dr363305 50 #1 Posted September 5, 2022 Hello everyone. I just picked up my first personal wheel horse purchase. I got a 1988 520-H. It has good compression numbers but its a bit smokey after using it today. When I was a kid, my parents had an (I believe) 1986 414-8. I have many fond memories cutting our 5 acre yard and using the snow blower in the winter. I loved our 414-8, but I remember going to our local dealership for parts and seeing the big boss 520 models. So, now that I have a house with a yard that doesn’t justify a lawn tractor, I scored a used one. I am pretty mechanically inclined, so a rebuild of this Onan would not scare me. Except maybe the price. Attached is a picture from today. Thank you! 8 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,557 #2 Posted September 5, 2022 Very nice looking machine. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Freightliner Guy 1,327 #3 Posted September 5, 2022 to RedSquare mate 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ineedanother 1,369 #4 Posted September 5, 2022 Hey dr You have a Wheel Horse, a garage, and a compressor so I suspect you've come to the right place. Your kid(s) will likely gain fond memories of what you have. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr363305 50 #5 Posted September 5, 2022 Just now, Achto said: Very nice looking machine. Thank you! I think $700 with a 42” and no dead rear cylinder is a decent score. 1100 hours is a bit high, but it is almost as old as I am. 1 1 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr363305 50 #6 Posted September 5, 2022 (edited) 9 minutes ago, ineedanother said: Hey dr You have a Wheel Horse, a garage, and a compressor so I suspect you've come to the right place. Your kid(s) will likely gain fond memories of what you have. My daughter already wanted a picture on it. I am clearly a glutton for mechanical punishment by owning a VW turbo diesel AND a Ducati motorcycle and doing my own work on both lol. Edited September 5, 2022 by dr363305 More information 4 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 16,994 #7 Posted September 5, 2022 4 minutes ago, dr363305 said: Except maybe the price. Yeah, that would scare me! Real fast quick and in a hurry Since you know what you're looking at, then I would change the oil. Too thin of a viscosity oil on a small engine can cause some smoking. Is it at start up or the entire time it's running? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr363305 50 #8 Posted September 5, 2022 5 minutes ago, The Freightliner Guy said: to RedSquare mate Thank you! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr363305 50 #9 Posted September 5, 2022 1 minute ago, wallfish said: Yeah, that would scare me! Real fast quick and in a hurry Since you know what you're looking at, then I would change the oil. Too thin of a viscosity oil on a small engine can cause some smoking. Is it at start up or the entire time it's running? The guy I bought it from just did a complete service to it. He had two other 314’s in his garage that his family bought new, so I do not think he would have been malicious and tried hiding something. Hot start is a bit rough and its definitely blue on throttle up. When its running at full throttle, nothing. Hour meter was ticking over, so I tend to believe the displayed hours. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr363305 50 #10 Posted September 5, 2022 @wallfish, is that yours with the bucket and the backhoe? That is exactly what I would want to do with mine if I ever found the parts needed to do it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 16,994 #11 Posted September 5, 2022 Wasn't really thinking malicious but some people will just use what they have out of convenience. Like 5w 30 because that's what their car uses. Won't really hurt anything but could be thin enough to cause some smoke. A little start up smoke is probably normal for that high of an hour engine Hours are probably even lower because we all forget and leave the key on sometimes! LoL 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 16,994 #12 Posted September 5, 2022 (edited) 3 minutes ago, dr363305 said: @wallfish, is that yours with the bucket and the backhoe? That is exactly what I would want to do with mine if I ever found the parts needed to do it. Yes. The loader is factory but I built the hoe. Do you have a welder? PF engineering for plans Edited September 5, 2022 by wallfish 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
23 Reo 229 #13 Posted September 5, 2022 Welcome, you're at the right place. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Monstrosity 1,127 #14 Posted September 5, 2022 Welcome this won't be your only one just to let you know now lol 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,153 #15 Posted September 6, 2022 Since the engine runs well I would just change the oil to 30 and change the air filter and make sure the vent tube from the engine block is connected to the intake. Keep an eye on the oil and be sure it doesn't run low. A little oil now and then is a lot less costly than an engine rebuild. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr363305 50 #17 Posted September 6, 2022 1 hour ago, wallfish said: Yes. The loader is factory but I built the hoe. Do you have a welder? PF engineering for plans I am a welder by trade. I program welding robots because I am lazy lol. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr363305 50 #18 Posted September 6, 2022 1 hour ago, 23 Reo said: Welcome, you're at the right place. Thank you! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr363305 50 #19 Posted September 6, 2022 57 minutes ago, JCM said: to Thank you! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr363305 50 #20 Posted September 6, 2022 1 hour ago, 953 nut said: Since the engine runs well I would just change the oil to 30 and change the air filter and make sure the vent tube from the engine block is connected to the intake. Keep an eye on the oil and be sure it doesn't run low. A little oil now and then is a lot less costly than an engine rebuild. I own a Ducati and a VW. I know the routine for checking maintenance items regularly LOL. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ineedanother 1,369 #21 Posted September 6, 2022 2 minutes ago, dr363305 said: I program welding robots Well sure. We all would do that too if we didn't have other pressing issues Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr363305 50 #22 Posted September 6, 2022 1 hour ago, Monstrosity said: Welcome this won't be your only one just to let you know now lol Thank you. Oh no. I hope not! Unless my childhood 414-8 shows up lol 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,521 #23 Posted September 6, 2022 Nice tractor! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,200 #24 Posted September 6, 2022 7 minutes ago, dr363305 said: Thank you. Oh no. I hope not! Unless my childhood 414-8 shows up lol Welcome. Print and pin this post to your shop wall and see what a few months or a year brings! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr363305 50 #25 Posted September 6, 2022 2 minutes ago, Handy Don said: Welcome. Print and pin this post to your shop wall and see what a few months or a year brings! Youve seen this before LOL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
