Leaderboard

As I mentioned and wrote about a few times I am honored to have “inherited “ most of the tools of my friend Ed’s father an accomplished shipwrights. It however never seems to end. He wanted to meet for lunch today and after lunch he simply said” open the trunk”. I just did not even know what to say. This is what he loaded into my car. Some quite rare stuff too. Just between 4 of these items there is over $1000.00 of value. They are however priceless to me and will join the countless others already here.

I always figured they were set up to turn left because of Wheel Horse's association with the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR sponsorship. GO FAST; TURN LEFT.

So my morning started with a call from a friend of mine asking me if I was interested in WH parts. My friend was a small engine mechanic for many years and I bring him all my small engine repair work. I have said many times I am not a good mechanic. He has been retired for many years. So he tells me he sold a WH tractor to a man close to 20 yrs ago and the guy called him so see if he was interested in any parts. My friend said no as he dosnt do much work any more as his health is declining. He told the man I might be interested and would it be ok if I called him. That was all the conversation they had. He gave me the number and I called him asking what parts he had and what he wanted for them. Turns out it's the whole tractor my friend sold him close to 20 yrs ago. He told me that he took it to a repair shop and dosnt want to put the money into repairing it he is going to buy new. He told me the repair shop told him needed a starter as the bendix was sticking and something wrong with the carb but he put a brand new seat on it last year. I tell him I am a WH lover and have no need for a tractor but I have 3 WH's in my garage. Then I ask .... " how much are you looking to get for it ?". He tells me I can have it for FREE if I pick it up from the repair shop. He would call the shop and tell them I'm coming to get it. I jump in my truck and race over to get it. While driving there I called my friend. Turns out my friend got the tractor with a broken piston rod. The engine he rebuilt 30 yrs ago. New everything. I said great if it was 20 yrs ago but I wonder what kind of shape it's in now. Well here are the photos. He kept it in great shape. 310-8 with a 48 inch deck that's as solid as it was when new. I took it over to my buddies house who did all the work many years ago. We tinkered with it a few minutes. Turns out the throttle plate had fallen off inside the carb. The plate was just laying in there. One screw was still attached to the stem the other missing. Wondering what kind of damage that tiny brass screw can cause if it got sucked into the engine. Plan is to rebuild the carb and he was going to see if he could find a screw and reattach the plate. Anyone ever come across this issue ever ? My buddy says he never seen that happen before. Then I will either get a new starter or maybe repair the one in there. Has anyone ever see a throttle plate fall off in a carb before ? What do you think happened to the screw? I can't read the ID tag on the tractor. I don't want to buy a Chinese carb either. Might be looking to replace the whole carb. Suggestions??? Comments??

I too am guilty of not asking or waiting for help when I should. I have gotten away with it most times, but have had my pride bite me enough times that I have learned to ask or wait when I should. Hope all heals well & soon.

You could drive a generator with an electric motor that is powered by a battery. Electric motors and generators are 85-90% efficient, so the generator would only be replacing around 75% of the energy being used by the motor. No free lunch or charge with EVs.

Happy Birthday Karl! Hope to some day meet you at the Big Show or otherwise, not just your head on a stick!

I got a chuckle out of it ... thanks Retro. I think I stole this pic from @Ed Kennell years ago...

I figure if it feels like this tomorrow, I will get it looked at. My concern is a break, but I don’t have time for that!

Thank you everyone, I've never been this old before, but I am planning to keep saying that!

Most Wheel Horses turn left tighter on purpose for trimming around trees. The deck chutes are on the right.

The city inspector stopped by yesterday and did the framing inspection on my front porch roof. Passed. Had occasion to use my dad's brace and bit. The self feeding action of the bit was easier to control while I was drilling a hole perched on the top of a step ladder. It has been a couple of decades since I last used it. Also, a shameless plug for the high school robotics team I mentor.

When my Dad had to downsize his shop, it took some time for me to get him to accept that his tools and supplies would not go to one person or place. His descendants were in too many different stages of their lives and I knew his deep belief in fairness would be rubbed raw by having a lot of the items go to only one or a couple recipients. In the end, his children and grandchildren took turns (a lottery determined the order) choosing one item at a time from a detailed inventory that I had prepared. There was no attempt at “valuation”. The beat up hammer that one grandson used to build a toy boat was as valuable to him as the table saw was to someone else. In fact, the first rounds were mostly hand tools that each person had learned to use while doing a project with my father--and they were happy to share why they wanted it. It was an emotion-filled afternoon. When he saw how much the individual tool's sentimental value was to each of the choosers, he finally accepted that the process was a success because of his investment in the people, not the tools.

Mowed the yard today with the 310-8 with the 42” RD deck

We just picked up!! It’s in very nice condition and even better once we clean it up. While we’re talking about that is there any way to restore this old paint since it’s started to like flake off. Any help to restore the paint?? But anyway we are trying to get it started and has no spark but in the pictures there’s a piece next to the condenser does anyone know about it? Or if it’s still available?

I thought it would be @Pullstartriding on a chicken powered tractor.

Guess i could not help myself, picked up a project 59rj and also got this later model Suburban.......cool little rig.

Well I came across a pretty awesome package for an even better price, $250! It's all Wheel Horse brand too. Crazy... Never thought I would find anything like this. So here is the list Full WH Garden Implement System, WITH Manual: Sleeve Hitch bar Moldboard Plow Disc Plow Cultivator Tiller, it is missing the pulley and belt so will need to track that down. 42" Snow Plow, missing mount bracket Set of rear rims, one good and one bad tire I'm super excited for this deal! Gardens won't have a chance!

There is no current technology available that will generate more energy than it takes to produce said energy. All electric cars use regenerative braking to help recharge the batteries. The batteries there fore will last longer in stop & go traffic than they will cruising at highway speeds. Like most things that man has engineered, I believe that the electric car technology is being pushed too far too fast. At one time Compact Florescent Bulbs were the answer to saving energy and were helping to deplete pollution caused by making electricity. Then Guess what??? The pollution caused by disposing of CFL's was worse than the pollution/energy they were saving. Today electric cars are supposed to be a major cure for our pollution problems. We know not what pollution problems that they will offer in the future. Example - What damage will the disposal of batteries cause?? In my opinion electric cars are not reducing pollution, they are only moving it to a different location. Lets remember that about 60% of our electricity is still produced by fossil fuels.

I did however manage to get assistance from Mrs. P, and the deck is now on the flat bad.

I will quote you on that Kev... Yes Cinnddaayy's Prius has regentive braking ... layman's terms the electric motors that are connected to the wheels turn into generators that charge batteries. Same principle as our SGs except controlled by computers. Anytime you lay off the throttle and it's moving. Guessing that explains the 70 mpg.

Not to get too "Po-lit-cal" but to me. the present (almost said "current"!!!) E--lectric cars are a joke. Cars have had onboard charging systems since the early 1910's - over a HUNDRED years ago.. Why not now???????????????? Until they can develop a sufficient charge while driving all 4 seasons, under ALL conditions - these "vehicles" are not the LONG TERM answer....

Correct. And Locomotives have " Dynamic Braking" The motors generate so much electricity , it has to be dissipated in the form of heat. Like a giant toaster. And at night, it can be quite a dramatic event!

Man, with friends like you...

More to come....

In his later years Ed’s father got into clockmaking. I have to get some photos. They are now owned by his daughters and son. They are absolutely exquisite all handmade with carved wood parts. I had already for quite a few years a printers cabinet that he used to store tiny brass parts for them amongst other items. In this batch I got his carving tools and these tiny wood planes that he made in order to make the wood parts such as the columns that some have. Interestingly enough they are exact reproductions of full size planes I have from him. They are fully functional and beautifully made . Some irons were made from old files as one can see. These tiny planes are pleasure to hold. All six of them fit in my hand.

I'm leaning toward a 1962 “702". Basing this on the style of the front axle and the dashboard, the starter button, the “62” prefix on the serial number tag, the rear fender shape, and the engine having only a single pulley belt on the starter/generator. Of course, over its 60 years it is possible things have been altered or swapped so the state of “originality” is unclear. The yellow paint on the engine is a bit of a puzzle. Things I noticed: - there is no cover on the belt connecting the engine to the transaxle. The cover incorporates an integral “belt stop” when the clutch is disengaged that lets you shift into a gear without grinding. Regular grinding of the gears will wear or even break components in the transaxle - there is no cover on the belt connecting the starter/generator to the engine - the seat isl from a different year of tractor - the mower deck is also from a more recent year (likely 1964 or newer) - the bottom front of the hood has been cut away Others with sharper eyes will surely notice more details. You may want to start a new topic for your new acquisition rather than imbed it in this ongoing thread.

That's why I spray the first clear while the red is still wet. Curious if it will work on the 2X like it does on the regular enamel.

I used the Chrystal Clear on my C-120, and it came up real nice. Too late for the 312H that I'm doing now. If I spray Chrystal Clear two days after the 2X Red, I suspect it would wrinkle the red. The instructions on the Rustoleum 2X UltraCover says you can spray another coat after 48 hours, but my experience has been more like 6 months before respraying. It's going up to 80 degrees over the next two days here, so I'm going to put it out in the sun to help the cure.

I would get a test piece of metal and spray it with the 2X. When the 2nd coat is still wet spray a coat of Rustoleum Chrystal Clear on it. Wait 15 minutes and spray another coat of clear. Part should be ready to handle in an hour at 70° See how it looks. This is how I paint with Regal Red. Paint isn't worth a hill of beans if you got a tractor with soft paint all summer

Thank you for teaching the younger generations Cas! Thank you for cherishing the older generations and their ways as well!

Here are some pics.

I'm gonna hazard a guess that it's an aftermarket ignition module of some sort. There are several brands available nowadays. One is Pertronix. @formariz Caz did some experimenting with them a bit ago. You'll want to clean it up and get the numbers off of it then so some internet searching. Likely its directions are online somewhere. Don't make any assumptions about what's causing your no-spark condition. Could be something simple like a broken wire or bad ground. Get a NEW spark plug in there. Find the instructions for your exact model of ignition. Do some careful testing with a test light or volt meter. As to the paint restoration there are a few great ideas here on Redsquare. @peter lena could really help you folks there. The overall condition of that tractor looks excellent!! Great save there!

This is the Sundstrand HydroGear overhaul .pdf file referred to above. I made this file a few years back... and have offered it to everyone as an aid in restoring the power to their tractors. One must keep in mind that these tractors are nearly 50 yrs old...wear and tear happens... and the only real fix is to overhaul. This file applies to Hydrogear models 90-2046 used in Charger Bronco 14 and others. It also applies to the model 90-2062 used in the GT14. Hope it helps.... SUNDSTRAND HYDROGEAR refurb.pdf

Yes, The Happiest of Birthdays to you Karl !!!

Even in that aspect I have been lucky. Not only my children cherish what I do and have, one although not in this profession, is a great talented woodworker in his own right, but importantly two of the grandchildren are also already greatly into it. One never knows what they will be like in the future, but it looks promising. I do realize that it will be a daunting undertaking to keep all I have and particularly keep it all together. The keeping it together is however very important. Like with a book there is a lot to learn from it and a great story to be enjoyed and admired. However, like with a book , if the pages are ripped from it and separated, the story and the information are lost.

I'm going to wait until 5/11 east coast time. So until then, a very merry unbirthday Karl.

Ya gotta watch out for these guys young fella. Every time you turn around you're learning something new whether you meant to or not.

You'll know if it happens. My 310-8 sucked in a brass crew from a carb rebuild that the dingbat owner (me) didn't swedge them because he ASSUMEd Loctite would suffice. Anyway- it didn't crack the head, but it sounded like two hammers in a clothes dryer. When I removed the head, the brass screw was flat as a pancake. Luckily nothing was broken, and the Magnum 10 ran fine for another 15 years. So- remove the head. If the screw isn't there, check closely in the intake. Maybe you got lucky and it's in the muffler.

Have you heard of perpetual motion machines? A company in Europe is testing a set of coils embedded in the road that will charge an electric car as it passes over them. Early results are surprisingly promising!

I drove over 1200 miles to get them 😁 Im sorry i did a dubbel post on that...

The covers are indeed not present, i whould like to make them. If someone can get me picture and messures i whould be verry gratefull. Yes the hood was cut to ma,e it possible to open when front weight is on. Hart chaped ftont weight is that stock? I whould like to repair the hood at a later date, so its stock again. Engine is red painted yelow, maybe to match tge racing colors of the sticker... note: this a european model, could it be that seats and mowerdeck are diferent? Lots of info allready thx!

If you want a stock WH one, I have one for yours that is currently on a 1067 that I'm going to take off and sell as it's not original to my tractor. It doesn't have a single crack on it!

Correct me if I am wrong but it looks like that engine is a K161. If so it may have had a coil which is an oddball and extremely hard and expensive to get. Very possibly it went bad and they resorted to that ignition.

Side by side. 1986 312-8 painted with Toro paint done around 2001 and a 1989 312-8 with original paint for comparison.

Ed, if you need a trailer and truck to haul some of Jay's collection I will be glad to help once my trailer is empty.

Happy birthday my friend!

We've had it here in our shop. @JCM chose it. I'll let him answer why. The Rust-Oleum 2x is very good. Flows well. Coverage is better than some others. Dries evenly. It will need a good strong 2 MONTHS to fully cure. It isn't as hard as a more industrial or road automotive paint in the long run. That doesn't matter to us because we only build workers for now. Just something to keep in mind.

Sorry if this is misleading but I got a serious kick out of this photo. I guess you could call it a WheelGoat

Few Years ago I got a 73 no name 12 from the original owner. Had everything down to the original spark plug.