Joe the small engine man

Hi all, this is what my wheel horse goes through on a regular bases. it works to it limits in the woods, for moving wood of big and small sizes and for jobs in small areas that the big tractors cant get to.
 

 
 

Hi all, this is what my wheel horse goes through on a regular bases. it works to it limits in the woods, for moving wood of big and small sizes and for jobs in small areas that the big tractors cant get to.
 

 
 

it will be having a set of AG tyres on it soon

Good to see it earning it keep Joe.

Hi all, this is what my wheel horse goes through on a regular bases. it works to it limits in the woods, for moving wood of big and small sizes and for jobs in small areas that the big tractors cant get to.
 

 
 

Hi all, this is what my wheel horse goes through on a regular bases. it works to it limits in the woods, for moving wood of big and small sizes and for jobs in small areas that the big tractors cant get to.
 

 
 

That all looks a right mess, you did well to save it all. Looking good after some black paint

Thanks Joe and Richard.  Perhaps Restoration is not the correct word to use as it was not returned to it's original factory finish.

After transporting the tractor home and having a good look at the damage and missing parts, it was decided that a near enough non original option was the way to go.
 
One of the first jobs was to remove the blacksmith "repair parts". The frame around the upper grill was a surprisingly good fit held on by nuts and bolts.  The door butt hinges were welded on, for welded just imagine bird poop splatter, as one hinge had already parted company.
 
The frame and the upper grill.  The bit of tin at the bottom of the grill replaced the original hinge mount which had broken away.
 

 
The box sections which replaced the lower grill were only firmly welded along the front face and were quickly removed with the help of a bar and G clamps.  Some of the welds were good, others bird poop.  Almost as if two different people had been at work.
 

 
The engine was lifted off using the same bar.  The heavy welded on plate which supported the box sections can be seen.  I cut most of this off before realizing later that I could have reused it to mount the new lower grill.
 

 
The tow bar extension, seen on an earlier photo was removed, two bolts and more poop spatter, to reveal more damage.  The original tow pin hole ripped out and the plate cracked for about 1/2 the width along the bend.  Could have been repaired but I went for a different option of which more later.
 

 
After spending ages, on and off, trying all the usual ways to remove the well rusted on steering wheel, I resorted to cutting a slot in the hub and used a wedge to slightly open the slot. This freed the hub from the shaft.  Other options suggested on various forums were a lot more drastic.
 

 
Once the wheel was off and after taking lots of photo's to help with reassembly the major dismantling started.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

You might try and use a lead pencil over the data plate to reveal numbers

It's definitely NOT a G8, as the G8 was a small (stamped) frame tractor.
 
It could be a G9, G10, or G11.
 
G9  = 8HP B&S 190417-065301
 
G10 = 10HP B&S 251417-015901 (1976 and 1977.  The 1973-1975 G10 had the TEC HH100-115181D)
 
G11 = 11 HP B&S 252417-013201

 
I think you are closer to being right than  am.
 
Fender pan isn't right for the G9, G10, G11.
 
But with the cobbled up seat, anything is possible.
 
Getting the proper engine spec would be the key.

Hi can anyone identify this tube frame 
 
thanks nick
 

that's a lovely looking tractor, im very jealous! great to see an old broken garden tractor returned to it former glory
 
Regards Joe

While inspecting the Harvester engine, I found it must have been stored in a damp area for a long time as it had some issues so a semi rebuild was in order. New rings, gaskets and seals with a thorough cleaning of all the roller bearings and a carb rebuild.
 

 
Got it all back together and here's a short video of the first test run. Started up and ran but died out. Still need to adjust the carb and change the fuel as I run it heavy on oil for the first fire up. Steve sent the pole and tree jaw so hopefully I can get it all together this weekend and shake a tree. I'll post another video of it in operation.
 
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt316/wallfish1/th_Harvester%20video.mp4
 
 

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.
 
 

Made a start to my stove today. Had to have a change of plans as i couldn't get a cutting of box section big enough, needed a bit 12in or bigger.
So, plan B. Had a look about to see what i could use and decided to go the gas cylinder route.
After deciding on the orientation of the stove i marked out the door size, then cut down the hinge side and welded on two trailer hinges.

Then cut free the remaining three sides.

Found an old grate and tin pan and cut to fit.

Didn't want it to sit on the floor so raised it up on 16in legs. Ran out of welding wire so thats the end of progress for today.

Picked up some 2mm galvanised tin and got it fitted.

That's one nice looking tractor. Now! And I really like the colour.

I have been intending to post this restoration since joining MoM last year but seem to have spent most of my time helping friend John dispose of his Bolens etc stash.
 
As most of the stash has now been cleared I now have slightly more free time, so here goes.   The number on the Roper ID plate,T5828DR, I have not been able to trace but the tractor appears to be identical to Sears 917- 257050.  The Sears parts list, engine number etc confirms this. 
 
The tractor was a mess when dragged from the undergrowth at John's place about three years ago.  Lots of damage, parts missing etc and a blacksmith repair job in various places.
 

 
John was told when he bought it that it had been run into a post, smashing the grill and pushing the hood back which in turn badly damaged the plastic dash tower.  As can be seen the damage was "repaired" via a heavy metal frame and alloy plates pop riveted on plus steel box section in place of the lower grill.
 
One of the first things found was that there was no spark plug in the front cylinder of the horizontal Briggs twin.  Hardly surprising as there was very little thread left in a hole which resembled a cone.  Managed to fit a heli coil at a later date.  Since then I have been given a pair of cyl heads.
 
Also found that the starter motor was jammed when trying a first start. One magnet had come unstuck from the case. Stuck it back on with Araldite then found it ran in the wrong direction. Wondered if this was because of the glue used.  Using a Westwood ? motor with the Sears mounting bracket and a temporary fuel tank got the engine running on one cylinder.  A drive around showed that all the gears were OK.
 

 
As the tractor looked do-able, with a LOT of work, the next step was to transport it to my garage so that I could get at it without 44 mile round trips to John's.
 
Before the restoration bits, a photo of my great grandson Mini Alan trying it out for size.
 

 
 

For 30 years I painted everything from anhydrous ammonia plants to kitchen cabinets and it never failed that a guy in a suit or a housewife would asked me "did you put on two coats?" I goy being to the point where I would say, no I did not, I am cheating you, and by the way I thinned the paint so much that it should fall off by the first dew or in just after I cash the check, which will before the ink is dry. When they would get in a huff, I would ask them how they would feel be accused of cheating, I don't take it well and was more than willing to leave right then and get drunker while I fished. 

that looks great, every tractor looks good in wheel horse red and white!

Hi i got a Bolens 1886 with a blown engine i think its thrown a conrod .I cant seem to find any spares at a reasonable price so im thinking of putting a Wisconsin TJD
in (i just happen to have a tidy TJD ) unless anyone knows of a kohler 482s going cheap
thanks nick

I love those wheels and tyres. Look fabulous.

chain drive mate

yes and no Chris it will fit with the hinges length end and the console lifting but yeah it should be great