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I'm blown away with all your great comments guy's... all. A few bits have been done over the past couple of days.. The exhaust now has a heat shield to hopefully stop the paint on the hood from melting.. The battery box finally has a lid, I still need to paint it.. And the motion control levers have had a fresh coat of paint by Rob.. Sorry, no photo's of the above but have a few taken of the ol girl when the sun came out..

That was me in the Wheel Horse T-shirt. I went to the gun show to pick up some extra ammo and was standing in line, when you introduced yourself. I'm sorry we didn't have more time to talk, and I lost sight of you once I entered the show. My wife and I went to the WH show for a couple of hours on Friday afternoon. Since the wife was with me, I didn't stay the whole day because I didn't want her to be bored. I did hear you announcing during the parade and thought it was you when you spoke to me. I did have time while I was at the show to meet VinylGuy and his wife, as well as Mrs. Martino, It looks like you were very busy the entire time I was there. My wife kind of surprised me and really enjoyed the show. She thought all the folks were very nice, and she was really impressed by the behavior of all the kids. She wants to go back again next year, and take our two Wheel Horses to show! It was nice to meet you, and please send me a personal message if you would like to get together sometime and swap stories. Michael in Chesterfield

Here is my 1969 Electro-12. We have a habit around here of naming everything and this one is affectionally named Kenny. Named Kenny because I got it in 2010 in a trade with Ken B. I still have in my mind the picture of Ken driving away with a basically empty trailer with only a little Suburban in it, while I had tractor and tractor implements basically falling off of my truck. I never got over the guilty feeling. This is the work horse around here. Absolutely invaluable.Runs beautifully and starts every time.It has power and its fast. The entire property is maintained with only this tractor.I now pull a gang mower with it instead of using the deck. Its major advantage however is plowing in the winter since the Hydro is easier and quicker to operate the plow than a regular set up. This is a machine that definitely changed how everything is done around here.Thanks again Ken. .

Sorry not buying it you wouldn't double cut a part when you don't have to ( waste of money) If that part was made originaly to fit on a RJ 59 it would only be cut on the top side not on the bottom as the ponds were not making 400 surburbans yet what that part tells me by looking at it. The cuts on the top side for The RJ was done after the fact ( as the part was originally made for the 400 surburban first then modified to fit a RJ ) or a retro kit for owner dealer modifcation to the RJ lift Brian

I am always checking craigslist for old gas powered equipment and kohler k series engines, I came across this one yesterday close to home so I picked it up. This is a bolens super versa matic with a k90 kohler that should run, previous owner put a different clutch on it but gave me the original. I was going to pull the engine and ebay the rest but it is so complete and in great condition for its age I can't take it apart I may hold onto it until I find a bolens ride a matic just in case I need any parts. I am still on the hunt for a pond walk behind but the bolens will do for now. Anyone know what the attachment on the front was used for it has several pulleys and is factory except the pieces of angle iron look to be added at sometime.

There was a big gun show today at the Richmond International Raceway so I went to look for a deal on some ammo but what do I find ....... not one but two folks who go the Annual Wheel Horse Show ! The one fellow was wearing this years Wheel Horse Show "t" shirt, I spotted the shirt and inquired where he got the shirt he replied "I got it at the Wheel Horse convention up in Pennsylvania" ..... so then asked him if he recognized my face from the show and he said "No but I do recognize your voice" ! Wild Bill Richmond, VA

Guess I'll weigh in here. How are we determining "toughness"...pulling power?, brute strength?, long term survivability? Over the years I've done a lot of swapping, selling...general Horse trading & have had all the above models in my stable at one time or another. Here's my thoughts on some of them. D's...the hydro D's are built like tanks. I mean literally they are big, square, & take a lot of room to maneuver. There known for sloppy steering, weak hydro's (more related to wear & tear than design), complicated DCL linkages. early D's had problems with the bull gears spitting out the bolts & breaking the transaxle cases open. For a hydro they have plenty of yanking ability, but a hydro will never be as efficient as a gear drive. They are a tough Horse...but not the toughest. D250...nice machines (I like mine a lot!), probably Wheel Horse's only true entry to the "CUT" market. Like any Horse they have there share of issues, parts availability, weak steering & transaxle problems. Built with a Renault engine, Italian steering gearbox, German transaxle, cuts grass with a John Deere deck, assembled by Gutbrod in Germany, imported to the states with Wheel Horse stickers...is it really a Horse or a stepchild at best? Plenty of power & a lot of neat features, but again I don't think it's the toughest Horse. GT14's...I've had a few & they are "tough", but no more so than any other big block hydro Horse. 520's...I'm not a 520 fan. I had one great one with a 48" deck that would mow grass or plow snow like crazy. Then I've had three others that were less than great, weak frames (I suspect from heavy use carrying a 60" deck causing them to crack at the mid point), blOnan issues, wiring problems, finicky carbs & thirsty, thirsty, thirsty! I think the 20HP Onan & 60" deck were to much for the Wheel Horse chassis... They are a sweet sounding machine & have a lot going for them...I don't think very "tuff" though. 953/1054's....round hoods on steroids. Pretty tough, early models had some issues with the spider gears going "bang". Not all that "tough" either. IMOP...a C series with a big block Kohler, 8 speed, 8 pinion trans is the toughest tractor ever built by Wheel Horse. They are simple to work on, plenty of pulling power, survive & keep going. I know of a C120 a barn collapsed on & sat under that mess for years, when it was dug out eventually it took very little to get it running again. (that's tough!) They may not out pull a D, GT14, 520...or even a 953/1054, but when is the last time you seen one of those in front of a sled? Opinions are free & vary, those are just my thoughts on what Wheel Horse's "toughest" model could be. To much caffeine tonight.

If you weren't wearing the white pants, and carrying a mic, how would they recognize you Bill.

In 1974 my father bought a brand new C160 Automatic, 36" RD deck, dump cart and Parker Sweeper to replace our junkyard Springfield. During my mowing years, I used this tractor every week. We didn't have a snow blade or blower so it was a summer tractor only. My father passed away in 1991, and my mother kept the tractor. When I bought my house in 1993, I bought my brand new 416-H because of the experience with the C-160. Well, my mother moved and no longer needed a tractor, gave the C160 to my brother and God knows what happened to it but sad to say it's gone. I had wanted to have a father / son project and thought what better tractor to get than a C-160 Automatic. Looking around all I could find was an old Electro and C-120 Automatic. A short time later Eldon (kj4kicks) found a C-160 somewhere in the midwest. It ran but wasn't much to look at. He offered to go pick it up (he was going that way anyway) bring it back and trade the Electro and C-120 for it. I agreed because it would complete the cycle from my father, to me to my children. Well, I went to pick up my C-160, expecting to get a rusty old tractor, but instead I received this: It turns out that with a collection from the members, and Eldon's awesome talent, he dismantled the tractor, painted it, and put it together. There was only a few odds and ends for me to complete. It was a complete surprise and I am still in awe of what everyone had done for me. This is one C-160 which is truly a RedSquare tractor, and it is my entry for this month's category!

Well, I've talked about it and thought about it a lot, and inspired by some of bobs fantastic creations and a few others I finally got started. For those who are wondering what the hell I'm on about here's a few of my faves - there's a doe triple d there too built by Simon here in the UK. The idea of a 4x4 wheel horse attracts me as well as the fact I like big tractors and the oversize ags that go with them. I've a big pile of spares and a Raider 10 minus the engine that looks like a start point Here's the first prototype.... It's a bit weak on power and steering - as well as a few other obvious omissions . This actually let's me see how the transmissions sit. This is more what I'm thinking though.... So armed with two gearboxes, I started the measurements and plans....

MODS I know this is not the place for this but I figure it will get the most traffic here, move if you need to, Thanks I have been slacking this year, my Daughter graduated high school, so we had a open house to do, she is going off to collage in a few weeks so we are planning for that, plus personal family stuff has came up, I have not been on RS or many of the other sites much at all in the past few months, so I’m WAY WAY behind on promoting and updating the MI WH show. I’ll post more over the next few days, I’m on vac. This week and hope to catch up on many things I have put off or just plan forgot about with everything going on. The Great lakes Wheel Horse show is Aug. 2,3 and 4th in Charlotte MI 48813 at the eaton county fair grounds, it is held in conjunction with the Big and little tractors show, There will be tractor games, kiddie tractor pedal pulls, full size tractor pulls, garden tractor pulls and other stuff to watch and do, we have food on site, camping is available on the grounds in a nice wooded camp grounds with all hook ups, restrooms and showers also, we are close to down town, with restaurants, and many stores for most of your needs, there are a few hotels very close by, there is road construction near the show but if you follow the detour signs it is easy to get around, I’m hoping to have something set up for a raffle prize very soon, not sure what yet ?? I’ll update more soon, and questions please ask, I’ll try to keep on top of this as much as I can. Hope to see you all here.

Just wondering if any of you folks around here would be interested in seeing some turn of the century abandoned logging & drilling equipment that we stumbled on while out on our wheelers ? If there's any interest, I'll pop some pics up tomorrow afternoon...

Now I just need somewhere to go... Started off just a chassis from a pop-up camper that I traded for from a guy at work. 2 sheets 3/4" marine plywood $35 a sheet A pair of tyres and wheels if eBay $75 LED light kit $45 Replacement light for the one we snapped off. $25 New to me trailer about $225 Now I need a hitch for the truck.

Back in May I took a road trip to Henrico NC to bring home a one owner 414-8. The tractor came with a really nice 42" SD mowing deck, a nearly brand new mule drive, a Brinley rear mounted scrape blade, and a sleeve hitch. The tractor is equipped with all the linkage for the rear lift system. This is a HUGE PLUS for me as I have been wanting to add a Wheel Horse to the herd as a perminant tilling tractor. I already have the tiller. I had an extra tiller bracket, so after the paint dries it will go on the 414 along with the tiller. I'll post some pics of the tractor with the tiller mounted after all that is married up. Jay-in-NC made me a super nice custom weight bar for the front. It clips right onto the front where the mule drive goes. Here are some pics for your weekend enjoyment!!!

Here it is on tractor

Guess there are many possibilities http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TAtRCJIqnk&list=PL12B85862EB87478B (now clearing all my old messages from my inbox to prepare for all expected responses)

Taking care of family stuff is never slacking Kelly. I really wish this show was closer!! Good luck! Mike..........

I was at one of the Antique Outboard Club meets earlier this yr. I was over by the ramp gettin ready to call it a day. One of the guys was removing his pristine 1958 Evinrude Sportwin 10 from the transon of his row boat. I offered him some help and told him that it drops off pretty quick at the rear of his boat and he might lose his footing in the loose sandy gravel. He tells me, "Nope, I got this" alrighty then. He then lifts the motor off the transom, he slips and instantly baptizes it. After he dropped it it slid down the little underwater cliff and wound up in 6 ft of water. Oh, he wasn't happy. He then spends the next half hr. retreaving it and another half hr drying it out and taking it for a quick spin to make sure everything is ok. He gets back to shore and there I am. "Hey Don ya need a hand" "Nope, I learned my lesson the last time" "Really?" He then proceeds to loosen the transom clamps on his Beautiful 1958 Evinrude Sportwin 10....."You sure Don?" "Yup, I got this" Well, you know what happens next! Into the drink it goes again! I couldn't contain my laughter, I had to get outta there fast!

That's the well know supplier that had them, now they are stainless, which will prevent a bike from winning that $2.00 trophy. They were only used on step thru's and springer eagles, and I think the production # was 1001. And I can't add a smiley and I don't know why!

Check these.............http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-hose-clamps/=niuznx stevasaurus, you must have his post about the same time I started to copy/paste!

Original bolens colors. The bolens ride a matic is the rider version much like the wheel horse rj it started out as a walk behind tractor.

You were made for each other... that poor ol' doesn't know anything about you either. Seriously, you'll learn as you go...go drag it home.

That deck is the original deck for that horse...only year they made that deck and it went on the 701. Don't lose it...it is on the rare side and is sought after. Notice the wheels are on the inside of the deck. They would get a little tangled with grass clippings so for 1962 the wheels were moved to the outside.

I think Steve means...where's the hooch holder Van. Why does that make me smile?

Very nice looking horse Van...where is the cup holder???

To be honest I have wanted to but I dont have any means of getting it home as my pickup has my wheeler in it and there isnt much room if any to spare. Also know nothing about wheel horses what so ever lol.

I stand by my facts. I believe this tractor is from the factory. I simply tried to make a statement as not to cause an argument on Red Square since you can't convince some people. Read my post again. My book is called Straight From the Horse's Mouth for reason. It is FACT directly from Cecil Pond. There is no speculation. This is the Final Edition and there is no need for an addendum when the information in the book is 100% accurate. Why do some people have to read into things or twist things. My name is Michael Martino and I am the author!

I had a VW dune buggy stuck in the mud and sand by the side of the Delaware river at low tide. By the time I got some help and dragged it out with a couple of ATVs, it was completely under water. There was no way those guys could drag it up the hill to the road and I wasn't leaving it there so I pulled the plugs, turned it over, put them back in, dried the water in the distributor cap and fired it up. I couldn't believed it fired right up. That motor ran for a long time after that even though it was running for a good 10 to 15 min. with the crankcase full of water. I blew up other engines under normal conditions faster than this one. Those old bug engines were tough!

The white pops a lot better than the dull gray. I went with an off-white from Tractor Supply when they sold Valspar paint.

Kinda un-realted but my B-N-L used to be a salesman at a Chrysler dealer. One day he showed a newlywed couple a mini van. A week later they called back and said they would take the van and wanted it the next day. He goes out and puts the sold sign on it and everything. Next morning clean up crew goes out to get it and it won't start and it's making a weird sound. They open the hood and the service dept. had taken the cylinder head off to put on another customers van!

Hello Ian, As of yet, its all good, many thanks to steve it was option two that got it running sweet again, just had to clean the jet screw and re-adjust it Many thanks -Charlie

That's funny. You should have asked: "Tell us your name and where your from"

Here is one test they do not explain in the manuals. With the engine NOT running check the DC voltage across the battery posts .... red to (+) and black to (-) and record it. Now move the red lead to the DC+ terminal on the regulator. You should have the same recorded voltage. If not work you way back from the regulator until you find the point of voltage loss. What this checks is the path the charge current takes to get from the DC(+) regulator terminal to the battery (+) when it is running. Most 520's and perhaps all have this circuit going to the hot side of the starter solenoid where it is on the same post as the battery (+) cable so the ignition switch is not involved. Some tractor models have this circuit switched so the ignition key must be in the RUN position but the engine still NOT running to do this test. Garry

Thanks for all the warm welcomes , you guys ! Just got done cutting around 5 or 6 acres & she performed flawlessly in axle high grass & now it's time for a bath , grease and some rest .

Thanks dennist, I'd love to get one, the problem is to find one. For the prices they want for the 523dxi , I could buy a 4x4 NH diesel or Kubota bx series. If I could find the deisel at a fair price, then bring it on. Most want to rape you on it. Lymedog

If you read the Ride-Away Junior chapter in my book, you will find the answer to this question. This chapter is loaded with details in every sentence. Yes, the member RideAway 59 is 100% correct. This is an original lift lever as it came on later 1959 models. It probably has the solid, wider seat, and fenders as well. This is a rare tractor that was a transition of sorts from the RJ58 tractors made in 1959. It is my belief that there are not many of this model, as soon thereafter the 1960 models were produced. After Cecil had to redesign the front axles, he made other improvements as well. Please, please, please keep in mind that they're are not definite model year regularities until the 1960 model year. Please don't go by casting numbers to determine a date of manufacture either. That has nothing to do with the date at all. Although many will argue my facts, I am certain they are correct. This information was told to me by the man who made these tractors with his own two hands. Great Post. I hope everyone is reading their book carefully(LOL) Michael Martino

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-LAaD__DVU&feature=c4-overview&list=UUOhJW1EtgGjsCAf7Kk5Dwfw

Pretty freakin' AWESOME! That tractor is cool as hell and looks like it came right from South Bend! Great job Ian!

Now that's " Yard art "

That's a marvelous machine. I'm very impressed, and i dont impress easily!

here's a few of my pics from the stickering ceremony

All dressed up in it's 'Sunday Best'. Well I can't add much to what has already been said Ian. You done good !. It really look's right in every way, especially now it's Red. Just Amazing. Looking forward to seeing you/it at the show.

Wooooooooooow Ian, I can't believe that's the same Beast!! Its absolutely gorgeous! Its been a long time coming, but it was worth the wait, and I'm sure I can speak for every RS member when I say congrats, and well done. Those decals look fantastic on there, and really give it the final touch. Nice job Mark, and I really like the "In The Shack engineering" one. I believe this is going to steel the show. The only thing that could make this any better, would be to see a dozer blade on the front! Matt

These were in my Dad's shop, and red, so I grabbed them up, but not sure what they are, or if their even for a wheel horse. He worked on a lot of mowers and tillers. The one part looks like a tiller or cultivator part to me. Kyle The blade is in real good shape ! I just don't know yet how to hook it up.

This was the first tractor that dad and I tackled to clean up and put back in to good working order. It was the feature model for the 2012 WHCC show in Arendtsville, PA where it was revealed. We had a great time and learned many things through the process of doing our first machine. We were pretty pleased with the results and have had a lot of fun on it. It now has the correct seat and is getting a sickle bar mower cleaned up to install on it. Here she is........

i want to nominate my 1057. the whole story on the build on this one can be found here....... to date this has definitely been the most detailed build i have done. i also do my painting with powder paint, which presented a few challenges along the way, as much of this tractor as possible was painted this way, lots of parts had to be totally dismantled, engine, generator, fuel pump and carb for example, any of these parts just cant be bead blasted as an assembly and powder coated. they need to be totally dismantled and anything at all that wont survive 400 degrees in a cure oven needs to be removed. i also wanted to keep detail as much as possible as can be seen if you read through the build thread or look at some of the pics below. this tractor while looking nice, drives the best out of anything i have as no worn part went un-noticed and was either rebuilt or replaced...... engine that was used for the build..... and heres a few through the build........

Low hours, and delivered...sounds like you're getting a good deal on it. .

The show is put on by the Wheel Horse Collectors Club who have been putting on this show for years. I don't know how they fund the events, but I know that I will be sending in my membership first thing Monday because this show must go on!

They both have the swept front axle. The 520 HC is the father of the swept front axle 520H. "C" is for commercial. The 520HC is geared to go faster (7.5 mph vs 5.6 mph). The 520HC has the older single hydro stick on the floor versus the stick on the column (I prefer the older). The 520HC has the older non emission carburetor which is easier to clean which will be necessary if you use fuel with ethanol in it. The 520H has the gear reduction steering (not needed for my mowing applications). The 520H has a few more bells and whistles to have problems with. I own both a 1989 520HC and a 1997 520H. If push came to shove I would keep the 1989 520HC and let the 1997 520H go (I like 7.5 versus 5.6). If one was dealer serviced and had the valve and carbon service that would be a plus. The only way to resolve it is to own one of each.

both the front and mid bearing flanges need to be loosened before the front bearing adjuster is tightened to set the belt tension properly