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I hate working on days that end in “Y”, especially days that start with “F” and end in “Y” ! So told the boss I won’t be in today and took my parents up and down the Connecticut river. Absolutely perfect day! Not a single cloud, blue-blue skies, temps in the upper 70’s, low humidity… and NO BOAT FAILURES

Picked up a few goodies today. Gitty up! Cheers!

Yup. I've got a 10" Black & Decker battery chain saw. It gets used more than the old 16" Mac 10 and the 18" Craftsman. The battery saw gets used for storm cleanup, trimming, and some rough carpentry. The gas saws come out when there is real tree work to be done. I gave Morgan the 14-8 Nownamed a workout today mowing the lawn. Earlier this week these, got delivered: New front shoes for Clyde the C-195. They are 8.5x18 - 8 V61 4 ply ribbed tires. Got to bust the old tires off of the wheels and refinish the wheels before these go on.

Totally agree Eric. I'd bet Trina loves that saw for around the grounds. Hard to beat. The commercial harvesters are crazy efficient and a lot safer than traditional means but man they can take a forest off the map in a hurry which is a bit troubling to me. When I was young we used to cut just after the leaves fell, split it after the corn was planted and it would be ready to burn by Halloween and nice and dry by deer season. Every year, and the smell of a 2s takes me back there... I'm a bit of a pretender now that it's for pleasure but life is good and there's something to be said for that.

Yeah... sorry, but you can't believe the 'after 48 hours'. It's just not long enough. Especially with three coats of top coat. I only paint 'wet on wet' anymore. I only wait long enough for the previously applied coat to 'flash' before applying the next coats. If you don't apply next coats within an hour (or LESS), I personally would wait AT LEAST a week before applying another coat. And... if you WET SAND in between and break the top surface 'shell', you should probably wait even longer than that! Wet on wet is where it's at with Rustoleum rattle cans.

Got these in the post today. I've tried to drive a pin or two from tough places and bent the snot outta the cheap tools I have here...... So I got some better quality drivers.

Probably as a roofer's 'helper'. Carrying bundles of 3-tabs up a ladder. I had a good tan that summer though!

Today I picked up this RJ-58. It’s missing the pulley on the gearbox but seems otherwise complete. Kohler K91 turns by hand. Previous owner never ran it. Anything else you guys can tell me about it? I only know what I’ve found the last few days searching around. Is the hitch thing on the rear homemade? Thank you.

Hey guys i thought i would introduce my latest member of the herd a C-160 8 It needs a new fuel pump its cracked and definely a seat. I think it will clean up nicely.

I just picked up this old guy today as part of my Labor Day haul. It’s pretty rough but salvageable. I’m gonna need some parts. I’m also in need of some detailed pics, I’m exactly sure what’s missing, what’s not right. If any of you can help I would most appreciate it.

Hi all, Summary: Solid mounts a year ago were very nice. Removed balance gears last December. Unacceptable. Installed eBay originals in good condition. I can ride it again at full throttle AND keep my fillings. Long story (I have the day off): A thread inspired me last December to look and see if my balance gears were doing well and the rear one was a wobbler. Removed them. She was burning too much oil - original rebuild was just a stone hone and power was not as it should be - it took months to get it bored .020. Hard to find in GA. Installed everything and started her up. Solid mounts USED to be great! That old off-idle vibration that shook the hood was gone thanks to those mounts. A little more vibration was OK. After the removal of the balance gears - NOT! The thing makes my butt numb and I can't mow at higher than about 2500 RPM. The hood vibrates just too much. Decided to shop Flea Bay for some used, but OK, mounts. Toro prices are . . . the usual Toro prices. Mine were shot and tossed in the bin. Easily installed, right? I thought in my ignorance that I could just remove a solid mount one at a time and pop-in the originals. Heck, the mount rubber has to be pressed in! Who knew? My old ones weren't like this at the restoration years ago. Delayed while I figured how to pull the engine on my own. I used to just throw it up on the bench but I've grown more cautious. No buds around in the AM for assistance. Tied some 10 gauge wire around a 2x3. Put one end on the table saw and lifting was easy. Still have to lift the weight but no bending and it was going on the floor. Dead lift at knee level. Pulled the 2x3 across the table to extend the engine to the side of the tractor and let her down slowly. Engine bay still pretty clean and the engine oil was due for its 1 hour drop after the rebuild anyway. Looked fine. How to get those mounts in? Tried a C clamp and a socket as a spacer - too clumsy. Greased them up nicely and got longer bolts - tightening them a bit at a time and nudging the mounts into the hole with a blunt object. Turned out not to be a bother! I've learned not to throw things away. It always seems that you need something the day after it's in the garbage truck. I still had the grounding lead and the large mount washers. The wife assisted in the re-installation. Kinda' freaked her out. Back in place, and I got to clean the lower engine area from that minor oil leak around the fuel pump. Attracted grass clippings like a magnet. A few bulb squeezes to start her up and, glorious! No more teeth chattering and I can take her up to 3600 if I like - sounds wonderful and she tore through the deep, deep crab grass. Don't discount those mounts. Sure, that off idle vibration is back and stronger than before. Nothing like a fresh bore for power. Something to spend time on tomorrow. Now, what to do with these?

