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Morning -folks. It is with a heavy heart that I post here about the passing of one of my best friends, and a member here (even though he didn't post much) Randolph Smith of Chester, Va., passed away yesterday. I got the call last night from his SIL. He was a Wheelhorse dealer for years in Appomatox, Va.. He had retired years back from a Ford dealership--but he still kept the Wheelhors'e alive..he surely did. He had a '69 GT14, that is the cleanest/nicvest tractor of that era I have ever seen. He had it @ the Show several years ago. Unfortanately--neither one of us was able to attend this year. I know he is in a better place now--and not in pain. glenn **Admins or Mods--Move this to where it is more appropriate, if so--and Thanks for letting me 'honor' my friend in thoughts for a few minutes.

Made and early morning run south over the border ( @WHX7 no cheese involved here ) and did a little horse trading and this is what I came home with. 603 looks to be a barn find with no motor. Patina is very nice, sheet metal is good, plan is to keep it original with the addition of a 6 1/4hp kohler with an updraft carb, will it still be considered a 603? Have to fix the steering shaft as the PO cobble up some kind of arm connected to the tie rods and it is very sloppy and welded one of the steering arms to the spindle Have not done much research yet, anyone know how many 603's were produced? Are the throttle and choke original and correct? Steering wheel is in good shape. Thanks for looking.

I had the notion that these weren't worth bothering with but the price was just too good for this much painted red sheetmetal! The owner loved it but replaced it with a BIG tractor/snowblower and a Ferris 60". He hated to see it go but had no room for it and wasn't going to leave it outside. I just had too... Many of you will know what it is but not long ago I wouldn't have!

Browsing the craigslist this morning looking at literally thousands of tractor pics. I was thinking man its good I don't have a lot of money to play with or you wouldn't be able to see my yard for all the tractors I would love to buy. then the second thought hit me ,another reason why I love wheel horse tractors ,is simply the value ,which actually translates into most of the older tractors farm tractors etc. My wife bought an elliptical exercise machine for right around 1000 and she uses it regularly , until the point where it became loose ,so I tore it apart to tighten the bolts just to find that the super cheap metal was cracked around all the bolts! and when I think of how you can buy two running wheel horses for that amount or a farmall h , a powerking etc that already lasted for 30-50 yrs and will go another lifetime. I don't know if in 30 yrs our wheel horses will increase in value or decrease in value .but what I do know is whatever the prices are, the value is there compared to the value of just about anything else there is to buy these days. So the next time you run across a wheel horse for sale and wonder is that worth it ? YES! Yes it is! it may not be what you are willing to pay for it but yes it is worth it "the value is there".

You can pay $300 for a mower you have to walk behind and push. $300 to have one you can ride....priceless.

I am new here and have a build thread started but want to say I am liking this forum. I'm at the tip of the iceberg as far as how much I have been looking around. Lots of nice people and tractors. Lots of great info and resources to. Have a good Sunday everyone.

I'm coming up on 77 yrs..I have bought 2 new WH in the past and a used 516h this spring.... it wasn't until I started working on getting the 516 in shape and joined Red Square and started reading on the forum just how durable and well made these tractors are..I have been mowing with a Craftsman the last few years and would like to wind back the clock...I could have bought a WH in great shape that would have lasted for decades with what I spent on the Sears mower ( that is only a mower ) . The sears has a longevity of probably 5 years and then junk.. I am switching out the 700 for an 1100 - my son should be able to use this tractor for decades....oh well, live and learn...you guys here on RS sure do have a lot of valuable info...thanks for giving it up to the rest of us...

