Raider 10 and others

[ohiofarmer 3,265]

 Hello. i am not new to Wheel Horse, but am new to the old stuff before Toro got into the act. I have a garage queen 416, a well used 520H with a Predator engine, and just bought the Raider 10 for $300.  The Raider is very solid and it mows and adjusts better than the 520H.  I swept the  barn for parts and came up with a much better seat for the raider and mounted it 4 inches higher and added pivots and rear springs to it. Unfortunately, I was mowing weeds and grass higher than the hood and the center mower drive bearing got tight. Should have greased it before use, but now I have the opportunity to go over the entire deck.

 

 I cannot say how impressed I am with the design and durability of the older machines. I like the simple stuff and the Raider looks as tough as woodpecker lips. Not perfect, but straight with all the original stuff working.

 

 The original tires were leaking from the sidewalls and they had used that horrible Fix-A -Flat on them that had hardened like glue. nothing worked as the sidewalls were too weak to support removal. An idea hit--So i got out the propane torch and heated the bottom edge of the tire through the rim in about a foot of arc. When the smoke first appears after about a minute of heating I applied the tool and off she came just as slick as you please. I then used a 36 grit segmented disc wheel and finished critical areas with wheels like this http://www.harborfreight.com/4-1-2-half-inch-nylon-abrasive-wheel-94017.html   

 and this http://www.harborfreight.com/4-in-80-grit-nylon-abrasive-wheel-with-14-in-shank-60325.html

 Primer and paint and a new tire tube and she works for a fraction of what a new tire would cost. I found some nice small Led lights at Rural King for $15 and they might fit by removing the logo panel at the top of the hood.

  The rear of the frame where the tilting seat pan mounts was also reinforced with angle as it was in poor condition. Just minor stuff ,really on a machine of such experience. Of the two wheels, the polycarbide wheel is also a good choice to strip paint on sheet metal as it leaves not much in swirl marks and can even leave a shiny finish if used with care. Try one.

. I used the 80 grit abrasive wheel to get at the tight radius areas and then finished up by hand sanding

Edited June 4, 2016 by ohiofarmer

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,297]

Welcome to , but as usual we want pictures . Good idea with the torch . 

[AMC RULES 37,130]

[SylvanLakeWH 25,548]

[russellmc301 600]

welcome 

[KC9KAS 4,741]

You are right about the strength and ease of operation of the "old iron".

[953 nut 55,204]

   Helpful tip about removing the tire,              

[ohiofarmer 3,265]

 Thought I toasted a bearing, but the mower belt got beneath the center pulley and then shredded the main belt. I'll take that. However, the cause was dirt and old oil freezing the action of the tensioner pulley. I will replace the delrin beneath the slider bar with formica, get a new belt, and bob's your uncle. I sanded down the sliding tensioner bar and infused it with silicone grease and wiped it dry. The belt guard is gonna stay removed so i can keep it clean. I will also enlarge the hole in the center mount large enough to let me mount new belts without removing the mower.

 

 Oh,and I was mowing grass that was one foot hIGHER than the hood. I love this machine. My newer Horses would not in any way suffer the abuse I put this one through.