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of the 2014 mowing season. I was actually pretty impressed with the performance of my newly aquired 401's reel mower today.

Hi all, Finally got the lawn ranger out for a ride today. Very happy with the way this one turned out, runs great and looks good too! Just have to do a couple paint touch ups and paint the letters on the hood and its done. Thanks, Jake

Well, given the size of the tractor I figured it would take about a week to refresh. Now two weeks later (I did go back to work this past week,) I have finished the chassis using Rustoleum Safety Red and Fern Green. The hubs were rebuilt along with the ball clutch. I have only needed to replace two parts with the help of a member on a different forum. Where possible, I have substituted stainless steel bolts for a little pizzazz. Now on to the engine and carb, and then the hood. I am still undecided about getting new tires. I am amazed at the heavy duty steel construction with only the drive pulley and two hub friction wheels cast from aluminum.

I finally have a roller . . . Ready to mount the engine. Original topic was here

Also, did some mowing with the gear drive deck today too. Cuts great, although a tad bit noisy... actually, caught my new neighbor giving me the stink eye while using it.

Jeff: Here is a pic of my vegetable garden my wife Ruth and I finished planting yesterday with our friend at his farm. It is about 60 x 80. I tilled this thing after it was first plowed and cultivated (it had not been used before as a vegetable garden it was the horse and mule lot 70 years ago). The tiller made the depth about 6 inches which is good for most things you want to plant. We mound the melons and cucumbers for planting. I tilled to get it fairly fine and let it dry three hours in between final tilling to let the grass dry up. This is only my second time using my tiller o n a garden so I am no expert! I used the tiller one chain up the first two or three rounds and all the way down for the final fourth or fifth round. You will see from the pic that we made the rows about 24 inches apart and 60 feet long. We ran string between the stakes. Marked all the stakes and sometimes had half rows of one thing then another. The seed packets usually give you instructions on the planting depth, etc. I bought seed and plants from four different locations. Like you note you have to be careful about mixing some things close to one another like -melons, cucumbers, zucchini as they can cross when the plant runners mix. We planted radishes, beets, carrots, dill, basil and soy beans (edamame) from seed. We planted broccoli, five finds of tomatos, cucumbers, and cabbage from plants. We also planted 60 King Richard leeks from plant shoots, onions and scallions too. Pole beans, pumpkins, and watermelon will come next.

So, later...after the peace returned to the neighborhood... I noticed virtually everyone on the block out to see what was making all the noise over here this time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUVTsB3-Lqg&feature=youtu.be

The original owner of my 523 DXI paid $9221.99 for it on 4/4/2000. That included a 48" deck and sales tax.

I found all the paperwork for the 1056 tractor I have.It sold for $840.00 with the 42" deck back in 1966.One day I will get my real camera out again.

Forgot the pics before unloading, but here is some pics of the tractors. This one runs and drives pretty good, needs a little paint, but most of it is painted, some nice custom work on it also, this will be up for sale soon. This one has TONS of custom stuff done to it, and done well, needs a new home and someone to complete it. (rear tires are not on it now) Little Ranger, and some suburbans, there is another suburban in pieces, here also Some off brands A JD 212, and a Case 448 in pieces but looks to be complete even a 3 point hitch and rear PTO, 54" blade and 44" deck, there is a little Simplicity mower here also. And just a small peek at the piles of parts, a few boxes of NOS stuff. couple 16hp kohlers, new tire chains, wheel weights, seats, ect... Still sorting parts, will be a few days before all gets inventoried

Just got back with the second load, but here is a few pics of the first one. Back of the wifes van had them hanging out the sides Back of my suburban Can you see 5 complete tractors in the pic ?? they are even all in one piece 2 suburbans, a lawn Ranger, a Simplicity, and a Anniversary edition WH plus LOTS more I'll get pics of the rest in a bit, I need to eat been on the go from 6am, it's 2:30 now

A fine gentleman a couple of miles down the road had 3 for sale in his front yard since last spring. The number kept diminishing from 3 to 2 to just this one last fall. Poor thing sat out there all winter long, but it was the one I had my eye on all along. It reminded me of the one I learned to drive on at my Grandpa's nearly 40 years ago. Pa sold it one day and bought a newer WH. But I always liked that older model better. I road my bicycle past it for a year. The grass is finally growing here and we have the yard all trimmed up and the flowers planted today. We got finished and my 10 year old son and I drove down to take a closer look. I had the itch. He told me all about the history of it and how he came to own 3 WH's. This one was bought with a snow blower, but it quickly sold last spring. There is no battery in it, needs a belt to activate the deck and has had the motor replaced many years before. Like prior to him buying it 15+ years ago. It has a Briggs n Stratton 8 hp. The hood was stretched to accommodate the larger motor, but it was done nicely. He said several collectors had been eying it, I told him I was no collector. I planned to work it. He said he thought it was worth $200, I offered $100 and denied his counter. I walked away with the key, hope she will run. He said it ran for about 30 seconds at a time and would die last year. He took apart the carburetor, found it all bunked up, cleaned it up, but said it never ran after that. So what do you think?? A good buy? Any suggestions on preparations for getting her running? I'm no mechanic, but am mechanically inclined.

It was a great day and the rain held off. The Auction service did a fantastic job getting through all the stuff. Owner bought new batteries for all the runners so they started. I thought most of the stuff went high. $200 for a beat up 520 roller with no motor a half torn apart trans a swept axle but no gear reduction. A view from the end of the mower rows with my B-I-L haming it up! I did score a decent RD deck. Battle of the Titans! Elvis, Here's your sign!

Just got this from 312-8. Plow, 37" deck bagger, new tires and battery in last two years. Bought it from my dad he has owned it since 09. He bought it from the original owner with service records. At the time the deck was newly rebuilt. Manual spring fix on clutch already done.

A buddy of mine told me he was cleaning out his shed and told me he was scrapping out a couple of tractors and one was a wheel horse so I told him to let me check them out before he crossed the scales at the scrap yard and this is what I picked up for 100.00 was it worth it ?

Mike Nothing to worry about. Change it when you can. Just don't wait till October. The cam is nothing to fear. Jack it up, remove the right tire and go about making your adjustments. Best thing I did was download the repair manual, it was probably 200+ pages.

I'd pay $100 dollars for all that even if I had to borrow the money!

I'm back to report what I have found working on the Onan. Everything came apart well, but I had to take some time with a couple of the bolts working them in and out with pb blaster. I noticed the edge of one of the exhaust heat shields was starting to wear a groove into the intake manifold, but it did not look like it was worn all the way through but could be getting close. I plan to trim the heat shield some and put some jb weld or something on the intake. It looks like one of the intake valve oil seals was leaking because that port was much more oily than the other one, I am glad I have the new oil seals. I did not think there was alot of carbon build up in there at first, but after cleaning everything I guess there was a fair amount. It took awhile to clean and what was on there was really hard. I was really hoping to put the engine back together in the next couple days, but I think I need the valves and seats machined. When I hold the intake valves against the seats and shine a small bright light down into the port I can see light between the valve and seat. When I do the same with the exhaust valves no light can be seen.

Any 401 I've ever seen had it. Maybe yours is a earlier model, or someone changed a 400 hood sometime for it.

Man I really love that 401 Craig. Glad you bought it otherwise it probably would have come home with me!

Cool videos craig...that 401 is sweet! One of the nicest originals I've ever seen! one interesting thing I noticed was there is no line coming back from the gas cap or is it just the way the video shows it? Jake

Oh trust me Martin, I want to figure it out but not right now anyway. I may tear the whole thing apart and redo the harness with a scratch harness. (Motor needs decarboned and a valve adjustment anyway). For now though, it works and it sure is better than a jump wire from the solenoid or just hitting the key 10+ times until the starter engages. I'll still keep an eye on the fuses and fuse holders for any heat damage in case my issues are still there. I would guess I won't see anything until I would start to have problems starting it again.

I like that combo, Craig.... I'm gonna have to get mine mounted up.

Pretty much, you ride around in a shower of clippings raining down all over the front of the tractor. Actually, it's really a lot of fun...unfortunately, I just don't have the yard for it here, too many embankments. Really cool implement though.

Craig: We need to have Steve try it out at the big show with his flip flops and requisite "coffee" cup! then you can both have matching foot boo boos!

That thing is so awesome! but it makes my toes cower in fear.

Nice score Will.....so did ya get the "family discount" ? Mike...........

That's a cool little outfit. I like it

Rob, that baby looks sweet. Once again, great score. Glenn

Hey everyone, this Spring begins the 4th season with my 1964 model 854! I have done the traditional annual spring maintenance every year, oil change, general lube and tuneup, but this Spring she needs a bit more.. Last fall near the end of the season (I dont use the tractor in the winter) she began running rough.. wants to stall out..I think she needs a really good fuel system cleanse and carb cleaning.. I have only done one carb clean in my life, on my 1971 Ariens snowblower with Tecumseh engine.. the Kohler carb on the WH looks rather different..so! questions: 1. Is there a "carb rebuild kit" I can get? new gaskets, needles, etc. The engine is the original 1964 Kohler K181, and as far as I know, its the original carb too. (I can post photos of the carb if that would be helpful) 2. Any helpful carb cleaning videos or such? anything specific to watch out for? 3. What exactly is the sediment bowl? and how does it work? it collects larger particles from the gas I suppose? Im going to take that apart and clean it as well.. 4. Should I install a fuel filter? if so, what kind? and where? My 854 is 50 years old this Spring! I want to keep her going for another 50.. thanks, Scot

It's pretty cool seeing the original receipts and paperwork! keep them coming. This is a very cool thread!

