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Kudos to the Corn Picker We are all accustomed to watching the humble corn picker or a combine with a corn head harvesting a crop without giving any thought to the backbreaking work it once took to accomplish this task. The modern corn picker incorporates the wisdom and ingenuity of hundreds of inventors which took several decades to develop. According to Wikipedia the corn picker is an agricultural machine used to harvest corn leaving the whole ear intact rather than shelling the kernels off like today’s GPS guided combine. The first corn picker was produced in 1909. New Idea introduced the first commercially successful corn sheller and husker in 1928. Massey Harris began manufacturing self-propelled corn pickers in 1946. Corn pickers began suffering an extreme loss in sales after a corn head was developed for combines in 1956 Over the next few days I will present some information about the origin of the components that made today’s corn harvesting machines possible. Massey-Harris engineers seemed to have a bright idea when they decided to put a motor on the corn picker and make it self-propelled. No more mounting a picker on a tractor or tying up a tractor all fall. Sometimes a good product doesn’t stay around long. It is not because there is something wrong with the product. It’s all about timing. The Massey-Harris self-propelled corn picker is a good example. By the time the company designed, tested, built and marketed it, the days of picking corn on the ear were numbered. Self-propelled combines were on the way.

Our friends who have the Workhorse we built are at it this morning. Tom's out plowing the slush from his driveway.

Here in south Missouri, we've just got a dusting of snow. My brother in law in north Missouri has several inches. Earlier this week he called and while we were talking he said his wife was sweeping snow off deck. "Now she's got a shovel and cleaning sidewalk towards driveway." He has a long drive way and I said to Larry, "Yell out the door and tell your wife when she get to the mail box at the end of the driveway to be sure to bring the mail back in!" We thought it was funny--apparently Kathy didn't. Well today he sent a picture of their snow with then caption: "Guess what I have to do when the wind stops blowing?" I replied " Spray Kathy's shovel with non-stick cooking oil so snow won't stick? I don't have a reply yet. Years ago we got some big snows. Walking over fences with just the top strand of barbed wire showing and making snow caves. My kids have never that that kind of fun. Mom says we three boys would come in with our boots full of icy water, toes red from the cold. Of course we didn't have cell phones, game boys and weren't on traveling sports teams. As we got old enough to be responsible, we did have rifles, shotguns, fishing poles, bicycles and three Harley Davidson 50cc motor bikes--One for parts and two to ride around the farm.

Well if the weatherman is close their predicting my area will have 3 days at or below freezing. We should wake up Sunday morning at or below freezing. (we had a high of about 65, and no wind today, beautiful weather! When they say lows in the 15 F and 16 F I'm prepped and hunkered down. My middle son was Googling if the lawn sprinkler system would make snow and I just said its drained and the drops would be to big - just ice pellets. Then he said pressure washer would work with it being located as high up as possible to give the small droplets more time to freeze - O to be young again. Slight chance of some wet stuff Sunday night/Monday morning. The horses are put to bed, but the C81 does have weights, chains and a plow on it from doing some dirt work. If there was enough snow to plow, i suspect it would take me about 10 minutes to say "done That" time to get warm. Have I mentioned I'm a warm weather tropical bear! @ebinmaine might see this fairly often, so he can be the cold weather bear.

Replacing the headlights with PAR36 12W LEDs is a smart upgrade. Direct plug and play, and pulls much less amps than factory incandescents. The pic below is mine. They are 4000K, which is close to white. Higher numbers lean towards blue, lower lean pink. If you're thinking of adding more, then as has already been said- verify your charging system can handle it.

Today's snow clearing was brought to you by a '89 520-H and 42" snowblower...enjoy!

Ordered me a new hat, thought it was cool on the website looking 3D and all. But in the real not so 3D. But it’s still pretty cool. I ordered it from a company in the US but darn thing came from China. Not so cool.

At Edgar Steam show.

Hi Guys, I just bought myself a Wheel Horse 312-8 with plow setup after my old smaller Wheel Horse died plowing in the last storm. I am curious as to if anyone has experimented with putting LED lights on one of these things and could share any insight with me. Preferably a setup that includes headlights or a LED bar and lights for the back too. I've attached a picture of the tractor for your viewing pleasure.

I would just have to try the lawn sprinkler thing. I have a T shirt the family got me that says, they left me alone. Wife says I need adult supervision. Probably right.

Was thinking of snow today - here's my barn find restored to worker 416-8 with the tall chute acquired from a member here 1st winter - new bearings - chain - little welding and straightening on the auger . K341 will toss some snow . 161812588_444158220221879_7691297334427239989_n.mp4

We bought this back in 2021, mainly to mow another property we have (instead of chasing a push mower around). This thing mulches great, but leaves the lawn looking terrible. I like to use it especially in the fall, it pulverizes leaves so it's great for that. This (below) was given to us because the person that wanted to get rid of it said the transmission was junk. I quizzed the owner on this extensively before he left it and was assured the transmission was bad. I didn't know if I was going to just take it to a salvage yard, or strip it for parts. After looking it over I found a bad pulley on its transmissions drive belt, so I replaced the pulley, cleaned it up and have been using it since. This mows a lot better than the rider so I've been happier and blessed to have it! It's kind of an interesting machine, before we've had this, I hadn't heard of a Kohler 20hp single cylinder! The property we use this on is in terrible shape, the soil is mostly sand and very rough so I'm glad to use these yellow machines instead of ruining my 's on it! We bought this mainly for snow clean up (it also has a 4 way plow), but it works good to get wood too! This was also to take some of the burden of plowing with our '79 Jeep CJ-5 w/plow, which is getting tired.. 1979 CJ suited up for winter - 1979 CJ in summer mode - C-85

I did some work on a diesel Jeep a while back. Three fuel injector return line clips were leaking. The Jeep dealer asked for the vin. I didn’t have it. He wouldn’t look up any parts but just said “it’ll probably be 4-500 dollars.” I found a diesel parts house that had replacement clips in stock for $22 each. Low pressure hose barbs came apart fairly hassle free. Total fix was $162 billable.

I think all of mine are tapered pipe threads. You just screw it in until it's tight. Or put a bit of tape or compound on it, if it wants to seep.

Common theme: Drain higher than the floor. Really is a PITA when it's in a shower room on the 2nd floor!

These cables have the original looking knobs and work absolutely awesome. I love the one that I have on my 701. You can literally pull the knob out, lock it and use the knob to push the tractor. The knob will not push in until you give it a 1/4 turn to unlock the ratchet mechanism. https://www.armyjeepparts.com/p-2637-throttle-cable-with-ratcheting-round-black-knob-cj2a-jeep-nos-wo-640669.aspx?network=g&device=c&keyword=&campaign=10021783397&adgroup=pla-298431537838&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA44OtBhAOEiwAj4gpOcuC5OM2D3U9Y2rgjYDrqkS_Gztc7MtONxp0JmjOQqkl-rqB8L3fmBoCw3wQAvD_BwE Note: you will need to trim it to length.

A more complete orginal unmolested tractor than this one. A 1267... After much screwing around with the seller ... yes this is the one I mentioned in the FB thread. Out of the blue the seller says yah I can have it for the original agreed upon price. I immediately hooked up the enclosed damn the slick roads... been ther done that right Dan @Achto...before he had another dumb @ss attack. A few PO mods but nothing that can't be undone and NO rattle can or paint brush antics. I would love to do a mechanical only resto on it but do I dare? It's kinda been betrothed to someone else. More on that later. Feast your eyes on this and you know drooling on keyboards can short them out. Check this seat out. One cannot doubt it's orginal. Gonna clean up like a baby's bottom. Two very small cracks on it. Seller says some bozo offered him 250 for just the seat. Luckily he declined. The getting rare two spoke large diameter wheel. Straight as the day it came from a dealer.

My mechanical engineer son made a snow gun when he was ten. $10 in gas pipe, connectors, valves. Hook one side to a hose one side to a compressor and you got snow... actually works. Still have it in the garage. Somewhere...

Looks to be sweeping the nation. We are predicted to have -10 for a low on Monday.

Hey, I’m on your way! Maybe save room for one of mine and we can “trailer pool”?

@JCM That sure is one sweet lineup Jim! After seeing that I’m fairly certain if I can get to your meet and greet I’ll have to bring my 400 series tractors. 418-C, 418-8, and 420-LSE. I’d like to add them to your lineup. My 417-A with blower and 416-H with vacuum setup will take up too much room in my trailer!! However if I hit the lottery, I’ll have my whole collection shipped up !

We had a contractor come in where I used to work years ago to grind the floor. We were prepping for an epoxy floor and it was for general cleanup and to re-level a few spots. He used big diamond grinders that sort of looked like big, walk-behind electric planers. I think there was a propane engine on the big one and the smaller ones for the edges were electric. They were called scarifiers. Worked well, made a huge mess. I don’t remember if they did it wet or dry. He used a head that left a nice tooth to the concrete for the epoxy to trowel into, but I think they can leave a smooth finish too if desired. Doesn’t seem like a DIY process but I am guessing you can rent the equipment. Steve

Ya think he just might trip over that....

@Ed Kennell Heads up Ed dog! Squall line will be coming thru your area about 9 AM tomorrow! Do not use VASALINE in your hair for "Greaser Day" Guy in College did that. Had to use GOOP handcleaner to get it out of his hair! I use spray silicone. To big a chance on getting the goo on your clothes Another solution: Clean the crap out of the garage and park inside! I have a pair of Red Green suspenders I wear the week before Christmas. I got an Official Possum Lodge flannel shirt as a present this year. I'm waiting for a Special occasion to wear it!

Probably a method of tracking what everyone is doing! Big Brother IS watching.

I get that with the large window sticker on my truck. Good conversation starter but most people just smile and say "that is nice" and walk away.

The Square Turn Tractor Horseless farming saw many intriguing variations of the maneuverable small tractor for the farm. Perhaps the best example of ingenious engineering was the “Square Turn Tractor.” It was a progressive, unique tractor for its time. Conceived by two Nebraska men, A.T. Kenney and A.J. Colwell, it seemed perfectly designed for farm use. Kenney was a successful farmer and Colwell had 14 years’ experience as superintendent of construction on the C&NW Railroad. Colwell supplied mechanical genius and Kenney provided practical farming experience. The partners formed the Kenney-Colwell Co., Norfolk, Neb., and began taking customer orders in 1914. The Square Turn was a three-wheel tractor with two powered wheels and one castor or free wheel. It would do the work of from 3 to 5 teams in general draw-bar work and would deliver 35 horsepower on the belt. A four-cylinder kerosene-gasoline Climax Tractor Motor with 510 cubic inches of displacement was used. The driver’s seat was swiveled around the steering post allowing the operator to go forward in either direction. While towing an implement the operator would face in the direction of the caster wheel and have an unobstructed view. Each drive wheel was operated independently by moving a leaver on each side in the direction of travel. If one wheel was driven clockwise and the other counterclockwise the tractor would turn on the spot. While plowing the operator would face toward the engine and push both levers forward. The plows were lifted with an engine driven mechanical lift. The Square Turn could be throttled down as low as a crawl or as high as 3 mph. Ninety percent of the 7,800-pound tractor’s weight was carried by the two 50-inch diameter traction wheels. The Square Turn was so maneuverable that it would get close up to fence corners. It carried the plows under the tractor in full view of the operator, this allowed the plows to be lifted to avoid large stones or stumps without stopping. The machine operated at the same speed and power in either direction, making a real “two-way tractor.” There were no gears for the operator to shift, no differential gears and no clutch, just a pair of easily used levers. The Square Turn’s transmission featured radical new technology covered by eight patents. “This invention was called ‘the giant grip drive,’ a new type of transmission never before used in any piece of machinery.” “No other farm tractor is so easy and natural to drive as the Square Turn,” advertisements boasted. “Pull left lever to turn left, right lever to turn right and pull both halfway back to stop and all the way to back up. A unique foot throttle was used to control speed. Experiencing the financial challenges common to any start-up, Kenney-Colwell was forced out of the tractor business in just two years. The partners sold their patents to the Albaugh-Dover Co., Chicago, in 1916. The Square Turn Tractor Co. was organized in December 1917 with headquarters in Chicago; the manufacturing operation remained in Norfolk. Over the next four years, approximately $2 million in common stock was sold to 3,500 investors. Plans called for construction of approximately 2,000 tractors per year. Equipped with a 3-bottom gangplow attachment (an Oliver 3-bottom plow was the standard offering), the Square Turn sold for $1,385. Albaugh-Dover also streamlined the 7,800-pound tractor and added a Waukesha engine. Over a century later Mercedes has debuted its concept vehicle, the EQG, that has the same turning capability at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show. Gotta wonder if the Square Turn Tractor may have been their inspiration?

I started this repair on November 14, 2023, with a post here. I’m glad to say my 1979 C-141A, with snowblower, was functional yesterday (1/12/24), just in time for our Northern Michigan Blizzard. So, today I snowblow. i would like to thank Ebinmaine, Oliver2-44, daveoman 66, and WHX??, for their expertise and pictures. I have used this site a couple of previous times, and I’m always impressed with the willingness to help. A shout out to the nice people at Wheel Horse Parts and More for their help and top quality parts. Took awhile and a few phone calls but thank goodness these parts are available at all. i didn’t do the work myself so I only have a few pics because everything was put back together. My new parts were: 2 new rear axle seals, new brake lining( yes, glued on), new solid engine mounts, 4 new hydraulic hoses, rebuilt lift cylinder, and rebuilt lift valve. Thanks again to all who helped. HNY, Jim

I have to say that is a nice looking hat. You can even where it in hot days because it is white for the most part. You will have people come up to you and say what is a Wheel Horse.

Hey all.. I've been searching for a good (looking) seat for a while now but all the ones I find are either - too big (i'm pretty slim) - ugly - too expensive - all of the above Anyone on here that has experience in the seat making business who can point me in the right direction and or have tips and tricks to get a good looking a feeling seat? Since I really like the original 1468 seats I would like to stay as close to that as possible. So my plan is to make a seat myself according to the following dimensions. All help and input is more than welcome!

Those Jeep cables were probably made by the same company that made them for Wheel Horse. If they're truly NOS cables they should be made the USA just like the originals.

I made a new transmission attachment plate fro my 551 frame based on this drawing I found on Red Square. I made one change which was to make the 2.5" bottom angle dimension 2.75" and the top of that angle have a .250 flat section. If I had to do over I would make it 3" with a .500 flat at the top The original design did not have bushing on the clutch rod, but I'm adding them to compensate for wear on the clutch rod at the narrow angle side area. With the original dimension of 2.5" the (unshown) hole for the clutch idler rod is very close to the edge. I will get a dimension on the clutch rod hole in the next day or so. The back plate is 1/4" and the sides are 1/8" The original frame design did not have these bushing on the clutch rod. I'm adding them to compensate for a worn area on the clutch rod where it went through the thin frame side angle

We just got in a new John Deere welder/generator unit at work and it has a GX690 Honda on it. I haven’t looked at it too close though I keep my distance because it would be hard for me to not start unbolting her to come home with me lol

It probably would seal back up at times and then get jarred loose and again and cause a restriction or lean condition. I did a fair amount of looking how mufflers were designed after I realized the one couldn’t be saved. Definitely holds some merit and I would say even more so in a twin cylinder application

That reminds me, the other day I went to my local Ford dealer for fuel filters. I asked the TWO guys behind the counter for the filters, told them I needed them for a 2005 F-350 with a 6.0 Powerstroke diesel. The guy said he needed the VIN number from the truck. I said no you don’t. He points at the computer and says without the VIN he can’t get the part number. So I pulled out my phone and said I’ll bet I can find it on this, without the VIN. Aggravated, I just left and went to another Ford dealer a few towns away. Walked in and said the same thing. The guy says hang on, comes back 30 seconds later with the filters!!

HAAAA, so that seller who thought he had gold and raised the price to $900 found out how the hard way that many offers on there are nothing but the time wasters! You should've offered him $250.00 or he could deal with all of that nonsense forever. LOL

I have seen this tractor at the show in Edgar WI several times. The one in the back ground is working scale model that was built the the owner of the original in the for ground. Really cool machines.

5" of wet stuff coming down steady... 3 driveways done. @ebinmaine i'm only gonna say this once, i'm glad BBT speaks so highly of added weight on tractors. My new weight box made a huge difference! You should take her advice and add some weight to your tractors...

They also had an employee who can think, that right there is rather unusual today.

For the more later... @Mike'sHorseBarn saw this on FB and clued me in since he knew it was somewhat local. I guess whats fair is fair especially with brothers from a different mother so he has dibs. I says let's just get it safe from a FB crazy and roll dice for it later. Not to say if he knocks up the missus and can't take it it would fit right in with my 1067, 1257, 857, 867, RE-67... Did I mention '67s rule? Now Mike for the you owe me big time! I didn't mind having to deal with the crazy. Comes with the addiction. After digging the enclosed out of the snow bank i had to empty it of the tractors I had stored in it and the work. Not a big deal right? Not for my missus. She had a hissy fit that I was going to pick up a tractor that was going to someone else. Wadda ya know about that @953 nut? She just doesn't get that saving horses like this is what trips my hammer these days. Told her to stay home then not much of a navigator anyway. That damn near brought out the frying pan. Anyhoo she got over it. I took her out for Mexican afterwards and then she was all roses. More on the shape of the tractor after I play catch up with El Camino.

Go have another one Waldo... Check out the head light lens...no cracks no fading no nothing but originality. Well ok the screws are not original so sue me. Maybe the bumper worked? Tires are all marked and no weather cracks and hold air! Very good to excellent condition. Sheet metal completely strait. No dents nicks or gouging. The PO things. Not terrible ... the bumper of course... actually kind cool that's gotta stay Mike... goes for character. Long legged guy? Custom hood ornament... lost in the heat of battle? Understandable. There's yer close up with the patina Waldo... whadda ya want for 57 years old? The deck... Haven't looked at it close yet but appears to be solid. Bonus nothing has been messed with and all there.

Got some cold and wet seat time this morning. Here's 16 1/2 minutes of plowing bliss! 418-A didn't miss a beat.

After clearing the first snowfall of the season… GT-1600, 48” 5 sector plow, 75#’s cast on each rear wheel and 25#’s cast on each front wheel

I've heard several people say that. @JCM I know he likes a good hard working 520 too.

That's basically identical knob wise. Ill probably order one just to have it

Soon as I start using duct tape (the handyman’s secret weapon) exclusively!