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Worked on the 875 today. We replaced the engine and been working out some bugs. Confirmed that the new engine I got from @squonkruns great and it does move forward and backwards. Just have a few more small things to look at. Should be coming home soon. I also painted the rims on the spare set of tires and wheels.. These will be going on the 875 as well.

Well it’s finally time to start the repower on my 520-8. The Onan blew up (believe it broke a rod). I offered the whole tractor for sale for a couple of months but nobody wanted it. So I will be repowering it with a 27hp Honda vtwin. Hopefully going to get the PTO hooked up so I can till and snow blow with the tractor still. I have always wanted a 520-8 but I hate onans (onans are fine when they are running I’ve actually had a 520h with an onan that I loved. But once the onan breaks they are boat anchors to me) this is my chance to finally have a 520-8 with a newer engine! Also I have already found someone who wants the onan for parts so it will not go to waste!

I believe Small Engine Wherehouse is the source for them replacement kits. Coincidentally, one of their engine replacements just jumped in my truck tonight. https://www.smallenginewarehouse.com/Repower-Old-Equipment/Repower-Wheel-Horse

I haven't posted here recently, so:

A little more on my cup. Just needs epoxy and it’s done. @WHX?? check your messages. I need some info

I removed the gas tank from the engine and used the one supplied with the tractor. Removed the air cleaner and replaced it with a smaller set up. Also removed the muffler and made my own pipe. All of this was done to avoid cutting any sheet metal on the tractor. The bolt pattern to mount the predator to the frame should be a direct fit. Other alteration may be the belt guard, the belt guard will be needed in to stop the belt while the clutch is pushed in. A pic of my Suburban 400 "Rat Rod" with a Predator engine.

The RJ-58 was the first four wheel garden tractor to use a geared transmission. Yours looks great (with the exception of the yellow ) but that can be cured. Many people use engines other than the K-91 it was born with and that is fine. This is your tractor and as long as you are enjoying it that is the main thing.

Randy I have used J.B. on axels for the keyway or woodruff repair. This is tuff stuff.

One thing to note- rear fenders were not standard in 58 and 59. They were an option. So if you don't have them, it doesn't mean the tractor is not complete.

Here is a picture of one done up properly.

Finished my 42-SMS Sickle Mower rebuild for Rodney Burger (lawnman_56) Turned out pretty good. I put one of my new sickle drive pins in the wobble box and blade. I have a few for sale listed in Red Square Classifieds. I also ran the 702 and 854 . Cleaned them up to take to a couple shows this fall. I also started to install my gas tank on my restored Wheel Horse RJ hood. I had to cut off the rusted bolts on the gas tank straps Going to install tank, sediment bowl and new gas line. Hood will go on RJ in pictures.

This combo caught my interest on my way home tonight. It intrigued me so much that I had to stop & take a picture of it. One sweet example of a mid 60's Chevy van and the painted to match Scamp camper is certainly icing on the cake.

Before... and after...

Sounds like the fellas have you covered so I'll just You did good tho a RJ is a rare find in your area. The one with the hubcaps is a '59.

Wonder why L-157's don't have parking brakes...? I just end up using my dozer blade (if I indeed have it on the tractor) as my parking brake... Don

Wow! I am just amazed at all the awesome informative responses and so damn quick!! I'm a member of many forum and I have to say the welcome I've received here and the level of knowledge is top notch. Thank you all so much for the help Now where do I find parts? 😁 Not sure about a 58 engine but if one can not be found what is the next best thing? 4hp seems to little for me any upgrade? I'm so excited about this tractor it's sort of funny And I promise there will be no YELLOW on it 🤣😉

Looks like you had a great day. Smallies are one of my favorite fish to catch. Pound for pound they are the most aggressive fish in the water. My biggest smallie was 5lbs. Very respectable size in our area.

I checked the numbers this morning. The mag is for the 2cyl. I think the other model 2 cyl but like you said it may still work. This afternoon I will check the TDC on the piston verses position of the rotor on each cylinder. Thanks for the info. It's been a big help

This may sound silly, but it also depends on how you use the torque wrench. I once watched an assembly line worker torquing a drive coupling plate to an engine flywheel, (VW 1.6ltr diesel). I had just finished replacing a damaged engine in a small road sweeper the company manufactures. Every bolt, (M8x1.25, 8.8 grade), snapped whilst being torqued. Getting new bolts from the production line, same results, torque wrench tested ok. Asked the worker if he had any problems? Answer “No”, I watched as he tightened a set of bolts. As each bolt appeared to become tight he gave a sharp ‘jerk’ with the wrench, rather than a steady pull, which caused it to ‘click’, supposedly indicating correct torque? Taking the torque wrench I then slowly ‘re-torqued’ each bolt, with a steady pull, each one snapped! A whole delivery of nuts and bolts were returned to the platers due to ‘Hydrogen Embrittlement’, ( incorrect after treatment following plating). I have often seen tyre fitters use a torque wrench the exact same way he did! Doug.

Just came in from loading all of our gear that was originally in the pop-up into the GMC. Heading to a small lake about 25 miles from home tomorrow evening after work for a weekend trip. Was hoping to be able to take the camper to the National Two Cylinder Show in Fairview OK next weekend, but I don't think it's gonna be ready for that long of a trip just yet. One thing I need to do is build a heavier duty rear bumper and hitch before hooking our trailer behind it, and I also noticed yesterday while doing some routine maintenance that although the tires on it look brand new, they are 18 years old. I don't mind taking a 25 mile trip down county roads at 35 mph on them, but definitely want to get some new ones on it before we venture 100 miles from home with a tractor and trailer in tow.

Decided to play hooky from work today and head a couple of hours north with a good friend to go after some Smallmouth and Largemouth. Caught 16 fish split between the 2 of us. Nothing record size but beats a day at work for sure. The picture of the pine trees has a nice bald eagle keeping an eye on our catch. He is up top on a limb in the center of the photo. Weather was close to perfect.

I recently purchased this cool little machine which is sorely not complete however I would love to bring her back to it's former glory. Problem from the start is I am unsure what model etc I actually have. I can only find one badge/stamp under the seat on the right side which is labeled L12-8. It has clearly been repainted and missing a good deal of components I will be researching and doing as much reading as possible. Can anyone point me in the right direction in procurement of parts such as the proper engine and a belly mower etc etc. Attached are pictures of the tractor. Thank you all and thank you for hosting such an informative site. Robert

Picked these up the other day and blasted and painted them.

Nice tractors, but I won't give any pic an "Excellent" that has snow !

Not today, but in the morning. "East bound and down, loaded up and truckin' " Antique tractor and equipment show about an hour east of me tomorrow morning. First show I have ever been to out of town.

The stance 😎 867

They're an aftermarket supplier Eric. https://www.smallenginewarehouse.com/Repower-Old-Equipment Their claim to fame is supplying everything you need to accomplish the swap included in the kit.

This is their 20hp Honda replacement. Less than 20hrs run time on this one.

I pull with wheel horses as well. I have a buddy with a 60hp wheel horse. There’s a belt we use called a 5v belt from Vbelt supply.com. I have yet to see one of those stretch or break.

@Gregor He has been a very good friend for many years and we have worked along side one another in the Plumbing and Heating trade and have pumped out some serious work together. He's the type of friend you only come across once in a lifetime. Comes from a family of Plumbers. That Bass Cat is his fifth Bass boat, they were all nice but this one is extremely stable at high speed. When he calls and says let's go fishing, I drop everything and go no matter what day of the week it is. Life is way to short and fragile to not spend the opportunity to hang with someone of his caliber.

I need better friends !

Dat's the nice thing about following @kpinnc's threads, he gives lots of pictures!!! You guys responding to my threads gives me motivation. Not to mention I need someone looking over my shoulder to keep me from doing something stupid...

4th Annual Stockbridge Area Tractor Show Sept. 24-26 Stockbridge, MI Directions/Event Address Directions: American Legion Post Hall, S. Clinton St. (M-52), zip code 49285. Contact: Kim Smith 517-851-7069 https://www.farmcollectorshowdirectory.com/4th-annual-stockbridge-area-tractor-show/

Go all the way to a laser and you can just blast the stuff into oblivion.

Some have put bigger engines in these lil "nut roaster's". One thing to be conscious of is that they are very front end light. My 400 Suburban (real similar to your tractor only a 1960) has a revved up 6.5 Predator engine in it. I installed wheelie bars after the first time the gas cap touched my nose.

@WHX?? Casting jigs with Gamakatsu hooks with plastic trailer bait and or 5'' Yamasenko and Cotton Cordell Big O Crankbaits.

Here are some pictures that may be useful for you if you want to make your own fuel pump mounting plate.

The L12-8 is the casting date code for the transmission case. It means that the trans case was cast on Nov. 12, 1958 which would lime up with it being a RJ58/59. That’s not to say the tranny could not have been swapped out sometime, but it appears to be from that time period. -JD-

Some day we have to go after smallies on Big Green Dan. Star Lake up north has some great smallie fishing too. Bad day of fishing beats a good day at work Plunge! What were you using for presentation? Plastics?

Had a set of those.Those are nice an heavy. But are a bear to put on with a bad back and knee.

I love JB Weld.Use a lot of it.Whoever invented it should get a Nobel prize.

Perfectly sums up how I feel about Onans, at least the 20hp Performer. They are fantastic when in working order, but I don't plan to put much time or money into repairing one. My 520-H is a great tractor, and I will maintain it as long as I can. That said, if that Onan gives out I won't rebuild it. It will get a repower much like my current 523 project- which was originally a 518-HE. Parts availability and cost alone are prohibitive when compared to a Kohler. Prices per part are similar, but you need twice as many with an Onan. I look forward to your repower. 27hp is a bunch of power! Can't wait to see how it turns out!

Lots of good performances have come out of Daryl's house.. Love watching those.

'58 Ride-Away Jr.

We have here a progress pic. The rest of the tire will be burnted.

not my pictures but ones I had saved.

I too run 30w oil year round. The building they are kept in isn't heated. I see no difference in the way they start in the winter vs the summer. They usually start at the turn of the key, even when the temperature is in the teens and lower.