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Only a few days to go before this years UK Wheel Horse round up. Not enough drivers to get to the arena, so I've added a spec lift to my GT14... Easy to fit and remove - does a great job - though might need a few lbs on the front end.

Yesterday I came home to find that my son in law had power washed a few of my tractors and put them on display! He brought his C-141 automatic over for a service and decided it needed to be cleaned up, so while he had the power washer out he cleaned up a few more. I have to say not knowing this was going to happen and coming home to see it did put a smile on my face! Since I know you guys like pictures as much as me, here you go.

6-4-1924 Cecil Elwood Pond was born Today would have been Cecil Pond’s 100th birthday. Cecil Pond was an American businessman, inventor, and entrepreneur. He was the co-founder of Wheel Horse Products Co. Inc., and was the primary inventor of the modern American Garden Tractor and riding mower. Pond was born in South Bend, Indiana, to Elmer and Ann Marie Pond. He graduated from South Bend's former Washington-Clay High School, and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1946, Pond returned to South Bend and in June of that year, married Betty Alber Pond. Mr. & Ms. Pond were the parents of three children: son Gary Pond, and two daughters, Linda, and Constance. 1946 saw the beginnings of Pond's manufacturing future. Pond joined his father Elmer, who at the time was building two-wheel lawn tractors from angle iron, surplus automotive parts in his garage. At first, the Ponds' company was simply called Pond Tractor Company; however, since Elmer’s brother Harold owned a similarly-named company "Wheel Horse" was chosen, and the name stayed with the company even after its acquisition by Toro. In the late forties, military veterans returning from World War II began moving to the vast new suburbs then transforming the American landscape. Their suburban homes had larger lots that demanded more attention—and the Ponds' riding garden tractors found many ready buyers as a result. In 1954, Pond introduced his first four-wheel lawn tractor, an event which altered substantially the lawn care manufacturing business. By 1957, his Wheel Horse Products Company recorded sales over $1 million (US $11,158,291.81 in 2024 dollars.) for the first time. Just two years later, the company's sales more than doubled, to $4.5 million. In 1975, Pond sold Wheel Horse Products to American Motors Corporation. At the time of the sale, Pond oversaw over 500 workers at his plant and over 3,000 dealers were selling the brand. Cecil Pond passed away December 30, 2011.

My young buddy Jay and I ventured to the Place up North for a nice C-160 that Bob had for sale two years ago. Jay did five tours installing phone wires and maintaining. He was also communication from the big air base we all try to forget about and outside the wire way up on mountain top for the Few and the Proud. It was a great day listening to Bob and Jay discussing Navy things . Bob is cool people.Jsy is also and he suffered a disability from a vaccine given by the military. The C 160 continues to serve. Jay was going down the road and here was a Zero turn Ferris with a sixty inch deck. Free sign on it It started and moved so Jay called a friend nearby and drove the machine to his house to later trailer it home. The mower did not engage and all Jay had to do was repair the wires around the electric clutch and she chooches. So that is my little story mostly about people who deserve good fortune from life. Here's to Bob and Jay

regularly aces any course , A+ average , scary at how easily she has done high school , be going to ROGER WILLIAMS university , also getting creds for school costs , just looks at things differently , but it always correct , who are we to question , her success ? happy grandparents , pete

You sure did, let me know where you want your prize. Free installation at the Big Show.

So you want me to install your free ring in Mike's nose? I may need some volunteers to hold him on the bench and to photograph the operation.

I'd be happy to provide my address if he wants to wash a few more! Beautiful machines Don!

I wondered why everyone gave my wife a pair when we got married...?!?!?!!

I don’t know your friend Jay, but I can stand for Bob and say he is one great guy! I’m glad to have met him at the 2021 Big Show face to face, and enjoyed the time spent chatting with him for the weekend. Shortly after, he sent me a seat he made with vinyl from @953 nut. He wouldn’t take anything for the cost of manufacturing, just thought it would be nice for me to have it!

Hog Ring Pliers are also used in the upholstery business to attach fabric to the metal frames.

Stocked our local Rod and Gun Club pond for the kids fishing derby this Sat. I'll have around 300 trout to filet. Beautiful day on Sat. and the kids caught some trout. We fileted over 300 fish.

That’s a governor gear.

Some parts I can bring if you are interested Donations accepted for the Kennell Kids College Fund. Front axles Lower steering shafts with fan gears Onan oil bath air filter Deck carriage parts Wheel Horse branded tires and one wheel

A fair selling price generally settles to a point where the seller is equally unhappy with a lower than asking price matches a unhappy buyer with a higher than original offer price.

Hoping you do better than NASA and Boeing

I use them to build crab traps and secure the tag ends of knotted lines. Hog Ring Pliers to keep the swine from rooting.

@c-series don Would you share a few photos of how the side seat is mounted/supported.

Looking at my pics and your pics and the pricing I think I'd rather have your 1056 that this Raider.

I have had two fresh sharpened sets of blades for my 52” SCAG since last spring. I decided today is the day. Wow, what a difference in the cut quality and speed I can run!

@ebinmaine @ri702bill @PWL216 PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR , wants to be a therapist , just glad to be there to help out , pete

Have you tried using a welding mask?🤔🙀😎 many, many years ago, my boss’s son was helping me in the workshop, and I was attempting to show him the basics of ‘Stick’ welding. The screen he was using was a cheap and nasty thing that came with a welding set. It was literally a piece of cardboard, with a pocket to hold the dark glass. This was held in with a small screw, about an 1/8” and nut to stop it falling out. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t get him to run a bead of weld, he just kept saying, “I can’t see what I’m doing “. It turned out that he was trying to look through the tiny hole that the screw should have been it here to keep the glass in place!!!

Notice how on removal, Ed held his right hand back from the end he was detaching--that way when the spring retracted, the hook end didn’t bite him--I suspect that was learned behavior!

More pics after curing

I’ve always said that once you get your hands on a power washer wand, everything starts to look dingy!

Was it completely broken or did the tensioner spring break? I find it easier to install the new belt by removing the idler pulley and the tensioner spring. Put the belt on the hydro pulley first, then on the engine pulley. No need to remove the fan or wheel although it does make it easier to work with the wheel off. Then, after checking the pulley bearing, install the pulley and then using a flat screw driver or brake spring tool to install the spring.

Lol I won't be at the BS. Just send me that autographed picture of Sqounky at the bus stop...

Yeah, but according to my wife I'm stuck in 1980 when it comes to pricing.

I haven't been able to work in my shop for a while but the upgrades are still ongoing. I have made arrangements for a new roof. Existing shingles have been there over 30 years and has sprung a couple of leaks. Project is supposed to start Friday if the rain holds off.

Works good when you need them.

I put a water pump in an Explorer.

Right. Assuming it did run I have most of the parts and or skills I need to put it in working order. I have a half decent lift handle, and my part-out unit is the same body, so I have a good square hood, I have the tools and skills to fix the fender pan, but $700 seems high. In fact after getting a good look over it I'd want to come in a lot closer to $300.

@Ed Kennell ED , my SIL died when the kids were 5-3 , that was something that changed our lives , had to adapt / help / anything to fill the gap . just the mental / physical support , drew us all together . we were like a sounding board for the kids , that back and forth closeness , only got better over the years . they regularly touch base with any issue , back and forth conversation , is the deal , telling them every part of possible answer. never sarcastic , always talking over the issue , also helps out , to be sitting at grandma's table ! get a food how too / as well as a meal while here , recipes given , help clean up , we are very lucky to have them in our lives . DAN is a welder , building submarines , jenna college , very proud of them , pete / terry

It's been a long time but I've had welder's flash before. It's basically the feeling like someone held your eyelids open, then poured beach sand directly into them and rubbed it in. It comes quite a few hours later after being exposed for too long. It happened to me after falling asleep and the first time was pretty scary because I had no idea what was going on or why. Thought I was going to loose my vision. Very painful too.

A crappy big box mower is over 2 grand. This mower will probably still be going when the new one dies

No people on it. Throw caution to the wind!

Easy peasy with a brake spring tool or a large flat screwdriver. You can easily make a tool by grinding a groove in a piece of 3/8" round rod ar grind a groove in an old screwdriver.

I think you should have been awarded the prize. I have the anti-boing pliers of several types.

@Ed Kennell you could make some money the operation. I am sure there are enough guys who would pay to see your handy work.

If you have the rear wheel off, take the time to clean any accumulated dirt off of the cooling fins on the hydraulic unit.

@heysavoy agree with others on related opportunities , rear wheel removal / jack stand , is solid safe , often refer to RELATED DRIVE POINTS , any rough / sloppy / binding movement connection , should be addressed , while I am there would also suggest , verify how things work ? add a washer / firm up connection ? dare I say lubricate a RUSTY CONNECTION ? the time to improve things is when / how you see it . my experience with movement anything , is that it can be enhanced , with detailing . as said ,numerous times that , PTO LEVER , SIDE OF DASH start point , is a GOLD MINE , for movement improvement , also agree with , tractor supply aramid , belts . only suggestions . pete

Did I win did I win?!?!

Very niiiiice

I’ll have the 854 at the Big Show. I’ll have a white pop-up canopy somewhere on the infield. Stop by and give it a look! What would strike me right off is that the tunnel, rear fender, and hoodstand changed from ’64 to ’65.

Shoat ring pliers. Could be used for sausage casings too...

Agree. I've got some like those pictured and a set with the rotating sockets. Of course, if they are meant for a different use, I will have learned something new. Just had a thought - an orthdonist tool for adjusting braces?

You are correct about having to remove the belt guard and PTO belt. The drive belt form your tractor is Wheel Horse part # 108501 which is an 82" by 5/8" belt. The Kevlar belts from Tractor Supply work well and are genneraly in stock.

I'll be waiting to hear what it'll sound like.

Flight is booked and confirmed - check new valid Passport - check ESTA confirmation - check. Prepared and ready for the big Show! check. just 58 Day‘s lleft

I drilled the spot welds out of some old pulleys and popped them apart. One is a mule drive pulley, the other a clutch tensioner from a Raider 10. Doing some math, I decided 14 3/16” holes in each row would be adequate to meet the throughput of this 2” stack, more than enough for a 1” black pipe. The second chamber baffle allows half the area of the pipe to flow through the outside, and the rest is directed back inside the 2” pipe. I’m hoping for a mellow tone, not too loud, and not too wimpy. I’ll machine a block sleeve at the bottom end to well center a 1” x 6” pipe to run the exhaust up towards the welded center baffle and weld it all together before it’s complete and ready for some high temp paint. I’ll probably weigh the tink slapper down so it is more active than normal.