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Build your own tractor The Victor Traction Gear Company of Loudonville, Ohio developed a unique opportunity for farmers or others wanting a tractor to build their own. In 1913 they provided a KIT to allow you to use whatever engine (Primarily Hit & Miss at the time) you had and a bit if ingenuity to build a tractor. The kit weighed about a thousand pounds and would be shipped by rail. There were apparently no dealerships and the purchaser paid the freight charges. I haven’t been able to find any sales information or pricing. The kit consisted of differential and transmission gears, traction wheels, freight wheels, axles, steering gear parts, clutch sprockets, chain and other appliances for converting gasoline engines into tractors. You made your own wood frame and used whatever engine you wanted. The transmission had one forward speed and a reverse gear. It was not intended to be used in the fields for plowing although it could pull a heavy load. The Victor Tractor was a drivable self-propelled power source made for hay baling, grinding, threshing, filling silos, powering saw mills, and other belt work. Engines of that time had a belt pulley and clutch built in.

Finally installed new throttle cable yesterday. Due to the bulkiness of the new type cable it was not possible to install it in original place without doing some physical alterations on tractor. Since I have never been a fan of where it was located originally , obstructed by steering wheel ,I decided to fabricate a bracket and install it in a more conveniently accessible place. Removed old cable and in its place installed an additional light switch which was in an awkward spot already so everything worked out great. Throttle cable is an absolute pleasure. It’s a precision instrument. Smooth precise operation. Can be vernier adjusted with just index finger. Can be stopped anywhere in its travel and it stays put. Using red bypass button it can be immediately pulled out or pushed in. Entire unit can also be totally locked with large black knob which is a bit redundant since cable positively stays on any position left. Extremely well made with a vinyl covered metal jacket which in turn has a slippery thick plastic jacket inside through which cable runs smoothly. Not sensitive to tight turns like regular solid throttle cable is. Great large easy to use knobs. Worked perfectly on first try. Night to day performance compared to original type cable. IMG_4990.mov

Thank you, everyone. Didn’t really do anything special today, went to work (10 hours), then my wife had supper ready when I got home (burn ends and twice baked potatoes), then a tractor club board meeting tonight.

I took lessons as a kid. Never did become a musician but when I'm alone, I pick on my Martin DX1K Dreadnought. I'm not sure where my son Mike and his two sons Reed and Jake got the talent. Jake is a music major at Gettysburg College.

The tech at my regular shop (where I’ve brought 000’s in business over the years) laughed when I brought them my two 6.00x12 rears that were very stuck, and then did them in less than 5 minutes for free.

If it is 50’s - 60`s - early 70`s It is for me. Good luck with it and do not be afraid to ask questions. Lots of help here.

Hi all, been following this forum for quite a while. Finally have time to dive into my addiction to these awesome tractors. Now that I've sold my business and retired, I'm catching up on things that I had to sideline, due to so many commitments. I've picked up a wealth of great info here, really helpful on my first restoration, an 856 that was a rustbucket, with a blown engine. I'll post some pics of that project, (Now complete) and my next one, a C120 I just picked up at auction, as it progresses. My first, a C121, I've had for twenty years, and still looks and runs perfectly. I'll be looking for a few attachments for that one soon. 20240112_141919.mp4

The breakerless ignition is wonderful until it quits working, then it has to go. I wouldn't want to spend money and time on a half century old electronic part when I could convert the engine to reliable battery powered ignition with a coil. Check out this post.

Speaking of things rotating in a motor. This little doodad was the keeper on this 181. Guessing it's a valve rotator? Asked @Achto if he had it on his 8 he went thru... no. On the exhaust valve. Did not see it in the parts manuals I have. All the engines i have been in never saw it before.

The one I picked up, probably restore in the fall

Yep, a valid point

Paint scheme helps narrow down the year range a bit. Desert Sunset and Flambeau Red were used from the time Case started redesigning the Colt till 1969 when they made more refinements and made the tractors more like the big 70 series and clolors went to Desert Sunset and POWER RED. The Desert Sunset was phased out in 79-80 and the whole tractor went to POWER RED. The black frame was used in the late 83 and 84 when John Ingersoll bought the company This should put the tractor some where between 80 & 83. Providing it was not repainted,

In some cases I would agree, but overall it is the best in the world, evidenced by people from other counties coming here for care not available to them at home. Other than a lack of specialists in some areas, I have found that being on Medicare is the best health system that I have ever had. I have never been turned down for any procedure or test that my doctors call for. I have a different opinion of the Medicare Prescription drug plans though.

Tire removal with the appropriately sized tool: Front end loader Edge of bucket down on tire Lift front end off ground Tire go boom

Welcome!! I use my 654 for plowing snow. Was surprised at how good it does. I also have a mower deck so sometimes I mow with it when I wanna just "play" It's still got original Tecumseh in it. Feel free to ask any questions.

Great thread. As a child I played piano. Took coronet lessons in 4th grade for one school year. In senior year I took up the baritone ukulele. In the Coast Guard I played bass guitar in a band we threw together. Only instruments I still have are the bass and the ukulele. I always wants to play the 5-string banjo and be in a bluegrass band. Never happened never will.

The guitarists have taken over the musical instruments thread i love seeing how many people are playing just to enjoy it no matter where we’re all at in our experience and abilities. That’s what it’s all about! i have a 2000 Gibson Les Paul Classic and an 07 Mexican Fender Telecaster that I really love. I also have a cool double humbucker Jazzmaster that’s easy for my big dumb hands. i built a 50w Marshall JCM800 clone that turned out awesome and also have a Peavey 5150 (Van Halen signature) I play those through an Orange 2x12 cabinet at gigs. Lots of fancy gear for an average guitar player!!!! Been in bands for years

Bring her along for your extended honeymoon! LOL LOL Jim, that pic of Don looks like he's smoke'n a big cigar, spilling the liqueur out of his cup, already dumped his hotdog on the ground and fumbling around with the chair that folded up on him. LOL And Don is the furthest thing from being "that person" as possible. @ebinmaine's office is exactly what you would imagine his office looks like! It's always a good time up there just hanging out with friends, talking WH, cruise the trails, good food, great hosts and certainly worth taking the time if you can make it.

I love how you saved My Office for last...

2024 6th Annual Meet & Greet Saturday September 7th 8 am to Sunday noon ish. Check out Red Square Herd . Some trail ride pics. Stay tuned. Hi Don @Handy Don

I went and picked it up , all I can say is wow , this person had more then 60 wheel horse tractors , some restored and some original , from the 50 all the way up to the 90 , his restoration is second to none , I could have spent the whole day there just looking

Found this old picture of me in my grandfather back in 1974 , my stepdad still has this wheelhorse , I’m hoping to get it this year , I know if I ask him he would give it to me , so I can restore both next fall

I’m picking up one tomorrow, don’t know much about them , my club cadet blew up last year , cost of new one is stupid, my stepfather has my grandpa wheelhorse that he bought new in 73-74 and it still run strong till this day , some day I’ll get it and restore both of them , I’m thinking that 400 ain’t bad in today’s market

Makes me wish I was closer. Looks like a great time!

Bought my first Wheel Horse here. Anyone else remember their first dealer?

They aren't the same machine up here. The old machines will do a 12 to 16 or 18 inch rim. The "new" (still 10 plus years old) machines around here go from around 14" diameter to 20" or sometimes 22" The smaller shops only have room for one machine.

For this tractor with this type of linkage perfect fit. On other photo of left over cable cutoff a little mangled but you can see the 3 part cable sheath.

Stick to the non running rule of a Benny tops. It better be something rare or very special for me to break that rule.

Go to the link from TP Tools and read about spraying with a turbine system. A lot will have to do with the gun Titan provides too. I sprayed these 2 tractors with the Turbine system

That’s awesome! Love to see people saving and preserving the tractors instead of them heading to the scrap yard. Maybe I’m weird but sometimes I get a little bummed out about people buying them all up and stockpiling them.. just because I’d love to have 2 or 3 and put them to work but it’s very hard to find them when there’s a collector in your area putting them all in a garage! Glad you got a nice one and that this fella is doing right by the tractors and also willing to let some go! Seeing that collection must have been pretty inspiring

Hmmmm. That one looks rougher than a Saturday night in Jail !! Motor is "free" - what about the transmission?? Full of water... ?? If so, I'd start at $10 above scrap price..... and stick there.

Much appreciated! I think I will be seeing ya’s there

I throw as much business as possible to my local (~½ mile away) auto shop and have worked to have a good “knows my name” relationship and to respect his time/schedule. What the owner still talks about is when I got an invoice for $00’s less than I thought was correct and asked him to recheck. Yep, accidental undercharge.

Got it for free needs a few things lol. hoping to find a SR-64 kit for it, serial # is A5972. Anyone sell patch panels for the hoods?

I remember the name of it now, Hank’s on the River! Funny story, we had my buddy Hank (Henry the 4th) and his son Henry (Five) with us at Hank’s on the River. We informed the waitress that the rest of the Hanks were here and she laughed, the owner was actually James or something but there was another in-law who already took James so the father in law dubbed him Hank.

to the forum from a fellow Michigander. Had to look your location up on a map. Turns out I've been through on 131 on my way to South Bend many times.

What better place for a dive bar than the river ? to !!!

I have that same radio. Upgraded to hall effect gimbals 5 years ago, and it still works great. I use mine for helicopters, drones, and airplanes. No buggies or trucks though. Probably a dozen models saved in the menu now. Haven't flown in a while. The "remote ID" requirements make it difficult. I'm not paying $300 for the module, I'll wait for them to come down in price... Electronics have gotten much easier nowadays. The Taranis is a fantastic radio, and fairly easy to program if you need to. Using 2.4Ghz, you can get two miles range easy. Good luck, and I look forward to your progress!

We'd love to see pictures!

That’s a wrap for right now on this project. Waiting on a gasket kit for the k181.

I have the mini…claims it does 4” to 12” wheels. I haven’t done any smaller than 6”. Ya still gotta put in some grunt to get it done but I have swapped out 100’s of tires over the years with this one. Pretty sure I paid $24.99 for it brand new

A classic for sure. Grandpa and the Wheel Horse.

That is absolutely fantastic!

to the Niiccee !

For a runner with no significant issues and a usable deck, very fair price.

You get to using that tractor and you'll love it more and more each time. This old iron doesn't even compare to the new stuff.

Spent a few hours in the basement workshop today working on several projects. The BBT's 867 Pigpen was the main focus. Trina the tire changer was busy this afternoon. One rear is swapped and ready to be fluid filled with Rimguard. The other rear tire is refusing to budge using every tool trick and tip we know. We're trying to reuse the tire but it's stuck hard. She's going to call our local auto mechanic tomorrow to see if they do 12" rims. She swapped the two fronts and installed tubes. They will also be fluid filled. I got the differential torqued down with Trina's help holding it. Also got the transmission case all cleaned up, ready for reinstallation.

Me n the BBT got a few minutes to work on the Pigpen this evening. She cleaned up the engine block, breather assembly, and fuel pump. Then reinstalled above parts. Whilst she was doing that I got the transmission cracked open. There's a few rust spots to be gouged out and cleaned up. I disassembled the Limited Slip Differential and changed the spring while checking everything over. Old spring certainly shows some consistent wear. The new one is substantially tighter between the pinions.

Earlier today I spent some time messing around with 3 or 4 carbs. Got this one for Trina all cleaned up and assembled.