bassJAM 93 #22951 Posted February 10 I changed a tire today, and faced some difficulties getting the bead to seat since the tires are so bowed in the center but I finally got it. We might get some snow tonight so I really wanted to get it done today. I had gone out to my shed earlier this week and found one of my tires split wide open. Apparently that cold spell was enough to freeze the windshield washer fluid I've had the tires filled with for 12 years! 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 13,267 #22952 Posted February 10 1 minute ago, bassJAM said: tires split wide open...cold spell was enough to freeze the windshield washer fluid That is surely a bummer! Washer fluid is rated and a lot of it sold around here for cheap is good only down to 0º F--you have to hunt a bit (and pay more) to get the stuff rated lower. I look for -35º. Also, the anti-freeze additive’s effectiveness does degrade over time--I check the date on the jug when buying to be sure I’m not getting old stock. A freeze in your car’s reservoir is as undesirable as a split tractor tire. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bassJAM 93 #22953 Posted February 10 2 minutes ago, Handy Don said: That is surely a bummer! Washer fluid is rated and a lot of it sold around here for cheap is good only down to 0º F--you have to hunt a bit (and pay more) to get the stuff rated lower. I look for -35º. Also, the anti-freeze additive’s effectiveness does degrade over time--I check the date on the jug when buying to be sure I’m not getting old stock. A freeze in your car’s reservoir is as undesirable as a split tractor tire. I definitely bought the cheap stuff for the WH since I had to use so many gallons. Fortunately the spit was at the top so I was able to collect almost 5 gallons but I'm nut sure I want to re-use it. I just put air back inside, I'm debating going with rimguard this time. Or nothing, with wheel weights and plate weights I'm not sure I need the extra weight anymore for pushing snow. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 70,398 #22954 Posted February 10 1 minute ago, bassJAM said: , I'm debating going with rimguard this time. Or nothing, with wheel weights and plate weights I'm not sure I need the extra weight anymore for pushing snow. Don't think on it. Get the Rimguard. You don't think you need the weight until YOU DO. And then it's too late. It's heavier than everything except liquid calcium and should be good down below about -30 Fahrenheit. Fluid filled tires have advantages over Steel weights. The weight is where it should be and causes little to no stress on the tractor. The fluid also helps keep the tire seated on the rim if you don't use a tube. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 11,866 #22955 Posted February 10 @cleat you'll be impressed with the difference it will make. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris G 3,333 #22956 Posted February 10 I cleaned up the throttle plate/serial no plate on the suburban 550 I picked up over the weekend. Serial number is 36913. Another one to add to the list. Hard to see in pics. But with a printers loupe I have you can see a lot clearer. Gonna try to recover what I can from the 400s plate. But that one is gonna be tougher to recover. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wayne0 860 #22957 Posted February 10 2 hours ago, cleat said: Installed #50 roller chain on front wheels. Chain is 50.75” long center to center not including connecting link. Hopefully this will help with steering on ice. I put double #50 on Big Red with the deuce because I had it! Rolled one off the last storm, but fixed it with more tire pressure. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 6,939 #22958 Posted February 11 3 hours ago, Wayne0 said: I put double #50 on Big Red with the deuce because I had it! Rolled one off the last storm, but fixed it with more tire pressure. I had to use a roller chain puller tool after totally de-airing the tire to install the connecting link. Tire is now aired back up to 12 PSI and the chain has the center pulled in enough to hopefully hold it on but still should ride on the chain for grip. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 18,289 #22959 Posted February 11 23 hours ago, cleat said: Installed #50 roller chain on front wheels. Chain is 50.75” long center to center not including connecting link. Hopefully this will help with steering on ice. It has been very cold since New year and the snow doesn't go away so most of what I plow is now packed snow/ice for a base. Adding some weight to the front helps the roller chain work better. The bigger plow wants to push the front end around. Weights and chains are your friend. 5 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 13,267 #22960 Posted February 11 7 minutes ago, pfrederi said: The bigger plow wants to push the front end around. It can be disconcerting, for sure, when plow steers tractor instead of vice versa! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 70,398 #22961 Posted February 11 1 hour ago, Handy Don said: It can be disconcerting, for sure, when plow steers tractor instead of vice versa! Absolutely. Happens every time I plow, even with 4 weighted tires. I've considered adding standard cross chains to the front too. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 11,866 #22962 Posted February 11 I know how well the roller chain works for my situation. I'd like to hear what others experiences are with standard cross chains. Seems as though they would have a tendency to slide sideways just because of the orientation of the chain. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 70,398 #22963 Posted February 11 1 hour ago, rjg854 said: I know how well the roller chain works for my situation. I'd like to hear what others experiences are with standard cross chains. Seems as though they would have a tendency to slide sideways just because of the orientation of the chain. I've thought about that. I was figuring on joining the cross chains ⛓️ with fore n aft direction links... or possibly making a diamond ish pattern. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MainelyWheelhorse 954 #22964 Posted February 12 4 hours ago, ebinmaine said: Absolutely. Happens every time I plow, even with 4 weighted tires. I've considered adding standard cross chains to the front too. Same here especially in ice/slush. I steer to the side and the plow keeps going straight. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BBQVultureWings 160 #22965 Posted February 12 Well, It sure has been a while since doing much on the Horses. until the other night with my GT2500 Briggs 10HP. Previous geniouses decided to "work on" the governor & the had it all torn apart n couldnt finger out how to put it back together again.... I got it but there are thread inserts on the carb body so it will Not idle to save a life due to vaccuum leaks..... gonnaa bust out the drills n taps but time is short now with Impending Snowmagedon on the horizon here & it is bone chilling cold to make it even better oh yeah.... What was supposed to be a simple fix along with several other issues I have found puts this 1 in the back of the Line Now. Gonna drag Ol' Cyclops ( my C 145) into the garage & put the fuel pump, new ignition parts & fuel lines on it, Mount the Blade & use that Beast. I am also moving during this time so everything is really disorganized but still manageable. Anywho in looking through a Box todsay I found some really cool stuff. A few Years ago I bought this box full plus a pile (nearly as big as the box of small engine parts & service manuals. There's lots of Lawnboy but also several Briggs & Tecumseh Dealer Parts n service manuals, Kohler, 1 Wheel Horse brochure, a Walbro Carburator Manual.... just a ton of stuff I actually forgot I had So Now I really do have a Library to go with All my other Briggs, Tecumseh, Wisconsin, Honda, All kinds of Valuable gold treasures (to Moo-Wah anyway) as these written publications cant be beaten when we often find ourselves eyebrows deep in condensed by someone who doesn't Know there is a huge difference between what the interrnet says & what I have in my hands.... a very frustrating place to be at times. I found these posters of Briggs & Kohler Specs in with all that stuff today. Thought Maybe You guys might enjoy not just seeing it but feel free to Use it. I Love having all that info in 1 easy to navigate spot. For now it will just tbe the Kohler & Briggs Charts as these need to be flattened & sorta ironed out a bit better. Maybe I am puting this in the wrong place but from what I see, most of the Engine Forum Threads are very old So I figure I would put this here as it is a pretty lively topic & it does apply to what I am doing tonight with my C-145 14HP Kohler. Enjoy 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 70,398 #22966 Posted February 12 7 hours ago, MainelyWheelhorse said: Same here especially in ice/slush. I steer to the side and the plow keeps going straight. Might help you to try the above circular chains. Weight of course, always helps. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2drxploder 127 #22967 Posted February 13 I have been lurking for a while now, no action in my herd. Decided to quit smoking cigarettes and work on my self for a little while. My smoking was getting out of control, and I needed some dental surgery, so I am making the best of a crappy situation. Working in the shop brought that urge back, because I smoked in the shop but not the house. 8 weeks and minus some way overdue wisdom teeth +1. Time permitting, work n life are...... well yall know. This weekend, I plan to reopen my shop to myself and start with finishing the hydro-pedal on the 520. It's done short of putting tractor together n test/adjust 4 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 70,398 #22968 Posted February 13 7 hours ago, 2drxploder said: I have been lurking for a while now, no action in my herd. Decided to quit smoking cigarettes and work on my self for a little while. My smoking was getting out of control, and I needed some dental surgery, so I am making the best of a crappy situation. Working in the shop brought that urge back, because I smoked in the shop but not the house. 8 weeks and minus some way overdue wisdom teeth +1. Time permitting, work n life are...... well yall know. This weekend, I plan to reopen my shop to myself and start with finishing the hydro-pedal on the 520. It's done short of putting tractor together n test/adjust Quitting smoking is nearly all a mind game. Most folks think it's a chemical battle. That's short term. After 48 to 72 hours a human is no longer addicted to nicotine. The mind though..... that's the challenge. This August will be 10 years smoke free for me. Use your shop time to CELEBRATE the fact that you no longer smoke. Enjoy the tactile energy of your wrenching. Forget the stupid cigs. You got this. I encourage you to join in on this thread: State your goals. Document your progress. Be healthy. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
midpack 959 #22969 Posted February 13 I was having trouble with the starter on my dedicated snow plow machine so I pulled the mower deck off a 312 I have and swapped the plow, weights, and chains from one to the other . Rather than take off the rear chains I just swapped the whole tire/wheel, mostly because the tire on the 312 has a pretty good leak but it actually was easier than messing with chains It was a long cold day... But I'm ready for the sloppy weather in the forecast. Sort of. All in all, I'd rather have a warm spell 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 40,309 #22970 Posted February 13 On 2/9/2025 at 4:01 PM, Ed Kennell said: We should have a plow snow Tue and Wed.. Got about 5" of the wet heavy stuff. Perfect plow snow. The 312H had a couple hours of exercise. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wayne0 860 #22971 Posted February 13 10 hours ago, 2drxploder said: I have been lurking for a while now, no action in my herd. Decided to quit smoking cigarettes and work on my self for a little while. My smoking was getting out of control, and I needed some dental surgery, so I am making the best of a crappy situation. Working in the shop brought that urge back, because I smoked in the shop but not the house. 8 weeks and minus some way overdue wisdom teeth +1. Time permitting, work n life are...... well yall know. This weekend, I plan to reopen my shop to myself and start with finishing the hydro-pedal on the 520. It's done short of putting tractor together n test/adjust I wish you the best on quitting. I was 2-3 packs a day when I quit 35 years ago. Best thing I ever did! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 6,939 #22972 Posted February 14 On 2/10/2025 at 4:14 PM, cleat said: Installed #50 roller chain on front wheels. Chain is 50.75” long center to center not including connecting link. Hopefully this will help with steering on ice. Well, a little follow-up. We had a lot of snow over the last couple of days so I used the big tractor and it's 72" 2 stage blower to clear most of the snow yesterday. However, it leaves a couple of inches of rough snow so I got this wheel horse with the chains on the front wheels out for final cleanup this morning. I can report that this tractor has never handled so well. These chains should have been on years ago. Thanks everyone for the idea to do this. Here is what was plowed. Here is the snow removal having a rest and warming up. 2 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
midpack 959 #22973 Posted February 14 Those front chains make a huge difference! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 11,866 #22974 Posted February 14 That's why I say with those chains it's like the tractor is on rails. 🚂 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 2,573 #22975 Posted February 16 (edited) New pulley shaft seal and lines for the Hein-Warner head-inducer, courtesy of @wheelhorseman at WHPNM. Now I know for sure it won't leak, because I can't fill the fluid, because I can't find the pointy bottle cap I use to fill the fluid. Edited February 16 by adsm08 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
