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Big Thanks To, @Vinylguy for helping me out with this custom decal. Thank You, Sir! My part doesn’t do this justice…lol. I need to do this more often.

Roths Garden Tractor Immediately after World War Two there was a strong demand for motorized lawn and garden equipment and Herbert Roths was eager to meet the need. Roths Industries began manufacturing two wheeled walk-behind garden tractors in 1945 known as the Garden King. Roths Industries first patent was for the design of an ornamental tractor. (An ornamental design patent only protects the design of a manufactured object, unlike a utility patent which protects the function and operation of an item.) This patent was awarded on June 17, 1947. Their second patent awarded on February 21, 1950 for a garden tractor design which would later become the Roths Garden King walking tractor which went into production in 1945. The drivetrain known as Steeromatic Control transferred power from a gear reduction gasoline engine to a worm gear drive with Forward/Reverse, Ratchet type differential to a chain drive to each drive wheel. Roths Model-G and BesRo utilized transmissions and other parts from the Garden King. The BesRo W riding tractor was basically a Garden King Model G walk-behind tractor with the handlebars replaced by a steerable sulky added to the rear. A four wheel BesRo R riding model with the operator forward of the engine was also offered. Roths went into the four-wheel riding garden tractor business in 1958 with two models, the “Country Boy” and the “Little Jef.” No production records are available but it is believed that production ended in 1960 According to the sales flyer below the Roth Country Boy and its baby brother the Little Jeff, both have “STEEROMATIC CONTROL” which means attachments move exactly as you want them to – with no wide arcs – no removal of plants in cultivating. Complete control over rear working tools at all times! Roth had an optional lift system referred to as “PARALLELING REAR TOOL LIFT” that was similar to a three-point lift. They also boasted that the Country Boy and Little Jeff were engineered as close to the ground as it’s feasible for a tractor to get which gives you the greatest possible security. Won’t tip under load since exclusive construction places pulling load ahead of rear axle instead of behind. Keeps front end firmly on ground.

A week of 50F temps and an inch of rain yesterday = a roll down the frost lumps day. Put the "new" $175 310-8 to work for the first time. He did good, but could use a couple new sneakers and some weight on his rear. I'm a hydro guy, but the gear drive was OK for this job. It ran for 2 hours non-stop in H2nd. I only had to push the clutch one time to back it in the shed.

Picked up this 1946 WC last weekend from a friend of mine, finally got it to the farm and off the trailer into the shop this evening. He had it running a week ago, but today when I went to start it it seems we have lost spark, probably tinker with that some tomorrow and see if I can get it running, then will have to bite the bullet and buy at least one tire for the rear, and maybe see a little mowing duty this summer while I do some needed repairs on the Farmall C

For those of us old enough to remember when car magazines were the only place to see photos of upcoming models and / or parts......these were spotted recently at the K & B proving grounds :

Arizona and Hawaii have the right idea... Let's stop the Nonsense...

I could fix the mess that yellow tractor made.

Stuck again…

I don't know. I kind of just get up then have coffee for a hour till it warms up. The mid morning is my best time. Yeah, I will have to go along with keeping it in this mode. spring ahead. At least for the those that work during the day it gives a better evening. Yesterday it rained all day, I mean all day! Today snow showers, then sunshine, then snow and on and on. The grass started to take off over night with all the rain. My mower is ready but I have switch over the daughters and one neighbor. Plus what ever-else pops up. The old saying....the more ahead i get the behinder I am! I'll just blame it on the time change!

I've had enough of switching the time zones. It's "time" to just leave it stable. I don't even care which one. Just stop changing it.

I bought this Woodmaxx 8" hydraulic infeed chipper several years ago and while a little expensive and really only gets used a few days per year it sure cleans up a lot of brush, limbs and small trees in a hurry. Makes the 30HP diesel tractor work hard, only time I ever see it blow some black smoke.

Back at it again this weekend. Stacked my dumb bell weights on the mid mount weight bar to see how many I could fit. @ebinmaine might recognize these dumb bell weights. Any way, I can only fit 4 in between the frame rails due to a clearance issue when I slide the front weight bar all the way in. I can how ever fit 10 on each side on the out side of the frame. Grand total of 168lbs. Made a cover plate for the opening on the block for the fuel pump. Then it was time to make some paint fly. No, I'm not prepping sheet metal for a flawless paint job. Just some fizz bomb paint squirted on the pieces that I had to fab. Some silver squirted on the wheelie bars. Why silver? Just wanted to show off the fab work on them. Also added a center brace to stiffen the wheelie bars up. One coat of self etching primer and two coats of flat black on the front weights. Dumb bell weights received the same treatment, got 18 of them painted today. 6 more to paint tomorrow. OK.... I did spray some sheet metal too. The fender pan did get a top notch paint job to protect the add on pieces and the spots where the welds burned the paint off. Yep a little red oxide primer to help keep the rust at bay. Blends right in with the faded red & rust finish.

Our son was the last gunner in convoy's in Iraq. Kris sat on the back of a flat bed truck with a 50 cal. surrounded by sand bags. He was there about 1 1/2 years. He didn't talk about his time there but when he and I would go for a ride in the El Camino, he'd stiffen up where the road had been patched. One time we were riding along and passed under a bridge over our road. He said, "Dad, those kids knew they were not supposed to be up there (on the bridge his convoy was traveling under) when we passed." Kris died a little over 16 years ago when his fiancee lost control of his pickup. The pickup he saved for while in Iraq. Rebecca survived the accident and lived with us several months while healing and graduated from college. Rebecca joined the National Guard (as an honor to Kris) and she is now a captain. We spend time with her a couple of weeks ago and she told us that she will be deployed overseas in April. She will be leaving her husband and two children behind. My wife almost always pays for the meal of someone dressed in uniform when we are eating out. Someone did that for our son once and it's something that she does in his memory. The men and women who proudly wear the uniforms of our nation's service are the pride of our country and due all the respect we can give them.

More trail work yesterday and cutting hardwood for the stoves. Decided to make up two cables for the new bridge out back as the water level has been very high this year and wanted a piece of mind. A few pics from this afternoon. Sat down a bit and enjoyed a cheroot on the bridge. Beautiful day at the Cabin.

very, very good chance you’re correct!

Finished painting weights this morning and then pulled the engine back out of the frame. When I pulled the tins off I discovered an issue with the starter. The way it was mounted it would have never engaged with the fly wheel as it was too close. To remedy this I made a .215" thick shim to put behind the mounting bracket. With this installed I ran the starter gear out by hand and turned the engine over with the gears engaged. The teeth look to mesh together well so I believe this should solve the issue. Next I pulled the rod & piston assembly out so that I could measure the crank pin. The pin measures out within specs so there will be no need to have it turned. Finished up the day by scuffing the cylinder in preparation for a new set of rings.

of course another option is to contact the local National Guard or Coast Guard unit and invite them to practice their helicopter landings in your yard and use that big chopper blade to dry out your lawn -- those helicopters would be a big hit entertaining the neighborhood kids? I dont see any overhead phone or power lines -- all underground utilities so looks like clear landing zone?????

I'm making some progress. Slow baby steps but moving forward. I have moved all the stuff from the back room shelves to the new shelves. @squonk Mike the tool box lid is clear. I added another 4 drawer cabinet and it now holds my note pad. I have been looking for a large machinist box for a while but not wanting to spend big money. Found this on a Saturday sitting in front of a thrift store that I pass every day on my way home from work. It was very dirty and some drawers were bent on the fronts but still a good deal for 150.00. even has a key for the lock and some tools as well. It's too heavy for me to lift by myself so I removed the drawers and fixed the bent ones as I removed them. So while it is apart this far I took everything off I could so I can prep and paint it later.

Wondering why you don’t just put a deck on the WH, though I suspect the ag tires would mess up that part of the lawn.

Now thar's a real mud mower.

Work Horse back to work…

Work Horse GT-1600 got ‘er out… Back on high ground…

My Amish neighbor is in daylight savings mode 24/6 (no work on Sunday) year round. Starts work at first light and quits at dark, except during cantaloupe harvest time. Then they don their miners headlamps and work all night.

Questions about questions.... What did „UPSide down Horse“ means - is this a safety and security cryptic Codex for UPS workers ... 😎 or is it a shrine mentalic improved for the big Wheelhorse Manitu..... 🤪🤫 or is it simply a dang cool decoration in a Workshop.... 🥳 or even just simply a dangerous ladder Action - like Kev maybe needs sometimes because of his addict for bumps and bruises.. 😇 Or maybe a little bit from all .... 🥰 However and whatever , it looks dang Cool Bro👍

Perhaps you were the one upside down...?

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes. I did have a great day. You guys are the best!

Ed -- luv the roller - - yikes thats a serious tool -- I bought WH roller in '89 when i bought my 312-8 and used it with grader and plow when installing my lawn - - really great for compacting the grass seed into soil - also helps to visualize the high and low spots for more grading -- I did use the ( water style ) roller for a bunch of years thereafter to level the frost "bumps" but then saw all the various lawn pros writ e about compacting soil is an issue for healthy lawns so i began the airation of the lawn as alternative to rolling --- As i look at the lawn now I came to realize driving the tractor around that the tractor wheels itself flattens most high of my spots - - so last yr i did a rehab project to make the roller pretty and sold it -- some days i regret that but now my roller is elsewhere making someone else's lawn look good

your Workhorse must not have been happy getting it dirty --- looks like you tried to keep it on higher dry ground

So today I did my annual first mow of the year… and of course I did my annual “Get stuck in the mud-lowest part of the yard that stays wet through late spring”. So it’s Wheel Horse to the rescue to pull the Cub out. Looks good- eh ? First pic is obviously what it is… Other pics trying to show that the yard actually looks better…

Here's a true story related to that..... I had a Sister-in-Law that was always an overbearing PITA. About 30 years ago, I had to do the clean-out for a Gastric exam. The Receptionist gave me their standard Prep Kit and crossed off the Citric Magnesia (looks like lemon juice). She says to take the Kit and toss out that bottle. I said "Hell no, I 've got special plans for that!!" She replies "Whatever do you mean??" I told her I'd mix up a Whiskey Sour for my SIL that she'd never forget!!! The Receptionist laughed so hard I think she sprinkled her linen....

Good luck on the tires.... Having new sneakers on the M. Had to have the tire Dr. make a house call...pump the beet juice out of the old ones and back into the new. Found that one rim was in bad shape so a new one of those is coming, Tubes tires and rim +/- $1800 plus house call and labor.....

Onan 20 looks inside likes it's a 500 hour engine. No scoring on the cylinders. Some honing, rings and valve work is all that's needed. Nice to see.

Or connect them to the green headlight wire so they are only on with the lights saving the bulbs from being on all the time.

Nice, but... 15 clams plus shipping buys you a half a case of cheapo cooking spray ( that you can actually use to cook with!!).

LAST weekend it was 73 and I had the Hog running, considering pulling it out of the barn for a cruise with Mrs. P. THIS morning there is a dusting of snow on the ground!

The early 520's with the SW metal body gauges did not come with lights installed. They would go where the big round metal plugs are. When you turn the key on without starting the engine the tach should go to zero right away proving it is getting power. You should also see the fuel gauge go to the correct level and the volt gauge go to whatever voltage your battery is at.

Florida Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio have used the time change to remind Americans about the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act the U.S. Senate unanimously passed in 2022 to make daylight saving time permanent. The bill was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023 but everyone was too busy running for reelection to pass this no-brainer legislation.

I have a perfectly good clock radio that was programed to change from standard time to daylight savings time. Unfortunately, the program was developed before Presidents Bush and Obama decided to extend daylight savings time. The clock on the radio will be off by an hour for the next three weeks.

like it... an the idea behind. can be driven with just a single V8 engine to save fuel and with a second added to have pure Fun. That‘s definitely cool 😎

@ebinmaine

It's been a while but I remember an April fools day with a foot of snow. March weather in New England is about as unpredictable as day trading the stock market. Don't get too excited about a couple of 50 degree days.Not like you need to swap to a mower deck because the grass is getting tall so hold on for at least one more surprise! LOL

The old Motor Wheel plant had a pair of Worthington steam driven air compressors that dated back in the 1920's to supply compressed air for the plant. They were still operating in 1978 when I started there.

Don't know about practical but, two 1oo horse v8s on roll out trays. Two manual transmissions with parallelogram shifters. Each rear axle has its own engine. When Ford could make more B24 parts than it could use at Willow Run they built these to haul the wings all over the country. Weigt limits, length limits and speed limits did not apply.

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