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There's quite a breadth of models with the 200 series and thei offspring. When the letter series (A, B, C...) tractors were replaced with the numbered "hundred" series tractors, the new 200 series with the new hood design were largely carried over from the previous B's and vertical shaft Work Horses (e.g. B-165, LT-1137, etc). The upper end of this range were tiller capable. I think they were all gear drive. A special YT-12A was also offered with a Tecumseh and a hydro. These were the B-chassis tractors. In 1987 a completely new 200-series was introduced. These are the L-chassis tractors like the 212-6 pictured above and are identified by their "aero" headlamps. Initially, all were gear drive but eventually around 1990 (when the Toro decal appeared) hydrostatic transaxles were offered. In 1989 - I think - the hoods on these 200 series were lengthened to allow for a bigger muffler and the eventual Briggs twin powered 216-h. Occasionally you'll see the suffix "SB" on these, as in the 208-SB. This meant it came with a standard 30" single bladed mower deck and dinky tires. These were the Super Baggers (yes, seriously). In 1988, the continuation of the B-chassis was reintroduced as the 250-series. All were hydros with single cylinder a Kawasaki engines. Either 12.5 or 17 hp. Great tractors and were marketed as "yard" tractors instead of "lawn" tractors. Interestingly if you look underneath them, you'll see that while the engine has a vertical shaft, the eaton 7 hydro pump in the rear is a horizontal shaft input. Classic WH shenanigans with twisting V-belts. For whatever reason, the max speed on the 250's is quite slow. Attachments from the L-chassis 200- Series and the 250's do not interchange. In about 1990, the 250's were cancelled and replaced with the 240 series. These looked the same as the smaller 200's but were longer and had a unique, heavy duty chassis weldments instead of a stamping. Onan single 14 hp engines and Briggs vanguard v-twin 16's were offered. Gear or hydro. 244-5, 244-h, and 246-h models. The 240's look like 200's, but nothing interchanges between them. This tractor was short lived and not particularly common. They were updated and restyled and reintroduced as the 260 series with new styling Fully enclosed, stylized hoods that you'll recognize The 260's persisted a long time The top of the line models had a cool electric-hydraulic lift. Originally the kohler command vertical topped out at 19 hp so the top model wasthe 269-h. Later kohler gave it another hp and the subsequent top dog 260 series became the 270-h. Yes, seriously. The 260's eventually were replaced with the 400-xt series. 260's and 400-xt's could take a tiller. The 400xt's could accept cSeries implements believe it or not. 260-series attachments are - I'm pretty sure - backward compatible with 240's. the light duty Toro-WH "xl-series" share nothing with any of these. The Euro 220-series were improved versions of the old B-chassis and looked like 250's I'm obviously a fan of these things. steve

You are in luck. About an hour from you on the 1st Saturday this October we are having a Meet & Greet at Scott's in Leesburg, Indiana. Here is the link... http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/topic/57977-6th-annual-north-central-indiana-meet-greet/ Bring the horse and sell it, or meet the guys and learn why maybe you should keep it. It is a great group of members with about 200 garden tractors showing up. Good food, good company...lots to look at. Welcome to Red Square

The more I read your comments the more I started thinking. I truley have become a better person as a result of doing my project. I had NO patience, and was a results oriented mind all the way. But those little issues, which you seem to be experiencing as well, have made me a new person!! At first, they just pissed me off. But after awhile, I began to accept them, and ... waaalaaa ... a new attitude!! And I like it!! Hope you feel the same!! Nice project by the way!! bob

I have a 252H, a 257H, A 216h, a 211-3 and a few others. Here is the 257H with a plow. The 257H feels like something more than a 200 series but not quite a 300 series. It has the coveted Kawasaki 17 hp engine. I believe it has the largest rear tires of any 200 series and the same steering wheel as my 1989 520 HC. The tractor has a little over 100 hours on the meter. It is in very nice original condition. It is perhaps the king of the 200 series?

My '92 246H, bought it used around 2002 with 500 some odd hours on it for $850. Now has 810 hours on it. Has the 16 HP Briggs Steve mentioned earlier. Very little problems with it other than minor stuff and the PTO clutch. Went thru the deck once. Just put new rubber & semi sealed bearings on the front and shimmed the spindles/axles. One of my main workers This bugger has been the only real problem. Bearings where shot in it and it was rusted & siezed on the motor shaft. My own fault ........too much wash water from washing deck. Had to wreck it get it off and replace it to the tune of 283 bucks. It started growling again this year so bearings were going out again. This time it sild right off....thanks Permatex anti-seize. Ground out the stakes holding the bearings in and with some heat got them out. Two bearings later from fleabay and nice and quiet.

Just finished a repaint on my brinly toolbar that I picked up a couple weeks ago. Just thought I'd share a pic of it behind my 856.

After a dipper broke off the connecting rod, which caused the engine to throw a rod, it was time for a rebuild. I also decided, since thre engine was out and looking so good, I'd do a refresh of the entire tractor. Below are the before and after pictures of the engine refresh. Tractor pictures to follow.

I couldn't find any pics with the blower attached. but I did find a pic of the blower separate as well as a pic with the good seat I kept and with both sd and rd decks I had.

That model looks good all black, Definitely meaner looking than the green or the traditional red. Maybe someone should start a thread entitled 'Horse of a Different Color"? Besides black there is army green and grey and camouflage as well as darker reds that may look good on certain models. Pullers are often painted in a variety of colors.

That is a CLASSIC response to a moron and the idiot he is married to...I love it!!! Can I use that sometime or is the response "copy righted"???

Looks like a normal F 150 to me!

Muz, It will take some time and digging for pics but what I can tell you that the blower was the common 60's-80's blower that Simplicity/ Allis used. It was for a horizontal shaft engine. I took a heavy plate and made the same holes in it as the 210 snowplow had to mount it. Welded a plate on each side of it with a hole to accept pins to attach the blower and make it pivot up and down. Took a heavy piece of flat stock and made a "Y" with it. Mounted that upside dowm on the blower. One side was a pivot for it and the other side was mounted a flat pulley. The opposite end was drilled a hole to hook a tension spring. The other end of the spring was hooked to the plateon the tractor. Then the belt was just a single twist to go from vertical to horizontal. Worked very well After the storm of 93 I went to the dealer I bought the tractor from and told them I wanted a blower. They were JD guys and told me even though a blower wasmade for it the tractor wouldn't have enough power to run it. My neighbor had a pile of Allis attachments and no tractor and sold me the blower for $100. Best $100 I've ever spent.

we need to go back and check for proper operation of the pressure switch by using the resistance range on the multimeter engine off - no wires connected to pressure switch - multimeter set to 200 ohms range - measure from the metal switch body to each terminal one terminal should show a near 0 ohms reading, the other should show an open (over range) reading start the engine - the two wiring terminals on the pressure switch should REVERSE their resistance readings - 0 ohms should go over range - over range should now read near 0 ohms simply put, the two screw terminals on he switch should never have the same resistance value engine on or engine off let's get these switch conditions verified before going any further.

What model do you want?...pm me and I'll put it on the trailer when I go to Slammers M&G next month!!

Reason I was asking is if you are looking for a good comfortable no-nonsense tractor I was going to recommend a 312-8. Find one of those with low hours and you've got something good.

Several years ago when my bride and I were combining households we had a few yard sales to liquidate our duplicate stuff. After substantial negotiations a used dryer was purchased by a neighbor for $20, about six weeks later she said she was not happy with it so we took it back and refunded the $20. The lint filter weighed about five pounds, no wonder it wasn't working well. What she didn't know was that our son's dryer had stopped working a couple days earlier and we were kicking ourselves for letting it go for so little. Some times God answers when you haven't even asked!

I think I still had something missing, so I contacted the folks at the Badge Factory and they sent me this the other day. I think I can finally say I am done with this one.

Knobs and final engine and deck decals installed. All decals by Denny Clarke and http://www.RedoYourHorse.com! Finally done!

I can now say it's completed! Even cut the grass with it today.

I am interested how many members have a 200 series. post some pictures of them working around the yard or winter work! I hope I'm not the only one! LOL Heres some pictures of my 212-6 working.

picked up a 604 on Friday in good shape wrong color but it's been that way for 10yrs. I didn't like the green so changed it to black always wanted to do that to one and figured this one whould look good black. Just have to get #'s on it and a new drive belt , speaking of what # is the belt/size?

Have you placed a "Hauling Help ad here on Redsquare? There may be a member who will be heading your way with some room. A few years back I was looking for a "U Ship" quote on a GT-14 with FEL from NJ to western NC, loading dock available at both ends best offer was $800,I reposted and didn't get an offer under $1,000. That is when we made the decision to make a road trip. Good luck.

Good idea Jack, "horse of a differant color thread". That baby looks bad azz black. Nice job. Glenn

Fix your starter, then give it a bath=$400.

since you said it was a worker, and the hood has already been notched and modified, I'd just patch the existing hole and move the new opening to fit the new tank.

Now that's some really BAD LUCK.

No words for that....

Love those GTs, restoring mine may be my next project.

They don't have to be show quality, and they don't have to be red. We don't discriminate against any of the old machinery. The more to look at the better. It is nice to sit back and appreciate the design of each of these machines and hear some of the stories that go along with them.

Hello guys. back from my holiday and it was great. so back to tractor work it was the bonnet it now fitted with the Honda fuel tank and also my new air filter that does clear the bonnet. Some more bits to do before i take it apart again (belt guard, kill switch few other tweaky bits). but enjoy this little update. thanks james (it has been raining a lot recently so she hasn't come out, but as soon as it clear up i will get some better pictures)

I wil take one 2xl please. Looking forward to attending the show.

On my K series powered tractors I always remove the key from the switch after turning the key off. Typically I then lay the key on the hood of the tractor. I made this a practice after leaving the key on and heating the coil. Luckily I did not overheat it but it was getting warm.

I'd really like to find a suburban, lawn ranger, or RJ....but wouldn't we all.....lol

Is it ok if I bring these two

I forgot to tell you "Woo Hoo!!!" for scoring another 420SLE Scott I can only hope for one of those in my lifetime

Well I should have learned by now that setting goals and dates invites the universe to hit you dead center with all it is to take the wind from you. So....a minor tool failure...somehow no hose clamps which I find exasperating seeing as I buy them in bulk just to avoid the 30 minute drive into civilization in the middle of projects. So waste a half day productivity and hit the next blockade. I thing Hubs may have been placed on earth to try men's souls! So I was making decent headway considering blasting, priming (ran out of primer btw) and testing the remaining Hydro pump and motor off but got hung up one more time trying to pull the hub off the unit I plan on using. I want to blast the hubs and polish the axles. So I have rigged up the hub puller using one of the hubs that did come off and need longer center bolt. Likely have to order it or maybe Fastenal has one. Anyway I have made some progress and got started on the attach-a-matic parts and the 3 point hardware. A couple pics to go along with the update. I had the self etching primer for the framer and ran out of the clean metal primer so used some of it. I really like the self etching stuff.

That the trouble with printer stickers not much way to tell. At least you know the year and model. I have a 312-8 that is either an 88 or 89 even the engine numbers were painted over the only thing I'm sure about is that it's a 12 HP magnum.

So there were a couple horses at a local online/public auction yesterday, one especially was a lawn ranger with big wide rear turfs and no engine and no attachments, it went for $81. That's gonna make a nice toy for someone! The other was a clean 701 with a front blade and it went for $900. Thing is, it was listed on CL for less not to long ago I believe. It's amazing how some things get inflated at auction and some others never find the air.

Looks a bit like a Halo, must be an Angelic GT-14!

What a surprise! I received an honor due to this restore. The Tractor Data website decided to use my images of this restore as the example tractor. Pretty cool, indeed. http://www.tractordata.com/lawn-tractors/000/4/7/478-wheel-horse-10hp-photos.html

Ironically, I have bought and sold off Craigslist many times...from vehicles to boats, tires, and hammocks. Never once have I experienced anything "weird" as a buyer, rather it is usually someone who clearly doesn't have the same level of OCD that I have. For the most part, everything has been as promised and spot on. As a seller, however, I have seen it all. Quick example is when I tried to list a 1988 Ford Ranger XLT super cab 4x4 for $600. The truck was a two owner, had some typical rust over the rear wheel wells, but ran and drove extremely well...$600. Long story short, I got trade offers that I could hardly believe. One local guy...get this...offered me three chickens and a porta potti for this vehicle. I politely declined and told him that I really enjoy the chicken that Kroger and Costco sell, and that I live in KY and we received indoor plumbing and shoes like two months ago. Sigh...this world is something else.

I sold an 8 x 10 enclosed aluminum trailer on Craigs list, one guy comes over to look at it and measures the width with a tape he brought - says the inside of the box isn't 8 ft wide - told him 8 ft was from outside wheel well to outside wheel well ....long story short he gets a real quick attitude and starts accusing me of trying to rip people off, false advertisement ....blah blah blah - I pointed out the manufactures paperwork, still hanging in the trailer , that this is what is classified as an 8 x 10 trailer - if it was 8 ft in the box it would be 10ft going up the road ....didn't matter he's still determined he's gonna throw a fit ......this guy had me nervous ....I politely told him I want you to leave ....RIGHT NOW ...surprisingly to me he did - threw his temper tantrum the whole way down the yard and out the D-way . I hate to say it and it's a shame, but if I sell anything else I think Mr Ruger is going to be real close by.

Though there was nothing major wrong with the machine before the engine failure, there were several "personality" issues it possessed. Things like safety switches not always activating, stray rattles and loose components, etc. It's nice to jump on the machine and with the turn of the key, off you go. Very refreshing indeed. Funny thing is that the last few weekends, while working in the yard, I've had several people pass by the house, turn around at the next street, and head back to pull into my driveway, just to take a closer look. Surprising how many people still long for the days, and recognize the quality, of these machines.

Viola! - Finished 1973 10HP 8-Speed "Refresh" So what started out as a spun rod, turned into an engine rebuild, which turned into a full blown engine restore, which turned into a tractor "refresh", which ultimately turned into this shiny red picture of beauty! LOL All in less than 30 calendar days, too. Sheesh! Time for a rest. Glad the BIG Show is only a few days away.

Got a lot more done today! Pretty damn happy with the results too. It's not perfect, there are certainly a few sags and bugs in the paint, but then again this was a refresh on a "working machine", not a restore. - Wet sanded hood and fender pan down to 2K grit, compounded, and polished out. - All the remaining tractor decals installed. - Rebuilt Engine started and carburetor tuned in. Runs like a champ, thank God! - Installed "new" muffler. - Installed hood ornament. - Seat and Brackets installed. - Head and Tail Lights installed, but not wired yet. - Polished most of the rest of the tractor. - All that's left is rims and wheels, color the steering wheel and lift handle, wire the lights, and a myriad of other small details.

Amazing Discovery - I thought their was something wrong with the rustoleum paints, but ... Rust-oleum paints cannot be sprayed over epoxy paint, even when the epoxy paint is sanded smooth and spot primed. The paint had wrinkled like a prune after it began to dry, so I decided to go back to bare metal and start all over again on the hood and fender pan. Funny thing is, it damn near peeled off like Plasti-Dip Spray. So ... I stripped them down to bare metal and re-primed. Going back into paint tomorrow after a good wet-sanding to 2000 grit. On the brighter side, I got the Foot Rests and Belt Guard sand blasted, primed and in paint. They will be installed tomorrow. Maybe this machine will make it to the show! UPDATE: The storm passed us by, so the fender pan makes it to paint tonight!

Wasn't a bad looker... before it became a work of art.

Final update on this project of which I am dedicating to my father he and my mother brought me into this world in 1964 and he left us on 9-29-14. I have always like the hood stand on the 64's and since I did not have a serial number for this one I made my own 92914 this tractor will always be close to my heart, this one is to date the best one I have restored. Dad if you are looking I hope you like this one. Will be taking this one to Pioneer Power this year and every year, as my father had come down to see us for the years I have been going, he loved to people watch and spend some time with the Wheel Horse faithful. Thanks Guys Enjoy and thanks for looking

I love the look of fresh sprayed red paint

Minnesota Maintenance in Faribault Mn. I use to work for Curly part time in the later 80's. He started selling Porter Cable riding mowers in 1958 Not sure when he closed, was in shop last December still has inventory that is getting water damaged. Tried saving with no luck. I remember he had what I believe was a GT 14 with a forklift attatchment on the back, had to sit on a seat on the hood and steering wheel between your legs. Always thought it was cool. Tom