New (to me) 857

[Bentoolong 94]

I just picked up this little jewel yesterday.

I like the looks of the 857 and have been looking for one for a bit. 

 

It seems quite complete. It has the original lighter still in the dash (missing in the pics).

 

The deck has some rust issues and it is frozen solid.

 

I have not heard this run so that will be a priority along with the tire issues.

 

All of the tires seem like original. All have "Wheel Horse" molded into the tire. I think 3 have tubes. 

 

I may be at a point in my tractor work that it might be good to find a solution for removing tires. I have previously done two tires with just tools I have around (screwdriver and such).

 

These tires are rather brittle and cracked and I doubt I could get a tire place to look at them. There seems to be a lot of rust in the tire that I'd like to get out so I'd like to remove the tire and tube from the rims.

 

What do people do to remove tires? I see HF has a bead tire tool for $40. Maybe get some tire spoons?

 

Recommendation?

 

The steering wheel is barely attached. I be those are hard to find. Any repair suggestions?

 

I'm sure I'll have more questions as I go through this.

 

Tell me about the lights. They are not connected but look great. They kinda grow on your and couple those with the home made bumper and this little tractor shows some "attitude".

 

Interesting story. I pulled out a lot of the mouse crap from under the seat. After getting most of it by hand I got the vacuum going in there. At one point I heard a loud crack that you hear when something solid hits the little baffle in the vacuum. I thought I better check it out so I shut the vacuum off and opened it up, there laid the center pice for the steering wheel.

[Pullstart 62,879]

There you go, Mark!  Maybe it is the tilt steering wheel option?

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

30 minutes ago, Bentoolong said:

What do people do to remove tires? I see HF has a bead tire tool for $40. Maybe get some tire spoons?

You got yourself a nice project. Something about it I really like, certain charm. 

 

The 12 inch rears will fit on most car tire machines and that is what I use. And for the 6 and 8 inch rims....  two pry-bars.

 

Going to buy myself such a bead tire tool. 

[Achto 27,575]

38 minutes ago, Bentoolong said:

What do people do to remove tires? I see HF has a bead tire tool for $40. Maybe get some tire spoons?

 

Recommendation?

 

For $40 Harbor Freight has this complete tire changer that works great for the rear tires. The bead breaker on it will work for the fronts but you will probably need spoons to change the tires. 

This changer is handy to have around for trailer tires, car tires, etc. At $40 you only need to change a few tires for it to pay for it's self. 

https://www.harborfreight.com/manual-tire-changer-69686.html

 

 

[TJ5208 1,824]

my dad has one its a 3 speed unidrive 8hp kohler  have fun do you know what you will use it for

[OldWorkHorse 3,045]

I use the HF mini tire changer for the fronts and the large HF changer for the rears with sum tire spoons. Makes easy change. If I have the money and I'm lazy I toss my budy a few bones to do them at his work on a car tire machine. That way is really easy haha

[ebinmaine 67,498]

18 minutes ago, Achto said:

 

For $40 Harbor Freight has this complete tire changer that works great for the rear tires. The bead breaker on it will work for the fronts but you will probably need spoons to change the tires. 

This changer is handy to have around for trailer tires, car tires, etc. At $40 you only need to change a few tires for it to pay for it's self. 

https://www.harborfreight.com/manual-tire-changer-69686.html

 

 

 

 

That's all of what I was going to recommend right there.

 

At the recommendation of someone else on this site I picked up a 3/4" bolt about 10"  long. Got a pile of washers, nuts and wing nuts with it. That can be used to hold the front wheel in place if you have a vise handy. 

 

 

I agree with you on the lights. I like the look.

 

 

That front bumper looks like it was put there specifically to add weight. A good idea.

 

 

Edited June 2, 2021 by ebinmaine

[ACman 7,618]

Great score there Mark  . Oh no the dreaded steering wheel . Lots of threads on that subject . Some closeup pictures would help us out with a fix or replacement . Place a wanted ad and in the big show buy sell thread of your wants . I’m sure there’s someone who can get your stuff back to you . There’s also A&Z tractor who’s a vendor here . What’s the plan for your seat ? I’ve been trying to get a short back pan for three years . I have one of Bob’s seat covers that needs a home (my 520 Wheel-a-Matic) . The Harbor Freight tire changer will work and the do have tire irons too . I prefer a tire spoon with drop center . Used this style for years at the dealership . https://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/ken-tool-single-end-tire-spoon-drop-center/0000000047546;jsessionid=1nbND6MVZbfWkOCZZ_MMAa0Z3SfZto2IsjOlhJ-bMq_zDB39ee36!544383313?bc=12937|12939|13077|13219

Edited June 2, 2021 by ACman

[ebinmaine 67,498]

9 minutes ago, ACman said:

I prefer a tire spoon with drop center . Used this style for years at the dealership

Good info there. 

 

[Bentoolong 94]

Thanks Everyone!

 

I spent a little time with it today and found out a few things. I got the deck and hood off.

 

On the plus side it spins over nicely and seems to have decent compression (finger test). No spark present and I cracked the fuel line at the input of the carb and no fuel comes out when I turn it over. Checked the oil and it smells old but it is "on the stick" and I don't see any big engine leaks.

No tires hold any air.

The back tires are pretty cracked and I'm not sure they will respond to having any prying done on them. How much abuse do 50 year old tires take? 

 

The biggest issue I have seen is the transmission. The hubs seem loose on the axles and the axles are loose in the tranny case. I can't imagine any seal would hold back tranny fluid so I'm thinking the tranny is low on lube. I may try to tighten the hub screws to see if they can be tightened but that doesn't;t solve the bigger issue of bearings/seals  etc.

I don't see a place to check the tranny fluid. Where would I look?

 

At this point I may put new tubes in the front tires since the bead is already broke loose. I'm concentrating on the engine to see if I can get it running.

 

If I can get it running and moving under its own power, I'll reaches and go from there.

 

I don't plan on using this machine although I would like to have a tractor I could use for its intended purpose( work). After seeing the condition of the deck, I don't think this is that tractor.

 

To sum up I am encouraged by the engine.

A little discouraged by the tranny although it didn't just happen over night. I'm sure this machine ran for a long time with this issue.

 

ACman, I'll PM you on the seat. The steering wheel is not on my radar yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TJ5208 1,824]

i do have a steering wheel that would go on that would you be interested

[Bentoolong 94]

Thanks TJ,

 

Like I said the steering wheel isn't on my radar yet but I may circle back and PM you on that later.

Maybe someone could suggest how to get rid of a few quarts of old fuel.

 

My tank is quite full and although it doesn't smell to bad I see some debris floating around on the bottom.

 

What do I do with the fuel? Does anyone take this stuff like they do oil. Burn it? I don't have a good place to do that.

 

Thanks

Bentoolong

[Handy Don 12,231]

10 minutes ago, Bentoolong said:

What do I do with the fuel? Does anyone take this stuff like they do oil. Burn it?

Excellent question.

For small amounts (a cup or less), I put it in a metal pan and burn it off.

For larger amounts, I've been funneling it through a hose with two fuel filters in series into a clean, marked container. Then I mix in some of it to the lawn mower, chipper, or whatever when refueling them so it'll get used quickly.

Edited June 2, 2021 by Handy Don

[ACman 7,618]

I dilute it with used oil and make fire starter with it . Be careful 

 

‘’for your trans question here a good read 

 

[stevasaurus 22,740]

On the left, rear of the transmission, you will find a fill/check plug.  There is a drain plug on the bottom.  Pull out the fill plug, if no oil runs out, the trans is low.  You can stick a screwdriver in the hole to see how low it is.  To fill, take off the seat and fenders, 2 bolts on top of the trans.  Put a funnel in one of those bolt holes and add your oil until it starts to run out that fill plug...replace plug.  If the trans is empty, it will take 1 1/2 to 2 qts of 90 wt gear oil.  It sounds like you are going to open the trans case.  The axles will have in and out of about 1/8"...normal.  You should not have any up/down or side to side. 

[Pullstart 62,879]

1 hour ago, Bentoolong said:

I don't see a place to check the tranny fluid. Where would I look?

yeah, What Steve said!  I was just about to type that up... word for word!  

[TJ5208 1,824]

just pm me anytime it will be here

[cafoose 3,355]

8 hours ago, Achto said:

 

For $40 Harbor Freight has this complete tire changer that works great for the rear tires. The bead breaker on it will work for the fronts but you will probably need spoons to change the tires. 

This changer is handy to have around for trailer tires, car tires, etc. At $40 you only need to change a few tires for it to pay for it's self. 

https://www.harborfreight.com/manual-tire-changer-69686.html

 

 

I just came back from a 2.5 week vacation at a friend's farm in Thorn Hill, Tennessee, and I talked him into getting one of those. He had a four-wheeler with a leak around the bead so I broke the bead and fixed it for him It worked great for that, no effort at all!

[ebinmaine 67,498]

2 hours ago, cafoose said:

I broke the bead and fixed it for him It worked great for that, no effort at all

Excellent. 

And now you're all practiced up for your own usages!

[cafoose 3,355]

48 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Excellent. 

And now you're all practiced up for your own usages!

I've been working on tires for at least 30 years on various machines and even a few without machines but the more practice I get the better I am at it

[D_Mac 8,619]

Those 857 grow on ya. When I first got mine I wasnt sure if I would like it. Grew on me fast. Have I mentioned lately how much I like that tractor? I liked it so much I made mine into a " Special Edition" Its special because I said it was and @Vinylguy made me some custom decals to prove it ! Good luck with it, hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.