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So I stopped by an estate sale Friday. Last day of the sale so everything was 50% off their marked price. It was pretty well picked over but I was able to make a few good buys. First I spotted this little pump. Was not sure exactly what it was but it was brand new and cheap. Turns out this little pump is kinda expensive. They run off a 12v car or tractor battery. Mine has a cigarette lighter style plug. Most of the ones I see online have the alligator clips. New they go for about 150-225 . Next item I saw was a bag on the floor of the garage. Picked it up to see if anything was inside. It was empty but I noticed it was a backpack or rucksack and I saw how well it was made. Waterproof material and Heavy-duty leather straps. It seamed well worth the few bucks. Turns out it's a Swiss Army Military Engineer or Mountain Rucksack. Made in the 1980s. Apparently they are very sought after in the hiking , camping, community. Online for 80 - 140 bucks. Next I picked up another old vintage cooler. I have about a dozen vintage cooler. Don't know why I like collecting them but I do. This one is from the 1950s. All aluminum in pretty decent shape for its age. Last was an old school metal lunch box from around the same era. I have several of these as well. All in all everything was less then 20 bucks. I love looking through the stuff everyone else overlooks. Glad I stopped. The photos are as found, before I wiped and cleaned the years of dirt off them. Backpack came out beautiful. In the picture it looks brown or tan but it's a really nice olive green with black leather straps and trim.

Winnie the Pooh has been a childhood favorite for generations. Originally created in 1926, his stories have sparked wholesome, honey-loving, childhood dreams for nearly a century. Although there are many other characters within the Winnie the Pooh universe (Kanga, Rabbit, Roo, and Tigger — just to name a few), there is not doubt that the bear wearing a red shirt — with his fist shoved into a jar of honey — is most certainly a fan favorite. Winnie the Pooh Day, on January 18, is your time to return to the Hundred Acre Wood! A. A. Milne, creator of Winnie the Pooh, was born January 18, 1882. The character of Christopher Robin was inspired by A.A. Milne's son, Christopher Robin Milne. The characters of Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, and Roo were all came from stuffed animals that the real-life Christopher Robin owned.

Between 5-10” of snow tommorow into Monday morning, this week got the c-145 mechanically ready. Replaced the belt, hydro fluid, hydro filter, pto bell and bearing got fully greased. And got some new tires for it. Also flipped the scraper blade on the 48” plow on my C-121(Which really needed it just see the picture ). Then today hooked the blower to the C-145. Lubed that. Fueled up. Then C-121 fired it up sprayed the blade as well as the blower with silicone lubricant. Fueled that up. And we are ready! Bring it on snow! We will see what we get.

I’ve been bringing a BD-4263 Doxer blade back to life (1963). It’s almost ready, needing only a centering rod in the front hitch. That said, the heavy usage this plow has seen has put a lot of wear on the quadrant pivot. If the plow proves useful, I’ll go after tightening that up but I the meantime, it’ll do. Here it is so far, ready to be tested with 5-8” of snow forecast for Sunday night into Monday. I’m using a plow mount bracket intended for long frame tractors instead of the original separate bolt-on angle irons. The ¾” rod with pinned spacers through the tangs lets the narrower bracket hold the wide-ended frame. Putting the rod through the original mounting holes, however, positioned the plow too far rearward so that when the plow was angled the skids interfered with the front wheels (or vice versa?). This was made worse by the slop in the quadrant pivot. To move the plow forward to roughly where it would be with the “factory” mount setup, I’ve welded extensions (blue arrow) to the tangs and made new mounting holes 3” aft of the original holes. I left the original holes (red arrow) so the change is reversable. Voila, no tire/skid interference. New ⅝” shaft skids with bushings to fill the ¾” skid mounts and other new hardware. A lever and rod were not with the plow when I got it so I made new. The new angle control lever is a straightened 8-speed shift lever welded to a new base. Rod is Heim-jointed. This model was the last to have the foot-operated quadrant release.

Great idea! But if I can make one suggestion, I’d get longer bolts and bolt the original cutting edge over the rubber. Sandwiching the rubber edge in place. I think the way you have it the rubber may tear after repeatedly being put under a load?

Well I finished up my 416-8 save. I updated my project thread but here she is with new seat, new LED front lights, and snow plow on for winter weather we might get. Also getting the 312-8 ready for backup

What a challenge to plow snow over cobblestones. I used a walk behind last time with the shoes set at the highest level. I'm dying to use the Wheelhorse though. Obviously I can't let the blade down to hit every other cobblestone in the driveway so I took off the scraper blade and replaced with a thick pice of rubber from an old conveyor belt to close the gap. Might be able to test it tomorrow with the snow enroute...