Nice, Rob. The one-eyed 753 looks to have good clean up potential - or leave it as is and name it "Ole Deadeye"....

I've got a whole box full of spare plumbing parts that don't seem to fit anything in my plumbing system.

As the title says, tell us about that job that you would rather forger about!! Mine was working for my Uncle Ray that owned a contract cleaning service. I was in Trade School M-F mornings, and worked for him 6-10 PM M-Th and a half day Saturday. He had one account at a now long-gone chemical company, and one crew would go there on Saturdays. There was one task reserved for whoever screwed up during the week - it was called "The Run". You had 4 hours, no more, to clean close to 90 toilets located throughout the three 3 story buildings, you had to run to get them all done on time. During the week, we had one other kid mouth off to the lead guy, and I figured that "Manny" was a shoe-in for The Run on Saturday. Saturday morning, my Uncle tells me he got word that Manny quit on Friday, and asked me to do "The Run" in his place - telling me "You're Family, I figured you'd understand".... this happened twice. Two weeks later, I got an afternoon job in a factory that paid more and no Saturday work. I told my Uncle I was giving my notice, and he got a tad cranky with me, but I wasn't quitting, just trying to do better, then I told him "You're Family, I figured you'd understand"...

Working on getting the trans back together. Swapped a few bearings (outboard axle shaft and input shaft) cleaned out all the gears and the case. Made a gasket. Hope to paint it this weekend along with the main frame parts. Im continuously amazed at how much space this process demands. Get everything cleaned up and organized, then within a few hours the shop looks like a tornado came through.

I agree with everyone, 48 hrs is not enough time and neither is 72. I got so angry last time that I called Rustoleum and they said 72 hrs should be enough time. I told them it’s not! Then gave me a scientific explanation why this happened which I already forgot. I forgot what it was I was painting but it crinkled and I was furious and had to start over. Like Jeff said, it’s either wet on wet or wait a week.

So you’re the guy that landed the Ann Arbor CL pile of stuff…!!! I was looking but didn’t pull the trigger… Nice job!

Nice! Much better purchase than a second 520 in my opinion. A mid 70’s C series with a Kohler single is the perfect machine to learn some mechanical & restoration skills…and in the end you will have a desirable tractor

I agree with through-bolt to resist "movement" but also because I wouldn't trust OSB, even Advantech, not to pull out. Further, I would use an augur or spade bit to first cut a countersink for the bolt head and then drill the through hole. I recently bought a set of elevator bolts for when I redo the deck on my trailer. These are similar to carriage bolts, but are flat topped so they nestle in nicely to a less-deep countersink and leave the surface almost smooth with smaller crevices where junk can accumulate. https://www.boltdepot.com/Elevator_bolts_Zinc_plated_steel_1_4-20.aspx Another possible method would be T-Nuts with screws underneath. Similar to elevator bolts but leaves the ends of the screws exposed.

