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Just had to include the rustic minibarn

I consider it a miracle in today's world to be able to find original parts for a 24 year old tractor from a long out of the Wheel Horse business company. If Wheel Horse had not sold out and remained in business, many more parts would still be available. What gets me though is the fact that this dealer had a NOS part collecting dust on the shelf. He probably only paid about 10 cents on the dollar when he bought it, and now he has the nerve to try to sell it at highway robbery prices. Just my 2 cents worth.

there are other ways of getting oem parts and not paying those prices. for example the headlight is just a GE 4411-1 sealed beam. the Onan spark plug wires are still available new under an Onan part number for half that price if i remember correctly. (even that was too much for a basic plug wire......) research is your key here, this forum is a wealth of info with some searching, and the internet is full of oem parts with some searching too. most of the time the original equipment supplier still has their part number on the part and you can find sometimes the parts are still being manufactured.....

A couple of years ago, one of our Maryland members, Redbird and her husband Dave, had a meet & greet. They had a great off-road trail. Hills, streams, etc. I will try to find some pictures and post them later.

NO. The skinnier the tire, the better for snow. More surface area = more floatation... bad on snow.

Here is the tractor that I picked up off CL locally. I swapped the front and rear tires off another 520. It came with a very low hour 48" deck, tiller and 520 long snow plow. It has 650 hours and runs really strong. I mowed with it today and the deck is the most quiet and smooth deck I have ever used. I hope to paint up the wheels and buff it out and maybe new decals from Terry.

If you LOVE something let it GO... if it dosen't come back to you...Buy another one just like IT !!!!! or something like that...

Here's a few of my original condition machines! Enjoy! Most of these I bought from the original owners, mostly old folks!

Just returned from a vacation with my Wife. Visited my oldest Son, Daughter in law and Grand daughter. Thought I would share some sites. A great time was had by all. Saw the tallest building, a Mall with an indoor Ski Slope and a vast amount of sand and rode the dunes. Really never thought I would be there again and was glad to be back. Definitely no WH's could be found.

Still get jealous when I see that tractor.

The friction controls have to be kept dry...don't lube them in any way. If they are greasy and nasty, clean them thoroughly. The motion lever should stay put by itself, under tension of the adjustable friction cone and components. There is also a control shaft TAB that may be broken. It protrudes thru the left side of the hoodstnad tunnel and locks the friction shaft in place. If broken or cracked, the motion control lever and tension cones / spring will flop about wildly. On some models, there is a secondary friciton control flat spring on the right side of the hoodstand. Here are a few pics to help explain. IMHO...I have a '76 C-160 and a '72 Bronco 14...both auto. If the Hydro is working as it should, I prefer it over a manual...by far. While an 8-speed is better for tillers, a tiller stil works very well with autos. I have 50 or more "in-the-way" trees, shrubs, planters, etc to mow around and, with the auto, all is done simply by moving control lever back and forth while steering with other hand. I further like the "Battering Ram" effect of the momentum build up when attacking that deep snow drift...again, and again...until its gone. Of course, the BIG advantage is the hydraulic lift not afforded the manuals. Via hard-link to the dozer blade, I can lift the front wheels 3 or 4 inches air-borne....that REALLY digs into the hard-pack snow or ice (soft blacktop too). There is an electric lift for them but it leaves a lot out.

So... it has been less than a week since my brother and i pulled off our trade of my C-161 for his 417-8. Today I was SUPPOSED to be just sneakin out of work for an hour or so to take a look at a 520 Steve might be puting on the block and to check out THE BARN. Little did I know that a Block Buster was about to take place. Here is a little history on what a Block Buster is according to my brother and myself. It is when there is a creative swap with MANYplayers involved to even things up. I walked away with a 520 and a nice 1958 18 hp Johnson.. Steve got himself a MINT 1957 18 hp Evinrude, a very nice 42 inch rear discharge deck, some outboard repair work on two of his outboards and a little cash on top.. (I hope I haven't forgotten any details?) Keep in mind we put this all together in less than 15 minutes! Now that is how its done! The 520 I walked away with is on the right less the deck and leaf vac that Steve is keeping. Its funny because the 520 on the left was mine that Steve got in our very first Block Buster deal. I have wanted another 520 since giving that one up, nothing can push the snow like a 520.. This 520 will probably get a nice worker refurb..

I don't root for any college team. I'm here to watch Steve and Brrly go at it and hopefully get someone else to have to clean the Boiler room.

Here is last nights pick up. Got this one from Mark (Saber) here on the board. The first 2 pics are what he sent me that he took. I was amazed when it was getting cleaned up the water was beading up everywhere. He kept that thing waxed! He and his wife are just great people.

If you're still waiting....you're not paying attention.

Another down-side to having dual wheels when clearing snow is the extra width of the dual wheels can end up being wider than your snow clearing device (plow or blower).

That is in very nice condition im a hydro guy though. But the main thing I wanted to say is holy crapola look at all the other tractors in the background Im pretty sure from other posts ive seen your wife is into this hobby with you. I mentioned to my wife yesterday how some forum members are women and some of the guys wives are into it with them and her response was........sorry your not so lucky most of the time, and not just with the horses, she thinks im a weirdo I got her on my 312-A this summer to try and mow I tried to just watch and guide her at first and that did not go well. She was zigging and zagging with no concept of mowing in straight lines. Then I got on my 312-H and told her to follow me and try to get a grasp on what I was doing. By the time we finished the yard was mowed and she did a small portion herself but that was the last time her butt touched the seat. Now if I even mention the notion of a 3rd horse she just gives me the look.

Got a new pic for this thread.. This was the day after Scotts M&G. Turns out this is a Frankenstein 704.

I have dismounted dozens of tires from Wheel Horse rims. Seems there were no two alike when it came to colors. Just go with what you like and it will look 100 times better than what's on there now.

Geno It's the nature of this forum. It gets to you and makes you want to help any way you can. I have received so much help from others here I just want to return the favor any way I can. It's the same for everyone else here. What a great bunch of guys and girls.

Ya know Geno it's awfully hard to talk a guy down on price when you show up in a rig like that. I think if you showed up at my house the price would go up.

Heres the finished product...a 5 footer at best but once the paint dries.....(at this rate it may be May of next year).... and I wetsand the run out of the hood it will be a 2 footer. My lil guy helped me take it over tonight. I finished it last night around 7 and then proceeded to hook up my 42" deck to it nd mow fr an hour around the pond and pig barn in good heavy grass to give it a workout. It ran flawlessly which sucks because I can't complain about those stinkin' Onans anymore. Jeb helped me wash it tonight and load it on the trailer. My Dad loved it...said he's afraid to even sit on it but he's gonna give it a shot Thursday when I can spend some time with him going over the controls. A picture with him was completely putt of the question.. and he was serious when I asked him...lol. The decals are customs by Terry (Vinylguy)... and I must say, I love them compared to the Toro factory ones.He did such an amazing job when I told him I wanted different and original Im still waiting for the custom 50th anniversary special edition from a local guy but that will go on after the hood gets sanded and buffed anyhow.

Some of you know I've been in the market to replace my 1996, 314-H, blower and cab with a "new" tractor. Nothing wrong with the 314. I just needed something that was easier to get in and out of and that would last for the next 20-30 years. I wanted a tractor similar to the 314-H with hydro Trans and lift, at least a single stage 40+" blower and snow cab and lots of power. I narrowed the field to the John Deere X300 and X500 series. The 500 series has a locking transaxle. After researching the different models I decided on either the X530 or X540. The difference between the 530 and 540 was water cooled and tilt steering. After looking at new and a couple of used models I decided that if I was going to spend this kind of money on the last "new" tractor I intend to have I might as well get a new one. I decided on the John Deere X530, 24hp, air cooled, hydrostatic Trans, power steering, HDAP rear tires, 54" deck, 47" two stage snowblower with a 4 year warranty. I added suitcase weights and an Original Tractor Cab, snow cab. Coming soon are a pair of LED lights that were on my Polaris. Here are the obligatory pictures. Here's the cab. I love this cab. It's even sturdier than the cub cab that was on my 314.

At TSC, I forget the exact price but a 4411 lamp is more expensive than the 4411 lamp in a housing. Last year I paid $7.59 for a sparkplug for my 520-H at my dealer. This year I am finally using some solid core 8mm Taylor wire that I have had from the '70s. I had trouble finding boots! Shop around.

Cool party shed

Its been a good week of deals. Nuthin like a good old fashioned Horse trading.

A little more progress today. Almost done. They will get the main top girters/connectors on in the am and start installing rafters.

Hey just to update you guys my father in law dropped the horse off to a friend of his and he got it running and even has all the lights working like I originally figured it just needed a little TLC had a bad solenoid and a few other small issues it's running well now were probably going to restore it and have her looking new

Looking good Ken! I'm sure you can find something to do with those bad boys. Wait till you get ready to go get another one or two and the little woman says - you just bought 9 the day before yesterday.

The trailer is hooked up and going to get more. **Fair warning, I'm leaving in a few hours, if you guys want them you better get out now.

Almost done other than waiting for a new light switch and cold start switch. We have a legend for it too. The top row is to add more lights to it later.

I like that .. You did yourself and RS proud

My wife wants no part in cutting grass. She says it is my job. On the other hand, she rarely makes a comment when I get another tractor other than "That's Nice," whatever that means.

Getting a piece of steel is cheap and drill your own holes. Do not have to square them. Sandwich th new metal between the old edge and the plow itself. the carriage bolt shoulder will hold in the old edge and not need a square hole in the new one. Depending on the thickness of the new metal you might need longer bolts

The hydro tranny with right foot control gets my vote. Leaves right hand free to steer and left hand on the hydro lift. Next mod to my 520H snow blower may be adding a left foot control on the hydro lift freeing up both hands for steering and coffee cup control.

If Wheelhorse had a weakness, (besides not marketing their tractors correctly back in the 80's), it would be a lack of an optional 3 point hitch on the 400 and 500 series machines from the late 80's through the 90's. It wouldn't have taken much more dealer showroom invoice money to offer the same tractor with an available 3 point option on their hydro models. IMO, this was a setback of Toro to companies like John Deere, Cub Cadet, Kabota and even Simplicity which Wheelhorse was competing against in the Garden Tractor categories. The Toro Wheelhorse ease of changing implements and the almost universal availability of implements that fit all the C-series plus the 300, 400 and 500 series tractors would have increased sales and put a lot of pressure on the other manufacturers. There is my weakness verses other brands.

That was hilarious! I watched the entire 9 minutes 45 seconds and laughed the entire time.... Thanks for posting! RMCIII you are correct. In all seriousness, way back in the day I almost got killed on a Big Red 3 wheeler.. I'd NEVER let my kids own or ride one but I'm always looking for another one for myself..

Good for you Geno

Just sold this Lawn Ranger this past weekend minus the light. One I might regret some day.

Funny... he almost looks human.

I think I can say you're the only collector I know of with a snow blade collection!

Here are the pictures I took. They are duplicates from the other thread but I will post them here as well. The panoramic shot is pretty cool. To bad it was the end of the day when everyone was loading up! EDIT: Going to add the larger panoramic shot as well that way you can zoom in!

NOS 420LSE Brian

Keep them tires inflated and whole this time, would ya? Is this a far trip or a near trip?

Next time, take some photos before you take it apart. I learned the hard way that a picture is worth a thousand words. And didn't martin do a magnificent job on that tractor.

John, not a p220, but the p216 is almost exactly the same with the wiring. check out some of my pics in the '416 adventures' thread of mine. start here there are a few pics of the old harness still clamped on the engine. most of the harness comes up between the blower housing right where the original coil mounts, there is a small cut out that allows it to pass through.... the new engine harness in my later posts was made the same where it attaches to the engine using the same clamps etc, for the most part it is in the factory location

A picture I found from when I had just finished the 401. Shining in the sun staring at the farm LOL ~Jake

Here's the new 702... with it's red, white, and rusty paint job...fresh from it's first oil bath. Hey, if you can't beat 'em...join 'em...right?

Do little duals count??

Out behind my house is propery owned by Tony (docwheelhorse). We have over the years made a trail thats just over a mile long and it gets plenty of tractor, quad, dog, and foot traffic. I took a ride today and decided to document it for you guys. The tractor I use is the only one of my tractors to ever see woods usage. It was built from many differant tractor parts. I posted this type of stuff on another tractor group once and was blasted by people who thought I didnt deserve to own a tractor because of the way I was using this one. Hopefully I wont see that type of responce here. Mike........ First pic is leaving my backyard heading into the woods. Next is the head of the trail. Partway down the beginning of the trail This is a small stream that must be crossed to get to the back of the property. If you look closely you can see a small cave. So far nothing with big sharp teeth has come out of it at me....but I allways keep my eyes open. Nice vantage point to stop and look around. Allways leave your tractor in gear at this spot. A bit of sticky mud is allways fun to navigate thru. Posing in the stream on the way back. Ahhh...home sweet home. The trusty horse allways gets me back safely.