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Growing up in the city of London was great as a young pup but give me the countryside any day. This Picture was taken thirty seconds ago from the balcony of my home overlooking the quatock hills in Somerset UK Congratulations on your move to the country Scott , I'm sure you are gonna have some wonderful times creating family memories in the countryside .

As some of you know my family has purchased my parents property out in the country. For just over a month we have been packing, unpacking, organizing, and trying to get settled. Had some time today to take a couple of Horses out. I am really digging the country life and don't miss the subdivision one bit!

Congratulations on the new digs Scott... those 's look right at home there on your new green acres.

Went and did a little more exploring today!

This story starts a couple of months ago.... In addition to the 312-8 and Raider 12 I have, I had a 1950 Shaw Du-All R5 tractor that I restored. Not being able to find implements to fit it (for a decent price), I decided to sell it to fund more Wheel Horse fun. The Shaw was on Craigslist for a total of two hours before I got the call from a gentleman who wanted it worse than I did. After using a bit of the money to help finish up the Raider, a friend called me to say that a neighbor of his had a 1979 C81 sitting in his yard for $275. I went over there, and after some haggling, I came home with a running C81 with 36" RD deck for $250. At this point, I had another resto project, and I thought I was done buying horses for a good long while. How wrong I was! My parents were helping a lady from their church clean up her yard/house after her husband (who was a bit of a packrat) passed away. Tucked in among the junk, they found a 1964 1045 and a 1972 Bronco 14. My dad called me immediately. The lady's son-in-law told her the pair of them were only worth $40 (his estimated scrap value). I told her I'd give her $100 for the 1045 and $50 for the Bronco, which was completely overgrown with vines and not rolling, even with the relief valve open. She was absolutely thrilled, and when I realized the only money I had on my person was a 100 and two 20's, she thanked me and said that the extra $10 was quite unnecessary. Oh, and there were two gear-drive RD decks and a short-frame snowplow in the woods, too After assessing the 1045's condition, I thought it should run with a little help. I pulled the head, found a stuck exhaust valve, and with some lapping, cleaning, and adjustment, I had the tractor running within a few hours. Restoration began immediately. It took a lot of work, but she went for her maiden voyage last night, and ran pretty well. I am still missing the starter/generator belt guard, so if anyone has one for sale at a reasonable price, I'm in the market. Here are the pics. I'll try to post more detailed restoration pics in the resto/mod forum.

Yes I talked to David this am. We should be able to get over on Saturday! Thanks for the encouragement guys!

From my limited knowledge of the RJ I bought last week I know the engine is either Kohler K-90 or Clinton 1200. But which one is mine? I've uploaded some pics but is there an identifier stamped anywhere on the engine? Also, how do I determine whether to start looking for parts or just start looking for a whole new engine - either Kohler or Clinton? John

What a MESS...

Awesome, thanks guys. The pulley turns freely with the plug in it but there is nothing like actually seeing the piston and valves moving up and down. Oil is the great unknown at this point as I had trouble getting the steering wheel / hood off it to easily pull out engine. Ya I've got the original carb and oil filled air filter. Jake, noticed you've got a couple of "stamped frame" RJ35s What does that mean, and what the significance? I lifted mine up the other day and believe I saw 4 numbers stamped on the underside of the frame. John

I have a friend with a yellow c-series used at the highway dept. There wasn't a drop of red paint ever on it.

You can't beat living in the country. Hardly a day goes by when I don't miss our old place up there. We talk about moving back quite often but the odds against it seem to increase along with our age. Having seen your new home last fall Scott I know it's beautiful and in a great area.

I'm 55 and have wanted to live in the country for 56 years. It has never worked out. Hey Craig, great "Home Movie! "

yes, hope to see you there, Lane..... that brother of yours too? this is a really nice show, great on a hot day, plenty of shade and nice surroundings........

Ok we spent the last day checking her over and waxing her up, I could not take it any longer so I took her for an evening cruise:

I guess I'm missing something with the tube thing. I always thought if I sold a new tire and put a tube in it also it was redundent and cost the customer more for no reason. If the rim is clean and looks good where the bead seats there would be no leaks. I also thought if someone runs over something that punctures the new tire it would get the tube as well. If there was no tube and the tire was fine until punctured (if it was in the tread), it could simply be plugged without the wheel or tire removal. On the down side, if the tire and tube are punctured the tire must be removed to patch the tube which is 10 times the work and cost to the customer. Can anyone tell me the need for or the benefit of a tube in a new tire on a good rim?

