“Ol’ Red” 1979 Wheel Horse C-81

I run my oppys super hard , i think i had my oppy that is now on the snapper around 7500 cause the carb had a racing filter and modified carb. No issues so far!

Only reason my OHV isn't running is cause some stupid redneck noob tried to replace the muffler and broke both bolts off in the block, then broke the bolt extractor off the bolts, then tried to drill them out and went in crooked. RIP OHV, you served me well.

Just throw a new head on it. Maybe if you cover shipping and the price I can pick you up a head Friday when I go to the junkyard

CraftsmanQuad19 wrote:

Just throw a new head on it. Maybe if you cover shipping and the price I can pick you up a head Friday when I go to the junkyard

Thanks a lot for the offer, but I could probably just get one local.  I need it for next years build off, I plan to build a daulie truck like I was gonna this year.

Tonight I put the voltmeter in that I've been meaning to do for quite some time.  It definitely tells you if your battery is dead, or if you're charging it or not.  With the engine not running it reads 12.5 volts, engine idling it reads 13.5 volts, full throttle even with the lights on it reads 14 volts which means my charging circuit is keeping up with the electrical demands.  I love LED lights.  

I'm glad that I didn't butcher the dash.  I even filed in a little notch for the nub on the voltmeter that keeps it from turning.



Half the needle is broken off the ammeter and I can't really read anything from that gauge so I might look into a replacement.



I had bad luck finding a replacement cap for my tank, but I found a guy that sells replacement lenses for $8.50.  I epoxied it in.  I hope it stays on.

that wheel horse is so cool! I'm jelly....

I see we both got new stuff for our signatures from last night's chat. LOL

Double W Cross Ranch wrote:

that wheel horse is so cool! I'm jelly....

I see we both got new stuff for our signatures from last night's chat. LOL

You know I made that last romp video just for you and AllisKidD21 so you guys could see Ol' Red in a variety a terrain and listen to the Kohler roar.

Thanks for quoting me in your signature. What an honor lol.

LOL, you are welcome my friend!!!   Thanks for the vid, I enjoyed it.  You do not look 15 btw, lol.

Crazy_Carl wrote:

I had bad luck finding a replacement cap for my tank, but I found a guy that sells replacement lenses for $8.50.  I epoxied it in.  I hope it stays on.

Just be aware that the gas cap should vent a little. If you will wonder why you are not getting gas to the engine that's why.  

Looks good Carl! I like that big choke knob on that thing, looks like an old school hood release. I also like how you're keeping 'er as stock as possible while still being a capable off-road rig, with the original engine and not cutting it all up etc. She's still good ol' iron! Haha.

mightyraze wrote:

Crazy_Carl wrote:

I had bad luck finding a replacement cap for my tank, but I found a guy that sells replacement lenses for $8.50.  I epoxied it in.  I hope it stays on.

Just be aware that the gas cap should vent a little. If you will wonder why you are not getting gas to the engine that's why.  

This replacement lens actually comes with a little horizontal vent hole coming out a little boss molded in to the top of it. So the vent situation should be under control.

Excellent, I did not see that in the picture. Probably under the clamp.

@mightyraze

Here's what the replacement lens looks like.

Nice, I see now.

On my last romp I noticed that the motor was moving around a little too much in the shock mounts so tonight I replaced the old dry rotted ones.  I'll see how this works for now.  One day I might delete the shock mount system and install a plate with slotted holes so I can tweak with crankshaft location for belt tension.

WOW those are worn. The plate idea does sound neat.

Cool looking mounts . That's probably stock rubber there !

They're likely original to the tractor. However this is not the original K181 that this tractor originally came with.

Crazy_Carl wrote:

On my last romp I noticed that the motor was moving around a little too much in the shock mounts so tonight I replaced the old dry rotted ones.  I'll see how this works for now.  One day I might delete the shock mount system and install a plate with slotted holes so I can tweak with crankshaft location for belt tension.

Yikes! Yeah probably need to be replaced, haha.

Oh yeah, those mounts have paid their dues.

I have some rubber mount things. Should use them for something sometime. Wouldn't make a difference if I put em under an oppy though, they're already incredibly well balanced lol

Those look similar to the ones on my Case, probably the same setup sorta. I'm sure mine could probably stand to be replaced as well, haha

I had a dynamark with rubber mounts . Engine was junk and so was tranny so that never went anywhere lol

My routine after a really muddy romp is to pressure wash my machine and then perform basic routine maintenance where I grease everything and check oil levels. The gear oil in the transaxle is already starting to turn a little milky. I have a new shift boot on, but I know my seals leak. I see quite a bit of oily residue around the brake shaft. I think that's where the water is getting in. So for $28 I ordered all new seals. I know the input pulley, brake drum, and one of the hubs with come right off. Not so sure about the other one.

Last night I got 3 of the 4 seals replaced. Let me tell you a seal with a 5/8 ID and a 13/16 OD is really small and hard to pick out, but I got it. As I predicted one of the hubs didn't want to come off the axle. I have the puller on it right now and I keep squirting Castle Thrust into the set screw hole every time I walk by the tractor in my garage. I want to let it soak like that for a couple of days before I decide to take a torch to it.

Holy crap, I had forgotten about thrust. That stuff was great. They don't have it here in KY, guess it was a new york thing. They just have that nasty, good for nothing, water displacement formula 40 junk here.