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Started getting the Round Hoods ready for the 54th New York Pageant of Steam in a couple of weeks. A little touch up here a little cleaning there. A few adjustments. Putting the show ag's on the 704 (It's still a worker) Gettin the dust of the plow. Great way to spend a Sunday! What's not to like.

After checking out my C-160 and rebuilding the carb, I am now working on the wiring. I did a search on re-wiring and found a lot of really good information on members re-doing their tractors. So here are some photos and comments.... Special crimpers for the female treminals that fit inot the Packard 56 connectors. Purchased items for the re-wire job Bought "Packard 56" connectors in packages of 5. Bought 5, 4, 2 and 1 position connectors. I am always needing good quality connectors for something. Various colors of wire. This is what needed replaced. Hard to see, but all wiring and connectors are complete and now I need to fasten the wire harness to the frame.

My dad inherited these from my grandpa when he had to move into a care facility. My dad isn't mechanically inclined so I'm now the proud owner of these two One is an '86 310-8, the other is a 44-16. Got them both running the first day, had to steal the battery and a front wheel off the 44-16 for the 310-8 because the 44-16 needs a mower deck belt, my 2 and 4 yr old kids loved getting to ride along while I mowed the yard. I think I had both mowers running and the yard mowed in barely more time than it usually takes me to push mow 3/4 acre Was looking for the deck belt for the 44-16 and I found this place. Now I'm excited. I can get a snow blower, a tiller, and a grader blade? If I could get a small loader for it I think i was dreaming. I do have some questions though. Where is the best place to find parts like belts, air filters etc. Ebay, TSC, Napa? Is the 44-16 good for anything but mowing, ie. Can you put any of the attachments on it? Anybody know the belt length for the deck of the 44-16? Thanks John.

I picked this 854 up last fall, it had a valve stuck in the engine and the oil pan gasket needed replaced as well as the points. I also had to replace the gas tank gasket, sediment bowl, fuel pump diaphragm and rebuild the carb. The tranny had water in it so I replaced all the bearings and seals, replaced the brake band lining and added a rear hitch. The seat was cracked so I picked up a good one at a show and I bought a back rest and had that recovered. It's got the wrong ignition switch in it so I've ordered a new one and most of the wiring has been replaced. The motor generator was junk but I had a good one on the shelf so I replaced that. The frame plate that bolts to the tranny was cracked, the hood stand bracket that bolts to the tool box was broken off along with one of the tabs that hold the belt guard on so I welded those things. This tractor was pretty rusty when I got it and I wanted to keep the original paint so I lightly sanded it just to knock the rust down a little then I wiped a coat of "salad dressing" on the tins. I really like the way it turned out, thanks for the idea Stevebo. The tires are cracked pretty bad so I may replace those some day but other than that I think this ones done. This may be the best running tractor I have.

Well I finally got around to installing this unique custom fabricated oval tub mounted on one of my tractors. Some of you know that I purchased a 59RJ at the show just for this odd ball tub. I ended up taking this off and then reselling the RJ since I had no room on the rig to haul it back. I used it for the first time today and filled it with peaches from my peach tree. I just sliced some up and backed them with brown sugar and as I type am about to bite into the first one...

Wow Martin, Those look awesome. I know how difficult it was to get them applied. The thinner the decal the harder to apply without getting air pockets. I meant to work on the new hood decals to have them for you this weekend but somehow something seems to always come up. The good news is Lola and I got caught up with online orders and I will be able to work on the fun stuff this week. Thank you for all your insight and technical verification of dimensions. I found it interesting how the originals on the lower dash were not designed to fit properly so they simply applied the PTO decal over the right edge of the ignition switch and light switch decal? kind of sloppy for an expensive Garden tractor. Your work amazes me and your trouble shooting ability has been invaluable to me in development and improvement of the decals we make. Learning more and more about the differences in graphics from one year to the next on the 90s era Wheel horse tractors. These 3 and 400 series from the 90s are drawing more and more attention which is to be expected. Will contact you soon and get the last decals done so you can finish this awesome restore.

I just picked these tri ribs up via trade. I've wanted ribs for a while because when I cut grass and its a little damp the grass was lodging into the treads and they wind up falling off like a recap leaving clumps. I'm also hoping these will cut down on the clippings that wind up on the flywheel screen. With the forward swept axle with gear reduction the steering is now totally effortless. My C-161 looks kinda small in comparison!

Alright, having a hard time finishing up all the little things on this one. residing the house and work is getting in the way of working on it. got a few hours this morning to finally get the dash all back together. i wanted all the fasteners to be 'hidden' on the dash so i powder coated all the screws matt black that hold it all together, also the nut that holds the ignition switch on and i found a boot to cover the light switch. i am happy, its the look i was after and all the decals blend with the black and i think it turned out great..... i also added a new throttle knob and slip over cover for the brake release....... thanks for all your extra time on the decals Terry, you gave me exactly the look i was after.....

I saw this Charger 12 with the rare white wall tires at a show here in Ohio a few years ago,,,thought I'd share the photo..

I finally was able to bring home what I feel is the ultimate garden tractor. Ever since getting my 518xi, I have been searching for a 523Dxi. Passed on a couple, missed a few but finally got a fantastic deal from a JD dealer in VA. I already have had offers to resell at a profit before I brought it home! It is a 1998 523Dxi with 605 hours that has a 52" mower deck, brand new snow cab, snow blade (with spare edge) that has been barely used, a pair of turfs, two pair of filled ags, clevis hitch, disc harrow, and rear grading blade. And a picture of: "Poncho", "Cisco", and now "Paladin."

Our PA Diamond 9 12U baseball team arrived safely in Cooperstown NY today. Ready to play the Ill Maverics tomorrow.

Had a better day today. Really needed it. Did one rear wheel and hub. Can you ever see the difference just a little WD40 and steel wool makes. A toothbrush is my new best friend. Can't wait to work my way around to the hood. I'm saving that for last. I'll post an update when I've finished. Everyone must be getting tired of all the photos. I'll tackle the engine - Kohler K-90? - when she's finally clean. John

IT WAS A ESTATE AUCTION. LOTS OF GARDEN TRACTORS FOR SALE. NONE OF THEM WERE VERY NICE BUT THEY DID RUN AND HAD MOWER DECKS., CASE 220 $500 -1986 312-8 42"SD DECK $500 - JD 210 $225 - CUB 124 $310 - CUB 123 $100. 42" WH BLADE $55 --36" TILLER I BOUGHT FOR $85. IT WAS USED ON THE 1986 312-8.. MODEL NUMBER WAS 7-1211-6 . WHICH MAKES IT 1971 PRODUCTION DATE AND THE WHEEL HORSE ADAPTOR KIT WAS ADDED TO BE USED ON 1974 AND NEWER MODELS.. IT CAME WITH BELT/PULLEY SHIELD AND A VERY LONG BELT 134" ?. I WILL BE SELLING THE TILLER SOON, THANKS

What a tease... ... Mike..........

Got an audio of "up a tree" bird but having trouble posting in with tapatalk. I'm working on it!

Mike, good looking ponies... those cultivars look somewhat familiar ...

I would have to guess it was made for a vertical shaft tractor....like the 200 series. Mike..........

and here's a pic of the semi restored GT 1600, my plan is to also modify the foot rest as well as the current seat pan to flow with the lines of whichever fender I use. Has anyone done this?? Pictures please too, thanks!!

Just my opinion, but it would be great if when making the pattern you could put "Wheel Horse" on the front like the Tombstone weight. With out it it kind of looks like something just adapted to the tractor rather than an original acessory,

I think you hit the nail on the head with that one. It certainly has a very clean look. Matt

Good point ... a plug with a hex key or 3/8 square drive should put that drain plug pretty flush to the bottom of the pan. RickJ

Good point Martin. I forgot about that. it looks like the plug on the motor in question here may be an issue. Rick, all you have to do is get a different plug for it that is flush or close to. You don't use that drain anyways.

Well I did not check the tractor model number. Since it's a manual I guess I am out in left field with that answer.

Here's one I saw on craigslist the other day.

Love it Denny, they look so much better in their natural state.

This is a 6-speed with 1" axles but all seem to have this condition. I think what happens is you are going from acceleration to deacceleration and the slack in the gears between the ground and the engine through the 100-to-1 or whatever it is gearing takes a few seconds to catch up. Garry

Ahhh.. Those were the days... When I still had hair

Awesome stuff, been a while since I saw stigs vid too :thumbs:

Funny you should mention about the axle pivot pin on a diesel Wh.. I was contacted yesterday by a chap looking for help.. He has a Raider fitted with a diesel that his son decided to drop the clutch in 3rd gear at full revs!! 5 sec's later he had rammed the poor Raider into a tree resulting in a busted axle pin, but he also managed to really bend the inner mount for the axle pin!! This has also got me thinking on how wise it is for me to use the original axle and pin on Project "Why Not"!!

Took a Zero tun weight that I got in a $10.00 lot at the Mansfield Pa. auction, a clapped out Mule Drive I got at the Big Show and Presto! a snap on 18 lb. frt weight!

Found 520H about 7 minutes from my house on craigslist. Thad (Ohio)

Denny showed me this one at the Oregon show and i gotta say if he had been away from it long enough i would have worked out a way to smuggle it out of the show area and on my trailer...... very nice original tractor there, definitely one to have.....

