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Today I went on what I would now consider a great pick. Yeah, I know that makes me sound like Mike Wolfe, but thats really what it was. I drove over an hour away to go look at a '60 Suburban (which I also bought), and the guy showed me around his barns. He had by far the largest collection of pedal tractors I have ever seen in my life. But while I was getting dirty and climbing around one of the barns, this odd ball metal box with numbers on the side and an engine cylinder head in plain view sticking out caught my attention. He said he didn't know much about it other than that he bought it from an old guy who was an airline pilot and the guy claimed it was a cargo sized 49cc foldable motor bike. The numbers on the side corresponded to the aircraft tail number it belonged in. I was like....what? It turns out it is a Valmobile Suitcase Scooter. They were designed in France and produced in Japan during the 50's. They were marketed as a suitcase scooter that could be taken anywhere and/or stored anywhere. According to reading I have done, they became especially popular as emergency transportation in airplanes small boats etc. But they really didn't sell well and the main distribution company located in NJ shortly went bankrupt. Of course there seems to be several collector forums for these things and a pretty serious following. I haven't had much luck finding too much info on value, but I'm confident my gamble in buying it will not leave me at a loss if I decide to ever sell it. The guy claims it runs fine and being a 2 stroke he said it probably will fire right up with little effort.

As some of you know i'm a bodyman, i work at a shop that works on mostly late model cars and about 40% of them are semi high end rides, Lincoln, caddys (I'm also working on a limo right now), BMW, ect......., well this week I got in my stall a car I really would not mind having, wrong color it's white, but I could get over that, it's a 2013 shelby GT500 with a 6 speed trans, I've only drove it around the parking lot but I'm here to tell you 650hp with a stick is unreal, these new cars are so smooooth, and this is the baby shelby the owner said they make them with 900hp but he got this one because it is the most HP you can get from Ford with a warrranty, the owner says in 3rd gear you can mash the gas pedal and set the car sideways, it only has 1400 miles on it he had it put up for winter but it was nice Thankgiving day so he got it out to drive a few miles to the inlaws house and show it off, when a deer jumped out in front of him, well now I'm putting half the front end on the car, I'd love to take this for a test drive but I know what the boss would say, and I know I have self control but i also know I would probably stab the gas at least once, the engine is a monster wall to wall motor with a supercharger on it, all hand built even has a tag that is signed by the engine builder, I could have one not white but any color i want for $60,000 I think I would have to sell a few tractors before the wife would say ok.

I stumbled across this while perusing the interweb (as you do) and thought you guys and girls would like to see it.. It's a short but fascinating film about a man who lives "off the grid" in part of the abandoned plant, doing the odd bit of car and fabricating work to top up his pension. He even has a Wheel Horse

I have a standalone MacKissic shredder and agree with what Glenn has said above. Its not really quick, but it does do a good job. It works a lot better on stuff that is dry, sometimes fresh vegetation cloggs up the hammers a bit. I picked mine up off Craigslist for $75.

This is my Amish neighbor's display...

I bet I'm not the only one that lit a tractor this year. Mine's a 51 Case SC. Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

Just picked this up for my 522xi. Its called a "Quiet Collector" and was available for the 5xi and the 260 series in a bit smaller capacity (I think 11Cu Ft for the 260's). This was on the back of a New Holland GT22A (5xi Clone) in Iowa, and the dealer separated it from his tractor and sold it to me. These are pretty hard to find as I think they didn't sell many of them. I get the feeling toro wanted an arm and a leg. Its going to be great to use in the fall. We have a lot of trees. It holds 14 cubic feet and is driven off of the right hand deck spindle.

Hello all, my name is Rick Robinson and I have just been bitten by the the Wheel Horse bug!! My father taught my how to mow the lawn in the early 1970s and my very first tractor experience was on a "Wheel Horse". As a 7 year old boy who loved anything that had 4 wheels and a steering wheel this was a thrill. Then in about 1974 my dad traded the old Wheel Horse in on a new Penncraft 8 H.P. tractor from JC Penny. I actuall cried the day the old Wheel Horse left our house on someone else's trailer. I don't remember the year or model tractor we had, but that ol tracter left a lasting impression on me. I am a Corvette & Classic Car Dealer and got a lead on a old Corvette that had been sitting for years that was available. When I drove to the gentleman's home, I couldn't help but notice how neat and well kept the property was. Well, I looked at the car but sitting in the corner was this beautiful Wheel Horse tractor. He told me he bought it new in 1965 and always kept it nice. He updated to a new Wheel Horse in the late 1980s, but couldn't bring himself to sell the old 65. I bought the Corvette and told him if he ever wanted to sell the 65 Please call me. Well, about two weeks ago I got the call! He and his wife sold the house and were going to relocate in Arizona. So I am now the owner of this extremely well kept, original 1965 855. The hood and seat pan and some sheet metal were painted in the early 1990s, but the original motor, tires etc. still remain. I just need a decal set. Oh, I hope someone here can shed light on this, but Jim, the original owner said the wheels on this tractor were silver when he purchased it new, but I have never seen this before as I thought they were always a off white color. So that's my story and I look forward to growing in his new hobby. Thanks in advance. Rick

Well I got tired of fighting putting wheels on the tractors. So I coped some one else's idea. Here is what they look like, a picture of the hubs,both sides. I got the 71/6 -20-thread-1 1/2 from McMaster-Carr. The 7 1/6 20 thread nuts from Brandsport.com. (Acorn/ Tapered Seat,Open End) Chas :)

If I can get this to work, this is about the funniest video (actually audio) clip I've seen/heard in a long time. Only in America! http://www.facebook....525835607426627 Duff :ROTF:

I got a call from a former wheel horse dealer about some wheel horse tractors and advertising so I made a little road trip today to check it out I didn't take the trailer since it needs some welding but I will get it repaired and pick up the tractors, what I did get was a sign that hung in his shop, he claims that when he quit selling wheel horse that he boxed up a lot of wheel horse stuff and packed it away...manuals, advertising signs, decals, etc. I will be heading back with cash and a trailer I told him I would take everything wheel horse as long as the price is right, the price on the sign today was FREE!! I offered cash but he wouldn't take it, it's not perfect but will still look good in the shop I am hoping for a lighted sign like the one I just picked up

Really there are only two styles of rear hitches. Slot and Sleeve. What people call the Sleeve hitch, Brinly hitch and the Wheel Horse Clevis hitch are all the same thing. This is a slot hitch. This is a Wheel horse clevis hitch. And just for arguments sake... this is a vertical shaft tractor's Brinly style sleeve hitch. (not very common.) Slot hitch implements have a tab which slides into the slot of the hitch and is pinned in. Sleeve hitch implements have a C shaped clevis jaw that wraps around the hitch and are pinned through the sleeve of the hitch (tube you see on the hitch) Here is an example of the slot to sleeve hitch adapter (Brinly part HH-180) which converted your slot hitch to accept a sleeve hitch implement. This is a factory Brinly part that was available for Wheel Horse and Jacobsen tractors (Jacobsen also used a slot hitch) and here shown with an implement hooked up. The sway plate in the picture is out of normal position, because you don't use it with a plow. (and in relation to the Wheel Horse application, this hitch adapter is upside down, the flat side should be up with bracing on the bottom) Here is another example attached correctly to a drag. Look through the implement gallery and you will see plenty of examples of the two styles.

That will work realy good... i have fab one that looks the same on my brothers puller.. and that works:)

i have one.on a charger v8 , great kid tractor, but it is starting to seize up from what i think is too much slow rpm use with the great nephew running it. i didn't know about the oiling problem & fix. BTW. this tractor was bought at the big show in 2004 & has dealer stickers from kanes mower shop. i also bought a commando v8 for parts but it has a hydro trany . this tractor is now my commando v16 custom and here is a before pic. i plan on puting this engine on the charger v8 then checking the other engine out. nether of these kv-181 kohlers has an oil dipstick, so to check the oil i use a drinking straw down the hole. very inconvient. hope yours runs good. for a long time. run it at rated rpm.& avoid idleing. JAY

You did a beautiful job. Looks great!!!

Just go and look at it. You won't know until you see it. You never know, maybe the smoke he is talking about is from the choke. You never know how mechanical someone is when they describe something. I recently bought a tractor that the guy described to me as having a seized engine..it turns out it was seized because the starter was engaged and stuck in the flywheel. He burned the starter up by trying to start the tractor after it had run out of gas. I replaced the starter and gassed it up, now I have a very nice tractor that is going to no doubt provide me years of service...this is why you need to look at it and then make a decision.

No pics of the damage, I have already removed the messed up parts and I'm test fitting the new panels, I need to put it on the frame machine mon. to finish pulling the coresupport forward another 1/2" and then fit the rest of the parts headlights, bumper cover, all the mounting brackets, ect...... oh to have money, I'll never own one but I can dream. This is a limo I've been working on for near 2 weeks now, it's a funaral home car, and while in use it was hit HARD in the drivers front corner, it ripped the wheel and all the suspention off and stuffed it in to the car, wadded the door up pushed the A pillar/door post back a foot and in 6" and the floor with it, last week I was on the frame machine for 5 days pulling repairing and replacing panels, yesterday and today I put 99% of it back together after being painted, I should have took before pics it was bad.