Speaking for myself I appreciate these posts you guys made very much because these statements make the issue much clearer than the few sentences relevant to this issue in the WH book! My apologies for weighing in on the issue because my experience, background and knowledge about levers or Seniors for that matter is virtually nothing, only what I read in that WH book. I am however more versed with Model A Ford and pre 1948 Fords which was what prompted me to comment in the first place. Your clarifications however explain why I had read about Model A parts used on early WH tractors yet the pictures in this thread clearly showed what was a V-8 transmission, so again thank you for the lesson and the clarification. Now I know just a bit more thanks to you gentlemen.

The "rattle" is probably your drive belt whipping up and down inside the belt guard. I have a 310-8 that makes that same noise.

Bob, if you've any interest in my 2 cents worth.... I've a friend who owns a "1937" Ford pickup with the flathead V8 engine in it. he has been street rodding for probably 40 years...plenty of knowledge when it comes to the old Fords. he has looked at both of my Seniors, and in his opinion, the rear and transmission are identical to the ones in his truck. consequently, I have acquired various gaskets and parts for my tractors from a catalog put out by "Mac's" antique auto parts. you can find them online, then if you like, order their catalog to order parts as needed. I've purchased the rear axle housing gaskets there........ you'll want to order the .010 thickness gaskets because upon measuring the originals, I found they were that size. although it is not as critical as say in a higher speed vehicle, the backlash of the ring and pinion should not be altered. I've also got the torque tube rear gasket from them. also, if memory serves me well, I got a universal gasket set for the transmission. you'll find things like the rubber seals for the drag link and tie rods in their catalog. things like the brake lining are also in there catalog, it just may take a bit of research to figure out exactly what you may need. as for the vintage of the Senior, I agree with Bob R. 100%..... the Seniors use the V8 tranny and rear, and the Lever steers use the Rockford clutch and the model A tranny..... probably uses the model A rear also? I'm certainly by no means an expert on the Seniors, but after researching and tinkering with them since 1998. I've come to know a little bit about them. hope this offers a bit of insight for you. Good luck! Dan

You made out like Alexander Mundy! Well done and have fun with your new Horse 'n Wagon!

Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous Martin! Matt

Lookin good Martin. Everything looks great. Wont be long now before fire up time.

Thanks Steve! Hmm well- it looks like 4 Seniors and 6 Lever Steers have passed through my barn. Larrys numbers are real comparable just more on the Senior side for him I believe. And I still would allow more on in if I were to have anymore luck. The Senior is my favorite Horse!

Here's a copy of the previous owners receipt for my 314 H. $4761 plus tax. This included a deck and blower. Sent from my tractor seat using Tapatalk 2

Again-Trannies in Lever Steers are Model A, Trannies in Seniors are Ford V-8. I have one of each in original condition-trust me-go re -read.

Just added it to the notes of this file Hydraulic pump belt - Wheel Horse 1591 nla Use Toro 83-2900, Gates 6748 3/8"x48", Napa 3L480W 3/8"x48". Garry

They are a couple of good guys! And I know where they get it from, I met their dad! Now, talk about a hoot. That man has some stories!!! Great people is what makes this hobby even better!

Bob The tranny on a Senior is Ford V-8, The tranny on a Lever Steer is Model A. The clutch on a Senior is The Ford V-8 Clutch. The Clutch on the Lever Steer is a Rockford Overcenter clutch. The gear reduction boxes were cast specifically for the Lever Steers and the Seniors- sorry guy you are going to have to make your own gaskets or get out the Ultra Seal. The hub seals are available as a Ford part through Snyders.

Looks as though I will be heading back out! . Last minute change of plans. Not sure if I will be there Thursday or Friday, but I will be there.

Like this ? Already in the works but need to finish this one and my wife's commando 8 first. Thanks for the compliments also.

What was it worth when new? Answer, EVERY PENNY!!

My golden is loving it. She now has a ton of sticks/roots that are hanging out of the ground or around the holes in the back yard.

Looks Sharp Martin! ~Duke

If they come out of their corral, he may just get the urge to herd them! Years ago when our oldest 2 were around 10 yrs old, they and a bunch of neighbor kids would play hide and seek in my yard. The wife's border collie would herd them up on the deck, then they would scatter and start all over again. He was permanately "it" and loved it!