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They're good stuff. But again, I would not panic and lose sleep at night pondering "OMG my oil doesn't have enough zinc in it....whats happening to my poor engine because of this....oh the agony"..... The only thing youre going to do to these engines to kill them is A). Run water instead of oil, or . run no oil in them. Other than that, keep the fuel clean hi test with some Seafoam in it, a good fuel filter and enjoy them for what they are.... It it was a Tecumseh I would say rub its belly, let it sleep in the house, dont get it wet, put a blanket on her when she sleep and then maybe it'll run for you when you need it to...

just wanted to tease a little on this one. kent and i have been working on it again and hopefully it will be on the trailer next week heading north west....... the pic is the back tires on wheels, duro 23 x 10.50-12 on standard 7 inch wheels... got the fronts on tonight, deestone d401 tri ribs on the standard fronts but didnt snap a pic. both front and rear look nice on tractor. happy 13 year old at home.......

I'm a fairly pragmatic person...to a point. I have owned this tractor for only one year and I have looked down and saw the red overtemp light on, four separate times. I am fairly deliberate about checking for grass buildup, but it has happened more than once so for me - it needed to be addressed. This is a design flaw, period. I have literally mowed 1/2 an acre and my screen has been completely packed. I really didn't post this for a debate. I really would have rather not invest the time, but for me - it was necessary. I sold my 314-8 when I got this one so I don't currently have a back-up mower if I wreck this one. I have already installed a sounder alarm as well but I haven't wired it up. I wanted first to prevent the buildup. I de-carboned and installed new gaskets on my engine last year so I don't think this overkill. Let me say this - I have a large back yard and we don't use most of it but I keep it clear. I only mow back there once a week. I typically get some small "hay piles" so I have quite a bit of clippings blowing around when I mow. Because of the rain I haven't touched the back for 10 days now - and it is a little high. Now if you are in the "yard-of-the-month club" and mow every few days - this may not even apply to you.

Looking forward to seeing that next week, Martin.

I think this is a great idea, too!!! As long as you don't impede the airflow into that screen by reducing the number of square inches the motor has to grab the air, it should not harm the motor. I like the idea of the deflector mounted below the motor and you still have good access to the screen should anything still get by. A person gets pretty tired of swiping grass off that screen, especially when you have a lot of grass to cut and you may be swiping every 5 or 10 minutes. Don't forget you have to slow the motor, stop, disengage the pto, swipe the grass off, throttle up, re-engage the pto and start mowing again. My arms aren't long enough to reach the screen and not trip the safety switches. Sure seems to be a better idea than letting the screen get plugged up and the temps bounce around. Not to mention what crap gets by the screen and lodges itself in the motor. Best to try to minimize the clippings and not minimize a persons efforts. Red

ROFL

Here is a few of my Herd although this picture was taken a year ago and there are now a few more to add now . i also have 704 which are extremely rare here in UK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rufDCjZd6-Q a band called DEATH, not a death metal band but a cool pre punk band out of detroit. awesome.

Most guys here have their favorites and the debates are endless but all will agree is that modern oil intended for cars is terrible on small engines thanks to the EPA and their ever increasing desire to rid the world of our outdated gas guzzling pollution machines. Modern Automotive oils do not have the additives needed by our older flat tappet engines to lubricate properly, namely Zink. Myself I stick to the heavy duty diesel oils such as Shell Rotella T and T1 that still have not yet been affected by the evil EPA.

I think the confusion is in the wording. Front to back and up and down are the same and should be zero. In and out can be up to 1/8".

I gotta say, there have been quite a few ingenious contraptions that folks have come up with to keep grass off the screen. But, it seems to me that the original grille/screen on there does a fine job of intended purpose. Keep grass out of the engine cooling fins. I think some of these add on gizmos might be blocking air flow as much if not more than having some grass stuck to the grill. It doesn't take much effort to swipe a hand across the grille once in awhile to knock off grass if it collects. Just my opinion fellas, I could be wrong. Gregg,

Hodge71, you have to believe. Penn State is a great team with alot of history. O'Brian the new coach is doing a good job with those kids, keeping there minds on football instead of worrying about stuff that doesn't even involve them. I kind of wish there would be more guys that like Penn State, even better I wish there more people that liked the Hawkeyes so I don't get ganged up on here. (Not that I'm really worried about it).Stevasaurus, you are getting awfully brave, I heard the boys in Vegas don't agree with you. Your going to be bringing up the bottom again this year. Better be careful about betting against my Hawkeyes!!!! Lol Go Hawkeyes!!!!

Here is what it should look like. From the PTO switch to the Clutch switch it measures 34" this is the long wire. From the PTO switch it plugs in to the wire to start on the key switch. from the Clutch switch the wire goes to start post on the solenoid switch. The Tractors sold in North Carolina in 1977 did not have a seat switch.

Engines without filters best to use non-detergent, newer engines with filters detergent oil. But more important is an oil change, than running oil black as tar. After all I like to say " Oil is worth $ 3- 4.00 in the bottle but $ 300.- 400 in the engine."

Okay, haven't had time today to work on her, will continue tomorrow. It does not have a dipstick, it's checked at the fill plug. I will advise as soon as possible, Thanks!!!

Another thought on this: I own a small fleet of 5xi tractors. They are all "workers" and only one was purchased brand new. The used machines I've purchased have almost all been available due to the original owner buying a high end zero turn or sub compact diesel tractor. Many people are "shelling out the coin" BUT for a different kind of premium equipment.

I think Y'all are getting a little carried away with this grass thing. If you really want to do something about it I think everybody is going about it the wrong way. Come on guys that is ugly! What you need to do is get some rubber roofing and cut a strip however wide seems to work and attach it to the deck on the front. For that matter you could use some of that fabric you use to keep weeds out of you plants. Geez this subject has been beat to death on here.

I guess all you need is something to deflect the airflow to the motor so it doesn't suck the grass of the deck. I've been meaning to fabricate something and this thread has inspired me. Thanks, guys!!! Red

Here is a couple of pics grass shield used/made by a fellow at the Wheelhorse show this past June. He fab'd and had installed it on his fine 520H tractor. I hope it's OK that I post the pics here as the design is simple and according to the gentleman I spoke with - worked great. I haven't had a chance to fab one of these for my 520H, but would like to and give it a try. Note the slickery Toro logo on the Onan grass screen.... Thanks! Bill

Looks pretty cool to me! I have bought 2 of my WH's from similar set ups. My RJ59 was a lawn ornament, the owner kept the mower deck and rare belt guards in his barn. My very first WH I ever bought was a lawn ornament also, my 704. The 704 had flowers around it and I asked the guy if he would sell it. He said that he had the spark plug out of it and his 4 year old son had put some dirt clods down the spark plug hole! Ouch! He said it had brand new bar lugs on the rear and because of that, he'd have to have $20.00 out of the little tractor! Uhhh, ok! I paid him quickly and we loaded it up! I got it home and took the head off it and there wasn't any dirt clods down in there after all! Just a few piece's of sand like dirt, not much at all. The dad must have caught the kid right before he dropped the dirt down in the motor! I put the head back on and tried to start it. It fired right up after only a few pulls! Best $20.00 I ever spent. I still have the machine and it runs like a champ! Ya never know where you might find a retired Horse, just waiting to be rescued and put back into service! KJ

You are forgetting the beast that is still waiting to be brought back again. I'm sure it will remain a far memory, but one can still hope. Bring back the Trans Am.

I feel like a black sheep with my 1982 red hood . This is a unrestored 1982 SK486 with 1300 hours I bought new. I use it about 20-25 hours in the fall to clean up leaves. I use and old 42" deck for my vacuum system. I mow with a 99 314-8 Bowtie in Ohio

It is Sad that MalMac is right. We are Not Americans anymore we are a product of our environment. every thing is so easy now just go down the street and find what u need at the big box store. Wall Mart Lowes Snob Depot has changed our life for ever. but I say again if I ever run into Millions $$$ I would try to change that..... Gary B,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Not only do most people want to buy throw away lawn tractors, they want to do that with everything. Also it seems that most people aren't interested in learning to fix things any more.Wow can you pass on a skill to a child if you don't know how to do it yourself. I am amazed at wow many people that don't know how to change the oil in their car or truck. I think it's a sad time for our country. ( Sorry I get carried away on this subject ).

Tony - whatever you decide, I would recommend using Eddie Gartlits for the head work. He Guarantees his products. He still is used for some of the "door slammers" on the track. I can dig up his info if/when you get that far. He did mine for a 73 - Pro Street Camaro I built. Heads were rated to withstand/develop 800hp....Never used that much, but he builds in tolerance to ensure nothing is going to happen in that area of the engine. BTW - yes he is also Don Gartlits little nephew. Forgot to mention - He is a Ford Man, but occasionally works on a Bow Tie.... LOL

Sorry this happened to you Tony. With SB Chevy's there's a lot of crate engines available. I don't know about your car, but is it the original engine? If you're right, you likely broke a rod and driving it certainly didn't do it any good. If it were me, I'd find a really good respectable machine shop, yank the engine out pull the pan and see how bad it looks. If it looks okay, send it to the shop and have it checked to insure it's straight. Get a new crank, HP rods, pistons and oil pump a go-fast cam and put it back together. You'll save quite a bit and know that it's put together properly.

They are garden tractors, not high dollar cars or trucks, they should be built to your ability and be happy with that, I'm a Body man, I can build the heck out of one of these tractors, but I also have a round hood I spray bombed, I took it all apart but still used a rattle can, My Daughters tractor is a candy red, with $600 worth of paint, primer and supplies, it also has 90% of the fasteners on it changed to stainless, I like it, she loves it because it's different no one else has one like it, it's not a belly button tractor you know everyone has one, to put one back to new condition would be hard because they didn't do a very good job when new, parts where assembled then painted undersides and insides did not get much if any paint on them, on some models, why take the fun out of the hobby from the guy that can't paint like a pro, or don't have tons of money to throw at them, I run a WH show in MI. I tell everyone to bring anything workers, resto jobs, clean orig. even beaters, if you want to bring it to the show it will be welcome, the only real pet peeve I have is if you did not take it apart and you rattle canned it, please don't call it a restoration, call it what it is, a clean up and repaint, there are different levels of a restore, but just throwing paint at a tractor is not one.

Here's where my head is at...... People need to quit over-thinking these tractors and have fun with them.