One chance to find a tractor - help me make it count

[Outlier 57]

Apparently its hard to start, but once started it runs like this:

 

[rjg854 11,378]

You'll really like that 854 once you give it some TLC. A deck and plow gives you 4 season usage. It's a fun, agile and strong for a small tractor.

[Outlier 57]

@rjg854 Your tractor looks great. can you tell me something about your muffler? 

[rjg854 11,378]

Jim Kemp makes them, fairly reasonable price wise, and a nice mellow tone.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,596]

54 minutes ago, Outlier said:

@rjg854 Your tractor looks great. can you tell me something about your muffler? 

 

49 minutes ago, rjg854 said:

Jim Kemp makes them, fairly reasonable price wise, and a nice mellow tone.

 

@jimkemp

[Blasterdad 2,692]

Nice! I'm glad you found one like you wanted. 

If it was mine I would run it, a little smoke means she will need some love soon, just make sure she's full of oil.

If she starts to knock or make other "funny" noises shut her down!

I love my Kohler 8's, I would rebuild it or find a replacement K181 & keep it ORIGINAL. They are not that hard to find as they were used on many things.

The muffler you asked about is made by @jimkemp. 

I bought 2 of then recently, lots of us have them & they are affordable, great quality, & lets face it,...Just look downright COOL. 

We would love pics when you get her !!! 

 

 

[Snoopy11 5,714]

3 hours ago, Outlier said:

might be more of a project than I was hoping. Seems like that always happens to me.

Well, we are always here to help you. Just let us know if you need anything at all. 

 

Regards,

 

Snoop-Don

[Outlier 57]

@rjg854 Compared to your 854, I notice I've got something strange going on with my solenoid and starter.

Do you know what the heat-sink looking thing is that I've got? is it stock?

[953 nut 55,290]

11 minutes ago, Outlier said:

heat-sink looking thing is

That would be your voltage regulator, they are needed for the charging system.

[WHX?? 48,828]

On 11/26/2022 at 12:09 PM, Outlier said:

pulled the trigger on it, might be more of a project than I was hoping. Seems like that always happens to me.

But I think its cool

Welcome to our world and 

Stay on the good side of the fellas here and they will be offering parts for shipping. 

[Handy Don 12,233]

On 11/27/2022 at 1:04 PM, Outlier said:

@rjg854 Compared to your 854, I notice I've got something strange going on with my solenoid and starter.

Do you know what the heat-sink looking thing is that I've got? is it stock?

I'm pretty sure that somewhere along the line that tractor has "had some work done" -- not an issue unless you are going for "original".

It is not the original engine. The 854 had a starter/generator version of Kohler 8hp. Your engine has built-in starter and stator for charging (hence the "heat sink" regulator). I'd guess that engine is from a later model (possibly to replace a failed original engine?). This looks like it's from the early 70's. It also might be a 7hp judging from the "short" air cleaner. The engine is missing some of the tins that direct the cooling air around the sides and across the top of the cylinder.

The original 854 steering wheel is a somewhat-dished two-spoke and yours is a flat 3-spoke from a different model.

I don't see a battery tray on the frame just behind the engine, so I'm not sure where that's mounted. 

The gas tank (two-piece) and hood stand (holding the tank and the dashboard where the throttle and choke levers are) are definitely '63 or '64. The ammeter is missing (the hole in the dashboard) but the key start switch is there. The wiring for a 70's engine might not have included an ammeter.

The metal seat is not original but is, I think, from another WH model.

The mower deck looks like a 32" from '63 or '64 in decent condition and the plow is also of the right vintage with the "short" A-Frame. It does look like the plow attaching bracket is in place on the rear axle, too.

All this is just info, however. It is not at all uncommon, after 50+ years, to see tractors that have had substitutions and replacements so that they can keep on working!

 

[Outlier 57]

@Handy Don The info is certainly appreciated - The mix of pieces isnt bad, it kinda gives character. As long as they work together well and dont look terribly wrong. 

 

When it gets here later this month I'm going to see if I can put the battery back where it belongs. The unprotected terminals contact the seat when someones on it! I did notice that the starter is mounted low, and most of the other 854's I've seen have the starter higher up.

With the dual wheels, I wondered if maybe someone had wanted to make a puller. I was worried the rear differential would be locked, but fortunately it sounds like that isnt the case.

 

Has anyone ever put together some sort of live PTO to the rear of one of these older models? In my mind I envision some sort of pseudo-3 point happening. It would be neat to mow the lawn with a miniature rotary mower, just for kicks, with my miniature tractor

[Handy Don 12,233]

3 hours ago, Outlier said:

some sort of live PTO to the rear of one of these older models? In my mind I envision some sort of pseudo-3 point happening

Wheel Horse aimed at a particular market segment (for the most part) so live rear PTOs on these small tractors just weren't in the plan. WH offered rear tillers for the higher HP models that were driven by a belt routed under the tractor (and towed model for the lower HP tractors which had its own engine). I know some members have towed powered self-powered mowers.

WH did offer a 540 RPM PTO adaptor for the front of tractor using the standard PTO for operating stationary equipment (conveyors, hoists, saws, etc). This tractor has one PLUS an exceedingly rare hood-mounted AM radio! (it belongs to @wheelhorseman).

 

As for 3-points, a number of members have built them. Searching the Topics here will find several threads showing the builds.

Enjoy!

[953 nut 55,290]

16 hours ago, Outlier said:

Has anyone ever put together some sort of live PTO to the rear of one of these older models? In my mind I envision some sort of pseudo-3 point happening. It would be neat to mow the lawn with a miniature rotary mower, just for kicks, with my miniature tractor

             I guess a belt drive coming off the break shaft of the transmission could be hooked up to the older gear drive transmission.

I did a thread on the three point hitch for a 953, you would want to add a Hein Warner or other small hydraulic pump.

 

[Outlier 57]

Very cool. I've found some great threads on this - seems like it is certainly doable... another item for the someday list lol.

That AM radio is totally awesome!

[The Freightliner Guy 1,327]

its awesome i love the duels on the back they're rad.

[Pullstart 62,905]

Awesome tractor, congrats!  That engine looks like it came from a C-81 or the like, with the starter down low.  That took up the real estate of the battery… vs a starter/generator system. A skinny Harley Davidson battery or some other specialty battery might help with your goal of getting it back under the hood.

[Pullstart 62,905]

On my “Poppy” build Link here. You can see how much room was between the steering gear and the engine block with the starter generator.  When I swapped in the modern starter engine, I lost that space.  My battery is now behind the transmission on a custom mount.

 

 

[sjoemie himself 3,068]

On 12/5/2022 at 1:29 AM, Handy Don said:

WH did offer a 540 RPM PTO adaptor for the front of tractor

Very interesting! Any pictures or more info on that?

[Handy Don 12,233]

1 hour ago, sjoemie himself said:

Very interesting! Any pictures or more info on that?

See post #38. There was one in the Classifieds not too long ago, not sure if it sold.

@wheelhorseman and his wife own Wheel Horse Parts and More (a supporting vendor on this site). You can see his PTO unit in several of his gallery pictures on this site.

[sjoemie himself 3,068]

@Handy Don thanks for pointing that out, now I feel dumb 

I thought the giant pulley on the front of the tractor was somekind of diy inertia woodsplitting doohicky.. did'nt notice the PTO shaft at first. Makes sense now that pulley is so big so to get the rpm's down.

Pictures have been saved 

[Lagersolut 661]

On 11/26/2022 at 4:42 PM, Blasterdad said:

Nice! I'm glad you found one like you wanted. 

If it was mine I would run it, a little smoke means she will need some love soon, just make sure she's full of oil.

If she starts to knock or make other "funny" noises shut her down!

I love my Kohler 8's, I would rebuild it or find a replacement K181 & keep it ORIGINAL. They are not that hard to find as they were used on many things.

The muffler you asked about is made by @jimkemp. 

I bought 2 of then recently, lots of us have them & they are affordable, great quality, & lets face it,...Just look downright COOL. 

We would love pics when you get her !!! 

 

 

 

Is he still making these ?   Love one of these on my 416

[Blasterdad 2,692]

5 hours ago, Lagersolut said:

 

Is he still making these ?   Love one of these on my 416

Yes he is, 

[Handy Don 12,233]

On 12/8/2022 at 4:54 PM, sjoemie himself said:

@Handy Don thanks for pointing that out, now I feel dumb 

I thought the giant pulley on the front of the tractor was somekind of diy inertia woodsplitting doohicky.. did'nt notice the PTO shaft at first. Makes sense now that pulley is so big so to get the rpm's down.

Pictures have been saved 

Take heart. Just this week I posted something nonsensical--thread was about woodruff keys and I responded thinking axles. 

Oh well! 

[Outlier 57]

Update: The weather in the Midwest has mixed up the Christmas travel plans - 

I may have to ship the tractor after all. I had read about people shipping between Fastenal stores and was excited about that option.

I discovered they currently don't do East-West shipments. Any other creative ideas from the forum that I may have missed?