Jw 704 16 #1 Posted May 14, 2021 Just picked up my first horse. A 704 apears to have been well kept or restored has belly mower and snow blower with it gas tank is dry motor is free drained what seemed like a oil/mixture out of it today reoiled hopefully try to start it in next few days any pointers ... 9 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,912 #2 Posted May 14, 2021 It looks like someone has already done one of the hardest things... remove the steering wheel. Did it come with the sale? It might be a good idea to pop the points cover off and give ‘em a good ‘ole polishing. A dollar bill works great for that... don’t use sand paper whatever you do! Round hoods rock! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maxwell-8 4,277 #3 Posted May 14, 2021 3 hours ago, pullstart said: don’t use sand paper whatever you do! oops! 4 hours ago, Jw 704 said: next few days any pointers ... Horses I seem to always get have trans bearing failure, which you see, if the axle is not centered in the tranny, but you guys over in the US never seem to have a problem. Great score, you're in for a lot of fun and normally very few issues. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 17,011 #4 Posted May 14, 2021 5 hours ago, pullstart said: don’t use sand paper whatever you do! Not sure where or why this started and maybe it's even in the manual or something but I see lots of people say this all the time. But, that's exactly what I use all the time and never had a single problem doing it. It doesn't leave any grit anywhere which I think is what they believe the issue is with using sandpaper. Think whoever originated this was using wood sandpaper at 100 grit or something and had a problem. A sliver of 1200 grit wet/dry paper about 2 inches long or so works good and fast. Slip it between the contacts and let them close as the spring provides the pressure for sanding. It won't work if the points are in the opened position. Pull the paper to slide it out and repeat a couple/ few times, then flip the paper over for the other contact surface and repeat. Try this on one you plan to change the points on before changing the points. Nothing to loose! One of those thin metal nail files works good too used in the same manner but pay more attention to keeping it perpendicular to the contacts or it will just file the edges. Since the file is stiff you can slide it back and forth and clean both sides at once. Maybe I'm missing something with the problem doing this but ignorance is bliss! 7 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,130 #5 Posted May 14, 2021 Never drink gas either! 1 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,912 #8 Posted May 14, 2021 59 minutes ago, wallfish said: Not sure where or why this started and maybe it's even in the manual or something but I see lots of people say this all the time. But, that's exactly what I use all the time and never had a single problem doing it. It doesn't leave any grit anywhere which I think is what they believe the issue is with using sandpaper. Think whoever originated this was using wood sandpaper at 100 grit or something and had a problem. A sliver of 1200 grit wet/dry paper about 2 inches long or so works good and fast. Slip it between the contacts and let them close as the spring provides the pressure for sanding. It won't work if the points are in the opened position. Pull the paper to slide it out and repeat a couple/ few times, then flip the paper over for the other contact surface and repeat. Try this on one you plan to change the points on before changing the points. Nothing to loose! One of those thin metal nail files works good too used in the same manner but pay more attention to keeping it perpendicular to the contacts or it will just file the edges. Since the file is stiff you can slide it back and forth and clean both sides at once. Maybe I'm missing something with the problem doing this but ignorance is bliss! I was taught that on a microscopic level, the grit embeds itself into the points surface, allowing extra foreign materials to grab hold and wear the surface even more... or something like that. Same principal with flame sense rods on appliances. Polish them, not sand them. Maybe 1200 grit is fine enough to polish, instead of scratch. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel Horse 3D 3,795 #9 Posted May 14, 2021 Welcome aboard! LOTS of fun on here, and nowhere can you find a better collection of Wheel Horse knowledge and expertise! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 11,387 #10 Posted May 14, 2021 from what I can see of it, looks to be in real good condition. Check to see what your transmission lube's condition is in. Sometimes if the shifter boot is in bad condition, you'll get water inside of the tranny. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seuadr 488 #11 Posted May 14, 2021 1 hour ago, AMC RULES said: Never drink gas either! YOURE NOT THE BOSS OF ME! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mickwhitt 4,642 #13 Posted May 14, 2021 Microscopic level? Geez Louise, I can just about manage macroscopic lol. Never knew Kevin had an electron microscope in the shop. Must look out for one next points change.... 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,202 #14 Posted May 14, 2021 5 hours ago, pullstart said: on a microscopic level, the grit embeds itself into the points surface While that may or may not be true, it's probably not the main reason for not using 'grit' to clean the points. I don't know if this applies to the points or not... but it definitely applies to the 'point contacts' on switches and relays. Those devices have contact points that are often plated with different metals. Silver, Cadmium, gold, nickel, tungsten, etc, etc. They all have different properties and usage conditions to consider. The main point is that if you use an ABRASIVE on those contacts, you remove the plating, and thus the properties of the contacts. They can wear faster or not function to spec. As I mentioned, I don't know how this applies to Kohler points, what they're plated with, or if they're even plated at all. But if they ARE plated, that is the 'real' reason for not using abrasives. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 17,011 #16 Posted May 14, 2021 11 hours ago, pullstart said: I was taught that on a microscopic level, the grit embeds itself into the points surface, allowing extra foreign materials to grab hold and wear the surface even more... or something like that. Same principal with flame sense rods on appliances. Polish them, not sand them. Maybe 1200 grit is fine enough to polish, instead of scratch. Could be. Never looked that close for sure! And that does make sense. 12 hours ago, AMC RULES said: Never drink gas either! That's how to tell if it's any good or not! Give it a sniff or two, swish around in the container, sniff again and sip a little. Kinda the same procedure as wine tasting! LoL If ya burp afterwards it has ethanol in it. Then I use that same 1200 grit sandpaper to sand the crappy gas taste off my tongue! Then suck on a dollar bill for 30-40 seconds to polish that microscopic 1200 grit off. It's quite the procedure before starting every engine! Some people only check the oil. 1 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jw 704 16 #17 Posted May 15, 2021 21 hours ago, pullstart said: It looks like someone has already done one of the hardest things... remove the steering wheel. Did it come with the sale? It might be a good idea to pop the points cover off and give ‘em a good ‘ole polishing. A dollar bill works great for that... don’t use sand paper whatever you do! Round hoods rock! Yeah the wheel is with it i had it off to take the hood off thanks 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jw 704 16 #18 Posted May 15, 2021 Ok got her running this eve now apparently the oil seal on output shaft for pto is leaking ....any pointers on replreplacement 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 5,465 #19 Posted May 15, 2021 JW you did well for your first horse. I looks well maintained. Enjoy it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jw 704 16 #20 Posted May 15, 2021 Thanks im happy be glad to get it going 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pacer 3,173 #21 Posted May 15, 2021 On 5/14/2021 at 4:34 AM, wallfish said: But, that's exactly what I use all the time and never had a single problem doing it Me too!! I'm 81 yrs and got a Cushman scooter when I was 13 and my Dad showed me how to 'file' the points and since then have been in a bind a couple times and use anything available. A great example -- many yrs ago on the way to work I spot a coworker on the roadside with the hood up on a clunker he had so I pull over and ask if I can help. Bout the time I walk up hes closing the hood and sez 'thats OK ' I got er goin! I ask what happened, He sez"Aw every few days itll do this and I just have to clean the points and he holds up a common small WOOD SCREW!! I just drag this thru them and it'll go for a while longer!!! I pretty closely follow @wallfish in that I use wet/dry in a fine grit - whatevers handy - and I'll fold mine and do both sides together. Now I have done this probably hundreds of times and have never even remotely had a problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
