What have you done to your Wheel Horse today?

[squonk 44,542]

On 10/27/2025 at 11:30 AM, ebinmaine said:

 

 

 

 

Having a suspension of any kind on a seat is actually detrimental.

 

I added springs to my 857 and 875 and what a difference it made on the ride! 

 

 

 

[Sodaking27 1,047]

Repaired where the seat support brace connects on the 315-8. This was one of the worst I’ve seen. Good to go now.

 

 

Planning to use the 315 as my plow tractor this winter.

[ebinmaine 74,415]

3 minutes ago, squonk said:

 

 

I added springs to my 857 and 875 and what a difference it made on the ride! 

 

On flat ground I can see it being a positive for some people for mowing or plowing where there is little tilt. 

 

Up around here things are just too rough. Rocks. Sticks. Roots. Constant changes in the twists and turns.

 

Driving a tractor out through the forest is a workout. 

 

The extra movement of a suspension under the seat only adds to the detrimental effect of dynamic motion.

If the tractor tilts to the left, there is more weight on the left side and the seat tilts even more. This definitely does not increase stability of the ride. It adds more interest to it. For sure.

 

 

Another reason both BBT and I prefer a direct connection is, our human core strength training is a central part of our training towards a long Health Span. 

We don't want/need the seat to keep us upright while driving. We want our muscle structures doing the work.  

 

Use it or lose it.  

 

[sqrlgtr 997]

Replaced cutting edge on snow/dozer blade and got it mounted on 1257 with the hydraulic lift. Wow how much easier it is to lift and lower plow . Just had to drill and extra hole in lift link to get sufficient ground clearance. Still has enough movement to barely lift front tires off ground. Also have option of moving link to the slotted hole for a float plow situation .

[sqrlgtr 997]

Oh yeah just about forgot had such good luck rebuilding fuel pump on 857, I  started rebuilding fuel pump off of 701. I couldn’t believe how much junk was in these pumps and I thought I had fuel systems clean . Letting it soak a day or two first.

[mrc 992]

Hi Andy N,

 

love the flag on the plow. Nice touch! 

 

 

[Dan 312-8 260]

Well the trusty 312-8 and me mowed the lawn. I think I am down to one more cutting.

 

Caught the sun perfectly just as I finished, less than 5 minutes later the window closed.

[8ntruck 8,131]

Started in on leaf season this week.  Raked out the dog run on Monday.  Was considering dropping the deck and mounting the plow on Morgan, the 14-8 to move the pile of leaves, but decided it was too much work.  Went with multiple trips with the cart to haul the leaves to the but pit.  Generated more seat time that way.

 

Today, I tapped Morgan again to haul the new leaf sweeper around my neighbor's side yard, piling them on the edge of the road for burning..  The new sweeper is a bit wider and has maybe 1/3 more capacity than the old sweeper.  The increase of capacity is noticable.

 

Far from done - most of the oak trees are just starting to turn.

Edited Thursday at 12:36 AM by 8ntruck

[mrc 992]

hi Sodaking27,

 

nice job welding up that seat/fender pan mount.   i have repaired many of those myself.  after welding i added 1/8 angle iron on top so i would not re-break that area.  the last one after welding i added what i call the "brockport bill fender repair kit".  a metal fab guy in his area makes some brackets that fit well with all the holes predrilled.  just sandwich the brackets in there and bolt together. 

[953 nut 62,046]

On 10/29/2025 at 8:34 PM, 8ntruck said:

Far from done - most of the oak trees are just starting to turn.

Each species takes its turn. I have already done the first leaf patrol this season. The Poplars drop their leaves early and it had been quite dry so I just pulverized them with the rear discharge mower. The squirrels have done a good job of removing the black walnuts so I will be doing the second round for the maples, beaches, walnuts and a few other random types that are now shedding. Like you said, the oaks will be the last to come down. 

[sqrlgtr 997]

Finished 701 fuel pump rebuild and got it installed and back to running. Also found NOS muffler in parts shed that I had completely forgot about and decided to put on the 701. Had to break out bigger pipe wrench to remove old muffler. Still trying to decide if I should paint muffler black or leave silver. 

[Ed Kennell 43,004]

1 hour ago, sqrlgtr said:

Had to break out bigger pipe wrench

Sure glad you didn't break the block with that monster.

Edited Friday at 08:49 PM by Ed Kennell

[kpinnc 15,566]

2 hours ago, sqrlgtr said:

Still trying to decide if I should paint muffler black or leave silver.

 

Let it burn off the factory paint first, then you can brush it off and use Rustoleum silver or black high temp paint that will last. 

[sqrlgtr 997]

1 hour ago, Ed Kennell said:

Sure glad you didn't break the block with that monster

 

 I did run it around for a good bit before attempting removal and believe that helps, also had another wrench holding it. I was getting a little worried before it let go .

 

47 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

Let it burn off the factory paint first, then you can brush it off and use Rustoleum silver or black high temp paint that will last. 

 

Hadn't thought about doing that way. I was going to scuff it up a little before painting, got some real good ceramic header paint that I've used on the rail buggy that's doing really good after a couple years. If you do the ceramic paint the way you're supposed to you paint, drive around, and paint again while hot.... bake it on I reckon....

[MainelyWheelhorse 2,074]

Today, on my day off I got called in to work to cover for a co worker who called out. I did, However take the C-141 for a spin to charge up the battery. I figured I'd run it after I had to boost it to get it to run. I use black hi temp grill paint on my exhausts and that seems to stay pretty well.

[ineedanother 1,722]

2 hours ago, sqrlgtr said:

 

 I did run it around for a good bit before attempting removal and believe that helps, also had another wrench holding it. I was getting a little worried before it let go .

Last night I went through a similar exercise but stopped soon after the pipe was collapsing. Really didn't want to crack a 50 y/o cylinder block. Chased the threads for a surface-mounted muffler and split the nipple with a hacksaw and collapsed it with a punch. Recovered a Nelson from a K301 in the garage and was able to get the hood back on my 312-8 that's turning out to be a really great yard horse

 

[8ntruck 8,131]

Clyde, the C-195 got a bit of exercise moving the utility trailer to a better parking spot.  

 

Currently, Clyde is wearing a Cub muffler in a stack configuration.  Since I wasn't going to be using him for very long, I didn't put my ear muffs on.  The Cub muffler has a mellow tone, but without hearing protection, there is some sharpness to the exhaust note.  10 feet away, it is fairly quiet.  The top of the stack is pretty close to ear level.  That is probably part of the issue.  

 

Add an elbow to the top of the stack to 'point' the noise in a different direction?  Remount the muffler beside the transmission and add a tail pipe, similar to the 8n setup?  See if a Gravely muffler will fit under the hood where the stock Nelson muffler was?  Of course, the easy one is always wear hearing protection.

[kpinnc 15,566]

3 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

See if a Gravely muffler will fit under the hood where the stock Nelson muffler was?  Of course, the easy one is always wear hearing protection.

 

I mount all of my canister mufflers pointed forward. It won't eliminate sharp tones but at least they are pointed away from the driver. 

 

 

[Dan 312-8 260]

6 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

I mount all of my canister mufflers pointed forward. It won't eliminate sharp tones but at least they are pointed away from the driver. 

 

 

 

I like your idea of the black dust caps on top of the spindles, what size are they? I presume they are readily available.

 

My back hurts just thinking about trying to remove that mower deck! Is that a 48" off of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle...

 

 

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,743]

  Setting up my 48” 5 sector plow with the extension kit so it’ll work on my swept axle 520-8. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kpinnc 15,566]

5 hours ago, Dan 312-8 said:

Is that a 48" off of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle...

 

Pretty much, yes. 

 

It's from an Exmark walk behind mower. I just adapted it to a Wheel Horse. 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 05:40 PM by kpinnc

[MikMacMike 493]

On 10/31/2025 at 3:34 PM, sqrlgtr said:

Finished 701 fuel pump rebuild and got it installed and back to running. Also found NOS muffler in parts shed that I had completely forgot about and decided to put on the 701. Had to break out bigger pipe wrench to remove old muffler. Still trying to decide if I should paint muffler black or leave silver. 

There is a way I use .....#1 I keep soaking it with any anti seize spray inside and out, then #2 I start the engine to get the whole block hot #3 shut the engine and have a torch ready to heat around the port to add more heat. #4 then very quickly wrap the seized nipple with a cold soaked wet rage for about 15 seconds. #5 quickly remove wet rag and then try the pipe wrench.  Id say about 75 to 90% of the time this works. Sometimes if you repeat this procedure it will eventually come loose, put just be patient with it and dont rush it. I found the biggest problen is whom ever tightened the nipple into the block tightened it in like a plumber would so no leaks and this is way to tight and yes can eventually crack the block. The best way is always use a new nipple, thread it in with high heat anti seize only finger tight. Then with a wrench only give it 1/4 clock wise turn, after all the piping and muffler are installed make a bolt on bracked from the block to the nippel closest the the mufler and just basically eliminates the seizing problem. Im a steam fitter /plumber and trust me this always works on the Kohlers Ive rebuilt. Good luck I hope this helps, Mike Hendrick.

 

[sqrlgtr 997]

Got the 701 zipped back up today but not before taking governor arm, speed disc, and bushing nut off, cleaning them up and making sure the moved like they were supposed to. Really helped with throttle control. Decided to leave muffler in its original color, for now. Should be good for another 65 years or more.

[Bar Nuthin 1,443]

What started out as a transaxle gasket replacement on Frankenhorse, has devolved into a much deeper adventure.

 

Once I saw this ex-filter, I decided to go ahead and do a deeper dive. Now, I'm reading up on @daveoman1966's literature.

 

 

[ML3 1,910]

Installed led lights on the 702. There were holes on side of hood from prior lights that musta bern installed. Switch filled an existing unused hole already in dash. Snowblower installed & working so if it all works out good I'll use it as my light duty snow removal machine. Still will put the plow blade on the 654 when I'm finally done mowing for the season.  

Edited 2 hours ago by ML3