Finally!! Lassoed me a painted pony!

[Eriks Red horse herd 120]

Just got home a little while ago from a hour drive north of me. Saw it on craigs list about a week ago and forgot about it ,then the other night saw that it was still there. So i took a chance and after work gave him a call . He said he still had it( Oh Goody! ) Asked him impurtant questions (like does it have a four speed trans, does it have a motor and what kind he said he thinks briggs Hmm.) Reason for the questions the picture he posted due to it's size I could'nt tell for sure if it was a RJ-35. Looked like it could be . So hooked up the trailer and told him I'm comming to take look at it. Got on the road and after 25 min away from home gave the wife a call at work and told her i was off to rustle up another horse. Waited for the oh my god! Do you need another play toy story!! Told her I can't turn back i'm already half way there. ( see if you get on the road then call its not as bad as the before you leave call) well see if i'll be sleeping next my new horse tonight or next to her! Well I was on my way. What the hell its only gas money right! Well after a hour drive in the old gas guzzling wood hauler with trailer in tow. I pulled in to his Ranch and their she was waiting for me in the drive way. AN RJ-35 late 55 or early 56. Talked with him for a while as i inspected the horse. He said he belived it to be a 58 or 60 model, he told me how it was a lawn ornament that his neighbor used and he has had it for 7 or 8 years in his barn after the neighbor gave it to him and just with in the last few months put it back outside. He said that he had lots of people stop ask about it and a few shaddy character so he decide to sell it before it gets stolen out of his yard.

Well i looked it over. A few thing out of sinc like wrong hood( Don't know what make it came off. sure an't wheel horse. maybe some here can Identify?) The steering is froze. Something a little PB blaster won't fix . The belt pulley on the rear end turns but does'nt turn the rear wheels ( hopefully its' just a key or the rollerchain and not a sprocket or bull gear! won't no until I do exploritory surgery?).All in all it looks great not a bit of rust for a lawn ornament . Original silvertown rear tires and the fronts don't look bad too! rims are excellent. Has original clinton 1200 engine( Not briggs) and has great compession and spark. also has original cast (small) steering wheel. I don't think the seat is original does'nt have any of the holes in it . It's has a solid pan seat could be wrong though? The vari pully is even painted black like new and works!

After shooting him a offer and explaining to him all that was wrong we settled on a price under half of what he wanted SO to end the story I am now the proud owner of my first RJ-35 in my stable. Will get pics on here tomorrow.

[MikesRJ 558]

Great score, :thumbs2:

[Kelly 1,033]

I seen that one but I've been so busy I didn't take time to go look at it, glad it's in good hands.

[whfan74 2,072]

Congratulations! I saw that one as well but just didn't have the time to go and take a peak at it. I am glad that one of our members was able to grab it up and give it the attention it deserves.

Keep us posted on the progress of it! :thumbs2:

[TJ 184]

Great story. Nice find. :thumbs2:

[CasualObserver 3,411]

Erik, I saw that too... Nice grab. You got quite a heck of a nice deal in my opinion if you talked him down under half. I can't believe there was a 35 on CL (and at that price) and it was there for at least two weeks!!! You had to look close, but you could see the drive lever and belt guard in the picture... but you had to really look close.

Also... from the crappy CL picture, i think it looked like an early 60s Springfield hood, but I'll admit I spent more time scrutinizing the rest of the machine... the hood looks like this right?

[perry 82]

i saw that tractor the first few minutes it was listed CL.

like kelly, i was busy as heck and i really did'nt have the money. i had a feeling i should have contacted and tryed to talk him down. i thought it was a springfeild hood also.

glad to see you got it..... :thumbs2:

[Eriks Red horse herd 120]

[Eriks Red horse herd 120]

[Eriks Red horse herd 120]

[Eriks Red horse herd 120]

[Eriks Red horse herd 120]

[MikesRJ 558]

GREAT score Erik! :thumbs2:

[Eriks Red horse herd 120]

Was digging around in the top of the barn trying to get an old Wheel horse dealer tractor stand out (stand that you can put an 50-60 tractor on) so i can take to the Charlotte,Mi show and stumbled on a hood for an Rj that i had for quite some time. I think its for a RJ-35 does'nt have the wheel horse name embosed on the front. Its in good shape except for SOME IDIOT smashed in the corners to put some head lights on it. (Some thing a hammer and bondo will fix!)

So it looks like I have a hood for my RJ!

By the way does any one Know if this hood is the one for this year RJ-35?

[MikesRJ 558]

Was digging around in the top of the barn trying to get an old Wheel horse dealer tractor stand out (stand that you can put an 50-60 tractor on) so i can take to the Charlotte,Mi show and stumbled on a hood for an Rj that i had for quite some time. I think its for a RJ-35 does'nt have the wheel horse name embosed on the front. Its in good shape except for SOME IDIOT smashed in the corners to put some head lights on it. (Some thing a hammer and bondo will fix!)

So it looks like I have a hood for my RJ!

By the way does any one Know if this hood is the one for this year RJ-35?

A picture would tell a thousand word, Erik.

[CasualObserver 3,411]

By the way does any one Know if this hood is the one for this year RJ-35?

Erik... go look in the yahoo RJ group... in the files there is a copy of Tim LaPree's write up on differences on early RJs. There's some hood info there.

Edit:... here... I've made pictures of the doc.

[JimD 3,347]

Great find Erik. :woohoo: