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Couple of shots of the lane.

I spotted this on the side of a Chuck-Donalds yesterday (no I didn't lower my standards and go in) and thought it was quite funny

I am extremely pleased and relieved to report that 137 has now had a maiden voyage up the drive, along the road and round the garden. Changing the mag to a later impulse Wico transformed it, started and ran second pull. Not without a glitch though reversed out of the garage 10 yards and it stopped , I thought here we go again, took the plug out expecting it to be fouled no it was fine, changed it anyway to a two terminal 18mm plug, set it up went to tickle the carb and it did not tickle, took the fuel cap off NO PETROL I have used a whole tank full ( 2 gallons ) just trying to get it started over the last ten days. Full tank of fuel and it started first time. I have refitted the air pipe and then the filter in stages to check for any change in running, no apparent effect so it looks as if Cinderella will go to the ball in malvern. I am annoyed with myself for persisting so long with the two original magnetos. I justify it in that I have tried so hard to restore it to as it would have been when it left the factory, I have rebuilt so many bits of scrap to as new rather than replace but there comes a point when common sense and my physical well being prevail over total originality. I will have the mags rebuilt when I can find someone who knows what they are doing. I have blisters on my right hand and muscles I never knew I had. But now it all seems worthwhile.

Here's a few from our ride into the village

Here's a small video of powered sledging.

Thanks Chris, though I have to say of all the work we have done on HG, the bondo is the only part I've not really enjoyed.. It's horrible stuff! You had best watch out mate, if you go home looking the part your wife might make you do some baking Well, the paint saga continues but this time it has worked out better Nigel ordered a tin of IH red made by Farm Line and on 1st opening it looked a little dark but would lighten up when fully stirred.. Fully stirred it was still a little darker than the IH red we had been using, but we liked it more, it's less orange than what we had been using.... Soooo, all the parts including the chassis which we had painted will be getting another coat of the darker red.. A lot of extra work but worth it as colour is much better A start has been made..

The engine, when the tin covers were removed, looked a mess. Corrosion and rust everywhere. The outlet of the exhaust box non existent and the internal baffles rattling around. As it appeared to run OK it was decided to just do the minimum to it for now. All the parts which were easily removable, without disturbing too much, were unbolted, cleaned and painted. The corrosion was cleaned from the cylinder heads and crankcase mainly with various size wire brushes. A long and laborious job. The next photo's show the engine during cleaning with some of the bits still to be removed. The exhaust was a big problem. Couldn't find a replacement anywhere for a long time. Then one came up on eBay, listed by a MoM member. The box looked the same but both pipes were of different shapes, length's and distance apart. It was thought this was an almost new unit and had been removed from a different version of the Briggs flat twin. No photo's of the box as it was. The box fitted the mounting bracket perfectly and was the same size as the old, but there was no easy way to connect the pipes to the stubs on the cylinders even using flexible pipe and various other ways I tried. After much head scratching and splinter picking I wondered if I could use the pipes from the old exhaust, which were in fair condition, fitted to the new box. These were cut from the box leaving the internal part of the pipe attached. The pipes were cut from the new box and with a bit of fiddling the old pipes were made to slide in. Another lucky find in my junk pile were parts of a tent frame, or something similar. The stepped plug in ends were found to be a perfect fit to repair the rusted ends of the old pipes where they fitted over the cylinder stubs. Hope this all makes sense. Anyway, more photo's which should hopefully make things clear. After all the bits were ready and fitted to the engine they were tack welded together, by a mate who is miles better at welding than I am, then removed and fully welded up. A quick coat of paint finished the job.

After last nights episode trying to improve bendys transmission, I ended up resorting to swapping back to belts. I'd also noticed that as well as sluggish starting, it occasionally made a horrible grind So it was out with the engine, the starter is mounted low down on this k341 and you have to lift the engine out... And here's why I had to play with, the starter is a 10 tooth one, with only 7.5 teeth... the other is a high mount, and the other from the infamous acorn harvester at Ian's/Nigel's Fortunately it's a low mounter too, and the teeth are good. A few minutes later and voila, starts a million times better Frozen fingers sent me inside for the night. I was up first thing to defrost the car and thought I'd have a quick test drive. It's pretty cruel outside, kitchen isn't too warm either Bendy started first time, here's a few pics in the frost. I need more grip, might be digging the chains out... Didn't get stuck this time either

Just been to pick this up

A few more, haven't had the cars out but tractors and quad have had a good workout Powered sledging is the way to go

Good luck. I'll run naked anticlockwise round the oak tree at midnight, beating myself with a birch branch.

What a find! It could take years to find all those accessories, Happy Birthday!!!!

To busy sledging to plough here

I am selling my pair of rear wheels made by firestone, 8.5JA (8.5" wide) by 12" diameter. If you put a pair of 10.50 wide tyres on them, they'll look the business as wider than normal wheels. Currently in grey primer for you to paint your own choice of colour depending what tractor you wanted to fit them on. They've been fitted to my Wheel Horse Electro 12, 312-8, Andrews Bolens 1254, and a John Deere 140 all without issues. I understand these are rare to find this wide! Includes tubes. I'm after £80 ono for the pair. and will include tyre fitting for free if you bring a pair of tyres with you when collecting, but do remember they are only in primer so up to you (also happy to fit tyres if you return once wheels painted). collection only. PM me your interest. Photo's to follow very soon. Andrew (Triumph66) has a pair of 'Turf tyres' for sale that are currently in my garage. He wants £50 for the pair. Size i believe are 23x10.50x12, made by Goodyear, and look to be good condition. Will get a photo of them up very soon as well.

Hi. Newbie here; just joined the Forum. I have just bought a complete Osprey which I am restoring. I have restored English motorcycles and mowers since I retired just for fun. This Osprey is a going concern and is solid. This is the model with the front bumper and 7 BHP engine. The engine is now serviced and runs great the blades are now sharp and ready to cut. I will start on the paintwork when it is warm enough to use a spray gun. I cannot keep my projects due to a lack of room as there is a Lambretta and a Francis Barnett taking up room in the garage. I have another complete Osprey to collect in the spring, so this current one will go on the market. Due to the lack of information on the internet can someone date this well built machine and suggest a price for selling, I am not greedy ! Well done to the moderators on this site, great reading. Regard's Colin ( Essex )

I've a Barford Plough. Check out my thread on page 5 Ride on's. Title Plough. May give you some ideas for fitting it to one of your Wheel Horses.

I like the cylinder mower attachment. That's a great find! Enjoy!

I was lookingfor one for one of the wheelhorses but cant justify how much people want for them so happy with this untill i find one or modify this plough to fit Sent from my B1-710 using Tapatalk

Get a ride on with plough. Job done!! Good find though

Nice to get one with implements, good find

Assuming that it has its original Briggs and Stratton engine the engine code number stamped into the blower housing / cylinder shroud will give a rough indication ie 830905** 1983, September the fifth. The last two digits are for the plant/shift of manufacture. If the engine is original the date of the machine is likely to be within six months later. No Glass's Guide for used mowers, it's what someone is prepared to pay on the day. Unless the paint/rust is really bad it can be worth more in original condition commensurate with its age rather than repainted.

good find

Hi all a very small up date I've now sourced a hydraulic tank off of an old bus and I have now fitted the twin battery setup

Drivers in Haslemere are quite confused!

The Mrs had a hand from her brother in law finding it. The lengths he goes to to get me ploughing with him is unbelievable

You've certainly got a very good collection of birthday presents there.

Refurbished mag ready to instal, turning it on the impulse fires plugs that were dead on the other two mags so fingers crossed third time lucky.

Good work James, the steering works a treat

This is all there is over this way

About the same amount of white stuff here Chris..

This was a surprise when i got up this morning

These problems are all part of the fun mate, it's called development

Martin Markham in storage waiting for its first show outing...

The Showman said I'd to get out and take photo's of the snow before it melted. So here's another.

Evening all another quick update , I've finally got the steering to as near as perfect as I can get it and u can steer it with one finger I haven got as much lock as the original tractor but not far off , I may still be able to obtain this with a few adjustments , I had a little drive on the tractor today in the work shop and every thing worked great so now I'm back to the fabrication part, because I'm thinking of putting a winch on the tractor I'm gonna put two 6volt batteries on wired in series to get my 12 volts I'm doing this for several reasons these batteries are very heavy so will act as good ballast , plenty of power and I have access to plenty of these batteries they have come out of a standby battery backup system they was 50 or so wired together to get mains voltage ,any way with me using two of these , I've made a battery Tray to mount them in under the seat ! Here's what I've done today

Here's the latest update on my 1254 with its new boots. Thanks to my mate, Daniel Robins, for organising the work in her. I got to say that one mean looking machine!

As its been a nice and dry day I managed to finish the roof. Its had a good coats of adhesive and 2 layers of felt I warmed up the sides and used 80x80 plastic angle siliconed and nailed on then painted black as they only do white. Its all buttoned up and watertight and should stand the high winds we have here on the Southcoast. Next job is the front lower plate and make some doors.

Evening all another quick update been playing with the power steering on the tractor what a pig of a job I have finally made some progress with it it now steers with no issues to the left and to right , I have had to move the ram to underneath the tractor which runs parallel to the front axle , I have had to do this because I wasn't getting enough lock , I may even change this idea yet , I have rigged a temporary power steering tank up at the side of the engine to test this is not a pemsnrnt fixture here is a quick video

He's short and tubby isn't he? Ahhh! I see what you mean.

Been standing in Ians way again mate

Ive been going home looking like the home pride flour man

Eventually got my worktop folded and fitted. Just stuck it on with CT1 silicone. Got a shelf up and another under the work bench so i could keep the place looking tidy. Also made a bar to hold my grinders.

Looking good boys, can't beat a bit of bondo