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Wife wanted to do the floors again today... so I put some sunblock on the kids and put them out in the back yard to play. Later, while I was gathering them up, I heard some birds causing quite a commotion over head in the trees. Looked up to see one of the wiser of our neighbors had dropped in to watch the show.

Been without a 4 wheel toy for a couple years so I scraped up all my pennies and bought this over the weekend. Its a 1994 with a 5.7v-8 (what else right ?) with a 6 speed manual, and a solid targa top with a leather interior. Its not showroom/mint condition and does have a few nicks and scratches but still looks presentable. The Magnaflow exhaust is a bit loud....or maybe I'm just to old . Now to figure out how to insure it with one teeneage driver in the house and another one just 2 months away from 16!! Probably try for classic car insurance from Hagerty or something along those lines with just the wife and I on the policy. Pics of course; Mike.........

The limited slip differential is the 10-pinion which is a little weaker than the 414-8's 8-pinion differential..if the brake drum is mounted close to the front of the tans than it will be a direct swap..Drive pulley's are the same diameter.One may be the cast iron stlye and one may be the stamped steel style but are the same diameter...if you have the older style trans all you need to do is swap the brake rod that somes from the clutch pivot arm or brake pedal arm...The only transmissions that had different bolt pattern were the 4 speeds used in the 953-1054's so the so the bolt holes in both transmissions are the same.

OK, but... there are nicer examples out there.

The "restraint" you have Bob is incredible. That is an excellent looking horse...and the story behind it...it would look great in Florida. Better yet...when are you moving back up here?? Think about it...Florida will be under water in 10 years....why go back??

Don't you know Dino... there is a limit to how much enthusiasm you can have here.

Thanks for getting in here Mike...I know the insides...but the outsides can be out of my expertise sometimes. Thanks for that information on the bolt patterns...that is always in the back of my mind when someone tries to do something like this.

you guys are probably getting sick of pics of this one, but i don't care! i took it out in the sun for some seat time and pics this afternoon. this drives the best of any one I've ever had, the jd front axle/spindles and vredestein 5 ribs is an awesome combination. almost no effort at all to steer and very smooth. actually the tractor is a very nice driver overall and i can't wait to get back on it again......

The restraint was entirely 'fear of wife' induced. She left with the boys shortly after I went over there. After the long conversation I was back here typing the post. I told her about it, showed her the pictures and she said I should buy it. I'll never get women figured out. I posted it for the neighbor at $800. I won't pay that for it due to the current condition. I'm thinking maybe $400 and some of that is due to sentimental value. It will fit in the bed of my Ranger with the deck standing up next to it. The guy and his wife are really nice and have done a lot for the kids here since I'm not around. In fairness to them I want to see what happens with the ad and later this week, if there's no activity, I may discuss it with him. Oh yea, about 5 miles from here as we were arriving yesterday my wife spotted a house with 10 acres for sale. Just maybe...............................

Bring it home Bob...........Bring it home........

That looks like a 4831 to me. If so it is a 1968 Commando 8, 4 speed, Kohler K181S-30108D. Nice little tractors.

There's a gate on the east and west sides already. It's just that Dino's have a problem crossing bridges and don't care much for swimming. As far as chances at Iowa, it will happen this year, I think. Yup, it's been verified Nov. 15th. We will see who's got what to say after the Battle of the Mississippi is over. Maybe that's the game we will see, yet to be seen!

Yeah, I almost cried the first time I saw it unveiled. Now there's a reality show! Just need to get you and half dozen other of our Master Restorers together. Then hijack a deserving members tractor.

It's probably next your flashlight. And that leak could explain a lot.

A couple of things are involved here...depending on the year of your Raider. It should bolt right on, but measure the distance between the 4 mounting bolts where it bolts to the frame...if they are the same, it will bolt on. The 1968 and 1969 Raiders have the brake drum mounted on the 11/44 gear (the shaft comes out the hole closest to the axle). The 1970,1971,1972 Raiders and your 414-8 have the brake drum mounted on the cluster gear shaft (the next hole toward the front of the trans). You will have to mess with the brake linkage in both horses if you have 1 of the older Raiders. If you have 1 of the newer Raiders, it should be a straight swap...if the mounting holes line up.

Here are some pics of the Wheel Horse Orchard 12 that was mentioned in the shout box... Pretty nicely done modification.

actually though, "Posi " is a name General Motors used for some of their axles that were like a limited slip. but without getting into that debate, I knew what GENO was refering to. A limited slip unidrive transmission that was equiped on some wheel horses. Stevasaures just did a rebuild thread on one of these.....Check it out

Here it is as promised.......

That is sweet!

Nice Hooter Craig!!!

Without knowing how big is was, it looks like a Great Horned Owl.

Very cool pics....of the tractors and of course your neighbor!

This is a '68 Commando Eight.

I have one of those and it's the sweetest running tractor I have. I thought they were only made in 1972. It has all the Commando looks from decals to the correct hood, the tach-a-matic in the front, the short frame and it has the right (small) wheels on the rear but I think the fronts are wrong (too big). You can put the larger wheels on the back as they look better but the hole for the hub in the wheel will be larger than the hub extension on hub flange. Still looks good and most people don't notice.

A little more done this afternoon .... removed fenders and washed. I really think the belt is toooooo long. But the spring on the tension pulley is wrong too. And the holes for the shafts are worn ... really big! And there's only 2 bolts attaching the transaxle to the frame. 2 bolts must have been too difficult for someone to put in. Here's pics...... TOTAL investment so far $20.00

Take a look at the oil and see what it looks like. I would do as much checking as I could before I really got into it. Going in the same direction is a good sign.

I think its either this... 1-0110 1972 Lawn & Garden Tractor Commando 800 4-Speed Kohler K181S-30461D 8 Wheel Horse 5085 or this... 1-0130 1973 Lawn & Garden Tractor Commando 800 4-Speed Kohler K181S-30461D 8 Wheel Horse 5085 Mike...........

I hope Illinois gets to play Maryland a least 6 times this year. Is there still a gate to get into Iowa...we could use a few games with them also.

crop circles

Excellent...just check the mounting bolts. I'm not sure if the input pulleys are the same size on both of your horses, but the frames are the same length and the Kohler 12 and 14 are the same block. You may have to swap the belt guards or do something like that if the pulleys are different diameters.

Hahahaha ok I won't

I never thought about it that way but it does look like a Wheel Horse service dept. It's gonna stay Wheel Horse only too.

My Raider is a 1970 model. My brake drum is toward the front and lower than the other hole that looks like it has a plug in it.

I just inherited a Wheel Horse lawn tractor. It has a scrap blade and a plow. It was my step-mother's father's tractor. She thinks it is around a 1970. I am new to Wheel Horses and I'm trying to figure out what I have. I don't know if it runs or not but, they said it ran a few years ago. The deck is in rough shape but the frame looks to be fairly solid. From what I can gather, from this site, it appears to have the big block Kohler motor. I have attached some pictures of what I have, fresh out of the barn.

Mike - that is some serious hail! How bad were cars/trucks damaged? Craig, I could not agree more. If the weather trend continues, we could see snow by September. It has only hit 90 one time here in Cleveland this "summer" I am no weather expert but it sure does remind me, of the weather trends I remember, back in the late 70's. I was not even 10, but I do remember cool summers and very cold autums. Rob

Retro 50's for sure. Looks like you 1st, need thin feet. Then, off to the races.

Jake Kuhn and his Dad need one of these for their blueberry farm

Well today was a day of surprises! 1. Cherry Raider 9 2. A set of the Wheel Horse sunglasses with built in radio arrived in the mail. 3. And finally a nice Manila envelope also survived. Once I opened it I started to search for a frame. The photo is of my wife's great uncle and Cecil Pond. The signature on the top was icing on the cake.

Hard to say because I don't know much about your models... but, since you have both tractors there, just look them over. Look at things like Axle size, frame mount to trans footprint, input pulley size and location, brake drum location and linkages etc. etc. And other mounts for anything you can see on these models . . That will at least give you a start on figuring things out.

That is entirely too cool!!

Nice score ,for on your side of the pond.... ...

We used to have our annual family picnic in Oregon, up by the big Black Hawk statue. Dad bought himself a big ol Simplicity ,he was having troubles getting on/off the little ol 607. You can bet that that ol sarge will over to check on his baby and to make sure she is taken care of! lol

Steve- Mine is sort of a custom design. I am having footing poured first then the foundation which will be higher up front and then a slab. I plan on putting a good bit of drainage around the entire foundation and pipe it off into the woods.

club THANK YOU for the warm welcome. how do i become a supporter? thank you boomer

Welcome to Red Square. Are you sure that is an 8 hsp Kohler? That engine looks original and there were no 8hsp until 1964. Could the engine be a 7 hsp Kohler?? The model # tag should be on the dash tower...just under the gas tank. If I had to guess, it looks like a 702 to me...7 hsp Kohler/1962. See if there is a tag.

Will I could haul the material with a Dodge and Ford attached to the back of the trailer too. I did a little tuner upgrade on it... Running over 800 ft lbs of torque now....

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

Got the seat recovered last night. As I said earlier, I sent the old covers and pans to our vender Dave Burley (Funengineer), and he provided me with these excellent quality covers. These are not just slip-over covers, but actually get glued to the internal pans of the seat. I think they look great. Thanks Dave!

The only thing I have found that works is a product called "working hands" I have used 120 grit sand paper many times to thin out the thick and cracked skin for years. Then put on working hands. Only thing that I have found that works for me.