What have you done to your Wheel Horse today?

[kpinnc 18,259]

50 minutes ago, Fj40z said:

little hard to start if it’s sat for a few days but man do I love it

 

Get an inline 1/4 marine primer bulb. This is a common issue with any of these tractors with the fuel tank under the seat. 2-3 squishes before before starting and it'll likely start on the first couple rotations. 

 

Saves your starter, saves your battery, does wonders for your sanity... 

 

 

[ebinmaine 78,887]

4 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

Get an inline 1/4 marine primer bulb. This is a common issue with any of these tractors with the fuel tank under the seat. 2-3 squishes before before starting and it'll likely start on the first couple rotations. 

 

Saves your starter, saves your battery, does wonders for your sanity... 

 

 

 

 

@Fj40z  

 

 

I'd add to @kpinnc 's post. 

 

Be sure to get a GOOD QUALITY  primer bulb. We've had the cheap ones fall apart in months. Great way to start a fire. 

 

Attwood brand is the choice here.  

[Fj40z 40]

@kpinnc @ebinmaine  Many thanks for the input! I wouldn’t have thought about a marine primer even though I had a feeling it was just having a hard time pulling fuel after it had sat for a while. Any one have a pic of how and where they’ve routed them? 

[ebinmaine 78,887]

59 minutes ago, Fj40z said:

@kpinnc @ebinmaine  Many thanks for the input! I wouldn’t have thought about a marine primer even though I had a feeling it was just having a hard time pulling fuel after it had sat for a while. Any one have a pic of how and where they’ve routed them? 

 

I don't have any pics handy but basically I try to tuck the primer bulb in just before the engine, on the starter side. That's only for the reason of practicality of space combined with ease of access to the bulb.  

 

 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 31,443]

 

Here's mine:

 

 

[Fj40z 40]

PERFECT!! Big thank you @SylvanLakeWH and @ebinmaine

[Chris689 274]

Decided to switch the 2 inch receiver over to the 10-8 and took the kids for a couple laps around the neighborhood. 

[ineedanother 2,366]

22 hours ago, Fj40z said:

Really digging this thing so far though, amazing how smooth the Kohler seems even with 1100 hours. Idles insanely smooth, 

Just don't be tempted to slow the idle to below 8-900 RPM  That engine is splash lubricated (no oil pump) and without enough engine speed it doesn't lubricate the top end.

[ebinmaine 78,887]

6 hours ago, ineedanother said:

Just don't be tempted to slow the idle to below 8-900 RPM  That engine is splash lubricated (no oil pump) and without enough engine speed it doesn't lubricate the top end.

 

 

@Fj40z    "idle"   for an air cooled & splash lubed engine is a bit of a misnomer.  A lot of us like to lower it as much as possible when in reality the average 1200 RPM is the absolute low minimum these engines should ever see. 

I set our idle speeds by ear for the most part. All of ours run higher than 1200 whe verified by digital tachometer.  

[Fj40z 40]

Oh man thanks for the heads up @ineedanother and @ebinmaine 

 

I hadn’t thought of that and I was actually blown away at how slow it will idle when throttled all the way down. 

[ineedanother 2,366]

2 minutes ago, Fj40z said:

Oh man thanks for the heads up @ineedanother and @ebinmaine 

 

I hadn’t thought of that and I was actually blown away at how slow it will idle when throttled all the way down. 

Yep. Sounds cool, but it's not 

[c-series don 11,916]

32 minutes ago, ineedanother said:

Yep. Sounds cool, but it's not 

That’s exactly what I was going to say! I have idled a few K-series way down just to see how low they would go before stalling. Not for long, just enough to say that sounds really cool!! 

[Chris689 274]

22 hours ago, ineedanother said:

Just don't be tempted to slow the idle to below 8-900 RPM

It’s funny this has become a topic. My C120 idles between 8-900 since I got it a couple years ago. This is the first thing I’m changing tomorrow. It’s never given me trouble but sure don’t want trouble in the future. 

[ineedanother 2,366]

5 minutes ago, Chris689 said:

It’s funny this has become a topic. My C120 idles between 8-900 since I got it a couple years ago. This is the first thing I’m changing tomorrow. It’s never given me trouble but sure don’t want trouble in the future. 

It's an important topic, truly. Back some years I had a 4-pole genny running on a kohler (1800rpm). I can't remember the numbers but it cooled fine and would run for days sometimes powering an outbuilding. I didn't even shut it down to refuel ...just to do oil changes every 100 hours or so. They run like they're armor plated if you run and service them the right way.

[CasaytheMann 146]

I went to install new blades today after receiving them in the mail. I opened the box to find 2 nice looking blades. Unfortunately the cutting length was 3"" where as the correct length should be 7". I ran my finger along the edge and it was so dull it wouldn't even cut my tongue if I licked it. 😠

[ebinmaine 78,887]

5 hours ago, CasaytheMann said:

dull

 

Unfortunately that seems to be the standard.  

Owner sharpening is required.  

[953 nut 66,156]

8 hours ago, CasaytheMann said:

cutting length was 3"" where as the correct length should be 7".

The 7 inch cutting edge is for a recycler deck, 3 inch is standard for a side or rear discharge deck. If the edge is too sharp it is subject to a lot of chipping.

[Handy Don 16,618]

The new blade for my mulching push mower seemed quite dull on arrival. Then I realized it had been powder-coated all over. Took only a few minutes with the belt file to gently remove the coating and hone the cutting edges.