Since I started this obsession 2 months ago all I have been thinking about is the Winter stuff. This Winter I'll be concentrating on the Spring stuff. Yeah, I'm one of those who buys the Summer clothes in the Fall on clearance and the Winter clothes in the Spring also on clearance.

Decals are on...... so very much for all your efforts Terry......

Lane..are you thinking of coming to the show?? Hope to see you there .

Well it has been forever that I have wanted to build a nice barn to store my horses and work on them. Yesterday was the day that I started this long project. I will use this thread to document the progression. I anticipate this will be a several month build. Here is the start !

All- I have been wanting to build a exposed timberframe barn (just like the blacksmith barn at the Kent Show) for years. I came very close back in 2012 but had to postpone it until this fall. I should have the final drawings back from the engineer with his stamp on them so I can go and pull my permit. The barn is going to be 24' x 36' with another 12' slab off the back side for uncovered storage ..... I am working with the concrete guy as I will be digging the foundation with my terramite and curtain drain in front of the barn. I am unable to have a dump truck drive down in back where the barn is going so I will be in need of some "hauling help" of the gravel from the driveway down to the back. I was wondering if any local members want to bring they're tractors and dump carts over for a workout one Saturday in August or September? I am not sure what the date will be but looking to see if anyone is willing to help. For those of you who only have show queens and do not want to work them, I have more than enough workers at the house but not enough drivers.... Let me know in this thread if you would be interested. Of course lunch will be served and buy and selling/swapping will be going on that day I am sure...

So I was working on my tiller project last night, mounting a gas tank, that I had laying around, on it. I built a stand, and strap hold down for it, and was really excited to get the tank mounted. The holes in the strapping were a bit small for the bolts I was using, so, I chucked up a bit in the drill to make a couple of the holes bigger. Knowing better, but being in a hurry, I held the strapping in one hand and the drill in the other. Needless to say, when the bit caught, it wrapped the strapping, along with my thumb, tightly around the drillbit! After saying a few choice words, and seeing it was no more serious than it was, I had to laugh at how stupid I was to hold the thing in my hand in the first place! Just a word of advice to all...work smarter, not more painfully! Lol! :-\

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t1.0-9/10403502_693489444077331_9045047675434337821_n.jpg https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t31.0-8/10494918_693489400744002_7330726659391616959_o.jpg https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/10386910_693489464077329_6782150305147529377_o.jpg These are what he sent me.

Hey Martin, Got my parts from Del City today and a great catalog. Also got the coil for the Kohler and the Scotchbrite for the Onan. Have some work to do tomorrow. Thanks again for all the great information.

Who is Mehlberg? Does he want to sell some? Well on second thought don't tell me. I'm going out for more tommorrow. I can't stop!

That looks amazing Martin! Like others have said, I'm running out of things to say about this amazing machine, but I know for a fact that the Pond's never had a leave their assembly line looking that good! A job well done. Matt

Does the dual coil on a Kohler K482 deliver the voltage to the two plug wires simultaneously or sequentially? Thanks, Mark. P.S. Would this arrangement {note reverse mounting of ignition coil} work if the spark is delivered simultaneously?

Know what I like best about country living; More Seat Time!

I have one too! My grandfather used it begins a Sears suburban. Had some GM guys fab a sleeve hitch with a slot option on it. Good luck finding a new share for that Brinley 8 if you ever wear it out.

Like special says, best money you'll ever spend. Insulate it to death. I made the mistake of not insulating good enough in the beginning when I built mine in 1997. I put in 2 rooftop units for heating and cooling and you should have seen the electric bills! A few years later we took all the metal off of the walls and blew 9" of foam in the walls + ceilings then put it all back together (what a pain). I can heat the place with a match now and keep it as cool as I want for almost nothing and I have 5000 sq ft with 12 foot ceilings.

Great move!! Horses look right at home as well. (One even has calendar potential for sure!!) Best of luck to you.

looks like we are evenly divided on tubes/no tubes. i don't want and can't stand slow leaks , so i ordered tubes too. i'm getting Carlisle. i will try without tubes first , but if i get a leak the tubes are going in thanks to all for the advice

Craig, I think you got me off the fence as far as what to use when I get to the tires on my Suburban. Also with the paint. I'm liking some things about the Valspar and I was just looking at it yesterday at Walmart. Yes, the antique white.

I tried everything Geno, including a dip in the pool (when the wife was at work of course) . I even tried pumping it up to about 30psi and it still wouldn't come out of hiding. I just gave up and tubed it.

