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Picked this 417-A up 3 weeks ago in someone's barn, last time it ran or moved was unknown. When you put your mind to something its amazing what you can accomplish! Brought it home, power washed it, found the starter ears were broken off the block so I repaired them, Also #2 cylinder had bad head gasket, did a full tune up on the KT17 while I was there. Added an oil pressure gauge to help tell the life of the engine. cleaned the fuel tank and put all new lines with a rebuilt carb. The old kohler fired off within 3 cranks and is putting out about 60IBS of oil pressure. Re wired a lot of loose ends and splices that were cut in over the years. Brand new Carlise turf savers up front and True Powers in the rear. Stripped every piece down to bare metal and primed and painted all in 3 weeks! I absolutely love this stuff.

My 95 year old Dad died peacefully in his sleep this morning... I can only hope to live the rest of my life honoring his legacy. I am a very fortunate man. Rest in Peace Dad. A couple pics: Christmas Day 2022 (5 degrees) - Out for his daily walk... he was not a wimp. Train ride with a bunch of his Grandkids... IMG_0826.MOV

My grandpa passed a couple years ago in 2021. One of the items I ended up with was his old bench vise. Decided to put it back in service. It's a nice size for a smaller shop, 3.5 inch. Got it cleaned up and greased. It'll kinda be like he's always giving a helping hand... I'm sure some of you are using an old heirloom bench vise. Post em up if you got em!

Thought this was cool and worth sharing.

I watched a young Amish fellow buy this 65 acres for $1,005,000 last fall. It is mostly pasture land too steep for farming with horses. Rumor is it will be a dairy/ cheese making operation. I can't wait for some good extra sharp cheese. Last week the foundation was laid and the deck was on. Noon today they had three 18' high walls up.

Hello, everyone, My name is Dieter and I come from Austria. I have a modified wheel horse with a little bit more power and I'm always searching new informations when I have to repair someting Best regards Dieter

I always get the feeling my Father-in-law is looking down from above with approval when I fire up his 702.....

Two of my children bought their grandfather’s 155 acre camp (aided gladly by a loan from yours truly) in part because of their great memories there as kids but also to make sure it was preserved for future generations. Its one of the largest plots privately-owned plots in the county. They’ve organized about 145 of the acres into a revocable, state-recognized tree farm to gain a tax abatement in exchange for managed forestry and non-development.

Always best to remember those now gone who helped hand work and shape the mold of who we are today...... I miss them so.... Bill

I don’t remember my grandpa’s vice, so I used his bench instead. I used some cedar fence posts and built our dining room table. I even inlayed some tools from his shed and some casings from his 21 gun salute.

They learn a work ethic early. Yesterday I was loading my cart with firewood while my neighbor was plowing nearby. When I turned around with an arm full of firewood, I nearly bumped into his 5yo son Danny. Danny stepped back and said, " vud ya like sum help Mr. Kennell". I was nearly loaded, but I let him carry a few pieces and then went to the house to get him a handfull of candy that I made him promise to share with Dad, Mama, and younger brothers Amos, and Elam. Danny likes my Wheel Horses.

Probably more than most, I spend my life surrounded by,and using everyday such objects . It’s kind of hard to explain my exact feelings but they make me feel like I belong to them not the other way around. Rare is the item here that does not have a story or a face associated it. Even the ones created by me can be traced as to their origins by just looking around. Many times I ask myself why I deserve all of this. While I still don’t know the answer to that question, I have an do commit my life to honor them and their previous owners and ensure that they all will be passed on to the ones after me to share that commitment and keep it all alive and thriving. Perhaps the best description of my feelings about all of it are summarized when the other day someone made a comment while looking at the yoke just completed. They said that I probably have an insane amount of time and work on it, and why would I do it? My answer was that I would not characterize it that way but rather that I have an insane amount of meditation, reflection, remembrance, peace , and inspiration while at it. Work, it was not. I don’t believe it was fully comprehended.

“Buy land. They ain't making any more of the stuff.” ― Will Rogers

Built a socket for a special nut today…

@Ed Kennell had some farm friends with amish helpers do a barn build over a week end , it was like they never stopped , set up a open kitchen tent , cots , etc . terrific people , very dedicated to a farm related issue . always there for help , pete

Got a smart phone? Download a free Video Tachometer app instead. There are a bunch out there. They give you a simple interface that allows you to adjust the frame rate adjustment through the camera and reads out the RPM. Its best to draw a capital letter T on the flywheel grate, then adjust the frame rate until the T stops spinning......read the number, and that's your RPM.

