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The fruit tree blossoms were all lost in the late frost, but the blackberries and veggies are doing well in the heat. I just have to do some watering.

Four days later only 316 were rescued. It was the greatest single loss of life at sea from a single ship in the history of the US Navy. Robert Shaw's soliloquy from Jaws is pretty powerful. I salute all the Navy Vets here on Red Square. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Indianapolis_(CA-35)#Sinking

I agree indeed. Back in the 1980's I worked with this cantankerous older guy during my first machine assembly job. He could really get under your skin - he loved to play practical jokes on everyone, but there was holy hell to pay if you did one on him - we have all met that type of person. It never dawned on me why he always wore long sleeve work shirts, even on the hottest of summer days. We were washing up at the end of shift and took his shirt off as he had gotten quite a bit of grease on it. I looked at him and saw his USS Indianapolis tattoo on his arm. He was one of the 316 that were rescued, but refused to talk about it. I did gain a bit more respect for him that day ...... Bill

Hello all, Enjoy all the fun photos from Maine. Our kids had so much fun...

@ri702bill , years ago there was a postal carrier , named roger Evans, he also had some tattoos on his arms , very nice guy , with humility that exuded virtually anything he did, turned out he was a bosuns mate in 1941 assigned to the British army for island hopping . was captured by Japanese army , pow for more than 4 years , building railroad across jungles and mountains . tattoos were a name and jungle route line , on his inner arms . wanted someone to know what he had done . ww2 was very tough for a lot of people , glad to have known him, pete

High humidity will slow drying, and in some cases cause "blush", which is a white or pinkish look to the finish.

Good news is , We can still eat ice cream and cake after the teeth wear out.

My money's on the chevy 350...

I got half of my garage cleaned up today, swept and mopped twice. Moving a little slow these days. I found that elusive flanged rod cap nut from the MV 16. It must have slipped by me somehow. Now I can sleep nights.

I hung out this past weekend with a good handful of vets, two from the Navy. They talked about many good times, mainly girls and partying, etc. The two guys met on 9/11 and shortly after they received orders to go defend our nation. I still don’t know if they’ve killed, been shot at, or the nitty gritty. Maybe some day. Maybe not. Thank you all who have served, thank you for putting yourself last and others before you. Such a humble act.

That's just crazy talk Don!

Its for grinding reel or cylinder blades. Cant do it any other way and have it actually cut grass lol

I have made one using 10ga. sheet metal. Cut it to size using a 4 1/2" grinder and a jig saw. Then bent it using a bench vise and a hammer. I did also make a reinforcement strip for the inside of the hood but this practice can be a double edge sword. When ever you layer sheet metal you create a place for rust to start because you can never fully protect the metal in between the layers. Note how a spot weld will turn into a deep pocket or indentation over time. This is because it is rusting in between the layers of metal and pushing the two layers apart all around the spot weld.

Changed the filter and hydro. oil on my 520 H yesterday. Somewhere I read when refilling the hydro, to leave the filter off until the oil has been added. The open filter mount allowing the air to escape as the oil is being added. great idea, and thanks...

I was able to pick up a complete and really nice 855 at a sale. I’ve never really been able to get used to my charger 12 as a snowplow tractor so I thought I would use this with my small snow plow. Everything is there and everything works and it’s the smoothest, quietest K Kohler I’ve ever had. As soon as I switch a few things from the charger to this tractor i’ll probably sell the charger and the mower deck from this tractor. I think it’s really going to clean up nicely. The Charger 12

@19richie66 I’d rather not haul a load of turds...

You mean veggies don't come from a factory. Who knew? Looking good!

You can get urethane in spray cans at Napa and I'm sure at other parts stores as well. They mix the color and put it in the can. Expensive though. Prolly $25 a can now. I've had to use them on occasion with great results.

Looks like someones keeping an eye on your work, cute pup! He just couldn't find a fire hydrant!

Started on the strip down of this grand old machine, its a bit of a classic car. Belts are perished so need replacing and the hydraulic pump is pretty tight so will need seals I guess.

Looks like someones keeping an eye on your work, cute pup!

WFO Pete ... to put it in bike terms - the 314-8 could be a RM250 - and the Onan powered 416-8 the RM465 or for the Mopar guys - the 314-8 could be the 340 ... the 416-8 could be a 440 ... (520 could be the 426 Hemi) or for the bow tie guys - the 314-8 could be the small block 350-350 ... and the 416-8 could be the L78 396-375 ... or 396-425 ... ? ... (the 520 would be the LS6 454-450) Ford ... ? ... 302 or 351 Windsor ... compared to 351 Cleveland or 429 CJ ... ? ...

UPDATE on Howard... This morning I woke up to a text message from Kevin, Howard's son, informing me that Howard was getting prepped for surgery. The special individual who stepped up to donate one of their kidneys was already in surgery. Throughout the day, I have received updates from Kevin, stating that everything was going okay and that there were no complications. The OR nurse did state that they put in a line into Howard's neck as a precaution in case he developed some heart issues. At about 11 this morning, they started opening up Howard because his new kidney was out and in the OR. The special individual is doing well and is in recovery. Howard made it through the surgery and now is in his own room in the hospital. Please continue with the prayers and thoughts for all families involved. Please pray for a speedy recovery, that Howard's new kidney does not get rejected, that Howard has no complications in the healing process, that his family can be with Howard during this time, that the donor's family and the donor have a speedy recovery, that they have no complications in the healing process, and that their family can be there with them. Howard and his family would like you to know how thankful they are for all of your thoughts and prayers during this time. I will keep you posted as I know more.

Being a "Turd Herder" may be a crappy job but some ones gotta do it.

The Paint Department here uses mostly Rust-Oleum 2X. We have the advantage of being able to spray outside unless raining/snowing or temp below about 20 or so. She brings the sprayed items into the humidity controlled basement for drying/curing.

The husband of a close friend of my wife needed some systems help and my wife volunteered me. Over several years helping him, I came to learn that he'd been a loadmaster flying supplies "over the hump" into China during WWII. He made it sound so "matter-of-fact". I did some research to learn what a dangerous mission he had survived. Humble acts.

A few years ago I bought a '97 416-8 (Onan) from the original owner, didn't need it, he was selling the tiller cheap and that's what I was there for. After we talked awhile he asked me how much I would give him for everything, I gave him a pretty low offer just to see where he was at, he said with a smile man it's yours. A few months later I was at may local 35+ years WH dealer buying some parts for one of my horses and told the guy, and a pair of plugs for the 16hp Onan. He looked up at me, and the old mechanic that was standing next to me and said what the hell are you, they know me, doing with a Wheel Horse with that damn Onan . I told them I got a good deal on it, the counter guy said I hope it was a good deal because the money you saved your going to need when you need parts and service. He said here we say Onan stands for Oh No Another One. And now page two, I have used the 416 to do everything my '77 C-160auto and my '89 312-8 do, tilling, plowing, grass cutting, heaving pulling and towing, grading mid and rear and other than the sound didn't notice any real difference . Now you can tell the 416 has more torque, and if I was using a 48 or 60 inch deck, or "stuffing a deuce into a snowbank" what ever that is I my need the extra torque but for my need the 416 doesn't do much more than my first WH a '75 B-80 4sp. Now if this gets some of the Onan guys here panties in a wad, then I've done my job.

wow - - amazing insights -- i guess i have to wait a few days till lower percent humidity -- of course always other tasks to do in the meantime - just eager to paint -- but waiting makes sense -- thanks all

from tres hombres to dos hombres RIP Dusty Hill ZZ Top put on fantastic shows shows during the 70's had huge sets - tons of equip, props, live animals ... still considered one of the most extravagant ever https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldwide_Texas_Tour saw them in the mid 80's in pgh - they sold out three consec shows at the civic arena (first band to do that) the set / show was awesome giant car dashboard ... needle on the gas gauge continued to drop as they played ... when it hit 'E' the band and set disappeared into smoke ... and then the band reappeared with a space ship console

Air can only hold so much water. Paint dries by the solvents evaporating. If there is little room for the solvents in the air because of the moisture it will take longer to dry. Longer drying times gives the pigment a chance to change, get chalky, wrinkle and collect Tse Tse flies and Cottonwood that's flying around.

Speaking of name dropping... glad to see that blasphemous X24 number went away... WHXAWholeBunch

When that PTO bearing plate on my 520 loosened up and dumped oil all over my driveway and garage floor that was the end of Onan's for me.

I vote for a square hood. Or a round hood. Or a black hood. Or any other Wheel Horse. They are great!

Well said, it takes a special kind of person to be a live kidney donor. MaynGod be with both families as they recover from surgery.

Was just finishing up the yard on the 520 when the neighbor drove up to me to see if I was interested in the Lion’s Club trim mower they haven’t used in years…we jumped started it and I drove it home… I paid the man and gave it a quick hose down….. nice project for the winter…

Getting things sorted for the steam pageant in 3 weeks. Cleaned up the 1467 Special and 3000W Generac Genny!

Come to WI next January I'll school ya.... bring yer galoshes.....

If you are relying on solvent evaporation to dry the paint, all of the above statements are correct. Color change, adhesion issues, etc. If you need to paint in high humidity and can swing the extra coin, switch to a urethane primer & paint. Urethanes can only be sprayed with a spray gun, not available in spray cans. Urethane paints chemically dry so they are not effected as much by humidity. For example - If you put a urethane paint mixed with it's activator in a sealed container, it will be solid all the way through in around 8hrs. Urethanes are far superior to enamel's and lacquer's for durability and shine but the price tag can put a dent in your wallet.

Move down here , and trying breathing the humidity . Activities outside end around 10 AM for me.

Yep that didn't take long! I'll change mine too!

That's a blade grinder? Seems a lot for the task!

The rear scoop I have is a Ford 19-142 scoop. I picked it up a few weeks back. In the Series 706 parts book attached to this post, it covers the 19-142 scoop that I have. Ford Reversible Scoop - Series 706 - Master Parts Book.pdf

If it starts quickly and runs relatively clean / smooth - not sure if carb clean will do much ? maybe do a compression check ? check the muffler ? decades ago (when I had more hair and less stomach) ... sometime around mid 80's ... I was cutting grass with my 704 and it began to lose power ... sounded a tad different .... was concerned the engine was just about done ... the muffler was bad - internals rusted and collapsed and basically choking the engine replaced the muffler and then good to go

Lets see..yesterday hauled the 26ft cabin cruiser out of the back to position it for a going through and cleaning Today, dump run and when i finally got home I swapped the return line on Dug from BYD to OUT. Have yet to see if it changes performance any, but figured thats how it oughtta be.

Afterburner has always been a favorite of mine.... All the songs are great.

A RM-326 is a 32" cut so two 16" blades should be correct. A RM-367 is a 36" deck and it should have two 18" blades.

Put some new shoes on the ole grass cutter 800 special.Found some nice ag tires at the PA WH show for a nice price. Man let me tell you these tires were a pia to get on with hand tools.😂 Everyone recommend soap and water to help get the tires on but I found wire pulling lube to work much better.I believe it’s just KY lube packaged different 😆 Try it next time changing tires ,it works like a charm ! I think The tires look good but tear up the grass on steep hills but I already was expecting that , at least I’ll look good doing it I also replaced the PTO clutch pad and up graded the belt to a b95 much less slap. Next on list is to figure out how to put a better trans in .This one has the lighter Peerless 1400 trans in it.

Got the C81 and C121 aka The Black Horse to give them a run. I must try the sat nav on the Black Horse. With the bigger tyres on the rear, it can really gallop along. I'm sure it's faster than the Sears. That will do 6.3 mph. I then did a little re-arranging in the workshop.