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Inspired by the latest pictures from @Al C. and those who showed interest in my 875 “Iron Horse” thread, I’m starting a thread that can house pictures and backstories or your horses that have been with you for a long time. Maybe it is a tractor that a parent or grandparent bought new and you now have. Maybe it is a tractor that you bought new and never relinquished. Maybe like @Racinbob it is tractor that you bought then sold then bought back. Also remember that it isn’t just tractors from the 1950’s and 60’s that fit this thread. I hate to tell you guys this but a 2000 model xi is already nearly an antique! I love looking at the vintage photos and so dig into your archives and see what you have... like this one here—Dad and I on the 875 (circa 1978). It is amazing how just sitting on that tractor and starting it takes me back to relive a lifetime of memories with it and the ones that I love...

Well I scored a free 4" linear actuator from a combine so I went ahead a built an electric rear lift. It's not the fastest thing but it definitely beats manually lifting! Right now it's just set up for my grader blade but I will be getting my cultivator and disc to work with it as well. Blade lifts to almost 5"

Cool thread.Here's me pulling our oldest daughter (now 38) and a friends son around with my 76. It was still a B-80 at that time. Geez! I forgot that I once had brown hair. Same daughter on a 953 I had. Probably around 83. Both daughters driving. The 76 was now 'converted'. I hauled two of mine over to my parents place to pose with three of his. 83 I really wish I had some earlier shots but they just weren't taken.

So here's my winter project. I bought this from the original owner. He has had it since it was brand new and was definitely proud of this machine. He had it in is garage/barn since the motor blew on it. I got the original Clinton engine all tore apart and in boxes. But I'm gonna repower with a k91. He seen some previous tractors I've brought back to life and I guess was pretty happy. He told me I needed to come over, that he had something pretty rare and he never thought about getting rid of. But he said he thinks he could let me take it and he would be happy with that. Only request was let me take her for a spin when you get it done.

I don't have a long history with this 953 but look forward to a life long future with it. After numerous delays I am beginning the restoration of the early production 953 I purchased from @Ed Kennell nearly two and a half years ago. We don't know a lot about it's early history but I will let Ed tell you how he came by it in his own words. I saw the 953 on a Maryland CL ad in Dec. 2014. The location was farther than I would travel for a non runner...about a five hour round trip. But, I was going to Charlestown W Va. on Jan 3, 2015 for our annual family Christmas party. The 953 was within 50 mile of my route, so I made arrangements to pick up the tractor on my way to the party Saturday morning. About two hours into the trip, I got a call that the party was cancelled due to heavy sleet in the mountains in western Pa. where most of my family lives. It was raining where I was but the temp was 33F, so we decided to continue on to pick up the tractor. When we got there, I saw the 953 sitting in an overgrown ditch and by now the rain was turning to sleet. I was really concerned how I would get it to my trailer. Turns out the owner was a contractor and had an excavator. If I did the rigging, he agreed to pick it out of the ditch and put it on the trailer. No problem... it was on the trailer in a few minutes and we were on our way East trying to stay ahead of the cold and freezing ice approaching from the West. I really regret not having pictures of it being plucked out of that ditch and dangling from the excavator over my trailer. I think I posted a pic on Red Square and that's where you and I crossed paths. You probably have more details of the delivery involving Van and Jay than I have. So, Now you know the rest of the story. Best Regards, Ed Here is Ed's "Whats in your Mirror" post from the day the pulled it out of the gully. Nuther one jumped on the trailer this morning. Any guesses? Man, that's not much of a clue. Maybe this'll help. Edited January 3, 2015 by ekennell A couple of months later Ed and I struck a deal on the 953 and I was to pick it up at the 2015 "Big Show". Well, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry and this was a case in point! I severely injured my back and at the time of the show I was on the operating table having spinal fusion surgery. I put out a request for "Hauling Help" on RedSquare and Van @Wheel-N-It responded saying he would get it back to North Carolina and store it till I was able to come get it. James @Jrblanke loaded it in his truck and took it to Van's from the show. A few months went by and I was finally able to retrieve it from Van. Many thanks to James and Van for going out of their way to help a fellow Wheel Horse fanatic. Once it was home I cleaned up the carburetor and replaced the ignition coil and the old horse ran, no smoke, no knocks! Just for grins I turned on the lights and both head lights and the tail light worked. Over the past couple of years life has gotten in the way of making any further progress. Now I have cleared the decks and will begin the restoration. This will be a total restoration including the engine and transaxle being rebuilt To Be Continued.

My custom 12 build is a product of my childhood memories and long time desire to build a tractor to meet my needs. It all started in 1967 when we bought a farm in Colorado. We had 65 acres under cultivation and 900 acres of prairie with 3 water holes for cows. All the field work was done with a little MF 35. When I purchased 2.5 acres in 1990 near Augusta, Ga. I needed a small tractor for gardening and other chores I kept thinking if I could only have a mini MF35. While searching for a small tractor Ia friend bought some land and said there was a wheel horse lawn mower in from woods that I could have. It took me four hours to dig out a 73 no name 8hp. that had been there for 10 years. It had a blown engine and looked rough on four flat tires. I pulled the engine and took it to my brother to repair it. All the parts and machine work cost me 250.00 and I had a little tractor. A year later I was working in S.C. and found a plow, cultivate, and disks for 125.00. I mowed, gardened and abused that little fellow for years and taught my sons how to drive with it. Then I found out there was a 6 speed and started another search. My oldest son was in high school working for a small engine repair shop and was able to obtain a parts tractor with a 6 speed buried in the salvage area. This was the 69 raider 12. with no motor. The 73 no name and the 69 raider 6 speed became Old Faithful. In 1998 I had a Hermes repaired and could no longer use the manual lift with the implements so I started another search for a hydraulic lift. I could not justify the cost for a new tractor so I hatched the idea to build my own hydraulic lift. Now I had this ugly tractor that had become the child no-one could love but me. It could do everything I wanted it to do and one day the motor just quit. I decided to shelf this motor that my brother built for me because we lost him 2 years ago. That started another search for a new motor. I found the 12hp and decided it was time for old faithful to have a new look and a new name. Custom 12 six speed. Before

Well, it's not red, but this was one of my first rides on a horse circa 1946. That's me on the left...eyeballing the last bite of my buddy Freeman's SUGAR DADDY.

That is the cool thing about this journey, no matter where you start, memories can be made. I love that fact with Red Square, it is a way to preserve the memories being made every week and in some cases everyday with our little red tractors. On top of that, we get to share in others journeys from all across the US and even around the world as a result of RS! My youngest Zach started on his journey about a year and a half ago with his own tractor, “Blackbeard”... It needs an engine rebuild, some hydro work, and a fresh coat of paint—but that will all be part of the journey for us. I plan to have that be the primary tractor that he uses all through his childhood. He is welcome to and will drive my tractors and his siblings tractors I’m sure but that old GT-14 is HIS. A fact that he reminds me of often... RS enables us to catalog this journey for others to enjoy and even for him to reflect upon years from now... Thanks guys for these great pics and stories—keep them coming—I love it!

I always wondered what a Baby Squonk looked like.

This is the only vintage pic I have. Me on our 604. Taken the first time I was allowed to drive the tractor by myself. I think it was in 68 or 69. .

Most of you probably remember here a couple weeks back I traded my bucket truck for a 1981 F250 and a Ford 2n tractor. Got the pickup home a few days back but hadn't got around to getting the tractor over here yet. Well today was the day she finally got to come home, so I was pretty excited about that. Then was browsing the marketplace on Facebook and found the exact building ive been wanting for a Horse stable. 12x32 portable garage. This one was a repo building so got a pretty sizeable discount on it. Should be delivered one day next week.

Jim, thank you so much for NOT including me in that infamous grouping!

@squonk You were a nice looking kid , what happened ? In 68 or 69 I was driving Big Boy toys.

