new2horses 287 #1 Posted July 26, 2014 (edited) Well its just out of the shop for the first cruise around the yard. Pretty happy with it, overhauled the whole steering system including axle pivot pin. New piston, rings,rod, crank ground, and valve seats, three ribs on the front and the seat. What y'all think? Anybody got an earlier serial number? Hoping to see several of you at the Northeast Indiana Steam and Gas Association Show in Lagrange Indiana August 7th-10th Denise and I will be there with this 953 her Stitchin' Chic Cruiser and a few others. Hint hint , Horsefixer, Martin, Steveasauras, sousakerry, smoreau, Kelly, Perry and others I am sure I am forgetting. Edited July 26, 2014 by new2horses 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
"D"- Man 827 #3 Posted July 26, 2014 Quite a nice looking early 953, even looks like your original power grips are in pretty decent shape. May we see a picture of the steering wheel? Also does the engine shroud still have the Kohler 9.6 HP decal on it? Thanks for posting, Mark. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jake Kuhn 1,547 #4 Posted July 26, 2014 Very nice tractor dave! Can't beat the look of an all original 953/1054. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,954 #5 Posted July 26, 2014 AWESOME! Love it! Nothing short of artwork. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevebo-(Moderator) 8,056 #6 Posted July 26, 2014 Love the patina. Mine is about the exact patina as yours. The only thing I would do is to paint the rims off white of some shade you like and also paint the tires. This one is right up my alley in terms of original patina machines.- LOVE it . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
new2horses 287 #7 Posted July 26, 2014 (edited) Mark, I will post a picture of the steering wheel later today. Yes it is the original and still has the insert. Sorry to report there is no 9.6 decal. Thanks Jake, hope to see you in Lagrange. Edited July 26, 2014 by new2horses Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,954 #8 Posted July 26, 2014 Sounds like another job for Terry, our vinylguy. http://www.redoyourhorse.com/kohler-engine-reproduction-decals/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jake Kuhn 1,547 #9 Posted July 26, 2014 Mark, I will post a picture of the steering wheel later today. Yes it is the original and still has the insert. Sorry to report there is no 9.6 decal. Thanks Jake, hope to see you in Lagrange. David, I would like to make it, but am probably going to miss it. We are most likely going to be harvesting on that day, but might get lucky and have that day off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 10,382 #10 Posted July 26, 2014 I was going to mention to you that you should post that picture. That's calendar material. If I make it to the show with the grandson it will probably be Thursday. What's the diameter of that steering wheel insert? I have what I believe is an insert and my best guess it's for a 953/1054 but I don't know. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clintonnut 126 #11 Posted July 26, 2014 What is the serial #? I have a 953 SN 672 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
new2horses 287 #12 Posted July 26, 2014 Charlie, Mentioned in the tag for this post is the serial number it is 304. Jake, Surely hoping you can make it as we were looking forward to some blueberries Lane Ranger, Hoping to see you too. ol550, Cant leave you out, think its going to be good. Bob, Here is the steering wheel and dash, I do have one of Terry's decals on it as are the hood decals. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 10,382 #13 Posted July 26, 2014 That looks great. It sure blows my theory about the thingy I have being for a 953. I was thinking the 953 I had up north had a round insert. What I have is 2 1/2" in diameter with the logo molded in. It's similar to the GT-14 caps Glen makes but without the outer flange. It's flat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeremi3210 688 #14 Posted July 26, 2014 Wow that's a very nice 953 my sn is 62 533. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
new2horses 287 #15 Posted July 26, 2014 Then there is this one, wife says its hers. What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 10,382 #16 Posted July 26, 2014 Different but I like it. let me guess, she has a sewing business out of the house? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Firpo701 407 #17 Posted July 27, 2014 Oh great! As if I'm not having a hard enough time at not starting too many projects at once, this just makes me anxious to start tearing into my 953! Also going to check my sn tomorrow. Gotta love those big beefy rascals! Lol! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
new2horses 287 #18 Posted July 27, 2014 Well I am going to try and get Denise's tractor up again this time with the correct orientation. Firpo, What are you waiting on, just go do it?! . I see your location, I have family from just down the river. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 51,940 #19 Posted July 27, 2014 That looks great. It sure blows my theory about the thingy I have being for a 953. I was thinking the 953 I had up north had a round insert. What I have is 2 1/2" in diameter with the logo molded in. It's similar to the GT-14 caps Glen makes but without the outer flange. It's flat. In mid 1963 the 953 started using the fan gear stearing and larger heahlights along with a change to the stearing wheel. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 10,382 #20 Posted July 27, 2014 Yea, I found that out when I had mine. I was going to convert mine to the in-house made steering but unfortunately it fell victim to the auction when we moved here. I never even started the restoration. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
new2horses 287 #21 Posted July 27, 2014 953 nut, I am certainly not the expert, but I can tell what I have seen. Remembering too that these things are 50 years old. My first 953 had the Ross steering sector just as does this one, it also had the same steering wheel as my 1257 and all the 1054's I have seen. I have never owned a 1054 so I can't say whether the steering wheel is fastened to the steering shaft via tapered splines and a nut or a straight shaft and spring pin. This tractor has a later steering sector in it now, still had the original when I purchased it. The later units have a 3/4ths" pivot bolt versus a 5/8ths" on the earlier units, and the stud that follows the screw is larger. The unit I used was from one of those off brand machines, to the best of my knowledge they all have the same mounting bolt pattern, I did have to adjust the length of the tube and of course the steering shaft its self, I also used the later top guide bushing, as they are much more durable, I did save the old bushing holder and installed it just for the aesthetic value. Believe me when I say I am still learning. I am continually amazed a some of the engineering that went into the WH machines. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lane Ranger 10,520 #22 Posted July 28, 2014 (edited) Here are a couple pictures of the original 953 Wheel Horse steering wheel. You do not see many of these original steering wheels still on a 953. I do not believe they used this steering wheel on all the 953's as I have seen too many 953's with the later 1054 type wheel with the rounded cap/logo insert. Glenn Pettit has a boat steering wheel in white just like this one. Last year I gave Glen my 953 steering wheel insert to use (the diamond shaped one was made out of brass and painted matte black and had a dimond shaped logo decal on it in the center which Terry Dennis has already made up too) to make a mockup plastic insert for use as a replacement for any folks that have this diamond shaped steering wheel but no insert on their 953. Edited July 28, 2014 by Lane Ranger 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
312Hydro 473 #23 Posted July 28, 2014 Very nice.. X2! :handgestures-thumbupright: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
new2horses 287 #24 Posted July 28, 2014 Well all that time I spent polishing that coveted little piece of brass and now I learn that its supposed to be painted?!?! In the for what its worth department, there is still a little bit of black paint on the back side, the outer surface was painted gold when I bought the tractor. Forgot to mention in my earlier post, the other 953 I owned also had the later style headlights. Thanks much for the info Ralph. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lane Ranger 10,520 #25 Posted July 28, 2014 We have one 953 that has a 62-560 serial number on the shifter decal! 27 later than yours new2horses! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites