What have you done to your Wheel Horse today?

[HyperPete 416]

5 minutes ago, squonk said:

Take the points cover off and try drying the points. I've had the points get wet even with a good gasket and grommet. A few shots with a blow gun and it fires right up.

 

Thank you.

Where's the points cover on these guys?  I was figuring I was going to have to pull the flywheel to access them.

I think I have downloaded every manual for the M8 - I guess they aren't going to read themselves.

[HyperPete 416]

Yay!  No points!

 

 

I think I'll be going through this.

 

Edited Sunday at 11:08 PM by Pete D

[MainelyWheelhorse 919]

4 minutes ago, Pete D said:

Yay!  No points!

 

 

I think I'll be going through this.

 

@Pete D You beat me to it! I was just going to say I didn't think the Magnums had points.

[HyperPete 416]

Since I touched wiring, too, I'm going to completely replace the wire I re-spliced.

I'm uncertain why a non-waterproof 30 amp fuse was installed in the solenoid control feed, but it's coming back out.  (Just an additional point of failure to worry about.)

I'm going through possibly problems, and I'm concerned about a possible high-draw starter.  All grounds & connections have been cleaned to bare metal & protected with dielectric grease.  I did not pull the starter bolts and clean the starter mounting surfaces, however.

I guess I could remove the starter back cover to blow it out & check the brushes just to be safe.

[ML3 1,430]

Got optimistic & took snowplow off then installed mower deck. Lawn service already fertilized last week so grass is starting to grow. Also changed oil & greased all fittings. 

[JoeM 7,907]

Cleaned up the C81 sluggish starter and got it working good. I did have to put a .010 shim under the front bolt. Brushes were good. 

Used a drill to turn the armature and cleaned the commutator with a stone. 

 

[Handy Don 13,256]

36 minutes ago, JoeM said:

Used a drill to turn the armature and cleaned the commutator with a stone. 

Looks nice.

Hoping you made sure to cut a bit of relief into the phenolic separating the commutator contacts and used compressed air to thoroughly remove any grinding/cleaning residue. 

Edited Tuesday at 07:02 PM by Handy Don

[JoeM 7,907]

1 hour ago, Handy Don said:

relief into the phenolic separating the commutator contacts and used compressed air

Yep all good! 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,863]

  A buddy welded up the fuel tank/fender support rails in the 520-8. Both sides cracked. 
 

 

[HyperPete 416]

I replaced the starter solenoid.  The wiring diagram shows an optional fuse that was in line with the solenoid, so I installed a waterproof fuse and replaced the previous wiring. When I looked, there was some sloppy electrical tape which I unwrapped and found the wire had been burnt and most of these strands were broken. I cut back beyond the damage and ran the new wire. Everything should be waterproof now, and the engine cranks. 

I have spark now, but it doesn't start. I used clear nail polish around the Welch plugs, and I'm afraid it may have gotten past them and blocked the air passages. Major DUH moment. I'm quite angry with myself.  I have a ton of incredibly small drills so I will clean them out and try again. Hopefully, my local small engine shop sells Welch plugs.

The other possibility is the fuel pump. I don't smell gas when I crank, even with the choke on, so after I'm sure that the carb is attached tightly and getting vacuum, I may reach out for assistance with these old fuel pumps. I know nothing about them. 

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 11:50 PM by HyperPete

[ebinmaine 70,317]

7 minutes ago, HyperPete said:

Hopefully, my local small engine shop sells Welch plugs.

 

I have some. Tell me what size.  I'll send a couple. 

They're aluminuminuminuminum. 

 

NOT steel.  

 

I get em from a place called Rick's Carbs I think??

 

 

7 minutes ago, HyperPete said:

The other possibility is the fuel pump. I don't smell gas when I crank, even with the troop on, so after I'm insure that the carb is bolted tightly and getting vacuumed, I may reach out for assistance with these old fuel pumps. I know nothing about them

 

 @Pullstart  and @wallfish have both showed me a neat trick. Mebbe @Stepney too.  

 

With the carb air cleaner base off so your hand can sit flat on the carb front, start cranking the engine. 

Very quickly use your hand to completely cover the whole carb front for a half second. 

For some reason this often causes the engine to start.  Super vacuum??

 

[HyperPete 416]

3 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

I have some. Tell me what size.  I'll send a couple

 

I'll start with the local shop simply because I don't know what size.  I'll bring the carb and let them match them.

Thank you.

 

6 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

For some reason this often causes the engine to start.  Super vacuum??

 

Yep, but it's a long reach!  I'll ask the Mrs to help.

[Ed Kennell 40,236]

Put the rear weights back on the 310-8.     These new wider wheels required longer bolts, so I fired up the mig bolt extender and added an inch.

 

 

I know, the carriage bolt head is supposed to be inside the wheel.  But I don't like the nuts sticking out on the outside.   

[SylvanLakeWH 27,176]

3 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

But I don't like the nuts sticking out on the outside.   

And it maximizes aerodynamic efficiency when traveling at high speeds... better fuel economy... very green... 

[Blasterdad 2,994]

Sunday we had a severe thunderstorm with 80 mph winds roll through. It snapped the top off a big pine tree in my side yard, taking some branches of the maple tree next to it on the way down. Monday I bought bar oil and a new chain for the saw. Tuesday after work I got it all cleaned up wth help from the C-81. From plowing at @Pullstart's plow day on Saturday, to yard duty on Tuesday, she's been a happy . 

Edited yesterday at 02:49 AM by Blasterdad

[953 nut 57,471]

9 hours ago, Blasterdad said:

snapped the top off a big pine tree in my side yard, taking some branches of the maple tree next to it on the way down.

                  Glad it missed the camper and building.

[Blasterdad 2,994]

13 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

                  Glad it missed the camper and building.

It was close! I was standing on the front porch when it happened. It was LOUD! Sounded to me like something hit the roof of the house. I ran through the side yard to go in the back door & didn't even see it till later, it was raining so hard. Lol. Was quite relieved that nothing hit the house. 

[Handy Don 13,256]

4 hours ago, Blasterdad said:

It was close! I was standing on the front porch when it happened. It was LOUD! Sounded to me like something hit the roof of the house. I ran through the side yard to go in the back door & didn't even see it till later, it was raining so hard. Lol. Was quite relieved that nothing hit the house. 

Run outside in pouring rain. Check

Run outside in pouring rain during high wind event near trees. Check

Quite relieved nothing landed on YOU!

[Blasterdad 2,994]

3 hours ago, Handy Don said:

Run outside in pouring rain. Check

Run outside in pouring rain during high wind event near trees. Check

Quite relieved nothing landed on YOU!

When I went out front it wasn't raining. When the front blew in it happend in seconds & the front door was locked. Not one of my better thought out plans for sure.  

Edited 20 hours ago by Blasterdad

[HyperPete 416]

Broke out the pressurized (canister) sandblaster today, finished blasting the weight box for the '73, and got a coat of primer on that and other related parts.

Hopefully I'll get the red on tomorrow.  Low end paint job; Rustoleum and a roller.  Maybe I'll try to learn how to use a sprayer one of these days.

 

I need to get an air feed for the sandblaster headgear and some gloves that won't fill up with media. 

(I'm going to try to modify an old CPAP machine to blow air into the hood.)

[MainelyWheelhorse 919]

I bought some stick on reflectors from Harbor Freight for the 308. The original ones on it are chipped pretty deeply. I'll drill out the old rivets and stick them on tomorrow.

[953 nut 57,471]

10 hours ago, HyperPete said:

(I'm going to try to modify an old CPAP machine to blow air into the hood.)

Lung transplants can be done but why take the chance?   Filtration is the key here, not intending to rain on your parade but don't think an old CPAP will push enough air through a good filter.