What have you done to your Wheel Horse today?

[cschannuth 3,816]

I put one of Denny Clarke’s fantastic Lawn Rangers to work the last couple of days trying to smooth out a wet ditch that I have rutted up when I’ve been mowing it. This little thing is a beast. @dclarke

Edited May 30 by cschannuth

[ebinmaine 67,420]

Over the past couple weeks BBT and I have made a few trips over to our friend's place to get the Workhorse set up with its mowing deck. 

Took us 4 or 5 attempts because we have very little familiarity with this model and even less with any mowing deck other than the one we recently put on @Qball 's tractor. (My parent's).

 

At least two of those trips were to find broken or worn out parts. Standard fare for an older ride but a work stoppage for the day none the less. 

 

 

Well yesterday was the magic day!!

 

Here's Tom driving his new mower while I observe. 

 

 

 

 

We'll need to make some adjustments to height and replace a bushing at some point. Otherwise it's going good. 

 

 

[lynnmor 7,305]

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

We'll need to make some adjustments to height and replace a bushing at some point. Otherwise it's going good. 

 

I looks like the deck is low in front.

[ebinmaine 67,420]

44 minutes ago, lynnmor said:

I looks like the deck is low in front.

 

 

Agreed. 

This deck was restored back around 2012 or so with my own '75 C160 Automatic. 

Part of the challenge with us making multiple trips was that the carriage was assembled wrong by the PO. 

It would be zero surprise if the front wheel set was also wrong. 

We'll try adjustment to the angle of the deck as a whole but that front roller may have to be moved.  

(????)

 

 

 

[87 416-8 horse 420]

@ebinmaine are you expecting another snow fall while you mow up there?      He still has his chains on 

[ebinmaine 67,420]

7 minutes ago, 87 416-8 horse said:

@ebinmaine are you expecting another snow fall while you mow up there?      He still has his chains on 

 

 

Expecting? No. I sure as heck hope not. But we can get Frost all the way to the end of june.

 

 

 This is pretty tilted country. His yard and surrounding woods has a lot of roll and tumble to it so he's leaving them on all year. 

Trina does the same. Regular plain old turf tires are pretty useless in a lot of places.

 

[lynnmor 7,305]

5 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

Agreed. 

This deck was restored back around 2012 or so with my own '75 C160 Automatic. 

Part of the challenge with us making multiple trips was that the carriage was assembled wrong by the PO. 

It would be zero surprise if the front wheel set was also wrong. 

We'll try adjustment to the angle of the deck as a whole but that front roller may have to be moved.  

(????)

 

 

 

Only the rear mower wheels are in contact with the ground except when irregularities are encountered.  The rollers at the front is to prevent scalping. The deck height is adjusted by the rear wheels and the deck level is adjusted using the J bolt at the center rear of the deck.  Looking at that sparse crop of grass, I would make the deck perfectly level, the only reason that a lower front is specified is to prevent re-cutting the same grass.  Be sure to have the tires properly inflated and you are doing the leveling on a flat surface.  Measure from the flat surface to the blade tips front and rear.  This tool can help, before I had one I used a deep socket of the proper length for my gauge.

 

[KW88 31]

Little update on the 312-8 rebuild. Had some electrical issues to start when I bought it couple months ago and some transaxle leaks. So, not a complete tear down, but getting there. 

Thanks to this site and members help,  I got through the transaxle rebuild which found out wasn't original to the 88 model. 

As far as the electrical goes, I've cleaned and replaced almost everything, but found the wires to the ignition module were completely bare as it passed through near the engine. Most likely my starting problem,  but to be determined. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed taking my time to pay attention to every part as it comes off, clean, repaint or wire wheel it so someday when she's up and running it'll be an eye catcher.  

If all goes well, should be ready to plow this winter!

 

[cleat 5,923]

What I do is pull the harness totally out of the tractor and lay it out on the work bench.

Then I can totally go through it and fix up any bad wires, connectors etc then rewrap it and it is as good or better than new.

Never have an electrical issue after that.

 

 

[kpinnc 12,004]

3 hours ago, cleat said:

What I do is pull the harness totally out of the tractor and lay it out on the work bench.

Then I can totally go through it and fix up any bad wires, connectors etc then rewrap it and it is as good or better than new.

Never have an electrical issue after that.

 

 

But take pictures before! 

 

 

[Lee1977 6,656]

23 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

Expecting? No. I sure as heck hope not. But we can get Frost all the way to the end of june.

 

 

 This is pretty tilted country. His yard and surrounding woods has a lot of roll and tumble to it so he's leaving them on all year. 

Trina does the same. Regular plain old turf tires are pretty useless in a lot of places.

 

Traction is poor with Carlisle Turf Savers new. I have two new ones that came with the Raider that I'm using on the 312-8. I had 80 # weights on the C-120 to get enough traction on my hills to mow with them.

[lynnmor 7,305]

1 hour ago, Lee1977 said:

Traction is poor with Carlisle Turf Savers new. I have two new ones that came with the Raider that I'm using on the 312-8. I had 80 # weights on the C-120 to get enough traction on my hills to mow with them.

I have those slippery Turf Savers on the front of one tractor, I bought Kenda K500 tires to replace the Carlisle tires and match the performance my other tractors. 

[c-series don 8,688]

Finally completed my C-175 restoration tonight, when it’s light out I’ll take it outside for some better pictures. I’m super happy with the way it turned out and really have to thank my brother for all his help! I will be bringing it to the show as it is this year’s featured tractor.

Edited June 6 by c-series don

[Brockport Bill 1,661]

Spectacular!!! Great job Don !

[ebinmaine 67,420]

6 hours ago, c-series don said:

C-175 restoration

Absolutely fantastic work!!

[SylvanLakeWH 25,533]

@c-series don 

 

Love the Black Hoods!!! 

 

Beautiful job!!! 

[Tractorhead 9,064]

@c-series don

another candidate for a a showroom.

Ya made a beauty !👍

[Sodaking27 777]

@c-series don

Excellent looking. Can’t wait to see it at the show.👀

Edited June 6 by Sodaking27

[JCM 9,130]

Looks to me like you already have a page on the 2025 RS calendar.  

[WHX?? 48,814]

Love those shoes Don...

[cleat 5,923]

I doubt it looked that good when on the showroom floor.

 

Great job.

[dclarke 4,032]

Outstanding work, Don! 

[Pullstart 62,834]

On 5/31/2024 at 4:46 AM, ebinmaine said:

 

 

I understand that sometimes our look of focus is not photo worthy.  But if this were a “caption this” I’d think that he’s concerned if his photo gets published he’ll go back to the pen!  

[Goldnboy 910]

Ahh ..nothing like getting that 50 years of patina  gone.....

[ebinmaine 67,420]

2 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

I understand that sometimes our look of focus is not photo worthy.  But if this were a “caption this” I’d think that he’s concerned if his photo gets published he’ll go back to the pen!  

 

 

BBT claims I have the same look when I'm concentrating.