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I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of the members that I have met and the ones that I have yet to meet...a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE. :) :banana-skier:

I started this little rebuild last sunday. I will be using this engine on a 1960 suburban project. I have powdercoated several maytag engines but this was my first kohler. I used ruby red powder and single stage reflective chrome powder from eastwood. I use a basic eastwood powdercoating gun, but i would recommend spending the extra money for the dual voltage unit. For those of you wondering if you should try out powdercoating, i would say go for it!! It is very easy and isnt nearly as messy as painting. You can go from a greasy nasty part to a finished ready to use part in less than an hour. It took me about 3 hours to coat all of these parts in a regular kitchen oven. I did it in several different batches the most time consuming part is masking everything not to be coated and plugging the bolt holes. It didnt turn out 100% perfect but its gonna look good on my tractor. I also used all stainless bolts.

Heres a couple more pics of the engine on the project suburban next to my home made hood stand. I had to take it somewhere to have the bends made on the box part as i dont have a metal brake. but i did the brackets, all of the holes and the welding. My welds look almost as crappy as the factory ones lol

Today I went on what I would now consider a great pick. Yeah, I know that makes me sound like Mike Wolfe, but thats really what it was. I drove over an hour away to go look at a '60 Suburban (which I also bought), and the guy showed me around his barns. He had by far the largest collection of pedal tractors I have ever seen in my life. But while I was getting dirty and climbing around one of the barns, this odd ball metal box with numbers on the side and an engine cylinder head in plain view sticking out caught my attention. He said he didn't know much about it other than that he bought it from an old guy who was an airline pilot and the guy claimed it was a cargo sized 49cc foldable motor bike. The numbers on the side corresponded to the aircraft tail number it belonged in. I was like....what? It turns out it is a Valmobile Suitcase Scooter. They were designed in France and produced in Japan during the 50's. They were marketed as a suitcase scooter that could be taken anywhere and/or stored anywhere. According to reading I have done, they became especially popular as emergency transportation in airplanes small boats etc. But they really didn't sell well and the main distribution company located in NJ shortly went bankrupt. Of course there seems to be several collector forums for these things and a pretty serious following. I haven't had much luck finding too much info on value, but I'm confident my gamble in buying it will not leave me at a loss if I decide to ever sell it. The guy claims it runs fine and being a 2 stroke he said it probably will fire right up with little effort.

Martin, the crank is about 1/8" lower than stock and as for front to back it is in the stock location, I used the lower PTO bracket as a guide, and I have another complete C-195 to check with, and I checked crank height on my 520, C-195, and a few single cyl. Kohlers guess what they are all different, off the top of my head the 520 was 6 3/4" the 195 was 6 1/2" the single Kohler was 6" again I didn't write these no.s down so that is from memory, and the C-195 tractor is about 6" longer than a standard tractor, so the drive belt is 195 only, the hydro pulley is the hard to find 1" bore from a briggs powered hydro tractor. Rich, I like BIG engines, and tires, I guess that is the car guy in me, not sure what I'm going to call it, me and my oldest son were talking about that yesterday, when we pushed it in the shop.

My beautiful calendar was in the mail when I got home today. It's already hanging in the man cave. I took the nudie calendar down, and put the horses up in it's place. Thanks Mike.

Bill, I've done that myself a few times over the years. I don't know yet if it hurts the tractor, but it IS a fun ride. Until the Horse and I reach a point where I realize I need to go look for a chain and the keys to my truck... Seriously, though, Craig/Conan's comments are right on. I remember when I bought my very first Wheel Horse almost 30 years ago, no experience at all with garden tractors. The guy who sold it to me warned that slopes are THE most dangerous thing you'll encounter when you're driving one of these things. Please be careful, guys.

Thank you guys im going to do my rj after this one. Glad you like it.

I'm starting a project, but it will take time, as time to work on it is limited, this may take most of the summer, with that said here is some progress. As most of you know I bought a 25hp V twin diesel china made, I plan to install it in one of my C-195's, I'm also putting power steering on it, and other neat little things but more on them as I go, this will someday be my loader tractor, I don't have fancy equipment to build this with, but I know how to use what I have. On to pictures with captions. Engine China V twin 25hp Tractor it will be going in, this was after a test run on the trans to be sure it was good, all checked out I like BIG tires so new meat was ordered for the rear, Tru-power 29x12.5x15 and to except the larger tires wide rims are in order, so I bought a set of new rim shells and cut the centers out of a set of rims to install in the shells. Ready to weld them up ready for color I found a guy near me that does powder coating and had a few wheels done. New rubber mounted, with my son Ryan, sorry for the crappy pictures. Now I can't have them setting around doing nothing so I put them on my other C-195 for now, I like it, need bigger fronts, rears clear the fenders by 1/4" I hope to get more done with the long weekend, we will see.

1961 Panzer t70 i got this it was painted red and engine needed rebuild. I got all engine parts from napa, I sand blasted the chassis and found pin holes on the bottom of the tubing. They had been full of dirt mud grass and water rotted the frame out.No way to repair it. so i made 2 new frame rails for it and welded them to the rear axle. set it up in milling machine and drilled all the holes. The tubing on these tractors where made from black pipe, gas pipe odd size so i picked up some from lowes. well heres the frame now. after having this thing for three years. I got some paint on it. I have a brand new NOS deck for it too.rear diff i put bearings seals new brake linings and made new front spindles.

Recently I picked up an ARK 550 loader Very reasonably priced. So I have been asking lots of questions lately on the fourm of axles and loaders. Now I will share what I have been doing and where this project is at. I have installed an axle from a 210 JD I had laying around. Thought of a 520 axle setup but everyone is very proud of their 520 parts. This JD axle is 1" and swept forward. Tractor steers way easier than it did before and has much heavier wheel bearings. Also working on a sub frame. Have most of it welded together. Will be finishing that and starting to work on mounting the hydro pump. This may take some time to complete as time and money become available. Keep checking back.

Hello All, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Years and whatever else I missed.... I went big on myself this year... been looking around and finally found myself a Harley in my price range... Its a 1996 with 12,800 miles, its a 1200 with a 5 speed and has several aftermarket goodies. Cost me $2605 plus $100 in gas to get it and another $80 in misc.... Haven't had a bike in 12 years and the last one was Japanese... this bike is the very basic Harley but man I'm tickled pink..... Mike and I where blasting up and down the street until we got sick of freezing ourselves to death. C'Mon Spring!!!!! It got backed into the garage next to the 'Horses..... Another piece of American Iron added to the fleet! So what did you buy yourself this year?? Tony

A while back I purchased one of MattD's Hydro Foot Pedal kits for my 416, and installed it on the tractor. Last night and today here in Maine we got between 6 and 8 inches of snow, so today I got to play with the toys, so to speak. I had never used my single stage blower on the tractor, as I picked them up last spring after the snow melted, but I had used the tractor for mowing with the original Hydro shift lever between the legs. All I can say about the foot pedal with the snow blower is WOW, this is GREAT! The last thing I needed today was the need for a 3rd hand and arm. The foot pedal makes going back and forth and stopping just plain FUN! Anybody on the fence about this mod needs to get off now and get one of these. I also installed an electric motor to turn the shute on my tractor and will post a pick when I find my iPod. I wanted to take some video of the tractor in action today, but couldn't operate the iPod and the tractor at the same time by myself. Thanks again to Matt for this great modification!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year guys! These old bones really get stiff this time of year-but just the same- I can't wait for the first plowable snow. The Grandsons fight with the old man for seat time-but this ole Illini is not done yet! Like "Cheers"- its just nice to have a place to visit each day-"where everybody knows your name". Thanks-Al :text-merryxmas:

Very nice find! All you fellas finding these black hoods are really making them move up on my list of top .

Merry Christmas all..

Merry Christmas to all Nope that aint this years stuff Steves 140 miles west of me chances are we will start getting some snow friday! :dance:

I will do a series of updates on the progress I have in restoring an old Ross Steering Gear Column for a 953 Wheel Horse restore project. Our tractor is Serial No: 62-560. My brother David and I were given a 1963 Wheel Horse 953 which we have begun to rebuild and restore. David took it all apart and I told him I would tackle the Ross Steering Gear rebuild. We do not have the original 953 steering wheel but most other original parts are there. Her are some photos of what we are starting with before all the parts were taken off the tractor: I ordered repalcement parts for the Ross steerign gear off of Ebay. I bought the kit before taking the steerign gear apart but the worm gear on this steering column appaears ok. Probably a good idea to take one all apart before ordering the replacement parts as they are expensive but also hard to get new. The first challenge was the end cap. The kit sold on Ebay is from Guy Louderback and he sells rebuilt Ross steering gears in additon to the replacement parts. These steering columns were used not only on the early model 953's but also on Cub Cadets, John Deeres, Case, Jacobson and Ford early model lawn tractors. So parts apper to come from several sources and there are slight variations in the Ross steering gears between models. Guy send you instructions from Brian Miller's rebuilds, John Deere and Cub Cadet with some of his own informaiton too. The original 1963 Wheel Horse 953 owner's manual also has two pages on informaiton on the Ross Steering Gear. Here are some photos: The worm gear box part of the Ross steering column Lever arm with taper stud still in it. Looking into the worm gear Lever arm, seal and seal retainer and jam nuts removed My end cap DID NOT have a cotter key pin through the end cap like some models do. Note that some end caps are made different with more of a star pattern on the cap. The cap has a straight slot in it and it was difficult to loosen up. I used a screw driver and then a chisel and could not get any movement to unscrew the cap. Finally I came upon the idea of using a 7/8 wood drill bit that fit snuggly in the cap raceway and I could get enough leverage on it to slowly turn the cap and unscrew it. Here are the remains of the bearings and ball cup just inside the end cap Now for a bigger issue The remains of the original 953 Wheel Horse steering hub is still on the steering wheel end of the Ross steering column. I began using my trustly PB Blaster on it this am and will continue to apply PB Blaster and check for progress on removal of the old hub.

Merry Christmas to you too Steve. We'll have to attend a Bears/Packers game sometime! :)

I had this cultivator for about a year now and I just finished restoring it.

got one of these from terry the other day while visiting, just thought id throw it up on the wall and snap a pic..... thanks terry.... he has them in the store here..... http://www.redoyourh...ing-Sign/Detail

mmmm, love powder...... :handgestures-thumbup:

:text-thankyoublue: Lane! I wasn't trying to stir things up. I know that the latches on the speed hitch (and later versions) burn up an extra 1/2"+ between the side plates. I thought the LR blade was a snug fit between the side plates, but wasn't home earlier to check it out.

This is a photo of an attach a matic (a version later than the original two flat plates used) for the Lawn Ranger that will work for your plow:

I got them home

In my book you're a fan of a team because you like them for what they are, not because you hate another. I hate the Cowboys, does that make me a Giant or Redskin fan? No. I hate the Pats. Does that make me a Jets or Bills fan even though I'm in N.Y? No. I became a fan because of Lombardi and Starr. Stick with the team weather good or bad. No fair weather fandom for me. I had a cousin who was a fan of any team in first place. I hated that.

Sorry, im not selling wheel horses yet. It was an hour and a half drive each way to get it but i think it was worth it. Let me know if you find any rj's or suburbans near lafayette indiana that youre not interested in :)

Yeah Rich, you really made that 312 shine again!

"I will say, the WH is my favorite because of the solid and simple engineering, which means it's easy to work on and, like the early round fender JD's, they look good." "Solid and simple engineering, ...and they look good." Well said from a guy who has owned and worked on some of the best brands. But, Farmall on a Wheel Horse? We have to deduct a couple points for that. Let us know when you get that fixed.

Sad day in football...Pack wins the division but hopefully not the Superbowl I had to go find a youtube video of the Packers Seahawks game to help brighten my day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWayQ6Y340k

Another average day in Loseland. :deadhorse:

My daughter got to meet Santa Claus today for the very first time and apparently she didn't like him!

Nice ride Tony. Perhaps not that flashy to you, but looks good from here!! I like the hypercharger on it. Enjoy. I gots me a 1979 Camaro I started a thread on this a couple of months back, but "Santa" came along last week and gave me a few upgrades for under the hood. (Sorry...no pics of that though). Yes...American Iron is good!!

