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Went and put a deposit on her.

Good afternoon everyone. I'm looking to purchase this lovely old gal. Said to only have about 200 hours on her. She worked in a schools garden until she retired. Been garage kept. So far I don't know the serial number for the tractor, but I took a picture of the motor's. What do you guys think? What have I got and what's it worth? Thanks

Don't forget about the A-Z taper lock hub. A little pricey but works. If your shaft has more than a couple thousands wear it will put all the stress on the key and the fix will not last long. This WH 522xi axle was repaired with a taper hub from A-Z. The shaft was worn 8-10 thousands and it was at the limit of the hub but has held up real good.

Welcome to Red Square Beautiful. A 1978 or 1979 C-81 8-speed

Pulled half of my stable out of the garage for a joy ride today. The 875 was giving me troubles. I cleaned the fuel pump and it's been running good. The 310-8 runs and drives like a new machine. Wish I had a plow set up for it. Felt good to cruise around as it's been awhile since I driven them. I'll get the other 2 out next.

Check with Lowell at Wheelhorsepartsandmore in the Vendor's section - He sells the common drop-in replacements that are adjustable in length to allow for "aligning" the front wheels - at a MUCH better price than the Toro OEM replacements.

Yep, I ground a brass bar to the shape of the woodruff key. Clamped it in the slot and welded around it to restore the slot shape. Used wet rags around the axle to keep the seal cool. Then hand ground and filed the shaft to shape using prussian bluing and the hub as a gage. I agree with Jim, It would be better to remove the axle and cut a full length keyway. Actually that should have been done from the factory

Marinade pin wheels (chicken thigh & drum stick) in your favorite Bloody Mary mix and kosher salt for 24hrs. My favorite BM mix is Miss Mary's Bold & Spicy. Throw them On the smoker at 325 degrees until the internal meat temp is 175 to 180 degrees. Slap your favorite BBQ sauce on and leave for 10min or so. Most excellent flavor with a good bite on the back side. I served my chicken along side raw fried potatoes mixed with onions and cubanelle peppers. Also sweet corn mixed with poblano and red bell peppers.

If it runs drives and operates and needs no maintenance I would not hesitate a heartbeat to pay that amount.

I tore the carb apart and the new float was bad, a new brass one that I had put in a couple months ago. I replaced the float with a new one, new Kohler needle and seat and went back with the electric fuel pump. I now have a new sediment bowl, a new filter before the pump and a new filter after the pump. It cranked up and I rode it around for about 40 minutes. It starts good and hopefully it will start up next time. A picture of the 64' 1054 and my 87' 414-8 from today.

We have been heating with oil since 1978. Our first tank was a 1000 gallon buried tank. It never had 1000 gallons in it due to the price of oil. So we only kept no more than 275 gallons at a time for two reasons, money, and fear of a leak. Fast forward to 2019, our insurance company advised us that in order to continue homeowners insurance, we would have to pay for a rider to insure the tank. However, we would still have to remove the tank should we ever decide to sell. So we decided to have the tank removed. They opened the tank, to remove any remaining oil, and to inspect the integrity of the tank. What they found was that there was very little water in the bottom, and that the tank would have lasted another 30 years. Long story short, I spent $2300 to have a perfectly safe tank removed. To replace the tank, we purchased a Roth 275 gallon, double-walled tank. It was placed in the basement. The inner wall of the tank is plastic, the outer wall metal. I'm not going to have any problems with my oil tank in my lifetime.

i didn't look at the keyway in hub, most likely damaged.Ill check later today. Interesting viewpoints regarding the fix. Thank you. ill finish tear down and go from there. Doubt this was a factory error which means Hub was removed at some point,why? Gentleman i purchased B80 from said it was his dads that was bought new. Never saw it running. Was stored partially covered since the 80's under a carport. Judging by overall appearance and how dirty air cleaner filter was i suspect lousy if any PM during its life, some sort of trans issue, shoddy attempt at a repair, continued use causing the keyway slot damage. It boggles my mind on how someone would spend the money for such a nice machine and treat it so poorly. If u could put person in time machine and bring them to a present day lowes/HD and show them the absolute garbage garden tractors being sold for top dollar perhaps these would of been taken care of better!

Me and a couple local buddies have oftentimes joked about ourselves being "dangerous". Meaning- nothing more dangerous that a smart device in the hands of a dumba$$... My family thought it was great many years ago when I got my first "smart" phone. Now they wish I'd stuck with the old Motorola flip.

So I finally took my tractor to a tractor pull I have no pictures or videos because I was only one there so I didn't get any. Evidently I made quite a few people mad that day everybody else was running fully built tractors. Since I had a stock tractor I went last everybody Pulled Under a 240. So it was my turn to pull I put it in third gear high range at idle. I could have kept it at idle all the way down the track which I did halfway down the track but it was to slow so I went ahead and fed it some RPMs slowly. I pulled a 370 before they had to stop me because the tractor literally would not stop. I am really impressed with the 520-8 I found the balance point without having any weights. I just want to go ahead and apologize if these photos shouldn't be on here but I got a text from one of the other guys that were pulling with their expensive machine. As I tried to explain to him the tractor pulls for fun not trying to kill someone over. There is further action from the police and stuff over this because I went camping for 4 days and the same guy tried to break into the garage.

I've been making my own recipe for my doe venison. Fry onions in avocado oil with garlic cloves chopped. Thin slice venison steak with light pepper rub. When almost done, add few dabs of dijon mustard and a bit of balsamic vinegar. Stir to spread evenly. Enjoy! Sorry... No pics... it doesn't last long enough...

Morgan, the 14-8 got tapped today for more leaf duty with the plow and lawn sweep. Today's session wraps up the leaf cleanup for this year. Had to get done today, as the weather forecast calls for rain, snow, and ice for the next several days. I pulled the RD and SD decks into the tractor shed for the winter. Ran the fuel out of the chain saws, leaf blower, and string trimmer, too.

While those tire rod ends were good, after 50 years they all have seen plenty of wear and rust. Kind of like me and the song: I'm good once, but not as good as I used to be.

If it's worth that to you and you're happy with it that's what matters. It took me a long time to find one with a bucket, when I did it was in a package deal and on the C81. My plan was to put it on a more HP. Tractor until I used it.

Looking at new tractors today $2000 would not get you anything near this beauty. I would not be afraid of going higher if they balk at that offer.

Hooray! That's how I've been feeling about it. I've put a deposit and they're holding it for me cause they want her to have a good home🥹

Do you think $2,200 is out of the question? She runs, low hours, well kept. New battery, oil change before I pick it up.

Darb old buddy ... the values have been going crazy lately. I've seen Front End Loaders go for over $1,500 just by themselves. Never mind the tractor. The weights. The brackets. All that stuff.

just went out to garage and checked hub, appears to have zero damage,odd. not sure how i would make a brass keyway but have no problem welding. i found a brass bar ive used in the past as a punch, maybe i can cut a chunk out

@tbear853 ever drop your deck / for a look see , during cutting season ? often refer to " break the grunge cycle " . use a mirror for a look under deck , quick easy deck drop , slide out , after clean out , prop up to sun , use the deck lift carriage with a block of wood , pail , something to hold it in slanted place . sun gets it hot , drying , time for aerosol penetrating oil spray down , hot deck , sucks in lubricant , of course spindle housings , light touch up on blades , small fine file . also cut at highest height , to help discharge , make sense ? personally would not use anything thats going to create a cover to moisture / rot . my decks are all clean / soaking in lubricant over winter . found chain / cable spray , open gear spray , deck upside down , soaking in rust killing / grunge killer , works best . you have to change what yo have been doing , maybe your grass is highly acidic ? like a hot dry sun deck bake / oil soak , pete

Lots of time ther can be chaffing on the wiring under the fender pan to the rear lights. I suspect my FEL 520 has that issue. It doesn’t blow till I get rumbling around on her.

Here are pictures of my little pilot from today.

My youngest grandson just turned 12. He's known for several years that he wants to fly. Today he got his first flying lesson. Doing everything except takeoff and landing, the instructor allowed him to fly the airplane (Cessna 172) by himself. I am so proud of my grandkids and the fact that early on, they have their heads screwed on straight and have a direction in life.

Hi guys, I picked up a wheel horse here in the UK a few weeks ago, I'm a complete novice when it comes to tractors and engines, so take it easy on me:) Not to mention I'm used to everything metric! Lots of questions in my head , but loads of great knowledge on this site. Anyway the WH is a C175 automatic , model number 01-17ks-9 . I think 1980 or so. So not sure if its built slightly different to the US ones but pretty sure the transmission is the Sustrand one. (oil filter is on right side) Engine is not original though, its a Kohler K341 Comes with a rear discharge deck but needs some work and some patches rusted through. First thing I noticed firing it up a couple times, is that its pretty loud, I don't mind so much but do have some neighbours! It's got a pepper pot muffler on it now and I'm trying to figure out what muffler to switch to which would suit the engine. I've seen a few ideas on here but too many options, not sure where to start! I've measured the exhaust port on the engine and looks like 1 1/2" threaded pipe? the pipe isn't seized up so could be unscrewed easily. Alot of US links here, pretty sure I can order most items from ebay etc and get international delivery though.

always keep my home heating oil tank with oil , preventing condensation build up , also on automatic refill . getting oil the other day , guy was telling me of the incredible run , on tank blow outs , rotted tank bottoms , add any amount of oil , and in no time its on the floor . like running out of oil and getting 50/ 100gal. pumped oil myself and also did some burner work , back in the day . worst thing you can do is , ENHANCE CONDENSATION BUILD UP , with a regular , almost empty tank . just my own experience , stay oily , Pete

https://www.amazon.com/Boeray-Degree-Elbow-Fitting-Adapter/dp/B07DW6Y2FB/ref=pd_lpo_sccl_3/140-8047310-8767347?pd_rd_w=M2iDk&content-id=amzn1.sym.116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_p=116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6- done a number of these , changing up to a 5/16 ID fuel hose was a simple easy carb issue improvement . what ever the issue , there is always another improvement spot , have these on both electric fuel pumps and original lever type , seamless upgrade . just my trials , Pete

The Smithsonian actually had a bunch of 3d files of different dinosaur dinosaur bones. Always wanted a custom painted Sinclair concrete dino out in the yard. Spent some time in Utah for work out by Dinosaur National Monument very cool! Wish I'd have scanned a bunch of stuff.

That C81 will be an awesome worker with all that weight (a good thing) just make sure the transmission oil is in good standing, engine oil is changed regularly and chassis grease jobs happen WITH THE FRONT TIRES OFF THE GROUND by means of the bucket and you’ll be set for a long time!

I paid 2500 for a D200 with loader 15+ years ago and she had serious issues. If you don't buy that thing I want it!!!

Wow! I did not know this! If I go to heim tie rod ends I’d like to just do a simple replacement. Everything on this old horse is now tight, the steering gear is good now as well as the steering shaft. I replaced it because the old one was all wollered out at the very top where the steering wheel connects, I’m guessing that had a bushing from the factory and it broke or was lost years ago, I could literally grab the steering wheel and push up and down about a half inch back and forth. The replacement tightened that all up. While I had it apart I also used the best steering sector gear.. it actually looked brand new. Steering is good and tight now, last thing are these darned tie rod ends. Thanks for your reply! I’ll look into them!

Yep, when I installed a trailer hitch for this car it included a module from the car manufacturer to integrate the 7-pin connector for the trailer electrics. No more “splice into the tail light wiring” stuff--all plug-ins. The module required a software download into the car’s system as well, to enable it. (Yes, more $$) Now, when I plug the trailer lighting connector into the car, the module detects it and displays in the dash a message offering to do a “light check” (which alternately flashes all the lights in a sequence). When i start the car, it further warns me that due to the trailer, the Blind Spot Info system and the rear proximity sensors have been disabled. Fair for the reasons noted above! The backup and 360º camera views still work, but the angle is useless for seeing the trailer. Lesson? Revert to your old “head on a swivel” driving behavior when towing a trailer! 😁 ✅

Handy tool for squeeze type hose clamps. Gets in those hard to reach places. https://www.amazon.com/Clamp-Pliers-inches-Flexible-Cable/dp/B0917J3DBG/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3BYSF7XS8A9VO&keywords=hose%2Bclamp%2Bpliers&qid=1701371951&sprefix=hose%2Bclam%2Bpluers%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

@tbear853 what my decks look like , notice the angular sun , heating up the deck , thats the grunge stop you want to establish . zero rot / rust . deck actually gets hot to touch , oil feed , finish , stains metal black . do it every year , pete

Remember we had a massive oil spill in our basement a few years ago? The Maine DEP at that point was handling over 600 claims per year regarding RESIDENTIAL issues. Rusted rotted tanks of course was one of the major ones although not the cause of our disaster. Back then Maine was the ONLY state in New England with a financial assistance program. The DEP stepped in immediately after our 911 call and took care of everything. All the paperwork. All the physical and mental work. EVERYTHING.

Odd that the keyway was damaged. 95% of the ones I pull the softer cast hub is damaged. I can put new keyways in hubs and yes the second set screw.

I dunno about all that there How'd I get brought into this?

I started flying at around 12yrs old also. My grandpa had a Cessna 172 at that time. He had a few planes through the years. They lived on a farm so he had a private grass airstrip. He would fly in to pick me up on a Friday afternoon when school let out- we lived 1/2mi from small airport. We would fly back to my grandparents where I would spend weekend with them. Sunday afternoon he would fly me home. I remember flying to Seven Springs, Niagara Falls, & other destinations to get lunch or dinner. Grandpa has been gone for a while now. I'm still flying what was his last airplane. Beechcraft Bonanza V-tail. (aka- the Dr. killer) Flying is a great hobby......

jeez i just saw the topic of fixing this that ed posted awhile back. i apologize for not taking a minute to search this. im usually not "that guy" oh well noted for future postings!

Appreciate thee well wishes. She may be the wrong color for the site but shes in doors and happy once again.

Go for the gusto and blow $50 on a WiFi backup camera from the jungle site! Mount the screen on the hood ahead of the steering wheel and the camera on the back of your seat.

@Ed Kennell has a trick for putting a brass key in ... welding in it. Me I would pull it apart and put a full length key in the axle if it wasn't too far gone. It's really a crapper no matter how you look at it. A donor axle?

@Desko after you get those tires mounted up on your 520, I have a plow for you

I have a spare, apparently good, motorcycle battery lying around - I think it had a broken terminal that I repaired but had already bought a new one for the bike. It cranked a 4 cylinder bike engine so it should be good for a Kohler twin, so I may use it on my 517-H project to keep things less crowded in the tower. That said, I'm a little disturbed at this image from your engine. It appears to be encouraging violence toward rabbits in step 3:

BFH Chinese carb adjustment tool. Look closely and you can see the carb stuck onto the hammer!