New guy from Ohio with an 875

[ralphxj 1]

New guy here from Austintown Ohio. I'm a Jeep guy, however I'm currently without a Jeep or project and the shop seemed too empty. I found my next project, my grandfathers original 1965 Wheel Horse 875. Grandpa bought the 875 new and used it until he passed away in 1992 (I was 12). After that my uncle and grandma used it for a couple more years, then got a newer mower. My dad brought the mower to our house shortly after that and we used it (along with a newer wheel horse dad had) to mow my parents 2 acres. I spent MANY MANY hours on this mower as a kid!! It was kept under roof its whole life, so it has very little rust on it.

 

It still fires right up and runs with no issues except a starter/generator that is sparking at a loose terminal (already have a rebuild kit). The mower deck is SHOT, its been repaired many times over the years and is too far rusted at this point. The plan is to do a mild restore project. I plan on painting the main sheet metal and clean everything else up.

 

Other then the rear tires, its all exactly how it was when Grandpa used it!

 

Edited July 24, 2013 by ralphxj

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

  Fixing it up would be a great tribute to your grandpa.

Mike............

[AMC RULES 37,130]

If it was me, I'd just clean that one up as best I could, without a complete repaint/restoration. 

Maybe powder coat the rims and new tires...

it would be a shame to strip the generations of use by your family off of that tractor.    

 

                                             

[groundhog47 347]

Hey, welcome to  , great one to start with as has family attachment. Follow ya on the mower deck, wish they were available at a decent cost still, but good ones show up often up that way. Good luck on your restoration!  

[ralphxj 1]

If it was me, I'd just clean that one up as best I could, without a complete repaint/restoration. 

Maybe powder coat the rims and new tires...

it would be a shame to strip the generations of use by your family off of that tractor.    

 

                                             

 

I thought about it! I've gone back and forth, but I'm hoping to take it back to close to how it was when Grandpa bought it. I'm not big on having orginal paint/rust/patina like some people.

[Jake Kuhn 1,555]

Welcome to red square!

[AMC RULES 37,130]

When you redo it can you save all that (original   paint/rust/patina) stuff for me?    

[KC9KAS 4,741]

  and thanks for the photos.

[Kelly 1,029]

[JC 1965 1,530]

Hello and

[VinsRJ 721]

Welcome to RS!

[Amanda 81]

Welcome to Red Square    

[can whlvr 993]

[ralphxj 1]

Thanks for the warm welcome!! This weekend I need to install 2 more lights in the shop and setup the new plasma on the plasma table, then I'll hopefully rebuilt the starter on the 875! Very excited to start this project!

[dyt4000 2]

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,175]

Nice 875! ...and welcome to the