wheel horse collectin

another collection fetish.....
once a year show for all us nuts to gather!! about 4 min in starts vid

I live about 20 mins. from the old South Bend Ind. Wheel Horse plant. I myself like the red but also go for the green and yellow, and the more implements the better.

I've run Wheelhorse for years & years. Never bought a new one. You get a used one and change the oil, it'll outrun 17 Craftsman and give 1/10 the problems.

Thre local dealer has an old one on display. It looks like a kids toy.

About a month ago, one of our neighbors was trying to give away a small one. I didn't need one, but maybe I should have asked for it, for one of you-guys. Next time....

Yes the early lawn tractors with a Kohler or Onan motor well even a Wisconsin Robin motor just kept going, and going, and going. I have three 70s era green and yellow lawn and garden tractors. One for mowing, one for the garden with tiller and other implements needed to make an acre seem like a flower bed, and one for winter with full metal cab and snow blower. I purchased them used and use them a lot.

Freddy wrote:I've run Wheelhorse for years & years. Never bought a new one. You get a used one and change the oil, it'll outrun 17 Craftsman and give 1/10 the problems.

Thre local dealer has an old one on display. It looks like a kids toy.

You can't take anything from the Wheel Horse as a tough machine
I agree with you on the Craftsman machines...but NOT the older Craftsman "Suburban Series" from the 60's -70's. These were tough, simple, hard working, well-made machines; featuring 8-speed transmissions with quality engines from Tecumseh Cast Iron Long Life Engines with cranks riding on "Timken" roller bearings to Onan two cylinder types...I have two of these and they just don't build-'em like that anymore...
This is the type I'm referring to:
http://www.searstractor.com/custom/917.25490a.htm

Bob

I was about 5 when my uncle let me shift his ole green tractor in somerville nj. it had a clinton engine. soon after he bought a brand new wheelhorse in 66 and it lasted thru his passing in '74 till we traded it in '87 for a new horse. when it came to Pa the 8 hp wasnt enough so a 17hp twin does the job, which is still like new. now another fellow losing his days to lung cancer, was happy to see me buy his ole 8 hp and restore it. I sort of felt like going full circle back to those precious days of innocence and simplicity.

Elmer Pond had the vision...

most of us red tractor fellows do also appreciate the yellow on green also..
http://whtractor.15.forumer.com/index.php

Wow. I gave away a small red wheelhorse with a 4' plow a couple seasons ago. The tube tires were dry rotted/shot. It had chains. I had rigged a early 60's Snow Bird engine onto it, and couldn't fit the engine cover back on it, which had a little chrome hood ornament. Plowed my landlady's driveway with it for years; it had a manual blade angle lever and spring loaded blade. I just had no room for it; regret giving it away. The guy that gave it to me cleared his whole back yard of woodsy brush with it. I would get it going in 4th and slam into a snow pile with it. Indestructible.

I have a '68 Sears 10XL sitting in the shed. My doctor gave it to me years ago. Cast aluminum mower deck, partially shaft-driven. Starter/generator. I'm sure if I air blast out the mouse nests and clean the carb it will start as it always has.

Dann757 wrote:I'm sure if I air blast out the mouse nests and clean the carb it will start as it always has.

Stick a bag of mothballs under the houd. It'll keep out the mice and bugs

Pocono Eagle's Wheel Horse, photographed today:

Wood'nCoal wrote:Pocono Eagle's Wheel Horse, photographed today:

1003091304a.jpg

that is the 1987 model the chrome get ya home !!

Red is cool. I have a 520H with a 48" deck, 2 stage snow blower and I just picked up a cab. Mowing grass, blowing snow and burnin coal. Life is good

There was a fairly late model twin cyl. Horse for sale right around the corner from where I work with deck and snowblower, I believe. I wonder if it's still there? Right now he has a JD 365 (I think) for sale in nice shape. There's a guy I pass on my commute that has a twin Horse, too.

I grew up driving "vintage" tractors - my elementary school principal lived a short minibike ride away and I used to help him around his house, as well as his son, who was our superintendant and lived next door and had 30 or 40 head of beef cattle (as well as a daughter that was my age.... ). The principal was newly retired, and had a 12hp Sears tractor late 60's/early 70's vintage, blue and white with the Tecumseh engine. That was a sweet machine! He bought a new Crapsman 16hp twin "lawn tractor" and the Sears service van spent more time at his place than anywhere else - it would vapor lock when hot and not start and they couldn't fix it. Finally it snapped off a rear axle shaft. He was not a large man, and it was a large, yet flat and smooth yard. This was around 1981 or so. I also spent a lot of time on a '57 Massey Ferguson 65 mowing hay. But my favorite was the Simplicity Broadmoor 707 and 728. Little bitty 3 blade deck (DEEP deck) and two speeds - slow and slower, and they pivot in front of the seat, not the front axle. VERY weird to get used to. But I've never had a better cut from a tractor.

I gotta a 25 year old 414-8. Great tool, I start the 14 hp Kohler in my barn to test my CO detectors every year, what a dirty exhaust!!!! Love that smell .....))

Anyone ever flip the pulleys over & get 'em to run 30mph? I've been dying to try this!

My buddy had a pos early 90's Craftsman that we used to beat the bag out of. He drilled a hole thru the dash & hooked a coat hanger to the governor. Then he'd give the thing a yank & the motor would rev to 5 grand, popping & farting due to the valves floating! Then let the clutch fly .... he'd either do one hell of a wheelie, or end up wearing the tractor as a hat while all of us laughed our asses off!
You have to picture this, 'cause my buddy is pushing a minimum of 3 bills ..... too funny!