That's most likely a 10 or 15 amp alternator but even if it was only a three. You put LED lights on there I think you'd be perfectly fine.

Are you sure those axle bearings need to be replaced? How did you determine the bearings are bad? The axle shaft will move in and out a little but it should have very minimal movement up/down/front/back. If the bearings are tight with minimal movement you can just change the seals without opening the trans. Might as well change them all too, Axles, brake and input shafts. A loose hub on the axle shaft could mimic bad axle bearings so best to thoroughly inspect first. Jack it up and remove the tires. Then try and move the axles.

Ripping the foot pads and floor boards off the DXI for some paint and Re installation

You guys will Never believe what happened today.. got a call from the guy I bought the 701 from and he found the belt guard!

In 1999 I bought a new Volkswagen Golf for my oldest son in his senior year in High School. He kept and used it until a couple of years ago when it no longer made sense to keep it now having four small children of his own. His reluctance in getting rid of it was obvious because I had given it to him. It now has over 400,000 miles on it. So seeing how difficult it was for him I had an idea and told him that I would keep it. My intention is to have my oldest grandson learn how to drive in it . Ambitious for a car with that mileage and 5 more years until then. However regardless of cost that is my wish. Although mechanically sound and well maintained since my younger son is a mechanic, rust and a couple of silly mishaps were taking it down quickly. Finally decided to tackle the body issues. Went to look at it today and it is getting there nicely with new rockers , body panels , and painted already. Can’t wait to bring it back home. in 1999 a month ago Today . It will be finished by Friday

My 95 year old Dad died early this morning... all good. He was a remarkable man. As we were doing the mundane necessities of funeral preparations today one of my siblings commented that I was "just like Dad..." in a good natured kidding way... I sincerely said "thanks... I don't think so yet, but I certainly hope so in the future..." So much of what my Dad taught me was never spoken or explained... he simply did the next right thing and we kids benefited from knowing that... he always did the right thing by us kids, Mom, his colleagues, neighbors, friends... always. I now have a wide variety of his tools and knowing that he used them to make my life what it is by keeping everything in our house working is priceless. I hope to pass on that legacy... What a gift... Thanks Dad!

Got this one in the double whammy...

Yes, the Amish are migrating West to York County as the farmland in their native Lancaster County is selling for over $20K/ acre. From what I see, cash is not a problem. Just counting the sweet corn and canteloupe plants on the 26 acre truck farm adjacent to me, I think he is close to seven figures in sales. And this doesn't count the pumpkins, cabbage, califlour, brocolli, and flowers. I know, I can't spell vegetables.

Well i'll be dipped! a three wheeled lawn mower now thats something my dad would like. being we currently have 7 three wheelers certainly another one would do even though my mom would not be very happy and dad would probably have to sleep on the couch again if we got one

Thanks! I bought it a few years ago only to for snow shipping but slowly one idea comes after another . I added a Rotec 270ccm engine with 6.5kW. You mean the muffler? I made it so high because i don't wanted to breath in the exhaust gases from the engine. Maybe i change it to sidepipes in furure To realize a good working clutch with the more powerfull engine I added a centrifugal clutch to decouple the engine and a disc brake to brake the input axle of the gearbox. I know confusing construction but it works. I also switched from constant hand throttle to foot pedal throttle. Also i added some position lights like showed in the second pic and a more sporty stearingwheel

Didn’t really do this today, but Grady, my neighbor, and I have made some more progress on the “she shed” for his wife… Got it wired, hole cut in the wall and framed to accept the Heat/ AC unit wall sleeve, and most of it insulated. After insulation is done, then we’ll do the vinyl siding…

We had a snow storm come sneaking in last night. About 2 inches of snow. Aiden took his 856 and plowed for my dad. Alex handled my driveway but I will let him tell you. Aiden also finally installed his stack I got him for Christmas on his 856. It sounds pretty sweet.

Hello, everyone, My name is Dieter and I come from Austria. I got the tip to write in this forum, maybe someone can help me. I have a modified wheel horse tractor (picture attached) with a 3 speed gearbox that is leaking in the axle area. Can someone please tell me what bearings and seals I need here? I measured the outside diameter ~ 32.14mm and the inside diameter (axle diameter) ~ 25.36mm. Thank you very much! Kind regards Dieter

The Treasurer and I live in the home she grew up in, that her Father built way back in the last century. When I'm working out in the shop late at night when all is quiet I hear him moving around. I feel him watching. I've even caught a glimpse or two... I have lots of his tools, and his Father's too. Cas has some of them too!

