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I just got this baby home. Got it for $300 including hub caps. Runs like a top!! 1967 857. I don't think I got hurt.

i recently bought a moldboard plow and today was the first test

So I'm at the shop where I volunteer and one of the guys starts flashing pics of a tractor on his phone... "ya. The guy has this thing and it needs a stahteh - thats starter for you non new englanders he shows me the pic and I say. "That's about a 72 commando based on the stickers and steering wheel". Shows me the engine plate and the sticker covering the model and serial,for the machine. Well it's got electric start so I pop on here and download the reference chart for years and engines. Coulda been a 857, nope wrong engine code. turns out to be a 72 commando 8 as best we can tell its not running so I offered $100, there might be extras like a deck or blower or something. He's got 3 machines total so I may come home with something new Oh, and why exactly is this place awesome? Because in 3 months I've learned more about models and options to id old stuff and to find reference materials when I need them thanks All

Hi Lynn, As I promised, here's your 875 the PROBLEM the new rod x Alive and well and riding the horse trails.

This is meant to make you smile. This is a story only emoticons can tell.............................

well then while your at it: http://www.ecotrons.com/products/small_engine_rhb31_vz21_turbocharger/ That should help overcome the flathead limitations.....

I put a HF winch on my 312-8 and have the grader blade on the regular lift.

I just picked up a rear discharge deck that was on a tractor I bought for 250 bucks and it is in real good shape. As you stated, it needs painted and the deck spindles gone over. (And some real good blade sharpening too). There should be no need for you to drop that kind of money on a used deck and never, IMHO, on a new old stock deck. The Wheelhorse decks were some of the heaviest built mowing decks on the market. Way over-engineered! This is why you see so many decks still being used on 20, 30 and even 40 year old tractors. Welding shops charge very little for hole repairs on decks that were not cared for. (Rode hard and put away wet). Spindles and the spindle bearings are easy to find and so are the roller and deck wheels. Even if you spend 250 buck for a used deck that better darn well be hole-less and quiet for that price, pressure spray it, dry it off very well and coat the bottom of it with a good sealer. If you clean it out just decent between mowings and grease the spindles and wheel regularly then super clean it and store it inside over our winters like I'm sure your tractor is, it should last your lifetime. If you don't care for it, it will still last many years but repairs will be required in all the usual suspect places in time. My opinion and never given unsolicited!

Moved a ton of stone the other day with a Briggs 14 hp Work Horse. Did OK but a FEL would be the way to go. Sorry to hear 'bout your problems but, were you just having a bad dream? An excuse to tell the Ms., "I'm going to have to get another Horse."

The frame is correct for a 400. Also the clutch/brake pedal is correct for a 400/550. Same frame was used for a 400, 550, or 401 BUT, something is modified or lengthened in the front too. The hood should mount close to the front edge. Better to find another frame unless you are doing a rat rod

Very complete, you even got the cigar lighter!

I forgot to mention before thanks for the add! As for the serial number plate that is gone as well. The motor does appear to have been swapped out to a kohler k181s with a 12v ignition system. However I must admit I do like the little stack the previous owner put on.

Heck yeah... looks like it's gonna clean up nicely.

Ditto what @Ken B said.

The transmission is a Wheel Horse # 5010...a 1960 transmission. You can tell by the brake band mount on the side plate...it is at an angle rather then straight up and down.

Another thing a wheel horse can do, that very few (if any), other tractors can do, is set there in the basement (or garage), all shined up, and silently, just look damned good.

I'm happy you got that tractor Boo. I knew it really wasn't a good fit for the original poster but I knew it would make a great tractor for someone.

And you don't have to join to see pics!

Redsquare is the best WheelHorse manual you will ever find .

You did good Jack, a buddy's got a 314 and loves it. Looks like we are pretty close to each other - let me know if you need help rustlin it!

Looking forward to the pics. I would just start off with the good cleaning, Change the engine and transmission oil, air and fuel filter if needed, grease her up, check the battery cables and any other routine maintenance thing you can think of. Then use it some to find out if there's anything else it needs.

