sten

Yes, it's made to shake the tree branches to release the fruit or nuts.
Bet it also shakes the operator so hopefully it doesn't shake my nuts off when I give it a go

Finally found an XLH-1 Harvester, or should I say "one fell in my lap". A really nice man from Michigan (Steve Adams) found this XL tool thread on MoM while researching it and contacted me through a PM. Turns out he is not a collector and would like it to go to someone who will get it running and enjoy having it in a collection. Steve also took the time to go back to the place he found it and look for the extension pole and the tree jaw that goes with it. He found them in a barn and is sending those as well.
 
These are very rare and even more so for a complete machine. I'm pretty excited about having one in the collection and look forward to getting it running to test it out.
 
 

here are some pictures of the mowers im selling all open to sensible offers

Got the chance mid week to grow the collection. Cue a day off work and 500miles in a day...

Got stopped twice by the dibble and had a hellish drive getting home at 3 in the morning. I think it was worth it, but still
recovering from the drive, 2 hour load up and the fact I spent a lot of money.

Ewan has been sorting stuff, I haven't really had time. Here's a PIC the day after.



And shortly after we reduced the pile.



Theres even more goodies to unload and sort through...

I'm having my own show next Saturday, so I am cleaning and washing the tractors anticipating a big crowd of Me, Myself, and I.

 
Giving the 1978 Ariens GT14H a little spin, Snow melts and dirt hides when it see this Ariens

 

Yesterday I collected my Jacobsen built Ford 100 from Chard in Somerset. The owner, Tony, gave me the background on the Ford as referred to below:
"I have what I believe to be the only Ford 100 imported into the UK . It has a mower deck, beltdrive rotorvator, bulldozer blade, and most of the bits of a trailer plough.The story I had back in the late 60's was that "it was sent for evaluation as a saleable item and used by the then boss of Ford UK. He found it too small for his needs so traded it in with a local tractor dealer for something larger. They were supposed to remove all the Ford markings before re-selling it, but they left them on!"
My late father bought it. It was in use as a grass cutter for many years by my late father who passed it on to me when he moved to smaller housing. I used it either for grass cutting or rotorvating, but it has been stored now many years with only one minor attempt at renovation 7 years ago. I have no further use for it and I guess I want to sell it, but I would rather it goes into the hands of someone who can properly restore it, maybe that means it needs to return to the USA?"
He carried out a light rejuvenation of it in the 70s as detailed below:
"If this turns out to be successful attached are some old pictures I took abaou 20years ago before my last attempt at refurbishment.
The decals, from a ford 2000 were added in the 1970's following a repaint and DO NOT really suit this old lady, hey I was a lot younger then. in my refurb I made a new seat can cover. not easy and could not source the rib moulded material, but looks MUCH better than the ragged old one. The off road tyres were a 1970's purchase when I hoped to get some 12" rims adapted to suit the hubs and gain more grip for the plough. project submerged by marriage failure.
The potato ridger was added to the plough frame from a merrytiller and is not original.
For some reason I dont seem to have pic of the rotovator but the drive/attachment mechanism is in the third pic along with the plough attachment. The original exhaust was side delivery but this vertical one (now defunct) and a later one now added, though awful to a purist somehow make it look more macho."
I contacted the vendor and agreed to meet up in late August and a deal was struck. He was keen that it went to an enthusiast. Yesterday I collected it and drove it up the ramps onto my pickup after it was jump started. It is the first time it moved under it own power for 7 years. Previously prior to that some 30 years ago, as mentioned above, it was fired up and back in the 70s it was given a fresh coat of paint to freshen it up. The decals are from a Ford 2000.
Today I unloaded it and gave it a good wash whilst assessing what needs doing. I pumped up the tyres, grease the suspension and to drive and cleaned the plug. My plan is to give it a service (oil change, air filter, spark plug, drain the tramission oils,replace the fuel line etc) and buy a battery. It's missing a belt guide on one side but it's all there and original ( apart from the stack exhaust). The Ford is based on the Jacobsen Chief model from that era.
I will be picking up the Ford Tiller and front bulldozer plough in a few weekends time.
Ford 100 on collection


Ford 100 washed and given a quick grease up with tyres pumped up. Surprisingly a solid lump of metal.

I was going to have a fall garden, but recent rains have prevented planting and would probably prevent adequate time for growth

very unusual camper made by trojan the firm that made the toraktor
 

Ransomes MG 40 Crawler for sale, 1964 serial number15123. 600cc petrol engine, full pto and hydraulic three point linkage. Good tracks, as original no new paint, very sound. Mudguards as originally fitted. Currently for sale on E Bay looking for offers around £1200.

Just like implements many rear hitches are also proprietary to specific tractor brands. There are a few that can utilize each others rear hitches, but it seems that there are several types of rear sleeve hitch. I bring this up because availability of rear hitches is extremely limited overseas and hitches used on European tractors and riders are substantially different in design than most U.S. hitches. This confusion can cause issues when implements are located in how to attach them, especially if a European style hitch has already been fabricated or designed. Most US hitches were made by Brinly or Ohio Steel, a few were made by the manufacturer, but not many.
 
First, I'll start with Wheel Horse as its hitch was so obviously different. The Wheel Horse sleeve hitch was shaped like a mushroom and had a very narrow width to accommodate the narrow Wheel Horse Channel frame, But its 5/8" pin and two locking bolts were similar to most other hitches. Next I'll go into the Simplicity Allis hitches as they were narrow as well, but not quite as narrow. The Simplicity Allis hitch started out both narrow and shallow with no bolts to secure a plow and generally used a chain to lift the hitch and secure an implement like a plow, In the Latter 60's and early 70's Simplicity Allis went to a narrow square rear hitch that contained a T support brace inside the outside perimeter. Widths of these hitches averaged around 7 inches, but that could vary 1/2" depending on year or brand, Simplicity or Allis. I did not intentionally leave out  the International Cub Cadet or John Deere, but as both Cub Cadet and John Deere were johnny-come-lately's in the garden tractor/riding mower genre, Its where they fall, Cub and Deere also used a fairly wide hitch, Cub lifting from the middle via straps and Deere from the side via lift bar, both utilizing the later two bolt design to secure plows, In the beginning the Cub Originals and maybe later 70/100's did not have these two bolts that secured some implements, but I believe the Deere did as the first real production of John Deere GT/riders was 1964 and later, by this time many other manufactures had been in the game for a decade or more.
 
Montgomery Wards used the sleeve hitch of whoever was manufacturing their tractors as did many other manufacturers that did not build their own tractors to include the likes of Massey Ferguson and Ford. As far as I know Montgomery Wards sleeve hitch never utilized the two stabilizer bolts, and I believe that Massey's were different depending on one of the three size tractors built and Ford used a standard Brinly hitch.
 
Bolens initially built their own sleeve hitch but in the mid 60's subcontracted hitches and many implements building to Brinly or Ohio Steel, The Brinly rear sleeve hitch is easily differentiated from the basic Brinly hitch by the round 1 inch stabilizer rod between the flat stock which was also a 1'4" wider than stock Brinly hitch. The Bolens lift rod was also beefier at 3/4" instead of 1/2" inch round or 3/16" for flat standard lift bars.
 
By the later 60's most manufacturer were having  companies like Brinly, Haban, and Ohio, Steel build hitches, carts, and implements. Manufacturers called these implements Allied Attachments (allied to them, but others as well) as they were basically the same except in how they hooked up or how they got power. The Cub Cadet, John Deere, Massey and Ariens tillers were made by the same company and only differed in hook up and PTO location/type. Simplicity/Allis had their own tiller design as did CASE (hydraulic), but Fords were similar to the MTDs and Bolens as they all used tillers with big differential shaft drive gear cases.
 
The changes by year and different manufacturers building brand name tractors, makes out hobby one of the most confusing hobbies on planet earth. I can only commiserate with the collector of American Motors automobiles to fairly describe the situation.
 
Ford was made by Jacobson, later by Gilson, Montgomery Wards was made by Bolens and Simplicity early on (sometimes at the same time) then Gilson. MTD made Farm King, Dayton, UNICO, White and a host of other store brand machines. Massey never made a machine, The Duro Corporation that made Moto-Mower made their first tractors (except for the ELF), Then Beaver MFG started the MF line which was taken over by AMF (who for a time owned Harley Davidson and Brunswick) who also produced the same tractor with different colors and tin and made the crappiest bicycles ever produced. Later Snapper made Massey's tas well as Power King. Then Ingersoll made Massey's and finally Simplicity, then Simplicity and Snapper merged, Wheel horse was made by one Pond brother while Speedex was made another, both started with the Shaw Du-All company from Galesburg Kansas. 
 
