rustyoldjunk 127 #1 Posted December 30, 2014 (edited) I recently picked up this 953 from a friend. It runs,the hydro and deck seem to work fine and he said he mowed with it once so it should drive fine too but I haven't tried it yet. It defiantly needs some work,including being rewired but overall a good solid tractor. It is serial number 155 ! I have some questions. The pump sticks out past the cover so it is off,I have been told the early 953's had the longer pump with a cut out for it in the guard ? The guard that came with this tractor does not have a cutout. Also the front spindles on this tractor don't look like other 953 spindles that I have seen (this is the third 953/1054 that I have had). What should the early spindles look like,were they different from later 953 spindles ? Somebody did cut a hole in the hood to check the oil and while that sucks,they did such a good job that it looks factory if you didn't know better. Edited December 30, 2014 by rustyoldjunk 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,498 #2 Posted December 30, 2014 Theres gold in them thar red hills. Score score score Glenn 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Molon_Labe 731 #3 Posted December 30, 2014 Love the 953/1054 and that's a nice one!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeremi3210 742 #4 Posted December 31, 2014 Does it have the early steering wheel on it? Can't get a real good look at the spindles. Nice score my 953 is one of my favorites! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 59,887 #5 Posted December 31, 2014 That is one fine looking 953! Considering the very low serial number I am surprised the head lights and steering wheel are not the real early style. Couldn't see the spindles well enough to tell what they are, but the pump appears to be a replacement unit. Hope you plan to keep it as is, much too nice as is to repaint, Just replace the seat covers and enjoy. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ironman 115 #6 Posted December 31, 2014 Very nice 953 Rusty! I just made a deal on 2 953's today, but need to take a road trip to pick them up. By any chance could you tell me what the length and width measurements are? Naturally I want to buy enough up there to come home with a full trailer...lol 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rustyoldjunk 127 #7 Posted December 31, 2014 (edited) Thanks Glen,M_Bailey,Jeremi,953 nut ,and Ironman. 953 nut,the steering wheel isn't original. I am interested in knowing any differences between the early and late 953's,so anyone with knowledge,I would love to hear your input. I will go get a couple of pictures of the front spindles. Ironman I believe the wheelbase is 48 inches so probably around 68 inches long ? I would guess around 40 inches wide. Edited December 31, 2014 by rustyoldjunk 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rustyoldjunk 127 #8 Posted December 31, 2014 Here are pictures of the front spindles and another of the "personalizations done to the tractor. Ironman I edited my above reply to give you approximate measurements. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Geno 1,929 #9 Posted December 31, 2014 (edited) Looks really good Rusty. The way I tell the 953 from the 1054 is the spindles, if you look in the parts manuals the 953 doesn't have the extra reinforcement welded in the bend. Biggest difference in the early 953 was the steering gear assy. They changed the steering to the same as the 1054 in the later models. Edited December 31, 2014 by Geno 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kelly 1,033 #10 Posted December 31, 2014 I had a early 953 it had the Ross steering gear box, not the fan gear like later models, the steering wheel had spines and a nut holding it on like a car, I still have the front axle and spindles here someplace 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rustyoldjunk 127 #11 Posted December 31, 2014 Geno you are right about the steering and I believe the same may be true of the spindles too ? Kelly I would love to see a picture of the spindles if they are where you could get to them easily. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeremi3210 742 #12 Posted December 31, 2014 On my 953 the spindles look just like the 1054s. Mine has the Ross steering. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Geno 1,929 #13 Posted December 31, 2014 The 953 manual is here - http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/files/download/1871-tractor-1963-953-da-om-ipl-wiringpdf/ The middle file - Tractor 1963 953 IPL #A-7136.pdf, page 19, # 10 + 11 on the diagram shows the spindle without the reinforcement for the 953. The 1054 Manual is here - http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/files/download/11-tractor-1964-1054-da-om-ipl-wiring-177pdf/ The middle file - Tractor 1964 1054 OM IPL Wiring #177.pdf, Page 7, # 12 + 194 on the diagram shows the spindle with a reinforcement for the 1054. I wonder if there was a reinforcement type spindle on an 853 if someone may have changed them to beef up the front end, sort of like what we still do now to our tractors. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
"D"- Man 827 #14 Posted December 31, 2014 (edited) Thanks Glen,M_Bailey,Jeremi,953 nut ,and Ironman. 953 nut,the steering wheel isn't original. I am interested in knowing any differences between the early and late 953's,so anyone with knowledge,I would love to hear your input. I will go get a couple of pictures of the front spindles. Ironman I believe the wheelbase is 48 inches so probably around 68 inches long ? I would guess around 40 inches wide. One of the differences that I noticed, among the obvious is the seat frames, the seat frame on the early 953's is part# 2727, the later 953's is part# 2788, this style was also on the 1054 and 1054A, Mark. Edited December 31, 2014 by 23 Automatic LSE 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rustyoldjunk 127 #15 Posted December 31, 2014 (edited) Other 953's that I have seen also have the 1054 / GT14 style spindles as well Jeremi. So this is the first time I have seen these early spindles. What are the differences in the Seat frames,Mark ? Edited December 31, 2014 by rustyoldjunk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,471 #16 Posted December 31, 2014 Service bulletin on the steering wheels Garry 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeremi3210 742 #17 Posted December 31, 2014 (edited) Other 953's that I have seen also have the 1054 / GT14 style spindles as well Jeremi. So this is the first time I have seen these early spindles. What are the differences in the Seat frames,Mark ? They must have changed spindle design early my sn is 62-533. I've got two seat backs off of 1054's and the angle of the back are different. Unfortunately my 953's was missing when I got it. I have two gt14 they have a different spindles than my 953. Edited December 31, 2014 by jeremi3210 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pacer 3,177 #18 Posted December 31, 2014 Heres a shot of the - rather worn - spindles on my well documented 1054 s/n 50203, as can be seen they have the gussets. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
new2horses 287 #19 Posted December 31, 2014 Rusty, Congrats on a great find. I just went out and looked at the spindles on my 953 and it has the reinforced style mentioned by others. They may or may not be original to the tractor, I don't know. My tractor is serial number 304, it does have the ross steering sector and early steering wheel, there are pictures of my tractor posted in the repair and restoration forum under 953 just out of the shop. Lane Ranger was also kind enough to post some pictures of a VERY nice steering wheel there also. Again great find, enjoy!!!! David 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
new2horses 287 #20 Posted December 31, 2014 They must have changed spindle design early my sn is 62-533. I've got two seat backs off of 1054's and the angle of the back are different. Unfortunately my 953's was missing when I got it. I have two gt14 they have a different spindles than my 953. My tractor has the spindles as pictures by pacer, again I don't know if the tractor was born with them, and my tractor is 62-304. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rustyoldjunk 127 #21 Posted December 31, 2014 gwest_ca thank you for the links. Jeremi,Pacer and,new2horses thank you for the information.They must have changed spindles early on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jackhammer 550 #22 Posted December 31, 2014 I like the plastic tie better than the way mine was when I bought it. Looks to hold better. Good luck 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rustyoldjunk 127 #23 Posted December 31, 2014 I am not about either one of those fixes jackhammer. That will be at the top of the list of fixes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
k2wilson 41 #24 Posted January 1, 2015 On my 953 the spindles look just like the 1054s. Mine has the Ross steering. Same way on my 953. s/n 62-604 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ironman 115 #25 Posted January 1, 2015 Are the Ross steering and early spindles known for any problems? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