I would drill right thru and nut/bolt it myself. use carriage head bolts so they aren’t stickin up above the Advantech board. Pretty sure any kinda sheet metal or wood screw will work it’s way loose on something as flexible as a yard trailer…not to mention the rough terrain you’ll be using it on.

Hello 3 day weekend

And always do the paint can in the hot water trick - thins the paint, raises the rattle can's internal pressure, and it flashes faster than room temp... Just remember to wipe the can off before the next coat! Shell White in the sauce pan!!

I use Rutsoleum Almond and immediately after spraying the last color coat I spray a coat of Rustoleum Chrystal Clear Enamel. Then after 15 min. another coat of clear.

Refinishing hardwood floors in a school in August no A/C...many pre OSHA chemicals Mixing up asbestos with water to seal boiler access ports and insulate pipes after climbing inside the boiler to scrape carbon build up. (Gave us a mask for that part.)

Age 15 back in the dark ages. Worked for a hamburger joint on weekends . Hamburgers were $0.15 and cheeseburgers were $0.20 . This place did not have inside service so everything was walk up. Lines would be 50 people , at 4 windows. I was paid $1.00 an hour , one Saturday night the boss decided it was my turn to clean the grease trap , the next week I found a job at a grocery store at $1.05 an hour. Took me almost a year before I would eat a hamburger after the grease trap. That $1.05 hour job paid my way thru college and 3 years after I graduated .

There, Eric. I fixed it for you. @ineedanother... you should approve... Don

Take away the points. Get rid of the chase. Whoever wins the most races wins the Championship. Give guys $$$$ for leading laps. In case of a tie of races won, the lap leader is the tie breaker. Emphasize winning!

Golf course watering at night. In the summer before my senior year the entire course staff quit. I was working for my dad who ran the course restaurant. It was a hot job in the kitchen but I got to make the salads sitting in the walk in cooler! Anyway my Dad calls me and says if you want a job on the course, get up here. So I did. First assignment was picking up the trash cans. I had to drive a Jacobsen golf course tractor and learned how to drive standard quick that day. If I jerked the clutch, the garbage spilled out of the trailer. I had a lot of fun mowing that summer. The guys who quit came back and we had a blast. Getting up at 4 AM to mow greens sucked but I got done at 1:00 I had played Varsity baseball my junior year. In the early spring of my senior year I went to see the course superintendent about a job . He said no problem I will call you when we start getting things ready. So I didn't go out for baseball and the call never came. He hired all the guys back and I went to see him and he says sorry no place for you. A month later he calls and says I have an opening at night watering. He shows me how to do it. Big honkin pumps and valves to operate. A pump for the front 9 and another for the back 9. You start the pump with this giant starting lever and open a bypass to get water flowing. Put in about 6 sprinkler heads in then close the bypass. Each run takes about 40 minutes. You get to sit for 20 in the shop and then go out and move the sprinklers to the next spot on each hole. One of the rules were if you see lightning, get everything shut down. It was darn spooky out there alone at night out on the back holes let me tell you. Well one hot evening I had made about 3 runs. I'm traveling to a hole and here come my boss driving his Chevy Suburban on the course heading for me. He's pissed. He says he was driving by and the sprinklers are barely putting any water out on the front 9. He says I never opened the main valve as he found it closed. I try to explain to him how could I not notice the low pressure after 3 runs? I figured a golfer came by and his ball was were a sprinkler was and turned the water off and left it. There were a lot of course members who had worked at the course thru the years. He was having none of it. I was pissed now and almost quit right then. But at about 2 AM I 'm out there and see lightning. I start racing to get shut down and the storm comes out of nowhere. I get disoriented and can't figure out where I am with the wind and rain. I see a greens flag and drive right up on the green to figure out exactly where I am. I high tail it to the shop and even jumped a small sand trap with the Cushman Truckster. I was almost off the course and a tree about 50yrds. from me got hit by lightning. That was it. got to the shop wrote a note I was quitting!