This is just a snippet of information we are required or expected to know or obtain as enthusiasts, it boggles the mind and we haven't even addressed stationary engines, walk behinds, or rotary mowing equipment. Neither have we even touched on the zero turn which predates WW2 and was inspired by the tail dragger airplanes of the day and were built by many out of work airplane mechanics.
 
BTW, the first picture is of a standard Brinly hitch and a Brinly made Bolens hitch, because the basic Brinly hitch is in the foreground it appears larger, but the widths are the same and the Bolens is almost 2 inches longer as well as wider flat sock material and thicker rod

Was running OK about 35 years ago Chris.  You must have broken it.  

Unfortunately for the general law abiding citizen its a lot easier to catch a speeder than a burgler and easier to get the money in.

should have run him over

it was from the other direction but not this way, also when I went back up the road there was a very small sign that has been there for months,(scince they dropped the speed from 40 to 30) I could fight it but if I lose I will have to pay court costs, a bigger fine and could get 6 points. I know what will happen next time a copper asks for help... Simply be told to eff off! Out in the sticks with us they relie on the community helping them police the area, well I won't be anymore that's for sure. Ok I was technically breaking the law but I allways drive at a speed that I feel is safe for the conditions etc and can't be that far out as I've kept a clean licence for 18 years, only ever been done for speeding by the French police up till nowand that was with them hidding behind an embankment as I was comming down off a dual carriageway where the speed limit dropped drastically. I just wish they would target proper criminals instead of using motorists as a mobile ATM!

A very similar MTD but been messed about with. Not sure how to add a link but it works if you copy and paste.
 

]It's now got new throttle and clutch cables and a pair of new handlebar grips, courtesy of www.merrytiller.co.uk, top class service! I've just got to clean the tank and carburettor out and away we'll go. Took it to the Brinkworth Show on Sunday with my others. I've been promised a Vee-plex pulley and this one will take it because it's not got a reverse gear....  

No that's not my Morris pick up Chris , this is my one.
1968 , I didn't take it to the Dorset . Maybe next year mate

Bit limited until I get the new Glasses, but I decided to make a Classic/Vintage looking replacement Spark Plug Screw Cap. 
Regretfully, I had to make it to fit a modern Metric threaded Plug  .
I made an Indexing tool a long time ago that allowed me to make and Mark Out a lot of parts for my Traction Engine. 
It just bolts onto the Change Wheel Quadrant (Myford ML7) and a Mandrel that fits/locks into the end of the Spindle to carry any number toothed Change Wheel. 
For this job. I only needed to use the 25 toothed Spindle Driven Gear (removed the Tumbler Reverse selector Lever and Stud)-
 

 
Stub of 1/2" dia Brass turned down to shape, drilled and tapped M4  . I used a 60 deg pointed lathe tool on it's side set on the C/Line and proceeded to manually pass the Tool across the face taking small light cuts to 20thou deep, then turned and locked the Lathe Spindle with the pointed screw in the next tooth groove and repeated. In progress and prior to Parting Off from the Stub-
 
 
 
 
. The result is a nice clean grooved rim to grip with the fingers for tightening on the Spark Plug.  
I do have Knurling Wheels so I can make a Clamp type Knurling Tool, but preferred the straight grooves for this job. 
I'll make a BA Threaded one as well for when I find a good genuine vintage Lodge CB3 Plug for the Villiers.  

Now its been guessed (well done Triumph66), here's some pictures
 
It seems all there (not had it running yet Chris but I am assured that it does)
 
Front wheels have solid tyres, rears are pneumatic, one of them is knackered but luckily the tyres on the wheels I
bought at RPT will fit

Held near Lavant, Chichester, this show boasts a unique working area that allows for old combines, threshers and balers to be put into action
 







 
 

This was collected today, it came all the way from Wales
 
Any guesses to what it is ?? (Not you Sten you already know  )
 
(Clue, its a make I already collect)

Ah, ok. 1-0310 is listed (U.S.) as a '71' 12hp with a Kohler Engine in most WH records.
So you have a Belgium-ised Model that used up surplus parts from U.S. for the Euro market.
Not big deal really, as it is converted to what it should have been, albeit with a later engine.....so call it a Raider 12 and get some new Decals for it

I have a job on my hands, this 50's classic needs saving, tomorrow I will be trying to free it from its tomb of 40 odd years, I will keep you informed of progress if there is any interest.