Ibuprofen 2 #1 Posted November 3, 2014 The fiance and I just purchased our first home a couple weeks ago and one of the first items of business was to find a mower/tractor. I'm a design engineer for a company that sales retail fixtures and checkout lanes. I'm only 27 but, I'm no stranger to older (quality) lawn tractors. I grew up mowing with a Simplicity Sovereign and my uncle has over 30 Simplicities/Allis's that he likes to tinker around with. Another uncle of mine mowed with a Wheel Horse for 20+ years so when I seen one come up for sale locally I knew it was a quality tractor. It's a 314-8 with a little over 700hours on the meter. The previous (and only) owner took good care of it up until he started struggling with dimensia. It has a 42" rear dishcharge deck with very little rust. I finally got to sharpen the blades and mow the yard with it this weekend. I did uncover a little bit of disturbing repair work though. It looks like the blades wore the threads off the shaft and he used electrical tape to fill the gap between the blade and shaft. I'm not sure if the blades had the wrong size hole and thats what caused the original wear or how it got to be that way. I replaced the tape with some thin strips of sheet metal. One of the nuts on the blade was rounded pretty bad from running on the ground and now the shoulders are chewed so I'll have to reaplce it. I'll probably start a new thread about it though. Otherwise the mower looks to be in good shape. The normal things are worn like front wheel bearings, deck wheel bolts and seat. One headlight is busted but, all the other electronics work. I'll post pics when I get time to take some (being a new homeowner comes with a lot of stuff to do..lol) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmsgaffer 2,046 #2 Posted November 3, 2014 Welcome! Mind if I ask what part of KY? (North, East, West, Central?) I am from Northern KY but moved up to Cincy for now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibuprofen 2 #3 Posted November 3, 2014 (edited) Western KY. Around the Bowling Green area. Actually just graduated from WKU in 2013. Edited November 3, 2014 by ToroJoey Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amanda 81 #4 Posted November 3, 2014 Welcome to the forum!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Geno 1,929 #5 Posted November 3, 2014 Hello and You're only a few hours from me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rexman72 210 #6 Posted November 3, 2014 welcome to the group Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 21,733 #7 Posted November 3, 2014 Mike............ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 15,790 #10 Posted November 4, 2014 (edited) Glad to have you aboard. Now Geno has some competition and won't be snatching up ALL of the good horses in KY. We like pictures, so don't forget to post a couple when you get the chance. Edited November 4, 2014 by rmaynard 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Molon_Labe 731 #11 Posted November 4, 2014 Joey, lots of good folks here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JC 1965 1,532 #12 Posted November 4, 2014 Glad to have you aboard. Now Geno has some competition and won't be snatching up ALL of the good horses in KY. We like pictures, so don't forget to post a couple when you get the chance. Geno already got all the tractors in Ky. That's why he is traveling out of state. Hello Joey and welcome to 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibuprofen 2 #13 Posted November 4, 2014 (edited) Thanks for all the welcomes. I'm still messing with the blade/shaft issues but I should have pics up soon. It's tough to get much done when it's dark out when you get home. The time change didn't help either. Edited November 4, 2014 by ToroJoey Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Geno 1,929 #14 Posted November 5, 2014 The time change does really stink. There's still a few out there JC. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibuprofen 2 #15 Posted November 5, 2014 As promised here are those pics... It needs a good wash down but not until the grass stops growing. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Geno 1,929 #16 Posted November 5, 2014 Very nice tractor you have there. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Terry M-(Moderator) 2,178 #17 Posted December 10, 2014 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibuprofen 2 #19 Posted December 24, 2014 Thanks for all the welcomes. You all seem like a good bunch but I have sold my wheel horse and got myself this instead for Christmas. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,144 #20 Posted December 24, 2014 (edited) Edited December 26, 2014 by AMC RULES 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,873 #21 Posted December 26, 2014 I got a horse last year from a guy who decided to mow his 2 acres with one of those walk behind monsters. And the guys on Car Talk thought all the whacko's lived in Alaska!! SHEESH! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibuprofen 2 #22 Posted December 26, 2014 I was originally planning to get a zero turn mower but, I found the walk behind for a smoking deal I just couldn't pass up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nappypappy 98 #23 Posted December 30, 2014 what happened did Geno get it from him or what? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites