Tractors, Mowers, Chippers, Trailers, Chainsaws, Generators, Driveway Erosion Control, ETC.

Nice Score on the HF trailer, I sold mine for what I paid five years earlier. It's the perfect size for a lawn tractor or a Home depot run behind the truck.

Agree with Tormacher on the hinges being the weak grounding point. I ran an extra ground wire to all the lights and had no more problems.

 

Hinge on my trailer wasn't just weak for grounding, it was physically weak. As in broken through on one side and almost through on the other. The latch was holding the tongue on more than the hinges were. Had to do a field weld just to get it home. Could see where it had been pulled hard and deformed the hinges before they gave out. But, yes, my 4Runner didn't like the lights being grounded to trailer. I had to run a new ground wire from the plug to every light.


Got my mower running. Battery took a charge and tested good so that saved me about $180 not buying one yet.
Pulled safety switches out of the seat and brake pedal. Neither felt smooth when pressing my hand. Sprayed them with electronical cleaner and cycled by hand until they felt better. Started right up after I plugged those back in.

Still not sure about the PTO. Bogged down first time engaged. But after running a for a while, I could turn PTO off and on without it bogging the engine at all. Cutting through some thick stuff had plenty of power. It's like something sticks after it sits for a while. I'm going to try hosing it all off good and do the normal tune-up stuff (fuel filter, plugs, air filter), run a can of some fuel system cleaner through, and check/grease the spindles on the deck.

 

Got the exterior of the shop 100% finished and sealed up Saturday. Moved inside today, threw 100’ of romex and installed new lights. The short days this time of year make you appreciate good lighting

 

Space envy!

Enjoy the new shop!

 

Got all the wiring replaced on the trailer today. I did a new harness inside spiral loom, soldered or butt connected with heat shrink over the butts. Eyelet grounds on all lights. The lights are LEDs and all work great.

I also tightened all bolts on it. Still need to grease the hubs and check bearing preload.

 

Hey TW,

I would like to know what this thing is worth:

McCormick Deering, circa 1909
Motor is not seized up (it turns over with the crank), but it hasn't ran in a decade (or 2 or 3).
Comes with a potato harvesting attachment

 

Personally, I wouldn't give more than $500 (that's on the high end) for it, it would need a lot of work to get going if it's been sitting there that long.

 

That hub greasing set up is slick!

 

Shane is probably on track with $500, it is worth scrap weight plus the cool project factor I guess.

I'm the wrong guy to ask about sound financial decisions when it comes to machines, I buy stuff so it won't get scrapped.

That said, if it is complete it sure would be a nice project to hear running again.
Let us know.

 

Deck sprucing up time. Absolutely nothing wrong with this deck except it looks like ass! I gotta clean up the surface rust and re-bush the pin anchors.

These 400lbs decks are easy to deal with when you work smart, not hard.

 

Deck is stripped of assessories, needle scaled and wire wheeled.

I need to retract a previous statement. This deck did have something wrong with it. The spindle pulleys had cracks in them. Would have never seen them if hadn't taken it apart.

I'll do some welding on it, then wipe it down with paint prep. Then paint.

 

That is a beefy freakin deck! I couldn't even compare that thing to the deck on my JD mower.

 

So the spindle pulleys - you just replace those?

 

The pulleys are fine. It's the hub part that gets swapped out.

 

Makes sense and basically what I meant. Thanks

 

Are cracked hubs a common thing to find on the commercial duty mowers?

 

I'm guessing yes.

This is the 4th I've found. Hit a solid rock and you will cause this trauma.

 

Or he might find someone willing to just use it for lawn decor which looks like what he's been using it for.

Maybe check local orchards, nurseries, or garden centers in your area. Talk to the owners. I see that sort of decor at those types of places often enough. Or if you have "learning farms" or agriculture schools, they may have an interest for the historical aspect.

 

Me and rocks have some history...