My only experience with goats was a couple of yeas ago at Thanksgiving when the neighbor's 3 goats broke out of their pen, came to my house and started eating Mrs. M's azaleas. She broke out the broom to keep them at bay while I call the sheriff to have them all arrested.

That would save on the chiropractor bills too.

Plus...one Our Father and two Hail Mary's.

Got the newly acquired 1045 running. Considering this tractor sat for over 4 years and the points were all jacked, bad gas in carb, gas in oil and nothing but a battery hook up and new gas to get it purring like a kitten I had a great day. Hauled in some inventory and couple new tractors life is good. IMG_6279.MOV

Humid days can sort of kill that rule of thumb. With less VOCs being used in today's paint curing times don't seem to work out well when humid.

I like that wooden deck truck !

I started in a similar place with the goal of a nice fresh reliable worker tractor for mowing, towing, etc. Not a parade or trailer queen tractor. I did take a while to decide between patina and paint. After I had it apart, it was clear there was too much rust for my taste so it got prepped and painted--that did add a lot of time to the refurb. I also upgraded a couple bits but mainly just replaced/repaired missing and worn parts and tidied up. Fortunately for me, the engine did not need machine shop work or new internal parts. I've just finished building a mower deck out of parts decks to go with it. The 753 and 854 are quite similar and it looks at first glance like you got most of the parts! Yours has the saddle seat instead of the square pan--both are commonly seen. The headlights are not WH, I don't think, though headlights were an option in that year. It's a very straightforward tractor to work on mechanically and electrically. The early 60's tractors ('61 to '64) were an important sequence for WH as they refined the chassis and steering within the larger form factor under the round hood and before many now-common safety features came to lawn and garden equipment (just look at those stirrup footrests, for example).

I had my old metal shop put in a bottom half of the snowthrower cause I ain't got time for it anymore wish they made a straight cut but I'm not complaining they hooked me up. So I'm sanding the surface rust off revealing old paint and the original sticker! Even stickers held up better than today's i was using 320 grit

And a lot cheaper, too!

Very nice Mike. Great to be able to spend quality time with both your parents. A few pictures of Patti and I smallmouth bass fishing on Sebec Lake in Maine years back. Sure do miss the tranquillity of it. Thanks for those pictures

What is even the spec on camber on your truck? Ford frt ends wear out tires faster than most guys wear out underwear. If you put in a fixed bushing and it's still not correct you get to buy another bushing. Take it to an alignment shop and let the guys who do this all the time do it. You may need a different bushing for each side. They can put it on their laser machine determine what's needed and do it.

Greens keeper at a local golf course JUST when Caddy Shack was released.... "Carl the greens keeper...." still hate golfers err... I mean gophers to this day.

One reason to use the chute in my yard is to knock down acorn flight during fall clean up. I broke a rear entry door ($750) 10 years ago. The acorn got thrown about 30 ft, shattered that window. Now I bolt on the chute in the fall after the acorns have dropped.

We go a big honkin parking lot at a plaza in town. Tops grocery store at the west end. East end has a pizza shop and gym and no carts. One night is was a big west wind and my B I L calls me. His daughter's car died and wanted me to help. We stop at the plaza at Auto Zone to get something. I stayed in the truck and these 2 carts are hauling butt across the parking lot. You'd swear there were 2 ghost's racing those things. Back and forth they went. 1 in the lead then the other. When they got to the end they piled into each other in the grass. They plow all the snow to the east end. In the spring all the snow melts and carts start appearing in the snow pile like the stuff at Lake Meade!

Thanksgiving Day… Hhhmmm… Those goats belong on the Group W bench with all the other derelicts from Alice’s Restaurant…

With all the rules and specifications there is virtually no room for improvement, NASCAR might as well build the cars and ask what color you want.

Look at you go Rob!

Thank you everyone for the Birthday wishes.

One must keep their mind open to the extreme.

I could so see hooking that to a fast with a 75ft rope & dragging @Pullstart around at full speed. I'm sure that Jim would be happy to hold Kevin's drink for him.

There is no way you could take that to a WH show and just sit in it especially if @WHX??, @Achto, or @Pullstart is around!