As Rare As Hens Teeth

[Eriks Red horse herd 107]

This year has been quite a memorable ! Picked up many of interesting  Wheel Horse tractors and implements and parts . But never in my life time did I ever think I would ponder on this. I've seen pictures  of it and a few of our very select  fellow  Horse Colleges own this. It all happen about a week and a half ago saw it on online classified  it was there for a few days I emaied and they still had it. He said he woukd hold it for me. I made arangements on my day off to  go pick it up. The night before I was to make the journey  he calls said he got email from some one in Georgia  said he will double the amount and Vinmo the money. He then asked me which part was i after since  there was two thing for one price in the ad . He says that's what the other guy wants ! He then asked if i want it for that price since i was the first one.  Just Vinmo him the money I said I wont  since I've done that before and never got what i paid for. That kind of pissed me off told him I have cash at pick up. He apologized and said he will honor our deal and to make thing right he'd throw in some extra parts since his wife was after him to clean up. When I picked up the implements I asked how he acquired it. He said he got it with the his 60s charger he had bought . Then he asked how much is it worth i told him only what some ones willing to pay for it. He said it looks old. I Then told him how rare it is .  So I think this is going to be the Crown on my 1955 Rj 35. Since it was made for it early on. 

Let me introduce  Wheel horses first mower deck the RMR 3255 ? three blade deck. Before the gear deck. 

 The belts look like it was hardly used for a 70 year old piece. 

Edited November 13 by Eriks Red horse herd
Spelling

[peter lena 8,649]

@Eriks Red horse herd amazing find !  don't know what you have planned for that, but think a patina oil soaking spray down , would retain what's there , rich oil finish  time capsule . pete

[Eriks Red horse herd 107]

I was thinking the same thing Peter

[Eriks Red horse herd 107]

With the deal came also a a last year 07-05DC01 Tub cart in pretty good condition only missing the dump lever . Also a first year front mount Mule drive  in excellent  condition and misc parts

 

 

 

[8ntruck 7,033]

I like the replaceable cutting tips on the blades.  Are they sickle mower blades?

[Eriks Red horse herd 107]

Yes and still sharp

[SylvanLakeWH 25,611]

[c-series don 8,732]

Are you planning on using it? Or just cleaning it up and mounting it? 

[WHX?? 48,847]

In that kind if shape ... yah hen's teeth. I've got a few older decks but nothin pre 58/59 Nice score 

[Eriks Red horse herd 107]

c-series don ..I plan on cleaning it up  greasing it mounting it and then aleast

try it out . Do a video of it mowing a least once and then keep it as a trailer queen for the 55 RJ 35.

[Eriks Red horse herd 107]

I've got a square cover early gear deck that came on my very early 58 . That was my oldest deck until now.

[wallfish 17,023]

19 minutes ago, Eriks Red horse herd said:

I've got a square cover early gear deck that came on my very early 58 . That was my oldest deck until now.

I have one of those too and never knew about that belt deck until now. Nice score!

[Lee1977 6,680]

Thoes mowing machine blades are hard and will brake they are exstremely dangerous. I see one is already broke. 

[Pullstart 62,926]

Very cool!  I’d like to see that without the belt covers on 

[Eriks Red horse herd 107]

First 1955 brochure  notice the deck

[Eriks Red horse herd 107]

First 1958 brochure for RJ 58 model. They were still using RJ 35 photos . Notice the deck on 1956 model with black rims. So some time in either late 55 or 56 they went to the gear drive deck.

Edited November 12 by Eriks Red horse herd

[953 nut 55,388]

15 hours ago, Eriks Red horse herd said:

Yes and still sharp

The blade tips appear to be reversible. Are they sharp on both sides?

[stevasaurus 22,769]

I was thinking the same thing Richard...reversable.  Very cool for sure.  

[Eriks Red horse herd 107]

I guess you could flip them over for a sharper blade ?

[stevasaurus 22,769]

I bought a walk behind mower from a co-worker back in the 70's.  He said it vibrated when mowing.  Turned out he had taken the 4 blades (looked like yours) off the domed center piece, sharpened them and put them back onto the top of the dome instead of underneath.  Put them back under and vibration was gone.  Used that mower for many years.  

[Eriks Red horse herd 107]

Notice that the blade holder is twisted just like a normal today mower blade is.

Edited November 12 by Eriks Red horse herd

[Eriks Red horse herd 107]

11 hours ago, Pullstart said:

Very cool!  I’d like to see that without the belt covers on 

Ask and you shall receive !  Notice the bonus  tool on the left side. 😆 

Edited November 12 by Eriks Red horse herd

[Eriks Red horse herd 107]

After looking more at this deck the only way to pitch or level the deck is to adjust the  stud mounts up or down by loosening  the nuts on top or on the  bottom.

 

[Eriks Red horse herd 107]

So the way you engage the deck is.....

The long curved rod connects to the  bottom of the lift arm.  The lift arm in lowered  position the deck is off. In raised position and locked the mower is on engaged. The mower is bolted solid to the frame in 4 places and doesn't  float like modern decks . Check out the pics. 

[Eriks Red horse herd 107]

Going through the wheel horse book and low behold It never registered  about the pic on the letter head until now same deck huh!