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Picked up a new toy for one of my tractors. Guy said it was a wheelhorse but I find it to be a Simplicity. Happy anyways for $80

Well a good friend of mine who works at the same scrap yard that my late dad did. Brought me over a bigger vise! My friend ryan is a great guy him and his brother helped me clean off my dads property of equipment after dad died. Anyways I have been asking on my facebook to trade someone and money for a bigger vise. i am using an antique old little one but for what i do all the time i needed a bigger one. So Ryan dropped off this old gal to my house in the roll off truck while i was at work. I am super thankful. My question is can anyone date this thing? It is super cool i almost dont want to use it. LOL Also any ideas on what to use to make the other handle it needs?

Use a big screw driver to pry the forks into position (yellow arrows)

@pullstart I think I have committed , Patti is using a weeks vacation towards the BS, as long as life doesn't throw a curve ball at us we are planning on camping there. Thursday AM until the fun stops, there are a few of you that I just need to meet in person for some unknown reason. This was so important to respond to that I actually had to put down my box of Girl Scout Cookies caramel delites to type, good thing as I only ate half the box. Oh well they only show up once a year.

I think I got that handled already... ... I'll leave the ones that show for you Thinkin so Jim...

Engine oil done along with trans fluid&filter. Also a little bit of body work and primer for the hood

Husband cut down the trees before they leaf out again! We planted them when they was just about foot tall! Was told they was RED OAK! It took our sons biologically project for us to realize they were actually sycamores and they started budding the nut/balls to germinate! Oh well bigger garden and no shade over it! Lol

@bottjernat1 Your vise is a 600 Series Malleable Iron Machinists Vise. It is from around 1940. There should be an actual model # in the raised Rectangular section after No. If not from the size of jaws (width) you can tell you what the model No. is. The entire vise with the exception of the handle and screw is entirely made out of malleable iron and it was considered to be "practically Indestructible". The missing handle was similar to the main handle but much smaller of course. You can just make one out of a steel rod and if you want to be accurate you can weld a proper size ball bearing on each end. As for color although many of the Colombian Vises were a Burgundy color, most machinists vises were a dark Gray.

Minimum valve clearance gives more compression release. The bump the cam provides just closes the gap if too wide so minium or no valve movement. Garry

Maybe you could look into building a set of air plane hanger style doors. The door actually folds to outside of the building instead of taking up any room on the inside. Could be clad on the out side any way you wish. Plus they offer up a nice awning while they're open for a shady spot to relax on those hot summer days. "Another selling point for the misses"

Got some more done, looking at the 3pt hitch rear lift arms, I noticed that the welds were cracked on the small arms, further inspection the arms were cracked. So got some more metal and will be making a new one. Will put brass bushing in bearing blocks.

Seeing robins bobbin in the yard is the first sign of spring and this post is the first sign of THE BIG SHOW!

Yes.. the holy grail... the mecca... center of the universe.... the grand pooba... the pilgrimage... the BIG SHOW... quick someone get pkerot a flyer... I have been known on years I can't make it to face the east, bow at noon and hum...

Youll have to get it dirty sooner or later!!

This is a great idea to deal with the water. I would also go with the same double door, but raise the bottom up 1 3/4 inches. Under the door I would add a pressure treated 2x6 to raise the entrance. Tractor then would have to drive over this new threshold, but that would not be a problem. Door bottom would now be above any standing water. The extra height would also give you the ability to add a bit of flashing to keep water from seeping between door and threshold. Edit #1 - Heavy layer of caulking under the new 2 x 6 threshold to prevent water from seeping under it. Edit #2 - If needed the 2 x 6 threshold could have a front and back taper cut length wise to allow easier rolling. Would probably keep 1/2 inch square lip edge on the bottom of both sides. Edit #3 - I foresee one problem with this solution. If you use a mower deck will it clear a 2 x 6 threshold. Might need a bit of test or additional ramping.

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.

Got home and pulled the points back off and cleaned all the paint offin the motor underneath. Set the gap at 18 and fixed the problem. Learn as you go thanx yall!! Say.... you wouldnt have the winning lotto numbers would you?

Best bit of my day? Chasing down and dragging a nuisance motor bike rider off his machine in the park. I gave him such a mouthful too. We try to make things better and these idiots destroy it. This guy was in his 30s on a field bike and this 55 year old fart still beat him hands down! Made him wheel it out the park and never return lol. Minor victory but feels good. Mick

That means you’ll be there looking around for trouble too?

Geez Kev that was pretty good... you are learning something here!

@driver903 if that is what happened, it’s because on the older unidrive transmissions the shift forks slide in and out of blind holes. Thick or cold gear oil creates a suction in those holes, so you shift out of gear quickly and it pulls that shift rail back past the detent but allows you to use the shifter for the other rail. Later model shift forks have a longer detent pin and deeper detent slots to prevent both forks from moving at the same time, along with a flat ground on the rail itself to break the suction.

I am going to actually be careful and wire brush it. and paint it. I have heard alot of them are red. I think i will go with international red (how fitting LOL) and have the wife paint the letters black. I will take a photo when i get it done.

Often times if you shift gears quickly the shift forks get stuck in two gears. If you loosen the jam nut on the front of the shifter under the shift boot, you should be able to back out the set screw and check that the forks are located correctly. It should make a square with the two forks centered in the shifter hole. If the square is offset, use a big screwdriver to pry them back to center one by one. Re-install the shifter and try your luck again... this time giving neutral a second before shifting to another gear.

Not yet. Concrete comes Monday, then the partying begins.

Here is the end result of Saturday night’s run. The two large jars are 1/2 gallon behemoths!

That was my thoughts too. Possibly too far advanced timing

Nice vise !! Appropriate size round stock with an acorn nut threaded on each end would make a good handle.

Just throwing darts here but. If this is an engine with points check your gap on them. If the gap is too wide your timing would be too far advanced causing it to fire against itself. I had this issue with a pull start engine & it would literally rip the pull cord out of you hand when it would fire. Closed the gap on the points a little & life was good.

I'd like to thank everyone for the happy birthday wishes. This is by far the best and the friendliest online forum that I know of. Everyone is so kind to each other and willing to help anyone with any issues they may have from problems with their Horses to personal problems without any judgement or harassment except in fun. I like that because it shows that you all care about each other. I too like to joke around with my friends and I consider all of you my friend. This world would be a much better place if everyone conducted themselves like you all do here on

Put 'em to work !

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'd get this party started. Who's got what to fit in the catagories above for the BS in June? I'll be looking for a short frame snow plow.

Happy Birthday Bob , now your are an official member of the ole goat club.

Happy Birthday Bob! ....Wait a sec,... I accidentally spelled Bob backwards! Happy Birthday Bob! Any cookie bars left?

Which I believe was why WH was specifying 40w motor oil for trannies back then. less suction. That has worked with out issue year around for 53 years on my Lawn Ranger...

I’m sure theirs is good, but yours could be great!

Thanks for all your help folks! Since everyone loves pictures, I attached one of the garden site from the balcony. The second pic is the hedge row that backs up to a good sized field. The row was full of shingles, trash, pieces of siding, and a lot of overgrowth. I cleared all, ripped it up a bit with the plow, stacked a TON of weight on the disc, and fixed it up nice. When I purchased the property, I was excited to see that huge field and lots of wildlife in it, but sad when the local farmer said "I lease that chunk and the owners sons hunt, she wont even let me hunt it." On to plan B- the hedgerow is on my property- whatta perfect food plot location! Ordered a bag of "chic magnet" imperial clover/chicory seed mix, and plan to broadcast it heavy, run over it a couple times with the disc, let it grow wild and see what happens. Once fall rolls around, maybe Ill luck out and get a shot at a deer or turkey with the bow. Will be posting up more over the next month as I start getting things in the garden and plumbing/hooking up the well and timer.

Looks like pullstart has you pointed in the right direction. The jamb nut & set screw can be a little pit of a bear to get to on an 854, they didn't leave you much room to get at it through the hole in the sheet metal for the shifter. It can be done with out tearing the tractor apart though.

In addition to what @pullstart suggested, you could mud jack the slab to raise one side of the slab up to meet the garage floor, leaving the other side where it is. This will tip the slab away from the garage and move the water away... My Dad did this on 25’ of sidewalk 4 years ago to address settlement and it is still perfect. No settling. He paid about $250... Just a thought...

Good update. Yep, follow wiring through the switch until you find the break in power.

Colombian......those are sweet! Good old american made steel!

Yep. I owned 1, a 1250. Best running tractor I ever owned. We've owned 2 1250s, 2 1450s, a 1000, a 1650, and a mystery tractor that's not quite 1250 and not quite 1650. Anyway, to get back on track... https://www.youtube....h?v=-LACObIt9uA It runs! Not well, but it runs! Gotta sort out an issue with the carb and fix an oil leak on the remote filter line, but it runs. Builds good hydro pressure, moves, and the only leak seems to be the filter line. I think I just might have myself a good worker!

Happy Birthday!!

Looks like the candy apple red paint job I have been waiting patiently to see ? Will that tractor be at the BS in June. That was quite a tease Jim.

Pictures would do us bench racers a heap of good to understand the pooling issue. I imagine improving drainage some how could be done, but not knowing the lay of the land there might be a totally obvious reason it doesn’t work. It seems there are solid doors that hinge up and out to where maybe only 30% of the door folds into the garage and the rest becomes an overhang? Is that an option?

I would do a roll up with a design that meets the boss’s aesthetic tastes... Maybe address the water ponding issue at same time with grade adjustments or French / trench drain? I had similar issue on side of my garage - dug a 3’ deep trench filled with pea gravel and issue went away...

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!

Some pics of the 86 during a refurb. I painted the frame with POR-15, installed stainless steel fuel and brake lines from Classic tube in New York, 2 OEM GM Fuel tanks, senders and the list doesn't stop. Drove the truck around Maine without the bed for several years before paint and completion just needed the rear mud flaps to make it legal and temporary lights from the take offs from the 88 R-30 after the utility body was installed.