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I picked up this 1944 Ford 2N from a friend of mine this past week. I have been wanting a Ford or Ferguson tractor for a few months now. I really wanted a NAA or 600 or 800, but most that I have found were 9Ns, 2Ns, and 8Ns. I almost bought a early 50s Ferguson TO-30, but I waited too late to make my decision, it sold on me. I knew my friend had this 2N (he thought it was a 9N) and he recently told me he thought about selling it. Knowing him and knowing that he did a lot of work on it, I knew it would be a good buy. So I pulled the trigger on it. Now, I have had so-called experts tell me it's a 9N, but the serial number says it's a 1944 2N. If you know the history of the early Ford N-series, you know that 2Ns retained the same serial number prefix as the 9N, meaning the serial number starts with "9N". You have to tell them what they are by certain features and by the serial number. Now features also may be confusing. Take for example, most so-called experts think that the 2Ns only came with the oval shaped radius arms, but that's not true. The early ones came with the I-beam shape arms that the 9Ns had, Ford changed the shape of them half way through the 1944 production run, so 1942, 1943, and early 1944 2Ns had the 9N styled radius arms. Grilles and dog legs are also another feature that will indicated what you have, a 9N or a 2N. And there are other features. This one is a 1944 2N by all things I've researched, so I'm going with what the serial number tells me. My friend also threw in the back blade, which is very heavy. The only thing I have found wrong with it, the lower lift arm on the right side is leaking. I'm sure my friend didn't know that as he definitely would have told me. He kept it outside under a tarp, and it only leaks if you drive it a bit. Gasket is only $2.00, but it will be a bear to change as you have to pull the axle housing and the axle to get to it. Yikes.

Same shack too dark without lighting for pictures, was at the farm shop having a leg repaired I guess the boys were a bit inebriated and forgot to raise them, when you run out of beer a quick run into town with your tracked jeep will get you there and back to the shack.

Having been blessed to retire early, thank goodness cause the old body gave out, I was offered an opportunity to spend a couple hours with retired others for breakfast. aka "Breakfast Club" Covid and not having enough time under the belt I'm sure slowed the invite process. An elite crowd of very opinionated people that just share a few moments of their time face to face rather than on Social Media. Topics ranged from Sex to Politics, the latter is like quicksand. Other discussion, what are you working on this week. I think if you told those guys you were putting trusses up on a skyscraper they would say "we'll be over in the morning to help, have coffee on" Two hours of pretty well spent time. Hope to get another invite.

This is in my mirror. 4.5hr Road trip today to meet @ebinmaine and a couple other members. Good times doing a bit of "horse tradin" so to speak.

@JoeM you’ve got my vote. There has been a study I seen or heard somewhere can’t remember, that it is showing it is harder on the body to keep changing the time. My thoughts are if you want to do something just get up earlier and do it and leave the time alone..

At least in PA it is tonight and we spring ahead tomorrow. I think we need to change the time and leave it alone. What do you think?

Please follow along. Part I https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10216144652162534&type=3 Part II https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10216185253577544&type=3 Admin If this is not allowed please remove.

Man that’s nice... I thought this was all you needed for ice fishing...

Don' put them in ... most guys here don't. The general consensus is if you don't have them in right and even when you do they can grenade and ventilate the block. Reports are there is little to no difference in vibration.

@haydendavid380 this is big show. Take a tractor to ride or golf cart. You have to have insurance for that but you can rent a golf cart and your good to go. My wife and I went to the fall one last year and if it was not for renting a golf cart we would never have seen what we did! Very big show in fall not sure about the spring show. You can find all kinds of parts and other stuff like emery cloth, gojo, tools etc.....

Oil change on the C105... Ready for summer kid hauling duties with the SL&WHN RR...! No word yet on whether the City will have a Memorial Day Parade (COVID ), but if so, the train will be full and in the parade!

This is the one I use -- cub cadet. Relatively inexpensive on the bay (under $50), good tone (to my ears anyway) and adaptable in many ways.

I need to ungainly the weight from Covid!

thinking on this muffler?

ONE was built in green..... https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/1966-ford-gt40-mk1-sale-1234601338/

There's gonna be a few accidents at some intersection somewhere tonight...

Thought about some clean rock. Wrap it in a couple towels, put it in the dryer. Have to wait til my wifes gone though.

Not a wheelhorse but did follow me home. Should look good in the shop if I get it built

Did some spring clean up of winter duff. Cleaned out the bluebird boxes. Have to stand on the seat to reach this one. Tilled up some beds.

Hi all, I hope everyone is well here. There are some updates with the Wheelhorse. Firstly my grandfather got me some rear chevrons as a birthday/Christmas present Living on Dartmoor in England it is very damp especially this time of year, and getting stuck can be easy so the new "shoes" help the Horse a lot Also my friend West and I fabricated a custom bracket for a front LED light. I have never actually had front lights other than a side-light that was once on it, and wanted to keep the original Wheelhorse look but be able to drive back to the garage in the dark after bonfires or cutting logs etc in the woods. I am really happy with the results and it throws out plenty of light. I also installed the rear light which I used to have on the Wheelhorse over a decade ago. Finally the Horse was used to get some furnature to the house when the driveway was too slippery for a delivery van earlier this year.

That rooster wouldn't last one day...

Some of you are interested in doing a raised panel by hand but do not have a special plane for it @CCW. Not a problem . It can be done with a smooth plane and a rabbet plane. A little more work and a few more things to keep in mind but still easier and better than using a table saw or a router. It is simple, quiet and most importantly, safe with predictable results, something that cannot ever be assumed with any power tool. Most if not all are able to accomplish the task with a couple of inexpensive tools that to many seems not possible. With a little practice it can be done much quicker and better than with any power tool unless of course one is doing a few dozen of them. Even with such a quantity it is a very satisfying and rewarding way of doing it.

tnk...tnk...tnk...

@Horse Newbie I got a call from Fastenal yesterday that my 953 has arrived. So it took exactly 2 weeks to move through their excess shipping space. You did a great job strapping it to the pallet everything was still nice and secure. Got it loaded for a trip to the barn I was pleased to find all the goodies in the loose parts that came with it. Since these are all the transmission external parts I wonder where the transmission went? More loose goodies that included some rear cultivator parts. Ooo and the actual 953 grill in great shape 🙌 I’ll have to check if the Kohler spec and serial number confirm this is the original engine. I was also excited to find the Rear tires to be Goodrich Silvertown Ag’s, and they look to be in fairly good shape. One front tire is an original Wheelhorse tire and my other parts 953 has one original WH tire. If my wife read this she would shake her head about me being excited about original 953 grills, WH tires, that oil bath air cleaner smiling on the front of that Kohler, the HY-2 hydraulics, and Silvertown Ag tires! But she tolerates my craziness... It’s now tucked in my dry barn. I got it off the skid and the front wheels back on so I could move it around. I’ve got to get my Suburban project finished. Then it’s going to be some tough calls to decide how I combine this 953 with my other parts 953. I believe I will have everything I need to build a really good tractor. Many Thanks Again

Shaw Du-Al, R-8 Model tractor. I took these piuctures several years ago at a very nice small tractor show held in Owen County, Indiana near the Town of Gosport, Indiana. I only attended one year but it was a nice show. The Shw Du-Al is an inportant tractor in the history of Wheel Horse as Harold Pond, Elmer Pond's older brother worked at Shw-Du -Al in Galesburg, Kansas before starting Speed-Ex Tractor in Alliance and laterr Ravinnia, Oho. Elmer worked for Harold assembling and selling Speed-Ex Tractors. However, around 1946 or 1947 Elmer and son Cecil decided that they wanted to improve upon the Speed-Ex Tractor and make their own two wheel garden tractor. Harold was not happy aboput that decision and as a result did not speak to Elmer or Cecil ever again. But the Shw-Du-Al is an interesting tractor. The R-8 is one of the finest and rarest examples and the one shown is very original. https://www.farmcollector.com/tractors/shaw-du-all-good-bargain

I feel sometimes ungainly in sorting my Mind.. 😎😂😂

Thanks everyone! Spent it at sea - all the crew made me a lovely cake and I got a pile of lego to make into something! Sorry for not being around lately, life has been frantic!

Here’s the final mule drive rebuild.

I use steel marbles they work great.

It was an interesting trip to say the least. I thought i would let my phone take me on the trip via google maps. Well not the wisest decision I ever made. Between dropped service and my phone up dating the map "recalculating " the shortest distance repeatedly the 4.25hr trip turned into about 6. Along with slippery road conditions. The wife and I had a chance to meet some great people. @ebinmaine, his significant other Trina, @JCM @Stepney, it was very nice to meet the faces behind the screen names. Eric gave me a great deal on a pile of parts. Enough to keep me busy for a while. I just want to say thank you and Trina again for the parts, the food, the hospitality and the chance to meet some members. After 16.5hrs we are beat. We all know, without a pic it didnt happen lol so here ya go.

@ebinmaine we just walk thru the door.

On the whole I can only argue one point. Most of the Kohlers I have done, I removed the balance gears with little difference. Kohler made engines for hundreds of companies and some opted out of the gears . I have a 14HP bare block on the bench that was never drilled for the balance gear shafts. I thought I had one, and I just checked seeing only solid castings where the shafts are pressed in.

You will find many others here that will give you the same advise.

Oops! Forgot the FOOT! (Didn't mean most Wheel Horses had no motion control ...) "Foot Motion Control"

Met up with @ebinmaine tonight and pick this beauty! Thank you again Eric! Ariels gonna love it!

Greased the 516. Forced all that old black junk out of there. Poor thing doesn't have a zerk for the front pivot, odd. No hole with missing zerk - no place for it. That PO jerry-rigged the left tie rod joint with a bolt and nut - surprised I didn't see that before. OK for now. Pulled the 42SD off the 125. Greased the arbors. Found that the tension assembly would not move so had to pull and clean that up. Sharpened the blades with a cutting wheel. Mounted it. The 516 just screams - ready for mowing. Starts cleaner now so the rings are sealing. Now, I kicked the fuel filter getting on it and it cracked at the seam so she stalled, sucking air. A little tightly stretched electrical tape got me home - a true red neck repair. I'll have to move a new filter up top...

Waterloo - F*** Firstly i did today my own Plowday - to see if my reworked Plow will work as expected. Yesterday i tried to bring it to glow with the induction heater, but it‘s just be able to burn down the paint and heat it up to dark red glow. That is enough to open a Screw, but not hot enough to Bend Steel. I tried it 2 Times but allway‘s after 2:30min the self protection occurs and i have to wait for next try about 2 minutes. - that‘s toooo long. So 1 KW is not enough for 1“ Steelpipe with 10mm thickness to bring it to glow bright red. Maybe the 1,8 KW will do the trick but i don‘t have. So i drive yesterday late evening to my Buddy, a Blacksmith and we bend the Plow as i measure it. after we bend it it must cool down and a „hold my Beer“ Task happens, the Watch show‘s 01:30 when we leave the Workshop.. 😎 Today i grabbed the Plow and decide to give it a Testride. The Tecky grunt‘s nice but begin also again a little with but after the Plow i make a real mess on the Road and decide to cleanup immediately. So i constructing a Quick and Dirty Cleanup System and give it a Try. that works better than expected. after that task i decide to go back and pickup the Tiller, the Soil is not too Wet. The radio forecast told - The next few Day‘s Winter should come back. but a stronger Wind ( they call it storm) occurs and i decide to hurry up. After passing the Road, i hit to full Throttle and hear just a gently scrapping noise, followed by heavy blue Smoke and a Popp. Engine stalls immediately. I try carefully to pull the Pullstart and the engine seems to move but hard and without a nice noise. If i interet the noise right, i bet Pistonring is Gone. - F*** Gladly i have the whatever it has Predator Engine i painted in Red in spare. purchased as 7 HP, the Brocure shops 11 HP the Housing tells something about 9 HP - Hahaha. So - Engine Swap - NOW ! first removed carefully the Engine to be able to rework it someday‘s. Than i build 2 Engine mounts to bring the Engine close to it‘s original Pulley height. Because of the Airfilter Box i decide to move it from 19cm from Front to 20cm from Front to Pulley Center. so it fit‘s snug to the Hood without needed Modifications on the Hood. Step by step adaption for the Engine adapting rails. The Predator looks not Bad in the Horse The Hood fit‘s snug. And after small Paintjob, it fit‘s also in optics. ( love the black Screws for the optic) So the Engine is mounted but i must adapt the Beltcover - no chance to keep it as it was before. The original Pulley on the Tecky have a measured outside diameter of 65mm, the predator pulley have 75mm 😎 so i have to rework it. welded, but not finalized And a new Front tip. Curious how it will perform.

@krystolo It's certainly a monster compared to the one on my K181

or sit out in a comfy camp chair and a handful of bird shot and a 20 gauge

That is many times what I need to do also if I find opposing grain. I use them left handed or use them in reverse pulling rather than pushing them. There are literally thousands of planes with different functions. I don't know how many I have but they are in the hundreds (easier to hide from wife than tractors). Many are displayed inside house on the first floor. They are not allowed past the stairs lol. Any one can do this work. Its like any other skill. I was just lucky that in reality I was born into it and was always surrounded by people in the same situation so it was never just a job but actually a way of life. Making planes has always been perhaps my favorite activity in this craft and I wish I had more time to do it. I still have herein stock enough irons to make a couple of thousand more. Most of them extremely rare one over 100 years old. Some of my "stock" below. Thank you I appreciate that coming from you. I always hope more get into this interest we have.

Here is my snow coverage map this morning:

I imagine that if I have to ask the price I cannot afford it. Why even dream. I know I cannot afford it.

I have a couple of those mufflers. Seem to work well I aim mine down and bit to the front. I am not into stacks....

I think I found an air cleaner for you on a parts run this morning. I'll take better pictures when I get home and other will have to confirm it's the right one, but the guy said it was for a 16hp single cylinder kohler.

@pullstart Kevin, I THINK, you're going to need more racks, or a nice big addition by the looks of that picture.

Toro is generally very proud of their parts. After market should work. The early electronic units are not cooled by fan air but are also 20x bigger. These large ones should be mounted with the terminals down so the heat from the power transistor can naturally rise away from it. The body of both styles must be grounded to work which is done by the mounting screws. Garry

A categorical syllogism... (sort of): All John Deere’s are puke 🤢 green. Puke 🤢 green is ungainly. Therefore, all John Deere’s are ungainly Moral of the story... Not everyone can look, work or feel like a ...