854 Thumb screws

[raymater99 2]

Quick question to see if anyone knows what the name of the part is that the thumbs screw for the hood screw into and where I could get them.    The gas tank of my 854 is missing these on each side and there is nothing to screw these into.   I looked at the user manual and I did not see this part listed. 
 

Thanks

 

 

[Handy Don 12,217]

There isn't a separate part. The threaded holes were cast into the tank and are commonly found stripped out or broken off. Also common (and I hope not to you) was an owner using a too-long bolt or screw after losing the thumbscrew and putting a crack in the body of the tank behind the hole.

 

There are a couple threads back a ways by members who've "rejuvenated" their tanks using JB Weld and a flare nut (flare toward the tank) with a greased screw to keep the nut clear while the JB Weld cured.

 

A-to-Z sells newly manufactured thumbscrew replacements, as does Wheel Horse Parts and more

 

Edited July 16, 2022 by Handy Don

[rmaynard 15,458]

My 701 had stripped screw holes on the tank, so I drilled them carefully and put in Helicoils.

[rmaynard 15,458]

By the way, whatever happened to Gene Simpson? He went by haasman35, then @Gene_S. He used to make a set of three nice aluminum thumbscrews. Anyone heard from him lately?

[Wild Bill in VA 1,452]

One of the original problems with the thumb screws was that the lower screw that holds the bottom of the hood (part number 1346) was 3/4 of an inch long in the length of the threads and if a person just threw the thumb screws in place and turned that long thumb screw into the gas tank ..... well things broke! The thumb screws in the gas tank were part number 1345 and had a length of 3/8 of an inch. The thumb screws were used on Wheel Horse round models from the 1961 model 701 all the way till the 1968 Lawn Ranger. Another odd fact was that Wheel Horse used lock washers under the thumb screws only on the models that did not use the aluminum gas tank, the 1964 model 654 would use lock washers but the 1964 model 854 did not. 

Now here's a story that got a few folks upset at an auction in Pennsylvania, a dealer that I knew was selling out and held an auction to get rid of old inventory. Before the auction I pulled the owner aside and ask him a question, he then took me over to a flatbed trailer full of old parts and pointed to a box.  Well when that box topped full of old chainsaw gaskets came up to be auctioned, I just held my hand up for auctioneer to take my bids and I got the box real cheap. Folks started to look at me and wonder why did "Mr Wheel Horse" buy a box full of old chainsaw gaskets????  Because right underneath of the gaskets in the box it was full of 1345 and 1346 thumb screws, some N.O.S. and some old!

Wild Bill in Richmond VA

[19richie66 17,505]

23 hours ago, rmaynard said:

By the way, whatever happened to Gene Simpson? He went by haasman35, then @Gene_S. He used to make a set of three nice aluminum thumbscrews. Anyone heard from him lately?

I have bought several sets from Gene through  facebook. Very nice too. I used them on my gt14 shift levers. 

[rmaynard 15,458]

2 hours ago, 19richie66 said:

I have bought several sets from Gene through  facebook. Very nice too. 

Thanks for the info. I contacted him and he is taking care of me. I've purchased two sets from him before and I like his quality.

[Handy Don 12,217]

16 hours ago, Wild Bill in VA said:

if a person just threw the thumb screws in place and turned that long thumb screw into the gas tank ..... well things broke

Excellent point!

[Pullstart 62,854]

@Wild Bill in VA thank you for frequenting here, and telling your stories!  I can hear your voice ringing through the South Mountain Fairgrounds loud speakers every time I read what you post!

[Wild Bill in VA 1,452]

On 7/15/2022 at 8:31 PM, raymater99 said:

Quick question to see if anyone knows what the name of the part is that the thumbs screw for the hood screw into and where I could get them.    The gas tank of my 854 is missing these on each side and there is nothing to screw these into.   I looked at the user manual and I did not see this part listed. 
 

Thanks

 

 

I believe this is the part you're asking for, it is called a "J" nut in a 1/4 x 20 thread size. They slip up into the cast cut out, so you can turn the thumb screws into to hold the hood on. As you see what happens when a longer thumb screw or bolt is used. These are industrial standard parts and can still be found.

Wild Bill in Richmond VA

[Lane Ranger 10,968]

On 7/16/2022 at 9:12 PM, Wild Bill in VA said:

One of the original problems with the thumb screws was that the lower screw that holds the bottom of the hood (part number 1346) was 3/4 of an inch long in the length of the threads and if a person just threw the thumb screws in place and turned that long thumb screw into the gas tank ..... well things broke! The thumb screws in the gas tank were part number 1345 and had a length of 3/8 of an inch. The thumb screws were used on Wheel Horse round models from the 1961 model 701 all the way till the 1968 Lawn Ranger. Another odd fact was that Wheel Horse used lock washers under the thumb screws only on the models that did not use the aluminum gas tank, the 1964 model 654 would use lock washers but the 1964 model 854 did not. 

Now here's a story that got a few folks upset at an auction in Pennsylvania, a dealer that I knew was selling out and held an auction to get rid of old inventory. Before the auction I pulled the owner aside and ask him a question, he then took me over to a flatbed trailer full of old parts and pointed to a box.  Well when that box topped full of old chainsaw gaskets came up to be auctioned, I just held my hand up for auctioneer to take my bids and I got the box real cheap. Folks started to look at me and wonder why did "Mr Wheel Horse" buy a box full of old chainsaw gaskets????  Because right underneath of the gaskets in the box it was full of 1345 and 1346 thumb screws, some N.O.S. and some old!

Wild Bill in Richmond VA

 

I bought two bags of the original thumb screws today!   New Old Stock!