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I bought this in New Carlisle, OH from a John Deere guy. He didn't know what the big fuss was when my Wheel Horse guys gathered around and started to google over it! haha!! It's a little sweetie! Will be an easy restoration for me this winter.

Well dad and I need another project like we need a hole in our head but what the heck, you only live once! This past Sunday we finally made the trip over in to Ohio to pick up our new Wheel Horse Hauler. We grabbed ourselves a 1953 Ford F500. This is the last year for the flathead V8 and it sports a 4 speed tranny with a top speed of about 48 mph. The truck has the 12 foot script flat bed on the back and the wood is still pretty solid. Everything works as it should minus the cab lights. Those need to be rewired which will happen down the road. All 6 tires are in great shape and it has minimal rust issues.....it has some but nothing too crazy. The previous owner believes the odometer to be correct at 42K original miles. We are currently experiencing an overheating issue which I believe a few radiator flushes will cure. The thermostat seems to be working fine as it won't overheat at an idle. The future of this truck will be..............well that is to be determined. Right now we are going to enjoy it and gather up some things to make it a bit better. This will be a local swap meet and show hauler. Not wanting to travel too far with it as it isn't going to win any races. Here it is.......

Like this? Yeah... they're out there. As for the tiller.... I've been happy with my Wheel Horse one. Digs like a champ.

Hi Everyone, I was at a local fall festival and decided to bring some tractors for fun lol. Here are some pictures. Hope you like them!

Ken- It is the only help I can get around this place.. He really is. I told him I was tired while taking a break for dinner and said I think I am done for today. He said "I will do the hard work, you can stay on the tractor"... What a great kid. We worked last night until we ran out of fuel in the tamper. First thing this morning he said "Dad, we need to go get more gas".

Well I must admit that I have dropped the ball on updates. For our loyal followers, we are still plugging away and making progress. The end is in sight!!!!! We managed to meet the entire summer and only took a couple weeks off. We didn't miss a beat once school began again in the middle of August. Things have been very hectic on my end and I apologize for not sharing the updates that many of you look forward to on a weekly basis. I will try and pick up the slack! We have been lucky enough to show off our projects in two parades, received many compliments, and a group of kids that don't understand the word "quit" Thank you to everyone that has supported us......who would have ever thought things would have turned out the way they have. We are truly blessed! Here is one picture I snapped tonight. The past two days the tractors have been on display in the front entry way of the school so the entire student body can admire the craftsmanship of the kids. We will be rolling them back in to the club barn tomorrow to work on getting these closer to completion. I will try and get some other pictures posted soon! Here you go...........

Found a tractor listed on CL with snow cab and two stage blower, less than 100 hours on unit. Older gent moving from WI to AZ, he had purchased new for $5500 in '96 per dealer receipt, owner's manual, and service records. It had never spent a day outside of his garage. Thought I had uncovered The Great Find, and started dreaming about owning a near mint show tractor driving over to his house, caller #1 baby! As we were opening his garage, he first mentioned that it had gotten "a little rusty" from the salt on his driveway. Soon discovered that would be like saying Dolly Parton is a "little busty." There wasn't a piece of tin on it that wasn't covered with rust and bulged up paint scabs over top of rust; it had even undermined the decals. It started okay, but moved really slow even at full throttle. That is the second 520H I've passed over that went really slow even pushing the hydro lever forward, and I thought they were supposed to go even faster than my 8 speeds? He said; "I didn't bother to wash it because I didn't know anybody collected Wheel Horse." So, for lack of a hosing off each Spring, that ultra low hour garage queen was ruined by rust... I was distressed, and I figured that after the rust pits the metal that bad, and the chrome air cleaner is solid rust and even the hood louvers are all rusty, it wasn't worth even $1K to me. I suppose some would have parted it out and made money, but I was too disappointed and figured maybe someone better equipped could restore it... Sorry if this is posted in the wrong section. "wyzmark"

Was thinking of different ideas for a front weight on my 633 and this is what I came up with. Simple yet effective. It weighs 40lbs and it's made from flat steel stock and concrete filled lolli columns. Just had them around the house. The best part is if I need more I can jus weld on what I need.

Thought I'd use my very original first name nobody else here has.....

I think I like original colors better.... less to distract from the Wheel Horses that will be on the back of it! The bright red would be a great contrast against the truck and really stand out!

Love the older trucks. I've wanted a '48-'51 since I was about 11 or 12 years old. My Uncle next door had one and let me drive it around the yard. Then one day coming back from town he let me drive on our road the rest of the way home. I was in high cotton that day.. Red would look awesome on that ride!

Thanks everyone for the very nice comments. We are gearing up for another night of club. We will be moving the machines back out to the club barn and continue on with our journey. It looks as though we will be adding a couple of members starting next week. I am wanting to fill the vacant spots that were left by the students who are now 7th graders. They will get the crash course and will start disassembly on the tractor the kids won during the essay contest. The kids that have been previously in the club will continue on with the tractors that you have been following. Exciting times and a lot going on!

PAINT IT RED.......

Here we are last week at the Homecoming parade showing off our projects!

Wade, it would have been good for someone who already had a 520. The motor was noisy (very heavy rust on the muffler) but ran well, the cab was white/black and mostly orange colored and did not cover the engine enough to be "heated", but the glass window and wiper blade were nice. The seat was untorn, and the wheel weights were perfect. The back of the blower had been rattle canned with runs and paint over the decals, and the big decal on the impeller body had the Toro half flapping loose. The auger and main body were very rusty, but I like the mid mount design and it would have worked to throw snow I think. The steering had a big "dead spot" on center, is that common with the gear reduction set up or was it wear? He never had a deck on it, so the hours were low, but given the choice, I've learned to go for the mowing tractor with more hours but no salt damage. Probably Martin the indefatiguable could restore it, but the original factory magic was forever gone. So rest easy, you didn't miss out. Thanks for your replies, all.

I am a newbie to the whole tractor game. I have a 1975 Cub Cadet with a blown Kohler K301 that I plan on rebuilding. That will probably be a total rebuild, engine, transmission, paint the frame and redecal to make it look brandy-new. It is for my VT property, mainly to mow the lawn and clear the access road. Yesterday I picked up (for free!) a 1964 WheelHorse 854 with a Kohler K181S that the owner told me was in running condition. I plan on giving it an oil-change and cleaning out the fuel tank this weekend and seeing how it runs. It is rusty, so I plan on taking it apart and painting at least the hood and fenders, if not the frame and everything. It depends on how well the engine runs on whether or not I am rebuilding it. Still haven't decided about the transmission. Otherwise, just here to introduce myself. -Jeff

Ed Cole took photographs of the collection in 1991 to orient Minneapolis Saint Paul employees to the different products made over the years. Toro has now closed the South Bend plant. The museum tractors were at the Ireland Road plant, the dusty ones were at the distribution warehouse in Elkhart. Ed’s photos are shown as forty-four images in the gallery album “Wheel Horse, Inc. Museum Tractors.†What is the disposition of these tractors today? Has the collection been scrapped or sold? Are they available for the public to see?

Before... After... Not too bad for a first tractor resto for a guy in his mid 20's. I still need a few miscellaneous parts to finish it up. This is next...

I guess a closer look does reveal a paint job...but still a very nice looking Tractor

Paint them red and your score goes to 10! Great idea, thanks for sharing.

nice looking tractors, bet they got alot of attention

I think you are right, guys! Maybe just a preservation restoration. She sure looks good! I'm pretty happy! I want her to run though. My Cadet Spirit of 76 has been such a letdown.....did tons of work on it and it still doesn't run. This little 401 will be fun to zip around on!

Well now that's something.

Look great but are you missing a year?

I promised my four year old that Friday he can help me work on the tractor. I'll snap some pics then and start a thread. I am looking forward to some good advice to get this thing running smoothly! Thanks for the warm welcomes!

I'll be there sat morn

Beautiful little tractor!!! Very nice shape.

Wow!!! That's like finding an original untouched Model T. I wouldn't do a thing to it. Its perfect as is.

Sweet little Congratulations!!!

You go girl! Nice Horse.

Now you need to build one of these! Lots of power with room to spare some replays on RS!

It looks to nice for a restore , Id leave like it is.....nice Wayne

What a great little find Kate. Looking forward to seeing your progress over the winter.

That's the most to fuss about that I've seen in awhile!

No. I took a private tour of the corporate facility in Bloomington with Ed a few years ago just before he retired. I don't know if they generally offer tours, but he had offered and I took him up on it. They had quite a bit of equipment (mostly current model Toro products) here and there on display through most of the building, but most of the building is not a "public" area, only the lobby is. If I remember correctly, all they had in the lobby that day was a giant commercial Exmark zero turn with 72" deck. There was quite a bit of historical literature and promo stuff framed and hanging on the walls all over too. It was really cool, and I was very thankful he took the time to give me the personal tour. I had a post with a couple pictures back when I did it... let me find it.... here it is... He told me about the Wheel Horse museum tractors on that visit but we were unable to go see them. When I asked him if the pictures you posted were the same ones we had talked about during my visit, this is what he told me. So, hopefully these will be brought out, freshened up and made visible again. Hard to guess. Toro has a pretty long history with a lot of equipment and companies, it would be interesting to see them honor them all in some sort of museum of their own....especially if it were open to the public!

Wow. That is a little sweetie. Best of luck. Glenn

Very nice tractor I'm looking forward to your restoration.

I'm surprised the lines got wet!

Yeah, 2 tone red + ivory with stainless simulators and stacks.

might not win any races. But will look good hauling horses. Nice truck Scott.

I would try installing a tapered piece of wood inside the bottom flange of the belt guard to restore the proper support for the slack belt when shifting. It can be fastened with a couple wood screws thru the bottom flange where they will not be seen and easily be removed when you replace the oe engine.

Some times its just better to close your eyes and walk away... If the tractor was that bad I can only imagine what the underside of his car's look like! I have a late 80's Chevy custom van in nice condition. At the very first hint that they will be bombing the roads with that liquid calcium my van gets parked till spring time. I sacrifice my Jeep Grand Cherokee.

What, happened to me? Did the Good n Plenty, Castrol Oil, Hardees Wheel Horse Blow up or did I crash?

Great job Scott !

It's what the guy's named me at work to many years ago to remember why. The two I's had to be added for another account. Same name I use for everything because I will forget anything else.

Way to go, Scott! Keep up the good work. Great to see kids able to get their hands dirty and to feel that sense of satisfaction after each club meeting.

I had to go over to the neighbors this evening. His "Orange" tractor won't move. Yep.... he was correct. So I pulled 6 crazy hairpins and removed the deck. Then I grabbed the steering wheel to tip it and put blocks under the wheels so I could look under it ............ I about flipped it over on me when I gave it a good yank. WOW.... that's light! Anyhow ... the problem is a melted plastic idler pulley. The bearing is not smooth. Comparison.... The "RED" one ready to work. The "Orange" one napping.

I spent all day fishing on the river today...what a nice day...and we caught some fish.

Who's the big kid in the red shirt under the tractor?