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I’ve driven our FD tanker on hilly, icy roads and it’s not fun. Especially when they are calling for water and you’re trying to get there as fast as you safely can. Perhaps even worse is driving empty to the nearest fire hydrant to reload. With no weight on the drive axles loosing traction while going up hill or braking on a downhill certainly raises the pucker factor!! Any firefighting in sub-freezing temperatures presents a whole new set of challenges. I hope everyone is safe and nobody got hurt. I know you guys like pictures so here’s a picture of our tanker.

Well, it snowed 2 to 4" of snow last night and the real temp was 15 degrees today. I wanted to get the 876 out and clean the drive way, but I don't handle the cold like I used to. Sun was out but the temperature was not going up. My problem was wether to wear socks or not and what was it going to take to reach my feet to put them on. I considered my issue over a Martini and decided to go for it and not risk a stroke trying to put on socks.. Anyway, the snow was powder, the 876 started right up and 25 minutes later the driveway and sidewalks were clean and I was back inside warming up my feet. I know it is not true without pictures...so !!

National Rhubarb Pie Day on January 23 every year celebrates the delicious rhubarb pie. It is no coincidence that the king of pies is celebrated on the same day as National Pie Day. Rhubarb is used in pies so much that it is often called the pie plant. Surprisingly, rhubarb is also used in savory dishes such as with fried pork chops, although its sweet pie variations are best known. On National Rhubarb Pie Day, you can celebrate one of the world’s tastiest pies by stuffing your face with it. Don’t worry — no one will judge you. In 1772, Benjamin Franklin sent rhubarb seeds from Scotland to John Bartram, a friend of his who was a botanist in Pennsylvania. Rhubarb became even more popular in 1837 when a sweeter variety called Victoria rhubarb was introduced. However, because rhubarb needed a lot of sugar to offset its tartness, it didn’t spread as much until sugar prices started dropping. We don’t know who exactly came up with the brilliant idea to make pies out of rhubarbs, but we are eternally thankful to them. Today, rhubarb pies are a traditional dessert in the U.S. In the words of John Cleese in the ‘Rhubarb Tart Song,’ “I want another slice of rhubarb tart. I want another lovely slice. I’m not disparaging the blueberry pie. But rhubarb tart is oh so very nice. A rhubarb what? A rhubarb tart! A whatbarb tart? A rhubarb tart!” I hope James @Jrblanke and Mike @squonk will save me a slice.

Put new hubs, wheel and tires on my D200. The old 18 x 8.50 x 8 tires had some cracks and made steering very taxing. The odd ball wheel bearings were going to be a future problem. Hardest part was mounting the tires, 6pr trailer type, they have very stiff sidewalls. Other PIA was seating the dust caps on the new hubs. Once it warms up I have to attack a triaxle load of 2B stone...

This is my smoker. I’m always trying new recipes.

The old coot may be slow but he is sure! And he is not afraid of a little cold weather -you know sub zero stuff! RE: CBR-32. Lift Link. Part 2260. (No 9 in drawing) The hex bolt on the end needs the cap type head fyi secure it too! Also the red/black belt guide is an important piece to make the CBR-32 front cutter bar operate correctly with the clutch pedal on snd off! Denny Clarke posted the dimensions on Red Square when I needed to make one a dozen years ago (as a younger coot)! Note: This piece should not be bent as shown in your pic and Jim’s - it should be flat at the bolt on point!!!

I would not recommend buying this kit and removing a spark plug from your car every time you want to pump up a tire and running it on a dead cylinder. You would also be pumping gasoline into the tire. If you don't have a compressor, just buy a hand tire pump for $10. https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Inflator-Schrader-Handheld-Suitable/dp/B0C62BLMJ4/ref=asc_df_B0C62BLMJ4?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80195816498198&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583795282660758&th=1

Progress is limited due to the weather. We've had sub zero lows. The nice 23-10.50's will get a coat of the mixed 'beige' when we get a warm enough day. The wobbles have been eliminated on the engine base. I ran into an oil drain clearance issue involving the steering shaft steering shaft that I'll have to address. I found a local shop with a press and finally got the hub off. But then the problem was the key. I tried every trick in the book and it never budged. I gave up and found a replacement axle. At least the hub was saved. Put the transmission back together and ready to mount. The major tins are primed and ready for Rusty Regal come spring. The hood had a pretty big dent but I did get it out fairly good. Not perfect but from 100 yards it looks fine. The insides of the tins are painted read with a blended paint to match the Regal.

Use a cut-off wheel in a die grinder to cut all the way through the key then attack it from the side with a chisel.

I bought my 312-8 in June of 89 as well. I think there were specials running. @MainelyWheelhorse First coat of wax going on here with a cold Miller High Life at the bottom left of the picture.

This topic has come up many times before and always great. I haven't smoked with a real smoker for years and when I did it was pretty much for smoking summer sausage, hot sticks & the occasional jerky. Went pellet smoker and never looked back but I like a intense smoke flavor that you just can't get with pellets. Sure you can get the nice smoke ring but just not the same flavor. It's alot like cooking on charcoal vs gas. Dan and I have a buddy that smokes or cooks on nothing but a Weber and his stuff is off the hook. @Pullstart @Achto There is a guy here that makes & smokes his own bacon is it @Beap52???? That is a killer rig DKG ...

As a Mother in Laws kiss…. Anyway, I’m sure @ebinmaine or @JCM can corroborate, It’s been at zero or 5-10 below most of this week up here with today getting warmer being a balmy 24 degrees. On one hand, it’s definitely cold but on the other, it’s supposed to be winter. You kind of expect it here. Besides the last storm, It’s been pretty decent weather besides the cold. I’m still sorting tractor parts, putting in gaskets and working on my new engine. So, at least some of it can be done on the much warmer kitchen table (Perks of a Bachelor).

When I was a volunteer fireman in the late '60s and '70s both of our pumpers had straight cut geared transmissions. The standing rule was to put it in second gear and drive carefully if you hadn't mastered double clutching. I grew up on tractors and a Ford AA Doodlebug so double clutching was second nature.

2 to 8 degrees every morning for the past week. Sunday forecast is for 36 F. First day above freezing for 10 days. Sock installation equipment? A pair of these from my tackle box did the job.

@JCM Jackpot, I bought this tractor from from a gentleman about 3 years ago, the original owner sold it to him as part of the estate. It came with ALL the original receipts, manuals, brocures, tags on the tractor, & service records! Let's start here... It appears he purchased the tractor with a 42" deck in the fall of '85 for $3,599.00, decided to get the Trac Vac first for $725.00 & trade the hubcaps for wheel weights, then two months later purchase the 42" snowblower & chains... Here are just some of them, way too much to post. PM me your address if you'd like to have them

I think you could get away with 5-6 psi and will give you a wider footprint. When I used to ride with guys with quads they'd go as low as 3.5-4 psi with their rear tires in the springtime mud. Raising the front tire pressure a couple psi will help reduce rolling resistance. More weight over the rear and less on the front helps as well. I know you don't want chains but they really are the answer. My rear tires are pretty much bald, but I run chains on them and regularly take my WH in my hilly woods to haul out firewood in my yard cart and it just doesn't get stuck unless I do something stupid. Yeah, when it's really muddy out they do pick up mud and leaves but at least my boots stay clean because I don't have to push!

Okay, I personally would question the credentials, methods, and *sanity* of the people evaluating his mental health state and came to the conclusion that he had no mental health problems after doing all that. WTH?

Thank you and interesting Lane. Mine is not held on by a flange bolt but a 3/4" snap ring. I don't believe it has the two holes either. Pics when I get it off today As for the bend I have no idea if it's supposed to be there or not. Note in 315's borrowed pic it appears to have that bend?? I have never mounted mine just layed it underneath a 400 for Portage Show display. Now that 315 has put a bug in my a$$ I will mount it on a RJ-59 or better yet the RJ-35 I am supposed to be working on. Better yet get it working.

Dremel and about 25 of those tiny cut off wheels. Slot it lengthwise.

We've been working on organizing and moving things from the basement to the new workshop and barn for quite a while. At the bottom of our stairs was an open concept with no doors. Just a few days ago everything to the right side of the red line in the picture below was open space. Trina has been working on getting that closed in some. These doors were given to us by one of her friends. The same people that we built the tractor for, in fact. They were in the house when they bought it a couple years ago. Smelled kind of nasty and they were old and stained. Trina cleaned them up by hand and also using the power washer. Then painted them from dark to light. She started by hanging just one door and then seeing how it would look from there. No measuring. Doesn't use a level... 😬 And yet they come out looking great just like always. This will give her mom a little bit of privacy down there and also keep some of the heat from going up the stairs. Being open bifold doors we may put a solid item stapled to the back side.

Hi all. Since it is too cold to do anything outside? I was googling stuff I am sure I need (but, probably don't). I was looking at upgrade stuff for my smokers. I use 2 actual smokers. 1. Chargriller Grand Champ XP. 2.Chargriller clam top. Both offsets. My third option is my old Weber kettle grill with smoker setup. I also have a very good restored (by me) Members Mark Pinnacle series gas grill that I bought at an auction. All have been modified and work very well. Grilling is fun. But, I really like smoking. I can't convince myself to try a pellet grill/smoker yet. I like tending the pit myself with different woods. Oak and Maple are by far my favorites.

Okay guys it looks like everybody got a bit cold, but that nothing new for you guys. Here's my story: I live just a 16 miles north of Pensacola Fl. beach the most snow fall we ever had on record is 3" and the was in 1886. The most I've been here in 71 years is 2.5". Tuesday morning it started snowing at 10:30am and didn't stop till 19:50, that's 9 hour of non stop snowing, got just a little over 8". It was another one of those amazing experiences that I've had in my 71 years but I don't won't to experience it again, did I mention I'm in FLORIDA! The temps Tues and Wed night were 13 and 11 degrees with wind chills in the mid to low single digits, again FLORIDA. I will try to post some photos in the next couple of days when my daughter shows me how to on my new to me "SMART" phone . This is for my man Steve, put some friggin sock on, it 15 degrees, WTF.

@JCM This is the original bill of sale for my 312 coincidentally on my 12th birthday, from the original owner. It was in the paperwork I got on it a few weeks back. I happened to think of it when I was looking for the settings for the carb I’m working on.

The only time my wife had a rhubarb pie was in the spring shortly after we got married. We were visiting my mom for the first time and she made a rhubarb pie for desert. Mom liked them a bit on the tart side and it had a bit of pucker power, my wife didn't say anything derogatory about the pie but the expression on her face said it all. Mom never made another one when we were visiting but she did when I was traveling solo on a couple of occasions.

My Mamie( maternal grandmother) canned mince meat and made pies. I remember it had meat, suet, raisins, apples, cider, and it smelled of some kind of alcohol.

Today was the first time since Saturday that our high was above freezing. Lows in the mornings have been single digit but we haven't had any new snowfall so I've been able to stay in where it is warm. By Tuesday we should be back above 40 degrees. Steve, since my spinal fusion I too have not been able to bend far enough to comfortably put on socks. I bought a Sock Aid and love it. Load a sock onto it, put your toes in and pull the straps and the sock is on. https://www.google.com/search?q=sock+aids&rlz=1C1JZAP_enUS981US981&oq=sock+aids&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIKCAEQABixAxiABDINCAIQABiDARixAxiABDIHCAMQABiABDIHCAQQABiABDINCAUQLhiDARixAxiABDIHCAYQABiABDIHCAcQABiABDIHCAgQABiABDIHCAkQABiABNIBCDQzNDNqMGo3qAIIsAIB&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Very nice rig Don.

I'd have to say my favorite is pecan pie. However, grandpa used to make what he called mincemeat pie. He would scrape the flesh off of a hog's head (and probably other parts). I haven't had one in 50 or more years. But is seems like it had meat and raisins and I don't know what other ingredients. Grandma would can the mincemeat. I always thought it was a good pie. I remember watching grandpa scrape the hog's head in the kitchen. He was one of those kind of fellows, who, after grandma had started cooking a meal, he might come and start cooking something else. Grandma would say, "Edwin, I've almost got supper done." He'd reply "That's not what I was hungry for." One time I stayed with grandpa while grandma was away on a trip. All we had for supper was mashed potatoes. He made a big pot of mashed potatoes and that's what we ate. He was diabetic. After grandma would go to bed he'd go to the kitchen and get a pretty big bowl of ice cream. He would hide it if grandma came into the living room. But, if she caught him and she fussed he would tell her "I'd rather die young and happy instead of old and grumpy." I'd sure like a slice of grandpa's pie.

Certainly a questionable method these days, and I don't think you could find one any more. What I remember was from over 65 years ago, and such logical things as safety were not on the top of the list. My Dad had one in the trunk of his '51 Ford, and one plug out of a flat head V8 wouldn't keep that fine old engine from idling along at a great rate. The concept was rather simple, a hose long enough to reach the rear tires, one end with an air chuck (likely a clamp on) for filling tires, the other end with a fitting threaded for a standard spark plug with a check valve. As a lot of things which were considered fine in those days, No one would consider now.

Shipley recently bought a bunch of the smaller heating oil and burner service companies around here. They've been okay so far, but only because they kept some of the service techs from the small family-owned business that we worked with for 30+ years. The techs complain that Shipley is restricting what they can do for us on a service call or burner cleaning, and I believe them. I figure it's just a matter of time before I start looking for another supplier and service company. Trash companies and pest control companies do the same thing around here, new customers get much better deals. What a pain in the arse. Agreed.

It is nearly impossible to stop these mass murderers before they commit the crimes. If only they would take their own lives instead. The problem with the death penalty, even if it is legal, it is usually decades before it is carried out.

Testing kit in tomorrow so will see what it shows and update the thread. Then I just ended up picking up a barn find D180 and pick it up tomorrow. Now to find some D180 accessories.

Thank You Lane Ralph and WHX for braving the cold and the pictures with measurements. Didn’t know about the belt guide, hope to make these parts and have the CBR32 hooked up for my local shows this fall. Sure it will be a great conversation piece.

Rhubarb custard pie is a spring time favorite ‘round this household. For some reason it’s mostly the men that love it.

Let me know what you want for it🥸

I’m working on this today. I got a rebuild kit from Amazon for the carburetor and a gasket kit for the engine. I did luck out because it’s the same engine as my 312. In the paperwork for that, it had a maintenance and overall settings guide for the M8-16 which had the base Main, Idle and Idle Fuel needle settings for this carb.

I have a 416-H. It runs 23-9.50 x 12 Turfs. No chains. But I do have 50 pounds of weight on each rear wheel. My driveway is mostly flat, and is asphalt. I have no traction problems.

Rhubarb/Strawberry ..one of my faves but that's a spring time pie treat. Mrs. K made a great winter pie yesterday.

@Racinbob like your set up , could almost live there ! BTW as you know the time to make improvements is while its apart , have found more FUNCTIONAL IMPROVEMENT AREAS , AT THAT STAGE . usually only a small tweak , still amazes me how movement areas can move so easily , just a break down of original set up . kroil is my favorite , have started that on , areas weeks out , just a tap , on most solid areas , like a solid punch , anything to help kroil creep , pete

No, but when you can run them for 60 years with only minimal work it works out Aside from the blown up engine (my fault) on my 855, and it needing tires shortly after I bought it, I think I put more money/effort into my 2011 John Deere before I sold it. If the Hein-Warner lift would stop breaking my 855 would be a pretty trouble-free machine.

I'll head out to the magic parts shed tomorrow and take it off for some dims ... too freakin cold out there tonite ... tongue stuck to the door handle. Looks like there is one hanging on it & should be easy to fab one.

Not a die grinder but it still wouldn't budge. I'll keep trying and if I happen to get it out the axle will be just fine for somebody.

Routine game for these companies... They ought to be rewarding long time customers instead of fleecing them... Comcast is gone from my house for that and many other reasons...

I think a 4" grinder making a slot down the middle of the key would get her done. Then you can tap what is stil showing with a punch or old chisel. BTW Bob, you have way too much shelf space !! Looks great !!

I had the same problem when I used the modified shaker plate as an engine base plate in my low rider. I moved the drain off center to clear the shaft. Weld a flat bar to the key and attack with the BFH. The heat from the welding has loosened broken bolts and saved having to drill them out.

I take my Natural Gas dryer down off the pedestal once a year (at least) to remove the drum & plenum to vacuum it out. And then fire up the gas leaf blower to clean out the vent.

If you can’t bedazzle ‘em with brilliance, baffle ‘em with bull$hit…

My grandfather bought my 418-a new in 1988 for $3599 with a 42in sd deck. I would show the paperwork but I can’t find it

Chains are far easier to install if you deflate the tire a wee bit !!!