I'm down to a happy half dozen here. Space is still real tight because I have another hobby taking up space also. If I find something I want another has to go, the trouble is that I'm down to the tractor's that I REALLY want to keep. Don't get me wrong, if I find a tractor I can't possibly live without I'll find somewhere too stash it!

A dollar a pound for generic steel. $150-$200 for steel rears.and $150-$250 for fronts because they are more rare. I got lucky and got my fronts for $60 all painted up but I had to drive through a blizzard to get them.

Scott. What a great place. My country life is 2 acres in new jersey. Lol Best of luck. Glenn

Martin, I am so jealous. What a masterpiece. It is a work of art and should be kept under glass in a museum. You are a master craftsman.

I had my sidekick with me today after work. He likes to take his shoes off and play in the dirt.... I submitted all paperwork for the building permit and got a verbal ok to start.... (that only cost $925) The foundation contractor is stopping by this week to check out my work and give me pointers of what I need to do for him to be able to build his forms.

Bet it sounds something like this at the Mehlbergs at night... when is said to each and every .

I've been in the country most of my life, never going back to the city. Now the Horses can run free!

Perfect place to raise a family. Very happy for you Scott. Very jealous of your country home and Wheel Horse stable

So the other day i was riding Juliette and i went to change from neutral to 5th gear and thats when the gear shifter broke of the turning bit on the gearbox, so i did a temporary fix to get it going again and it worked, but the other day i was thinking about it and then it came to me when shifting into neutral and reverse there are no problems but when you put the lever up to change into forward gears that is when it breaks, so this got me thinking if the gears are easy to change when the lever is in the down position then why not make it so that you don't have to put the lever up to change into the forward gears. And then i went into thinking mode and thought of a solution. Why not cute out the section that meant you had to push the lever up to change gears. And then i got thinking some more of my idea and liked it so i woke up the next day and set about to fix it, so i took of the inspection panel and cute out the offending section, filed it down, and painted it, and i'm pleased to say it not only means the gear selector wont break it makes it so much easier to change gears. below is a video i made with more information and a more detailed step by step guide on how to do it. James

Nope Are you sure the bearings are bad, very uncommon. More like lack of lube.

Ed, You can goggle HARVEST MOON TIMBER FRAME. The company is out if Morris ct which is about 25 min ride from my house. It will be 24'x36' with 16' x 24 up top and 12 x 24 down below. The main area below will be wide open floor to ceiling 24x24 except a 24' x5' tractor shelf. I plan on installing a shed off the back side about 12' x 36 and put a roof over it then maybe fully enclose it.. I should have the final stamped drawings back from engineer tomorrow. I am spending more than it would cost for typical stick built construction but in my opinion it will be well worth the money when done.

Steve... give that man a camera, a lawn chair and a lemonade! Wish I wasn't so far away, I'd love to help. Sounds like an awesome project and a lot of fun to be had. Like the old Wheel Horse ads say.... Get more done-Have more fun!

My plow is made the same way. I was at a plowing get-together and the seasoned plow-masters told me to get some metal to fill in the sides so the plow DIDN'T have as much slop. Too much slop will let the plow follow the previous furrow. After I made some 1/4" spacers (1 for each side) it worked much better. My plow "tongue" is 1 1/2" wide, and the slot on the tractor is 2" wide. The 1/4" spacer on each side made the "tongue" 2" wide and no slop.

I think Stratostar250 got one of the best shots I have seen. Maybe he can post it in this thread. here is the link to his pictures.

Don't get me wrong, I like the look of the Miller tire paint...but I think it's counterintuitive to the preservation of used tires(drys them out even more). I think most people are aware of RuGLYDE, you mostly see it being used in tire shops when mounting up new tires...it's what they dress the bead with before mounting the tire on the rim. This stuff is amazing, actually remoisturizes the rubber. Those little dry checks, and cracks actually seem to close back up, and are virtually unnoticeable with regular applications. I too start cleaning old tires with Wesleys Bleach White, then I put the RuGLYDE into a old spray bottle and use full strength. Spray it on the tires liberally, place them in a large plastic garbage bag, and let them sit...the longer the better. Keep turning them over every day or so, so they remain wet in the bag. After about a week, take them out and give them a bath...you'll be amazed at the results. Cost is about the same as the Miller's, but it's a gallon size container, and when used like this, lasts forever. Available off the shelf at your local NAPA dealer. Just another option, that's all.