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I'll second that Sylvia Paid 350 for a beat up '67 back in '86 and bet I could get that for it today.....

Four minutes of excitement for those who are bored

I haven't spent much time around Wheel Horse tractors since I was a kid working at the dealership from 1983-1987. I finally got my own, and after spending two days going through it, the simple mechanics of the machine all comes back to you. It feels like the machine was designed from top to bottom with maintenance as the top priority. They're kind of a mechanical work of art. Especially when you look at the bloodline. It's all there, from the beginning.

Made in the U.S.A!! And made in Indiana my home and state i was born in. The simplicity of working on them! And the styling. My favorite 3 I own!

In Michigan too... Although, the seller’s description language is missing the usual facts... ”Ran when parked” ”Recent restoration by previous owner” ”Vintage” ”Rare” ”Runs and drives as it should”

took a while an a lot of hacking, but we are done. had to reroute rear lift lines. action shot front hitch jammed into a banking to test and a short video

The thing that drew me in? The style. What kept me coming back for more? The strength. What’s so special about them? The Community! One more reason? The smiles the create! Putt Putt was my first and will never leave my possession.. until my will sets in!

I thought I was reasonably clever... maybe not so.... after watching this guys clips check out his stuff..... there are obviously more clips that follow his journey up until the finished item... Guess im not that clever lol Phil

I would but I want it to go to a home that gives it a BATH every now and then!!

My favour thing? Hard to pin down just one thing to be honest. I just love the feeling when I'm driving Fred, feels like a real tractor in miniature. And of course being part of this community , counts for a lot these days. Mick

I used to flip a lot of mowers. On occasion I would have to bring one to a friend of mine who is a retired small engine mechanic for some repairs. No matter what I brought him he would always say " when are you going to bring me something good ? " I finally asked him whats a good one ? I have brought you cub cadet ... john deeres... snappers ... zero turns ....ect . He said " Bring me a Wheel Horse". I never came across one that made me want to go look at one until one day I ran across that 308-8. Soon as I saw one in person I knew it was a quality machine and I wanted it for myself. So I got it and brought it over to my friend to have him go through everything. I backed my truck up to his garage and I seen his face light up..... " Finally !!" he says. Well it spent about a week at his garage and we worked on it together and he explained a lot of things about them to me that I didnt know. That how my love affair started. Just seeing the quality and comparing them to other tractors. Ever since then if I came across a good one I kept them. Thats how I acquired the other two I had. Its sad to see them go when you have to sell one but makes me look forward to the next one. Unlike some of you guys... I have room for like one or two..... not 15 !!!

Tilled a few rows through the garden yesterday, but ran out of gas and forgot about Putt Putt as it poured rain all night... Luckily, with a new shifter boot, there’s not a ton that water affects on this machine

And tonight I saw a clean looking 1966 857, which I know nothing about, on the Facebook marketplace for $275. MUST RESIST...

Storage tray done. My son even had it powder coated. Turned out great. Shame to put a seat over it.

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I mowed the lawn today

It is said a perfect design needs nothing added and has nothing that can be taken away. The C-160 would come close to that. about the only unnecessary thing on older WHs was the cigarette lighter. However, even WH fell victim to adding unnecessary stuff ln later models like a 416 with idiot lights extra gauges and wiring complexity (admittedly some was due to CPSC regulations and the damn lawyers.)

ditto robust and simple contributes to outstanding durability - key attribute for me Wheel Horse owner for 46+ years - only brand / tractor I've used during that time by far the best machines I've owned and used best of the best

Another big thing for me also i cant believe i forgot to mention is the rich history!! I think The pond family would be and are probably proud of us all for keeping this rich history alive. It is what built this country!! Hard work and pride!! No matter where you come from or where you may live take pride in what you do have!

@pullstart It needed a bath anyways !!!

Update: Blasted and painted a set of wheels Wimbledon white polyurethane, mounted up the tires and loaded the rears, then snuck out of work early yesterday and set a goal to get her together for a shakedown run. There's tools all over the shop, my parts tractor stash was raided to death, and theres a LOT more to be done, but she made her maiden voyage around the property without the slightest hiccup! Now to go back and replace all the nails with cotter pins, hook up a brake, install hitch and belt guards, fab up a hood hinge and get rid of the ratchet strap, etc.... ".......but I drove it"

tractors are tough as nails and will outwork anything in the big-box stores. The standardization of parts and attachments is a standard the rest of the industry can't come close to. You can find conventional hardware, bearings and seals without having to pay through the nose for propitiatory dealer only parts.. Most of my herd is old enough to qualify for their own AARP card, but they are dependable and if well maintained will continue to get the job done for a long time.

After not being made for 25yrs. they are still being used and sought after.

She wanted to do her own her own way so with minimum help she’s creating this tractor on her own painting it herself following her mother and father footsteps!!! Giving it her own touch!

Goll dang it Richard that one of my pics.. and a favorite! Primed a set of 6-12 rims @Achto had ready and got Mikes @prondzy's 854 running. BTW the rims used to be yellow and had JD part nos on them .. no more

During my ownership of my first 953 it has never set out in the rain, however I suspect a previous owner may have.

Seat switch wouldn't have saved @Buzz, the PTO would have to be on for the seat switch to work. Clutch switch and neutral/safety switches wouldn't have been any help, they only work when starting the engine. Slip-on shoes would have saved the day, dangling shoe laces can't be made safe by any switch I know of.

Now this pic explains a LOT !!! Thanks, you know the old adage - a picture is worth........... If I can get my mind off the beautiful workmanship, I see what he did and it actually looks like it has possibilities. I'm a standstill right at the moment - I dont have a project!!! I'll be going in the DT's if I dont find something to do and this just might give me a fix.....

hand mitt and all!

Made in USA by an American company....

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I personally like that they aren't super main-stream. Everybody knows JD green, most know Cub, International, Farmall etc. Obviously like that they are so well built and easy to work on, especially the older ones with no switches, or complicated electronics.

Weelllll ladies and gentlemen that would be your standard issue Jumble-o-parts. Seems to be platinum coated like most are here in Maine.

Wow that is serious wh porn ! id move my bed into there lol with or without the missus in it !! Phil

Tool tray is tacked up and fits great. Will get fully welded next week. I want to get this one going soon.

I was a Napa parts man for 10 years. I still have tons of numbers in my head. I still have some of the old books too. I still have to walk into the store and give them the number I need. I have Napa Prolink on my PC and can cross many OEM numbers. The internal resistance coil needed for our tractors is IC64SB

Loaded this bad boy on the ship tonight, ignore the John Deere attachment.

Pretty much all of the above. The fact that the basic design hasn't changed since their inception makes a bold statement. Perhaps what raises more eyebrows than anything is when I tell folks that I'm running the 48" mower deck from the 76 I bought new on my 2005. The 42" deck from it is on the 76. I add to that by saying I could basically swap the sheet metal between the two of them and you wouldn't know it. And the interchangeability certainly doesn't stop with the mower decks. We won't discuss the wiring though...…..

If that is the plastic pump I wouldn't attempt to rebuild it. You might want to check into an electric fuel pump.They are a whole lot more dependable plus if the diaphragm breaks in the pump you have it could dump gas into the crank case.

An unbelievable act of kindness... @BOB ELLISON sent me a Patriotic 1054 seat! The vinyl came from @953 nut a few years back and he deferred the seat so Bob contacted me. What an amazing piece! I planned to finish this FEL build with a complete repaint. I suppose some blue will join that awesome belt guard’s white accents... with likely a set of patriotism decals I told Rylee about the package on the way this week, she said “Those people are just nice dudes!” I can’t think of a better way to put it. If you haven’t heard, RedSquare is the best place ever on the net, and in reality the members just plain ROCK!

Excellent, Richie! Having three 953/1054’s in the stable now... these ideas are perfect!

The last Nor'Easter gold plated every Wheel Horse in the Northeast on FB, E bay and CL

That would be a 1967. Those numbers break down to 8 horsepower 5 = 3/4 speed transmission 7 - is the year. Trina's 2 tractors are both 1967s. Great rigs.

Ease of maintenance. Reliability. Heavy duty build. Trina and I are practical minded people. We use all of ours here on the property. We both love doing mechanical work but we need machines that are here to WORK when we turn the key. We got the first at a recommendation from a friend in the tech business. We got the rest because the first was so great.

Is that possible? Randy, It sounds like she goes to this woman's house fairly regularly.. Might have her snap a picture of it to see if its worth bothering the lady!

I came across one yesterday. The original Toro OEM sealed beam headlights for the later models are around $55 each. I thought to myself, "wait a minute, aren't those standard GE lamps?" (I worked at an electrical supply after the small engine shop when I was a kid). Sure enough, it's just a GE 4411-1. I'm sure many guys here know that, but it's my first find. I've never ordered from the website below, just an example of how cheap a GE 4411-1 35W Par36 sealed beam should be. $13.00 vs $55.00 for the exact same product? Yes please. https://www.bulbamerica.com/products/ge-35w-12-8v-4411-par36-incandescent-bulb EDIT: Forgot the -1 at the end of the part number. :/

Lookit @johnnymag3 over here. I just meet him here, buy my first Wheel Horse and he, living like 30 minutes from me, posts this beautiful pile through which I'd love to swim. Not cool man, not cool. Are you trying to me make poor?

I am not familiar with the D motion control lever location. This is the foot control I add to all my hydros. I have it on C, 300, 400, and 520s. The 520 has to be a '88 or '89 before they moved the lever to the steering column. I have it on Sundstrands and Eatons. The existing motion lever must move front to rear and be on the console where a rod can be attached. I don't know if it would work on a D, but may give you some ideas. This is on an '86 312H.

I bought a used D-200 with a foot pedal control.

A Planter is definitely on my bucket list.... Photo by @c-series don