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On Thursday October 6, 2022 Kevin, a long time wheel horse fan getting back into horses, was killed in an automobile accident in North Dakota. Kevin was beginning a small collection of horses to provide community service to the town of St. Marie Montana by mowing overgrown areas and keeping the abandoned properties cleaned up. He did all of this to help the town and try to drive more people into the town. His work was greatly appreciated by most of the residents of this small community. Kevin was not a member of RedSquare, and most, if not all of you never knew him, but he was special to me. Rest in peace Kevin Lyon (1969-2022)

Brought these home Monday... Like new. Brought this home Tuesday, my first twin Kohler !!! Snowblower, another set of wheel weights, chains, Trac Vac, & caution lights... I was lucky enough to get the series II Kohler 17 with fuel injection.... Also came with one Maypop tire, I would like to find one for the other side to match but I think they went out of business, if anyone has a line on a good used Maypop let me know... Now for today, the ever elusive C-111 Mustang II edition, with equally rare low rpm backwards rotating 36" rd deck, Lol. My first Tecky!!!... & another snowblower.

I finished a work table that'll make access a lot easier. The 1000 lb. capacity hydraulic lift cart on wheels lets me re-position the work table with the tractor on it to be out of the way when I'm not working on it. That's "Clyde" up there undergoing some enhancements. It's a 520 swept-axle reduction steering chassis with 518 engine and "topsides"

"Stupid" is quite frankly a word that no person should ever use about any person... Especially themselves. You're 13. You weren't born knowing ALL. You were born knowing absolutely NOTHING. Everything you've ever done up to this point has been a LEARNED behavior. You WILL learn something new every day for the rest of your life. Oft times hundreds of, or even thousands of new pieces of information will be absorbed by you daily. Some of those absorptions will be about the quandary of the tractor engine. So.... WHY exactly is your own engine ruined? What makes it wholly not savable? Around this shop yard and acreage it is highly unlikely we would use a Chinese cheapo powerplant even short term. We would really rather spend a little extra and IMHO correct money on a quality used Kohler Briggs or Tecumseh engine than a disposable import.

At first I tried to entice him with a sugar cube to just jump up. Not interested. Resorted to winching him up my ramps! Dadgum stubborn horses. I had a burro that was more cooperative.

Waters Farm in Sutton MA Weather looks good for Saturday, sunny and 60 ish

My 416 Kohler would backfire terrible when shut off.. Has 1400 hours so thought maybe this is the end. Would start and run great until shut off, so did the following one at a time....... Checked valve settings..... ignition module gap...... carb ok....took head off and looked great.... Compression 135psi when cold....... Was throwing me off as it would backfire if engine hot or cold which eliminated much of what it might be.... Then I read of the forum where somebody wrote it could be the key switch so looked at the wiring diagram and removed switch and sure enough, still making some connection instead of zero ohms across the tabs when key turned to off which would help provide a spark to make engine backfire. So...... carefully bent tabs on back of switch open enough to lift it out. Beadblasted the slide connectors to clean up and possibility of leakage from one connector to another, cleaned up the contact points on other side and put back together and bent tabs around switch back over. Checked all the points that manual said should be in start, run and off and they looked great. Problem solved at no cost too so maybe this will solve others with same issue........ So thanks for the help on the forum!

Don

Finally got my new Carlisle X-Trac's mounted and installed on the GT-1848. I think these will have better steering traction than Ags, although it would look better with Ags front & back. Need to get the power washer out. It's been so dry, the tractors are getting very dusty...

I can understand the frustration of not knowing how to make this work. You want to get on it and drive it around and, as @ebinmaine pointed out, right now, you don't know how to make that happen. But in time, you can know. The question for you is: "Can you muster the patience as you learn how to get your tractor to running knowing that it may take weeks or even months?" There are a bunch of folks on the forum that are willing to point you in good directions but the openness to learning and the perseverance to stick it out must come from you.

or this one.

Ah, but you paid in friendship, which is worth much more than that hunk of metal, that *you* made back into something to be proud of. I think many people care less about the money, which will probably be gone in a few days anyway, than they do about something they may have a bit of sentimental value for, going to a "good home" or having something worthwhile done with it. I personally would rather sell something for less than it might be worth (or give it) to someone I know will make good use of it. But.... not everyone thinks that way.

Well said.

I bet fuel consumption will be very little with that I think it’ll work

Nope… he’ll have to alter the hood… other than that, I would say yes…

I like the use of the lift cart! I am fortunate to have a motorcycle lift table that has atv add on for wider stuff

Neither one of us likes other humans enough to do that. 🤪🤪🤪

How did Clyde get up on the table?

In order for Kelly Bluebook or any other publication to give an opinion of value there has to be a reliable large volume of public sales available. One sale of a tractor is not enough to establish value for all others. Very few Wheel Horses sell at auction houses that publish their results. If I buy a tractor from a private seller and then sell it to another private buyer none of that data is collected for a Blue Book. Mecum Auctions and Aumann Auctions post results but very few of their sales are Wheel Horses. If you want to sell that 854 to me for $ 100.00 that wouldn't establish a going price fort all 854s! Though it would probably put a smile on my face.