You guys are hard on a fella. I had completely talked myself out of this and now I'm waffling again. I don't need it and I sure can't explain it to the wife although several of you have offered some creative approaches. I've never rebuilt an engine so I'm a little squeamish about that. I also worry that I won't have the time to put into that I should and it might just sit around after I take it apart. It isn't very far away. I guess I'm going to think about looking at it this weekend and hope like crazy that someone buys it before I get there.

I dont know who did the restoration but I do know it was done right. I bought it off the widow of the gentleman who owned and used it. I sold the tractor and deck at a spring tractor show in Connecticut and it stayed in Connecticut. The blower was bought by someone who lived up near one of the Great Lakes who owned a "D" with a rusted out and worn out snow-blower. If I remember right it was like a 8-9 hour drive one way for the guy to come pick it up at my place. Mike.........

Last night I went to see my 75 year old neighbor whom I knew had a nice push blade for a Wheel Horse. I was hoping he would sell it to me because i was pretty sure he had no need for it, and I could put it to some good use. While we were sitting by the fire talking about Good Moonshine and Bad Women, he happened to mention to me he thought he had a Wheel Horse sitting in the barn, and instructed me to go look and see if it was still there. So with Maglight in hand I walked out to the barn in a light drizzling rain. I entered the barn and lo and behold sure enough there in all its dusty glory sat a 1980's model Wheel Horse, and that in itself was good. But upon close inspection I discovered it was not just any old Wheel Horse, it was one just like I have been searching for over the past two years. The Wheel Horse right n front of me, and only one mile from my house was a Kohler K-341 powered 416-8! After a few minutes I was able to regain my composure, I studied this newly found treasure, and decided right then and there I needed to give it a new home. I then left and went to my place and tried to get some sleep without thinking non-stop about what I had just found. Today during my lunch minute I went to see my friend and with the blessing of his son (who is also a dear friend) we struck a deal on the 416, the push blade, and a 42" SD mowing deck. I brought the blade and deck home tonight. The 416 is still under roof waiting for me to pick it up this Saturday. Here is a pic off the blade and deck, and a sneak preview of the 416. I need you guys to tell me what year model you think this is. Any and all feedack is appreciated. Thank you. Van

Yeah Craig....come on!! lol

I've noticed from all the repair picts posted, that the stress cracks seem to be running vertically between the mounting holes... wouldn't it be better to add bracing material vertically to cover these areas, rather than horizontally like the factory repair? Craig....from looking at the frame design there seems to be vertical bracing on the outside. Vertical cracks to me would be from horizontal flexing. As stout as the frame is I find it hard to understand how forward force could flex that framework because the trans is against the whole flat area. In reverse though only the bolts would carry the stress. I wonder that is how the frames crack???

I agree it would make more sense..but if your going to the trouble of making a plate or two why not make one to fill the entire area like was already mentioned and weld it in permanent ???

They sell that Duplicolor wheel paint at pep boys. It is some good stuff!

You will need a weight bracket and some weights on the front if you use that for grass.

The Stallion will look great with the new donuts. 400 series wheels were silver, I used Duplicolor "Wheel Paint" Silver on my '88 414-8 and '85 416-8 rims. Look great, original. Paint dries very fast. Used the rattle can, simple. Just changed, '85 416-8, wheel studs to bolts (7/16-20 x 1 1/2" long), flat washers and lug nuts (7/16-20 thread), blue Threadlocker on the bolts, all chrome. Nice! Followed instructions in this forum, Thanks New Hampsha! "Shoeing" the Horse has never been easier. Going to change the other three Horses over too.

Ok I got everything back together and installed on the tractor and it works!!!! Again, all I did was relace the seals and the guts of the motor cylinder block. Thanks everyone for you help!!!!!

Morning Richard, yep I guess replacing both capacitors is the way to go, and I know your right about the tube.. It just pains me a bit to have to damage something new in order to get it out.. I'm still baffled about the bushes breaking, like you I can't work out why they put the extra cut in when it's not needed.. I guess they have their reasons but I'm stumped as to what they are! The bushes are a nice tight fit on the axles, a light bit of rubber mallet action is needed to get them on. The hole that broke (here's a photo of an unbroken bush and sprocket) is the one that is used for separating the bush, a grub screw never lives in there full time. I do have a multimeter but I wouldn't know what to look for, so yep both will be replaced. The new tires should work a lot better with a lot more grip... They will also put more strain on the drive train, so we shall see what breaks next It's been a quiet few days in the shack, Pete dropped in Tuesday and did a bit more work on the axe heads he is making.. He also gave me a hand getting the right side outrigger bolted on. We also had bit bit of fun with some cardboard to try and get an idea on how the stretched fenders might look when they are done.. From the back.. And the front. I finished the day doing something painful.... Yep, making a hole in a new tube!! Wednesday dawned bloody cold.... A -8'C (17.6'F) sort of cold!! Cold enough to freeze water as I poured it into the kettle!! One the shack had warmed up a bit I fitted a used but good tube in the tire... The right way round this time So, I can now say that all six of the new tires have been fitted......... Again.. Some new taper bushes have been order along with a couple of new bearing to replace the two that got bent while trying to remove them I was feeling too rough to do anything in the shack yesterday, but feeling a bit more steady today, so I might venture out there this afternoon..

its sleeping at the moment until the 12 year old decides he wants to do some work on it.......

No worries! I appreciate the effort - and the fun! Duff :thumbs:

Yes, we do. We have a '80 MacKissic Hammermill Shredder we use in the Fall on the front of our 312. It shreds leaves, corn stalks and small sticks. Six bags of leaves into just one. It's not fast, takes time and good effort to feed, but very rewarding turning that scrap into fine mulch and organics. Shredded materials break down very quickly, actually in weeks. Google to learn more (or MacKissic.com), also WW Shredder is an excellent one also. You'll enjoy it, really enjoyable work doing it. A used MacKissic may run $150-$350 depending on condition. Be sure the one your looking at turns freely, best to see it actually run. The hammers are reverseable and really don't need to be sharp, it's the speed of the hammer that smashes-shatters-breaks up the pieces, and the screen controls the size of the exit pieces ($75), again, dry materials shatter easily. We also have a 1935 hammermill, it works just fine, just that the above one is so much more fun.

If he does, he'll get a little something extra I'm planning for you! :jaw:

Very nice paint booth! Phone? Surround sound system or just wo....wo......work? Great work on the Stallion too!

You don't, just buy it & a few others....pretty soon she becomes oblivious to how many red tractors you actually have. Just tell her that the little cute B-80 is her tractor and you wanted to get it for her so you could spend more time with her while you are cutting the grass. Explain that this will bring the 2 of you closer together. Tell her that every time you look at the tractor you think of her. Then she might even get get into them too and you can buy as many as you want!!!!!!! Before you know it she will be telling you about ones she saw for sale and you will have a garage full of them!!!!!! Oh..... and by the way Welcome to Red Square!!!!!

The wife found this on Pintrest, I think it is cool.

Every time i see one of these i want one that much more. I got a call about a month ago with someone who had one but didn't have the room at the time. Its now gone but i would still love to find one of these to use as a solid yard machine. Very nice score!

Here is a picture of my 1977 C-120 with the extra strip of metal from the factory. I would get the next longer bolts and add metal thickness to take up the difference. With a flat mounting plate like your 702 I would use a wider strip top and bottom. My C-120 has a ridge formed above that strip and another below top bolts. I have only use my tractor mostly for mowing and haven't damage the mount.

Craig check out this topic. I bougth the last plate my dealer got from Toro. So I took pics & measurements. New they would come in handy one day.

Looks awesome with a blower on it doesn't it? Just don't get in front of it when it is engaged. These may be a member's pictures that I saved in my picture library.

Jay, I think you are right! This is the first Black Hood I can remember seeing in NC. Surely there must have been more sold than just this one. Anyway, I'm happy it found it's way to me. Of course you are welcome to take it to your house to play with for a while. I'm sure Jen won't mind you bringing home a "Loaner" Ken B, I need to tell you this was the last Wheel Horse for sale in North Carolina. I guess you guys will have to look elsewhere Van There are a few around my neighbor found one last spring.

Be sure when you pull the little handle it is pulling the pin all the way out, I've had to shorten the wire on a few plows to get the pin to pull back far enough.

Hi Terry, glad you like the ol beast, yep it's looking quite good now. Ta muchly for watching my vid's, there is now a Part 43 up on MooTube. Hey Matt, lol I'm glad about the axle as well.. I didn't fancy having to make a new one but a bit of brute force and the press have done the job.. I'm sure there will be plenty of time the press will come in handy, there been soooo many time in the past when it would of come in very handy. Yep, get yourself a lathe... You won't regret it Hey Mike, ta muchly for taking the time to read/watch this build. Happy you like it No point in getting stressed about your conversion, just take your time and it will fall into place.. At long last I finally got round to having a look at my dead compressor.. I can't remember who it was (but thank you) who said the starter capacitor had died, so that's what I had a look at... Ah.. There's two.. Any idea's which one it is I need to replace? It's been a tad cold around here of late, a nice chilly -6.5'c in the shack one morning!! It wasn't enough to freeze the E-tank right over though.. There's a wheel rim in there somewhere.. Which leads me nicely onto the next photo.. It come's with a slight confession!!! You see the tire isn't sitting quite right on the rim.. That's because a certain Muppet put the tube in the wrong way... And didn't realize until I took the pump off the valve and the valve instantly shot inside the tire!!! The question is... Do I sort the problem out now which would mean making a hole in a new tube, or.... Do I put the wheel on as it is (it's got the right amount of air in it), and hope a bit of sideways driving will pop the tire right on.. The tire could hold air for years without any problems.. At least the last three tires went on without any problems today.. And then the problems started again when I started to take the other side apart to swap the wheels.. I found a broken taper lock bush!!! Er.. Not sure how that could of happened!!! A little while later I was even more baffled.. Three out of four of the bushes on the right hand side had busted!! How these are breaking I have no idea, they are tight fit around the axle and the sprocket clams the bush ever tighter on the axle.. Confused?? Yep! An end of the day photo.. Five out of six wheels bolted on... For those that like the visual as well as written (ok, typed), here's build video Part 43.. Enjoy..

Thanks again guys for all the kind words. When I buy a car I try to document it as far back as I can. This 855 was easy because I bought it from the original owner. When Jim (the original owner) had some of the sheet metal painted at a local auto body shop, he had the original dealer decal masked off. Ike's Service was the Wheel Horse dealer he bought it from, but all he could tell me is they went out of business a long time ago. A good friend of mine who collects Economy tractors lived close to that area (Navarre Ohio) back at that time but had no recollection of the dealer, he asked his wife as she grew up in Navarre and jack pot, she actually lived right next door. I followed her directions and found the original Ike's Service which was a over sized garage behind a ranch home just outside of town. She also believes Ike's grand son lives in the house at the present time and no other business ever opened on this site. I took a picture of the original Ike's as it looks today. My friends wife is going to put me in touch with the grand son and who knows what will turn up. I'm just hoping for some original dealer decals or dealer advertising, so I'm crossing my fingers. And one more thing, you guy's are exactly right, I just bought another WH, but I'll get into that one real soon. I will let everyone know what I find out from the grand son.

You took the words right out of my mouth, well said!!

Very nice FEL setup! One of these days.......... Used to pass through DE often on my way to MD. Cut through Harrington, great landscape down your way, on my way to Harmony 'n Preston. Senic and 'bout as flat as it gets. The C-130's (?) takin' off from Dover were always a sight to see when we used US 13! My kids, years ago, liked the long ride which forced us to use the Cape May, NJ-Lewes, DE ferry. The Eastern Shoremen I know down your way always told me, "Christmas or birthday gifts have to be something I can use fishin' or don't bother." :-)

No matter if you ever get it running or not, you did a good thing by saving it. That thirty dollars was well spent. I would have done the same thing.

Thank guys, here are a few more pics. Yes TT , Jim had the lights installed before taking deliv. when he purchased it new. He also replace the seat with a newer genuine Wheel Horse seat, so I would really like to find a original seat. I also have ALL the original paperwork and maint. records since day 1, Not pictured is the original mower deck which is in beautiful, near perfect condition. I will be ordering decals from Terry very soon. Thanks again guy's.

Like the fellas have said, Welcome to !!! That's a fine looking machine you got! And welcome to Horseaholics-not-Anonymous. Meetings are ongoing here on the forum and cater to all manner of addictions - round hoods, square hoods, maroon stripers, pullers, customs, rats, and on and on. All are welcome, and, "My name is Duff...and I'm a Horseaholic!" Duff :thumbs:

It's not hard to figure out where the original fender went. Those 'Tupperware' fenders were definitely a bad idea..... and we all know who was in charge of Wheel Horse when they appeared. :silence:

The points cover is visible in both pictures of the tractor. It's definitely not a Magnum. A 12 vs. 13 fin block is irrelevant for a stock worker. Either version would be a good engine. My opinion on what to do with it...... Give it a good going-over, fix what's broken, and use it. That's why they were built. :thumbs2: