Sparky-(Admin) 19,439 #1 Posted June 2, 2019 My son and his fiancé are shopping for a house so what do I do??? Start shopping for a WH for them as a gift of course! Talking with Russ @SALTYWRIGHT I discover he has a 314-8 with a Magnum 10 under the hood....perfect ! We work out a deal and I bring it home. Mechanically it’s in good shape, gave it an oil change and lubed up any moving parts. Decided I didn’t like the 22/7.50/12 rear rubber so with my Harbor Freight tire changer I go to work...off with the old rubber, clean sand and wire wheel the silver rims, coat of black primer and two coats of semi-gloss black. I had two brand new Turf-Trac RS tires in a 23/9.50/12 size so mounted them up. The fronts are what came on a 70’s vintage machine and my neighbor took a fancy to those so I gave those to him. Meanwhile in my shed was a pair of 16/6.50/8 tires on the deep rims that just needed paint. So they get the same treatment as the rear rims received. With the same semi-gloss rattle can I repaint the front of the hood. Still need to mount the rear axle bracket and figure out what to do for a mowing deck. The tractor came with two 42” rear discharge decks but I’m thinking I would rather see a side discharge on it. This will be a surprise once they find a house, my son never goes on Red Square so he won’t see it posted here. Although once he owns this sucker I’ll make sure he signs up to be a Red Square member. He does attend almost all the Wheel Horse Collector Shows with me and will be at this years show as well. 11 12 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cee245 753 #2 Posted June 2, 2019 I'm digging those black rums sparky. Looks awesome! Cory 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
71_Bronco 1,072 #3 Posted June 2, 2019 Looks sharp. What a great gift idea too. Mower deck? Or are you leaving that up to your son? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roadapples 6,981 #4 Posted June 2, 2019 Nice job "Dad".... We won't tell... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,439 #5 Posted June 2, 2019 38 minutes ago, 71_Bronco said: Looks sharp. What a great gift idea too. Mower deck? Or are you leaving that up to your son? It’ll be a complete package when I’m done. I have wheel weights, axle bracket and a plow “in-stock. Going thru my spare decks to see which one is the nicest right now. It might end up being a 36” RD. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,439 #6 Posted June 2, 2019 So one of my 36” RD’s is pretty quiet so it’s the chosen deck for now. Can’t believe how grimy it has gotten sitting in my shed!! Half cleaned ! 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,439 #7 Posted June 2, 2019 The little 36”er looks kinda small but it SURE BEATS A PUSH MOWER 2 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
71_Bronco 1,072 #8 Posted June 2, 2019 I am running a 36" on my Commando 8, and yes, its sooo much nicer than pushing the 21" around, especially if he ends up with a decent sized lawn. My lot is an acre, with about 1/4 being woods. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 15,907 #9 Posted June 2, 2019 Aw man, Thought for sure this thread was gonna be about you giving me a tractor Sparks. Disappointed in you again but happy for your son. 1 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 51,511 #10 Posted June 2, 2019 5 hours ago, Sparky said: My son and his fiancé are shopping for a house so what do I do??? Start shopping for a WH for them as a gift of course! Just hope they don't decide to buy a Town House because there is no lawn maintenance! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,439 #11 Posted June 3, 2019 51 minutes ago, 953 nut said: Just hope they don't decide to buy a Town House because there is no lawn maintenance! If they went that route I would be stuck with a WH....that’s fine by me!! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZXT 2,394 #12 Posted June 3, 2019 Looks like a nice machine! Why pull off the 42" RD and replace it with a 36"? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,439 #13 Posted June 3, 2019 2 minutes ago, ZXT said: Looks like a nice machine! Why pull off the 42" RD and replace it with a 36"? Both of the 42” decks need attention. Neither is ready to mow as is. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZXT 2,394 #14 Posted June 3, 2019 1 minute ago, Sparky said: Both of the 42” decks need attention. Neither is ready to mow as is. That's what I figured. Those new tires look great on it... Were the rears the factory size? Seem small but looked like they were still good tires. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Docwheelhorse 2,560 #15 Posted June 3, 2019 I don't see those rear axles painted red to match the front hub covers yet!!! Looks Good Tony 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,439 #16 Posted June 3, 2019 37 minutes ago, Docwheelhorse said: I don't see those rear axles painted red to match the front hub covers yet!!! Looks Good Tony Haha! It’s on my to-do list Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,439 #17 Posted June 3, 2019 Can’t hand off a machine without proper testing....so I mowed with it tonight ! Runs good, shifts good, PTO is good and the deck is fairly quiet. What I don’t like is the quality of cut from the little 36” RD. When I was cleaning the bottom yesterday the blades looked great. Maybe my grass was to long? 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 4,874 #18 Posted June 4, 2019 Looking good Mike. I am sure he will be happy with that. Good to have extra parts.I had my changer on a stump for years but now I do it like you with a vice. It works good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,439 #19 Posted July 8, 2019 So I wasn’t happy with the 36” RD I put on this gift tractor. Wanted a bigger deck and one a bit quieter that the 36. Scored a nice 42”SD , replaced both belts, all three blades, installed the NOS mule drive I snagged at this years WH Show, swapped the front spindles to the correct ones for 8” rims, put on a rear axle bracket in preparation for this winter, installed the inside wheel weights and gave her a bath. Just in time as the closing on their new house is the 24th of this month. This one is ready to be shipped out !! 4 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 59,549 #20 Posted July 9, 2019 Mike, does your son know about the surprise? I wanted to ask at the show, it I didn’t want to be the one to blow the horn! It looks great! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,439 #21 Posted July 9, 2019 2 hours ago, pullstart said: Mike, does your son know about the surprise? I wanted to ask at the show, it I didn’t want to be the one to blow the horn! It looks great! Haha!! Thanks for keepin the secret! He probably has an idea he’s getting something. But so far he haven’t seen it and nobody has leaked it yet. My wife almost convinced me to give it to him the day before the WH Show and then haul it there so he could ride it around. But I didn’t. Can’t post any of it on FaceBook, but he doesn’t scroll Red Square so he won’t see it here. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 59,549 #22 Posted July 9, 2019 7 minutes ago, Sparky said: Haha!! Thanks for keepin the secret! He probably has an idea he’s getting something. But so far he haven’t seen it and nobody has leaked it yet. My wife almost convinced me to give it to him the day before the WH Show and then haul it there so he could ride it around. But I didn’t. Can’t post any of it on FaceBook, but he doesn’t scroll Red Square so he won’t see it here. I’m glad I kept my yap shut! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,439 #23 Posted August 12, 2019 DELIVERED! It’s now in his garage 6 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,941 #24 Posted August 12, 2019 What a Dad! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 4,874 #25 Posted August 12, 2019 Good job Mike he will enjoy it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
