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Spent a rainy Saturday putting our newly acquired NOS 314 back into showroom condition after 20+ years of un-covered indoor storage. Took it to the shop , carefully removed a few pieces & gave it a thorough soap and water bath, followed by a blow dry and 2 bake cycles in the booth to remove any hidden moisture. Even though it was stored indoors, time and dust had made the finish less than pristine , so some corrective measures were needed. A light color sanding and buffing brought the finish back, followed by a complete ceramic coating. PTO assembly was removed and re-greased, along with a cleaning of the clutch mating surfaces. All the wire connections (plugs) were cleaned and re-greased as needed, oil was changed, gear oil changed, cup holder was installed. Deck chute and battery are here too ( not shown ) . Now it looks like a new machine should.

My show tractors for October Festivals. RJ59, 1045, 657 w/sickle bar, 10HP and D200. Just love the attention and hearing the stories of grandpa or growing up had one. Always can see the joy these Horses bring to the spectators. Than telling them the WH history story along with Speedex story always intrigues them. Than of course there is always someone that needs to get one out of the way. Last year it was the 1045 and the PO was so excited to learn I got her running and been mowing my grass all summer. Of course I had to let him drive her around. This year it’s a 702 I think I getting this week. So many were engrossed by the Sickle Bar never knowing such was available on garden tractors.

Ladies and gentlemen we have trusses!!!!! Just to give you a bit of scale. The bottom of the trusses are about 12 ft 6 off the ground.

Installed my homemade wheel weights and chained up the C-125. Painted the top of the weights with the embedded brake rotor and concrete, but paint won't bond to HDPE so I opted for some black 200 MPH tape instead. BTW... I did not paint those wheels! Done by P.O. So no razzing please!

Maybe offer ballroom dancing lessons on the second floor! Really taking shape nicely.

Did a bit of radical apple tree pruning today. We've had a good crop on the community project land but this time of year we get kids using them as ammunition for pelting houses and cars with.... We have Halloween at the end of the month which some kids have bent the rules of. Instead of giving them a trick or a treat as you guys over the pond do, our UK kids decided that if you don't ante up with wodges of free sweets they will bombard your house with anything readily to hand, from rocks to eggs to rotten apples. We never did the whole trick or treat thing when I was young, just lit lanterns made of an old turnip and looked out for Witches. We imported truck or treat from you guys and to be honest you can have the bugger back lol. In addition to this we have Guy Fawkes night on November 5th. To remember when some halfwit made a right mess of blowing up parliament, thus condemning us to centuries of idiotic rule. Most kids wouldn't have a clue about that anymore and they simply know it as fireworks night or just bonfire night. Again they have tampered with the rule book and fireworks night stretches from mid October untilwell into the new year. (Who says we have no money when literally thousands of pounds will go up in smoke). As a kid I would have been conscrpited into the volunteer army of thousands of tiny wood ants who's sole purpose was to find, secure and retrieve as much "Bunny wood" as possible for a bonfire to be held on our street; each street had their own fire and competition to have the biggest could be pretty intense. Trees, timber, school desks and even outdoor toilet doors were squirrelled away and guarded 24/7 by squads of crack catapult shots to prevent poaching by other streets. The fire itself wood be lit by my dad, using plenty of pink paraffin. Usually accompanied by the massed bands of Jump Junior and infants school and the local cub scout pack it was a solemn occasion. Toffee apples, parkin, pies and peas and potatoes roasted in the bonfire (usually blackened to a crisp on the outside and still raw in the middle, they were eaten like a hot lollipop with your finger stuck in the cold centre) were all consumed by hordes of hungry kids. Crowned by the burning of Guy Fawkes in effigy on top of the fire which we blood thirsty, sawn off savages cheered with glee. Throw in half a dozen sparklers, a Catherine wheel nailed to next doors fence and a fireworks selection box (most of which did exactly the same thing) and we were sated for another year. Mixed in with this festival of mayhem is Nov the 4th or mischievous night. Traditionally, groups of wiry kids would March secretly about the village, cutting washing lines (serves you right you should take them back in!), playing knock and run, hedge hopping and other harmless jokes. I will tell more of those if anyone is interested. I myself took part in many a night time operation to strike back at the adult population and further the cause of youth emancipation from their dull little lives. The rules have again been modified by modern youth and now mischievous night lasts about a month and involves criminal damage on an industrial scale. Hence the apple tree reduction. If I can remove the last of the apples and raise the criwns so that less low hanging hand grenades are available I will be a happy bunny. Some in the area wanted the trees cutting down to stop them being used as ammo dumps but that's a bit harsh on those who pick and use the apples. So I've Wombled on a bit so I'd love you to get back with your seasonal festivals and customs.