Guess I need to turn Amish for that kinda cash. I'll pull my horses around with horses...

Loving the comments here - trying to "downsize" before a move, still a bit in the future, but there are some things that I will drag along with me no matter what. If my wife lives longer than me, she can give them away if she wants, hopefully to family or someone who will appreciate their sentimental value to some extent at least. This is my Dad's bench vise, which I'm pretty sure was his Dad's, but might have belonged to my mother's grandpa:

1989, our new 312-8, my son plowing at age 8, our first winter with horse. I inherited a small amount of money from an aunt -- my sister bought clothes, furniture etc -- i bought a Wheel Horse !!!! Which was better investment? DUH !! This year i cleaned rust from 34 yr old plow and rehabbed it with new paint and am using on C175.... but no snow yet and nothing in 14 day forecast. Will be mowing again soon!!!!!!!!!! Be interesting to see what snow Feb and March brings????

It’s not easy, but that’s why we bought the 100 acres from Grandpa. The farm lease helps, but I need to get the land contract paid for before I can make any improvements.

Wow, over 15k an acre! Good to see he has some cash left for construction.

I agree with that…unfortunately out dated and unsupported is a type of “broke” now.

Woo hoo! 4x4

Wow, and in 3 weeks. My 417 is my dedicated mower..cranking a 48" SD. Love that KT growl while mowing up a steep hill.

It's clear he is also a fortunate Dad that is resting in peace.

My condolences. From the video and what you have written it seems he lived a long happy life surrounded by love and family, and in my opinion there is no better life lived than that.

to the Dieter. Awesome looking tractor. Tell us more about it....Was it a C series before the mods? I made many trips to Graz, Austria to test hydro turbines at the Astro Hydro Lab. Beautiful City.

Ok i will go with the full mounted bearings. Nice project you have there!!! I also installed a little bit more power

Done right by someone known then it might be $300 or +. Like Jim said, a full kit is $150 and a used trans is typically worth about $100. If you are doing one and selling it, document everything with pics and receipts and it's worth more than just taking someone's word for it. Buying from an unknown seller that simply painted one and calls that restored is something completely different. (Same goes for tractors too) Or, someone only changing a couple of oil seals and calling that rebuilt. Many people have a different idea of " rebuilt' or "restored" It's kind of a loaded question without any explanation

In case anyone needs a new cutting edge on their plow... doesn't say anything about an expiration date on the offer, but this came in the mail today. I've got one on my plow blade.

Like anyone else, I can dream BIG. That being said, I wouldn't argue with numbers ending with a big "M" behind them... I ain't picky or anything...

Lucky Dad to have lived well for so long amid a clan lucky to have him and appreciate him. Looking at all the happy faces on that train is a great testament and memory. Be well as you all carry on.

i did the black wheel rims on one of my C175s -- like the look -- but next time i will use the glossier paint you used on yours - i also did the footrests in black for an added black touch

Very cool Ed. You send some of that cheese up here please!!

So sorry for your loss. Even after a long life of 95 years, it's sad to lose someone. Condolences to you and your family.

Paul, your engine is a spark advance engine rather than a compression release. You can check your timing with a timing light once it is running but static timing won't work. The suffix of your engine should be "E" or lower letter. The Kohler engine manual in the Red Square files section covers two methods for setting the ignition timing, Static Timing and using a Timing Light. This manual is a relatively new manual and it overlooks the fact that many of our engines were built prior to the ACR (automatic compression release) camshaft. Earlier engines (mostly 1965 and earlier) had a Spark Advance camshaft that can not be timed using Static timing. At rest (and very low RPMs) the timing is retarded to fire slightly after TDC. The timing mark (SP) on your flywheel is at twenty degrees before top dead center but at rest the points on these engines break about ten degrees after top dead center. The only reliable way to check or set the timing on these engines is with a timing light. There are a couple ways to determine what camshaft you have. Presuming the camshaft in your engine is the one it was born with the data plate on the engine has a suffix that can tell you what camshaft was used. The table below will tell you the suffix applicable to your engine The following engines have the spark advance camshaft; K-141, Suffix prior to “C” K-161, Suffix prior to “J” K-181, Suffix prior to “D” K-241, Suffix prior to “D”