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Hello my name is Matt. I am new to owning a Wheel Horse tractor. I found my 1975 C-160 about six months ago in the central mountains of Colorado. Purchased it from the second owner with the original mower deck and a newer Toro plow as well as the original owners manual. Purchased as a package for $400. I just got it running a few weeks ago after figuring out that it had the wrong plug. After getting it started I ground down the super dull blades to a nice edge and mowed my acre property with ease. It road and mowed very nice, but it is now leaking hydraulic fluid.. When I began seeking out a used garden tractor for my property I was hoping to find a Wheel Horse first, John Deer or an Alice Chalmers. Those were the garden tractors names that I could remember from my youth. Grew up outside of Dundee, Iowa. My family had several full sized tractors, older Fords, White and Cases. I feel pretty lucky to have this tractor in this condition and for the price I paid.

Found this in a old parts bin from when we had a Whee Horse dealership on are farm. Never been opened, though it might be of interest.

As some of you guys might know I have a few hobbies other than tractors. I enjoy rebuilding and restoring vintage boats and outboards. I picked this boat up via a blockbuster trade with my brother Dave. He got the boat a few yrs ago and I told him when the time comes, I WANT it. The boat has mahogany benches and oak on the top rails from the factory. Time had taken its toll on the finish on the wood and Dave wasn't into restoring it. The boat is actually a pretty rare boat, it is a 1954 Larson Crestliner. It is 14 ft. long. Many moons ago someone painted the bottom green, it is supposed to be red and they also painted the sides silver. Over the past week I stripped all the old varnish off the wood and stripped the paint off the sides as well. I wet sanded and buffed the sides out and scuffed the green paint and painted it with a marine paint in the correct color. I refinished all of the wood. Next I will restore the trailer and paint it in period correct colors. I think it is a proud boat once again. The first pic is of when my brother first bought this boat, Like I said though, time had taken its toll. I traded one of my boats for this one, mine needed no work and my brother won't have to worry about taking care of the wood on this old Larson Crestliner. I also coughed up my 633 in the deal, and he tossed in a 1952 Johsnon 25 hp outboard. The motor currently on the boat is a 1953 Evinrude Super Fastwin 15 that I rebuilt and then cosmetically restored a few yrs. ago. My son Cole fell in love with the outboard so it is now his. The second boat is a 1958 Duratech I started restoring a few weeks ago, It was put on the back burner when I got the Crestliner. I have to finish that one soon or I might lose interest!

Oh dear,nowhere for a bottle! IDEA! tie string to bottle and put it in the river,mow some grass,park the mower in the shade,drink beer,forget the rest of the mowing(can always do it some other time!) design two bottle 12v fridge and exhaust powered pie oven,lie on mown grass,fall asleep,SORTED!!

I was thinking...the 70's....after reading the title of this thread....

In the shade! Sissies, our brothers and sisters are in Afghanistan in the sun avoiding IED's... and you are worried about a little sun while sitting on your arss, drinking beer just waiting around for the Friday Night cruise...

Always plenty of room and plenty of cold ones in the CT section! C'mon over! (No bug eatin allowed at our site though!)

My local Fastenal will not break a bag or box. When I only need two of something, I can't justify buying a box of 100. McMaster sells in quantity also. For Nuts, bolts and screws is Boltdepot.com for me. Other hardware is a crap shoot. I get it where I can.

Good info, Thunderlizard. There are a few of us "geeks" here. A few of us designing our own voltage regulators, thermocouple head temperature monitors and drive around with a digital o'scope strapped to the hood of their tractors. We are here but you have to search out the posts. The display board you refitted with LED's appears to be a more updated version of the 12 volt circuit board I had to rebuild for a 416-8. I did an extensive post about rebuilding the copper traces on the board and replacing the connector for the board. I'll try to find the posts and insert the links on this thread. Your circuit appears to be a diode logic based circuit vs the integrated exclusive or circuit in my older version rebuild. I believe Andy or Mark did a rebuild on a similar board a year or so back. I'm sure they will chime in too. I would be interested in knowing what markings are on the IC chip on the board. I'm guessing it may be a 555 timer to blink the oil low light. The diode logic intrigues me as it may be a little tricky to design an exclusive OR logic with just diodes. Who knows, maybe they changed the logic scheme to pickup the multiple safety switch states. Interesting. And welcome to RS. Chuck p.s. I know that "what the heck happened" feeling walking into a modern day Radio Shack store. Don't know how old you are, but I grew up in Radio Shack stores thru the 1970's and 80's. These days, all the "good stuff" as you said has indeed been stripped from the racks and stuffed into small cabinets in the far rear corners of the stores. I guess that is on purpose to keep us away from the "normal" customers. When you bring a diode or capacitor up to the checkout counter, the questions are invariably the same. "Dude, What IS THAT?" and "What they heck do they use those for and what are you going to do with it?" I pay the bill, politely decline to "LIKE" him on his Facebook page and try to get out the front door as quickly as possible. I then brush a small tear away from the corner of my eye. Know that I weep for the future and those who have the entire knowledge of mankind at their finger tips but rather choose to use their Ipad to watch YouTube talking cat videos and argue with people (whom they have never met) if Lady GaGa's new CD is better than her last one.

Got home from work and found this on the table. I remember some of my friends having these when I was a kid in the 60's. I'll have to build a barn with it for my toy tractors.

Painted up my wagon.....I used the magic camera to make it look better than it is.....lol

If your lawn is pretty level, you can put one of these on the hood, and then you will have a spare... http://search.defender.com/?SI=0380ab90-fdc2-4aa1-aa39-99b859bb5d1f&Action=14&AXD=http%3a%2f%2fwww.defender.com%2fProductDisplay%3fprodnum%3d600683%7e600683%7eEdson+Stainless+Double+Drink+Holder%7e33.99 Or if it is bumpy, you need one like this... http://search.defender.com/?SI=0380ab90-fdc2-4aa1-aa39-99b859bb5d1f&Action=14&AXD=http%3a%2f%2fwww.defender.com%2fProductDisplay%3fprodnum%3d400256%7e400256%7eSea-Dog+Gimballed+Drink+Holder%7e9.99

Well...here is where I am at...and I will bet there is 30 guys out there that already know what I am going to say. You already have that transmission off the horse, you can see that you have at least one issue with the casting (and you can't fix that without getting that bearing out of the way). ...open that sucker up and see what else may be bad. Racinfool40 said he has a left side if you need it...you can get bearings if they are bad and seals. If it is just seals and a couple of bearings...maybe $50...but the trans is good for another 50 years...now that you will keep an eye on it better then the last 5 owners. I think I would want to see how bad those cracks/holes/grooves really are. Thanks for the pictures...worth a thousand words. That casting actually looks broke in the second to the last picture (bottom right)...like some one was jumping something with the horse and the axle fractured the housing. Take a look.

Thanks for the warm welcome! My first agenda is to fix the hydro lines issues. From there I am going to slowly begin a complete restoration of the exterior, new paint tires etc. I am a firm believer in the old saying -if it ain't broke don't fix it. This tractor sat all winter and on the first fire it started up with the new spark plug. It is a great running tractor! I am wondering if there are any reproduction stickers for my tractor. That would be cool as well as new rubber treads etc..

Ready for decals.

I'm not sayining if it will or will not explode, but I wouldn't trust it. The engine tins will definitely not stop the chunks of cast iron if it does explode.

If your bringing Donuts your going to need an official forum MUG also.

Sounds like a recipe for a perfect summer.

Just throwing this out there..I have some spare cases if ya need them!..

Can you get a clear picture and post? I'm thinking that this might be something could be fixed up with JB Weld... ?

Sqounk, Relax and have a cup of Wheel Horse dark roast. from your official forum mug.

Mike...I got to meet SteveOOOOO...at Rick's sale....will have to admit that he is the "real deal"....he hangs out with some funny characters too!!...of course you don't want to mention any names ...hummmm...like Brrly1....not sure how these guys got thru customs at the MO/IL border!! Sorry but I will not get to sample the stuff on the grill at da big show....but you are forgetting some of the best stuff.....I remember ole Jerry's ROAD KILL stew...but one thing about it, its fresh...think he runs it down just outside Ardentsville!!...ummm beaver and bugs...might need an MD at the show this year. PS...Ole Doc in KY will be there "on call" PSS...sorry to hack this thread

Who is he?

So, we are eating bugs, dandelion tea, mustard root and crustaceans out of the near by creek...and home made wine and Rock & Rye in Red Solo Cups. What more can you ask for?? Making me home sick. I did not know you had all these things out east. And here I was just looking for a good time with excellent people and some tractor parts... and maybe some snow in New England. WHY GO BACK HOME??? Vinc...you can use my toothbrush.

Very interesting and this is what U.S. Paints has on it's website: Aftermarket Paints The majority of the paints and coatings that we manufacture at U.S. Paint are custom designed for the specific applications and processing systems of our customers. As the premier coatings supplier to the North American OEM Powersports market, however, we can often supply paint systems in smaller quantities for aftermarket finish work. If we have the original OEM finish available, we are willing to help you restore your personal watercraft, ATV, side-by-side vehicle, snowmobile, golf cart, tractor, or trike to its original factory finish. U.S. Paint offers factory certified coatings for select Honda Motorcycle models from 1991 to date. Learn More >>

Have you tried cutting with the deck up? The bumpers on the deck should hit the bottom of the foot rests in the full up position. If they don't, then the lift chain bolt can be adjusted so the deck comes up higher. When the grass is really tall I first cut with the deck up and then go back and cut with the deck down but with the back wheels adjustment lever on one of the high notches. I also now use a cardboard baffle to keep the clippings that fly out from the front of the deck from getting sucked up into the cooling air intake of the ONAN.

Just for the sake of being nosy I Goggled US paints. They are still in business. Heres the link. Maybe they might make up a batch or could help out with some original paint color. http://www.uspaint.com/paints/aftermarket-paints.asp

If you cant find a shop with a growler, you can use an Ohm meter and check each segment of the commutator from segment to ground(shaft)

i just got a LT 1100 and was about to send it to the scrap yard. ill take some pics when i go home and u can tell me if u want them or not.

Denny it's from the late 50's to I think somewhere around early 60's.

Show em a picture of the kitchen! Mama will have yer rear if she catches a hint of what you done! You got issues dude.....

Worth the drive. Last year they had 500 visitors that day to the winery. A full array of tractors. From Hiller three wheelers, power kings, wheel horses, sears, odd balls ... to full size john deere's. This year my family and some friends will buy a bottle of wine, chill under a tree, listening to music and try to think of a way to purchase another tractor. This is a family event. Also with tractor pull.

I was able to get it cleaned up tonight. I pulled the carb, fuel pump and fuel sediment bowl. As with any machine that has sat in a shed with gas in it for about 30 years, these parts needed to be cleaned. I soaked them for a few hours. Once the family went night night, I took the parts up in the kitchen and washed them off in the sink. You know that you have an additction when you are cleaning tractor parts in your kitchen sink on your 15th wedding anniversary..... Anyhow, here is how they sit now. Nice and clean and ready to install after work tomorrow. Hopefully she will be running tomorrow afternoon. I need to pick up a battery and drive belt (thanks for the specs Brian), hook up the key switch. PO pulled it off but it was still there in the tool tray. Found that the 2 prong key was broken off inside. I just happen to have a few NOS keys if I can manage to get the broken one out. I may even have an NOS key switch or good used one. I need to go through my parts boxes. Here is a picture of the parts cleaned up.

You may want to contact someone in the vendors section or check with Daves Tractor World in Gardners Pa.

Not to knock the honda engines, because they are awesome power plants. I think I would consider going diesel for the price http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fitem.mobileweb.ebay.com%2Fviewitem%3FitemId%3D321121973720%26index%3D2%26nav%3DSEARCH%26nid%3D51552022590&h=sAQEEaC0Z

Being the cynical old sot that I am, I have to question why what 'appears' to be a very professional production company does not supply it's researchers with @firecrackerfilms.com email addresses. Be suspicious to good measure here fellas... that hotmail address may be a tipoff that she isn't who she says she is.

There is nothing particularly special about rebuilding the K482. The biggest problems I have seen with these are worn rings and valves/seats needing re-facing, very basic stuff that will cause the engine to lose power and seem tired. If you take your time, follow the manual and do all the procedures methodically, there should be no problems rebuilding one of these. The worst things people do is not taking the time to measure the parts accurately and spend the money that needs to be spent to replace what is worn out or have machined what needs to be machined. You see where guys do the $50, “redneck rebuild,†on a filthy bench in their garage that consists of deglazing cylinders and putting new rings on yet they overlook actually measuring the cylinders, pistons, or the crankpins or checking anything else and then just throw the engine back together. It’s nonsense like that which usually causes an engine to fail in very short order. If you have successfully rebuilt a car engine or any sort engine before, I wouldn’t give a second thought to working on the K482, it’s actually a fun and very worthwhile engine to dig in to. The small engine shops around me suck to the point I would never trust them to do so much as change a spark plug for me. A good automotive machine shop is the place to hunt down, if you know guys with race cars around your area they can point you in the right direction. These shops more often have guys who are engine enthusiasts who will take the time to do machine work right. Mower shops are usually more interested in just pumping repair work out the door. (No offense intended to the good mower shops out there.) -Mark-

I'm feeling a little embarrassed here...I really do not do anything any one of us would not do for some one...but thanks Mike...glad to help. Brian, we are going to have to make our way over to the Connecticut guys area for a couple again this year. :orcs-cheers:

Not sure 'bout your tires 'n rims but, there are a lot of mounted tires on the shelf at Home "Cheapo" and Lowes. I would take a peek-a-boo there. I'm guessing your rims are worn beyond rebushing? Bushings are also in the Lowes hardware section. Sorry, don't know your size needed. Worth a look though. Check Miller Tire, listed 800# you could call 'em if you need to. http://www.millertire.com/products/lawn-garden-tires/13x6-50-6/13x6-50-6-carlisle-turf-saver/

you can replace the brass bushings in side of the wheels mine were worn out and i replaced them now there good as new for my lt1136. toro still sells the parts i got them from partstree

you can always come on over and use our grill Mike and It's a good thing the show is just around the corner it's been a while I'm having "saurus" withdrawl Brian

Here's my solution! note brush screen sans grass clippings. plus no PTO engaged so the Onan is all you hear!

I bought a Kohler K-161T yesterday with a gas tank to replace the H60 to have more power and the h60 needs a total rebuild, so I'll do it later. I put the k161T on with the gas tank and I only have about a half inch of space between the head of the engine and the tank. Is it suppose to be like that or do I have the wrong size tank? What size tank is the original 604 tank?

Just a few finishing touches to go. Needs decals and the letters painted plus that little id plate between the throttle/choke. Runs like a champ and i cant wait to get it out in the yard.