My last estate auction find. An impressively built Wheelhorse custom.

[ebinmaine 63,137]

Well, if you all are into Customs then this is the kind of tractor that would draw your attention at a show for quite some time.

I found this purely by accident at the estate auction we went to last Tuesday. I had questioned one of the auction employees about something and he mentioned that there were several other things that he just could not get too. This was one of them. You'll see why in the sequence of pictures below. My honey and I had to do a fair amount of Branch moving and other tractor moving and digging but I just had to get it out of there.

It was buried under several inches of pine needles. So deeply that the entire front suspension and steering system was completely in the forest bed. Could have easily been sitting there for two decades or much much longer.

I don't know if I'll ever get this thing to move under its own power but it was way too interesting to leave for some scrap metal guy to come pick up.

 

If you see something about this tractor that raises a question, please ask! I have no idea what's what here but I'd love to figure this thing out.

 

Parts that appear to be Wheelhorse...

Manual transmission. Appears to only have one shift lever but the axles are longer than any 4-speed I've ever seen. At some point I'll measure them and see if they are 1 inch or 1 and 1/8 inch.

The hood is obviously from a late sixties to early 80s.

The seat appears to be from the mid-60s because it is the same basic shape as the one that was on my honey's 657.

It has the thicker style hubs that were starting to be used in the late 70s and the rear wheels appear to be B or C Series.

 

The front axle was about 10 ft in from that little dirt bank at the edge of the asphalt.

 

This photo is taken AFTER my honey and I pulled 5 to 6 feet.

 

One 6 foot strap on the tractor and one on the nose of the trailer and the come along in between. After resetting three times I had it on the trailer.

 

 

 

 

I'm really looking forward to messing around with this thing over the next few months.

 

Edited August 29, 2018 by ebinmaine

[CasualObserver 3,406]

Looking forward to more pictures.  

[WHX?? 46,774]

Yah more pics fer sure EB...steering set looks interesting

[ebinmaine 63,137]

1 hour ago, CasualObserver said:

Looking forward to more pictures.  

 

15 minutes ago, WHX20 said:

Yah more pics fer sure EB...steering set looks interesting

 

Guys I just took a video that's about 5 minutes long and I'm downloading it right now. I'll set it up in a little while. You're going to love this thing.

 

[The Tuul Crib 7,332]

Wow how exciting! The hunt ...The dig!

Please let us know more , Pictures!

[953 nut 51,682]

              Love the home built!       Need to see a bit more of the three speed, could be a 953/1054 with the long axles.       

[ebinmaine 63,137]

 

[pfrederi 17,147]

The front thing was a hand crank like on old farm tractors  You also have an old style belt drive next to the PTO

 

Steering looks like an old Farmall. H or M

Edited August 30, 2018 by pfrederi

[953 nut 51,682]

                       Obviously a salute to the JD from the '50s. lots of clever engineering went into that for sure!          

[Chris G 3,274]

Pretty unique and pretty cool! Was definitely someone's pride and joy at one time.

[WHX?? 46,774]

I'm thinkin the (smart) dude that built this did it for a single purpose  had in mind. Don't ask me why I think this but I also think Richard is on to something about the builder getting some ideas from a JD. The thing is EB lots of questions will go unansered unless by some act of God the builder is revealed, or someone who knew him, just happens to come by by coincedence.No matter what you do with it sure would be a nice, do I dare say lawn ornament, or a conversation piece at shows. Just for grins I would see if I could get it running without sticking much coin in it . You still did good by the rescue.

 

Is the tranny free or go into gears? 

[JAinVA 4,619]

Visual cues are of a John Deere M.Vertical steering wheel,Built up area of the hood and grill.I love the rebar repurpose.I miss the folk art of the people up in Maine.

Edited August 30, 2018 by JAinVA

[WHNJ701 4,164]

if tractors could talk....

[ebinmaine 63,137]

27 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

front thing was a hand crank like on old farm tractors 

I'd say that's how it was started. No key. No starter. No pull rope.

Too bad I don't have that anymore.

Maybe I can make one if I can figure out how to shape it.

The engine appears to be stuck right now but who knows what I'll do with it.

I'd really like to get this machine running.

 

@WHX20

The builder is likely passed to the Happy Tractor grounds in the sky.

I got it from an estate sale auction and was lucky enough to meet and converse with the wife of the fella who passed.

She didn't remember him building this one but he did A LOT of tractors.

It's quite a piece of workmanship.

It won't be lawn art.

I'd like it to be a conversation piece for sure.

The transmission does go into all gears but 3rd with out moving the tractor. It may go in 3rd if I can line up the gears.

 

 

1 minute ago, jabelman said:

if tractors could talk....

Oh man ..... I know.....

[ebinmaine 63,137]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

be a 953/1054 with the long axles.

How can I tell?

[ebinmaine 63,137]

15 minutes ago, JAinVA said:

Visual cues are of a John Deere M.Vertical steering wheel,Built up area of the hood and grill.I love the rebar repurpose.I miss the farm art of the folks up in Maine.

 

47 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

                       Obviously a salute to the JD from the '50s. lots of clever engineering went into that for sure!          

 

 

Good call guys.

[bo dawg 477]

The steering looks like you could change the axle and put those 2 wheels side by side like the old tractors. 

Its pretty cool for sure. 

[WHX?? 46,774]

Bo is talking like a row crop tractor which would be cool. I would throw some LR 6s on it just to get be a roller.

[Pullstart 59,722]

That drive belt system looks like it’s from an old tiller.  Depending on adjustment, they had forward, neutral and sometimes reverse.  Imagine 3rd gear reverse driven!  If nobody has pics, or knows what I’m talking about, I have Grandpa’s old tiller in the back barn, I could get pics tomorrow...

[bo dawg 477]

3 hours ago, WHX20 said:

Bo is talking like a row crop tractor which would be cool. I would throw some LR 6s on it just to get be a roller.

 

Yes! that's right, I couldn't of the proper name for it. Lol

 

[Pullstart 59,722]

 

[ebinmaine 63,137]

13 hours ago, WHX20 said:

 I would throw some LR 6s on it just to get be a roller.

Definitely going to make this one a roller so I can move it around the yard. I think the wheels on the front of this are the same size as the ones on my baby farm tractor. The wheels look okay. I may just buy new tires. They're only like 15 bucks a piece.

 

@pullstart thanks for that video. I'll look at it later when I have a bigger screen and better volume.

 

One of the things I'm curious about what this machine is to see if the 90° sideways gearbox is a one-to-one drive.

Obviously, if it isn't, that would affect the speed of the tractor one way or the other.

 

I really want to get my 1267 tuned up and usable and also get the cinnamon horse done but in between I think I'll be soaking penetrating oil to the joints on this tractor and maybe take a couple apart so I can start to get this machine freed up a bit.

 

[Machineguy 876]

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,046]

@ebinmaine Have you thought about returning to the location and asking permission to search for other parts that went with this tractor. The PO must have build it with a purpose in mind . The rear PO is not on for looks.  Oil and grease the heck out of everything and let is soak in. Every once and while lube it again and stuff may free up. PLEASE PAINT IT RED.

[ebinmaine 63,137]

16 minutes ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

@ebinmaine Have you thought about returning to the location and asking permission to search for other parts that went with this tractor.

*** I've actually been there three times now. Two, for this tractor.

 

The late owner's wife was fairly sure that he did not actually build this tractor. It's been sitting there so long that she had forgotten it was there behind the shed.

She's a wonderful woman who's been very patient and already been through quite a lot in the last few months so I'm not going to bother her again.

The layer of pine needles was so deep on the ground that the steps of this tractor as you can see by the dirt were partially submerged. I think I would have to comb through several inches of organic material if I was ever going to find anything at all.

 

The PO must have build it with a purpose in mind .

*** His wife actually used those same words. This was kind of not really in his radar screen or MO and that's why she didn't think that he had built it.

 

The rear PO is not on for looks. 

 

Oil and grease the heck out of everything and let is soak in. Every once and while lube it again and stuff may free up.

*** That's exactly what the plan is for now. The good news is, none of the joints appear to be swollen or super corroded or flaky with rust. I think everything probably will free up just fine given the right amount of time and maybe a little bit of heat.

PLEASE PAINT IT RED.

*** I've never actually been a huge fan of John Deere myself but I think the guys above are likely correct indicating that it is a tribute to a 50s M series or something close to that.

Funny thing is, the paint is closer to Oliver green and the rear wheels are red like an Oliver. Front wheels are yellow like a Deere.