dewdew 10 #1 Posted March 23, 2017 I'm looking for a horse that is a good snow plower and a good tiller . What do you guys think? Hydro? More expensive more problems? I like black hoods. And round hoods I don't want to break the bank eaither. What's the best model for me? My driveway is 18'x65' and my garden is 200' x 40'. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,543 #2 Posted March 24, 2017 If it's a black hood you want then the C-165 would be the best choice. I think the 8 speed is the preferred tranny for tilling, I've read that the tiller will push the hydro's. The C-175 might have a bit more power than the 16 single but the Kohler 17 twins used then are not great motors. Mike.... 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 6,777 #3 Posted March 24, 2017 With a hydro you will be constantly trying to regulate speed with little success. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dewdew 10 #4 Posted March 24, 2017 Regulating speed would be with both correct? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adams94 1,065 #5 Posted March 24, 2017 Never ran a tiller but I love my hydros and also the 8 speeds. I would suggest a c160 8 speed 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevebo-(Moderator) 8,040 #6 Posted March 24, 2017 IMO the best all around machine is a 312-8 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tankman 3,515 #7 Posted March 24, 2017 I prefer my Stallions! Favorite Horses for wo....wo.....WORK? 414-8, 416-8 and my 520-8 can do-it-all! I think my Work Horse can handle the tasks too. 40+ years ago I had an 8 hp 3-speed that also did it all. A Horse is a Horse of course! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 46,772 #8 Posted March 24, 2017 or a 314-8, You'll have to excuse Sparkeye as it seems he likes to go for the heavy hitters right off the bat...good man Sparkeye! .... Eight speed would be great for tilling & ground engagements but the H is the cats meow for pushing snow or blowing. Beast advice is get a couple of ... for any occasion...got all the bases covered. Sorry Dew but you got a double edged sword ther what with all our addictions. That's no fair Tank you posted before I did ....you obviously got a problem! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tankman 3,515 #9 Posted March 24, 2017 7 minutes ago, WHX9 said: That's no fair Tank you posted before I did ....you obviously got a problem! I am suffering from Wheel Horse Addiction (WHA). Since the mid 70's! That's one of my sons, he now has WHA too. Now Grandsons are also infected with WHA. My first Horse, 8 hp, turned a lot of earth. My neighbors couldn't believe how well the Horse performed! One neighbor once pulled me aside, "When you're out, your boys race the tractors down the road." I replied, "So?" When I got home, snow plowed, grasses mowed, Parker (or Jackson) sweeper cleaned, lawn dethatched, Horses always groomed. The boys chores and the Ms. too! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HorseFixer 2,012 #10 Posted March 24, 2017 C-160 8 Speed is a good choice. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 46,772 #11 Posted March 24, 2017 Sorry for taking your post off on a tangent Dew but please understand our problem, most of us would consider our first born as a good swap on a fair but we are really not that way and we know about being on a budget. We just have a tendency to get carried away on having multiple horses! I think Mike @Sparky hit it first with a C-series in the 12 to 16 HP black hood category would be a good fit but I would also have a stout B series as a back....oops here we go again! It really boils down on the hydro or manual thing and what you think you will be using it for most? Tilling ...manual, mowing or blowing hydro...pushing- manual. The compromises are endless and we guess that's why tractors were offered in all the configs they were. Looking at your dimensions I would say you have a larger garden than driveway which is fine so I would go with a manual and deal with shifting when on the driveway with snow. Always more trouble free than a hydro and always much more stouter when push comes to shove. Either way we'd be here to help if (God forbid) it should break! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 24,130 #12 Posted March 24, 2017 Any Black Hood. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites