Leaderboard

Well, if you all are into Customs then this is the kind of tractor that would draw your attention at a show for quite some time. I found this purely by accident at the estate auction we went to last Tuesday. I had questioned one of the auction employees about something and he mentioned that there were several other things that he just could not get too. This was one of them. You'll see why in the sequence of pictures below. My honey and I had to do a fair amount of Branch moving and other tractor moving and digging but I just had to get it out of there. It was buried under several inches of pine needles. So deeply that the entire front suspension and steering system was completely in the forest bed. Could have easily been sitting there for two decades or much much longer. I don't know if I'll ever get this thing to move under its own power but it was way too interesting to leave for some scrap metal guy to come pick up. If you see something about this tractor that raises a question, please ask! I have no idea what's what here but I'd love to figure this thing out. Parts that appear to be Wheelhorse... Manual transmission. Appears to only have one shift lever but the axles are longer than any 4-speed I've ever seen. At some point I'll measure them and see if they are 1 inch or 1 and 1/8 inch. The hood is obviously from a late sixties to early 80s. The seat appears to be from the mid-60s because it is the same basic shape as the one that was on my honey's 657. It has the thicker style hubs that were starting to be used in the late 70s and the rear wheels appear to be B or C Series. The front axle was about 10 ft in from that little dirt bank at the edge of the asphalt. This photo is taken AFTER my honey and I pulled 5 to 6 feet. One 6 foot strap on the tractor and one on the nose of the trailer and the come along in between. After resetting three times I had it on the trailer. I'm really looking forward to messing around with this thing over the next few months.

C-160 is the model name used 1974-1977. Narrow hoodstand with fuel tank under the hood. C-161 is the model name used 1978-79. Wide hoodstand with the fuel tank under the seat pan. C-165 is the model name used 1980-1984. Commonly called black hood models 1-0381 is the model number Click on the pictures Garry

To save some time and catch them while they are outside the burrow , those little motion detecting alarms from Harbor Freight can come in handy.An alternative would be a game camera so you can capture what time he comes out I did this and had a rifle blind set up at the edge of a cornfield. All I had to do was walk through the corn and crawl a few feet to the sniper set-up. Aim small, miss small. My furthest kill on a'hog was about 300 yards.On a prairie dog,about 450

The Bushnell Antique Tractor Show was a big success again this year. We had 68 tractors in all. 44 garden tractors and 24 ag tractors. David Rock's 1935 Farmall F20 took best in show in the ag class, and my own 149 Cub Cadet won in the garden tractor class.

Happy Birthday @Aldon, we are all glad you were born!

Visual cues are of a John Deere M.Vertical steering wheel,Built up area of the hood and grill.I love the rebar repurpose.I miss the folk art of the people up in Maine.

I have a Gilson that is in need if some loving. Been eyeing it wondering what it would look like with this hood/C-120 dash, the magnum 20 and a set of gt14 fenders/floorboards on it.Shaft drive hydro. You never know but nothing happening anytime soon

Thanks all I'm glad I was born as well

Fish and game people here in NC said we shouldn't relocate groundhogs, just trap them and give them a proper funeral.

In the words of Kenny Rogers, “You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, know when to run...” Sad end for this build, but if it has a positive outcome for several other tractors in your stable, then it was “time to fold”.

Time..... what’s time? I know how you feel about too many projects. I totally gutted the two seater last night to make room for the 953 so it’s out of the weather when I get it home. I figured if I hadn’t gotten any further than what it is now after 4 years, it’s not going to get done and it’s taking up valuable space. It was a cool idea and that’s that. All the parts will get used in one way or another on something else. Did get the cups painted though

Had a problem with them getting under the house. Found a can of repellent at a local Ace Hardware. Consisted of fox urine scent. Now I'm dealing with foxes. Think lead will take care of them.

I'd say that's how it was started. No key. No starter. No pull rope. Too bad I don't have that anymore. Maybe I can make one if I can figure out how to shape it. The engine appears to be stuck right now but who knows what I'll do with it. I'd really like to get this machine running. @WHX20 The builder is likely passed to the Happy Tractor grounds in the sky. I got it from an estate sale auction and was lucky enough to meet and converse with the wife of the fella who passed. She didn't remember him building this one but he did A LOT of tractors. It's quite a piece of workmanship. It won't be lawn art. I'd like it to be a conversation piece for sure. The transmission does go into all gears but 3rd with out moving the tractor. It may go in 3rd if I can line up the gears. Oh man ..... I know.....

I'm thinkin the (smart) dude that built this did it for a single purpose had in mind. Don't ask me why I think this but I also think Richard is on to something about the builder getting some ideas from a JD. The thing is EB lots of questions will go unansered unless by some act of God the builder is revealed, or someone who knew him, just happens to come by by coincedence.No matter what you do with it sure would be a nice, do I dare say lawn ornament, or a conversation piece at shows. Just for grins I would see if I could get it running without sticking much coin in it . You still did good by the rescue. Is the tranny free or go into gears?

