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Hello - New member from PA - just north of Pittsburgh. I found this great site this summer - and finally joined. I've been a Wheel Horse junkie since the early / mid 70's when we got a 704 - and have used only Wheel Horse since then to date. I consider Wheel Horse tractors to be among the best engineered and dependable machines ever produced. Still have the 704 - but it has not been used in some time. Hope to get it going again in the near future. Also have a 1963 model - I believe it is a 753. It is buried in the garage (keeping the 704 company). The tractors we currently use are a 312-8 and two 416-H.

I took @WHX24 Jim’s tractor for a spin about 8:30 last night, figured the harvest moon was bright enough to mow for a bit. How did farmers harvest before lights? Yeah Jim, wiring is an issue as you figured... no light bulbs turned on

Just about ready to weld up the new hoops for my Senior's front rims...

What have I done with my Wheel Horses lately? I have been experiencing some problems with my hands lately (been coming on for years, being a MAN I ignored it) and finally had carpal tunnel surgery on the first hand yesterday,the second one will be done in two weeks so for now I will be kicking back and wrenching vicariously through everyone's posts. Keep them coming.

And another!

Jim & I had this discussion once. We measured some 1" i.d. hubs & found that the o.d. was also smaller. Given this fact I have fears about the hub wall getting too thin. It would probably work out fine for a trailer queen, but I don't think that I would trust it on a worker.

Hello all, new member from NE here! I've been reading for a few weeks now and figure I might as well make an account and join. There seems to be a ton of knowledgeable people around here from what I've read so far. I recently got back into WH and have 3. I've got an A-80 E, a Raider 8, and an L155 Lawn Ranger. All were pulling tractors for my family, and mine was the A-80 E. I love the machine, and my mission is to get her back up and running; been sitting for a good few years. (Having some problems with that, but I'll make a post designated to it.)

Yes... I'm going to tack the centers in place, spin the rims to make sure they spin true and then burn them in permanently, I'l sand blast the whole wheel, etch prime and the fill the pits with some body filler... I'll have the vids up shortly of the whole process and restore/refurb of the tractor on YouTube

I live in the Sunshine state and my legs are as white as your camper. No pics needed.

Sure would hate to have to kick you out and make you join that "other" club!

I bought this 1976 new and used it with a blower and tiller a lot. The tower developed a crack I'm guessing in the 80's. I attributed it to not using the spring assist which put more stress on it. Not having a welder and wanting to try to keep it from getting worse you can see the plate I added. I only primed it and never got around to throwing some red paint on it. That was one of the first things that caught my eye when I was reunited with the tractor after 17 years apart. Exactly as I did it 30+ years ago, still doing it's job and no, it's not getting red paint now.

Oooo well a car is a different story all together. More time ... more money. I would rather buy the car restored and work on the tractors !

Haha definitely not new around here. I really need to get on here more often

So, I've noticed a common issue with the KT/Magnum twin engines. They are always missing the LH head tin. A lot of previous owners clean out grass behind the tin and never put it back on, so it gets lost. I've seen many a post about people looking for the LH head tin. I'm making a basic blueprint for the tin, and once I get ahold of my snapper LT18, I'll be able to get detailed measurements of it. Shouldn't be too hard to make, it's just cutting some thin aluminum then bending.

I slapped some paint on and greased the PTO bell while I had the belts off... well grease must have found it’s way out... I’ve got it everywhere! I’ll clean the bell later, I don’t need it to plow so I pulled it off for now.

Missed a spot!

Back from holiday, i finalized the Roadapproval with a Weightprotocol. I must do, because the FEL was now a fixed Part of the Tractor. prepare the scale... front Axle and Rear Axle Tells, the collected Weight of FEL all together was 74 Kilos. the rest was the 3Point rearlift. (8 kilos) Done. Just have to wait, until Paperwork is finalized.

True mafia fashion!! Mow at Dark.

Kevin, thanks for the safety tip, of course you know that none of us will learn from your experience, we would rather make our own mistakes.

That will fit my mentality good then, lights are on but nobody's home! I love wiring issues.... 'bought the only thing I am good at! Run her through some tall grass..... that's how it's gonna get used as little as I get up to the cabin to mow!

I have used a 1 inch hub that was bored .002 interference fit because the 1 1/8" axle was worn .003 under size. The 1" hub I used was the same thickness as the 1 1 /8" hub. There are some of the older ones that are thinner and I would not use those. That bored hub is on a FEL machine now for a couple years, no issues. Replace the seal, warmed the hub and tapped it on. You may want to look at ED's keyway repair thread, it's pretty good.

She isn't pretty but it should make a good all around tractor for this kids, what are thoughts on a plow tractor for them, easy hydro with hydro lift it has a Kohler twin 17hp that definitely needs alittle attention pretty solid unit. the old man I bought it from only lived about 5 miles from me, he owned it about 5 years or so he bought it and got cancer sat in his garage for some time I was seeing it out side more and more I always told my wife I would own it if I seen it out by the road. I didn't find it by the road but found it online, sold it to me for 100 dollars, he said he was sick of tripping over junk so he gave me a wheel horse round hood, original wheel horse owner's manual and documents he made and sale papers, a bunch of extra parts and new points, I never was a black hood guy but couldn't pass up the deal. I have to get better pictures. Here you go @PeacemakerJack another idea that you created last year at plow day letting me ride that hydro

Dang l gotta get some new glasses!! Sorry!

