Leaderboard

Decided to start the restoration of my dads old 312-8 I inherited by building a new deck first, now on to the tractor!

This guy just showed up at the back door last winter. Finally made the transition to an inside kitty now.

If you get a windy day and that tarp starts flapping it can actually wear off the paint where it beats on the hood or fender Could you make a simple wooden A frame over the tractor and then toss a tarp over that?

Little update, changed the ball hitch configuration. I'm hoping this will improve pulling power by transferring more pressure onto the rear wheels. Only one way to find out.. Before, low and long: After, higher and stubby: As you can see I now have 3 different heights to choose from, depending on the implement I'm dragging or what works best in terms of grip.

Some of you may have already seen this tractor in another post but I wanted to make a formal introduction and ask some questions. As of last Sunday this little 401 ( serial number 43787 ) has joined my family of Horses. The good - engine runs like a top and the tractor seems to be pretty compete. I know the lift handle is not in the picture but it was included in the purchase. The bad - it jumps out of 3rd and the axle seals are leaking and the right hub is a bit loose. So the tranny will need some attention. Included with the tractor was a good solid deck that turns freely. Also included was this disc, This leads me to my first question. Can any one identify this disc?? I don't think that it is but it is still cool. Specially like the wooden bearings. Now for some tractor questions. First off @oliver2-44 mentioned that some of the early '61 models used left over '60 serial number tags. They cut the lower section of the '60 tags off and bolted the remainder to the '61 tractors. This does make sense given the fact that you can make out part of the "C" on the bottom left corner where the word "CHOKE" would be on a '60 model. Other '61 models that I have seen have a decal on the frame for the serial number. Any other confirmation on this serial number tag usage?? The knowledge stated above makes me wonder if also used up the '60 foot rests on the early '61 models. This tractor has a '61 brake peddle but it also has the diamond plate foot rests instead of the cast foot rests that I'm used to seeing on the '61 models. Any thoughts, comments or knowledge on this??

Denali really likes to guard the yard art...

Looks great! I think everyone else does the tractor restoration first and then loses interest when it’s time for the deck …I think you have the right idea

Many moons ago I heard a garage sizing formula that I think works fairly well. Think. Really think. But serious thought. Into what you think you REALLY need. Double that number... Triple THAT number. Then build. It will still be too small.

You will be best off with only a couple pounds of air pressure in the outer pair of tires. If the outer tires go over something higher than the inner tires it will put too much strain on the hub and axle if the outer tire is fully inflated.

Just had 4 sets of Sears branded 12’ inch wheels and decided why not dually it , for a minute I was onna dually with my freshly painted rears for the horse but the horse has 1’ and 1’ wider and taller tires and the wheels are 1’ narrow with that , but I put a spacer in it and locked em in and put a 75 pound wheel horse rear weight on each wheel between the two wheels and put chrome caps on the end to hide the sears wheels rust but not bad. Also made this HL-5 headlamp bad I still need to gets lights for at harbor freight and run em to the rear light in the back sure I don’t need to take the tank out to get to the control pannel , though sized up and burnt my hand doing it my grabbing pipe red hot I’m fine now , though no finger prints best criminal advantage I guess , for those wondering how I made the bar it Was 5 foot aluminum pipe 1 inch Dia. And was like 1/8 thick and I got my M.A.P. Fuel blow torch and put 2 holes lined up 6 inches across where I was onna bend it , the light part is 16 inches and the middle is 6 , but then blew a hole at 16 inches in and 22 inches in and cut at 28 inches and beng at the holes and lined it up to make it even and then smacked the doled edges flat with a hammer to prevent from moving, then drilled 2 holes at the bottom found some sheet metal plate with squares for 1/4 bolts I ran through and the pipe to hold it in at surplus city in a bucket , then holes at the top 1/2 inch down and then painted it chrome to prevent rust , very solid and works , I’ll post another pic ones lights are on. I’m not a professional at metal bending but I have repaired rust holes with license plates , fiberglass , and bondo .

Nice! Perfect patina as well

Me and one of my dogs going for a ride pic taken August 31 when the trike was running good.

Meeha Mirror was feelin snuggly this morning.

Thank you gentlemen for your continued support, very humbling and rewarding to read you are enjoying this build. @Pullstart I have, and still am for that matter, thinking about posting more 'serious' on YouTube. The only issue with that is that it will take me even longer to finish building components. Also much of the video would be me standing around scratching my head Any tips on how to get started and what (not) to post? @Jeff-C175 thank you, I too have deep respect for what @formariz can do with dead tree carcasses The metalwork I do is purely a hobby. That being said, my dad is a metalworker, construction of machines and components and was/is an avid tinkerer. I was always surrounded by grinders, welders, drills and stuff like that. So when time came, after what you would call college, at 16 to 20yo I went to get an associates degree in general mechanical engineering. Then got a job at a high precision machine shop for 3 years and after that I worked at an Industrial rental company (welders, generators, light towers etc.) for 12.5 years. Currently unemployed and looking for something else. Soo long story short, not something I do for a living but for sure I've been tinkering away for years. Oh.. did I mention I love working with metal and being precise?

Can’t be too many years, he’s like 20, plus or minus a few!

Probably but not realistic in short term. Even if I got rid of some stuff (which might hurt me ) I am not sure I will have enough room with current space.

Down to this at 3:30 ! Quitting time for today! The newly painted RJ transmission will be going on the tractor frame tomorrow!

I’m still amazed how you took a lawn mower and turned it into this beautiful piece of machinery

Heads are different. Some have head bolt bosses that are high which use the shroud in your first picture. The heads with the lower boss use the other 2. Heads interchange with each other so it's easy to have a tractor with a different looking set up than what it came with originally. If your going for originality, best to look at pics of your model to see what it was supposed to have. This is a low boss head. Notice the flats of the bolt holes are below the fins. My Power King uses this head. Most starter genny models used the high boss head for the genny bracket

I noticed there is no cash in the calculation

Well, this turned out to be the key, but I was a little at a loss as to how to achieve that. Thanks though Don, because those words were still in my head as I rode around. I fitted the wheel horse with the deck and bags, and tried it out. Of course, it worked like a champ, even after not having been run with that set-up for 15 years. I had more difficulty than I would have liked, fitting the deck, but that was just fuzzy memory and I got there in the end. Scooped up 2 lots of double bags of leaves, in that config, running round in a low gear, with high revs, so as to be slow over the ground but have high blade speed. I then did a run round with the cub, taking a similar approach. Very little mulching with either, and I would suggest a similar weight per volume of leaves from them both, with the Wheel horse just having the edge. When I went round with the cub, I overfilled it, and it blocked, but I noticed that in that blocked state it was hacking the leaves into tiny pieces, and shoving them out of the side into lines and I remembered what Don had said. So, instead of emptying it and unblocking it, I left it like that, and ran round the whole lawn I was dealing with, making nice little strips of mulch. I then went to empty it, and unblock it, bit of a pain to do so, but worth it, because, when I returned, I was able to vacuum up all of the strips of mulched leaves, from the front lawn, with a single bag full. Weight per unit volume was way up, using this method. I've taken photographs, of the difference, but not sure how well they will come out. I'll have a look in a minute, and shove them in at the end of this post, whether it's obvious or not. All I need to be able to do is block the chute with some sort of baffle, which will prevent it actually picking up and then remove it to pick up the lines of mulch. I'll have to get my thinking cap on as to how to achieve that, but it will be preferable to having to unblock it. Obviously, mulched and collected in one go would be a big bonus, and if those blades really do that, then it has to be worth getting them, but in their absence, I can manage with a baffle, or even with overfilling it and then unblocking it, until I have the baffle sorted. Wheel horse Cub Cub Mulched A nicely shaped piece of polystyrene jammed into the exit chute might be one quick and dirty method, to stop it picking up. Can't hurt, the worst that could happen is it would burst out and be pushed into the basket. Blocking it at the basket end should be adequate, because if there's no airflow, then it can't pick up to block the chute prior to that, or I wouldn't think so. I'll let you know tomorrow. Thanks all. Cheers Andrew

I think that article turned out real nice! I have another story from this thread going in the next issue. I appreciate all of the input from this group! I'll keep the articles going...just keep posting to this thread!

Doing a bunch of Wheel Horse work today! Oil and gas in the 314 hydro with snowblower! Getting ready for who knows what! Also painting a couple RJ transmissions I have. Going to switch one on my RJ I am doing for my brother ( been an off again on again project since late 2020) ! The transmission in it was rebuilt but tight in differential. When wheels are on ground the axles tighten up. I think the brass axle bushings were not honed enough but I will remove and work on it off the tractor. I have two others that are ready work and to install! Also painted some wheels and took a pair of NOS early RJ tires to get installed this am. Going to hook up the RJ throttle on the RJ for my brother David too! The 1/4 inch rubber grommet is a must in the hood throttle hole. I still have two backup K91s for this RJ redo if I am not satisfied with my K91 I have on the tractor! I do have a showerhead muffler on the redo RJ but it is a one inch snd I had to place a bushing on it! Might have to put that muffler on my 701 as it would be correct for that tractor too!

Ad a general manner in life and particularly on this forum I try not to be too disagreeable but... I would just would like to point out here that maybe... if Mama's car doesn't fit anymore she should build another garage? Do NOT tell her I said that...

As long as it doesn't mean that mam's car can't be parked in the garage there is always room for another .

Better pull @WHX?? in on this. He's been Jonsin' for me to start a post on this lil tractor.

Buttons sitting, Cash lying down

I have had a deburring tool like this for several years, works well on drilled holes and saw cut edges. Tips are replaceable.

Yeah.. sure.. just like you, right?

I received my order today, even a couple goodies I DIDN’T order! They told me they aren’t worth the shipping to return, so freebies it is!

I suspect the parts manuals should identify the correct part using the spec number

Jim was lookin' over the 401 I hauled home on Sun. before I had a chance to properly introduce him to it. @WHX?? has been Jonesin' for me to start a thread on this tractor. Now that I'm done slinging mud at my basement wall I might get one started.

I took the fuse block off and looked under it at the connections, no connections found to the 15amp fuse!! so I bought a new fuse block for it, getting ready to install it today, wish me luck not good at wiring!! Thanks budman2

SL&WHN RR was booked solid for Election Day... Back yard trail rides, full load to the park, then "Horsey Cookies"!!! IMG_1933.MOV

this is my cat that got kicked out of the house, and is now living in my shop

Don't you dare touch my toys!

Bailey tucked in already… he’ll be back up…

Mark, if you wished, you could easily grown your YouTube channel, with a little bit of camera work capturing your build process!

That looks very stout and awesome!

Sooo.. following that logic. Exactly how small did you imagine your shop/garage/dojo?? Port-a-potty size?

Good old R and V Series. In late 87 they switched the C,K square bodies to R,V. So in 88 when the new C,K's came out they still had the R,V, Series too. Got into many arguments on the phone when a garage called and wanted a tie rod end for an 88 "K" 1/2 ton truck and it turned out they were working on an 88 V-10.

Her car is already living outside 👍 but I’m not a monster, I offered parking

I voted 3 weeks ago by mail . No standing in line.

It's official we have a celebrity in our midst... Haven't even read the article yet @tractorchick & @Achto but promise I will and not in the throne room...

Hi Kate @tractorchick, Although I do have a Wheel Horse I have'nt worked much on it yet. However I am building a small (about 1/3rd) scale IH 1568 with the frame, transmission and engine from a Murray (don't shoot! ) gardentractor. Lot's of pictures and info here on Redsquare and more to come. Greetings from the Netherlands, Mark.

As you can see Kate, there are plenty of stories, machines, and personalities to choose from here. We love these old tractors and have plenty to say and show off!

@tractorchick our collection all stared back in 2018 when my wife’s grandfather gave my first son a rj58. We worked on it all winter to restore it to show his grate grandfather. That one quickly spread to more and a younger brother that needed a matching rj too. I currently have 3 fully restored wheel horse and 2 preserve ones. A ton of pic of all of them too