Pretty sure this is the Model 400 I picked up in Canajoharie last year from Baerpath(Duane)... if I remember correctly, he scored it from a local auction, and had been sitting outside for a long time. Engine was siezed, and the trans locked as well. Not too suprising, considering there was no spark plug in the head... and a virtually non existant shifter boot that allowed more water into the trans, than not. Except for the missing belt guard, and exhaust heat shield, seemed to be a pretty complete tractor though... also came with the complete mower deck, and foot controls...the correct snow plow, and mount. Was originally thinking about parting this ol' girl out, but thought I'd spend a little time to see if I might could get the trans to free up first... then see where it goes from there. Of course, I discovered it full of water, virtually no oil came out of it at all...but, decided to fill it with diesel, earlier this week anyway. Kept messing with the shifter until I eventually got it to drop into first, then later, reverse... second and third seemed to be frozen solid though. Couple days go by, and I decide to swap out the siezed engine for another K-90 bullet I've had in inventory...pretty sure the original's rings have become one with the cylinder wall...and seems it isn't freeing up anytime soon either. So this morning, I started again...reinspired now, with a good running engine...gonna get this trans shifting again. Set it's rear up on a couple jack stands...hooked up a drive belt...put fire in the hole...and just let it run full of diesel in the two gears I had...back and forth for a minute or so... dropping the dirty diesel, then refilling with clean. Took me about four times, run maybe a gallon through it before it finally freed up second, and third. I then repeated this process about four times with clean oil..until it ran somewhat clear...low and behold...it's shifting pretty smoothly now...considering, what I started with. Couldn't wait to slap the ags back on it, and do a couple hot laps with it, before calling it a day today. Hard to imagine, from siezed, and frozen...to up and running within a couple hours today...the power of the almighty is truly amazing. So...can you blame me? I've decided I won't be parting this little guy out now.

And if it has a cup holder, all the better.

Was at the fair last month and looked at all the tractors and equipment for sale, Mahindra, Kiotti, McCormick, Montana etc. all made in China or India. Went home and hoped on my 72 year old Farmall M hooked up the 50+ yr old Bush Hog 600 and mowed fields. Question, in 72 years how many of those Mahindra, Kiotti, McCormick, Montana etc will still be up for work. i can still get parts for the M. I know guys with 5-10 yr old tractors who have a hard time getting parts for them. Quality costs but it also lasts.

Ok here I go. I'm in the snow plowing business and have an F-350 diesel with an 8' plow so when I get done with my route and finally get to my driveway I park out in the road and walk in. Nieghbors must think I'm crazy. But then depending the depth I bust out the 417-A with 2-stage blower, cab glass front with wiper,lights,and heat. If not too deep it's the C-165 with 48" blade. To scrape up ice off the blacktop it's the GT-1800 with 50" mid-mount grader blade. Then I clean up with the C-141 8 Speed with cab and Sweepster 48" broom. If stacking snow it's the C-141 with FEL. I'm with Dennis, I can't imagine changing all these attachments which explains why we need all these tractors. Wait I think I my need some counseling, is this rediculous?

I'm thinking... something that combines the three of these into one would be the perfect snow machine.

Found out my good neighbor is moving soon, just joking I asked what he wanted for his shed. Make me an offer he said, well 2 weeks later it is in my yard. 10 x10 x 9, door opening is 50" perfect stable for my horses. Have about $450 in it, new ramp, leveling and wiring, still finishing putting in shelves.

I think any WH garden tractor that starts, runs without smoke and moves well under it's own power is worth $300. Good sheet metal, paint, tires and anything else is a plus! Now I've bought for much less but I still think what I just said is about right.

If it looks and runs good then yes

Had the Lawn Ranger out today for a little work out. Mowed the back lawn for the neighbors and then it wanted a turn pulling the dump cart I borrowed from a friend at work. That little 32" rear discharge mower deck works great for getting up close around the house and garage.

Hadn't planned on buying one of these. Actually I had planned on NOT buying one of these, but I just couldn't help it...

Profound Wisdom!

The 520's are noticeably more powerful, but the intrinsic simplicity of the c-160's makes them pretty much the top of the "classic" format tractor heap. There are almost no extraneous parts or features on a c160: No indicator lamps, no molex connector to melt, no gauges to stop working, no aluminum-block-steel-valve-seat-differential expansion to flub up, so seat slider, etc. i think think there are only 27 parts on a c-160. 520's have at least 6.02x10^23. Have fun, Avogadro

Nice patina on that one Tom. Looks like just enough room for a Kohler twin in there.

Nice find! Glad you made it through customs OK. It belongs to you, you make the rules!

It wanted to pull the cart or was it that somebody wasn't ready to be done playing around !

The "Best" Wheel Horse snow machine? Best in what way? Best at making removing snow fun? Best at turning over the snow and moving down out of the way? I have to sat the reason I own 20 plus Wheel Horses today ( and three RJ's as of this writing) is the RJ Wheel Horse and the 42 inch snowplow that goes on this tractor! Growing up with one we used it every winter. Used chains on it back then on a gravel drive. The original plow used on the RJ had a curve on the blade that was not duplicated on the later Wheel Horse snowplows. It curved a little more and helped turn the snow when moving. Now I know with a 3.5 HP Clinton, Kohler or 4 HP K 91 Kohler it was not a powerful tractor as the later models with bigger motors had but it was (and still is in my case) the best little snow moving piece of equipment that gave you an edge at getting to the removal early, enjoying the task and being warmed by the heat of that motor throwing hot air your way once in a while! Those that have done this know.

Glad it's not my birthday if the're picking boogers to celebrate!

Been working on putting mine back to what i thought was original condition. Well after removing the steering column and the rest i decided to research the parts. It turns out the column, gear box, pitman arm and link are all model A parts and possibly the spindles. After several conversations with other lever steer guys this might of well been a transition tractor between the lever and senior. but without any records it anybody's guess. So i will keep the parts with the tractor but leave it a lever. eventually the rest will get painted

jellyghost All of the above sounds good. There is and old saying that I use to hear a lot when I was riding motorcycles Taking pride in what you ride. I think this holds true for these fine tractors the we like so much.

Hi Dennis, I liked my 520 and my single stage. But to me the single doesn't have the balls when the snow is wet and heavy. My ultimate dream setup is my 522xi with a 2 stage. And that cheap cab to keep dry, it's all that's offered. The ol vinyl cab. But, better than nothing, which is what I have, nothing. Now, the 520 with a 2 stage and cab would be sweet to, it sure has the ass for the job. In my opinion.. oh, I never had a problem with my 416 8 speed, can't argue with gears, But I prefer the hydro, and the hydro lift. That's just my thoughts to me on the subject. Will be interesting to see what the others say. Good topic, as winter approaches. Glenn

Mechanically speaking, general maintenance with lubrication oil, and filter changes are bound to prolong it's life. Also, after mowing it is a good idea to blow out any clippings that might have accumulated around the engine cooling fins, especially under the tins. The best thing to do when shutting the engine down is to bring it to an idle for a minute prior to stopping the engine.

Hey everyone I just picked up a Wheelhorse 702 tractor..got it running today and had the side belt cover off and looks like it may be missing a pulley does anybody have a picture they could post of what it looks like under the cover I will try to post some pictures of what I have there now..Thanks Here's a picture of what I have

Moderators,,,,if this is not the proper place for this,,,,a thousand appolgys,,, I cant say for sure but,,,,,,Coming this next Saturday,,,,I should be leaving Va,,,Quietly around 5 AM heading North near the Big Show,,,,and maybe picking up (Jay) AKA Roadapples then continuing North thru PA into New York...then maybe,,,,picking up an 867,,,,and heading back South,,,,If there is enuff time....We might pay a visit to BUD Andrews,,,the STACK Man.. (( Thank-you Bud )) he was my lead on this machine.,,,, Now according to AMC Rules,,,,there has to be a rear Window pic of all this,,,,,,,Craig,,,is there anything else I need to know or should be doing????? It is a smoker....but runs very well according to its owner.....cant waite.!!!! I can get shots of fuel refills....the actual loading or rustling.. lololo the hand shake closing the deal... OK.....time to hit the Hay////////// oh.....its a 12 or 13 hr round trip.......... Howard 857 Horse in Va

As that season with the white fluffy nears my mind drifts back to the years when the kids and I shoveled our long driveway and while it does bring back fond memories of great teamwork it also brings back memories of a great amount work that would REALLY suck today! (No more little helpers!) Fortunately since then the little shovels pushed by myself and my young fellas have evolved up to a 35hp 4wd tractor with a 74" 2 stage blower! And since then the addition of several walk behinds and garden tractor driven snowblowers and blades. I've recently decided that a dozer blade is required no matter how many snowblowers there are! And I hate changing attachments and even though WH has taken a lot of the grief out of it I'm still not going to do it and putting cabs on and off is certainly going to become a thing of my past just like the snow shovels! My goal is to have a tractor for each attachment and at the current rate I'm going to get there before I die and without breaking the bank. So with even more Wheel Horses added to the collection and I'm now thinking that I will dedicate one WH as the master snowblower with cab and another to the master snow pusher with cab. Oh the big 35hp 74" will go through ANYTHING but it is also BIG and awkward to maneuver up close and NOT something you want to bump the house or back into cars with! Out in the open it is awesome but I have lots of building, paths and walkways that it is overkill for. And it constant tempts me to just carefully edge up close to something! You should see the neat decoration it made from a piece 8ft 1/2" rebar! And while I've been fortunate and now I've got the big storms covered, I should also be prepared in case it was to be out of commission and have a backup machine, slower for sure but still quite capable. So from experience, wishes or reading, what tractor and what snowblower would make the ultimate Wheel Horse combo snowblower? And which combo would make the ultimate pusher. If you could have any Wheel Horse combo you desired to tackle snow what would it be? And feel free to elaborate! I'm sure there are many that are quite experienced BUT I'm also sure there are many new members that could benefit from thoughts on not only which tractor, auto or geared, which blower, single or two staged, but also tires, chains, weights, cabs, cab heaters, wipers, lights and... I certainly have my own thoughts but before I combine tractor, attachment and cab and later wish I had done it differently, I would really like to hear what have YOU done or what would YOU do now if you had your wishes? Thanks guys for your thoughts and experiences!

I thought this was worthy: http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/tool-miniatures-william-r-robertson-51427?tooltalk1#post74392 How'd he make that folding rule?

I hate to split hairs, but it's NOT a 200-series. It's a 260-series. 200-series (there were two of them) preceded it. So did the 240-series and 250-series. Some similarities among them, but there were a lot more differences. The 260's are great machines. No, they're not as robust as a c-160 (what is?) but they could do a lot of yard work. That rear hitch is unique for the 260's and was used to mount the 48" dozer or 36" tiller. It's a Hard to find accessory. Might have been used also on the 240's, but I'm not sure. They're great mowing tractors, Dennis. It can turn circles inside a classic wheel horse's turning radius. I'd set it up as a mowing machine and save the clumsier tractors for heavy work. Steve

Agreed , with a little insulation you can heat it with a candle , and with it all wired it's a perfect man cave anyways .

It depends on the snow and how much we get. Last year I never setup my 523Dxi with the cab and snowthrower because the snow came so late in January. But when it did (36" in one storm and the county didn't plow us out for over five days) I used my Ariens walk-behind for the majority of it. The issue I had with that was after a few days the driveways I hadn't been able to access, the bottom layer started to compress and I would end up losing traction with the tires. I would have to shove it ahead - and almost gave up a few times! It got me thinking about a Honda tracked snowblower for this season! The other storms last year I only used the blade on the 518xi. The blade on my 518xi has a UHMW edge which works really well in snow without damaging my neighbors driveways. I do have a steel edge on the C-105 blade for ice storms.The only issue with the UHMW is that because the piece is cut on a 90 degree angle, the trailing edge is what scrapes the surface. I should actually re-cut the edge to about a 45 degree angle. It is robust enough to handle what I put in front of it though. I have a feeling that the twisted 5xi blade picture that had been posted on the forum was damaged pushing dirt/rock/whatever rather than snow. Of course then there are some owners that like to plow at "ramming speed!" I agree that it would be nice to have a linear actuator for sectoring the blade but ones that are strong enough are expensive, and if the conversion breaks can I put it back to original easy enough? Not fun when it is cold and wet outside. The biggest problem with the 5xi is traction. Like Don mentioned, raising the snowthrower/snowblower actually takes weight off the rear. Without a locking rear, the 5xi can break traction if you aren't careful. Once stuck, I can't jump off with it in gear and push it by hand like my C-105! I did put Kenda K502 tires on the 518xi last year and was pleased with the improved traction over the turfs or weighted ags that are on my other two. I still have the turfs on the front and if the plow "starts steering" I either back off or raise the blade for a second to regain steering. It takes longer to describe than actually do it. There is one spot where my driveway meets the road and the ice forms due to the drainage angle. I always forget the first time I get out to plow! Plans are for the 523Dxi to get a set of 25x11.00-12 K 502 on the rear and Vredestein V61 18x8.50-8 tires on the front for snowthrower duty. These tire changes may require going back to standard size for mowing though. I am torn about weighting tires vs. weights hung on the rear. Weighted tires/wheel weights put stress on the hubs' locking screws and axle, where as hanging weight on the rear puts stress on the axle seals. The 523Dxi has provision for hanging two 43 pound suitcase weights and the 518xi has Scott and Tom's 2" receiver hitch with a Heavy Hitch bracket with four 43 pound suitcase weights. I don't add weight up front as I feel the Kohler Command-engined tractors are just right, and the diesel is 100 pounds heavier in front.

