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I've bought 22 tractors and mounds of other Wheel Horse stuff in the past 10 weeks but it all started with this one. Including this one there are now 23. My dad bought a new one every 7 years and I bought his old ones. In 1994 he bought his new 416 and I bought the old 414. He still has the 416 he bought new and uses it every week, it even looks as good as this one at 20 years old. He taught me to take care of stuff. This one turned 27 this past April and I've had it for 20 years. Up until 2 years ago it mowed about 2 acres once or twice a week depending on the rain. It still gets used every week for something around the place and mows a steep bank in front of the house that I wouldn't dare take my zero turn on every week. This tractor is completely original except for the front tires, deck wheels, blades, filters, spark plug and carb. All paint, decals, seat, deck, cables, wires, switches, you name it, every other piece is completely original. Not 1 bolt has been removed in the tractor, engine, trans or deck other than for regular maintenance. There is some touch up paint on the left deck side where it gets into the fence sometimes to stop rust. The deck has a sandblast hole in the right side rear and a little started on the outside left. I should think before mowing over all those mole hills. The entire top, front and rear of the deck is still shiny with no rust of any kind. Even the cover is the one that came with the tractor.

7000 is an amazing accomplishment Bob, especially considering that 99.9% of your posts are informative and on point. There are three guys here that quickly come to mind for doing restorations that are over the top with incredible attention to detail, not only on the tractor itself but the way you go into detail in your threads about your restorations and that is Martin, Buckrancher and Maynard. The Pebble Beach Club. Congrats!

yep that's the one!! the new one chasing the old one, and heading down to Oklahoma with stuff for a tornado relief drive. I don't follow sports much, to many tractor and buckskinner things to do here. I'll let you guys play the big ten games and ill just root for the hawks

You better believe it, my tractor was $2,395 and the deck was $400. that was a lot of money for a 12 horsepower tractor in 1988. Funny thing is, when I got divorced, all I wanted was my Wheel Horse. I may have another wife now, but I still have my tractor! Oh did I mention that I snow blow my driveway and my neighbors every winter with that very same tractor.

I run 200-300 lbs in this. Any extra weight is good weight!

Gene. My driveway has a good steep hill to. Here is how the 416 gets set up. Imho you WILL need chains. Sorry. I also have the stock turf tires. 70lb. Weights on the rear. Unstoppable. Just like the movie. Before I had chains. Got lucky ONCE. After that the tractor wouldn't budge. There's your snowblower in action. If your afraid of ring the paving I would try the rubber chains. I want a pair myself. Best of luck. Glenn

Sparky's weights are Farmall Cub front/ Cub Cadet rear weights. I fill my tires for winter duty with RV antifreeze along with weights and chains

This vid? jwl, I hope you'll join us and make your picks this season.

I just finished editing this logo from a late 50's dealer decal. Guess it is the old school design?

I wanted to make my 7000th post something interesting, and actually worth talking about. But then I said nope, I'm just going to pat myself on the back and look forward to the next 7000. Thanks to the powers that be for providing this great forum for me to bloviate.

So, I'm toolin down the road on my way home from work and not five minutes goes by and I come upon this little whoopsie... Now I can tell you they weren't doin any road work in the vicinity!! I slowed way down and grabbed my camera as with much luck it was sittin on the center console of my van. As luck would have it there wasn't anyone behind me! Some dope in an O&G uniform ?(the company that owns the truck) on the OTHER side of the road yelled at me to stop takin pictures and holding up traffic! I couldn't resist so I yelled at him Yer the one holdin up traffic Jacka$$! On the other side of the road traffic was held up at least a mile!

I have to admit I have been stealing. I took an Idea from Martin on his 416 rebuild. I have been redoing a the steering on a 414 by converting it to a 520 setup with steering reduction for loader use. The idea he had on using flange bearing #6472 on the upper steering shaft is wonderful. It really makes it more sturdier and smoother. Way more support than the factory bushing. Difference to me is day and night. Thanks for the great idea Martin, hope the patent police do not come after me. I know there probably more Ideas out there, but this one is a cheap wonderful fix to a bad design.

those 400 series tractors are great and that's going to be a good restore

Well I am now going to cheat a little bit. I have almost all of the parts painted from my 417-A. So I am going to steal some of them and move this project along. I think that if I see the results of this project in a hurry, I will have the desire to start the next project right away. This will mean that I can start assembly in a few days. I have the seat fender and hood already painted and ready to go along with most of the other parts. Here is a photo of what I have laid out for tomorrow. Can't do any painting as the humidity is off the meter and will be until after Sunday. So I might as well use what I have. The tractor won't know the difference. I spent most of my time today prepping the parts from the 416 so when I finish this assembly I can finish painting and do the 417.

Wow Ken, it must be National Dump Truck Screw Up Day. This one is here on Ohio 14 below an I480 bridge in Streetsboro. Looks like R.S. (republic services) is gonna be spending some bucks on a bridge..

WOW, that is a very nice looking 414. Thanks for the photos.

You are kidding us. We know you just picked it up from the show room. Marvin

You have it bad Gene but thanks for sharing it with us

I don't but I would if I could! I make a little in the shop repairing them for people. I do make a small amount on the ones I have sold, if I don't count my time that is. Does that count?

Not to hijack the thread, but can you post a picture of your hitch assembly on the 520HC that you have the Cyclone Rake attached to?

I do. We here at Algiere's Landscaping still rely on the trusty 1989 520HC. It with the Cyclone Rake is the backbone of fall clean up team.

Red trailer would look cool but the tractors would really "POP" sitting on a black one. With everything red they would kinda blend in with the trailer. If you did the trailer black, welded some of those big horse head logos into the side somewhere and painted those red/black , that would look cool. Get a tongue storage box, have it painted red. All kinda things you could do. Ill keep watching as I have the makings of a trailer waiting to be finished.

Now that's how you take care of a machine! NICE!!!

That WH would get anyone hooked.

Probably why it's so minty fresh.

Very nice... first person I've seen have a cover, and actually use it.

Well I never would have known about it if you hadn't found the idea and posted it in your thread. that thread of yours should be made into a guide for everyone else to follow when they start on a project like this. It is the most thorough set of step by step instructions on how to do the job right the first time. Not saying everyone can possibly duplicate what you did, but it certainly gives the rest of something to strive towards. Not everyone has the resources you do. Being able to take something to work and have access to that environment with the tools and such is an asset most of us do not enjoy. Still with a little extra care we can still get amazing results. We just have to work a little harder at it.

gene,,,,what a beauty, WOW! Dad sure taught you good. Glenn

If you're looking for your first horse just keep an eye out for a horizontal shaft engine. 4 speed trans (1,2,3 R) with hi/lo range. The belt comes off the right side of engine to the trans. And another belt comes off a cone looking thing, also on same side of engine to the mower deck. Stick with a single cylinder Kohler 10-16 hp and you can't go wrong. All these tractors are referred to as early B series, C series, 300, 400, 500 series.

This tractor is all original except the front tires, deck wheels, blades, filters, spark plug and carb. All paint, decals, seat, deck, every other piece is completely original, my dad bought it new. There is some touch up paint on the left deck side where it gets into the fence sometimes to stop the rust.

Well I will give you credit for at least finding it in the deep dark dungeon of past post. I had thought a long time ago of putting a flange bearing there but could never find one that would fit in there. The idea never occurred to me to try the #6472 in there. Man it sure makes a difference. Gives it a lot more bracing. So thanks to who ever thought of it. Martin thanks again for finding it and putting it on here.

I can push 8+ inches with these With no problem at all

The snow removal team this year: 520 FEL with loaded ags plus inside and outside weights on the rear (#350 in total), plus a weight box on the rear hitch when needed. 520 with a 2-stage snowblower(#320) with a steel cab (#400) on tri-rib fronts and turftires/chains on the rear 520 with a plow, #50 front weights, #180 rear weights, turftires and chains. The turf/chain combo gives me by far the best traction. The ags are useless once it ices. I would use rubber chains on concrete/blactop, but I am clearing gravel roads, so I don't care about leaving marks. I'm really looking forward to steering improvements with the tri-ribs. The heavy blower makes steering with the front turfs nearly impossible.

Whatever tires you use will probably require chains unless you have a flat area, and then you will need a lot of weight if not chains.

There is really only one team..........if you have Facebook, you can see a video of their trucks. I don't know how to get just the vid to post here. Look up Tantara Transportation Corp and see them for yourself. ...........Go Hawks and the haulers.

You won't find anything better than chains. Perhaps you should try rubber tire chains. http://www.rubbertirechains.com/ Several members have tried them. Hopefully they chime in.

I'm using these with 50# outside weights and 25# inside weights and no chains. I have a slight angle on my driveway and this combo works great! The tires are 4 ply (and only come that way) but I have found that a 2 ply turf will give the best traction (keep the air pressure low). They are 23 x 10.5's mounted on a pair of wide rims from a 520. Mike.......

I've argued with the locals for years over this. The number one thing that causes a backfire is spark at the wrong time, IE the intake valve is open when the spark occurs.

A month and a half away!!!! Wooo hoooo!!!! The response has been great so far and the goal is to have 200+ machines on site this year. Be ready to show, plow, sell, kick back and relax, and just have a good time. Why should you come???? Well where else can you have this much fun and help support a good cause through a raffle that all of the proceeds go to help fight against childhood cancer??? What if I get hungry???? There will be amish meals available for you to purchase at a reasonable price. The homemade pies are a meal in themselves!!!!!!! What if I don't know anyone???? All the more reason to attend. The folks that attend our show are always top notch! Should I bring my tractor? It isn't shiny! Yes of course, we don't discriminate against condition, brand, or custom work done. We appreciate and admire them all!!!!! Will Stevasaurus be there???? You bet he will! Just follow the silver mug and it will lead you to the life of the party! In all seriousness I hope you will make the effort to join us this year. The show seems to grow and I am very thankful to all of you that make the sacrifice to be with us on October 4th! See you all soon!

Lost my Mom a few months back to alzheimers. My condolences to you, I can tell you that now when I think of her I remember the good times and not the bad times.I smile now thinking of her, I hope it's the same for you.

Putting her cat in the dishwasher on the pre wash setting works pretty good too.

That's a good way to be banned from kitchen work.

Lola and Terry, I am so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Lola, so sorry to hear about your Dad.

Either way... they're pretty cool.

I don't have a Wrangler, I've got a "real" Jeep, a '79 CJ-5! To be a real Jeep, it must have round headlights and leaf springs C-85

Here's mine

Yeah, I almost cried the first time I saw it unveiled. Now there's a reality show! Just need to get you and half dozen other of our Master Restorers together. Then hijack a deserving members tractor.

Hey guys, Thanks for all the input. I glued it up and painted the lens today. It looks good from a distance. But you can see defects when you get real close. Here are a few pics on what I did.