E-SWEDE 4 #1 Posted June 10, 2015 I just picked up an RJ58 and a early 1960 Suburban 400, now the work begins. Both are now running and the 400 has been partially restored, the only thing on the 400 is that it has a K90 on it, is this the correct engine?.I have one major setback with the RJ...how did you guys get the steering wheel off??? Roll pin and wheel are seized tight with rust. The tractor is completely disassembled but for that and of course the hood. Want to get it to paint soon...any help here would be wonderful.I am also looking for a few parts for the 400 - throttle and choke lever set up and id plate. Reproduction would be fine. Also does anyone know where I can get a recoil setup for both tractors? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikesRJ 558 #2 Posted June 10, 2015 (edited) Your best bet is to measure the shaft, cut it off the wheel just below the hub, and drill out the shaft portion. The rest of the dowel pieces will come out fairly easy then. Replace the shaft with a new 3/4" rod cut to length and the two through holes drilled for the dowel pins.The correct engine for the 400 should be a K91-31388A, But the K90 is a good engine for the RJ-58/59. This may be helpful too: http://www.mywheelhorse.com/modules.php?name=docs2&do=show_doc&id=2 Edited June 10, 2015 by MikesRJ 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E-SWEDE 4 #3 Posted June 10, 2015 Thanks MIKESRJ that link is going to a great help.The RJ I have has a clinton engine on it, I'm trying to make out the model but having a hard time reading the id tag on it.Any ideas as to where I can find the parts I need? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,928 #4 Posted June 10, 2015 Do you have any of the parts for the throttle/choke? I was luckier than some and had the back piece, top plate and one so-so lever. I made two new levers from a piece of flat stock using the remaining original as a template. The top plate was a mess but only pitted on what used to be the top. I cleaned it up and used the smooth underside on top with a decal that Terry (Vinylguy) made. The knobs are from Glen Pettit. Both of those guys are in the vendor section here. Terry modified the decal to just have 'Suburban 400' on it because the serial # was gone. If you're missing everything it wouldn't be real difficult to make everything 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 59,966 #5 Posted June 10, 2015 An RJ and a Suburban 400, you are well on your way to a total Wheel Horse addiction!An alternative method of removing the steering wheel would be to heat the roll pin and let it cool, this will remove the temper from it, then drill it out. Once the pin is out you can heat the hub to red hot to break the grip of the rust and use a puller to remove it. Please share some photos of your progress as you go along. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rexman72 210 #6 Posted June 10, 2015 welcome to the group Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JC 1965 1,532 #7 Posted June 10, 2015 Welcome, You'll like it here !! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,928 #8 Posted June 10, 2015 Remember one thing............... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikesRJ 558 #9 Posted June 10, 2015 I have a lot of RJ parts. Let me know what you need and I'll see if I have any. Many more folks on here will help you get parts as well. Some are harder to find than others, but they are out there. Just takes some looking, asking, and begging. LOL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E-SWEDE 4 #10 Posted June 11, 2015 This is the only photo I had before the RJ disassembly. I believe the throttle on the RJ is in not where it should be?A friend of mine told me this was THE place to go for info on wheel horse. Looks right he was right. Thank you for the info. so far it will help out greatly.I am sure I will be on here quite a bit picking everyones brain.Thank you all in advance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikesRJ 558 #11 Posted June 11, 2015 (edited) You're right, the Throttle is incorrect and in the wrong location. It should look like this: The only things in the picture below that are not original equipment is the ON/OFF plate on the switch and the hood through-hole grommet for the throttle cable. I put that plate their to remind me which way to start, and the grommet is there to keep from messing up the paint job.! LOL Other than that the picture is identical to what was delivered in 1958. Not trying to toot my own horn, but this RJ is arguably one of the most "correct" restorations of its kind. I spent an awful lot of time researching what was correct, right down to the nuts and bolts. I only deviated where it made sense to do so, and tried as best as humanly possible to remain correct to the letter throughout the restoration process. For instance, I used grade-8 bolts on most of the frame. Certainly overkill from the standpoint of need, but the reasoning for using them was because they are zinc chromate anodized and will resist corrosion over time and the gold color looked good against the red paint. But, the bolts are correct for the type and hardware used. Pretty much the machine is correct down to the washer. Even the tires are original.This page holds some very high resolution pictures of my tractor. It may also come in handy for determining what is correct. I also have another page in that series with all of the RJ documentation.http://www.mywheelhorse.com/modules.php?name=docs2&do=show_doc&id=34this pic shows what the correct switch looks like. Edited June 11, 2015 by MikesRJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
