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I have seen both tractors and all of the equipment. They were offered to me last year and I politely declined. They are nice, but not that nice to me. Tread lightly on this one....we have turned many folks off to the Wheel Horse collecting community because of our "opinions" (I have been guilty of this before as well) In this case an opinion wasn't asked for and I would hate for the member to get turned off by the hobby. They can ask whatever they want....maybe it is worth it to someone.

This is a long story so bear with me. My wife and I go to my brother's Elks lodge for Friday dinner quite often. The last time we went a little over a month ago, sitting at my brother's table was a man named Bob Shinsing. Quite a friendly fellow and we quickly learned he had been an aircraft mechanic during the Korean war. As we talked he told us about his hobby of making airplane bird feeders. He showed us some pics of them all with different themes. I got thinking he probably could do a plane but I didn't want to ask. After we left the first thing he says to my brother is, "Do you think they would like one of my planes?" Of course my brother said yes and suggested the theme. Fast forward to yesterday and a certain Dino finding a box of VCR tapes of old monster movies on his step. What a surprise!! A giant "Saurus sitting in a lawn chair in his basement with a TV tray full of chips and his mug watching B movies. On my birthday no less Today I get home late after a really long week. sitting on my porch is this airplane bird feeder with emblems on the tail! .I tried to think of who could have sent it as I only got to know Bob for like an hour. Then I saw the card inside from my brother and it all came back. Needless to say I was shocked! I called my brother and he got a big kick out of it. Gotta figure out how to get on next year's calendar! Enjoy the pics!

I can understand what you're saying whfan. Look at it from a different way though…. New guy, first post ever has a story about 2 Autographed tractors for 8 grand. A few folks ask a few questions about pics and all of a sudden he beats feet never to be seen again…kinda hinky in every way shape and form. Especially when we had 2 other first time posters this week, 1 with a box fresh 1996 520H for sale and another with another 2 tractors and a whole mess of implements that were personal gifts from Cecil Pond to a lifelong friend. After asking for a couple pics, that poster was never seen again as well. Even the most ignorant person would see a trend there…. most wheel horse lovers know about this board. Some may disagree but IF we angered anyone with theses posts and questions, they should understand….you don't dangle a pork chop in front of a starving bulldog and then complain he bit you when you pull it away from him…..

I had a beautiful 1968 Lawn Ranger about ten yrs. ago that I bought from Mike Martino. He told me that Cecil Pond HIMSELF drove this tractor around Mikes yard and he also told me that the Lawn Rangers were Cecils favorite tractor. Somewhere out there there is an 8000 dollar Lawn Ranger... Something tells me that soon enough it might be a good idea to have Mr. Ponds autograph authenticated on any tractor that is for sale with his name on it...

Lookie what I won for $55 on a local online auction site over in Grand Rapids.... Can't tell if the dark spots are rusted through or just wet but the rest looks in great shape. I can't wait to go pick it up tomorrow.

Here's what me and dad drug in today

I saw that post and I was like this whole WH/tractor thing has jumped the shark... I'm sorry to be the one to burst your bubble but if you would even consider paying $8000 for a "WH show tractor" or a "WH show tractor signed by Mr. Pond" or a "WH tractor not signed by Mr. Pond" you need to have a cranial CAT-Scan.

Ken is correct. The Lawn Ranger he owns was driven in my back yard by Cecil. And no, he didn't pop a wheelie, he feathered the clutch pedal out (LOL). The Lawn Ranger was indeed Cecil's favorite. He liked the way the tiny front tires made it look. It also was a huge seller. Mike

A showroom WH tractor in any day or age will never be equivalent to a 10 Mile 69 GTO... just saying, LOL!

Good job staying calm. Awesome action video. I have a friend of mine (Denny) that was in one of my stands in northern Mn. Last year deer hunting. Every night for some reason, a smaller sow would climb that tree and tear down the old carpet wind shield I had put around it. She wouldn't take it from the stand, just tear it off the top rails. Well, I never told Denny about that. OOPS. Well, the first evening during archery season, Denny wanted to use that stand. So, I let him. I was in another stand about 100 yards away. And, just like clockwork? She shows up around 6:30 pm, right on time. Denny can't see her coming up behind him. She wrapped a forleg around the tree and touched Denny's leg. He let out a scream that would curl your hair. She let out a scream too. They both jumped off the tree. (it was about 8' on the side of a hill)yelling and making all sorts of commotion, running in opposite directions. Obviously, there wasn't a deer left in the county. So, after I quit laughing? I had to go find Denny. For some reason, he says he will never hunt with me again. Or, at least. Not use that stand ever again.I don't get it.

Hello, I've done a bit of reading on here and was amazed how helpful the members are I've also wanted a 520h but was unsure bout the hydro and newer tractors in general I found a clean one with 435 hours on it so I brought it home last week, the push was knowing I'd have help if needed so thanks guys

Were you paying attention?

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After Cecil signed my first tractor at the first show W.H. Show he attended someone standing next to me said WOW do you know how much you just increased the value of your tractor ? This was in no way, shape , or form the reason I wanted Mr.Pond to sign my tractor. I just thought man holy cow I got one of my tractors signed by the man himself, how cool is that ! The next show he came to he signed another one of my tractors and the signatures don't look the same. Now I did not get pictures of him signing them but I don't care because I know they are real and I feel very fortunate to have them. God bless this man who inadvertently gave so many of us such a good clean hobby that can be shared by all age groups.

You're right Bob we all have the right to change our minds. All the questioning could have been alleviated with a courteous post saying, "Guys I have changed my mind, these tractors are too close to my heart and aim not going to sell them. Sorry for getting anyones hopes up. I hope you guys understand"

We are all merely temporary care takers of these items "We are all merely temporary care takers of these items." Now that is a very deep thought!!!

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Must've been signed by Cecil at some point.

If Rick can have NOS tractors from the 70s anything is possible.There is some stubborn people out there and they don't get to take "it" to grave.We are all merely temporary care takers of these items.

I've seen a few of Mr. Ponds signatures at different shows, and I want to say that all of them have had a picture of Cecil signing them. If I had one of those and I was going to sell it...the picture of the signing would go with the tractor.

Bob's mad, the rest of us are just sick

I have repainted it yes. Everything is original except the alternator and belts. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I have repainted it yes. Everything is original except the alternator and belts. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk It runs perfectly and I'm really considering selling it but also curious about the value. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Jeff, you know what they say... no picts, so it didn't happen.

Jim D, a good old fashioned tin foil hat will protect you from those cell phones.

I can usually get mine in the hole with one hand, sometimes no hands...........................................................sorry had to

Hi all! I'm sorta new to this site I have been here for about a month. I guess I'll introduced my self. My name is Ryan and I'm 15. I caught the wheel horse fever when I got my first wheel-work horse lt-1637. I am currently restoring my grandfathers GT-1142 he had bought it new in 83 from the wheel horse dealership I personally never knew as he passed before I was born. This tractor is going to be my senior project. I am going to keep this tractor as original as possible other than the motor that will be swapped out as the 11 hp Briggs blew because of low oil from my brother not checking it it will be swapped out for a 20 hp onan. That al I really have to say

Me and my son picked this c160 up a few days ago to work on. I will admit shes ugly and a little rough, but its solid and is all there "sorry didn't think of picks till after we started on it" .Mechanically this thing is like driving a porche and everything works great, even has a "usable" 42 inch deck.We just have a long road on art work.

Bob hit it straight. I wondered when someone would look at the original post. I had nothing to do with the sale just posted the info where it would be seen. And yes there are more new Wheel Horses out there. I've tried for yrs to get a new C175 I know of Heck in central VA area there is a 95 520 with a two stage snowblower that has never been off since new I hauled it down there 7 yrs ago And thats all it does is snowblow. When I was there last summer it had 14hrs on it and is mint

As Scott said - the deal is legit- I have also seen the tractors. Not to my specs for any kind of money - but they do exist. Its my understanding that they weren't sold and the seller changed his mind which he's entitled to do. People are too quick to draw conclusions.

Ok will look into adding pictures. And he sure will be in my mind as I restorer the GT

Button down the hatches boys... its going to be a bumpy ride..... "This is more likely than not to be a pretty big snow storm," said Greg Postel, a severe weather specialist for The Weather Channel.

Cutlas, I remember that one. My local dealer had one last summer as well. I saw it on a Sunday. I stopped by after work on Monday afternoon and guess what? It was already sold!

I'm glad he didn't watch that one

Yes, as long as you don't round stool on the RedSquare!

I always said that I wanna to be a hola-hoop when I growed up.....

Welcome to the madness!

Looking great, a good twin to my dads B-111 - that has ags too!

Maybe he mean't Huggie Bear!

Gloves? What's that? I use my pockets if its really cold, otherwise my hands are in constant use so they don't ever get really cold. I can't stand not 'touching' what I'm working with. Does anyone have a recommendation for gloves that allow you to really "feel" thru them???

There isn't a thing in the world that would keep HIM out of trouble out side of a straight jacket!

The guy (Chris Sutton) that is making this tractor has quite a few other interesting wheel horse projects up his sleeve

I have already done that a few times

I have used the antique white and it is pretty close a NOS wheel I had. If you are looking for original that is really close.

Is it ok to RedSquare on a round stool?

For those of us interested in Military Historical Art and weaponry... http://www.buzzfeed.com/bennyjohnson/inside-the-armys-spectacular-hidden-treasure-room

Craig, I don't like to blast aluminum with anything except walnut shell or plastic bead, but we are all out right now and don't have any jobs that use it. its also a real pain to change over media on one of the cabinets, so I'm stuck with glass bead. One of my bosses at work told me to try very low pressure (around 30-35 lbs) and keep the nozzle way back and just brush off the corrosion. works great, but you really have to be very thorough at masking and it takes a while to get it looking right..... i wanted to do all of it before pulling the engine down, that way i could see if any made it inside. when i pulled the heads and the sump you could see that the gaskets sealed well, so I'm happy...... heres a before and after on the heads...... and heres a reminder of what the block once looked like.....

Unless you get 8" of snow on a reg basis a single stage blower will work fine, even a short shoot, the tall shoot only directs it better, a cab with a blower is a major plus, here is one of my 520's after a few hours of use. This unit has just tripped 400 hours and is very clean, weights all around, rebuilt single stage tall shoot, XL 520 cab, as it sets I would not take less than $2000 just to give you a idea.

A bit of trivia for you Dolmar fans. A gentleman by the name of Emil Lerp, the founder of Dolmar, developed the worlds first gasoline engine powered chainsaw in 1927.

Looks like there's room for a decal on the one side. Good looking machine

All my tractors to date are built on Case Ingersol transaxles. I hear the subject of duals a lot- I had a buyer talk me into putting a set onto a 4x4 tractor before he took it home. Yes they look neat and gnarly- BUT- I will tell you that to start with- these tractors lay down quite a foot print overall and you have to be paying attention when your driving them. This is particularly worse at a tractor show. The duals make them very unenjoyable to drive when in a show setting especially. They also increase the turning radius as the tires will touch each other when turning. That makes putting in steering stops necessary when they are added after the fact. Now- on Chevelletowns 520 4x4 this isn't as bad as he put some thought into it and used some common sense and went with a narrower tire. Running tires the size of Burlys would be in the uncomfortable area for me -John also planned the build on what he is using with no intention of duals. I have played with just a couple of the tractors and have a pretty good feel for whats realistic and whats not. And No- I'm not knocking anyones opinions - just adding some insight!