sue white 19 #1 Posted February 25, 2018 (edited) Hello I was wondering if someone might help me please. I have owned a Wheelhorse c-125 since 1988 and she wasn't new when I bought her. "Betsie" has been much loved for many years and has done great work for us. Unfortunately neither I nor my husband are mechanical in the slightest so were not able to repair/service her when needed but did have a friend who did his best with her. He has sadly died so when Betsie again needed bit and pieces doing to her we didn't have anybody to assist us and the local garden machinery outlet (John Deere) were not prepared to help! She has sat doing nothing for about 3 years now and needs to find a home where someone would want to restore her. She has a cutting deck but it has more hole in it than Swiss Cheese but maybe salvageable? The only part of Betsie which is not original as far as I am aware is the seat. We got a replacement off a mobility scooter (very comfy it is too) and I think she has lost 1 of her headlights but would have to check that.She is certainly not in working order atm but before we stopped using her she was going fine except for the state of the deck. What I don't know is where it would be best to sell her. Maybe Ebay or Gumtree? If there was someone local to me who wanted to restore her I would be interested in having her restored and keeping her as the John Deere 330x lawn tractor we bought instead of Betsie is complete rubbish in comparison. Any advice would be greatly appreciated and I am not at all surprised there is a Wheelhorse club as they are such great old machines. My daughter (30 years old) learnt to drive on Betsie. She passed her driving test 1st go and then went on to pass her class 1 1st go to be able to drive artic lorries. She attributes her ability to drive well to Betsie! Edited February 25, 2018 by sue white 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 10,642 #2 Posted February 25, 2018 You can place an ad in the Euro for sale section to see if that will get you any results 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 10,642 #3 Posted February 25, 2018 you'll find it under the Classified section. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 8,770 #4 Posted February 25, 2018 Welcome post your location, it might help you find someone nearby who would get them back running for you. We all love our Horses an think they are great workers as it's evident you do to Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACman 7,423 #5 Posted February 25, 2018 @sue white you might also try posting it in our sister site http://myoldmachine.com/ as it’s more for our European friends (the U.k. In particular) . Good luck . I’m sure there’s someone that can surely help you out. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sue white 19 #6 Posted February 25, 2018 Oh sorry I didn't realise there is a classified section. I will take a few photos of Betsie and post them there. Many thanks for your help everybody. I will certainly have a look at myoldmachine . Part of me really doesn't want to sell my Wheelhorse, hence why I've kept her for 3 years doing nothing but at the same time I honestly don't know anybody who would have the time and desire to get the old girl up and running again. Anybody fancy a trip over to Scotland to fix her for me? 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACman 7,423 #7 Posted February 25, 2018 There’s a following of Wheel Horse tractors all over the world . That’s a testament of how good these tractors are ! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 35,146 #8 Posted February 25, 2018 to the @sue white. for the interesting story. Please consider putting Betsie back in working condition. Hopefully you will find another local Wheel Horse owner that will be willing to offer help. If not, there are many experts on this forum that will assist you with advice, photos and video. Best of luck, 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 9,975 #9 Posted February 25, 2018 (edited) Hi Sue. I'm just over the border near Carlisle. Bit far for me to come up to you. The C-125 are great machines. I have one that has been in regular use for a few years. There are some lads up your way who may be able to help. Go on MoM. myoldmachine.com. There's a link at the top of the page. Put your request on there. The Fife Plooman may be able to point you in the right direction. There is a show near Edinburgh at the end of March. Tractorfest Scotland. I'm taking two of my Wheel Horses. May be worth a day out. Edited February 25, 2018 by Stormin 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge 3,462 #10 Posted February 25, 2018 I'm sure if you get into our Euro section or one of the other forums you'll find plenty of Wheel Horse collectors and those that can work on these machines and know what they are doing. There are quite a few here with plenty of skills in the UK mostly - as well as other sections of Europe. I'm sure one of them would tackle repairing the issues with that tractor and put it back into working service, their passion for these drives them to keep these machines alive for as long as possible. I understand your frustration with the Deere - they are not what they used to be , especially compared to your C-125 WH . That model is very tough and simple - nothing on it is all that hard to repair or replace if you can find/afford the parts and there are some parts folks have collected and saved in Europe, including decks. Don't be too quick to sell it - there is no reason it can't be fixed and put in service again, these machines are known to perform for 50yrs or more easily. Sarge 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 23,806 #11 Posted February 25, 2018 Good luck with her! If you can - keep her going...Won't find new ones anywhere near as good quality... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 51,018 #12 Posted February 25, 2018 here is a link to the Euro. Classified section on here. http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/classifieds There are lots of collectors on your side of the ocean that are looking for more to add to their herd. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sue white 19 #13 Posted February 25, 2018 Oh you lot are so kind, many thanks. I will definitely get going with a post on here and myoldmachine. I would like Betsie to go to someone who will be able to fix her and enjoy her if there is nobody around these parts who could fix her for me, I have so many happy memories of her doing her "stuff". She has a tipping trailer which eventually was falling to bits so we got that totally overhauled so doesn't really look as it did, however does the job. At 1 time I was creating a 100 metre Heather bank and hauled great big stones in the trailer with no bother at all. Another time it was Spring and the 1st grass cut of the year. Betsie cut our longish and wet grass no problem. Our next door neighbour who had EVERYTHING which opened and shut ie had loadsa money! had a brand new huge Honda lawn tractor. Seeing we had cut our grass he takes out his new sparkling machine to cut his. The Honda cuts about 2 foot of grass and conks out. After lots of attempts and swearing, neighbour phones me and asks to borrow old Betsie. "Of course" says I with a huge. Betsie cuts his grass no problem, she got a big pat from me when neighbour returned her. He had a look of disbelief that our old slightly battered machine had been so much better than his new load of rubbish 5 7 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge 3,462 #14 Posted February 25, 2018 There is the reason fully restored, true heavy duty garden tractors are bringing premium prices well above what they originally were sold for new - they not only last but can do the job just as well as any shiny new machine and keep right on running long after the newer equipment is sent to the scrap pile. You need to find a local that knows these machines and is around 40-60yrs old - just old enough to have grown up around them, still young enough to work on them. Personally, I'd just find someone to properly fix it and run it another 30yrs... Sarge 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC9KAS 4,741 #15 Posted February 25, 2018 @sue white Very nice story about your Wheel Horse. Sorry there isn't anyone close to you that could help you keep your tractor in good running condition. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites