1981 Wheel Horse C85

[classiccat 548]

54 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Trina and I have done this on all our Horses and will add them to every other one we build.  

 

Doesn't help you now  but I've found I need to remove that set screw on mine while installing the closest stud bolt.

 

Keep up the good work!!

 

Thanks Eric!

 

i had to remove it on one side only... cleared the other by the skin of its parkerized coating 

[classiccat 548]

3/16 angle oughta hold my saddle in place.

 

 

Ignore my bubblegum welds for a moment and notice the right side is about 1/4” shorter to clear the swinging clutch switch tab.

Edited March 20, 2019 by classiccat

[classiccat 548]

The short list is shrinking!

 

The body is installed and I was able to hook-up the brake linkage. 

 

For the springs; I wanted to keep shiny, I addressed the rust and old paint with wire wheel, tumbler and evaporust...and instead of parkerizing, I sprayed with a coat of Amsoil MP (metal protectant).   

 

Front wheels and motor mount.

 

 

Motor wanting to jump on her refreshed mount (I'm repainting the block this week).

 

Up Next: rear fender pan and shift plates.

 

Thanks for stoppin' by!  

Edited March 24, 2019 by classiccat

[bds1984 1,382]

You could always make new shift plates like I did for my C165.

[ebinmaine 62,982]

1 hour ago, bds1984 said:

You could always make new shift plates like I did for my C165.

That's puurrttyy

[classiccat 548]

We're almost finished with the engine restoration... 

 

I stripped and repainted the block (wasn't a fan of the flat/satin engine paint...nor did I like the paint on the individual components).

 

paint on the carb, fuel pump and governor components was removed and polished the float bowl.  The governor was treated with Amsoil metal protectant (gold tint)

 

 

^^ I'm in the process of repainting the console... some paint edges needed to be feathered.

 

 

 

[Mikey the Monkey 697]

youre doing an excellent job. i think i remember this tractor on craigslist last year. so happy you got it and are preserving it

[classiccat 548]

2 hours ago, Mikey the Monkey said:

youre doing an excellent job. i think i remember this tractor on craigslist last year. so happy you got it and are preserving it

 

Thank you so much MtM!  I credit the previous owner for actually saving her from the scrap pile; he said that it was rotting away outside of a local service station.  His son had fun with it for a few years (racing stripes say it all!).  

 

Here's the original ad: 

Edited March 29, 2019 by classiccat

[classiccat 548]

A little update on things around the garage.

 

some tweaks were made to the Parkerizing system.

 

I'm using a pot with a strainer...makes "retrieval" a cinch.  I've also ditched the white-gas coleman 533 stove for an electric hotplate...much better temperature control.

 

Lastly, I've gone with  DIY homebrew using a mixture of Klean Strip Metal Prep : Manganese dioxide : distilled water (I think tap water may have ruined my commercial brew).

 

 

I followed this guy's recipe to the "T"  

 

[classiccat 548]

work on the tractor is progressing.

 

Solenoid and regulator installed with dedicated grounds.

 

 

 

 

 

The PTO limit switch bracket was roached...so I fabbed-up a new one out of flat stock.  Gave it some "texture" on the belt sander then coated with amsoil MP HD.  DVM to verify that the additional thickness didn't put the switch too far from the actuator.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[classiccat 548]

After alot of JBWeld (extra holes, rust pits, etc.) & sanding, the hood is ready for lipstick.

 

flying-hood and flying-tractor face off...hopefully reunited really soon! 

 

 

 

 

[Pullstart 59,571]

Lookin’ good   

[ebinmaine 62,982]

4 hours ago, pullstart said:

Lookin’ good   

[SylvanLakeWH 24,093]

Love the Blackhoods!!!

 

looking beautiful!!!

 

[classiccat 548]

7 hours ago, pullstart said:

Lookin’ good   

 

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

55 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Love the Blackhoods!!!

 

looking beautiful!!!

 

Thanks for stopping by the thread and hanging with me on the refresh fellas!

[classiccat 548]

Electrical should be about wrapped-up for this bad boy.

 

All of the connectors were missing but they weren't too hard to find. 

 

The clutch switch came-up in a thread a few weeks back...that helped alot!

 

The Packard 56 series female terminals (for 14-16 wire) get the double crimp followed by solder

 

then some marine grade heat-shrink.  The connector came from amazon.

 

The PTO and ignition switch (and regulator) get the same terminals.  If you go this route, I recommend getting one of these crimp tools as well as a terminal removal tool. 

 

We'll tidy-up in here once I run the machine a few times; Initial checks passed w/ flying colors. 

 

 

Edited April 8, 2019 by classiccat

[classiccat 548]

Hood painting continued this morning.

 

The inside as well as the outside-red were completed a few days back.

 

Once taped-off, I scuffed the red overspray then wet-sanded upto 1000g.

 

 

And now we finally have a Black Hood!  

^^^ I need to touch-up the red on those 2 side rails where the frog-tape didn't cover properly.

 

 

Thanks for stoppin' by!

Edited April 8, 2019 by classiccat

[953 nut 51,541]

On 4/3/2019 at 8:48 PM, classiccat said:

Solenoid and regulator installed with dedicated grounds

              First class job on the wiring. Having dedicated grounds on a freshly painted tractor is a great idea.             . Paint is a very poor conductor of electricity!

[Pullstart 59,571]

39 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

              First class job on the wiring. Having dedicated grounds on a freshly painted tractor is a great idea.             . Paint is a very poor conductor of electricity!

 

That, plus I think I see a fingerprint on your garage door window through the black reflection!    Soooooo shiney!

 

What a top notch job on the whole tractor!

[Mikerodrig27 3]

You are doing a great job so far. That hood looks awesome

[peter lena 8,038]

terrific work on that , and attention to detail , having a  82 , c 85  myself , that  i recently magnum  re powered  i can relate to saving these great tractors. thank you for sharing , pete

[classiccat 548]

10 hours ago, 953 nut said:

              First class job on the wiring. Having dedicated grounds on a freshly painted tractor is a great idea.             . Paint is a very poor conductor of electricity!

thanks *nut!   Generally I avoid using the vehicle as a conductor.  Strictly forbidden on aluminum boats.

 

this is what we drug home:

 

10 hours ago, pullstart said:

 

That, plus I think I see a fingerprint on your garage door window through the black reflection!    Soooooo shiney!

 

What a top notch job on the whole tractor!

Thanks man!    Yeah, that rustoleum farm/implement far exceeded my expectations!  I believe it holds more solids...maybe they even snuck in some hardener and/or gloss enhancers.  Time will tell how she holds up!  I originally had planned to wet-sand / polish before putting down Terry's decals... might not even be necessary. 

 

9 hours ago, Mikerodrig27 said:

You are doing a great job so far. That hood looks awesome

Thanks Mike!  It's amazing what some elbow grease (and ALOT of JBWeld) can transform!

 

9 hours ago, peter lena said:

terrific work on that , and attention to detail , having a  82 , c 85  myself , that  i recently magnum  re powered  i can relate to saving these great tractors. thank you for sharing , pete

You're very welcome Peter!  Thank you for tagging along! 

Edited April 8, 2019 by classiccat

[classiccat 548]

With the fender pan bolted down, we're waiting for this horse's saddle to arrive from out west!  

 

(I purchased a unique  c-series seat from @dw753...we'll see if you can guess what's different)

 

^^^ The hardware securing the fender pan to the tractor is actually new grade8 hw from TSC.  It "parkerizes" beautifully as long as you 1st remove the yellow coating prior to the acid simmer.

 

 

Some red side markers from TSC round-out the rear.

 

 

 

 

[Pullstart 59,571]

I’m looking forward to seeing the finishing touches!

[classiccat 548]

Gave the muffler a little love (VHT flameproof).

 

gave the PTO hoop a little shine (sanded to 1000g & polished & sealed with sharkhyde)

 

found a cracked  battery tray off of fleabay for 3 bucks + shipping.  We have just the cure for that sort of thing.

 

after a few coats of VHT vinyl dye...like a glove:

 

Time to leave the nest