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After downsizing to 3 1/2 acres, I could no longer justify a full size tractor. "MrBill " is a single cylinder flat-head Briggs&Stratton ( 2nd motor, 2nd deck, 2nd transaxle) now in (light duty) service for his thirty-fifth (35th!) season. "Swampee ", the CubCadet, runs a 750cc Kohler air-cooled V-twin and came to me with a dubious history that may-or-may-not have involved some sort of swamp racing. Both are MTD products from Ohio, USA . . . Swampee has long served as my Hawker Odyssey test bed, running one of my PC545 out to its fifteenth year . . .

I suppose it is not really helpful, but a bit of essential knowledge.... Tractors for real men: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanz_Bulldog And for those with sporting aspirations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamborghini_Trattori

When we moved into this place with 2.5 acres 30 years ago, I wanted to buy a tractor then. My wife "suggested" that we really don't need one. She said when we do, just rent it. She was right. I saved over 10k. Fortunately for me, that tactic doesn't work for motorcycles.

Bill Hagan is right, Kubota makes the most reliable and durable range of small tractors on the planet. If you get an older tractor, make sure it has 3-point linkage, needed for attachments like a grader blade. I think that the Ford 8N has this. You could consider a John Deere Model B for something more eye-catching as a project. Spare parts are readily available in USA.

Day one with mySport: twenty-five years ago today !

I got news for you docc, your Sport is approaching "30 years ago" as well and you still remember the smallest details

Wow, man, no idea. Something along the lines of a 360 or this 424, maybe it was a little bigger (over thirty years ago, now) . . .

I bent the driveshaft to a multi-drum mower by pressing the clutch then panic braking, after I discovered that "transmission PTO" meant that the mower was back-driving the wheels while still in gear. That was a limitation of the IH B-450, so my father told me. Fine for stationary implements like a wood chipper or welder, but needs care when moving with something with high rotational inertia like a mower. "Live PTO" is normal nowadays and operates independently of the tractor’s clutch and transmission system.

Take Care of Business

My good friend in GA has 2.5 acres and decided his Massey 1010 was not enough, so he bought a 25hp Kubota. And he has his grandson's 8N. I keep mine smallish, I have three Snapper/Massey 1855, plus a couple of Simplicity 7790 with the Lombardini diesel engines.

Now for the tractor , Cuz says it is an 8N from 48-52. The 16'' rims are a replacement for the original 19" front wheels. The headlamps are maybe aftermarket. The earlier style had round mounts (think ball & socket)and the later style tractors had a winged back for the headlights to mount in. Also , the dealer sold aftermarket mounts too. These are probably one of these kits. I should have read all the thread before posting. Yes "red belly" is the moniker for these tractors ! IDK what all the kit would fit but you could install a flat-head V-8 in or on these tractors. I'm sure these would TCB ! I have a buddy that has a "new' red belly and I spent an hour looking at this like it was an Indian artifact. They were able to make a new tractor and keep the spirit of the original intact. Bill Hagan and all others : Yes , if you are going to buy a toy tractor , it had better say Kubota . These are the best and best built tractors on the planet. This company knows how to make tractors and equipment.

No one has ever heard the phrase, "Sorry I got that Kubota" . . .

this '46 *orchard* model B is interesting. The more plentiful *row crop* version with the narrow front wheels is certainly striking, but wouldn't be of ideal use with my rough terrain. The Kubota L02 series is at the top of my wish list if I must buy new, or used - that be the size I *think* I need. All the experts say get more horse power than you think you need. I am not convinced yet and haven't ruled out the next size down, the LX

I just bought an Earth-X LiFePo4 battery. Tiny. Powerful. Not that much more $ than the others and produced in Colorado by a company which makes FAA certified aircraft batteries. ANYTHING to lighten these beasts. And it provides flexibility in location for easier access to charging/monitoring, etc.

To whom it may concern , this is the !st time I have posted a pic on this forum & docc didn't have to come behind me and "fix" it !

2001 gray lemans fuel tank is leaking old fuel at the rear edge. Previous owner had made patch that appeared to be a layer of light colored bondo then a layer of yellow tinged translucent material covering the bondo. After removing the patch Im looking for the correct material to clean the area for the new patch and what type of fuel resistant products to use for the patch. The area is located behind the hold down bolt on the rear edge and appears to be a seam from when the tank was formed. thank you in advance for any help. Our last MotoGuzzi was a ‘76 850T3 so this is lemans is all new to me.

Special day for sure and a classic pic! Not to take anything away from that...I went to the OVM show today at Oaks Park...great turnout. A guy there had a Dunstall Norton he bought when he was 17. He looked about my age, maybe older, IDK. I just turned 71. Boys and their toys...

No reinforcement required if your smart enough to no sit on the bike like a muppet when it's on the side stand. Later brackets had an 8mm bolt hole instead of the 6mm hole from memory as did the sump. I don't believe Daytonas and Centies even had the lower bolt provision. They just used the upper large bolt and seemed fine. Phil

Yes docc, cast steel. Phil

We need images. Sounds like Ethanol related sweating to me. have you had the tank off the bike? have you then tried refitting the tank and if so has it swelled? Phil

I recall my IH tractor was maybe 30 hp, gasoline, and pulled a five foot "bush hog" (flail blade mower), five foot box blade, and would (barely) lift a boom with the 3-point hitch. It was probably from the 1960s and I got a ton of work done with it on that thirty acres. Apparently, something known as "brakes" were discovered sometime after it was built along with a clever mechanism that disengaged the PTO (Power Take Off) when the engine-transmission clutch is disengaged. I am sure that device has a name (?) Without the clever device, depressing the foot lever for the clutch does, indeed, stop engine power from driving the tractor. While the inertia of the spinning flail blades continue to drive the tractor along its path of travel, usually to some ill purpose. Did I mention the brakes . . .

I think you will be better to do a repair from the inside of the fuel tank. Wait for others to post their input on what type of fuel tank liner to install and the proper procedure. Yo u will get one chance so do it right !

I'm certainly having a tough time *adjusting* to the sticker shock of a new/almost new machine. I mean, it's only a tractor! But it's easy to rationalize. "you can't take it with you" comes to mind. The property's varied and many projects over the next few years would be a substantial cost if I hired it done. Renting would be 1000's over time.

this thing is gorgeous. if only....

@Desdinova it seems you have recognised the value of this move. For anyone else, do this. It was recommended to me by a highly knowledgeable member of various German forums. Looking at the situation under the seat made it immediately obvious that this simple mod was very sensible and useful. If you haven't done it yet, do it soon.

For better discussion, this topic has been moved from the "Wanted" classifieds to Technical Topics. No doubt, the Rube Goldberg affair that serves as the V11 sidestand is a potential Achilles' Heel. The lower fastener is known to loosen and the large, upper fastener into the timing chest is to be torqued to 70 Nm. The complex mounting plate looks to be a casting (?) . . .

Post a good pic so we can give you good advice

well, duh. now I see I was blind.

those are some nice classic land grooming equipment, and they look the part. You have the Jeep if you need to drag a log around or something. I've been using mine as a tractor as needed while searching for the real deal. 14.6V on that battery? Is that charging?

Could very well be an 8N Docc. I can't tell them apart. I've always loved the simplicity of them. Something about a frameless motor+tranny+axel with a seat and wheels that I find lovely. They remind me of the 'deuce coupe' hot rods. That Boomer rocks. thanks for moving the topic.I posted pre-coffee.

I thought this Ford was an 8N? We always called those RedBellies, but I learned they are also called "Boomers." After I sold my International Harvester, and thirty acres, Ford-New Holland built an homage Boomer 8N. Never even seen one, but had a hankerin' for one . . .

Here is a good discussion of the issues and several solutions:

About you comin' behind me n postin' pics of things I normally can't do !

Thanks Docc... A couple of terminal blocks and lower it !!! THANK YOU !!!! Now to find me some small terminal blocks

About?

Well , am I wrong ?

@Flooky Curious, did the new Regulator include a direct positive wire to the battery? I had exactly your issue, turned out it was nothing that needed replacing best I can tell; although I did replace everything! Once I ran the direct wire, all seemed fixed, no more blown or melting fuse.

@Desdinova, Here is an image of the battery/underseat with some modifications. There are "junction blocks" added behind each of the battery terminals to reduce the of ring terminals and add accessories. Others ( @Tomchri) have added "L"-shaped brackets to the battery terminals to bring the terminal stack paralell to the top of the battery and more accessible. Also, the battery basket, in the factory location, stands the front of the battery quite high beneath the seat making the terminals even harder to access and allowing the seat to put pressure on the battery under the rider's weight: Moving the front mounts of the battery basket beneath the subframe addresses this. Below, relocated battery basket in the foreground, prominent front corner of the factory position visible on the Rosso Mandello in the background: P.S. - Another image with the battery basket in the factory position (front mounting tabs above the subrame) showing seat damage to the battery hold-down strap: Detailed view of the mounting tabs below the subframe:

Here's a little follow up on the Tedeschi Trucks show in Tulsa. Tulsa is an historic music town and great riding destination. It's home to the Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie Centers. Also home to The Church Studio established by Leon Russell in the '70's. Tulsa and the studio had lots rock stars at the time, Leon, JJ Cale, Geo Harrison, Clapton, Dylan, Mudcrutch (Tom Petty), The GAP Band, Bread, The Tractors, Teagarden & Vanwinkle. We took the tour of the Church, still a working studio, museum and small concert venue. We were told that Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks were there the day before. We saw The Greyhounds (a duo out of Austin) in the board room. They'd performed the encore the night before with Susan and Derrick.

Just bought this and have been riding it around quite a bit. It's incredible!