314H cleanup and repair.

[cleat 9,064]

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 July 22 by cleat

[ri702bill 12,535]

Missing the air cleaner assembly too?

[cleat 9,064]

7 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

Missing the air cleaner assembly too?

 

Nope, just not shown in that pic.

[cleat 9,064]

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 9,064]

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 9,064]

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 3,334]

@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 306]

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 9,064]

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 79,748]

Another  @cleat  fixxemup!

 

Lookin forward to seeing how this goes! 

[oliver2-44 11,644]

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 18,763]

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 67,536]

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 July 24 by 953 nut
fat finger

[WHX?? 57,470]

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

Edited July 23 by WHX??

[Handy Don 17,000]

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 7,712]

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 9,064]

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.

 

[Retired Wrencher 6,810]

Cleat: many years ago when I had a mind. I had a c141 it was in need of wiring. Now I am no electrician. But I took my time and I figured it out one wire at a time some need to be replaced, but I got through it..  

[cleat 9,064]

Frame unbolted from the rear end.

 

 

Lots of small parts have been bead blasted and painted.

 

I have not got to big parts yet (actually still need to finish the hood from the 416 project I mostly completed last winter), Need the weather to co-operate and not rain or be at 1000% humidity.

 

Also the bugs are very bad right now and would undoubtedly be stuck in the paint.

 

[Lee1977 7,712]

My 520-H has had a slow engine leak, I though it was buring a little oil.  I would have to add a little each time I used it. 

Notice oil on the deck when I finished mowing. Check the oil down to add, so may not be using any oil. Clean it up and put it away.

Day or so later notice oil on the deck and a large puddle on the floor. Got the covers off, need to finish clean it up and add more oil st see where it comming from.

[MainelyWheelhorse 2,909]

Ah, another @cleat special. Looking forward to seeing the build thread.

[peter lena 9,958]

@cleat  break down to bare frame , stage looks like an opportunity to me? inside frame 90 deg upper notch ?  lay in a  1/4  or 5/16  steel brake  line ?  eliminate all that  fuel hose break down , would not even see it , finish  ends , from tank  and to carb , with clear fuel rated hose and a filter , of course you have already cleaned out the tank , imagine not having  fuel hose debris at all ?  been using  STA BIL   for years , simply add an ounce or two to every tank top  off , verification of that , is years in , and not a speck of rubber debris anywhere , small clips inside frame corner , make that  line disappear , do a lot of , problem elimination, you won't  see this one , and your  fuel bowls will always be clean and clear . also have a fuel check valve , just before carb ?  looking right at  clean / clear  fuel holding up to carb , your  frame break down , is an excellent phase , pete     

[peter lena 9,958]

@953 nut  love REPEDITIVE PROBLEMS ?  thats my home base , for ELIMINATION , fuel issues  were  always constant , cleaned out tank , new fuel valve , dielectric grease , makes rubber / plastic  slide in , simple / easy , fuel filter at tank drop feed , insuring / verifying , NO DEBRIS START !  also  1 to 2  oz of STA BIL FUEL STORAGE , to every tank top off , like a fuel hose check valve  just before carb ?  clear hose , filter , verifying  status , dare to EXPERIMENT , you already know what , fails, don,t have anything , consistently  kicking my butt , thats you que , kinda like , whyining deck spindles / screaming clutch disc , WHAT COULD YOU  POSSIBLY  CHANGE / IMPROVE ???  did that years ago , sending you dairing gu/ gu . pete      

[rick 306]

Cleat, how is your project coming along?