I'm Not Sure Why, But I Now Have a B-80

[BradKahler 75]

Well....I was browsing Marketplace looking for Wheel Horse parts and ran cross a tractor that was 16 miles from me.  I'm not sure why but I ended up buying it 

 

It's a 1975 and came with the snow plow and a 36" mower deck.  It came out of Ohio but it doesn't look like it was ever really stored outside.  It runs although the engine has hesitation issues and stumbles when at higher rpms.  I did time the engine and it helped but I'm guessing the carburetor needs cleaning as well.  

[Achto 30,027]

40 minutes ago, BradKahler said:

I'm not sure why but I ended up buying it

 

No worries. This kind of thing happens all the time around here. Once you have one , you kind of want one of each model. 

 

BTW. Nice looking tractor. 

Edited 16 hours ago by Achto

[ri702bill 10,248]

And I see that it has a "Husher" hammerhead muffler. Had one on a Commando 800, but it was way too far gone.

Even the 2 spoke steering wheel looks to be in great shape - a rare find.

You've got an early B80 with the 4 speed, later ones had the 8 speed like a C81. A great workhorse that sips fuel.

Edited 15 hours ago by ri702bill

[Handy Don 14,870]

Running K-181, Two spoke steering wheel, captive quadrant blade (room for drilling out to have five rotate positions if it didn’t come that way), 2-link, well-fitted chains? Score!

Seat? Trade up. 

[ebinmaine 74,937]

2 hours ago, BradKahler said:

I'm not sure why but I ended up buying it 

 

1 hour ago, Achto said:

 

No worries. This kind of thing happens all the time around here. Once you have one , you kind of want one of each model. 

 

Agreed. 

 

1 hour ago, Achto said:

 

BTW. Nice looking tractor. 

 

Also Agreed. 

 

 

 

The B80s from 1974 to 77 are great workers. 👍 

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,902]

Nice score.. and with a couple attachments 

  I have a ‘77 B-80 and she’s a great machine! Mowed occasionally with the 36” RD and then get hosed off and dragged to the local tractor shows 

 

 

[953 nut 62,568]

5 hours ago, BradKahler said:

engine has hesitation issues and stumbles when at higher rpms.

If an engine idles well, but runs erratically when revved up, like it hits and misses, pops and backfires, then chances are, it needs a new condenser/capacitor. And always install a condenser/capacitor with the wire facing downward so rain water and/or when washing off engine, water will not enter inside condenser/capacitor, ruining it. With water inside the condenser, this will also allow it to idle well, but cause it to run erratically when revved up.

[BradKahler 75]

4 hours ago, Achto said:

 

No worries. This kind of thing happens all the time around here. Once you have one , you kind of want one of each model. 

 

That's what scares me 

 

4 hours ago, Achto said:

BTW. Nice looking tractor. 

 

Thanks 

[BradKahler 75]

4 hours ago, ri702bill said:

And I see that it has a "Husher" hammerhead muffler. Had one on a Commando 800, but it was way too far gone.

Even the 2 spoke steering wheel looks to be in great shape - a rare find.

You've got an early B80 with the 4 speed, later ones had the 8 speed like a C81. A great workhorse that sips fuel.

 

The condition of the muffler turned out to be not what I was expecting.  The previous owner had welded a plate over one end of the muffler.  I thought it was to keep the exhaust from blowing into the drivers face.  So I removed the plate and found that the baffle an grill was missing 

 

So now I have to come up with some sort of replacement.  I'd like to use the Gravely muffler but I'm leery of trying to remove the pipe nipple in the block.

 

 

[BradKahler 75]

4 hours ago, Handy Don said:

Running K-181, Two spoke steering wheel, captive quadrant blade (room for drilling out to have five rotate positions if it didn’t come that way), 2-link, well-fitted chains? Score!

Seat? Trade up. 

 

Thanks!

 

Could you enlighten me about the captive quadrant blade?

 

[ebinmaine 74,937]

2 minutes ago, BradKahler said:

leery of trying to remove the pipe nipple in the block.

 

Not as difficult as you'd think. 

The pipe stub could be removed using a cut n crush method. 

There are threads describing the procedure. 

 

 

 

9 minutes ago, BradKahler said:

That's what scares me 

Don't be concerned. Just build a bigger workshop.  

[BradKahler 75]

3 hours ago, Sparky said:

Nice score.. and with a couple attachments 

  I have a ‘77 B-80 and she’s a great machine! Mowed occasionally with the 36” RD and then get hosed off and dragged to the local tractor shows 

 

 

 

 

Thanks!

 

Where did you get that muffler/exhaust setup?

 

 

Edited 11 hours ago by BradKahler

[Achto 30,027]

11 hours ago, BradKahler said:

I'm leery of trying to remove the pipe nipple in the block.

 

Hose the nipple down with some penetrating fluid in the morning and go about your day and night. When you get back to it, tap on the pipe several times with a hammer before trying to un-thread it. If worse comes to worse you can always use the cut & crush method.

Edited just now by Achto

[BradKahler 75]

42 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

If an engine idles well, but runs erratically when revved up, like it hits and misses, pops and backfires, then chances are, it needs a new condenser/capacitor. And always install a condenser/capacitor with the wire facing downward so rain water and/or when washing off engine, water will not enter inside condenser/capacitor, ruining it. With water inside the condenser, this will also allow it to idle well, but cause it to run erratically when revved up.

 

Good info!  You pretty much described how it's running, although it doesn't really backfire.  I cleaned up the points today and set the timing but I don't like the looks of the points themselves.  I'll go ahead and replace the points and condenser and see what happens.

 

Thanks!

 

[Achto 30,027]

5 minutes ago, BradKahler said:

Where did you get that muffler/exhaust setup?

 

He has a factory Nelson muffler.

[BradKahler 75]

4 minutes ago, Achto said:

 

Hose the nipple down with some penetrating fluid in the morning and go about your day and night. When you get back to it tap on the pipe several times with a hammer before trying to un-thread it. I worse comes to worse you can always use the cut & crush method.

 

Somewhere in my shop hidden away I've got a gallon can of kroil.  I guess it's time to find it and put it to use....

[Easton Rich 757]

I love my B-80’s. They are great workers! Good luck!

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,902]

11 minutes ago, BradKahler said:

 

Thanks!

 

Where did you get that muffler/exhaust setup?

 

 

That’s the stock setup on mine. 

[BradKahler 75]

5 minutes ago, Achto said:

 

He has a factory Nelson muffler.

 

So that's what the Nelson muffler looks like.  I've read about references to a Nelson muffler but couldn't figure out what they looked like.  I'm guessing they are NLA.  

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,902]

Just now, BradKahler said:

 

So that's what the Nelson muffler looks like.  I've read about references to a Nelson muffler but couldn't figure out what they looked like.  I'm guessing they are NLA.  

You could fine a used one I’m sure 

[BradKahler 75]

3 minutes ago, Easton Rich said:

I love my B-80’s. They are great workers! Good luck!

 

Wow nice! A small herd of them 

 

What is the small double pulley and cover box for?  Mine has the box and the shaft although the shaft is mangled.  

 

 

[Easton Rich 757]

That’s your mule drive. You only need it if you wanna run a deck. I’ve got some if you want a better one.

[BradKahler 75]

11 minutes ago, Easton Rich said:

That’s your mule drive. You only need it if you wanna run a deck. I’ve got some if you want a better one.

 

I do have the 36" deck that I was planning on using.  Figuring out how to remove the plow and mount the deck is one of the many things I need to do, and it would appear I'm missing the pulleys as well.  I would most definitely be interested in a better one if you've got it.

 

Thanks!

 

[BradKahler 75]

25 minutes ago, Sparky said:

You could fine a used one I’m sure 

 

I just did a quick ebay search and the prices for used mufflers is insane 

 

I like the looks of the Gravely muffler as well, and it's available for about $55 delivered.  That would likely be the easiest and cheapest, assuming I can get the pipe nipple out.

[BradKahler 75]

There is an issue with the brake pedal when pushing on it, it hits the lever for the blade.  My best guess is the blade lever is bent to a position where it shouldn't be.