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As of about 10:30 this morning I am no longer employed. I turned in the truck, building keys, credit card, and all electronics.

Yesterday, I was invited to bring a tractor to the Soo Line 1003 steam train run. Made for some great pictures.

This is another one I had years ago. It took me three years to find this model. I posted a few years ago the day I bought it under the title 607 and when I was done with it a few years after that. That’s when I was painting tractors.

Made a visit to Racinbob to pick up my new one. Had a great trip. Post more later. Steve the steering wheel is in my jeep. I know someone was going to ask. Lol

Today i bought something I could not refuse! Lots of original parts in great shape ( and a few not that great like wheels but still with original tires and frint still loaded ). The seller was mowing with it when i went to look ( but i took my trailer) . I drove in third gear and accidentally hit the kill switch - still working! The Schnacke recoil, the rear hitch attachment connector, the showerhead muffler , an oil bath air cleaner with original decal, all the guards ( and belt guard had the original spacers with it) with no rust holes, a pretty early seat cushion, tight steering and a very good operating transmission snd motor! Somehow this survived 67 years. No crack on hood around gas tank. Gas tank very clean! yes the wheels have some rust and a few holes but tires all appear original to me. I think the decal ar back and the frame decal with # 12510 may be replaced decals but maybe that was the original #. I need a sixth RJ like a hole in the head but i got this on west side if Indianapolis near Raceway Road today! I am happy to have gone after it!

This is my 1056 that I’ve had for a few years. It’s been a real head scratcher. A lot of things wrong with this one when I picked it up but now it’s not a bad tractor after a few years of working on it on and off. It has a 1054 engine in it because the original engine was not very good. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

My 875 developed a leak a while back. Sometimes big sometimes small. ATF isn't cheap anymore and it was keeping the transaxle from ever developing rust spots. Degunked it once and searched for the source. Then the frame broke also and repairing that finally found the leak source. The control shaft seal. I would like to thank @pfrederi and @daveoman1966 for their assistance and insight. The actual repair was simple but the journey was not. Reminded me of working on a K Car in the early 80's. Things weren't adding up as you will see. Learned a little on the way. Also got the hydro control to stay put and not move on it's own. As I found out. 65 and 66 Hydro's are 310077 "Wheel a Matics and are different than the later Hydrogears. First the leak. You can see the fresh oil on the frame under the control arm ATF cleans well: The control lever has to come out and the tensioner pulley has to come out anyway to fix those. And might as well de gunk it again. The bushings in the sheet metal and control lever were in great shape for a 60 yr. old machine Plastic cam was in good shape but the screws and tension plates have left the chat Used 4 long 3/8 bolts in place of the 4 trans to frame bolts and slid the trans back. This exposes the hole you use a 7/32 punch in to drive out a roll pin that holds the control arm on. Control arm with neutral adjustment eccentric. In theory I won't have to adjust this. Aluminum housing for the slide plate had these spline drive screws holding it on. I needed a 1/4 12 pt socket to fit them which I didn't have. Good thing I had a 7MM that fit. 1 screw wasn't super tight. More on that later There is a recess in the back of that housing that an o-ring seal fits in. Seal was worn square and was a little " stiffy!" Now this is where the K Car reference kicks in. The Hydrogear manual shows a 2nd o ring seal on the shaft. The was no evidence or remains of this o-ring. The o ring I got from Paul was too big. Paul noted the "Wheel a Matic diagram did not show the o ring. Contacted Dave and he confirmed that and sent me this pic of the later used Hydrogear. I put it together with just the 1 o ring. I replaced those spline bolts with allen head bolts. 1 bolt hex was a bit worn and I couldn't get it real tight. Slid the trans back together. Cleaned up the control arm and tensioner shaft bushings. Lubed them with dry graphite. Replaced the plastic cam tensioner plates, added a couple of flat washers for more tension and replaced the slotted screws with 8/32 allen head screws. put the belt back on and guard. Started it up and after about 10 minutes I had a good sized leak still. Downloaded the " Wheel A Matic" manual. It talked about those spline screws and how later they switched to allen head bolts. It also said if a leak develops at the shaft tightening the bolts to 70 inch pounds would cure it. I found another allen bolt in my used parts so I had to tear it all back apart to not only replace that 1 bolt I couldn't get real tight but tighten the rest of the bolts. I probably went to 90 inch lbs. but what the heck. Put it all back together and ran it for 20 minutes with the wheels off the ground then another 10 minutes up and down the road. Dry as a bone. I think it's FIXED!!!

WARNING: Retirement means that others see retirees as those who have plenty of free time to assist them in their needs. Practice saying "N0." in a mirror until it flows off of the tongue like butter! Congratulations to a well deserved retirement.

Enjoying some vacation time in Northern Minnesota.

Well, my birthday dawned after a quiet night after my wife spent the evening before at our friends. "I won't be long" she said, but four hours later she crept in to find a grumpy bear sitting in my chair. I could have gone with her and not sat on my own all evening i thought. I unwrapped presents and opened cards, still with a bitter taste in my mouth about being abandoned the night before. Last of all she handed me a plain white envelope. In it was a printed receipt for two tickets to a game of cricket. I read and read the paper again, then again. My 60 year old thinker box just couldn't make sense of it. The tickets were for the opening test match between England and Australia in a series called The Ashes. The most important competition for cricket fans in either country. It's not coming to England till 2027 (it's not held every year and there are gaps when there are no Ashes series at all). So I wondered at her buying tickets for a game over a year away. But the date was 2025, this year, when the series is being held in Australia. My clunky old brain put the pieces together and came up with the fact that she had bought tickets to watch the game in a fan zone over here, maybe at a big cricket ground. No, read it again she said. OK, two tickets, November '25, first Ashes test, day two.....Optus cricket stadium, Perth, western Australia. Oh, I see! Nice, you've bought two tickets, which i can have framed. I mean the game is in Australia, tother side of the planet, where big things jump on their back legs all day and the bears are tiny and cute. We can't possibly go there just to watch a game of cricket. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, ,, WRONG WRONG, WRONG ,WRONG ,YOU'RE WRONG,,YOU'RE WRONG.... Think the chimes of Big Ben as you read that bit again. She had, in just four days, booked a trip to Perth for the cricket, via Doha in Arabia, then on to Brisbane where her brother lives for a two week stay on the great barrier reef. What the actual F? How? But? But? How? To say I was completely blown away just doesn't quite do it justice. Thank you my beautiful, clever, sneaky wife for absolutely taking my legs from under me. Trip of a lifetime to see a cricket match every true English man must see before he dies. What a girl!

Great Wheel Horse day today! Had them all today to stretch their legs… Been awhile since the 520 ran, and I noticed some dirt in the bowels of the snowblower since last being used, that’s been bothering me for several months since I noticed it. Finally got the rear rock shaft assembly completed. I bought a rock shaft kit at the Big Show from Dale’s Mower Service in Kempton, put it together awhile ago and the ball pulled off the aftermarket cable that I got. Fortunately I am not that far from Dale’s shop, so I made the drive a couple of weeks ago and he swapped it out with a brand new out of the pack OEM cable, what a difference. I must have spent at least 45 minutes shooting the breeze with Dale. We’re definitely old school. Still working on getting the RJ running, the gas tank is about to get an internal restoration. Hope everyone is enjoying their day!

I gave the company notice seven years ago, Three years ago they decided I needed to train my replacement. I gave them a hard date when I finished my chemo. My replacement has done very well without too many questions. I have been looking forward to this day for a long time.

most everyone here on RSq has purchased both new and used parts at various sources -- of course prices vary as with all commodities with many variables and factors -- So yesterday i needed the little tiny clevis pins ( pn # 9321204 ) that go in the latching plates for a Rear Axle Bracket - it's about 1 inch long that has pin hole in it for a clip pin to be installed. So i went to one of the well known online parts companies many of us use -- $5.49 EACH - omg -- So my hardware store didn't have the size i needed so went to local 50 yr old locally owned Fastener Supply house -- bought 4 at only 34 cents each. Similar I wanted the link bar for the Rear axle bracket that goes on top of the axle the 2 bolts go through -- checked price at the national supply parts group it's $38 -- so i sent p.m. to one of the RSq vendors and only $12 including shipping. I certainly believe in people making a profit and capitalism -- but it's a lesson my Dad taught us at early age -- shop around !!!!!!

You say his name and he lives. RIP Jay, we miss you buddy.

Go bananas, because on August 25, it’s National Banana Split Day! Give your taste buds the thrill of delicious ice cream and luscious chocolate covering a fresh banana topped off with nuts, a cherry and whipped cream. Surprisingly, the original banana split wasn’t created in an ice cream parlor but in a pharmacy in 1904. Banana splits were the brainchild of David Evans Strickler, a pharmacist’s apprentice who enjoyed experimenting with new soda fountain sundaes in his free time. They were so popular with the college crowd that students willingly paid 10 cents, double the price of a normal sundae. Try a banana split today and you’ll understand why this amazing dessert is a classic!

C-85 cleaning is essentially done…back on all fours wheels. This one might actually get waxed!

Poking around today I found this video that piqued my interest. May have been posted before, but I thought that it was worth sharing again.

Neighbor stopped by with his skid steer and really helped me clean up some of the debris piles and overgrown brush I had. Awesome neighbors! Just need a small excavator to finish up (anyone near by with a mini excavator want to help ) It was all fun and games until we disturbed a big bee nest, little guys got me 11 times, good thing I am not allergic!

Got a little something. Going to put the deck on now, fully clean it up later in the season.

My wife thinks I am crazy to "HORD" old bolts, nuts, pieces of steel and parts and pieces from many projects. Saves a lot of time and money if you don't have to drive to the hardware store several times a week. The bins on the right side are nuts, washers and bolts sorted by size and length.

Do shop around. Also buy in bulk for known future usages. Steve my Ole Man @Qball was mildly obsessed about gas prices. He once drove that same 20 miles outta the way to save a few cents on fuel. For a Suburban. With a big block... We figure he saved a good strong $2 and spent around 5.....

As a retired meat cutter (butcher) for 30 years I can tell you a quality set of knives is one of the best things a home kitchen can have. They don't have to cost $200 or more either, for at least the last 35 years the majority of meat departments use Victorinox Fibrox knives and basically that's just three knives. 8" breaking knife, the go to work horse in the shop that can last you for 25 years if you keep it sharpened properly. 6" or 7" semi flexible boning knife, straight or curved, we use both but for most of us we use the curved more., add a their 8" chief knife add a sharpener and a quality steel and you have pretty much all you need. All of this well cost you less the $150, these are not sold in your retail stores kitchen section. One more VERY important thing, STOP using hard non porous cutting boards, they are the worst thing you can do to your knives, also quality knives don't go in the dishwasher especially wooden handle ones Now for my third cup of coffee

Got back fine with the above mentioned 520H. That's not running. I'll start a separate thread for that. While unstrapping there was a Jaxon sighting here...

Congrats Hank ... I thought I knew what you did for a living ... Electrical?? It does take a little getting used to. Not having to get out the door in the morning, drinking coffee out of a cup than a travel mug. I do miss the fringees tho. I actually had to buy some black iron exhaust fittings the other day rather than reaching in the bin at the shop. Ain't that the truth Coach ... teaching that recliner a lesson can be a full time job!

I have had several changes of vocation over the years but the best choice I ever made was retirement. Nineteen years and counting.

Abused it.. today i abused my Wheel Horse. And i was pleasantly surprised when i found out it does mow in reverse with no problems

I am a new member here just this month and been on various forums for 20 yrs. Great bunch here so far. I am very happy to hear this and would like to be a part of future prayers for those in need.

This is what’s left of the seafood boil we had a few weeks ago. Yes, it had plenty of crab in it! The table was piled high and I forgot to take a before picture! We do this once a year at the ocean with a bunch of guys from my firehouse.

3. Pool leak, pool piping update. We were quite surprised this spring to open the pool, and it was nearly empty. I managed to use blue food coloring in a Tony Chatcherie food injection syringe to prove the bottom drain/return pipe had water flow out of it. A test plug proved to stop the water loss. Come to find out, the 1990’s flexible pipe used in pool plumbing was soy based. Mice, worms, and even ants like to chew on it. Time to update to schedule 40 pipe. @Bow_Extreme I’m going 2”!

Some painted parts drying in the window. Cylinder painted Tie rods painted. Cam plate bracket painted. Valve painted.

Our pool area is in major need of a facelift. I was planning to do most of this myself, because that’s how I roll, but Mrs. p recruited a team for the weekend. T minus two weeks from today we re-pour. Going much bigger with the concrete, and with everything going according to plan we will have no cracks or settling for many, many years. Going with high psi mud and fiber reinforced, 6” thick between the house and pool for future building needs, running some water and a chase pipe to the pump house, that’s moving a few feet and getting bigger too. We got lots of work done, and I began building a loading dock on the side of the driveway for any future loads and unloads required.

