TravelinJavelin 620 #1 Posted September 25, 2016 (edited) looking for personal reviews of this tractor ? anyone ever try a FEL......or other type mods? just would love to have one to push snow with...........how do the tranny hold up ........wished i'd picked up one of these than the bolens I've got also belt availability? any info would be great! Edited September 25, 2016 by TravelinJavelin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JUSS10 250 #2 Posted September 28, 2016 Amazing machines but I'm probably partial. I use my a few times a week. I've used it to pull loaded down utility trailers, pushed snow with it for years, pull a 10" garden plow to turn over soil for a garden, pulled out shrubs, all sorts of things. I've been told the transmissions are prone to breaking but I've beat the tar out of mine and still haven't broke it. I am mowing with mine now instead of my 314-A because I just like the tractor better. I don't have a loader on it, but do have a bucket and started to collect parts to build a loader for it. Maybe one of these days. I would think you would want to upgrade the front spindles and use different wheels. I did this on mine already. I also built a CAT0 3 point hitch for mine that bolts right to the rear axle. I put a draw bar on to move trailers around. Works great. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lane Ranger 10,426 #3 Posted September 28, 2016 (edited) We have a couple more than four and love them! The 953 was so much in demand when first made by Wheel Horse that the 1054 was made for several years after. The 48 inch mower deck was the first 48 inch deck and was very heavy and well made. The snowplow was a 54 inch on this tractor. The Hein-Werner hydraulic pump gave you good rear and center rock shaft lift capability. The 10 HP Kohlers were the heavy industrial version which is why so many of these still have there original motors. If you use a tractor to work -this has a tremendous amount of power and flexibility. Edited September 28, 2016 by Lane Ranger 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elliot ness 1,916 #4 Posted September 28, 2016 Sweet mother of beautiful Wheel Horses. Your collection is awesome. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TravelinJavelin 620 #5 Posted September 28, 2016 just plain awesome! dam I want one! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TIGman 2,006 #6 Posted September 28, 2016 2 hours ago, Lane Ranger said: We have a couple more than four and love them! The 953 was so much in demand when first made by Wheel Horse that the 1054 was made for several years after. The 48 inch mower deck was the first 48 inch deck and was very heavy and well made. The snowplow was a 54 inch on this tractor. The Hein-Werner hydraulic pump gave you good rear and center rock shaft lift capability. The 10 HP Kohlers were the heavy industrial version which is why so many of these still have there original motors. If you use a tractor to work -this has a tremendous amount of power and flexibility. Everything that Lane said I agree!! Great tractor to have around. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 50,997 #7 Posted September 28, 2016 6 hours ago, JUSS10 said: I also built a CAT0 3 point hitch for mine that bolts right to the rear axle. I put a draw bar on to move trailers around. Works great. Have you ever posted a build thread on the three point? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 50,997 #8 Posted September 28, 2016 On 9/24/2016 at 10:49 PM, TravelinJavelin said: looking for personal reviews of this tractor ? anyone ever try a FEL......or other type mods? just would love to have one to push snow with...........how do the tranny hold up ........wished i'd picked up one of these than the bolens I've got also belt availability? any info would be great! Found it interesting that you edited your post @ "1054". I have been a fan of the 953/1054 for years; love the look of them and the comfort, bought my fourth one this summer. Due to the relatively high center of gravity and light weight I would be hesitant to install a front end loader on one, though I have seen them. I have a FEL on my GT-14 which is a much heavier tractor and it is still a bit scary when the bucket is raised high on uneven ground. As for durability I would put them up against any other . My first 953 has plowed the garden, pushed snow and mowed for me for 14 years with nothing but routine maintenance. It was a barn find that has no paint left; ain't pretty; but is beautiful to me. My second one was missing a few parts when I got it, but made it a custom. The third one is a project; it is a very early production 953 which will be restored. The forth is a 1054 I picked up at this year's Big Show, it will receive some special treatment when I build it. If you want one you better act promptly; before I buy them all! 10 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JUSS10 250 #9 Posted September 29, 2016 15 hours ago, 953 nut said: Have you ever posted a build thread on the three point? There should be a build thread somewhere.... I'll have to do some looking. I honestly haven't been on the forum for over a year I bet. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JUSS10 250 #10 Posted September 29, 2016 15 hours ago, 953 nut said: Have you ever posted a build thread on the three point? There should be a build thread somewhere.... I'll have to do some looking. I honestly haven't been on the forum for over a year I bet. Edit: here it is 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lane Ranger 10,426 #11 Posted September 29, 2016 953 Nut I saw the Wheel Horse you have pictured on your yellow trailer at the Big Show near Gettysburg this year. I did not get to meet you as I recall but I was in the Red Square tent a couple times during the show. Mike Biser built a 953/1054 transmission for me with the eight bolt differential as opposed to the original 4 bolt. The stronger transmission is going to go in a near perfect 1054 that I bought several years ago for $150. I have been putting off redoing until I have time and some reserve of new or barely used parts. Oil seals, wheel caps, bearings, rebuilt hydraulic pumps , etc. I should be able to get to this next Spring! The one in the left corner in this pic. I do have an original grill metal sheet and I have a chiche of the black and white or red and black seats. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 46,399 #12 Posted September 29, 2016 Careful Richard .... I think @Wheel-N-It is eyeballing that tractor for stuff to trade for bike parts with @wallfish....prolly eyeballin that bike muffler on the custom too! 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 46,399 #13 Posted September 29, 2016 Question for ya @Lane Ranger, what's with the groovy lookin hubs on the rear of the 1054?......looks like oil filters painted silver?? Cut the heads off some bolts & silicone em on there & everybody will think yer running a floating axle!! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob.A.700 306 #14 Posted September 29, 2016 They are a great machine push snow with little effort. The have their quirks but what 50 year old machine doesn't... I love mine 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 50,997 #15 Posted September 29, 2016 7 hours ago, JUSS10 said: There should be a build thread somewhere.... I'll have to do some looking. I honestly haven't been on the forum for over a year I bet. Edit: here it is That is a fantastic build thread. Even if a person isn't planning to build a 3 point; it is worth reading just to see how well planned and exacted this build is. 4 hours ago, WHX8 said: Careful Richard .... I think @Wheel-N-It is eyeballing that tractor for stuff to trade for bike parts with @wallfish....prolly eyeballin that bike muffler on the custom too! Actually Van and James brought it back to NC for me and he stored the 953 while I was recuperating from spinal surgery. 4 hours ago, Lane Ranger said: Mike Biser built a 953/1054 transmission for me with the eight bolt differential as opposed to the original 4 bolt. Sorry I didn't get to meet you and so many others; First time there and so little time with so much to see. Was there a post done on the differential change out? I was wondering if the bull gear on the 953/1054 is larger than the smaller 12" tire units (like the GT-14 vs. Sundstrands on Electro etc.) If there is info out there on this swap I know some folks that would like to see it. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel-N-It 2,967 #16 Posted September 29, 2016 (edited) 4 hours ago, WHX8 said: Careful Richard .... I think @Wheel-N-It is eyeballing that tractor for stuff to trade for bike parts with @wallfish....prolly eyeballin that bike muffler on the custom too! You guys have got me eyeballing all the old tractors now LOL. For years I was a 300/400 series only guy. I had a couple of Blackhood's and that was cool but was stuck on the 300/400 tractors. Then I got to know some of you guys personally, and your love of old Wheel Horse's started rubbing off on me. So I bought a 701, then had to have a C series so I picked up a C121 at the Big Show this year, all the while thinking there must be something about those 953's because Richard likes them and he's a pretty smart guy so yes that's on the list too now. Oh yeah you guys got me liking stacks now too. So I'm wanting to put a stack on the little 701 if I can find something quiet. I have a couple of extra Electra Glide mufflers but I'm afraid one of those will make the 701 top heavy and will tip it over when I make a hard left ! Edited September 29, 2016 by Wheel-N-It 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Indiana_Steve 124 #17 Posted September 30, 2016 Found my 953 in a garage not used for 20+ years..... 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lane Ranger 10,426 #18 Posted September 30, 2016 (edited) WHX8: Those groovy silver caps on the rear tires of one of our 1054's are plastic PVC end caps that my brother bought and they will actually ride between the four bolts on the rear hubs. They looked pretty cool and we kept them on. Not sure of the size but at least four inches. Edited September 30, 2016 by Lane Ranger 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
k2wilson 41 #19 Posted September 30, 2016 Here's my early production 953 before I tore it down for restoration. 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites