Ralph Blacksmith Shop Work on Wheel Horses

[Lane Ranger 10,974]

I have been working with my dad and bother the last two days on some of Wheel Horse tractors.

 

 

My dad Clifton Ralph , who is a long time blacksmith, and my brother worked on two Wheel Horse parts yesterday that we needed for tractors.   The first is a bar 1 inch wide, 1/4 inch thick our of 4140 steel (a better qualitiy than most of the attachment steel used in Wheel Horses) for my LMR 307 Front Reel Mower.   This bar will have a bend on the end and two holes for 1/4 inch bolts that is used to lift the reel mower by the lift handle of the tractor.  The other end is attached to the reel mower lift.  We have not finshed the part yet but we will today.

 

 

 

 

 

The other project was to extend the fan gear rod for a Lawn Ranger that David is placing an 8 HP Kohler motor on.  He needed antoehr half inch for the battery box to fit in that space between to motor and the steering fan gear brace that attaches to the frame.  Dad figured the steering fan gear rod could be extended 1/2 inch by heating and tappering the rod.   So that is what we did and the steering road fits perfectly and meshes with the steering wheel gears fine.

 

 

 

 

We also placed two new Carlisle trailer tires on our Wheel Horse hauling Ravens trailer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, a little more work completed on David's 633 Wheel Horse project.   We got the recoil installed and working fine.   Adjusted the carb and placed a fuel pump on the 8 HP Kohler we have on this tractor.

 

 

 

 

 

[312Hydro 474]

It's always great to have the proper tools and especially handy when someone knows how to use them. Stretching the rod would have never occurred to me and it's a great solution.   i don't know of anyone having their own Blacksmith in the family. Very nice work!

[groundhog47 347]

Very impressive work, thanks for pics.

[VinsRJ 721]

What great work!

[KC9KAS 4,741]

Sounds like the Ralph family has been busy in the shop. Thanks for the pictures.

[Lane Ranger 10,974]

A few more shots of David Ralph's  633 Wheel Horse project:

 

 

 

 

[AMC RULES 37,133]

Looks great Lane...I think Dave will need some custom decals made up for that new "833" of his.    

[Jake Kuhn 1,555]

Very nice progress on everything lane!

[welderman85 53]

great work

[can whlvr 993]

looks like alot of fun,nice lookin machines,is that the canadian 1054,?shes nice

[Lane Ranger 10,974]

 

 

No Don our Canadian 1054 has the 50 inch sickle bar on it and is  stored.   We have another 1054 also that we bought in Tipton, Indiana.   That makes 4.   One more David is working on to add a Honda 350 motor and chain drive with a jackshaft.    Also a 953 that is apart and awaiting cleaning and painting.  A heck of a bunch of these models.

 

A grand total of 6  953's and 1054's !

Edited April 13, 2013 by Lane Ranger

[dclarke 4,033]

Nice work Lane! You guys have been busy. 

[Lane Ranger 10,974]

This works great on the 953/1054 tractors.  Your slot hitch can stay on and be used in conjunction with the drawbar.  Dad made three of these years ago! 

 

1054 drawbar hitch

 

Homemade (made by Clifton Ralph blacksmith Gary, Indiana) rear drawbar hitch for a 1964 Wheel Horse 1054 tractor. Hitch attaches to the rear snowplow piece located on the rear axles. This hitch allows you to have a ball, a clevis and a pin for slot hitch attachments.

 

[Handy Don 12,281]

On 4/11/2013 at 9:18 AM, Lane Ranger said:

Dad figured the steering fan gear rod could be extended 1/2 inch by heating and tappering the rod.   So that is what we did and the steering road fits perfectly and meshes with the steering wheel gears fine.

 

That is one sneaky/clever/amazing idea and cool execution!