AMC RULES 37,225 #176 Posted August 20, 2018 13 hours ago, PeacemakerJack said: If that is the depth, might as well use a disc or cultivator! Quite sure, you guys have that capability too. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 68,032 #177 Posted August 20, 2018 Funny how I come to miss a post 8 pages long, then run out of likes for the day! Josh and Caleb, great work and I love that you share life stories and lessons learned along the journey! @Coulter Caleb You are a fine example of a young man. I’ve never heards the word toil or strife from another 13 year old. A father of little girls can only hope that one day his daughters find a suitable man to take his little girl and start a family. That’s a long way away, but it’s good to know there are good kids in this world. Thanks for starting my day with a great read, fellas! 2 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,803 #178 Posted August 20, 2018 Kevin—it’s hard to put into words the great connection that I’ve enjoyed with Caleb these last few years. I know that as he gets further into his teen years that there will be more things grabbing for his attention. However, I’ve been blessed to have this time with him and I’m looking forward to starting a full resto on JackRabbit in September with him. These moments in time can never be taken from us and they are precious. He is a cool, special, unique kid and I’m proud to be called his dad. Thanks for the kind words and stay tuned as we give this guy a facelift. We will be contacting @Vinylguy Terry for some cool custom decals. Here is a couple led pictures of the bagger attached. I’ve had this bagger for about three or four years now from a 314-8 that I bought and then sold to a friend. I’ve been wanting a bagger for quite some time. Mainly for when the grass “gets away” from me and especially for the “leaf season”. I was looking for the right application...Caleb’s tractor is it! I had to buy about $60 in miscellaneous parts to get it up and functioning but we fixed it and it works great! Handles the grass with ease but I will need to purchase some new bags as these are pretty dry rotted and I don’t know how long they will last! It is a great little tractor and should serve Caleb well into the future if he continues to take care of it. Yesterday, Caleb was training for Cross Country and so Zach helped me do some yard work trimming trees. He loves driving JackRabbit because the controls are easily within his reach. It was good father son time with the little guy of the family! 2 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coulter Caleb 535 #179 Posted August 20, 2018 Thank you @pullstart for all you said.That was very encouraging to me Well yesterday we went plowing for my uncle’s farm day.I first plowed with Grizzly(my cub cadet) but it didn’t plow like I wanted it to.We had set up JackRabbit for plowing but I didn’t know how it would do.Well I tried it and it plowed amazing. It was smooth and it ran well.It didn’t spin out like Grizzly did.It can definitely be used as a plowing machine.We’ll use it for mowing a lot more than plowing.Still, it is definitely a multipurpose machine. 2 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coulter Caleb 535 #180 Posted October 14, 2018 The Next Chapter... Almost two months later after our last post we found out at my uncles plow day that it could plow.Now we are getting it “suited up” for a plow day at Jim’s... As I mentioned on my last post the front of this thing was to light when the ground got tough so @WVHillbilly520H said that he had an extra front weight bracket available.So my Dad got it for me as an early Christmas present.It arrived in the mail three days ago. the next thing we are going to do is put some V61s on it for the front tires.Then get the rear weights on and get a rear LED light for night work... 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
19richie66 17,752 #181 Posted October 14, 2018 Looking good Caleb! I like the weight bracket. One day I’ll get mine looking that good. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coulter Caleb 535 #182 Posted June 11, 2020 So today we got the pto safety switch for JackRabbit...Then me and Dad got that put on it felt good to give it the TLC it deserves! It is so cool to think that 2 years ago we got the tractor and started to get it running! Seeing Dad cutting on it means a lot to me...Knowing all that Dad has done for me with this tractor I’ve made so many amazing memories I will never forget!!! (And it’s a pretty cool tractor!!!) 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 68,032 #183 Posted June 12, 2020 Careful @Coulter Caleb, if @PeacemakerJack gets too much seat time, he’ll turn that seat into a recliner like Ghost Rider! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,803 #184 Posted June 12, 2020 I was trying to Kevin but the seat back wasn’t tall enough for a headrest!!! We need someone @Achto or @pullstart to enter a pic of my in my reclining plow dog position😂😂😂. “Is that guy working or sleeping out on that black tractor?”—says the spectator! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 68,032 #185 Posted June 12, 2020 I couldn’t find any pictures of you napping... but here is something to smile at for now! For starters... remember that one time when we worked on Comanche all night then took a nap before plow day? 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,803 #186 Posted June 12, 2020 Classic! So many great memories from that weekend... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
c-series don 10,498 #187 Posted October 19 @PeacemakerJack I googled 418-C and this post was one of the things that came up. I was wondering if you guys still have this tractor? I have a 418-C as well, you really don’t see many of these around. I think they made less of these then the 520-8’s ? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,803 #188 Posted October 20 5 hours ago, c-series don said: @PeacemakerJack I googled 418-C and this post was one of the things that came up. I was wondering if you guys still have this tractor? I have a 418-C as well, you really don’t see many of these around. I think they made less of these then the 520-8’s ? We still have it…as I recall, these are a one year only offering (1987–I think 🤔). The M18 is pretty tired and I’ve been watching for about 5 years and haven’t found a good low hours WH spec one to replace it. It would cost way more than the tractor is worth to rebuild it…so, what to do? Caleb owns the 418-C and the follow up 520HC! Pretty cool one-two punch if you ask me! 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 74,391 #189 Posted October 20 3 hours ago, PeacemakerJack said: It would cost way more than the tractor is worth to rebuild it…so, what to do? This is one of many life situations where the value of an item could be a slightly different variation in comparison to a replacement. The new engine alone may be worth two or three times the value of the machine as a whole. But what is the expected lifespan of the machine in comparison to a new one? The multiplication is certainly different comparing a single cylinder rebuild to a twin but the principal & principle still stands. I'd spend $1K on a new engine for a Wheelhorse before I'd buy a new machine. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 29,758 #190 Posted October 20 (edited) 5 hours ago, PeacemakerJack said: It would cost way more than the tractor is worth to rebuild it…so, what to do? Complete after market rebuild kit is not too bad on price. With machining you could be under $700 in the engine, cheaper depending on what it all needs. https://www.ebay.com/itm/185525360554 https://www.ebay.com/itm/184819889176 Edited October 20 by Achto 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill D 2,353 #191 Posted October 20 If everything else is in good shape I'd spring for a Honda engine and repower it. One of those engines should last a lifetime with proper maintenance. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 61,915 #192 Posted October 20 The 418-C was built for commercial users like lawn services and such. It has heavier front wheel bearings, longer spindles, no idiot lights and a bight higher speed. Mine is used for snow plowing and leaf blowing. I have mowed with it but that twin cylinder Kohler uses about 1/3 more gas than the 310-8. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 18,895 #193 Posted October 20 2 hours ago, Achto said: Complete after market rebuild kit is not too bad on price. With machining you could be under $700 in the engine, cheaper depending on what it all needs. https://www.ebay.com/itm/185525360554 https://www.ebay.com/itm/184819889176 I did an M-18. Wound up just under $1,000. (2021 prices) The kit had standard rods I needed .010 under. also kit does not have valves and guides (4 each) Kohler changed the valve angle over time and one type is much harder to find. I would not do that again. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 74,391 #194 Posted October 20 1 hour ago, 953 nut said: longer spindles I hadn't heard that one before. Longer sideways or longer up and down? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,803 #195 Posted October 20 (edited) 5 hours ago, ebinmaine said: Longer sideways or longer up and down? Longer horizontally. I was going to take the front wheels off of Caleb’s JackRabbit and use them on a different WH and made that discovery. I would guess that they are at least 3/4 if not an inch longer… I'd spend $1K on a new engine for a Wheelhorse before I'd buy a new machine. Eric—you know that I live by that mantra. My “new truck” is almost 24 years old…my newest garden tractor is Kelli’s big RED (about 27 years old). I in no way am advocating for tossing the old in favor of the new…However, in this particular setting, I’m trying to determine the most prudent use of finances. Caleb currently owns 5 garden tractors, 4 wheel horses (854, 314H, 418C, and 520HC) and 1 Cub. The 314 is good with the 48” deck for mowing and blade work (snow/gravel). The 854 is just plain super cool and works great for fun and little yard projects. The 520 will be a beast with the BerVac blower, mower/bagger, plowing, pretty much anything Caleb wants to do. So Caleb needs to decide if he wants to spend the money for the rebuild of the 418C engine and what role that tractor will have in his stable. Ideally, I’d still love to find a sound running, reasonably low hour WH spec M18…🤞🏻 As suggested above, I could switch to a different twin altogether like a Vanguard or a Honda/Predator. This will need to be a discussion as we move forward. I do love the history with this tractor, myself, and Caleb. Lots of memories recorded in this thread and I love reading them again. Edited October 20 by PeacemakerJack 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