It‘s a shame to see, how they rape this beautiful machines. my machinist heart hurts when i see this. independent how old the machines are, a technical rape was and is a technical rape. i‘m as owner decides if i would do this or not. i know, it‘s sometimes hard to reject in such situations, even if you’re self curious if this will work, but sometimes it is better to reject and not try all. To have no fear is the one thing ( at races i.eg., ) but few stupid of the visitors on such events make me allway‘s speechless, but i guess mostly they didn‘t realize the danger. fun with machines? Yes please, but not such rape. A steam engine is built for pulling, even on time, but not to climb as a capricorn.

I may start with a minor re-do of my Miata. Not sure what I’ll end up with for a complete rebuild. I do know it will likely be resto-Mod rather than try to stay original. And I have a soft spot in my heart for convertibles. 1955-70 era

I should have added ... I've been to the 'Big Show' - two times. Great time.

Well its been a long road for this little REO but its finally running, moving, and mowing as it should. I bought it almost two years ago. Running and driving before I loaded it onto my truck. Stopped at a friends house to show him. I had to talk him into unloading it to drive it around his yard. Well we unloaded it, he got on and drove it like 25 yard where the transmission locked up. So after my cancer treatment we finally got around to cracking the transmission open to find out what the problem was. Bad bearings and a broken shift fork. Found the parts and never having seen the inside of a transmission before was able to get everything installed and back together. When that was done took the carb off and soaked it and got a rebuild kit. Well its all back together again and to my surprise working as it should ! Did a quick clean up on it but for being all original and 55 years old it looks pretty good. Im glad it is running and driving again. Saved from being a parts machine or hauled to the junk. I said earlier that I think I am the only one interested in these rear engine little horses. Can anyone put a value on them? I never see any around. At some point I will have to part with them.

Well let's quit jackin the jaw and get to the plowing! You best get ready Josh and I don't cotton to youngins in bed yet at plow time!

No comment on the death grip he's got on that cup Ritchie? Can't believe Dan set his down for that pic!

@WVHillbilly520H, @gwest_ca, 30 min and I have my simple question answered! I appreciate and enjoy this great site! Thank you! Cory

I have a similar model, I can't remember who made it, but it may be a Shumacker, as well, I got it for about $50, its 540 amps. Not big enough to start most cars if they are dead dead, but will do a tractor just fine. Since these types of devices are designed and marketed for starting cars I doubt you will find one with less than 540 CCA. I wouldn't worry any about having a higher amp jumper, a load like a starter will draw what it needs and leave the rest.

Kevin...I hope you were wearing the appropriate shirt...

WHATTTT? you aren’t planning to mow Jim’s lawn or mine for that matter while you’re in town?

I had to earn that cut off in the true mafia fashion Dan! ... I got stripes, stripes around my shoulders I got chains, chains around my feet...

It looks like this one, except mine is a twin cylinder. https://www.govdeals.com/?fa=Main.Item&itemid=221&acctid=6209. One of the pictures shows the throttle cut back valve. I need to do a few tests, and may even try to use a surplus electric motor, because it might not take much to run it since it does not really start under a full load. I have a Harbor freight gas powered unit, so there is something to examine on the idle control... Pics are coming...

Get well soon, we all deserve a break now and then

I cooked one with a cheapie HF Tender. Saw where stuff came out the vent. No issues with a Battery Tender brand

Get well soon, Richard!

Thanks for the picture. It may be rough but it's the first one I've seen that is legible. I think they used different dashes depending on what they had on hand? I've been wanting to offer a more complete kit for the 500 special with a dash kit but till now could not identify the dash panel. We are winterizing our redneck lakehouse this week and will be home for the winter. Summer seemed very short this year. This will be one of my first kit updates. Thanks again

I might have a solid deck for it. I’m in NJ though.

ooh lala...some well cared for beauties

I know 1 1/8" hubs aren't that scarce yet, but in a pinch could a 1" hub be reamed out and a new keyway cut???? @WHX24

for the update. We luv it when a plan works.

I agree! But I don't think he's new around here

DeD, I machined a new set of hubs for my Raider 10 awhile back. I did relieve the backside, but left a lot more meat in the flanges and hubs. I also machined the axles for full length keys. I’m guessing those hubs will outlast me! Danny

Took a gander at the food plot this morning. The foliage is about a foot tall with tracks proving the deer are here. I kicked up a small doe on the way out too, but she was too quick for pictures.

@Solze1267 great find! I use my $80 Commando 6 which looks to be essentially the same tractor quite often for chore duty!

I unhook the bat neg terminal. Attach a tender to the battery. As for fuel I drain out the regular gas. I buy a can of the 4 cycle fuel from Lowes. 3 year shelf life. Put about a pint in. run it for 10 min..No issues starting next year.