1969 John Deere 112 and 80 dump cart

[TOYMECH]

Hello All,
I thought i would show one of the latest pieces of fine "Horicon made product" that i have been working on lately with the help of an individual.
First a little history - Back in the spring of 1969, My Dad bought a John Deere 112 L&G tractor, #39 mower and #80 dump cart. I have to say that this is likely the machine that's responsible for my affection for the "leaping Deere".
See, growing up in 60's suburbia i was lucky enough that one of my friend's folks owned one of the last farms within the city limits, just down the road. They did cash crop as well as milked about 20 or so head of Holstiens. Not being like other kids and being enthralled with hopping the bus to hang out down into the city at every moment, i was more concerned with things on the farm down the road. The farm was a cool place - trucks, tractors and lots of things to do. Only ONE thing - "red and white" tractors. It was Hamilton and if you had a farm near Hamilton, you bought "products made down on the Bayfront" - hint - this company's original plant was in Chicago.... Know the brand?
Below is a picture from September 1970. Me doing the driving chores as well as trying to convince my "red tractor driving buddy" from down the road (on a stop on the way home from school) that GREEN and YELLOW tractors were THE ones to be driving (He was the one being the show-off in the picture flashing one of his (probably) MATHEMATICS tests to whoever was taking the picture) Doesn't matter - i was still way more cool - I had the green and yellow tractor....

[TOYMECH]

Continuing on - The 112 served 10 years at my folks place and was later given to my oldest sister who used it at her place. Dad replaced it with a new 1979 212 that came from the same dealership that I bought my Trailfire from. Going up and down steep hills, being operated by my 3 nephews and a lot of hard work rendered it in pretty bad shape when it got handed back over to me 3 years ago. The transmisson was pretty much pooched as roughly 2-3/8 teeth were missing off second and third gear in the transmission, the Kohler K241 was a mosquito killer and the front of the hood was all bashed in. Pretty sad.
Below is a picture from one of the blizzards in the winter of 1977-78, me driving.

[TOYMECH]

Carrying on to the finish, I bought up a $400.00 1968 110 that had just had a complete transmission rebuild as a donor for the 112 restoration. Over a bit of time, i lost interest in it and asked my Dad if he wanted to keep it as i was going to dispose of the two of them. I figured i had worked on ENOUGH lawn tractors, Kohler engines, etc in my days as a mechanic and spent ENOUGH time on it when i was younger cutting lawn that i REALLY didn't NEED to have it hanging around restored. I have enough fun with the sleds, i didn't need more things to look after.
I arranged for someone who had the time to perform the bulk of the resto work. The engine and some finishing touches, i performed myself.
Here's the results:

[TOYMECH]

[TOYMECH]

[TOYMECH]

[JDT]

You guys did a fine job on her. Dad must be pleased.

[JoeRainville]

Greg and Rob,

That tractor looks great, nice job! Must be cool to have something with strong links to growing up back into like new conditon.

Well done!
-Rainville

[WinnipegStPaul9]

Greg it looks great. Good job everyone and thanks to Greg's dad for keeping it alive!! I'm ashamed to say that I still own a 317 but have never touched it with respect to restoration. In my opinion, the 317 was an ill conceived tractor or, probably more aptly put a little ahead of it's time. The Kohler two cylinder was not a reliable engine in the 317 and the lack of power steering puts a lot of wear on the steering components. If it was a 318 I feel certain that it would look like my sleds.

DA