Bob P. 2 #1 Posted March 21, 2014 Hello all! First off i would like to say thanks to all the members on the forum. I've found quite a bit of helpful information in here. I just got my first Wheel Horse two days ago it's a 1987 312-8 (21-12K804), came with a plow and a 36" deck (gosh it's small). All for $500, others I've seen on craigslist go for more than that here in Taxachusetts. Seems to be in pretty good shape, some issues, but not bad considering it's almost 30 years old, I have not seen anything major yet. The hour meter says 467, starts right up. Added some oil (it only had a quart in it ) ran it till it warmed up, changed the oil. Don't see any white smoke and no knocks, yay! Started in with the grease gun, need to look at the manual and find them all zerks. Gotta give the choke cable some PB Blaster, it's froze solid. Rear tires are holding air, front tires not so good, about a day and they get squishy. New air filter, spark plug and a transaxle oil change are on the very soon to do list. The guy I got it from has a tiller for it, he said it's missing some stuff. I forget what he called it but I think it's the part/s that connect it to the tractor. I might buy it from him, would be nice to have one for my little garden. I'm looking for a snowblower for it, could have used it this winter that's for sure. And a bigger deck would be nice and a lawn sweeper to drag behind me. Not a fan of baggers, all that getting on and off and clogging up stuff, ugh. I haven't taken any pics of it myself yet, here's the one from the craigslist ad I got it from... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fun Engineer 859 #2 Posted March 21, 2014 Welcome aboard. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,945 #3 Posted March 21, 2014 Very nice, good luck with it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rexman72 210 #5 Posted March 21, 2014 welcome to the group Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,538 #8 Posted March 22, 2014 Your tractor is the perfect HP for a 42" deck if you upsize. Mike........... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Terry M-(Moderator) 2,125 #9 Posted March 22, 2014 Welcome Bob to the Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tunahead72 2,338 #10 Posted March 22, 2014 Welcome Bob! A 48" deck wouldn't be out of the question, depending on what you need. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amanda 81 #11 Posted March 22, 2014 Welcome to Red Square!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob P. 2 #13 Posted April 25, 2014 Thanks for the welcomes and advice everybody! Well, it's been a month since my first/only post here, been busy with life and all and of course working/riding on my horse. It took a week of Liquid Wrench + WD40 to free up the choke cable, nice to have working again. Put in a new air filter, checked the plug, looked as though it had been changed recently, gap was right on. Flushed out the transaxle with kerosene + ATFluid a couple of times and put some new stuff. It felt good to get that ugly brown mustardy color stuff out of there. She been running great, put 15 hours on the meter. Sharpened up the blades and did some mowing to check out the deck, not really any grass to cut yet, but some leaves. Bought a used lawn sweeper, so I had to test that out too. Then we got a little early spring snow, I did feel kinda silly plowing less than a half an inch of snow that would have melted later in the day, but I had to try plowing snow, lol. I've also been having fun with the plow clearing up an old path in my back woods, pushing around brush, dirt and rock. I grew up and lived on a farm until about 10 years ago when we sold it, so I'm used to tractors quite a bit bigger, but I'm impressed how much it can do for such a little tractor. Some chains or maybe aggy tires and it would really rock. Well, like I said it's been a month since I last posted and it's also been a month since I got my first Wheel Horse. Yeah, here it comes, yes it looks like I might be getting another one. I've been looking on Craigslist for something for my son to putt around on, there's been a few that I almost got, either too far or already sold. The good deals do go quick. This evening took a look at a 1974 B-80 4-speed for $300, it's pretty rough and I did manage to talk him down some, so probably tommorrow I have two Horses in my stable. It's pretty rusted, someone had it under a tarp for I don't know for how long. On the plus side everything seems to move, some things not so good, but move. And it looks like it's complete. Gave the engine some turns, seems to have compression. The guy that's selling it does small engine repair and got it from someone else, he says he ran it. I'd kinda like to see it run, it was pretty late, maybe tommorrow. Truthfully I'm not too worried, I've got faith, plus at the price and what comes with it I'll be all right. I figure it comes with rear wheel weights, chains which I can use on my 312-8. Plus a plow, which I aready have and could either sell or use for parts and a deck, which looks like the one I've got, so I could also sell that or use it for parts. So maybe tommorrow I'll have another Horse to keep the 312-8 company. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slammer302 2,154 #14 Posted April 25, 2014 The 36' deck is great for mowing the tall ruff stuff I think it's one of the tuffs decks probably because its so small but it still has 3 blades so when you hit stuff the momentum of a short blade is not as much as a long one so you don't tear up as easy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 35,752 #15 Posted April 30, 2014 Better keepem separated......Those little RED tractors multiply like rabbits. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob P. 2 #16 Posted May 1, 2014 (edited) Well, I took a look at the B-80 and talked him down a little and bought it. So now I have two Horses in my lil stable. Here's a couple of pics... Edited May 1, 2014 by Bob P. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob P. 2 #17 Posted May 1, 2014 It had been sitting a while so I didn't want to start it without cleaning it up a little. The guy I got it from, he finds small engine stuff and resells them, said he started it and it ran. Kinda wished had he hadn't, but anyhow. I'm changing the oil and giving it a once over for now, I'll let my son putt around in it, maybe do some mowing. Work on it some during the summer then over the winter bring it back to it's former glory. I clean out the fuel tank and replaced the lines, cleaning out the carb right now. Green gummy varnish goo all in the bowl. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Terry M-(Moderator) 2,125 #18 Posted May 2, 2014 Nice B-80!! and welcome to the Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slammer302 2,154 #19 Posted May 2, 2014 B-80s are great fun I'm always amazed at what you can do with 8hp Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 10,276 #20 Posted May 5, 2014 It wiil run a 48" deck fine. My Dad had a 48" on a Raider 12 for years and I had two 48's. One on a C160 and the other on a GT1100. The 11hp Briggs did a great job and often times mowed everything by itself which was about 5 acres when I did all the paths and the yard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