With the wide range of implements that were made for Wheel Horse tractors you can cut grass, plow and blow snow, plow and disc or till your garden, drag logs out of the woods, (been there done that) sickle bar mow along ditches, and just about anything your mind can conjure up to do with one. NO they aren't a 500cc four wheeler by any stretch but I wouldn't have the need for one of those here other than recreational use. We mow about two acres here and if we both are on the B60 and B80 it takes an hour to do it. The 8hp Kohlers have plenty of power and sip gas like Grandma does moonshine. We also have a C85 with an OH140 Tecumseh transplant that whips through a foot of snow without much trouble. I'm sure you can find lots of pics of members putting their Horses to work here on the forum.:)

Jack, the chain thingy hanging from the rear tell me the tractor has the lift cable / rocker shaft / chain. Its got all the good things going for it mechanically and ground engaging wise. Time to call the owner and go get the tractor before someone else (like me who knows what they are looking at) beats you to it!

Great suggestions all about what a wheel horse can do, but nobody has yet mentioned the most important thing of all: Bring a bunch of folks from all over the world together and form lasting friendships. Good luck with your lumber jacking! steve

Sand? Great for any garden! Improves drainage, warms up in spring permitting earlier planting. Keeps the plants feet warm on chilly nights. Gypsum is another soil conditioner ( http://www.usagypsum.com/agricultural-gypsum.aspx ) Yep, I knew why, was just confirming that is what I was looking at. Although I didn't know it made a temperature difference Think of the sandy soil in "Joisey." NY tomato is the same as the larger NJ tomato. Better drainage and warm roots in NJ = Earlier planting.

This place is like a good bowl of chili . The members are helpful , knowledgeable & patient . The Mod's & Admins have a difficult job & do it with just enough authority while still being compassionate & diplomatic . I know what it's like for them ( I mod a four wheeler site ) . When you put it all together you have . Crackers anyone ?

You're never without a friend.

A 500 special is a commando 6 with different decals. so you will need the Id tag to confirm that. It's under the dash and very hard to see. A 500 special has a Tecumseh H60-75118H 6hp. a 700 has a Tecumseh H70-130043 7hp. there's many other models it could be if not the original motor. Hope this helps.

Presuming the engine is original to the tractor you could post the data on the number plate, also information from the transmission could help ID it.

I always feel like doing a victory dance when I get a hitch pin out! Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Tri Sodium Phosphate (tsp) the good stuff that used to be laundry detergent and dishwasher soap is an effective cleaner and will not hurt the plastic. Warm water, tsp and a few rocks shake well. Rinse well then make sure it is dry.... Edit: Find TSP in the paint department

Thanks Ken. I am further along than the pics indicate but I keep adding to the project. First it was the 3 point. More sand blasting and preparation. Then I stumbled across a Tiller. Same situation. Then the unforeseen delays. My Compressor needed repair soon after I started in earnest sand blasting. That delayed me a couple weeks. The Daughter/SIL and munchkins moved in. Multiple delays. Picked up a C-195 and focused on it for a couple weeks. Space to work and set up dedicated paint area is one of the bigger challenges. Nothing the rest of the forum does not experience and overcome. Somehow I really thought I would be done with this by now and even had hopes of taking it to the Big Show this past June. What was I thinking! LOL As was mentioned in someone else's GT14 restoration thread, there is a lot to these tractors and the rusted bolts and heavier thickness of every piece adds additional time and effort. But this tractor should be my worker for the remainder of my life if I can keep Hydro's going. I will have a couple spares and the next big projects will be to do an engine rebuild so I have a spare and then rebuild of a Hydro in case I have a failure. But it keeps me out of trouble and if I am not working on this one, I'll have some other project. I always have 4-5 things going on anyway. This is the seat I plan on using. I picked up some arm rests from forum member I plan to try and marry to this seat.

Yes this place (and the members) is AWESOME. "You have questions? We have answers"

Yep these unidrive transmissions were built tough. Now that you know they are incredibly tough, here are a few of the weak points (weak is a relative term, the weakest link in a wheel horse's chain is really not all that weak) Just be cautious on 'dropping the clutch' as it were and yanking things (same as ramming things with the plow). They can handle some of it, but with continued abuse you might see some breakage. Keep an eye on the four bolt holes in the chassis where the transmission mounts. The mounting plate has been known to crack there and can start to tear out. Many people ave seen this issue (usually after 30-50 years of hard abuse) and many have fixed it with reinforcing the plate. Keep your set screws tight on the hubs, otherwise you may wallow out a keyway in the axle or hub and sheer a key. Watch for leaking transmission fluid witch may indicate bearings or seals wearing out But you will continue to be impressed with what they can handle!

Kyle you should a called me I would have helped you out someway......

I think I may be...lol I just figured it would put too much strain on the rear end... guess there is a difference between a rider and a tractor. Some of these logs were settled right in after being down for two + yrs... and when at first they didnt budge... I backed up and hit it again...soon enough the log bent to the wheel horses will... I thought that backing up and hitting it hard again would tear out the rear end... and I was surprised to hear that it could take it...and went at it with the approach of go or blow and it went .... No matter how hard the load was the tires never stopped spinning... so that was my first indication that it could handle it... If the machine wasnt able to handle it the rear end would have bogged down and stalled out instead the tires kept spinning trying to get a bite. and hold on when they did... At one point I had to stop and clear the path... the log was catching all the limbs that were down and were being dragged along with the log I didnt notice I was collecting friends along the way... This is with the 50# rear wheel weights off...

TO There are quite a few posts on here on this topic. Try a search of electric lifts. I'm thinking a small RC winch..HB has on sale now for 54$

Stop thinking about it so much, chain it up and see what she can do. As far as your power concern, yes it does take away from the acceleration (which, at .5 mph, no big loss) but you will gain more inertia so it nearly cancels out. Put a couple hundred pounds of weights on it, put it in low range first gear... chain your truck up to it and you will be grinning from ear to ear. The engine doesnt even dip when in low low.

Your last line says it all.

I guess I am having a hard time understanding/comprehending it hence "skeptic horse" because I keep hearing what they are capable of but when I look at the machine I think really .... I was told that if it isn't biting add more weight and my logic is, takes power to move the weight so wouldn't adding weight take away from the power... response was wheel horse dont care...lol and also heard to be impressed hook it to your truck and pull it, that it would impress me but not the horse because it knows it can. So I guess I need to just get on it and try it and see what it can do for myself. LOL

It amazes me how many people have 40+ year old tractors and still use them regularly! My 1964 854 (51 yrs old) pulls the sweeper after every mowing and hauled MANY 12cu ft wagons of dirt for me. I have no doubt, if properly equipped, it would take a turn plow to any garden without concern!

So .... Sat-Sun of the first weekend in oct The address is 242 Mcmurray Road Rutherfordton NC 28139 Which is the 3rd .. 4th of Oct. Is this correct??? 'Cause once I put it in my phone, I have to go ... I don't know how to turn off the alarm!! LOL

What it can do is usually just a matter of how much traction you have. It will probably out haul your 4 wheeler because it was designed to (may not do it as fast, and hafta watch that ground clearance, but could probably do more per trip). If you were hauling logs 7 days a week the WH would outlast the 4 wheeler for simplicity and beefy construction. Wheelers were designed to handle speed and hauling but just less so. Tractors are just pure haulers. But you gotta have the traction and weight on the machine. Rear wheel weights, front wheel weights and suitcase weights on whichever end is getting light. Oh and chains and/or ag tires out back. Off the top of my head what I have seen a WH doing: Mowing, plowing ridiculous amounts of snow/dirt/gravel, ploughing (notice spelling change), snow blowing, cultivating, chipping/shredding, towing far more than it safely should, tilling, disc-ing, etc. Heck you can put a front end loader on them and have even seen backhoes on the D series. I'm sure i've missed a ton more. How much can it tow safely or all out? I have used an 8 speed to haul a 5-6k lb trailer up a short grade and into a back yard. I know others have done far worse (better?). If you have hills you have to watch your traction. Remember these machines are 4-600lbs stock (depending on size/year) and you can weight them up pretty good but just be careful to not outclass it too much. I was using my C-145 to plow an incredible amount of snow last year. I was limited only by my traction. I had 50lbs weights on each rear + chains, 30 on each front pushing a 48" plow. This year I have an extra 320lbs of suitcase weights to play with (they cant all go on one tractor though)

The 314-8 is a very good choice. It will handle any garden chores you throw at it. You would be hard pressed to find a better or stronger manual transmission in a garden tractor. The combination of that cast iron Kohler and that 8 speed doesn't get any better.

I literally was coming home from town and stopped in to see it. The home owner is in the process of selling his home and moving, hence the reason for selling the tractor. Anyway, he had someone coming in 30 minutes to look at the house and gave me just a few minutes to check out the tractor. I did notice a chain hanging off the back coming from under the seat pan. I will make sure I look at that closely tomorrow. Thanks for the advice. That would be a bummer to not have the "core" of the lift system... I was impressed with how smooth the transmission worked and the engine ran well.

Picked this one up this rainy 4th of July morning. Any guesses? I know, that's not much of a clue. Maybe this will help. Loaded up and heading home. One more clue.

Not sure about the wife... but, I do know I'd..... keep those tires.

Add one more to the "very well stated Karl" pile. Very well written and thought out