1 Gamble 1 Score

[Jon925mn 39]

Picked up a C145 with 42" deck & blower for $400 this weekend. Separate buys 20 miles apart. Gamble is the tractor as it's been sitting 4-5 yrs with old fuel. Love that varnish stank! Motor turns over so there's hope. Maintenance from owner was absent at best. I think the hydro filter might be original and air filter was clogged. At least the engine and transmission had oil. So she's now mine & we'll see what happens as we flush change and replace the bad. The body is actually in good shape except the cracked up fender pan. Anyone got a metal replacement? The blower is a good score and only missing the long lift rod. If I can get this C-145 running then it will only be used for snowblowing here in MN. Does anyone have horror maintenance stories and still end up with a good running tractor without rebuilding?

 

[squonk 43,939]

44 minutes ago, Jon925mn said:

 Does anyone have horror maintenance stories and still end up with a good running tractor without rebuilding?

 

 

 

 

I've had a lot worse! 

[peter lena 9,308]

@Jon925mn , Jon , don't have any horror stories , but aside from a very thorough baseline service , to touch virtually every feature on the horse , would recommend that you add  RISLONE ZINC  TO YOUR OIL , https://www.amazon.com/Rislone-4405-Supplement-Concentrate-Treatment/dp/B0075559UY/ref=asc_df_B0075559UY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312198323731&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2620630527968747220&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003310&hvtargid=pla-567498281214&psc=1  since using this to all my smaller engines , the effortless running is amazing, use 2 oz for each qt of  rotella 30 wt diesel oil, not only will it smooth out your running but help clean out the varnish . use it in my 3600 rpm generator , makes it sound like its on cruse control. also use STA-BIL in all my fuels , very good simple additive ,  JUST MY OWN EXPERIENCE, PETE

[pacer 3,177]

9 minutes ago, squonk said:

I've had a lot worse! 

Amen to that!! From the pics it appears relatively  .... original? meaning doesnt seem to be any glaring PO "modifications" and it must have been inside -- yes? Nice looking tractor, and that is a right good model to boot.

[Bill D 2,276]

Nice machine.  I have heard that there may be problems fitting a snowblower on a black hood.  Others may be able to confirm this.  Nice score though.

[c-series don 10,141]

I’d look for a good metal fender pan and not plastic one. A metal one from that era will bolt right on. 

[Tuneup 1,452]

If you hit eBay at the right time looking for a fender, you can still get them cheap. My '80 C125 8 speed has a 520H fender. Cake bolt on.

[Gregor 4,847]

5 hours ago, Jon925mn said:

Anyone got a metal replacement?

I have bought 2 C series, metal fender pans from Lincoln @ A to Z. Very  happy with both.

[Gregor 4,847]

3 hours ago, Bill D said:

I have heard that there may be problems fitting a snowblower on a black hood. 

I'd like to know more about this.

[squonk 43,939]

The only issues with the snowblower are:

 

Getting to the rock shaft to install the lift flag and getting the hair pin in and the blower belt comes real close to the side of that fat lower hood.

[WheelHorse520H 708]

4 hours ago, peter lena said:

also use STA-BIL in all my fuels , very good simple additive

I use STA-BIL as well, does good when you have an unexpected mechanical failure. Usually when I buy a small engine that’s been sitting or even one that I had sitting, I run some SeaFoam and Marvel Mystery Oil in with the gas to clean out the gum in the fuel system. I use both because MMO is good for reducing carbon buildup and the SeaFoam is good at keeping the fuel clean. I also add some MMO to the oil on the first oil change to remove some crud that gets left in there with conventional oil. Just my experience though,

Andrew

EDIT: I don’t use a lot of either of the additives so I run about 90% or more regular unleaded gas and 10% or less of the MMO and SeaFoam.

Edited August 9, 2021 by WheelHorse520H

[Thor27 835]

Good looking tractor.

[peter lena 9,308]

@Gregor, should have no issues on the blower , long as the tech a matic  is in place , I have a 82 -c85 , with 12 hp magnum power , all 3 of mine have the same tech a matic set up so I rotate the blower and the plow blade , over winter , did a lot of detailing on the blower , especially in the chute base area , as well as a lubrication upgrade in the chain auger drive area. that blower should spin over by hand .  also rotate 3, 42" R/D  mower decks  over spring thru fall . that blower looks sweet, bought a c-14 last year , hoping to bring it back, it was so thrashed , sold it for parts , best part of that deal was the 2 stage blower that went with it , did a full service on that ,and sold that . get it when you can ,pete

[Jon925mn 39]

9 hours ago, peter lena said:

recommend that you add  RISLONE ZINC  TO YOUR OIL

Worth a try even tho I've never been a big fan of additives. Low cost can't hurt but might help. Thanks Pete.

 

9 hours ago, pacer said:

original

Yep does seem original and not left outside. For some reason just didn't care about maintenance.

 

8 hours ago, Bill D said:

Nice machine

If I get it running proper it will be for sure.

 

8 hours ago, c-series don said:

metal fender pan

Yep I need one, hate the plastic.

 

5 hours ago, Gregor said:

I have bought 2 C series, metal fender pans from Lincoln @ A to Z. Very  happy with both.

Thanks for tip.

 

[Pollack Pete 2,273]

The only horror story I have about a C-145 is about one that was given to me 7 or 8 yrs ago. It had an oil leak near the hydraulic control valve.The previous owner couldn't figure out how to remove the valve,so he cut all the hoses.Yes,I still have the tractor.No,I haven't touched it yet.It's on the " someday " list.Real nise tractor though except for the botched sergury it recieved.

[Jon925mn 39]

1 hour ago, Pollack Pete said:

horror story 

Hard to understand why one would do that when everything on this tractor is accessible. Compared to my 520 working on this 145 has cut way down on the cursing.