Looky wha followed me home, blowing blue flames out the red hot nelson muffler as I tried to escape the beast!

[Kevin Bowley 130]

I happened to see this jewel sitting out by the road...Surprise, surprise!  I stopped and had a look see and chatted with the owner for a bit and doing my very best not to let him know I had only been looking for an original condition 78-79 C-161 hydro with the hydraulic lift and sleeve hitch for 10 years or more.   I thanked the the gentleman for his time and said I would think it ovr, took his phone number and continued to head home.  I jumped onto east 101, a 4-lane limited access highway in Manchester NH and quickly accelerated to 75+ to keep from getting mowed over by traffic and I noticed these strange lights gaining on me fast in the rear view (My other half doesn't believe me). When I looked again this little yard tractor was about 5 feet from my rear bumper with a bright blue flame shooting out of the red-hot muffler glowing in the front grill, I sped up to 85+ and it hung with me for the entire one-hour drive home.  When I parked in my driveway, the beast pulled up to my side door and began revving its power plant and crackling loudly.  It acted hungry, so being the humanitarian type, I fed it some high-octane food and she settled down beside the storage (hoarding) building and went to sleep.  I decided to take it nder my wing and get 'er back on solid footing with some counseling, a warm bed and made a doctors appointment for the following day to have it checked over. No one believes this mysterious encounter, but it happened, and I have the a picture or two for evidence!  The doctor gave it a good checkup and gave me a couple of scripts and let him know the following week on her condition.  Doc said it was in great shape internally but needed a good bat and maybe some skin cream.  The Machine, named "tag-a-long" runs as new and the only issue is a rear axle seal weeping and tired engine mounts.  Not sure if I feel like giving it some skin cream yet, would you? Or should I leave it in its current clothes?  It has been stored inside a garage since new and everything is well greased and lubed.  It also came with a decent 42" RD mower that is fairly solid. So, without further convincing, here are the picture s that I entered into evidence.

wh2-Edit-Edit.tif

[squonk 38,846]

Like your story. I bought a C-145 years ago from a friend. When he bought it he loaded it up on his trailer and drove the 60 miles home. When he got out of the truck the tractor was running!  ( He forgot to turn it off! ) 

Edited June 17, 2022 by squonk

[wh500special 2,053]

Nice.  You should go back and see if the owner has the baggin' wagon that used to follow that tractor around a previous owner's yard.

 

Steve

[Pullstart 59,565]

Nice survivor!  I bet a nice wet sand and buff would make that old paint POP!

[kpinnc 10,686]

2 hours ago, kbowley said:

I entered into evidence.

 

Lucky rascal... 

[c-series don 7,772]

Beautiful! Those are my favorite models 78-79 C-Series that one looks perfect! Even has the belt guard to run a vacuum. Are the pulleys under the fender pan? I might have a vacuum for sale! 

[SylvanLakeWH 24,093]

[peter lena 8,037]

@kbowley typically lubrication spray down dull neglected horse paint , totally spray down every area , let it sit a day , rub , it  down till dry , do it again . that stage will retain patina and hold that paint till you want to use a 6" palm buffer with cleaner wax , done a couple like that , paint depth recovery was amazing , just an idea, pete 

[Blasterdad 2,535]

We must go to the same Doc, he told me the same thing... She needs a bath & new set of BAD BOY motor mounts, ( and a new pair of front shoes ). Lol

 

 

 

[Blasterdad 2,535]

Great story by the way, you'll Love her !!!

[953 nut 51,536]

6 hours ago, kbowley said:

I jumped onto east 101, a 4-lane limited access highway in Manchester NH and quickly accelerated to 75+ to keep from getting mowed over by traffic and I noticed these strange lights gaining on me fast in the rear view (My other half doesn't believe me). When I looked again this little yard tractor was about 5 feet from my rear bumper with a bright blue flame shooting out of the red-hot muffler glowing in the front grill, I sped up to 85+ and it hung with me for the entire one-hour drive home.

Reminds me of this song.             

 

[JCM 8,628]

Intro and outro reminds me of Nokie Edwards and the Ventures. One of my favorite bands.   @953 nut

[peter lena 8,037]

@kbowley would take advantage of the simplicity and practical build sense of that unit / era , its simple set up only needs refreshing of every operational function. personally I  would refresh wiring / electrical set up , fresh wires wire cable wrap , wire hangers , connection connections , switches . eliminate corrosive linkage / lever areas , lubrication brought my units up to a very easy running stare . firmed linkage ends , added washers and grease , worked with ease . trans oil change /  related linkage lubrication . new fuel tank valve , drop carb bowl ,fuel filters . my 40 year old C-85  , magnum swap is still my favorite , runs and functions with a total easy response to anything , has all my changes to chronic issues , was a great test bed , for ideas . hope you have many improvements planned , do not worry about the w/h police . keep it greasy , questions , ?  just ask , pete  

[kpinnc 10,686]

For a decent C-161, I would have endured such a dangerous and frightful day just like you did. I for one, appreciate your humanitarian sacrifice. So many people (idiots) would have just shooed that poor creature away and not provided a loving home.... 

[Kevin Bowley 130]

On 6/17/2022 at 5:31 PM, c-series don said:

Beautiful! Those are my favorite models 78-79 C-Series that one looks perfect! Even has the belt guard to run a vacuum. Are the pulleys under the fender pan? I might have a vacuum for sale! 

 Mine as well, I have three of them, a 78 C-121-H, 79 C-101-8 and a C-161-H with lift. I do have a warm spot in my heart for my '95 520-H that I restored, that is a real Cadillac. And I would be amiss if I didn't give honorable mention to my 2001 522XI with power steering, nice warm cab etc.

[S416-8 325]

What did you use for bait cause I want one of them trophy tractor fish but still learning how to catch them. Great looking machine

Edited June 30, 2022 by S416-8
Added

[Wheelhorse#1 1,445]

Looks to have been well take care of .Great find.