I think I know but would rather ask than assume and be wrong

Well Nate,from your pics ,I can tell ya what the problem is.. You need to put a battery in it .... You said you replaced the fuel filter... did you replace the gas line ??? From the looks of your its been sitting awhile & old gas line deteriorates after time. Also clean the tank to get any junk out of it as well ... This would be a starting point buddy....

I think that tractor needs a set of 10.50 wide ags out back.... Looked great like that...

I gave the 417 a good bath and wax job yesterday. The Rustoleum Farm and implement paint I used on this tractor a yr. ago is holding up very well. I also decided to high light the lettering on the tires. The Firestone tri ribs are made in Vietnam so I didn't highlight that part. Though I was a little disappointed with that little tid bit of info I was happy they weren't made in china...

Just about finished painting the 312. I painted the wheels, but darker then the original color. I used Dupli-Color Graphite Wheel paint.

Hey, I resemble that remark

I have the engine running again! A local man re-bored the cylinder 0.010 over and reground the valve seats. I got a rebuild kit with piston, rings, rod, valve,s and gaskets an put all together, minus the balance gears. It started on the third crank - I guess it took some cranks to get fuel to the carb. All I need now is to tune the carb, and off I go! I appreciate the helpful hints provided.

Title says it all. My intent when I first bought the 312, was to do all the maintenance items, fix anything obviously broken or missing, and use the tractor till this fall/winter when I would do some serious restoration. But these damn things have a nasty habit of growing on you. Slowly but surely, I have repaired, replaced, re-worked, or otherwise restored a significant number of items. And I just can't seem to stop. All I have to do, is walk past the tractor, and notice some little less-than-perfect part, and I begin planning of fixing it. Just this week, I bought and installed a drive belt idler. This is covered in a separate thread under Transmissions. The other undertaking this week was the stripping and repainting of the seat frame. After picking up a new seat at the Big Show and installing it the day I got back, I have been seriously irked by the rusty frame and springs it was attached to. So...last Monday I dismantled the seat, frame, and springs, took them to work, and sandblasted everything. Applied a coat of primer, and painted the parts semi-gloss black. Most all the hardware was wire brushed and painted. Was pleased to note that there was almost no wear on the hinge, and even the rubber bumper caps were like new, no cracking or checking. Pretty pleased with how the seat frame came out. Maybe now I'll just leave the tractor alone till winter..... but probably not. Noticed that most of the paint is gone from the PTO pulley, and the muffler has some rust on it. The Rodent (granddaughter) gave the tractor her seal of approval by making me ride her around the yard.

Just had to make some -

It's OK Nate. To my knowledge, I have never uttered anything that anyone would want to quote!

stops the hubs sliding in, should they ever want to. Hides where the PO beat the crap out of them. Looks industrial and cool....

Yeah Craig, some of my favorite photos are of the Rodent on the Horse. She is my little darling, and I love her to pieces. Her mother (my daughter), is such a kill-joy though. Overly protective, she got on to me for riding Addie around the yard too fast. Was running just above idle in 3rd high, just fast enough to bounce around a little. Rodent has a blast. Of course I hold onto her pretty tightly on my lap, make very sure she doesn't touch anything hot, and keep the keys in my pocket. She has almost figured out how to start the thing.

You now have the bug, Next it will multiply and you cant stop it.

AMSOIL synthetic in everything i own for over 20 years now ...engine oil, gear oil ,trans fluid ,2 cycle... etc

Here's what you've all been waiting for: VIDEO ! ! !

Finally got a chance to use it. My brother in law flips houses and bought one with about 2 acres of overgrown grass and brush. Wish I would've got pictures showing the before, or at least more "during" but I was the only one there. When my wife came out to give me a break I whipped out the camera. And then turned on the video. I wish this was a little thicker so you could see how well it works but it's kind of cool to see the blades flying around. I'll get more video with brush in it. The place I work hired me to do the 3 acres behind the building and it's pretty thick.

It looks like a good deal with everything included plus the hours that it has been used. I like both of my 5xi. The tractor is the easiest item to buy of the bunch; it's the attachments that are scarce/outlandishly expensive. I hope that it has the Rear Attach-A-Matic installed (couldn't tell from the photos) so that you can use the plow and tiller as it is specific to the 5xi. It is shown in the one photo. Change all the fluids, filters, and put Mobil 1 10W-30 in the transaxle. Re-check after some use as it will go down. There is also a filter screen in the hydraulic line for the power steering that should be cleaned. Hopefully it isn't caked in grass clippings as the Kohler Command will need to be pulled to get at the left cylinder if it runs hot because of the engine shrouds. It is a nice solid machine and easy, to a degree, to work on otherwise. This one is not even at half life yet. And buy a 2" receiver hitch from Tom Rupprecht as well. Enjoy!

What do you use to hold the shaft while you snug up the nut Chas