A Sentimental Blackhood

[bmsgaffer 2,046]

So I finished my 525exi to a point I could just use it and I got excited, I was finally to a point I could go get my next project. I started riding on this C-105 before I was 1, drove it on my dad's lap for many years then got to drive it myself for probably 15 years. My dad and I liked it, but never really thought it was anything special. To me it was just the old tractor. I used and abused it (but we did ALWAYS store it inside). My dad bought it in 1988 from the original owner (apparently a wheel horse mechanic, it was pristine). My dad used it to do the finish grading all around my parents house that he built. It plowed their 150' driveway and cut their grass with a 42" deck for many years after that.

 

The old girl blew an engine at one point and my dad took it to get rebuilt. It ran really well at that point for a few more years, then about 2005 or so it started making a real racket and was parked. We had no idea about Wheel Horse's then, It was terrible at pushing snow (we never knew about weights!) and it was slow to cut the grass (never new they made a hydro or a 48" deck!) so we gave up on reviving her again and went shopping for a new one.He settled on a new Deere. At one point he wanted to get rid of the old red tractor, but something in me just wouldn't let him. I told him to keep it for me and I would get a new engine for it and use it when I got a place. Fast forward 10 years and I now have been living in my own place for almost 5 years and been playing with wheel horses for 4 of them. I never got around to picking up my trusty old C-105 till now.

 

 

 

[bmsgaffer 2,046]

I started tearing into it today. I have a rebuilt K-341 with 0 hours that is just about ready to drop into it. I just need a few small things finished up before I am ready to run it! Its amazing, we have never once changed the gear oil, it was still yellow after 30 years of use. We have also not once changed the drive belt, and after at least 30 years I have inspected it and i dont even need to replace it. Its in great shape. 

 

 

 

I got the old engine out, and the only thing that was wrong was that the rod cap bolts were loose. Which kills me as if I had immediately shut down the engine instead of driving it back to the garage, I probably could have just tightened them up and fired her right back up. There seems to be too much damage to the rod bearing surface, the crank seems to be OK. Oh well, she will go on the shelf to be used if we ever go back to original. I wish I had taken pictures before buttoning it back up. 

 

 

The entire tractor is in great shape except for the paint which is OK and the front wheel bearings are totally shot. I hope the wheels can be saved and the spindles are ok. I dont think I will be doing anything else to here but fresh fluids all around with a new K341.

 

[SylvanLakeWH 26,148]

My C-105 says "HI" to her cousin!

 

Just rebuilt  mine this year - great tractor!

 

Love the Black Hoods!

[AMC RULES 37,141]

You're doin' your Pops proud Brandon. 

Just know...he's gonna want it back. 

[953 nut 56,164]

4 hours ago, bmsgaffer said:

I told him to keep it for me and I would get a new engine for it and use it

Great to see a  getting some love from a second generation.    

[Ken B 3,164]

Coming along nice Brandon. You'll love the extra power of that 341 that is for sure. With some cleaning, some touch ups and a little polishing I think the paint will look pretty good.

[Ed Kennell 39,171]

Great story  Brandon.    Thanks for sharing.

   Will this now be a C-165,  or a  C-105 with an attitude?  

Edited March 27, 2017 by Ed Kennell

[bmsgaffer 2,046]

6 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

Great story  Brandon.    Thanks for sharing.

   Will this now be a C-145,  or a  C-105 with an attitude?  

 It will be a C-165 with attitude. 

 

I do plan on new rubber at least on the front and probably back too. I really like the turf master look all around, but the kenda k502 and v61 setup that I have on the XI is pretty mean looking too.

 

I am considering making a brush guard that will also function as a front weight holder that mimicks the sharp lines of the blackhood... but I have yet to think that one out.

 

 

3 hours ago, Ken B said:

Coming along nice Brandon. You'll love the extra power of that 341 that is for sure. With some cleaning, some touch ups and a little polishing I think the paint will look pretty good.

 

Do you guys have a guide to doing paint touchups? I want to just touch this up, but want to make it look good by blending. There are some rust bubbles right on the top of the hood on the red part. I have very little experience doing body work like that, but I am not a complete novice to painting I just usually do whole parts at once.

[bmsgaffer 2,046]

Things are moving slow lately around here having a new addition. I got the boys outside this weekend to give momma and the 4 week old some much needed quiet time. They are especially excited to work on this tractor since I tell them stories about working on it and using it when I was a boy. 

 

 

 

I have been around this tractor for two decades and I never knew it had the rear rock shaft, tube, and lift cable already! Bonus! I always saw the clevis in the back but never knew it was for lifting. We missed out on so many opportunities not knowing what kind of things were available for this tractor! Got it fairly cleaned up (this will be a worker for quite a few years until it gets refurbished). 

 

 

 

The two different ags bother me to some extent, but they do just fine.

 

Items I need and will be searching around for or posting here:

 

• One head bolt for the K341 - Not sure how I lost one, but it is what it is. 
• All front wheel bearings - Need to do some work on the rims to get them to hold the bearing better.
• New rubber isolators (gosh these are expensive, Not sure if I am not ready to go solid mount yet...)
• Fuel cap w/gauge
• rear light cover (or new rear lights)
• touch up paint to cover scratches until refurb
• K341 carb. (I have one that was painted but need to dig into see if it is worth it or not)
• Fuel pump rebuild kit
• K341AS dipstick
• Pack of speed clips for the bolts on the metalwork

If anyone has any of the above message me! I will probably post a classified later. 

 

 

 

[WHX?? 49,486]

20 minutes ago, bmsgaffer said:

rear light cover (or new rear lights)

I have a new in box cover I can send you Brandon, I will never use them since these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VT6V6N4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 

 

20 minutes ago, bmsgaffer said:

Fuel pump rebuild kit

Here http://www.psep.biz/store/kohler_fuel_pumps.htm but they are the plastic ones or here http://www.then-now-auto.com/kohler-fuel-pumps-2/

 

Looks to be choice help!!

Edited April 11, 2017 by WHX11

[bds1984 1,453]

I wouldn't even mess with that carb...  For less than $30 you can have a new one shipped.  I've purchased three of them in the last three years and have not had any issues with them.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carburetor-For-Kohler-K321-K341-Cast-Iron-14-hp-16-hp-14HP-16HP-Engine-Carb-/112336620767?hash=item1a27c8ccdf:g:5SoAAOSwSlBYykMm

 

 

[bmsgaffer 2,046]

So the dipstick that came in this engine was hacked together by the PO. I went to go get a replacement...

 

 

You have GOT to be kidding me! 

 

1 minute ago, bds1984 said:

I wouldn't even mess with that carb...  For less than $30 you can have a new one shipped.  I've purchased three of them in the last three years and have not had any issues with them.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carburetor-For-Kohler-K321-K341-Cast-Iron-14-hp-16-hp-14HP-16HP-Engine-Carb-/112336620767?hash=item1a27c8ccdf:g:5SoAAOSwSlBYykMm

 

 

 

I have done one of those in the past and I have been happy with it other than i bought the wrong choke setup with it. I was able to cobble something together from the old carb that worked but next time I need to double check the choke setup. Is this link one that you have purchased before? 

 

I hate to say it, but I wish the chinese would knock off the dipsticks too... 

[bds1984 1,453]

Just now, bmsgaffer said:

So the dipstick that came in this engine was hacked together by the PO. I went to go get a replacement...

 

 

You have GOT to be kidding me! 

 

 

I have done one of those in the past and I have been happy with it other than i bought the wrong choke setup with it. I was able to cobble something together from the old carb that worked but next time I need to double check the choke setup. Is this link one that you have purchased before? 

 

I hate to say it, but I wish the chinese would knock off the dipsticks too... 

This is the one I have purchased that resides on my C165.  The linkages were fine for the K series, but for the Magnums, the chokes were the opposite; down on the lever was on and up was off.  A simple swap of choke plate shafts and I was on my way.

[bmsgaffer 2,046]

This is progressing VERY slowly. I may get 10 minutes or an hour here and there to poke around at things. But I stayed up WAY too late last night to get the K341 bolted in. The hood is just sitting on there for a place to put it so my wife can park in the garage. 

 

I have to finish up the linkages on the engine, put in my coil, transdensor (yes that is correct), muffler and various odds and ends to get her buttoned back up and running. I still need to work some magic on the front wheels so they hold the bearings tight. 

 

Edited May 5, 2017 by bmsgaffer