PIcked this beauty up today

[zak406 0]

Hey guys today me and my uncle picked this beauty up from my grandpa. I have a few questions A. what is the year for this particular model B. how much is it worth, we are not looking to sell but we were curious on what the price is...

Also iw ant to do a complete restoration, how hard is it to find parts for this model and were do you find them at... :)

[DMK855 15]

I were to take a guess, I would have to say 59 RJ!! It obviously does not have the correct engine as it should have a K90-91 Kohler. Other than missing the belt guard, gas tank and not having the correct engine, it looks like a great canidate for a resto.

Can't help you on the value though!! They are pretty much worth what you want to pay for them. My RJ will be priceless when it is done, and it is far from being as nice as others I have seen!!

Good Luck!!

Oh, BTW, !!!!!

[Trouty56 567]

:)

That horse looks good to me just like that!! I see lots of round hoods restored and looking very nice. There is a photo gallery on this site where you could look at some tractors from this time period. I don't know that much but the early nut burners were Ride Away Juniors and they were from like '55 - '59. There was a Suburban too that might have had an engine in that location from '60.

Too me it looks great like it is with that big plow on the back...sweet!!

[zak406 0]

Thanks for the kind words guys.... A question i do have is, how hard is it to find parts for these and how much would it cost to restore?

[zak406 0]

I also have tire chains for this a snowplow and aa slit seeder type attachment the plow and seeder i have to pick up in a few weeks...... I couldnt fit everthing in the back of my turck

[Buzz 502]

I have never ever seen that style air breather mounted in that location... A great candidate for restoration. I'm guessing that with the straight bar front axle and that style lift quadrant that it's a 1959 RJ-59. Of course I've been wrong before....... :USA:

[zak406 0]

thanks for the replys guys keep them coming, great site btw :)

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,534]

:USA: I agree it is a 1959 RJ. We have another member here with a fully restored 58 Rj (pretty much the same tractor) and it looks great and he is asking $750 which is very reasonable. I think I would pull that motor as soon as i could find a Kohler k90 or k91. Welcome :)

[Ken B 3,189]

Nice machine. It is also missing the muffler pipe heat shield. I can give you a rough idea as to its value, it is not as much as you'd think. I have one for sale in the classified section. I have roughly 1000 bucks into it not including many hrs. restoring it, not something that was just slapped together. I can't even get 750.00 for it so be careful what you put into it if there is a chance you may want to sell it. I had to gather all the parts you will need including a motor. Each and every part you need adds up quickly. If I lower the price any more on mine its to close to what I paid for it before buying parts and restoration.

Be all that as it may, I'd restore yours in honor of your grandfather if it is or was his personal machine, but thats just me.

[zak406 0]

There is no way we are selling this, as i have said my grandpa gave it to me and my uncle today (he is moving out of a huge piece of property into a small property) He said if we wanted to sell it sell it but my uncle is the one that mainly used this and has to many good memories he said there is no way we are selling it.. Myself i just think it would be a cool project for some uncle nephew / uncles son / cousin time lol if you get what im saying. After just giving up my life time hockey career (im 20 i played for 14 years) Im looking for a new hobby any way....

[MikesRJ 558]

I were to take a guess, I would have to say 59 RJ!!

I agree, looks like a 59. It's a shame there's no tag on the frame. You may find this article helpful as well: 1958 Wheel Horse Ride-Away Jr. Restoration

Parts are not too awful hard to come by, I have a garage full of RJ spares. The K90/91's show up on eBay and Craig's List all the time, as do the gas tanks. You just have to keep watching for them.

There are several (quite a few) folks all over this board who are pretty knowledgeable about the RJ's. Just ask your questions as you go along and they will chime in.

Hope you make it look like this one (my ride):

MikeRJ 1958 Wheel Horse Ride-Away Jr. RJ-58 Slideshow

[VinsRJ 723]

Nice looking RJ! The parts you are missing are the classic parts that vanish. Are they hard to come by, not really, but you do have to search a bit.

[wallfish 18,152]

Nice tractor.

I see round hubs on the rear axel instead of the usual style for that year. Do they have 3 holes in them for the lug bolts or 5 holes?

[wheel horse man 56]

:) and love that 59rj

[Buzz 502]

Is that a Pennsylvania license plate I see on the truck? If so you are in luck, there are a lot of Wheel Horses in PA, and a lot of shows (including the big one) where you can find your parts. Good luck.

[Eriks Red horse herd 120]

Hey Guys! Looks like an early RJ-58? Notice it does have round wheel hubs, squared off clutch arm, AND IS THAT A LEATHER SHIFTER BOOT on that tractor or am i seeing things????? Things that make you go HMMMM?

[wheel horse 1045 2]

There is no way we are selling this, as i have said my grandpa gave it to me and my uncle today (he is moving out of a huge piece of property into a small property) He said if we wanted to sell it sell it but my uncle is the one that mainly used this and has to many good memories he said there is no way we are selling it.. Myself i just think it would be a cool project for some uncle nephew / uncles son / cousin time lol if you get what im saying. After just giving up my life time hockey career (im 20 i played for 14 years) Im looking for a new hobby any way....

just remember if you do the work take pictures and share on here and you and your uncle got a gem there congrats :)

[zak406 0]

Ours has i believe 5 holes....

[zak406 0]

Yes sir that is a pa liscens plate and i sure will post pictures when we start working on it.... And for a clarification there is 5 holes in the rims with only 3 lugs on the hub..... And erics red horse herd what are you talking about????

[Eriks Red horse herd 120]

zak406 the early RJ-58 had distinctive features that the later models didn't. Like the front wheel rims were narrow and came from the RJ -35's just like your tractor has. Also if you look at your frame near the trans where it connects to the frame the later RJ-58's and RJ-59's had a small piece of metal welded between the angle iron frame but the early models didn't have that. also a dead give away would be the trans case. On top of the trans case near the shifter if there is no numbers casted into the case then its an early RJ-58. Another point would be the clutch arm on the side of the trans yours looks to be made of squared of flat stock thats another sign of an early model. The later models the clutch arm was rounded over on the ends. Also looking at your pics the seat on your tractor looks to be like the old style seat there a little smaller and dished a little deeper than the latter model 58's-59's. Now is your shifter boot made of leather or rubber? if its made of leather BE VERY CAREFULL DO NOT MESS IT UP. because accroding to some there was only 100 or so RJ-58s made with leather shifter boots all the rest of the models came with rubber boots and that same rubber boot is still made today.

From what you said about the round rear hubs thats another sure sign of an early model ( round with three holes) later models came with three lobe hub with three holes. Now to address the engine the current engine is not correct to the model it should be a kohler k-90 or a clinton b-1290( not a Briggs) the lift sector is it weld to the frame or bolted? let us know what you find !!! the lift sector could have been added later which would give the impession that some would think its an RJ-59. I think you have an RJ-58 still let us know what you find .Especially on the shifter boot!

[zak406 0]

The boot on the gear shift is leather!!!! My uncles and my question is should this model have inner fenders on the rear wheels?? Does this change what size tire should be on this particular model.. The front tires were 4.80/4.00/8 size.... The adjuster lever is welded on, what does this mean???? We did not see any numbers on the tranny case either... I included pictures of most of the things that have been high lighted in this thread.... My other questions are, is this is a different model year what all do we need to put this together again as and exact replica?? ThaNKS for the advice guys.... :)

[Kelly 1,033]

I'd say from the pictures you posted you have a early RJ58, everything Eric said I've heard also from another man that knows his RJ's Tim Lapree not sure on the last name spelling, the lift selector looks to be home made and added to the orig. like Eric said be very carfull of the shifter boot.

By the way nice tractor.

[Kelly 1,033]

In one of your pictures I think I see the ID tag that has been painted over, look for a chrome tag on the top of the frame about at the bottom of the lift selector they added, be VERY careful not to use anything that will remove the ink I would only use your fingernail to slowly remove the red paint, let us know what you find under the paint.

[zak406 0]

My uncle said that he tried scraping the paint off the tag in that picture but its un readable..... :)

[Eriks Red horse herd 120]

zak406 - Congrats on haveing an early RJ-58! What ever you do DO NOT LET THE LEATHER SHIFTER BOOT GET DESTROYED!! They are rare not many have shown up. Now on to restoring her to her original beauty. First you need to find the correct motor,should be a kohler k-90 or clinton B-1290. I noticed that your missing a gas tank under the hood and tank straps. Also need a new sleve hitch looks like the original was butcherd. The lift sector is homemade and if you look closely you can see the original small one notch sector is still there they just add to it. The hood stand has been cut and moved forward then welded looks as if to clear the gas tank for the Briggs engine. Now on to the tires. Fronts are original, Backs are not but they are the correct size. This model could be fitted for fenders but that was an optional ad on. Te hood looks very straight for a 50 plus old tractor better than some i've seen all except for the air cleaner through the hood that shouldn't be there. looks like a very good restore!! If you need pics for reference I have an early RJ-58 restored i could e-mail you pics of any thing you need ! Congrats on the extremly rare find . P.s need any help just hollar every one here is more than glad to help. OH and :)