RJ 35

[wheelly 0]

How can u tell the difference between an RJ35 and RJ25. Is there something to look for besides belt gaurd??

[DMK855 15]

Pretty sure the biggest difference is the RJ25 had a Briggs engine and the RJ35 had a Clinton engine!! I am sure the more knowledgable one will chime in though!!

[wheelly 0]

wondering if there is another way as the one i found has no engine.

[whfan74 2,068]

RJ 25 had a smooth front hood..........no writing. It also does not have a hole for the gas cap in the hood.

[wheelly 0]

Thanks Scott

[stevasaurus 23,010]

Hey Rex...

The Briggs was a 2.5 hp RJ25

The Kohler was a 3.5 RJ35

The clinton was a 3.6 RJ35

for when you find a put an engine on it. :thumbs:

[wheelly 0]

Hey Steve . It was one 0f those i bought. just trying to make sure i got the correct year. Finally getting it tore done for sanblasting. Now that i got it down to a 35 series I,'m wondering if it is a 55 , 56, 57.

Don't know if u can tell me from this pic or not.....????

[VinsRJ 723]

To tell the year of production you have to take the entire tractor in consideration. From your pic I see you have a "C" channel iron frame.... That will most likely make it a 55 or 57..... as Pond used those frames on 55's and then again in 57. 56 saw a sheet metal frame but, you can't completely rule out that yours isn't a 56..... seeing there was a lot of run over of parts from model year to model year.

More info will be needed, such as:

1) Does your hood have "Wheel-Horse" stamped into the front of it?

2) What style steering wheel did it have?

3) Also take a pic of the rear hitch, thats another item that can help narrow the year down.

Notice I keep saying narrow because without paper work or first hand information from the original owner..... you measure with your thumb not with a dialcaliper with RJs in general. :thumbs:

[wheelly 0]

Has no wheelhorse embosted on the hood. Sterring wheel was the bigger black wheel but i have a cast wheel i want to put on it. Here is the lift hitch

[HorseFixer 2,013]

Wow does that ever bring back memories! Been there done that! It is definatley a labor of love! Here is a letter written to a guy by Tim Lapree who used to research these pretty well he lives north of me up here in Michigan. I dont even know if he is around anymore. I was sent this by a friend of mine Les Sheasley In Iowa. Goodluck with your project! If ya need anything hit me a PM.

~Duke

Here is what I found that i wanted to send you, It was originally sent to a guy named Charlie but there is some real good information about the old Wheel horses (Ponds)

Charlie, I don't think K-90 on your RJ-35 is the original. It may be a correct replacement but I believe all of the Kohlers that

Wheel Horse used were repainted to be the same red as the tractor. Also the recoil is a different style the what was used on the RJs. Yours is a Fairbanks Morse which Wheel Horse didn't start using until 1960.

Now for the differences between the years. The RJ-25/35s were only built in 1955,56 and 57. They will have "Pond" cast in the gear case. I also believe the RJ-25 was only available in 1955 & 56 because I don't think the Briggs Model 8 was available in 1957. It's pretty easy to identify the RJ-25 because it has the Brigss engine with the gas tank on the engine, not under the hood. There will not be a hole in the hood for the gas cap on an RJ-25 unless someone moved the tank and cut one.

The pivot stops for the front axle is one piece the full width of the frame on the earliest built ones. Either late 55 or early 56 they went to two small square blocks.

The lift lever is solid 3/4" round stock on the early ones and went to the push button release type later in 55.

The early 55s and maybe into 56 did not have the small piece of angle iron for a stop on the motion lever.

The Clinton and Kohler engines used on the RJ-35s and even the RJ-58/59s used a recoil built by Schnacke. It used a cable instead of a rope.

The early 55s had a stand made from flat stock for the gas tank to sit on. The latter ones had the tank attached to the hood with straps like the RJ-58/59 and even the 1960/61 Suburban.

The 1955 tractors had a structural steel channel frame and either late 55 or early 56 they went to a channel formed from

Sheet metal. This frame must not have work out because the 57s went back to the structural steel channel.

The kill switch on the early 55s was a big round brass push button, and later went to a toggle switch.

The steering wheel started out as a small cast one. It's thought that the first 100 or so tractors had cast aluminum steering

wheels then they went to cast iron. My Rj-25 has a cast iron one and my RJ-35 has a cast aluminum one. The cast steering wheels were used in 1956 but I don't think all 56's had them.

The exhaust wasn't piped all the way up front in 55 and I think most of 56. There was just the small stock muffler right on the

engine. I think all 57s should be piped to the front.

The hood with Wheel Horse stamped in came out sometime in 1956 and continued through 1959. The enclosed belt guard was only on the 1957.

The 1957 used a different pawl spring in the rear hubs. You can

positively identify a 1957 by looking at the backing plate behind the left rear wheel hub. The little bumps that are stamped in it

will be on the side away from the hub instead of inside the hub. I don't think that all 57s are that way, but they were only put on that way starting sometime in 1957. In other words if you see bumps instead of indentations without removing the hubs you definitely have a 1957.

Wheel colors were black on rear and silver on front in 55, black both front and rear in 56 and almond or off-white in 1957.

The engine color was red on the Clinton and Kohler and black on the Briggs.

The slot hitch was made out heavier steel in 55 and 56 than it was in 57. The 1957 hitch was formed from sheet metal.

This is how I decide what year I think an RJ is. Like I said, I can't

say for positive that it's 100% accurate but I do think it's pretty close. I'd be interested in hearing others opinions.

[wheelly 0]

That was some good reading... THANKS....All indications i have from that is it is a 57. I have the enclosed belt gaurd. I have the bumps facing away from hub. The only thing is my hood is not stamped.