Yes that is fine. Often if I am in doubt if I will start it in the cold I will put 10w in. I think it's more important to put fresh oil in no matter what the weight or brand than running tar. Is it just me or do my motors just seem to run better with fresh oil?

There ya go Don. I fixed it for you...

Transmission going in….

My ol girl did some work today! Wheel Horse Merchandise IMG_1233.MOV

Fixing to do a 300 mile one way trip this weekend to pick up an 854. However if the PO wasn’t going to Ohio for vacation I’d have a 500 mile one way to PA. Whew!

The dampening and compacting are important to the result. Also, it is pretty steeply sloped so runoff has to be considered. Adding a bit of crown on the sloped run will make sure that rain runoff doesn't go straight downhill and carve ruts.

It’s crushed limestone gravel up to 1.5” with the fines still in it. (Unwashed). The fines work like mortar and lock up the gravel. You want crushed, not rounded or pebbles… they will never lock up. Here’s my trailer storage area. Hard as a rock…

Well I took a road trip today up to Walton, Indiana just southeast of Logansport. I agreed to buy a 2004 42 inch tall chute snowblower based upon photos alone. Not always a good idea but I had a feeling about this one. Light dirt, no belt but all the parts including lift tube, flag. Etc. Turns out it was owned by a farmer that had a blacktop road back to his house . He had a 1982 c-165 hydro which had wheel weights, chains and a mower deck. But he told me he bought snowblower in 2004 and only used it five or six times! And the looks of the auger, nuts and bolts, blower chain, and paint said it was so. Here are some pictures ! I also got a manual and I did not know Toro recommended 100 pounds of weight in the rear wheels. Also like the grease fittings on the snowblower bearings.

Fired this one up with some cam2 today as well. Has not started in over a year. IMG_3347.MOV

I’m not a believer that it will fix the planet, I just like building them, mowers are a new chapter. It is nice not running to get fuel for the yard though….

I've been actively resisting the whole "electrification" trend. E-series notwithstanding, because they are awesome. That being said, your repower looks great, and well thought out. Very nice!

I'm in NC, and my wife (girlfriend at the time) thought I was crazy for driving to Indiana for a tractor. That was 20 years ago. Dare I say when I was dumber? That's as big a trip as I've ever made, beyond the couple times I went to the PA show. You never come home from there empty handed...

Probably one of the best things one can do to a shaker plate motor. Wheel Horse Solid Engine Mounts (zkbrmachine.com)

Jeeperts cats have a dance up there!!!

Trina and I are scheduled to make a run to Highland NY, then an hour south to get 2 tractors this month on the 15th. @Herder and @Handy Don have them waiting for us. Following that we'll be taking a side route through RI to see @ri702bill. Haven't added up the mileage. Should be 700 to 800 round trip including some scenic routes.

1974 C-160 8 spd

Oops!!! For some reason I read the coverage as 66 sq ft, not the correct 600. Sorry about my brain fart.

Check Walmart, a little over $17 for 5 qts of 30W

Yup, I'm figuring the pictures of it on the grass is about as close that one will get to seeing yard duty....

@clueless Chris bought a Suburban (RJ?) from @Jake Kuhn at Scott’s meet and greet a good long while ago. That was FL to northern IN. Chris is the bearded man between @stevasaurus and I, which was the first time the Dino met either of us. Henceforth, for many a years to come, Chris was Kevin and I was Chris!

Bill this is pretty much the exact path I intend to take. I will let you know how it turns out. @Handy Don that's the exact reason I originally started looking for a speed reducer kit. I have a WT-244 tiller I want to restore and at the time I didn't have any aspirations of getting a 6 or 8 speed tractor. I also have a 7-1111 mid mount belly blade I want to use, as well as a set of the AC- 673 cultivators. Even in 1st gear I found the 854 a bit fast for my liking for working in the garden around plants with the cultivator, and also using the belly blade. The usual solution of slowing down by slowing the motor RPM didn't help me alot though as then my HY-3 is slow to react. I also didn't like running the motor at low RPM. Lastly I plan on letting my niece run this tractor and not letting her have high gears would be handy. @Pullstart and @Handy Don I am pretty sure I am going to have to make this happen. I will get a video if I do. An 8 speed transmission, low 1st gear, speed reducer kit, and full RPM sounds too fun to see! Surprised nobody ever did it for the big show "race".

This afternoon / evening I drove 180 miles round trip to get a few parts for my RJ restoration. 4 hours driving and 2.5 hours talking mostly about tractors. It was a good productive trip. I've driven 600 miles round trip several different times for a tractor. Last summer while visiting family in Northern Minnesota I found a gravely sulky sitting in the weeds on my Uncle's farm. I brought that home, I wouldn't have drove 2200 miles round trip for a sulky but it was part of the trip so that would be the furthest from home I found a piece of equipment to bring home.

Yup. I had a good, healthy laugh when I realized we had run out of gas - mostly because of the irony of the rescue mission now needing rescue.

This project came up quickly, and I delivered quickly. We are selling our 2 horses to my wife's sister in Atlanta, and they need some training before they go. Two young ladies who are friends of the family are riders who are happy to take on the training, but they needed an enclosed space to do it, and quickly. I did some quick planning, picked up some posts, fence, and a few other supplies, rented a small post hole auger, and got started Friday evening before dark. Finished up yesterday afternoon. I picked the flattest area near the barn. Mowed down the weeds with my GT-1848, which took about 3 passes. Gate was salvaged from our old barn way in the back of the property. This is only going to be needed for a month or so, but should last quite a bit longer than that. Posts were level before stretching the fence... they look a bit tilted in this picture but I didn't notice that when I was out there just a while ago. It could be some distortion from the camera, but a little tilt won't matter. The ribbon is there just to make sure the horses can clearly see the fence boundary. This is a 50 foot diameter round pen, so they can walk & trot around it - it's a bit too small for a canter, but maybe not... Daughter's boyfriend helped for a few hours both Saturday and Sunday, which made it easier on this old dude. Hadn't built any fence for a few years - had fun doing it. Training starts tomorrow.

Trina used our semi permanent on loan smoker to make us up some turkey legs. WOW were they edible. Note her solution for the missing grease catcher. It can be covered, emptied, reused, it burned in the outdoor fire 🔥 pit as necessary.

I have gone on several trips for trucks. I live near Wichita Kansas and I have traveled the following places for vehicles: - Boston Massachusetts for a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins -Sioux City Iowa for a 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins - Leander Texas for a 2004 Jetta TDI -Tampa Florida for a 1995 Ram 2500 Cummins -Lincoln Nebraska for a 1978 Ford F-350 Crew Cab The only trip I have taken that was more than a few hours for a wheel horse item was up to see HCminis and pick up an 854 and some implements in Indiana. My wife is a champ and drove our 2006 Ram with a car trailer all the way there and back. We stopped in Springfield at Lamberts and ate, the went to the Heather Hills Cheese store. Went to St. Louis and ate at Parkers Table and went to the St. Louis Botanical Gardens. Stopped to see DJ in Indiana and pick up the wheel horse and attachments. Drove up to Indiana State Dunes. Drove through the suburbs of Chicago and ate at Giordanos. Then we started the long drive home.

Here are a couple of pictures of 2 up-grades /improvements I made that makes it a little easier to use. The first is a spring to hold the grinder away from the sliding block and I added a lock nut so the 5/16" threaded rod is now tight in the side of the grinder. The result is much less play in the unit. I still plan on installing 2, 5/16" ID flange bushings on each side of the sliding block for the rod to slide through smoothly. The second is a 'stop' so you start at the same place each time, which is kinda important. FYI: I like to use a oil stone after I sharpen the blades to dress up the new edge. Ron 1 - 4 of 4 Posts

Replace them with solid mounts. The tension on the belts will pull the engine out of alignment with the belts.

I got lucky. I found the fitting on the left side. It had a 45 ell pointing forward and with my U joint on the grease gun, I was able to turn the wheels full right and reach it by going in front of the steering tower.

I looked at mine that steering block grease fitting is too close to the corner and the panel has a notch cut out of that corner. There is a 90 degree grease fitting in my 312 and it's not too hard to get to.

I fixed the starter on the 314-8 while Eli (grandson, almost 3) was napping after lunch. We keep him 4 days a week while his parents work. A 3 year old will keep you busy!

I used the . Rolled it back and forth over the 21aa, moving over 3” at a time and locked it right up… compaction achieved with turf tires. No issues 3 years later.

What you describe is the natural inclination we competitive humans have to "go one better" than the other bloke. Year after year, it accrues until someone gets hurt of there is some "industrial scale damage" that cannot be overlooked and the parade comes to a screeching halt.

Added to the list

@Heatingman nice B80! I am an even bigger fan, of that white Chevy in the background!

Holy cow!! You'd be better off hiring a company that specializes in spray foam if you want to do that. Using those kits it would cost almost $34k to do our attic. A properly taped and finished inside and you won't have the air leaks.

@ebinmaine, runner crush is the best base for a good hard driveway. It is a combination of 1 1/2" crushed granite and stone dust. It has great compaction and won't erode once it has been compacted.

Gas powered, darn tootin'. Still had to break up some hard clay with the shale bar and clean the holes with the human-powered one, but that rental was worth every last penny!

Great clever idea. End result is an always straight bevel which is flat and not hollow ground such as when done free hand on a grinder. Flat bevel creates a much stronger edge. @SparkyThis thread should be pinned somewhere where it may be accessed easily. Here it will eventually be lost pushed into obscurity by new threads.

Gonna hafta fire up the chain saw to cut Collosus loose from the roots it has sprout! Build a big box and put Collosus in it in the new shop. A time capsule /cornerstone if you will.

Wow! So sorry to hear this. Condolences to his family. I met Jay at the Little Guys show in PA in 2009. Later, at the WHCC he provided me details for mounting a loader to my 416-H. Always there to lend a hand. In the height of Covid, he and his brother drove down to my house to pick up some brake linings. I told him I could ship them cheaper, but he wanted to get out of the house. Jay, we will all miss you. Rest In Peace

Howard messaged me Wednesday with the news. I remember the first time I met Jay. He came over to my spot and said how much he enjoyed my posts. We had fun playing with his horse head mask that year! Such a mild fellow. I remember when the windstorm destroyed his canopy. I was the first to tell him as I ran into him in the parking lot after dinner. He says "O well, it was junk anyway!" My last conversation with Jay.

I posted Jay's trading card from 2018 and a picture I found on the site. I met Jay one Thursday morning in the parking lot waiting for the gates to open. He walked over put his hand out and said I'm Jay or Roadapples on redsquare. He was like talking to an old friend. Glad I was able to talk with him a couple times at the big show.