No, you're not missing a pulley. It looks like you have an input shaft seal leaking. I would replace all the seals and service the transmission. You don't need to open the transmission to replace the seals. Make sure you have the belt guard on when you drive it. You need it in order for the belt to stop when you clutch it.

I'd also say yes, if everything works the way it should. Keep us posted!

9-18-1961 Bobby Vee earns a #1 hit with “Take Good Care Of My Baby” In terms of his artistic significance, the early 1960s teen singer Bobby Vee may be a relatively slight and unimportant figure, but his place in music history is assured for reasons that have nothing to do with his modest chart accomplishments and charms as a performer. On this day in 1961, he reached the high point of his recording career when his recording of the Carole King-penned “Take Good Care Of My Baby” topped the U.S. pop charts. But the event that made that accomplishment possible—and assured Bobby Vee his place in history—came two-and-a-half years earlier, when a small plane carrying three young musicians crashed en route to his home town. For songwriter Don McLean, February 3, 1959, was the Day the Music Died, but for 15-year-old Bobby Velline, it was the tragic day his star was born. The plane that crashed in an Iowa field early that morning was carrying musicians Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson north from Clear Lake, Iowa, to Fargo, North Dakota, for the next show on the Winter Dance Party 1959 tour. It was a show that young Bobby Velline, an avowed rock-and-roller, was planning to attend as a fan until fate intervened. Just weeks earlier, Velline had formed his first band, and now, as news of the deaths of Holly, Valens and Richardson spread via local radio, so, too, did another shocking piece of news. Adhering to the old maxim that the Show Must Go On, the business-minded organizers of the Winter Dance Party tour announced that they would not be canceling that night’s show, despite the deaths of three out of four of the tour’s headline acts. Surviving act Dion and the Belmonts would still be appearing, and now radio station KFGO was asking whether any local group would be available to join them. Presented with this morbid yet undeniably exciting opportunity, young Bobby Velline, who could play the chords and sing the lyrics to nearly every song his idol Buddy Holly had ever recorded, stepped up and volunteered. Appearing second on the bill that night, Velline and his band the Shadows caught the eye and ear of a local promoter, and soon began playing gigs throughout the region. Within 18 months of his tragic big break, the wholesome teenager from Fargo was in the capable grip of the music industry’s star-making machinery, recording the song that would give the husband-and-wife songwriting team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King its second #1 hit.

The 417 handles it with no problem, I think it likes it! Heat I stole off the cooling fin shrouds. There is holes in the top of them and I ran 1/2" rubber hose into the cab. It's not a lot but it helps (I think!)

I'm going to be using a C-160 8speed with cab and wheel weights and chains and a 42" blade wish it was a 48" this will be my first year using this setup but from what I've read in posts you can't go wrong with a C-160. My original plan was to use a 417-8 with electric lift but my cab was for a C-seires and when I saw the C-160 it was clear what to do. I'm still working on heat and lighting for the cab so hope someone will chime in.

After you wash it, blow it dry with either your hand held or backpack blower. And keep it under roof, don't let it sit outside.

Snug, cozy and perfect. Another place to hide from the mrs. to. Homerun. Glenn Take out the back wall, you could put ten more in the front door. Glenn

Some photos from the Mentone, Indiana Swap Meet today. Roger Parmley of Greencastle, Indiana and drove up this am and sold some things and bought some things! We got rain a few times this am an a downpour about 11 am but by 12:30 the sun and blue sky were making the day! Roger hauled home a 552 project tractor seen in a couple photos in the back of my red pickup truck! My 13 x 13 foot Coleman canopy (3rd picture) was of great benefit today and at one point we had seven people under it keeping out of the rain!

Build a couple of big shelves for double-decker storage across the back and you could get four more in there!

My three RJ's ! Roger Parmley of Greencastle, Indiana - - - Wheel Horse riding in a 4 wheel wagon!

I've been thinking using sum flexible tubing to vent engine heat into the cab. But I've wondered if I'm missing something because I would think everyone would be doing this and I have only see a few doing it. I meant mounting outside lights to the top of the cab but now that I think of it might be nice to have one inside. Lol

1998 518xi "Cisco" 1998 518xi "Cisco" 1998 523Dxi "Paladin" 2000 520xi "Poncho"