Right there with ya Dave. I've been on both sides of the coin on this one. A few months ago I went to look at a snowblower that was attached to the front of a C160. The guy had a 20 to 30 year history with the tractor between him and his dad. He wasn't using it to move snow anymore but REALLY had a hard time letting the tractor part go. After talking to me n Trina and seeing what we've done with our herd he "assigned" the tractor to us. He even delivered it to make sure we got it ok.

My brother

You have a very nice pile of parts to build a Suburban. I believe Fenders we’re an option on Suburbans, so the lack of them doesn’t mean their missing. Here’s some other observations regarding what may be original or swapped parts. But after 60 years who knows what the factory really used that day. In the first picture those are original Goodyear Silverton Ag tires. Very desirable from a collector standpoint. Treat them gently and tube if needed 2nd picture, your rectangular hood stand has larger holes in the top of it. There is some indication the Suburban 400 model with pull start Kohler K91 had a solid panel and the 401 with Electric Start Tecumseh had the larger holes for wires to pass through. Over the years original 400,s have shown up with the holes, so once again the factory probable used what was on hand that day. Your seat pan has 11 holes in the inner circle and may be a replacement. Most Suburbans had seats with 5 holes in the inner circle. The earliest Suburbans had solid pans as it is believed the factory was using up left over RJ seats. 3rd picture. Your frame has 1 tread plate foot rest which is correct fo the 1960 Suburban 400 and 401. The top of your transmission should have a date code cast into it which could help you date the tractor if the transmission is original to it. Post a picture of them please. Most importantly, build it and make it yours!

Lube and heat will be your greatest helper with rusted seized bolts. You should start a new topic in the main forum and members can help you along the way. Watch videos and read up on what ever you are going to work on. I’m sure you can get it running.

Fuel lines go to the fuel tank and carb. Take them off, rinse them out/blow them out and start again. Even if you have dirt in the motor. Same deal. Gasket sets, time, elbow grease, and back in business.

Yep ... just get it RED!!! There is a thread pinned here, in restos? On paint recommendations but no one here, except for maybe @ebinmaine who is color blind, is going to fault you for doing a regal red or my current fav .. IH/Case in gloss red... Bob beat me to it...

X 2

I took apart the steering box on Reese the rj got the snapped pin out and hopefully I can put it back together and have steering again pics coming soon

Extra points for gettin a Briggs instead of a Tecky!

That’s quite a week so far. The engine in the C triple one is actually a Briggs. With the roll you’re on you’ll have your first Tecumseh by Friday. If I was a betting person I’d wager that fuel injection badge was from an Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. Steve

I replaced my broken seat bracket on 520H with one that is much better (but not perfect). I do have concerns that cracks in bottom plate will occur again in the same spots and already have plans to re-enforce the bottom plate and add support to the U springs.

Trim on the shed roofs today. Trina painted the front of that to match the top this evening. Also built the front wall. One window on each side. Solid wall in the center. After they're done we'll turn that solid wall into a door/doors(?). The back will be all windows with no solid wall in the center.

Wow… Do you need someone to clean the barn? Permanent like…? I’d take up no more than 150 sq ft max. Pay me with the occasional (ok routine) trail ride and a few adult beverages… I’d be good… promise…

What Richie said...I've come to the conclusion that I would gladly give up the left on for a barn like that and the right one if Dan @Achto was to foot the bill...

Steve - nice fit on the cast iron wheel weights I bought from you Saturday. Took the coating off the outsides with a needle scaler, three coats of semigloss black and they look great. Got a little creative with the hardware, turned eight 1/2" x 6" hex bolts into square head bolts to fit the 11/16" pockets. The bolts got a coat or 2 of black today. Thanks to you and your immediate family for making the WH family welcome. Bill & Chris

I'm sure some where back in these 17,000 posts you added a post about a tractor. You should probably create a new topic about your tractor with pictures and model numbers. After we know what tractor you are asking about, we can offer advice.

I know what you mean. We are surrounded by trees here... and mowing leaves has been difficult with all the dust. When I mow, it literally looks like a desert dust storm. AND I come into the house looking like I was spray painted with tan spray paint from head to toe from the dust... which I'm sure you can imagine makes the female lady women have healthy thoughts towards me... I use a backpack blower to blow off my machines, so mine are staying fairly clean... considering... I thought we were going to get some rain yesterday... I was wrong... Don

Picked these parts up the other day....

A wiring "harness" is just a bunch of wires that just sit there and behave themselves till someone molests them. On rare occasions the wire may be broken by accident. You do not need a "harness" unless there was a fire or some such calamity, some very old tractors might have decaying insulation. Most electrical problems are in a component or a connector at the end of a wire The most common electrical failures on tractors like you are considering are in the 9-pin white connector near the battery, the fuse block, or in the ignition switch.

Hey, that is another case that depends on the area you are in... If it was here in Southern Indiana, it is likely that myself, Dave, or Jerry would have it in one of our shops... Don

An additional thought. if you have rocky soil you can get Pick Tines for Troybilts. The do not do well turning under grass or winter cover but do better on rocky soil than the standard bolo tines. As a kid we had pick tines for a few years then after we had gotten rid of most the rocks Father got bolo tines.

Went to measure a window job last evening and found it difficult to accomplish as a large field fire was going on. The fire started from a side ditch and quickly spread from harvested soybean residue. 30 mile an hour winds made it jump across two roads and the best the fire departments could do was to defend properties for a while and attempt to control the spread in the fields, Fortunately it just missed the corner of Pitsburg OH and the new school grounds but jumped the road near the school . Now it was in the harvested corn field just at the edge of town but with favorable winds to keep it at the edge of town, I watched it blow up when it hit the brush line of the old railroad bed and that is where the firemen made their stand with what limited water they could carry. Once a farmer showed up with a disc they worked together knocking down the fire in a harvested bean field by the railroad and the farmer incorporating the embers into the soil..Every fire department for miles around and across two county lines was there. They staged trucks away from the fire as if that thing would have set an old wooden barn afire it would have really spread the embers, it's as dry for this time of year as I have ever seen it. We got gobs of rain early which delayed planting, and then enough rain to keep the crops going,but still gonna affect yields somewhat. . I nave not mowed lawn for a month and the grass is a fire hazard just like the fields. No listed cause for the fire, but since it started from the road, probably a cigarette Some guy in the school parking lot was blaming the farmers for no till farming as the cause of the fire I guess, and as a farmer myself I told him it was much more gooder to fight soil erosion and also leads to much lower fuel consumption per acre and the resulting whatever disaster that burning fuel to raise food causes and makes Greta Funderberg have the vapors . So pick your poison i guess. Or farm with mules that occasionally release methane-- another disaster.. So anyway I am impressed that no one was hurt and the many fire departments were able to coordimate so successfully. I am going back to look at he burn patterns today to figure things out a bit more.

Just another sign of the times, a lot of people are in a bind because of all the high prices

Quiet the haul this week! Still a few more days to add on more stuff

True @Snoopy11 and @Wild Bill in VA but when my kid dragged home a cable steer RJ for peanuts my whole world on the thought that who knows what they are worth changed. Yeah it was pretty roughed up but completely saveable.. I've had some pretty seductive offers on the tractor but no dice ... this one stays with the herd.

Well, I bought a stator/regulator combo on Amazon for $35. After an afternoon with a Dremel, to get it to fit the k341, it works great! It now charges fine, even if I turn on the lights. I'm loving this tractor! Now I need a good mower deck and the hard part, deciding what to do with my 416-8. The 520 is just more comfortable. May just have to keep both.... this forum makes me feel normal, my family thinks I'm crazy!

I have always said "A person will bake you a cake if you take that old Wheel Horse out of their shed, garage or back yard but if the person knows the Wheel Horse is a collector's item, they think they're going to rich when it's sold". The price I paid for my RJ-35 would be considered cheap today but 20 years ago when it was purchased be me was the going rate. When the Pennsylvania Dutch make a deal and agree on the price, they pay that price but if they find out they could have gotten a better deal or were snookered they will not deal with that person again. Wild Bill in Richmond VA

Finished up getting the road trailer ready this evening while Trina put some paint on the trim on the new shop. Trailer has new wiring harness, new lights, a couple soft boards doctored up til spring. Also removed, thoroughly cleaned, inspected and repacked the wheel bearings. Road test tomorrow when I pull it 30+ miles each way to work and back. If it's still attached when I get home I'll drag it to NY State this weekend.

I have overpaid and under payed on many of my horses. Way overpaid 900 for a 520 that had a bad Onan. Paid 500 for a 520 that had a bad axle but great motor. That one came with a deck and plow. I sold for them for 575 so made 75 and a good motor for transplant in the overpaid 520. I would like to go look at every horse I see for sale but distance = burned gas at $$$ gallon. So now it has to be a collector model or a round hood. Collector model for me is anything less tha 1969. Any kind of blue book for horses can get thrown out the window and replaced with knowledge of the particular model you are going to look at for the reasons the other guys mentioned.

It's all about opinion and location. Here in New England prices tend higher than the Midwest for the most part. Also, me personally... I'd rather have a C141 than a B100 or an 854. I'm not into collecting just to make a set of something. The C 141 is the better worker. Desirable to the masses?? Likely the 854 of those listed 3. For what it's worth... I wouldn't trust the prices in a "blue book" for the length of the page. Waaaaaay too much variability in the market. The ONLY correct price is the one that makes the buyer AND seller happy.