Made a road trip to western Massachusetts to meet up with @Handy Don and @Bill D Got some great treasures.

Well the rig is finished enough that I trust it to work. Still a few little things to tweak as I get a feel for it but all in all a good save. I did go with a full suspension seat for this one. Took some mounting creativity but it is working. I might continue experimenting with different mount options over time. If there is interest in that I could do a separate post for the seat. I wet sanded most of the rust off the wheels, put on some new LED lights in the front. Rears did work still so that was a plus. We have some bitter cold temps coming and a chance for snow. So the plow will get first honors to maybe do some work. Budget breakdown on this save: Tractor with 42" RD deck and sleeve hitch setup - $100 Parts and maintenance - $130 Seat - $105 Hours spent around 30. Pretty good investment in my opinion Thanks for following a long!

I would also tilt the blade top forward one adjustment hole, so the rubber drags more than digs... less likely to grab and bite...

And, maybe make it shorter so it doesn't fold under plus it would give a better lifted height. There's probably enough material there to make 2 and then each one could be flipped over when it wears down closer to the metal.

Radar?

Scored a swath of original manuals for the ‘76 C-160 on Nice to have a paper reference in a digital world.

Thanks everyone. Now if I can just get some snow and seat time, it'll be great!

Between cold spells and snow got some work done on the barn again. Probably doesn't look like I got as much done but it was some dirty work. Got all the hay out of the barn into a 3 sided building the horse stays in anyway. Well actually all the horses haha got one 4 legged kind and then the 2 running Wheelhorse's Then finished getting everything else out of the barn other then the stack of 2x10's and then the clean up began I got on a dust suit like what drywall sanders use and a filtered mask. Swept what I could, then after that I took the backpack blower to it. I will probably have to clean up again after I take this top layer of wood off. The top layer is probably the only one I am keeping any wood, the rest will get taken to the burn pile. Then this area I will be putting the stairs down to the bottom of the barn. I have a old barn door track that was laying in the barn, and I have 2 doors that can I can use. I neglected to take a photo of the doors but I can do a chalkboard insert in them. Other then the chalkboard, the only thing I need is the barn door hanger/rollers and the guides for the bottom. And then here is a photo of that track system I was talking about for the block and tackle pulleys I gotta say during this stage, I sure would rather be working on the Wheelhorse's haha

The rod ends, from McMaster Carr. Bolts, from Bolt Depot. Rod, big box or hardware store. I can get you a precise list Sunday afternoon.

Should have mentioned chains.Yes, there will be chains. In a parts deal with @ebinmaine, came a lightly used 2-link pair with 14” cross chains. After a few mount/unmount tries (😰), I’ve finally got the crosses on one at the right lengths to fit the 6-12s snugly. Now to duplicate that for the other one! The $20 tag sale 30” Linkmaster chain tool has earned its keep! I also have a pair of plastic/concrete 60 Lb wheel weights (destined for the camp tractor). I test mounted them but they protrude about 6” on each side--way too wide for convenient garage parking. Heims are at both ends. If it wasn’t for the slop in the quadrant pivot, it would feel like a precision machine! For this situation, I used cheap and adequate 7/16” Heims and solid rod (I threaded the ends). I know some folks like all-thread rod (and it definitely would've saved time and effort) but since this will be in compression and tension, I wanted the rod's full diameter for rigidity and I prefer the cleanliness of the smooth surface.

Killer Tomato from Lamar Missouri (southwest Missouri). 70 horsepower Kohler twin.

Looks pretty good Don. Glad to see those new welding skills are getting used. No added weight or tire chains? It should push OK but reversing with the blade raised, steering with the blade angled and anything with ice or packed snow, there will be some traction loss

I like the look of that Heim there Don. I might look into that on mine since my rod has seen better days. Tonight I got the head back on and the pump filled and bled. She starts right up, doesn't belch flames out the side of the head, and the plow goes up and down. Since we have 4-6 projected for Sunday I'll take it for now.

I gave that cam plate a drop of slideway oil. (Are we talking about the cam follower on top of the hyrdo pump?). At first I wasn't planning on pulling the tank, but now I've started poking around, I think it will be 100 times quicker to clean with the tank off. I swear this cleaning thing is like triming your own side burns. You jusr get deeper the more you look. Riding the other mechanical horse today. Its been a messy couple of days cleaning and decided to take the day off.

@JCM My paperwork from when my 312 was new in June of 1992, if I remember right was around 3200 with a 37” SD deck added in.

Today, after work, I’m waiting on parts for the engine project. So, I installed the 312 gas tank I got from @ebinmaine on my 308. As any of you who deal with the 300/400/500 series know it was a plug and play deal, and looks like it belongs there. Now just to plumb it.

PVC pipe sliced and slide over the cutting edge.

I have a mill, so I will probably jig it up to cut slots in mine, for no other reason than I want to use my mill for something!

@TonyToro Jr. that wear bar is just flesh wound... Sounds like you are ready to go!!!

Where did you get it though?

Purple Power and a garden hose will do miracles.

Rich I bought a PrimeWeld CT520D when my Miller Thunderbolt quit working.

I highly recommend that update. It took ALL the slack out of that portion of movement. Instantly noticeable change.

Most gaskets will be the same. The "kits" vary a LOT in content. Likely you'll be covered. It might be worth checking with one of our vendors to see if they have a kit.

I can see silver!

Since Facebook has done away with fact-chuckers, I guess I'll have to take up the slack.

Picked up the Hobart 110V Flux on marketplace for $80 still new in box. Guy bought it for his dad for Christmas, only to find out his dad had went out and bought himself one already. The plasma cutter on the bottom is 110 or 220. I needed it for a project for work, so my company paid for it and told me to keep it in case we ever needed it again - and I have the only garage space for projects.

Back ten or 12 years ago you could buy a Lawn Ranger for $150 to $250. because people thought they were big enough or whatever. However they had the Wheel Horse 5025 transmission! You could also buy those transmissions for about $50. I bought them as I found them to be in better shape then those used on the bigger tractor models with bigger motors etc. They were generally not abused.

Got my tires mounted up. One side painted and mounted. They look good, but they are very small. I had read they ran a little on the small side, but I didn't realize just how small they are. No complaints other than how hard they are to put on. They won't come off the wheels for a long time, that is for certain. At least not by me doing it.

Curious if anyone was fortunate to have purchased either one of these excellent models new and what the cost would have been. I'm thinking around 23 to 2500 with deck ? Maybe 3 of these new compared to one of the same year 420 - LSE with 48'' deck.

That cleaned up nice! Good work on it. I like rucksack style packs. Very handy for large items or lots of stuff and they usually have an overkill build quality like that one.

Clean that gap well, there are shallow fins on the oil pan and air going thru there will lower the oil temperature. As you are learning, Onans die from neglect.

But those dudes at the table sure have a "European vibe". Thanks for sharing! That was pretty good and something I wouldn't have ever been exposed to otherwise

I almost hit the street lights with a SS tall shoot.

A couple three years back, somebody here rigged a pair of walk behind snow blowers sort of like a plow to one of his tractors. He left the original engines on them to get around the connection to the PTO.

Hard to see, but it looks like he was happy with it! Love the wave at the end of the second video!

Could be a fuel pump gone bad

That's why I've refused to buy any. I've been eyeing BKT TR315 Trenchers for years. Just got some on a great sale. They won't be mounted on anything for a while but the price was too good.

I didn’t do anything to the tractors, just picked up some of the parts lot I bought from Eric, @ebinmaine. At some point, I’ll get the last bit. Maybe this spring once it’s warmer. The ideas are a flowing though. I got bit by a horse😁

Well, I guess that puts me back on topic as well! (albeit a temporary mount) 

Wheelhorse_kid and I started our next project a 854 that we have had here for a while. He got it in a package deal with 5 other tractors and a ton of miscellaneous parts. The previous owner clearly tinkered with it and built a custom tow truck attachment built out of a wheel horse snow plow frame. We knew the engine was stuck so tonight he started taking parts off of it while I made dinner. The mower deck came off and won’t go back on unless we decide to go a different route. Under the head is pretty nasty with tons of rust/dirt on the piston. The cylinder wall at the top is pretty rough. Hopefully we can get it cleaned up and useable. I was impressed with how easily all the bolts came out of the engine clearly the guy had worked on it. Maybe even trying to get un seized. The starter generator was also seized I was able to free it up some what. He discovered that the shifter shifts into all the gears but for some reason the pattern is way to the left it must be bent. It has 5 bolt hubs on it. Was that common on 854’s or did someone swap them? We both like the idea of a tow truck tractor but don’t like how he mounted it. We plan to revamp how it mounts add front weights and maybe doing ag tires all the way around. Everything will be built so that it can come off easy enough if we ever want to put it back to stock. Looking forward to working on this project with him over the winter and into the spring. Hoping we can get it up and running

Rugged Of course the army only went with the 230ci OHC 6...not a great engine