What have you done to your Wheel Horse today?

[BrianKoch 354]

[ebinmaine 71,722]

On 5/9/2025 at 8:04 AM, 953 nut said:

My Kohler Holder mounts to the two starter mounting holes. That way you can remove and install the crank shaft. I also made up a Hydro Holder for the engine stand that allows an Eaton to be rotated while being worked on.

 

I looked at the holder for the engine stand. 

It will allow removal and replacement of the crankshaft as it is set up.  

The crank end and seal are both below the angle iron.  

 

Not sure if I can drive the pins for the balance gears out while it's mounted.  

 

 

[Ben Baldridge 38]

Yesterday I helped George sleezer put together his 656 show tractor for the emporia ks wheel horse meet and great.

[ebinmaine 71,722]

6 hours ago, Ben Baldridge said:

Yesterday I helped George sleezer put together his 656 show tractor for the emporia ks wheel horse meet and great.

 

 

 

 

@Ben Baldridge

 

[ebinmaine 71,722]

I finally took a few minutes to delve into the Kohler K341 engine I got from @Bill D.

Thanks for thinking of me on that engine Bill. I appreciate it. 

 

It has a .020 piston.

Cross hatch looks good. 

New rod. I haven't measured rod or cam endplay yet but it looks good. 

 

Balance gears are loose like the others I've seen. 

They'll be removed as stated earlier.  

 

 

Outside of the engine will get a cleaning up and fresh coat of paint. 

@Pullstart and I have talked about shaving a cylinder head .040 to .050 for increased compression. I believe this engine will get one.  

 

 

[squonk 43,276]

Increase in compression, you may need to back off the timing some.

[ebinmaine 71,722]

4 minutes ago, squonk said:

Increase in compression, you may need to back off the timing some.

 

Quite true. Other than by ear and listening for knocking,  I don't know how I'd know where to set it.  

 

[squonk 43,276]

32 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

Quite true. Other than by ear and listening for knocking,  I don't know how I'd know where to set it.  

 

Set it to spec and close the gap a tad if it knocks.

 

Personally unless your pulling or satisfying your curiosity, I fail to see the benefit of increasing compression on a garden tractor. 

[rjg854 12,007]

@Ben Baldridge   

[ebinmaine 71,722]

8 minutes ago, squonk said:

Set it to spec and close the gap a tad if it knocks.

 

Personally unless your pulling or satisfying your curiosity, I fail to see the benefit of increasing compression on a garden tractor. 

 

Curiosity mostly. 

 

But also.... why not?

A little extra free torque for turning a chipper or pulling heavy loads. 

 

Need???     No....

 

Just seems interesting to try it.  

[TonyToro 1,112]

12 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

Curiosity mostly. 

 

But also.... why not?

A little extra free torque for turning a chipper or pulling heavy loads. 

 

Need???     No....

 

Just seems interesting to try it.  

We run chevy points on our engines. Timing can easily be changed with these.

[76c12091520h 3,873]

14 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

Curiosity mostly. 

 

But also.... why not?

A little extra free torque for turning a chipper or pulling heavy loads. 

 

Need???     No....

 

Just seems interesting to try it.  

I have shaved the head on every flathead I rebuild for my own personal use. They all seem to run a little crisper / cleaner and also seem to offer a little better throttle response....

[8ntruck 7,595]

1 hour ago, TonyToro said:

We run chevy points on our engines. Timing can easily be changed with these.

Interesting.  Details?  Photos?

[Ben Baldridge 38]

Cut a little with a 42 in wheel horse sickle bar and worked on a 46in didier hydra sickle.

[ebinmaine 71,722]

8 hours ago, TonyToro said:

We run chevy points on our engines. Timing can easily be changed with these.

 

7 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

Interesting.  Details?  Photos?

 

@TonyToro

I'd be interested to know more as well. 

 

 

7 hours ago, 76c12091520h said:

I have shaved the head on every flathead I rebuild for my own personal use. They all seem to run a little crisper / cleaner and also seem to offer a little better throttle response....

 

How much do you remove? 

Any other methods to pull more of the potential outta these engines?

 

I might do a "gasket match porting" just for the experience. 

 

[ML3 1,552]

Cursed at 3 of my show tractors. Had 1st local show of year on Saturday.  Took off work Friday to do some errands but mostly to load tractors on trailer. Here's how it went......

 

RJ decided to self destruct the pull start mechanism while it was running. Also the throttle at just about any setting seems to be hitting governor causing a surge. Seems to get better as engine warms. 

 

753 started/generator probably needs at least cleaned but most likely rebuilt. It won't always turn strong enough to get engine started (battery is new)

 

953 now leaking fuel from carb bowl. 

 

Lastly I went to mow lawn w/654 & something looked funny with left rear wheel. Upon inspection the set bolt for hub came loose & wheel was about to fall off........   Luckily that was an easy fix.

 

Doubt I'll get everything fixed in time for big show unfortunately. My dad was in hospital since mid-January & passed 2weeks ago so I'm so far behind on projects that need done at house, shop, & hangar. Been spending a lot of time helping my mom with things she wants/needs done. I may try to fly or drive up for a few hours on Friday to attend show if time/weather allows. I'm disappointed but I gotta prioritize what has to be done instead of what I wanna do.🙁

 

[cleat 7,163]

5 minutes ago, ML3 said:

Cursed at 3 of my show tractors. Had 1st local show of year on Saturday.  Took off work Friday to do some errands but mostly to load tractors on trailer. Here's how it went......

 

RJ decided to self destruct the pull start mechanism while it was running. Also the throttle at just about any setting seems to be hitting governor causing a surge. Seems to get better as engine warms. 

 

753 started/generator probably needs at least cleaned but most likely rebuilt. It won't always turn strong enough to get engine started (battery is new)

 

953 now leaking fuel from carb bowl. 

 

Lastly I went to mow lawn w/654 & something looked funny with left rear wheel. Upon inspection the set bolt for hub came loose & wheel was about to fall off........   Luckily that was an easy fix.

 

Doubt I'll get everything fixed in time for big show unfortunately. My dad was in hospital since mid-January & passed 2weeks ago so I'm so far behind on projects that need done at house, shop, & hangar. Been spending a lot of time helping my mom with things she wants/needs done. I may try to fly or drive up for a few hours on Friday to attend show if time/weather allows. I'm disappointed but I gotta prioritize what has to be done instead of what I wanna do.🙁

 

Sorry about your Dad.

Sounds like a tractor show is not top priority this year.

 

Hopefully you will be able to do what you want next year.

 

[squonk 43,276]

Chevy points. The stock Points cover will not fit over them. You would have to fab something up to keep water and crap out. The pulling community has some custom covers but they aren't sealed 

[MainelyWheelhorse 1,320]

 

As I said in the “What did you do today thread”, I did garden stuff and transported plant pots with the 312 which has always worked excellent. Some loose bolts were tightened on the 308 and I put the drive belt cover back on. I think I’m going to have to do something different with the grass diverter on the “42 RD as somehow it ripped out. I’ll see what I’ve got kicking around. The horses got some TLC and the 312 got a workout.

[Handy Don 13,612]

14 hours ago, MainelyWheelhorse said:

I’m going to have to do something different with the grass diverter on the “42 RD as somehow it ripped out. I

The clearance between the flap I added to the deck housing and the rear wheels on ours is pretty tight. When the deck is lifted for travel and the tractor reverses, it can bind. I trimmed the base cove flap in front of the tires to add a smidge more clearance. 

[MainelyWheelhorse 1,320]

4 hours ago, Handy Don said:

The clearance between the flap I added to the deck housing and the rear wheels on ours is pretty tight. When the deck is lifted for travel and the tractor reverses, it can bind. I trimmed the base cove flap in front of the tires to add a smidge more clearance.

[MainelyWheelhorse 1,320]

4 hours ago, Handy Don said:

The clearance between the flap I added to the deck housing and the rear wheels on ours is pretty tight. When the deck is lifted for travel and the tractor reverses, it can bind. I trimmed the base cove flap in front of the tires to add a smidge more clearance. 

@Handy Don I’ll keep that in mind, between the rocks, roots and other obstacles it could have been caught on I’d bet it was one of those because I had used it before with no issues.

[MainelyWheelhorse 1,320]

 

Today I got everything motorized out. There was more mowing with the 312, this time my parents back lawn. There was a bit of fine tuning, as I mowed a quarter and realized the mower wasn’t low enough to noticeably cut. so after a re cut it was fine. 

[8ntruck 7,595]

I woke Morgan the 14-8 up from his long winter's nap today.  He needed a shot of air in the left rear and a bit of crankcase oil.  The 5 gallon gas can had about a gallon of no alcohol left from last fall,  so that got dumped into the tank.  A little extra crank time to fill the carb bowl, and he fired ridge up.

 

Did the first mowing today.  Mowed the lake front too.  About half way through, I noticed that the mulching plate was still on the deck.  I'll remove that when I get into the deck to sharpen the blades and grease the spindles.

 

If the weather is nice tomorrow, I've got to drag the lawn sweep around the back yard to get the winter collection of sticks picked up.  Not sure if I'll use Morgan or Pack Rat the AC B110 for this task.

 

The nesting pair of loons is back on the lake.  Saw 2 chick's riding on mamma loon's back.  We also have a nesting pair of geese on the lake.  They have a brood of 6 goslings.  Dog and I take several patrols along the shore In an effort to discourage the geese from frequenting our yard.  Morgan did a pretty good job of convincing the goose family to move on, too. My neighbor was telling me how a goose had landed on the roof of the lake house.  Had to hit it with a thrown stick to chase it off. 

Edited May 14 by 8ntruck

[953 nut 59,092]

12 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

discourage the geese from frequenting our yard. 

My brother used pieces of old green hose about two to three feet long scattered about. The geese think they are snakes and stay away.