First date with the 800 Special

[Scrap-Lord 18]

I picked up this wheel horse from a buddy of a buddy from back in may NAPA days. Supposedly One owner, and 186 hours on the clock. Both Claims are dubious. At $350 I probably paid too much. It was an hour drive, but I hadn’t seen this guy in a while. He was my small engine mentor. With chains, weights and plow included I think its a decent deal, but no great bargain. The tractor found me, not the other way around so it has been fated into my possession and I won’t argue it. It’s a bit smaller than the C series I was looking for, but the body style is similar, and I’m quite acquainted with this model of Briggs and Stratton motor. I wanted a geared tractor to replace my lumbering 1979 sears and this 1971 800 special fits the bill. As soon as it was off the truck and back home I fired it up and quickly discovered that dumping the clutch in 3^rd gear turns it into a Wheelie Horse! The shift pattern will take some getting used to as I feel out this 54 year old machines quirks. Once the rain stops I’m eager to clean it up and see how well Its been maintained over its life. I’ve already ordered the carburetor kit, and stickers for the hood.

[953 nut 60,083]

You got a free  with the purchase of a snow plow, chains, and wheel weights.                                

[stevasaurus 23,281]

Take off the guard and drive belt and see if the pulleys are rusty and dirty.  Cleaning them so they look like new should help the belt slip a touch and keep the wheels on the ground.  Wipe with plenty of mineral spirits too.   

I'd submit that 1st picture for next year's calendar..."Hold my beer and watch this!!"  

[Scrap-Lord 18]

Today could not decide if it wanted to rain and be chilly or warm and sunny. After picking up a snow blower I decided it was sunny enough to get the sudsy bucket and wash her down. Under 54 years of salt, pollen and dust the paint was bright and beautiful. Most of the horses this age I’ve seen have faded to maroon, but not this one, its brighter than even my 520-H! That’s not to say that it does not have its flaws. In 1971 the factory was on strike so in order to keep production going Management stepped onto the floor to build tractors. The paint runs in places, and the hood decals have peeled off. The trans axle might not be as strong as the unidrive, but this machine doesn’t feel much different from a B-80. Tomorrow I’ll give it a little light work and see how she does. For a tractor I didn’t seek out its sure growing on me.  As stevasaurus suggests I'll soon tear into the harder to reach places to clean.

[Scrap-Lord 18]

The sun’s finally fully out today! The 800 Special retrieved my trailer, which I keep in the woods, with little difficulty. I did manage to get hung up an a rock with the hitch, but that’s not the tractors fault. There is a bit of surging in the carburetor, I entrenched it for today, but I’ll have to clean it out soon. It performed well in its first roll as a glorified workbench for a chicken coop addition. The new craftsman pulled the dirt trailer. Its a chance to compare the two. The craftsman is like a Hyundai; comfortable and shiny, but ultimately inexpensive and disposable. Looking at the Wheel Horse is like looking at a classic American truck; a hard driving tough machine. Through the day it did what I asked of it, which was mostly to look pretty and start in front of the extended family. When I parked it in it’s evening resting place I figured that it might be nice to have some throttle control and made a mental note to order a new cable. Replacing e the cable will be a good opportunity to clean more thoroughly