1257 Find

[WHX?? 48,814]

First off thanks to @Bttatro for turning me on to this CL score ( I tried to PM you the news Friday but my phone sucks at the cabin)! So anyway I set up the go look at & turns out the guy is only 2 miles off my beatin path up to the cabin. Made a wrong turn because Karen (my GPS) was useless as T#ts on a bull up there & ended up having to back the rig out of the woods 1/4 mile in the dark... no fun there! Finally found the place & there she was. Turns out the seller had just bought this place (estate sale) opened up some shed doors and found out he bought a tractor with the property. He had no clue as to what a Wheel Horse even was. Said he put a new plug in it charged the battery & some gas and it started right up. So closed the deal and driving it out to the trailer it would only come off idle by a couple of hundred RPM's. So I asked the guy about the throttle issue and he had no clue. Said he even cut grass with it like that! I explained to him ( he was not very mechanically inclined) that this motor will get up and go when adjusted right. So I manually set the throttle and get it on the gov.  to show him where it should be running RPM wise and he gave me a look like I was gonna blow it up. I says no this is where it should run at. He was amazed at the power & sound of that 12! Ok enough Yakin and on to the GOOD STUFF....

She is a dirty girl but a round with the pressure washer and some elbow grease should clean up nice. Aside from the throttle issue runs good & may need a carb cleaning. Has the wrong battery in it and some other minor stuff but is complete. If somebody can tell me if that switch on the dash is factory. It must of had some kind of lighting on it at one time. Some bug eyes up on the corners of the hood?? I sure do like looking down that long hood with seat time!

[WHX?? 48,814]

Wheel weights are some kind of patina yellow?? Thinkin there was a snow plow on it at some time? A look around sellers property turned up nothing tho. OH and tires ....choice originals with the WH on them and not cracked or checked AT ALL!  Not a speck of rust in the gas tank either!!

Deck is in way better shape than the one on my 1067 & spindles real quiet.

Edited September 26, 2016 by WHX8

[ACman 7,618]

OH , Jim that one right up my alley ! Barn fresh original specimen  !!! Please tell me it's going to be a buff in shine or my favorite leave it like it is , dirty and pertty  ! Awsome score @WHX8 .

Edited September 26, 2016 by ACman

[WHX?? 48,814]

Clean up, tune up and leave as is!! My new plow tractor when @PeacemakerJack, @stevasaurus & @achto show me how it's done proper!

Jack you wanna tell them about the show 1077 that got away this weekend or should I??

@Bttatro you may wanna come get this horse before I get attached!

Edited September 26, 2016 by WHX8

[WHX?? 48,814]

Thanks Jeff ... BTW glad to see you are officially patched into the 520 club... I suppose you wanna know the secret handshake now?!?!?

[Achto 27,565]

That girl looks awesome! Put some ags on the back & she'll be great plow tractor. Will need a Brinly hitch or a plow with a slot hitch on it.

Great score!

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,497]

like Jeff says, barn fresh specimin, ya gotta luv it. best of luck.

 

Glenn

[stevasaurus 22,717]

Those sure do have a great look to them.  Nice find Jim. 

[TIGman 2,006]

WOW!!!! I like !!!! 

Just now, TIGman said:

 

. Great find

Edited September 26, 2016 by TIGman

[Bttatro 94]

I'm still working on the Mrs., but wow is that a nice looking horse!  I'm loving the dash and deck!  What are the chrome looking things on the front sides of the hood?   How is the oil leak?

 

WHX8 I'm thrilled! 

[WHX?? 48,814]

I believe those are old brackets for lights that might have been on it once. Don't know about the oil leak until I after her bath.

[Shynon 7,459]

Nice one Jim, that looks like it was worth the extra effort. Should clean up nice

[DougC 2,641]

The great finds always require a certain amount of.......... Like backing up that far with an enclosed trailer in the dark in unfamiliar territory. Gets the adrenalin  flowing and the heart pounding.... Not to mention the blood pressure rising!!!!!

Congratulations on a great barn fine barn find     

[953 nut 55,190]

7 hours ago, WHX8 said:

tell me if that switch on the dash is factory.

Not a stock switch, my 1267 came with lights built in to the hood and had a rocker switch in the dash.

     that is a nice find!  

Edited September 26, 2016 by 953 nut

[WHX?? 48,814]

Agreed Dick ...my 1067 is that way as well. I guess in '67 the six-speeds were considered deluxe and came with head lights. Thought maybe the 1257 & 857 had optional bug eyes???

[Wishin4a416 2,191]

Looks like you did really good on a nice machine.

[kudzu3 323]

How 'bout some "cleaned up" pictures.

[WHX?? 48,814]

Cleaned up nice @kudzu3.... Pics & more tomorrow 

I really did Jack @Wishin4a416 I'm not gonna say what I paid but let's just say is was a deal not to pass on! 

Yes @DougCthank you. ........and my copilot Cindy was in a different truck and not there to direct!!

Edited September 27, 2016 by WHX8

[Retired Wrencher 5,451]

WHX8  These are great tractors. I have had 2 of them both of these have tons of power  K-Kohler power. And they  idle so well so you can put around with  them all day if need be. Start easy. I found one like that all original and it is my favorite. It has a big tractor feel. Clean it and enjoy it.

[WHX?? 48,814]

After tinkering with it last nite Wrencher I would have to agree 100%. Yeah we're talkin old school K-Kohler power!! This girl is quickly becoming my fav as well!

Gave here a good bath last nite......ran out of gas in the pressure washer.... twice! Cleaned up nicer than a baby's bottom tho.  Resolved the throttle issue (cable bound up and out of adjustment) and reset the mixture screws and got it idling smooth as silk. The 301 is such a different animal than it's little brother the same year 10 hp it's unbelievable. Makes me wonder if my 1067 is running right???  Oil change tonite as what's in there is black as tar. There's a piece of masking tape on the hood that says oil change 2008! Who knows if that's true. Guy has to wonder how many hours are on this motor. Trans oil change next.

Sorry for the lousy pics guys, it was getting dark by the time I got her back in the shed and on a charger.

Question tho guys the key switch will not spring return to from start to on so one has to remember to manually do it if one remembers. Is this real detrimental to the start/gen if one forgets? There are a few wiring issues, just some clean up work mostly and check the regulator for proper operation. Will be doing that after new proper battery and cables.

FYI I did find a nice guide in the manuals for checking & adjusting these regs.

This one has a Delco but if I'm not mistaken the 1067 has a Bosch?

[Retired Wrencher 5,451]

Jim. Much better. THANKS for the picks. It looks like a 1257 now. As for the cables Look for Motion Pro Cable Luber. There are many brands. There about $10.00 I use mine on all cables it makes them work real smooth. It puts power pressure into the inner cable. As for the oil buy some cheap oil and run it for a little while low/mid throttle for about 15' drop it fill again drive it for the same. I use Lucas oil stabilizer about 40% or more if it smokes. This really helps these old engines. You can try a battery maintainer.  I get mine at wallyworld /Walmart for about $20.00. It has a hook up where you put the wires on the battery this makes it easy to hook the charger, because the Start/Gen usually do not charge the battery.  I hope this puts you on the right path and you enjoy this fine old tractor. I really like the sound they make when they start up, Cha Chunk. Not bad for 49 years old. Try Buffing it out with some compound/ wax. It will bring out more color. Have a cold one when they turn 50.Let me know if you any questions.

Edited September 28, 2016 by T1257 RETIRED WRENCHER.

[WHX?? 48,814]

3 hours ago, T1257 RETIRED WRENCHER. said:

As for the oil buy some cheap oil and run it for a little while low/mid throttle for about 15' drop it fill again drive it for the same

Agreed Gary...maybe even a couple of times with the cheap oil.  Got new oil in it last nite, old oil barely flowed out the drain pipe. . Starts hard now so I think a carb cleaning, fuel line & filter is in order,  New battery cables & battery are on order too, post terminals are jury rigged bad. Hopefully I can get it all done before my plow day. @achto is going to fab me a hitch so maybe it will be far enough along I can borrow Jack's Brinley for a whirl. Might not do much with out ags but the missus would kill me if I sprung for those now!

[Achto 27,565]

1 hour ago, WHX8 said:

Might not do much with out ags but the missus would kill me if I sprung for those now!

Do you have a tractor with ags on that you could swap wheels with for the day? Or a set of chains would also help in a pinch.

Edited September 28, 2016 by achto

[WHX?? 48,814]

Nope no ags for me Dan ...yet...other than the little guys on the RJ.... heck I wouldn't be afraid to try it with these tires & weights, might just surprise us in this sandy stuff?!?!?

[TIGman 2,006]

 1257 is looking good after that bath, Real Good !!! 

That is a Wheel Horse to be proud of for sure.