M-Wards Hoe Trac

[CRF6179]

While at the local restaurant a friend told me about a lady with a broken down mower. Also she was clearing out her barn and had an old walk behind to get rid of.
I went to check it out and came back with a Hoe Trac. Model #SIM-L-1. No engine and some parts are missing. There was also a cultivator, a reel mower, and a front spade/cultivator.
A few other odd pieces got thrown in. Tires will definitely need tubes or replaced. Not sure what to do with it. Rick

 

[CRF6179]

more pics. The side hiller looks like a miniature plow. 3&1/2 width. I may clean and paint it for a paperweight.

 

[Lauber1]

your tractor is basically the same as the Purple one I just rebuilt. Sadly sometimes tractor come in here with to many things missing, ie a good engine to be able to restore it, so you just rebuild it into a useful machine again and put it back to work. Work is after all what they were made to do. Wouldn't take a lot to get it in working mode again and cheaper than one thinks. Unless those tires are completely dry rotted, id leave them alone, and save you the $65 per they cost new. You can buy a perfectly fine engine from HF for around 100 bucks, then its just a 2.5" pulley and a belt. if your going all out and repainting it, that part is mostly just your time to assemble and disassemble, clean up the parts, and about 4 spray cans of paint($20). You have a good workable cult unit there that looks complete, even thou someone has tried to make a pull behind one out of it. The mini plow was at one time part of a set of them, that mounted to the cult tool bar, and was used for lite plowing, hilling and some culting work. The reel mower looks better than most of them, and if its freed up and gotten working is just a bonus attachment. The other attachment, middle buster, sweep thingy looks home made.

 

[CRF6179]

your tractor is basically the same as the Purple one I just rebuilt. Sadly sometimes tractor come in here with to many things missing, ie a good engine to be able to restore it, so you just rebuild it into a useful machine again and put it back to work. Work is after all what they were made to do. Wouldn't take a lot to get it in working mode again and cheaper than one thinks. Unless those tires are completely dry rotted, id leave them alone, and save you the $65 per they cost new. You can buy a perfectly fine engine from HF for around 100 bucks, then its just a 2.5" pulley and a belt. if your going all out and repainting it, that part is mostly just your time to assemble and disassemble, clean up the parts, and about 4 spray cans of paint($20). You have a good workable cult unit there that looks complete, even thou someone has tried to make a pull behind one out of it. The mini plow was at one time part of a set of them, that mounted to the cult tool bar, and was used for lite plowing, hilling and some culting work. The reel mower looks better than most of them, and if its freed up and gotten working is just a bonus attachment. The other attachment, middle buster, sweep thingy looks home made.

Thanks for the reply. I just saw a similar one at a show yesterday. an elderly gentleman was pulling a sulky with it. I'll try to pick his brain about it later today. the tires are cracked pretty good from sitting with no air pressure and bending. I have a pair of 6-12 that may go on it. I went back to GTTalk and downloaded some manuals. Should be something I'll get into later in the year. Rick

 

[KC9KAS]

Looks like you have a project to work on!
Doesn't look to bad of shape.

 

[CRF6179]

Looks like you have a project to work on!
Doesn't look to bad of shape.

The lady I bought it from said that several years ago her boys took the engine off and put it on a go-kart. The unit sat in a shed since that time.
Since she is in her late seventies, I assume several years might mean decades. Rick

 

[Kster526]

Should be a nice Winter project.

 

[Lauber1]

Should be a nice Winter project.

Lol, it only takes about a week to go completely thru one of these, not complex, and really not many parts to them. Takes longer for the paint to dry than it does to disassemble, clean and reassemble them.

 

[CRF6179]

I'm waiting on parts for another project, so I got started on redoing the reel mower for the hoe-Trac. Rick

 

[CRF6179]

I got it half apart before the wife twisted my arm and made me stop for lunch. Rick

 

[KennyP]

That needs some attention! Lots of wire wheel time there!

 

[CRF6179]

After lunch I got it all apart. I'll put in two new bearings and clean & paint it. Rick
I put the wood rollers up by the furnace plenum to dry out.

 

[CRF6179]

That needs some attention! Lots of wire wheel time there!

YEP!!

 

[CRF6179]

I got most of the parts cleaned. It took several styles of brushes to get into all the inside corners and narrow areas.
I set up a Black & Decker workmate outside and did as much as possible outside. the weather had gotten up to 50* with a light breeze, That kept all the dust and crud from covering everything in the shop. They are cleaner than they look in the pictures. Rick

 

[CRF6179]

Yesterday before the rain and wind came I was able to primer the parts I cleaned on Friday. The bathroom for the shop is heated, so I often hang painted parts in there to cure. Hopefully later in the week I'll get them top coated. Rick

 

[CRF6179]

While I'm waiting on paint to dry and not involved with other projects I want to build a sulky to use behind the Hoe-Trac.
Way back in the 90's I removed an awning from a neighbors porch. I wanted the slotted angle iron they used to build the canopy. At that time I made this cart and have had it ever since. I intend to dis mantle it and rebuild it into a sulky . I've got tractor seats to put on it. or if the wife recovers it I have an old bus seat I can use. Rick

 

[CRF6179]

Haven't started on the sulky yet. Maybe start tomorrow.
I did manage to top coat the reel mower components.
I reassembled them today. Tomorrow I may attach it to the Hoe-Trac. I will be using this for display purposes at some tractor shows. so for safety I won't install a drive belt. I may also find a way to lock the reel in place. Rick

 

[Texas Horses Hogs and Deeres]

Rick, I've seen some reel mowers at shows with a U-shaped piece of plastic on each blade to protect both the blades and anyone who might think it's a good idea to touch the blades.

 

[KennyP]

Rick, I've seen some reel mowers at shows with a U-shaped piece of plastic on each blade to protect both the blades and anyone who might think it's a good idea to touch the blades.

Like this stuff?

And to keep it from turning, how about a piece of wire tied through the chain (from the chain on top through the bottom one) at a sprocket?

 

[Texas Horses Hogs and Deeres]

Like this stuff?

What stuff???

@KennyP