314H cleanup and repair.

[cleat 9,051]

I dragged this machine home last summer and figured I might as well begin work on it.

 

This is what I am starting with.

 

It had no carb so I got a cheap china carb for it and it will start by jumping the solenoid as the wiring has issues.

 

Hydro seems strong and engine runs quiet and as smooth as a single cylinder can.

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 01:24 PM by cleat

[ri702bill 12,481]

Missing the air cleaner assembly too?

[cleat 9,051]

7 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

Missing the air cleaner assembly too?

 

Nope, just not shown in that pic.

[cleat 9,051]

Tractor is mostly torn apart.

 

Frame, engine and rear end have preliminary degreasing done.

Don't mind the yellow wheels, they are just for moving the tractor around.

 

Wagon load of parts.

These are all cleaned up and ready for bead blasting and/or sanding.

 

 

[EthanL 55]

That looks great. I hope to be able to do a full tear down and restore like this one. What do you plan on using the tractor for? 

[cleat 9,051]

25 minutes ago, EthanL said:

That looks great. I hope to be able to do a full tear down and restore like this one. What do you plan on using the tractor for? 

 

Likely just a spare as I have a dedicated mowing 520H (with a 16 Onan on it), my 520HC is the snow plow tractor, and another 520H is set up for the two stage blower.

 

I have 10 tractors now with most of them restored (my wife thinks I'm crazy).

[cleat 9,051]

Well, I found out why the tractor needed the solenoid jumped to start it.

The battery connection terminal on the ignition switch is corroded completely.

 

Here is the old connector for the ignition switch.

 

New connector installed.

 

The other connectors are in decent shape and will easily clean up.

 

Since the indicator board is completely corroded as well, I decided to simply eliminate it and all it's associated wiring in the harness.

 

I also eliminated the seat switch and associated relays etc. 

 

The neutral switch is gone as well since I will be installing a self centering foot control.

 

Here is the harness as pulled.

 

Here is the harness cleaned up and simplified.

 

Here is the harness ready to be installed.

 

I hooked it up to a battery and plugged in a new ignition switch, low oil relay, PTO switch, and 2 new fuses and tested all functions.

Everything works perfectly including grounding the magneto for shutdown (yes, I do have the correct magneto ignition switch).

 

[sqrlgtr 3,262]

@cleat I and probably a lot of others will be following along and can't wait to see how good it will look after you do your vodoo on it. BTW I really like the 8" fronts, nothing wrong with the 6'  inchers, but really like the looks of the 8's better.

[rick 305]

Excellent work on the wiring harness, Cleat.  I like the way you do things.

I made up a bunch of harnesses in my shop wiring local agency police cars for emergency lights and radios.  Later I worked 13 years for Virginia State Police doing the same thing.  I must have used miles of electrical tape and nylon conduit.  I always used the best grade wire and high temp conduit in my shop, due to the customer use (and abuse).  

[cleat 9,051]

5 hours ago, sqrlgtr said:

@cleat I and probably a lot of others will be following along and can't wait to see how good it will look after you do your vodoo on it. BTW I really like the 8" fronts, nothing wrong with the 6'  inchers, but really like the looks of the 8's better.

 

Don't worry, 8" front wheels will be going back on.

[ebinmaine 79,695]

Another  @cleat  fixxemup!

 

Lookin forward to seeing how this goes! 

[oliver2-44 11,628]

7 hours ago, cleat said:

 

Likely just a spare as I have a dedicated mowing 520H (with a 16 Onan on it), my 520HC is the snow plow tractor, and another 520H is set up for the two stage blower.

 

I have 10 tractors now with most of them restored (my wife knows I'm crazy like the rest of those red tractor creatures).

Fixed it for you. 

[kpinnc 18,745]

13 hours ago, cleat said:

(my wife thinks I'm crazy).

 

Could be said by nearly all of us. In short sir, you are not alone! 

[953 nut 67,410]

On 7/22/2026 at 10:22 AM, cleat said:

I have 10 tractors now with most of them restored (my wife thinks I'm crazy).

    If my wife comments on the number of Wheel Horses I have I just go to her sewing room and she knows      I don't have as many  as she has sewing machines.   

Looking forward to the "clean up". Who are you kidding; it will be another 100% restoration.       

Edited 5 hours ago by 953 nut
fat finger

[WHX?? 57,395]

You know when Cleat ties into a tractor it's done right! 

Edited Thursday at 11:50 AM by WHX??

[Handy Don 16,953]

On 7/22/2026 at 10:32 AM, cleat said:

Well, I found out why the tractor needed the solenoid jumped to start it.

The battery connection terminal on the ignition switch is corroded completely.

Great example of a mechanically deficient electrical connection in a challenging environment being ruined by heat and corrosion. 

[Lee1977 7,709]

1 hour ago, Handy Don said:

Great example of a mechanically deficient electrical connection in a challenging environment being ruined by heat and corrosion. 

More lickly been stored out side. 

[cleat 9,051]

8 hours ago, Lee1977 said:

More lickly been stored out side. 

 

This machine is weird in that some little bits are badly corroded but most is good.

 

Even the hood was easy to buff to a decent shine.

 

I do agree that it likely spent a bit of time outside in it's previous life and likely rarely if ever got cleaned.

 

The rear axle was a terrible mess of greasy mucky goop, likely enough to fill a good sized pail.

 

I don't know where it came from as I have not found a leak anywhere.