Farm worker

[Redav72 227]

Just picked up an 856 from a landscaping supply company in South Bend.  This little guy had been purchased new in ‘66 and tended the same plot of land from them until the early 2000’s.  It’s been worked harder than most and is definitely rougher than I had hoped but I’m really excited to get to work.  At some point the original Kohler failed and was replaced with a Magnum, not sure how many hours on the new engine.  I talked to the guy at the family owned landscape company and he said they used it to cultivate the fields.

 

 

Edited September 10, 2023 by Redav72

[Redav72 227]

The magnum replacement creates a problem for the battery, the starter directly conflicts with the battery location.  I’m not sure if I’ll just look for a smaller battery or try to relocate the battery under the seat.

[ebinmaine 67,444]

8 hours ago, Redav72 said:

The magnum replacement creates a problem for the battery, the starter directly conflicts with the battery location.  I’m not sure if I’ll just look for a smaller battery or try to relocate the battery under the seat.

You can use a motorcycle battery there. Trina had to do that in her Military Tribute Tractor when she had the larger sized Tecumseh engine. 

It's an easy adaptation.  

If there was a way to ship the battery you'd be welcome to it but I can certainly get the numbers from it for you.  

 

 

8 hours ago, Redav72 said:

Just picked up an 856 from a landscaping supply company in South Bend.  This little guy had been purchased new in ‘66 and tended the same plot of land from them until the early 2000’s.

This is super cool. 

One owner machines are uncommon whether residential or commercial.  

 

I'll be looking forward to seeing what you do with it.  

 

 

[953 nut 55,195]

9 hours ago, Redav72 said:

I’m not sure if I’ll just look for a smaller battery or try to relocate the battery under the seat.

Where is the battery mounted now? Years back I used a motorcycle battery mounted in the tool box under the seat on a Predator conversion, worked fine.

 

 

 

 

[peter lena 8,616]

@Redav72 would get a thorough BASELINE SERVICE / LOOK OVER  on that , oil / lubrication changes , bet that rear end  , could use a drain / flush , Lucas CLIMBING GEAR  LUBRICANT  is what you want , take advantage of what works / doesn't . enhance /  correct, thats a regular  mind set when I pick up anything .get some ,super  lube oil into those cables / movement areas . think an oil lubrication rub down would look very good on that paint .  pete 

[peter lena 8,616]

@Horse Newbie  very easy to get overwhelmed  / confused with service problems .  very often see an opportunity  to also take care of related issue . that gear oil clean out / change / new shifter boot , related linkage lubrication / functional check , is what you want . its never a 1 and done. amazed to watch people not even think about a related reaction . another thing I regularly do is to road test , a service / change , made an adjustment , removed   the way it did not work , is it better ? worse? , like to make a chronic problem into a smooth solid / quiet function . stay at it . pete

[D_Mac 8,609]

That baby is a creampuff compared to my 856. Good luck with it. Hope you have it running and driving as well as mine does now.

[AlexR 627]

It's amazing how well these old machines are still holding up today. Wheelhorse's seem to be the keep it simple stupid of the garden tractors and it looks like that worked. 

[AlexR 627]

@Redav72 if you are interested I got a low back seat I took off my b100 (I wanted a high back) that you can have. I live about a hour south east of Southbend in Goshen.