manual impact like EB said. IMG_2268.webp

Two more days. Odds are better than the lottery….. prize isn’t as big though.

701 has a starter/generator, 704 does not. At least another 20+ lbs.

It's called the BTCS. Backwoods teeth count summary... I counted 10 teeth on the upper shaft gear, and 14+ on the lower. The lower gear fan only represents around 90 of a possible 360 degrees of rotation. Approximately 56 teeth? When I posted earlier I had 52 on my tiny mind. So actually 5.6 to 1? Also now I can see where all my slop came from with the "old" gear support. Nearly 100 thousandths wallowed out left to right...translated to almost 1/4 turn of the wheel. Also- the top shaft collar had slipped, allowing the upper shaft to raise up 1/4 inch under load.

Trail cam... eb... a "few" decades ago...

Well I've always wanted to plant sweet corn and this year I'm giving it a try. So this will be a small garden size, 12x30'. I'm doing 4 rows 30" apart, seed spacing about 8-10". Started off with the moldboard plow, then the disc harrow which didn't work as good as I hoped but soil was probably a bit moist for it, the cultivator worked great and I did most of the work with that to level and break up the soil, then used it to make the rows. Next time I'll probably borrow my friends WH tiller to prep the soil. So planted 11 days ago and already have sprouts coming up. I'm using Milorganite for my nitrogen feed. A couple observations from a first timer using the WH in the garden, first the turf tires on the front of the rig are not good at all for working a garden. It was all over the place and I had a hard time holding a line. Thinking I'll try a 4.00-8 pneumatic tire of some kind in the future or something similar. Any suggestions for a front tire and wheel combo would be appreciated, tractor is a 312-8. Will add a little weight to the front as well with the front 2" receiver next time. I would like advice for critter control and specifically with raccoons if anyone has some to offer. The creek behind my yard is full of them and they will be an issue at some point. I've seen the scent stuff you can put around the perimeter and the solar powered stuff on Amazon, also considering a small electric fence on a timer. Any advice would be appreciated! Now for pics!

Interesting find for me after reading through this. Hans Peter Dahlstrand's final resting place. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100201628/hans-peter-dahlstrand This is only 7 miles from my house.

@23 Reo https://www.ottofrei.com/products/irwin-4-mini-locking-vise-grips use this , or similar , with side jaw grip, for best bite , then tapping the back side of the plyer with light hammer , solid grip / no play / bounce should do it . picture of grip is only a reference to plyer size / type , the more solid your grip , the more impact effect it will have . pipefitter approved , pete

Thanks for all the research you do Richard. Having worked for Allis Chalmers developing hydro turbines for over 25 years and another 20 years after it was sold to Voith, I am really surprised that I have never heard of this Teslas steam turbine. Most know Allis Chalmers for its farm and construction machinery and are not aware of all the other divisions. Proud to have been a part of developing most of the hydro turbines on this rock. When I retired, we had developed and model tested Franis Turbines(Hoover, Grand Coulee) and reversible pump turbines(Raccoon Mt., Three Gorges) in the 94-95 % efficiency range. Allis-Chalmers - Wikipedia Here is a link on the AC history.

LOL! Sounds like another live trapping job for the boy…hope mom doesn’t find out

Being that it is an AC system, I do not believe that it would matter.

1 1/2 to 2" is about as good as you will get the steering wheel play. Any tighter will make it steer hard.

That's a long drive by yourself! Don't let me forget to show you my toll free route!

Oh and ... TIGHTEN it first!! Then loosen just ONE click. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

I make this trip once a year (if I can stay out of the hospital) and it is the only show I attend that is over two hours from the house so the cost isn't prohibitive. Just a family reunion to me.

I've been looking for a "yard art" for a couple years now, I even made a spot for one with paver edging & mulch tucked into the end of the Lilac bushes. My problem is I wouldn't sleep at night knowing that "Sir Wally" was siitting outside in the rain & snow, poor thing. Too cool of a to watch rot. I'll probably find a crappy old blown up MTD or something & spray bomb it red.

Working with help from a friend on the mount for the mid-blade so it’ll have lift, rotation, and roll (tilt). He has a Hyster with long forks. It makes me nervous having it so high up there but dang is it convenient to get under to work on! Upper and lower grader frame parts coming along. Tomorrow the main parts should be together and then onto final design and implementation of the controls.