Rawhide, Rawhide, Rawhide!

When not to use WD-40

Details here:  http://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/6226/when-should-i-not-use-wd-40 

I know some drivers use WD-40 to de-squeak and lubricate carriage parts, particularly springs. As you'll read in this web site, WD-40 is not really a permanent lubricant. It's too thin for that purpose plus it *attracts* dirt. 

What it*is* good for is as a penetrant to unstick parts (although there are more effective ones like Kroil) and as a temporary lubricant to get you and your equipment to the time and place where you can use a more permanent, more appropriate lubricant. 

So far, for me, I find good quality spray silicone lasts fair long and does NOT attract dirt or even leave any visible trace (i.e. good for use on high quality polished carriage parts.) I mainly use it to quiet carriage leaf springs.

That said, I find most squeaks occur between metal and wood parts rather than metal on metal. In those cases, if practical, I make a washer or spacer out of a piece of polyethylene milk bottle or oil can plastic , loosen or separate the metal and wooden parts, slip the spacer in and re tighten any bolts or screws.


Usually this fix last forever....well, I can't actually swear to that since I haven't lived that long.

How to Hang a Bucket

Hanging buckets in wooden stalls has its problems.

One good solution to hanging buckets in a stall:

One steel chain repair link + one steel interlocking, straight gate carabiner = one almost indestructible bucket hanger. No more screw eyes to pull out. No more broken double end snaps. No more bucket hangers to bend or pull off. No more snaggiing tail hair. Buckets hang straight and are easy to remove.

Horses with 8 Feet

From the Hellbrunn Schloss, Austria

An 8 footed Arab. This apparently was a real horse.

Another 8 footed horse was Sleipnir, ridden by the Norse God, Odin

 

Troika Speed

A troika, a three-horse drawn sledge, competes on the frozen Yenisey river during an amateur horse race near the settlement of Novosyolovo. The Ice Derby has been held in Novosyolovo annually at the end of each winter since 1969, drawing participants from the entire region.

Troika Fire Department Horses

More great photos in this set

How to train the young ones!

Interesting way to train the babies from Hungary!

The Buggymobile

A 1905 Columbus High Wheel Runabout. A perfect example of the transition from the horse and buggy age to the age of the auto mobile. This is "buggymobile" had a twin cylinder 10 HP air cooled electric  motor under the seat. The hood is a false engine compartment. Notice all the 'artifacts' from the horse carriage construction. This vehicle will be auctioned off on October 7th in Hershey PA. It is expected to fetch between $60,000 and $80,000. It sold in 1905 for $750!