Missed most of the game. I'm on call this weekend and had to spend today at work. I really feel sorry for you Chicago guys. Not because the Bears lost. While driving to work I turned on the radio to a local Syracuse station and the Bears radio network was on. Those announcers are HORRIBLE!!! What little of the game I saw, I watched it on a feed from London, by the commercials I saw, the British love their cologne and perfumes. ++++++ The division is ours The train came and left the Bears in their dust Claymaker back JJ with 3 TD's Jay is still Jay Brandon Marshall going all crying eyes in the post game press conference Stevasauras sounds like Dougie Buffone (must be an Illinois thing) -------- Browns lost but have hope for the future Mason Crosby stupid punt play

OMG...BROWNS LOOSE...BEARS LOOSE...JUST ONE MORE DISGUSTING SUNDAY IN THE NFL Joe, I am thinking about drowning my sorrows....with the good stuff. .

"I Love Santa" shirt, $14.95 Visit with Santa (with 5" x 7" photo), $24.95 Look on daughter's face....PRICELESS

Here's my Happy Holidays to all the familys of RedSquare.

The hood is off a Farmette tractor. I have a 550 hood that needs work and a real nice 551 hood.

I agree Ken. These will make a great Christmas gift for your Son. You get Santa's Seal of Approval on this one! Santa almost bought a set of these caps at one of the local shows this summer but they didn't quite meet Santa's standards. Cole saw the caps at the show and his eyes lit up with the possibility of a set for his 854. Like his Dad, Coles likes a little bling at times. Cole doesn't know it yet but he now also has a very nice correct style mower deck for his restored 854. All it needs is for Santa to get it out of the shed and up to his shop where he works to give it a thourough cleaning, and then bust out some of the red paint that he uses to refresh his sleigh every yr. and give it a repaint!

Like this Lars...WOTTA FOCK SQUONK!

Just realized some pics were missing. Here's what it started out as after 20 + years.

Jay, I think you are right! This is the first Black Hood I can remember seeing in NC. Surely there must have been more sold than just this one. Anyway, I'm happy it found it's way to me. Of course you are welcome to take it to your house to play with for a while. I'm sure Jen won't mind you bringing home a "Loaner" Ken B, I need to tell you this was the last Wheel Horse for sale in North Carolina. I guess you guys will have to look elsewhere Van There are a few around my neighbor found one last spring.

Another update on the 1963 953 Wheel Horse Ross Steering Gear i am rehabing. Started the primer/painting process the other day while the temperature was about 50 degrees. Here are a couple photos: I decided to keep the cast housing for the worm gear without paint on it. That is why it is covered. New cups and bearings are installed on the Ross Steering column worm gear: I found a splined Ariens steering wheel that I plan on using as the replacement wheel for the 953 Wheel Horse project. I placed it on the steering gear and it fit nice and tight and I think the 2 inch center will accomodate one of Glen Jeri's Wheel Horse Steering wheel caps when we get it all installed. Here is a photo of the Ariens tractor steering wheel I bought with Glen Jeri's two inch Wheel Horse Logo Cap in the center: Very pleased with this steering wheel and cap to go into the 1963 Wheel Horse 953 restore proejct:

That one will fit. However, looks to be missing some things (namely the round bar that attaches the blower to front hitch of the tractor & side wings). I'm assuming the lift bar and flag are in the background of the picture.

Chuck didn't say it, but I'm a big believer and user of dialectic grease, every connection I mess with after it gets cleaned or replaced, gets a liberal dab of it, even the blades of the fuses, I put a new 9 pin connector and factory style fuse box in one of my 520's and everything got greased, it helps keep moisture out, so these problems are held at bay, just be sure to use the correct stuff, it can be had at any auto parts store for a few bucks for a tube.

Just three photos for now.

Or you can go the way I did for my ZZ383 engine with a dual quad setup, it works flawlessly....

Should have changed/sharpened the blades while it was on it's side.

What spooked your Horse? I bet that ride scared the crap out of you. Are you sure you're OK? :thumbs: