314-8 Back in Service

[leeave96 490]

My first Wheelhorse, a 1997 year model which I bought new, is back in service - yippie!

 

Not that it was ever out of service, just I rotate my tractors into and out of mowing duty every year.  This year, the 314-8 is the primary mowing tractor around the house.

 

I have several decks to choose from with this tractor, 48 SD and 42 RD, both which work great.  Years ago, I had a C-111 with a 36 inch rear discharge deck and I really liked the way that deck cut, so about the time I was going to post a "want" classified, I found a decent 36 RD deck.  I put a new idler pulley on it, deck belt and PTO belt these past few days getting ready to mow.  BTW, the deck cost me $50, is solid and has new blades on it.  My last 36 RD deck had bad spindle bearings, but I ran it that way - anyway.  It sounded like a jet, but mowed great.  Once I got the deck mounted and mowing with it - I was very surprised at how quite it was.  It is easily the quitest deck I have.  Aside from the quality of cut of the 36 RD deck, some other things I like about them.  Very hard to scalp, not as heavy as my other decks and my aging back can pretty easily handle it.  When I mow around the house and cars, nothing blows onto the patio, sidewalks, etc.  There really isn't a vacuum by the deck, so in my driveway, I can roll across it full throttle and no rocks go flying.  My yard is lumpy and rolley, so the ground supported deck give a great cut - hugging the ground and super side to side cut.  Last thing this 36 inch deck does for me is - I can use my basement for storage as the tractor and deck will fit through the door, whereas with 42 RD or 48 SD decks can't do this.  So I have another out of the weather storage option for it.

 

First thing I did was prep the tractor for service.  Last time I used this tractor was with the grader blade, over a year ago - and then for only a few days.  I changed oil, drained the tranny and changed that fluid.  I put a new shifter boot as the old one was cracked bad.  Here is pic:

 

 

Next up I changed the spark plug and serviced the air cleaner.  The battery was dead, but not a problem with this tractor - no need to put a charge on it, I'll let the tractor do that for me.  In the mean time, I used a rope start - which I added years ago and has saved my hide many times.

 

 

I had an extra mule drive and I believe the deck belt on the 36 RD is slightly different in length than the 48 SD deck - in any event, I wanted to have a dedicated mule drive for this deck and used my extra one to do so.  I marked it with a big black majic marker so next time I use it, I know which deck it is for.

 

Once I had the tractor serviced and the grader blade off, I put on the deck and mule drive - and I was off mowing!!!

 

After stopping once to adjust the slack out of the mule drive from deck install/new belts - it was continuous mowing.  Here is a pic of the tractor and part of the finished yard.

 

 

Did I mention another benefit of the 36 RD deck is that it is so narrow, you have to make many more laps around the yard to get the mowing finished vs the 48 SD deck which means more seat time...  

 

All in all - a great day with the Wheelhorse.

 

Happy mowing,

Bill

[Wheelhorse84 87]

A 36 inch deck gives a great cut.

[Tankman 3,523]

Mowing with the rear discharge deck was great! I had one years ago and picked up a lawn sweeper to use while mowing.

The combination worked great!

The combination worked even better when I showed the wife how to use it. I would get home and have a beautiful mowed and swept lawn all done, always neat. Better for the lawn too, no thatch.

I mowed yesterday with the Grandson, we were test drivin'. 1st, 520-8 x 48" SD. 2nd, 416-8 x 48" SD. Finally the 414-8 with its' 42" SD. Grandson had to ride 'em all! :smile:

[leeave96 490]

I'd like to get everyone using this tractor, but airing up a tire, separate throttle and choke, straight drive...

You get the picture...

More seat time for me... ;)

Edited April 14, 2013 by leeave96

[Wheel-N-It 2,976]

Hey Bill, thats a good looking 314 you have! I was hoping to get some mowing done this afternoon but my dump tuck has been sitting under roof loaded down with red oak for about a week now. I guess the smart thing for me to do this afternoon is to get all that red oak split and stacked. Then I can enjoy some seat time without feeling guilty about having all that red oak on my truck leaf springs.

I have a question for you;  How can I get one of those rope starter pullys like you added to your Kohler?

[JC 1965 1,532]

Like Van, I am also interested in the rope start. Any info. much appreciated.   P.S.  Glad your tractor is back in service.

[leeave96 490]

I'm not sure what the part number for the rope start kit that I bought, but it's a bolt-on deal.  I had a dealer get it for me years ago.  I'll do some digging and see what I can find.

[Wheel-N-It 2,976]

Thank you Bill. Hey, today I found a K-341 with a 1" output crankshaft if you are interested. It might fit one of your non-red tractors. PM me and I'll give you the guys name and number.

[leeave96 490]

Update:  I've mowed a couple of times with this 36 inch RD deck and my 314-8.  Around my yard, it's a sweet combo.  Grass is getting ahead of me as I've been doing some work traveling, so I'm getting a little clumping - but as with my 42 inch RD deck, it seems like after a day, the visible clumping seems to go away.  Don't know if it just settles into the grass or the wind kind of blows it out a bit, but none the less it seems to disappear.  Don't know if other RD deck users have observed this.  When I first used my 42 inch RD years ago, this would drive me crazy, but then figured out if I wait 24 hrs, usually all is good.  For extreme tall grass, I will pull a sweeper when mowing.  Since this 36 inch deck just barely extends past the rear wheels, I'm thinking about attaching a roller or some kind of belting to the clevis hitch that would span between rear wheels and see if between the wheel tracks and whatever I drag - I can get some striping.

 

Thanks!

Bill