boovuc 1,090 #1 Posted June 27, 2015 I drove a few hours out to the Poconos from Central PA to pick up a 417-8 Speed a gentleman had here on RedSquare in April. I've been putting hours into it and fixing/painting/shining it up. Bought a set of decals for it from Vinylguy and have the engine purring real well with a new set of points and a condenser, carb cleaning, new fuel lines and filter and new plugs. Some wires and ends fixed. A new tie-rod end and front bearing and the seat is getting reupholstered. The muffler lost it's chrome except for the tip which I tried to save! (Not sure I like that yet)!Compression is 97 - 96 PSI. It's a 1986 with 1280 hours on the working clock.Still need to do the rims and swap tires with a better non-cracked pair of turfs. It actually looks too nice to mow with but it will be a worker. Maybe just not as hard as my 310 and 416! I like knowing this KT engine has some oil pressure inside it! Before and Afters. (Picture heavy). I chopped the resolution a little so I didn't kill anyone's weak broadband. Wanted to get to the big show since I'm a hair less than 2 hours away from it but it isn't going to happen this year! Again! 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian01 481 #2 Posted June 27, 2015 More pictures!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel-N-It 2,969 #3 Posted June 29, 2015 Looking good! That one was sure worth saving Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PaulC 342 #4 Posted June 29, 2015 Looking good!! Cant wait to see it all back together before it gets dirty. I picked up 2 417-A's a few months back and plan to redo at least 1 of them. Im liking the KT17 a lot so far even though mine still seems to stumble a bit And I have already done everything you did, points condenser plugs, cleaned carb twice and replaced all lines. Mine also has some minor wiring and safety switch issues that I have patched for now and will fix right when the time comes.Im curious to see what your seat looks like especially after having it redone? And also what type of paint did you use on the muffler? My tip also is the only savable chrome of the muffler so I thought to maybe paint the rest or even the whole thing black, but I do like that silver. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boovuc 1,090 #5 Posted June 30, 2015 Hi Paul,2500 degree, (yea, right), ceramic Rust-oleum in a plain Jane metallic/aluminum finish.I cured it in one of our drying ovens where I work! I don't know how well it will hold up.I just need to do the wheels, change out the tires and get my seat back.I have some orange peel on the paint job but it's a lot better than some I have seen!I'll post a pic of the re-upholstered seat when I get it back. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken B 3,164 #6 Posted June 30, 2015 That is lookin sweet! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian01 481 #7 Posted June 30, 2015 Lookin good...as far as "orange peel", who cares? lol its just gonna get used anyway Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PaulC 342 #8 Posted June 30, 2015 Looking really good Boovuc!! I really like the styling of these series tractors in 86-87 so I cant wait to get mine fixed up like yours. Should be a beast for snowblowing duties compared to my 312's.Love that loader tractor I see in the background too!!The 312-H that I fixed up and repainted has an "orange peel" to the paint as well but for a $25 dollar rustoluem paint job it looks pretty good. Maybe at some point a wet sand and buff will be tried to take care of it, its only noticeable on the hood though. Wheel horse really did have a nice finish on their paint when these tractors first rolled out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel-N-It 2,969 #10 Posted July 3, 2015 OK Boo, you got me thinking today while working on my 416-8 with a Kohler M16. Everytime I looked over at the 417A with the leaky lift cylinder I thought "Why not take the KT-17 series2 engine off the 417 and put it on the C165 and make a C417-8 ??? The more I think about it, the more I like that idea. Just like the more I look at this tractor you are restoring, the more I like it. Good work friend!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boovuc 1,090 #11 Posted July 5, 2015 Thanks, Van!I like that C-417-8 Speed idea. But I also like the single 16 Kohlers though! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kelsey 91 #12 Posted July 5, 2015 Heck, Yeah!! That's a nice looking tractor. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
woodchuckfarmer 333 #13 Posted July 6, 2015 Great looking tractor. Wayne Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WH 312-8 Fan 9 #14 Posted July 14, 2015 nice work! I had never really seen 417-8's in person until the show here a few weeks ago. I can't get over that screen over the motor. Was that the only Horse to have an Onan with that screen? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel-N-It 2,969 #15 Posted July 14, 2015 nice work! I had never really seen 417-8's in person until the show here a few weeks ago. I can't get over that screen over the motor. Was that the only Horse to have an Onan with that screen? That is a Kohler KT-17 Series 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
