HeadExam

I'll be taking out all the machines, driving them for a while, lubing the grease fittings, cleaning/replacing air/fuel filters, and changing oil. I also hope to install fuel shutoffs on the remainder without them and run as much gas out as possible and then adding liberal amounts of Seafoam and Marvel Mystery Oil to the fuel of those not used during the winter. It will be a time to wash and clean them, charge the batteries and work on a connected battery tender. These are high hopes for as many machines as I am speaking but even with school, I think I can swing it. The fun part will be driving them. I am als wanting to install a 18" buzz saw on the front of one machine to me able to cut logs in a holder of sorts, something I could either move forward or backwards or raise or lower. I must watch out as I think Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) already has a helicopter flying over once in a while. For now I have a couple Bolens and a Wheel Horse out, tomorrow will bring more.

Darn fine looking workmanship!

Whoa, slow down Alan, maybe Joseph would like to acquire his "own" machines. By learning from dad he may have a leg up on all of us.

Top Job!. The mule looks new and should perform as such! I have to say that the level and quality of work here is very impressive. If I could I would send a whole ship of old tractors your way to save.

It seems like some people have better things to do than maintain their equipment. As much as I complain about this, I know I should be very thankful for condition in which the equipment I have purchased has been in.

Thanks. Those are 25x8.50-12 ITP 589 rear tires, they don't make them anymore, maybe one of the best AG tires ever made. I also have a set of the 10 wide models on a Massey 1650, but I actually think these can dig more. The rear weights are Sperry Rand New Holland 50 pounders and the Brinly Double Disc weighs in at a tad under 200 pounds, add my big 210 pound butt and this machine is nearly unstoppable. The 54 inch front plow can hold a lot of material and for a 14 hp single this thing never seem to run out of power. These may be one of the most under rated GTs out there. Three shaft drives, three hydraulic lifts, Dana rear end, Sunstrand hydro, and dual brakes, Kubota like it so much they "borrowed" much of the design in the 1980s for their L&G equipment.

A good class is well worth the money, especially if you get to take your engine. It is also an opportunity to fellowship with other enthusiasts. A very often missed repair is not just valve lapping as just cleaning them is often enough, but valve guide replacement. The valve guides are like little cylinder walls and your valve stems are like thin pistons, when wear becomes excessive oil enters the combustion chamber and will produce similar situations, i.e. blue smoke as worn rings. What many do not see is that while a cylinder may look smooth and clean years of wear can produce a taper and a out of roundness that only a rebore will address. again it surprises me how many will take all the steps to remove an engine and slap in a set of rings and then degrade the engines reliability after it fails shortly after their halfway rebuild. If you don't have the money to do it once right, you surely wont have the money to do it a second time right or wrong. I am not trying to get on to any folks as there are many in this hobby because it is a cheaper alternative than buying the newer expensive tractors today or even the poorly built cheap ones, however, good decisions will always be rewarded and poor decisions will be suffered long after the cost of doing the job right.

Andrew, If you believe that the rings have worn, do yourself a huge favor and do not fool yourself into thinking that the cylinder and ESPECIALLY the connecting rod has not worn as well. Often with a fresh set of rings the newly added compression can snap a connecting rod and end up doing extensive and possibly permanent damage to the engine. I know many people have replace the rings alone with claimed success, however I would be very leery of not doing a complete rebuild if the cylinder wall and crank diameter are not within specified clearances. In addition to the above concerns, do not overlook valve guide wear, as this is where much oil can get into the combustion chamber and cause the smoke you have described.

Andrew, is the 1050 a 1966 or a later 1967-1969? I know the first year they used the TR-10D engine which was actually a 8 or 8.5 hp engine and in 1967 they switched to the new TRA-10D which had a longer stroke and a different piston that produced 10 hp.

She looks really good Andrew, you are fast becoming the "Bolens" guy.

I don't know what parts you referring to, but if it is bearings, bolts, or even spindles, Some manufacturers use very similar parts and designs, if it is deck parts them selves like hangers and hardware, that becomes an issue. One hint in searching is to use the word Toro with the part number and not Wheel Horse, as many of the part numbers were converted to the Toro name after its acquisition. It is how I have found many parts. By the way, Often Wheel Horse decks share many parts that are alike, look at decks other than yours. Half of the issues I faced on my 48" 5-1221 deck rebuild were not from wear or age, but of owner "redesign". It seem like many feel that they are qualified mechanical engineers if they can mount two scoops of ice cream on a sugar cone.

I really enjoyed the pictures Norm, it was like going on Holiday for me. Thanks, Alain

Happy Birthday Joseph, I hope you have a great day

The teeth maybe a separate wheel, They don't look like they are part of the smooth wheel

That is one mean grass cutting machine. Fantastic job! Maybe paint the front to look like teeth

yes, the set looks very similar. It is possible that other brands used the same design.

I heard they were going to restart production on the 70 or 90 Landy? Is this true?

We had a good rain last night so today was the day for burning the pile of limbs from the downed tree from a previous storm, We live on top of the prairie nothing to stop the storms winds

My birthday is coming up next month, I could really use a nice straight Land Rover. I probably shouldn't hold my breath huh.

I saw these listed on our local craigslist from 125-400. They vary in widths from 36" to almost 60". I may get one to aerate the lawn and kill some moles

Ugghhh, I've been refurbishing several decks and have several more to do, They are a pain, always more to it than originally considered. I wish you luck and motivation, and I am sure it will come out superb.

in the form of coin, for those that have held a MasterCard for some time. http://www.newser.com/story/230871/mastercard-sued-for-186b-over-excessive-fees.html

It has been 95 degrees and above for a long time here, humidity approaching 70 percent at times, the lawn is as green as a Leprechauns butt, and I'm caught up on school work, so here is a Cool Video.

I think this implement is called a Cultipacker in the States. It seemed very large in the initial pictures, but even behind the tube frame Bolens it isn't overly large. While it is heavy, its supposed to be heavy to work correctly

Great video, Good drivers. If you decide to upload it to you tube, might want to rotate it 90 degrees to the right. I do this all the time.