Newbie....To tractors and this forum

[MEBDRB 1]

Nick, I am getting ready to head out and move more snow here in a few.....

While I am on the Horse, I will wish it to head your way......

Yesterday the Horse got down real low on gas and I did not want to run it out, well I didn't have any in the shop so I had to use the snow blower on most of it.... .......well needless to say, I went and got gas last night. :(

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,882]

I am sure you already know this but just in case. If you run out of gas DO NOT TRY AND TOW the tractor back to the garage by pulling with another vehicle. It would be better for it to get covered with snow.

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,610]

To elaborate on Karl's post - towing a hydrostatic tractor is not good, damage can happen to the transmission. There should be a tow valve on the tranny that needs to be open when pushing it - and only push it a short distance and by hand. :D

[MEBDRB 1]

Sparky brought up a good point, I wonder why the yellow hood?

The hood was sprayed with sray can paint, they painted over the right side hood sticker, but taped off the left.

I think they may have been trying to make a red deer..... :D

[MEBDRB 1]

Ok guys, see you taught this rookie something with good information. Not knowing much about these things, since they called it a "tow valve" I would have assumed I could tow it back.....

I am aware of the tow valve, I found it right away when I was checking over the tractor and greasing it the first time, but again, I would have towed it because it is one heavy little dude to push around by hand......

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,882]

The tow valve is so you can HAND PUSH only. Would hate to have any damage to good ole GT's :D

[MEBDRB 1]

Just a quick update, while moving snow today I laid a tape on the plow.

it measures 56" from end to end and

20 1/4 tall.....

[MEBDRB 1]

I need some more help from you guys....

I tested my ignition system today, and found the silinoid seems to be the culprit. I was wondering what silinoid this thing takes. It looks just like a Ford one, will that work?

1970 GT-14

[Jim_M 179]

A Ford solenoid will work. That's exactly what I used on my C-160.

[MEBDRB 1]

OK Jim, thanks...... :D

[bowtieguy 334]

Well Darren...the GT-14 looks pretty good .....and the price is in line ...I bought one about 5 years ago and paid 400....w/54" blade and 48" deck and rear tiller...

I sold it to a guy with the understanding that if he ever wanted to sell it, I'd have first chance....he called me a bout a year later and said the GT-14 didn't work very well in his strawberry patch and he was going to buy a bigger tractor....so I bought it back....and will probably keep it now....it is fun to drive and easy to steer.

Just have one piece of advise....when I got it the first time the switch did not work and you could not shut the engine off....I got it running and it was pushing too many RPM and I did not want to hurt the engine so I pulled the spark plug wire off to kill the engine......after trying to start it again (no spark) I noticed a big decal on the engine shroud the read "DO NOT REMOVE SPARK PLUG WIRE TO STOP ENGINE"....yep, it fried the coil....100 bucks later I got it running again!

So have fun with the GT and be sure to get both manuals for it...they come in handy when you needs part numbers and tech info.

Forgot that it snowed that much in WASH STATE....lived in Seattle for Uncle Sam for 3 years and only saw it snow once..of course was 30 ft above sea level!!..hope to go back there some day....will give you fair warning to lock up the GT when I do

[MEBDRB 1]

HHHMMMMMMM.......that's how I have been killing the motor....

I am in Eastern Wa......yea we get snow......

This has been the worst winter for snow since 93.....must be global warming.... :D

[Stigian 1,234]

Welcome to RedSquare Darren, thats a great GT-14 you have there

Looks like your having fun in the snow :P

[MEBDRB 1]

I know everybody likes pics, so when I found another use for my Horse yesterday, I had the wife go get the camera....

How about moving Dune Buggy's from one shop to another.....

[Rollerman 290]

Sharp looking Rail Darren...who made the frame & whats it got for an engine..details,details!

Just curious have you got the neutral adjusted in on your GT14 yet?

[chevelletown 37]

Darren I just got a C160 from Stephen to do the same thing with at my auto repair shop. I need to find a plow that I can put some padding on so I can push broken cars into the bay <_< Heck of alot better than rounding up a bunch guys to push the cars in. The Wheel Horse should drink less gas than the guys do beer

Thanks for the pics, looks like you have a nice place there :D

[MEBDRB 1]

Sharp looking Rail Darren...who made the frame & whats it got for an engine..details,details!

Just curious have you got the neutral adjusted in on your GT14 yet?

Well, the rail is actually a donor buggy for another one we will build. I bought it for the motor and tranny and front beam, then we will sell the rest. Those items will go into an original Manx buggy.

Motor is a 2180cc VW with duel 45mm Dels and the gearbox is a close ratio swingaxle box with 4.37 R&P, super diff and hardened side covers.

The aluminum beam will also go into the Manx.

The frame is homebuilt, but pretty nice.

I have not adjusted neutral as of yet.... Although I did do a bit of work to it, after someone posted not to disconnect the plug wire to kill it, I started digging into the wireing some. I put in a new solenoid after testing and got it to start with the key instead of jumping the solenoid with a screw driver, but then it would not shut off with the key.... So I came in and looked in my PDF manuel that someone sent me (thank you) and sorted the wiring and rewired to the (I believe) refractor and did some other wiring and made it start and shut down with the ignition....

I did make a small attempt to get the cover off that goes over the controls, but they have nuts on the back and I could not get to them without pulling a side cover off I don't believe. One side looks nasty to pull off with lots of bolts to.....well.....I don't know what..... but the other side don't look to bad. I cannot see the controller down under there from under the seat except for the backside of it, so I need to pull the control cover off so I can see what is going on.

We also have had quite a bit of snow as you can see in the pic, so I have been using the ol' girl almost everyday to move snow.....

Pic of current running buggy, took Saturday when I was moving buggies with the Horse......

Pic of Manx the motor, tranny and front end will go in......

[MEBDRB 1]

Darren I just got a C160 from Stephen to do the same thing with at my auto repair shop. I need to find a plow that I can put some padding on so I can push broken cars into the bay <_< Heck of alot better than rounding up a bunch guys to push the cars in. The Wheel Horse should drink less gas than the guys do beer

Thanks for the pics, looks like you have a nice place there

chevelletown......I used a tire on the front of the plow Saturday to push with, it worked pretty good but I wouldn't do it to a customers car, especially if it had a plastic front or rear bumper.....as you probably know, just opening yourself up for complaints....

I like it cause it always seems it's just the wife and I around to move cars, then the buddies show up when the work is done the heater is on and they can sit around and BS and slow me down.... ...The wife just sat on the side of the rail and steered and I pulled her along.... she likes that better then pushing on the ice.

Thanks for the compliment on the place, we love it here, just a bummer all those buildings are full.....

Just as a side note for you guy's, I may not get another Horse from around here, I have been watching daily and have my feelers out all over and nothing has come along, I will be happy for now to keep "crazy Horse" running and doing her work and I will rebuild it and freshen up the paint and stuff, but eventually I will probably want another to play with. I have to assume they just did not sell many out here..... :o

[combatmp29r 27]

Darren, I had one of these on active duty in NC. Its called a Tuff Tub and like the Manx uses the VW tub and drive train. This one wasn't mine. Mine was ford Grabber Blue with aluminum slot rims 14x6 front and 15 x10 rear with the 5 lug adapters and MT indy ss rear tires. It was my daily driver at the time. When I was sent to Montana to recruit I sold it rather than store it indefinately. I've looked for others since, but haven't found any of the fiberglass bodies to build a new one

[MEBDRB 1]

Joel, they are still out there, if you are real serious about getting one I can give you some links to watch for one to come for sale near you. Here is one right now on a forum I am on, check it out. I will say the Dune Buggy guy's are not near a cool as the tractor guy's...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic...0addcd271318fa9

[combatmp29r 27]

Darren, I'd like to find another one. A fixer upper though. No finished show piece. I've got a nice spot in dads barn it could rest in for awhile till I get either further ahead on the herd or a bigger shop :D

[Rollerman 290]

Darren the buggies are sweet.....wicked sweet!

I have several friends that run the sand rails...I have always leaned towards the tub buggies...the seem a lot more useful & not so dependant on fair weather.

I also hear the west coast sand is a lot more roomy than our ORV spot in MI "Silver Lake".

Thanks for the pics even though I sent the thread

Glad to hear the GT14 is working out for you too.

Don't be surprised if you find more horses out there...have to be patient like Elmer huntin wabbit.

Ken you might be surprised how thirsty those K341 Kohlers are!

Have you ever seen pics of the horses they used to push Indy cars around with back in the late 60's early 70's....had a padded push bar on the front.

Might be something to consider over a snow plow?

Joel Berry Buggy in MI still reproduces the Manx style tubs...they can be found.

especially west central MI area.

It seems there was a buggy shop in Dayton, OH too at one time?

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,610]

Darren,

Those buggies are nice. And congratulations on getting the wiring straighten out on your GT. :D

[MEBDRB 1]

Thanks for the compliments guy's. I too like tub buggies because we can drive them on the street as a toy and then load up and go camping and tear it up...

I think Stephen means Berrien Buggy and they do still make Manx style glass bodies, just not a Tuff Tubb Joel is talking about. The Tuff Tub if I remember right sits on a full length pan, it does not have to be shortened.

I don't care if my threads go off topic, it makes the internet more fun and they can always be brought back on topic...

Joel, watch your e-mail I will send ya a couple things to peek at now and then to see if you can find one in your area, often times they are fixers.....

I am so happy to have the wireing fixed on the Horse, it is so nice to start and stop with the ignition.... I want to fix the headlights next and adjust the neutral. I want everything working as it should be before I pull it down for paint.

[combatmp29r 27]

Yes Darren they do use a full length VW tub. I think they look pretty cool for a 4 seater. Again something different. They remind me of the old touring sedans with the running boards (no they don't support any weight) and the continental tire kit for a rear hood.

I got the email thanks. I'll do some picture digging. The old hard copy type pictures not the digitals my wife disorganized ( I mean organized ). I had a buddy that took a Manx buggy and put it on 4x4 VW gear from a swimervagen. It was a sweet toy to take to the beach or the mountains when we had leave.