Thanks for the positivity guys I appreciate it!! I am definitely spending more time on this hood, then I thought I would. But I also realize its the focal point of these tractors, it's also what has the most paint showing. So today got all of the paint stripped off, cleaned it really good and got some bondo on it. It's been a little while since I did bondo last, so it might take a little more sanding, but it's also hard to get it on the small curved areas as well. Shiny hood!!! I was slightly tempted to clear coat it and leave it as is, lol!

It's my 60th birthday tomorrow, so we went to watch a game of cricket at my home stadium of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club which is 50 odd miles away in Leeds. It was a treat for me to watch a couple of top teams with international players going at it hammer and tongs. It's all sport here at the moment as we have the women's rugby union world cup just starting. The first game was on Friday and the English team beat the USA pretty convincingly. But we are number 1 in the world at present.

With the exception of a few small things My 1978 C-141 Frankenstein is done. I would like to thank everyone who chimed in to assist in getting it running and painted. @ebinmaine @953 nut @pfrederi definitely contributed to getting the tractor going especially the wiring. There were many more contributions by other members as well. Just for you late arrivals it went from this, to this. In 3 1/2 months. THANKS!!!

Finished a new front hitch. Total cost $30.

Mrs. 953 Nut says Wheel Horses are a labor of love, not an investment. However her sewing machines are an investment, she thinks.

Dughter is moved into her college residence. This is all that is left of my poor tractor now. A bunch of little parts have been painted, bagged and boxed. Hub set screws and jamb nuts, PTO rod trunnion and clip, steering shim washers bead blasted and painted. PTO rod and hoop bead blasted and one coat of paint applied.

Avoid the Onan (just my opinion) and go newer with a 312 or 414 type of machine with a 42” deck. Nice and easy to maintain, they don’t have finicky carburetors and the wiring is a bit simpler than the 500 series.

Pocket knife only ... the kind everyone has now with the clip. Got tired of the girls asking if I had a roll of quarters in my pocket or if I was just glad to see them... Only the 10 dollar knives tho if I get a nice knife sure to lose it. Dad left me a bunch of those Old Timers Beaps. If I can find them I'll send you one. I'll just lose it if I carry and I highly doubt they'll bury them with me either.

When I use a hole saw, I drill a 1/4” hole first and have a piece of 1/4” plain rod in the hole saw arbour in place of the drill bit. I’ve found that using the hole saw with the drill bit in the arbour, the flutes of the drill bit can cause the saw to chatter and wander until the cut has started. Using a plain rod instead of the bit prevents this from occurring

One question... Do you think it can handle a two-stage snowblower?

what i like about the old fashioned "creaky floor hardware stores" is when the item you need isn't apparent in the aisle and and you ask for help and the answer is --"let me check in the back, i might have one" then they take you in the store room and pick around a couple old boxes and nice surprise and the comment is " yup here's what you need" - and they almost have to blow off the dust, but yup they had what i needed !!!!!! Yippee, i respond thats it - just what i needed"

Ah, the days of wooden floors creaking when you walk into your favorite hardware store are all but gone. I always like to support local businesses first but have succumbed to HD and Lowes. I did find a new to me hardware store about a year ago or so, "Paul D Hardware" in Clay, PA. I too was looking for the small clevis pins for the rear axle bracket, yep they had them, I bought 4 of each with the hairpin, had change left out of $2.00, and got a free t-shirt to boot! It's a small chain, but love the store. It's close enough if I need the really hard to find items, but far enough that I don't go for GP items, a good thing, because I would probably have a 1/4 of their inventory in my bins...

@953 nut About 15 years ago I purchased a nut and bolt assortment. 1/4”-1/2” up to 4” long, grade 8 with the bins. It wasn’t exactly cheap but I knew I wasn’t going anywhere and would come in handy over the years. And yes it certainly has! I’ve restocked some of 1/4” and 5/16” hardware and will continue to do so. I’m like most of us here, when I need it the hardware store is closed! Apparently my brother thinks it’s a hardware store in my shop because I’ve caught him red handed shopping in the bins!

I'll take mine steamed in vinegar, J O #2 spice, and Old Mill beer. Then pick out some lump meat for crab cakes.