Well I would have to say I love all my old tractors. But my favorite would be my Junkyard Dog 702. Because me and my son built it and it was all from parts laying around and collected parts from junkyards etc.. So that one has a special bond and place in my collection.

This is such an excellent thread !!! Love the stories, the tractors, the memories... everything. My own "history" with is only a couple years + . I too am hoping for a good long future with them.

@tunahead72 , @squonk I seemed to have missed this thread with my name taken in vain. One the weather has been rainy and cool for most of the week. Skonk I hope you did not laugh while taking pictures , I did. Did you take photo lessons from @Big_Red_Fred ? Where is @stevasaurusor his thin twin Steve on a stick ? Mike I think you should present a class on creating a plug wire at the Big Show, while sleeping on the bench

A new set of keys and an addition of a second set screw 90 degrees from the original set screw (if your hubs don't already have a second set screw) will buy you some time. Eventually you will probably need to repair or replace the axles. I have removed the axles, welded the original key way shut, and cut a new full length key way in some of my axles. I realize not every one has this ability, but a machine shop should be able to do this for you if you take them your axles.

Peacemaker Jack - you are so right. So many of these machines have great stories. Two years ago I purchased my SK-486 from its original owner. He purchased it in 1982. Still had all the original documentation and all the maintenance records. Needless to say, he cared for it like it was his child. Time went by and I hadn’t heard from him after our transaction. His Wheel Horse handle was “Bowtie”. After doing some searching, I found out he passed away two months after we met - cancer. He did not appear well when we met, but I had no idea he was so ill. We spent an hour or so exchanging messages and then serveral hours together when I visited him to close the deal. He showed me all his tractors and cars. He had pictures of his father riding him on his dad’s first Wheel Horse - 1959 Model. He was a perfectionist, but very practical. I paid him full asking price for his 486 with no negotiating because of its condition and all the history he gave me. He was such a great guy. I will miss him. His tractor will always be in great care and it’s history will continue to be passed down.

Thank you for that awesome story I enjoyed reading every line of it. I’ll go back and read it again later when I’m not freezing up on the roof of the project home that I’m framing. It’s amazing how owning, fabricating, and building a little tractor like that worms it’s way into a persons heart. Maybe someone else can’t see the beauty until they see it through the owners eyes. I can tell by the picture and now your post, that every piece on that tractor probably holds a story/memory! Thank you for sharing...

@Al C. thank you so much for sharing. That is “fabric of life” stuff and I am a huge fan of vintage stories and pictures of these tractors and their owners. It has often been said that many of the tractors we buy don’t have a history with us until we acquire them, typically decades after they were built. That past history is lost—if only our horses could talk! So, it is really cool to see when someone has owned one a really long time and has it in their possession with some photos and years of stories to document its history with them.

The place I bought it from does rent to own with low down payments and no credit check, so every once in a while a good deal comes along on one that someone couldn't keep up with the payments on. This one is in really good shape, but does have some oil stains on the floor...no big deal there ive got a certain C125 that would just love to mark its territory on the floor as well lol...do they make diapers for Horses

@tunahead72 Here's the wire making process: I needed to make one for my C-160 anyway! Sorry for some blurry pics. My phone wouldn't focus on a couple of them for some reason The special crimp tool. It has a cutter, stripper, 7 & 8MM pre-crimp slot and 7 and 8 *MM final crimp slot. On the end is a 90 deg distributor crimp slot. The parts laid out. the clip on the bottom is a coil terminal used on some older engines. I haven't run across one of these in years but I keep one just to have. first cut the wire to length. Strip ends. silicone the wire and slide the boots on Fold the wire over Slide the terminal on the wire making sure the bare wire is opposite the crimp. Put it in the "Pre Crimp slot. End pre-crimped final crimp Same process for the plug end. After crimping I give the boot and wire a good shot of silicone and pulled the wire into the boot. This one slide right in and I didn't have to give it any help to align and seat it.

Here is a key way fix I did in 2015.

These are parking pawls. one on left is what happens when it is used to stop the tractor, grinding itself down on the gear it engages. On the right is one I repaired

These are great! so cool to see the time capsule with the kids in the pics...I can’t wait to share this thread with Dad on Saturday when he comes over!

I recently commissioned a young guy to carry out a reproduction of the wheelhorse sudurban sign , I think he has made a pretty smart job of it . Made from a plastic vinyl film over clear glass and contoured with lead . He has done such a nice job I now intend to have a few more designs done .

The breakerless ignition is the same as magneto ignition and the ignition wire to the switch just grounds the ignition to shut it off. I think they added the resistor to limit the current in case battery voltage entered the circuit. We know that instantly burns the light gauge wire in the coil primary circuit. Hard to believe 22 ohm is enough to protect it but Kohler should know. Garry

@elcamino/wheelhorse Hmmm, i was Naughing on a piece of greasey chicken when i heard some one has a BRF camera Lense, i'm rubbing off on you guys

I have battery maintainers on all my batteries . It just keeps a small charge on them without over charging them. Well worth the money.

Too bad no-one makes food grade spray paint.

@elcamino/wheelhorse somehow picturing you naked in suspenders driving a big-block Chevelle is just wrong!

Before you split the transmission look at your key ways / hubs on your axels- they could be worn badly

I picked up a used model 45-01882 Mow n Vac pretty cheap considering what it cost new . It does have some issues - mostly previous owner's ideas about adapting the deck snout to whatever they had it hooked up to...I think the last one being a Cub lawn tractor . A bit of enlarging the snout opening and a piece of sheet metal bolted on to fix a gap has taken care of that issue . At the other end of the snout someone stuck a piece of plastic tubing in it with some spray foam insulation and some screws to lock it in place - inside it wants to plug up making the transition into that plastic tube since it's not smooth and smaller than the snout's (adapter, I guess) hose opening . I'll have to grab a pic today - it's quite the homeowner upgrade...lol . Here is the deck adapter and how I mounted it after some work to seal it better to the Horse's deck opening - you can just see where it's necked down further past those screws and some remnants of the aforementioned spray foam mod from the PO....lol . While that seems to work ok at the moment - the vac just seems to lack air volume overall . I suspect I'll have to get a new deck adapter and cut it properly to fit the Horse's 48" deck to get rid of that reduction in the adapter's hose fitting which is sized for 7" & 8" hoses . Current hose measures 4.75" , so I'd say that's a 5" hose and it's suppose to use a 6" (according to the parts list - $89 bucks to boot) but it fits the plastic adapter at the blower unit just fine ? That seems odd to me , why would they call for a 6" hose when the inlet to the blower unit itself is 5" hose size ? Plan to call their snobby Customer Service line again today - they were less than stellar when I ordered a new inlet end adapter for the blower ...this one is a straight outlet and the original parts drawing shows an angled one instead . New part arrived , same as what is on there - so I called and asked why it was different than the drawing since it wants to ride so close to the rear fender of the 16 Auto due to coming straight out instead of an angle , like the drawing shows .... http://www.speedepart.com/ItemResults.aspx?aribrand=AFB#/Agri-Fab/45-01882_Mow-N-Vac/Mow-N-Vac_Model_45-01882/01|~58|~0005/01|~58|~0003 Long story short - she said that angled nose adapter for the blower is obsolete and discontinued a few years ago . I explained the one I have is like new so no reason to have a second one laying around and was informed it would cost me a restocking fee , plus return shipping - not exactly a stellar way to do business . When I brought up the drawing and parts list she said it didn't matter - they discontinued that part and moved the part number to the newer style straight nose - basically telling me to go pound sand , nice . This unit was also missing the hose hanger and bungee strap , so instead of ordering a new one based from their service treatment I made that part - took all of 10 minutes and works just fine , thanks...guess I'll have to make my own inlet as well or get lucky and find an older style one used . I'll have to get a pic , but one other thing bothers me about how the blower housing is built . The rear engine side of it where the engine shaft and nose of the impeller sits has a 4-1/8" hole - it should be around 2" or so to help it create vacuum to the deck . I instead , that large opening allows it to blow out excess material onto the engine's cooling fins - not a good idea on a Briggs air cooled engine if you ask me . It is opposite of the engine's flywheel , so at least the air is traveling towards the blower housing and the fins on the engine are pretty clean (first thing I do with every new piece of used equipment is to clean those fins) . I'll be making a slotted 2 piece metal cover to fix that excessive opening today and see if that increases the air flow to the deck . Just find it odd they didn't size it closer to the hub size of the impeller and wonder if they built them all that way . I'll attempt to get a straight answer about the hose sizing and a new deck adapter later this morning - hoping their attitude changes or I might take a road trip to Sullivan Illinois - it's not that far after all and my fuse is getting quite short in dealing with rude service reps from these companies that treat people like dumb cattle . Telling me "the hose might rub your tractor a little but that will work fine" on my freshly painted '73 Horse is not a good way to live a healthy existence....not going to work on an Irish/Union/ex-Marine . Sarge

My 502 is my favorite, but my C-101 is my go-to for getting work done. The 502 has been in storage about a year or so, hopefully by spring we'll unbury it from the move.

These are 'Rubber Tire Chains" and work very well on asphalt, with weight in the tire . . . . fronts are weighted also (Rim Guard, molasses). Note: smaller tires with less contact on the ground will provide the most traction. Tires with more 'Pounds per Square Inch' can dig-down and grip the ground; a smaller footprint concentrates the weight on a smaller area, a big larger tire footprint spreads the weight over a larger area and almost sits on top the snow or ice For Summer mowing you want a large-wider-lighter-flater tire to ride on and not dig in the grass (tire pressure: 20psi in Winter, 8–10psi in Summer).

Many to choose from, but my little guy is still my favorite.

My favorite is the 1067 (tractor on the right). This was my father's Wheel Horse and the one I used to mow as a boy. (Vintage; before and after restore.) Dad and grand daughter.

I like my 's but a Panzer is definitely on my wish list. Can't wait to see the restore & a pic of the PO driving it.

Ooops!! Off by a little. Answer to the riddle is...truck was manufactured in October 2013 (2014 model year). So actually, I only time-traveled 6 months.

I work on kitchen equipment and it's on the truck. Plus it isn't as smelly as regular silicone.

Will the battery take a charge? May have a small power drain in the wiring or a switch.

And to increase the life the "chains" can be swapped left to right and turned inside out to distribute the wear on all four corners of the straps.

Many thanks to you all for taking the time to give me your thoughts/solutions. I think I will pull the transmission, extract the shafts and take then to a friend who has more skill than me and also has a Bridgeport mill. The idea of welding up the damage and re-cutting new slots sounds like a good long term proper engineering solution which will see me out! Once again thank you from the UK

Installed new hitch, drawbar & pin from @Jake Kuhn, thank you sir. Sometime in its previous life the old hitch was welded on with a funky support that winded all the way into the toolbox where the other end was also welded to the seat spring in the toolbox. That was fun getting off. I think someone just welded whatever pieces of metal were within arms reach. Here’s a before and after.

My favorite series is the mid 70's B and C's. Often it's the tractors history that makes them a personal favorite. That's the case with my 1976 'B'-160 that I bought brand new. Most of you know the story of it being sold when we moved to Florida and being with the second owner for 17 years. I never would have thought that I would own it again now that we are back in Indiana but it happened. The second owner obviously took great care of it. This is as I got it back. I went over it with all new service/maintenance parts, replacing a couple missing items and a new muffler. The 48" deck is still in great shape. It did have a bad bearing so I replaced all six and it hums like a sewing machine again. Right now it's ready for winter with a blade, 2-link chains and weights.

I guess I'm partial to the mid to late 70's C series and the black hoods. I grew up seeing them working and always liked their stying. Here is my 1975 C160 Auto.

701 with SMS-425