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Lookie what I Found and am trying to score for $75...

I love these sorts of deals .. so to cut a long story short, last friday I went on a trip to buy a 1966 Maytag J2 wringer washer.. because why not? Arriving at the house, I learn the story of the original owners, having moved in around 1965 and after acquiring everything they needed .. it was not replaced unless it seriously failed. IE.. the kitchen was still full of 1950's era appliances, including this 1966 washer. The husband was machinist, the wide .. not sure. But they kept everything up very nicely over the years. Spotting an old collapsing shed before I left, I had to ask about machines. I was told of an 'old riding mower' that was to be scrapped. Turned out to be this sad looking 1978 Sears GT14 Suburban. Which as I learnt today, had last been used in September of 1998. Fast forward to this morning, when I arrived to pick up the tractor, bringing all kinds of spare parts and tools hoping to drive it out of the swampy yard. It was to be scrapped if I couldn't get it out. Too muddy to move a truck out there. Found the tank dry and the oil clean.. added gas and a battery, blew in the tank to prime the carb .. and it fired up on the first turn of the key and ran pretty well. Drove it out and into the driveway, loaded it on the truck. To utter shock of the new owners. Upon getting it home, I gave it a quick wash. Both headlights worked until the instant I took the photo.. All gears are good and quiet, the variator drives seems to mostly work, just needing new belts. The deck runs almost silent. Does hunt at idle, and seems to run obscenely hot, more than I'd be comfortable with. Never had an OHV Teccy before though. Cant see anything in the fins but Ill pull the shroud and check to be sure. Included are some photos .. as I know you all love photos!

Thought I would share some pictures I took yesterday while helping my friend Rodger dig out some tractor parts out of the back of his shed. He has a pretty nice collection of Deere and Farmall tractors, including one of each of the letter series Farmalls. Not pictured here are his Farmall A (in the garage at his house), his working Farmall B that he mows with, or his John Deere R (currently a couple towns over being put back together) I always enjoy spending time with Rodger, a couple years back he lost both legs to diabetes, but still enjoys getting out and messing with the tractors, and I really enjoy helping him with them as well Here is his unrestored 720, and a glimpse of the B he mows with in the backround Here is the two seater BN he takes his grandkids on in parades, in the background of the first pic you can see his 3010 we are in the process of putting back together as well Farmall M as well as his restored 720 Another shot of the BN, as well as the Super C and the Regular in the back This restored H is his pride and joy. Before his health started declining he and his wife took this tractor to Nebraska every year for the Great Nebraska Tractor Ride This little Cub has always been another one of my favorites, we have talked several times about the possibility of me purchasing this tractor, but have never struck a deal on it. In the background is an unrestored 730 The oldest (and probably coolest) tractor in his collection, a Farmall Regular Putting the 720 back in the shed, here you can also see a better shot of the B All put away again

We employed my buddy’s 312-8 fixed up with my loaded 23x8-12 Deestones to tug maple sap around the forest this weekend. It’s a good runner and could use some front weight for tugging up the sugar bush hill!

I belong to a local auction group on Facebook, mostly just to see what kind of junk people are getting rid of, but once in a while something cool comes up, as was the case this past week when I stumbled across this hood for my 701 project. Starting bid was only $5 so I bid on it, had the high bid for 4 days at $9, but got in a last minute bidding war with another guy, and ended up winning it for $32.

Seems the snow gods have forgotten the Blueridge mountains here in VA so I decided to push the vegetation back some more along the fence line... Team effort 520H and newly installed 56" blade with my other red tractor and Poulan chainsaw. I love those OTR Lawn Trac R1s the more I use them excellent traction no matter the task at hand.

Almost exactly like mine! A little newer. They are very nearly indestructible.. mine sat buried in a dirt barn floor for over 60 years.

A few years back I bought a project tractor to be picked up at the Big Show. Ended up having spinal fusion surgery the week of the show and two great friends that I had never met, but will never forget loaded the tractor up and brought it to North Carolina for me. Total strangers that I now feel closer to than family. @Wheel-N-It and @Jrblanke, you guys are the best. This site is family and we are blessed to know such great people.

Absolutely not just a phrase either. I have a 1926 Maytag that has a gas engine from factory. I show it at all the fairs and tractor shows. It's a hit.. And every elderly person who comes by has a story or three to tell about the rollers. Hands, toes, clothing, and .. erm, worse.

At the Portage, WI show last year, one of the guys showing steam toys and whistles taught us the meaning of “getting your ..... caught in the ringer!” I thought it was just a saying....

I know it’s been a little while since I posted anything but I’m finally done with my EZ Rake. I had the pulley shaft and bearing assembly together then clear coated it and the red crinkled so I had to disassemble it. In doing so I gouged the black paint on the shaft so I glass beaded everything down to bare metal again and repainted it. Upon reassembly I managed to scratch the red bracket. Not too bad but I had to touch it up and guess what? It crinkled 😡So back apart again! And start over. Third time was a charm and I decided not to clear coat any of it. Since I know how much you guys like pictures I took a bunch. Thanks to Terry for the awesome decals! Hope everyone likes it, I’m going to bring it to the Big Show this year.

Put 'em to work !

I’ve met a few of these guys we’re talking about here.... I guess they’re pretty alright indeed Aint it funny what (once) total strangers will do for each other, and how many people share so many interests more than just these tractors? It’s truly unique!

All in due time..... none of mine are finished

I’m not sure about the extra steering wheel but the seat is easy. Here’s me and my little girl picking up leaves.

When he gets to playing with it I know who to get tips and help from! Lol

Gave 175 for the old Maytag. A bit high, but it was the first one of this model I have seen for sale in over a year, and it was local too. This was the middle-line of the 3 they sold from the later 50's until the end of production in 1986. The upper model was aluminum with a polished top to the tub, the smaller model looked just like this with a steel tub, but they were rounded. The round and top end models are still pretty common, funny enough the highest end aluminum model can often be had for pennies and are everywhere .. But modern detergents wreak havoc on the aluminum and they start to corrode. These steel tubs with ceramic paint will pretty much last forever and dont care what you use. This middle trim model wasn't made for too long due to being a bit of a pointless design, compared to the vastly cheaper or more expensive versions. While the other 2 had about a 35 year run, the J was limited production for only around 5 years. Earlier ones having red trim, and later being blue like this.

Don't ya love it when you ask someone to do something and they do that... And then something else.... @WHX24 and/or @Achto Just wanted to say a forum public THANKS for the work on the hubs I sent out. They look great !! And Colossus will be very happy to use them. Pretty awesome how a bunch of folks around the country/world take such great care of each other and their machines.

This is the door closed and bar in place. Works pretty well for something I thought up in minutes. I will make another one tomorrow to go on the lower horizontal member, should be enough to see off the average burglar. Mick

If you end up drilling the insert & shaft I suggest using a heavy duty roll pin. A roll pin will keep constant pressure in the hole so that it has less chance to wallow out.

Yes, another six months we might see a completed transmission, and a day or two later "The Paint Department" will have it painted.

You don’t have to Jim. We can just be friends.

Installed & plumbed a carb on a 161 with a pulse pump. It's the little things that count when building a custom!

You'd be better off to put the wringer in the house and delegate the modern wonder to the shop.

There great for the shop to keep the dirty shop rags and greasy clothes out of the good washer in the house!

I had to knock up a quick locking device for the door so I plumped for a simple box section bar which slides into carriers welded to the door and is held behind the outer leaf brickwork. A jack screw on the opening side allows me to pull the door in tight to seal it.

My fault! I failed to mention that it has points and magnetron type ignition. There is a wire running from back of key switch to the points that if I arc across with a screwdriver it does spark at the plug. But since starter broke 😭, I have to turn motor by hand to see if it would spark on its own and doesn't. Either way, I'm going to make it run. Previous owner said it was useless and too old to be practical..... If that's the situation, why is it 10 years older than me and in better shape?! I will get better pictures soon.

I already forgot about that! The swelling under the road rashed shin is almost gone too

I’m glad you came to your senses!

Hi Norm, I have left quite gap all the way round so I hope it wont bind when it gets warm. My steel gates cause problems when it gets really hot, not closing properly till they cool down. I've put the door skin on with coach bolts for now and will weld it from the inside when we have a better day. Next job is to fit the universalbeam to support the floor and take out the sleeper wall. Then the structural stuff is done and I can relax a bit to complete it. Mick

So what are you waiting for?

A couple days to go I said to her Hey you know what I got to do on Colossus? She says Get me a transmission? Hahahahahaha......

The tractor serial number makes it a 1996 model year along with the mower deck. Reverse the first 2 digits of the serial. 1996 tractor - 2 pages https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/search/?q=73400&quick=1&type=downloads_file 1996 mower deck https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/search/?&q=78360&type=downloads_file&search_and_or=or&sortby=relevancy Garry

They need to be COLOSSAL!

Won't be long now 'till it's finished.

I doubt that the secret service would allow such a thing nowadays. That said, I'd certainly love the chance to meet the man!

These worked great. Built 2 Or something like this?

Made up the braces for the rear of the frame where it bolts to the adapter. Still some holes to drill then bolt em in place.

Most families don’t appreciate each other this well

Just want to add a resounding 'YES' to this post, especially the last lines...

Well we’re in the motel for the night horses are under the security light had a good time visiting with David and adding to our collection. Will finish another 7 and 1/2 hours on home in the morning to introduce the new horses to the already growing heard!!

Ok, I figure I’d better off do a restoration on this deck, because it’s in relatively good shape. I took the spindle bearings into my dads machine shop... I haven’t worked on them yet! What to do with the bottom surface of the deck...well it’s covered with surface rust, I sanded it down and used CRC rust converter.... this stuff is the best!! What you do is you paint it on (3x and you can’t get it off with a hammer👍😁) that’s it! Now I just have to wait until it dries... which in a unheated garage at about 45 degrees outside...it may take a while!

Dan sure did a good job on them tins...

Yep, that was me! I'm not sure what the long run plan will be for it.. those SSI ignitions arent cheap when/if they fail. Have to make a post on the engine heat. Seems way too hot to me.

Saw your post on the Sears Suburban FB page yesterday about it, and saw the mention of Wheel Horses - I wondered who it was! Now I know. Looks like a good tractor for free! Can't beat those kind of deals.

For my 70th birthday (coming up on Tuesday), my son and his family gave me a surprise road trip. Here is a picture. As soon as the right answer is given, we will move on to the next destination. Where am I?

Eric, good Enginetuning wasn’t Tuning by simple. Sure you can tweak few parts simply for a quick „ upgrade“ because a Stockengine wasn‘t built to run on it’s limit. A stock engine is primary built for long lasting, that means, keep the combustion and runing envoirement in a safe term, where several reserves are possible. An 8HP Engine can be easily brought up to 12-16 Hp by rework a bit, but how long should that Engine lasts after that. It is not a wizard trick i. Eg. to increasing of the static middle pressure by planed the head a bit, So you can simply bring an engine to a bit quicker revvening, added with more advance in ignition you get a much agile revvning engine, but all that goes on last. Even rework on Valve settings brings a lot without touching the Engine itself. sometimes it‘s enough to push the ignition advance from 32deg btc to 36 deg btc. the question is how hard it starts than in cold envoiremental with choke. in racing purposes i run my KTM also with 100 octane fuel and alcohol up to 42deg. btc - a brutforce Engine but no longlife Engine at all. This Engine lasts normally 3 Races sometimes 4, than it must be completely checked and mostly reworked because of excessive materialstress. we grasp 98HP of 770ccm cont. Power. By 136Kg. but all that tuning results also in more heat and much more pressure, where gaskets and Engineblock, bearings Valves and all moving and static parts incl. head must be withstand. Our Tractorengines, they ain‘t built for. The rpm is controlled by governor. you can overrule the governor, but that mostly is a short term thing, because this Engines are not built for higher rpm‘s. They can be improved, but another question is the invest you must do. for a shortterm Engine like a race Engine this components will be improved or reworked and brought to their limits, on a stock engine it can be critical for all day purpose with stock parts. but if you have an Engine you wanna play with - do it. it can be funny😎 to see what reserves are in, but don‘t calculate with long term last.

Any internally resisted 12v coil will work. Amazon Evil bay etc... Pick up a generic 5 pin switch at a big box store. just make sure it has an 'I" terminal not an "M"

Oh Baseballs now I gotta call Richie family?!?! ... that's ok I guess ... I got a BIL that's about as useless as teats on a bull too so welcome to the fam Ritchie!

That is correct.