Well it ain’t Disney world. Boise.....Boise

Guys I just took a video that's about 5 minutes long and I'm downloading it right now. I'll set it up in a little while. You're going to love this thing.

I’m hoping to get this puzzle figured out and mounted before it gets cold.

Most certainly!

Man oh man! Why don't you go ahead and mail those big back meats right up here to me in Maine. I'll put em on something for you.

Funny, I started reading this all over and thought “did I miss another build thread?” Then see my posts along the way. I just forgot one more thing bummer that it’s a pile of parts, maybe it can be revived as a Carolina Rough Draft Until then, I’ll be hummin’ me some Kenny Rodgers...

You talking from experience Mike?!?!?

I keep my wife’s M&P 22 loaded in the safe in case someone spots a groundhog. One was between the engine and firewall on amSubaru parts car this spring, another under a plastic (skid) tote on the side of the drive. The first was about 6’ away, he was nice enough to fall to the ground before expiring, the latter was at about 30’ and didn’t get out from under the tote. For raccoons, I keep a live trap baited with marshmallows. Well, they’re live when they get in the trap anyways... There’s a 17hmr handy for the ones out in the field. I’ve been taught if they are harming your property or livelihood, they need to be gotten rid of for good.

When we try to identify a model by the stickers a previous owner put on it that can be a sticky situation! If you have any particular questions that arise we will be here to help.

Ooooooo...... My man Josh right there with words like music. Well quoted sir.

Obviously a salute to the JD from the '50s. lots of clever engineering went into that for sure!

Wow how exciting! The hunt ...The dig! Please let us know more , Pictures!

Much appreciated gentlemen! nice thing about a Birthday in middle of week is I can stretch the festivities to the weekend:-)

The holes in the hood could have been for the radio or fogger accessories. These required holes drilled in the surface of the hood. Placement front to back on the hood may vary a little depending on who drilled the holes. Examples from Le Sueur Pioneer Power this past weekend.

😇

Thanks for the responses guys. So the tabs and clips should be close to the belt without rubbing ? Maybe 1/2” clearance or less?

NO, the 5xi-series were never made by MTD. From 1998 to 2003 Toro produced the New Holland GT-series for New Holland. In 2006 MTD started to produced the LX series as the replacement for the XL-series, Classic Toro Wheel Horse, and the Toro Wheel Horse GT550 (renamed 522xi.) In retrospect, I regret selling off my three 5xi prior to our move. I am now using two classic Wheel Horses for my property (which do a very good job) but the 5xi were definitely more maneuverable and quicker. But this property is smaller and doesn't need the year-round capability that my 5xi provided.

It was a hard decision but this is now “project pile o parts”. It has been taking up too much space for too long. Just couldn’t get time to work on it and actually would rather work on the 1054 for my wife. Plus I need the room for the 953 coming home this weekend. So it has been dismantled and all parts will be used on my other tractors. Sorry for the let down but better things to come. Thanks to all the kind words along the way and the encouragement. Peace out ✌️

Something was in our garden at 4 when I woke up. Dogs had it cornered. Had to drag them in before the neighbor's got woken up.

Busy getting the kids in bed but here are some reference photos that I just took from the “corral”: these are pics of Comanche’s fender pan. Note the similarities to yours. His left fender is even bent down a little like yours is from presumably backing into something. Also note the tool box pan in the middle and cutout for the lift cable. Then you have to use your imagination just a little bit you can see how they melded the old style round fender with the floorboards of a later model tractor. I used JackRabbit’s for reference. They did the opposite of @Achto. He removed his floor boards in favor of the stirrups. They installed floorboards instead of stirrups. that is a cool custom and has a lot of potential. I hope that someday you will have the time, finances, and energy to finish it up.

You're still crazy.... In a good way. But great catch on those rear fenders!! @dells68 you too! @wallfish thanks for clearing that up.

Have a Heart traps work great.I trapped the ones that ate my green beans.I relocated them as they were just trying to survive and the bean plants were a source of food,Keep in mind that ground hogs have two exits from their burrows so that can keep an eye on the other exit.

I definitely do have a couple different ideas but they probably are not Forum appropriate so I'm just going to go politically correct here and suggest some Have a Heart Traps or calling your local officials?

I would just take a punch and make a few dimples in each side of the hub. The bearings should need a bit of persuasion then.

Finished my suburban 400 refresh. Got the rims painted and I had a really rusty pair of hubcaps. So I blasted them down and painted them antique white and hand painted the emblems in the center. I like given each of my tractors something a little extra and I think the hubcaps do it for this one. I also added the solid seat pan.

I have a 522xi, The engine is horizontal, it's inline and drives the hydrostatic unit with a drive shaft - no belt. The frame is stamped, but its very heavy duty. Nothing lightweight on the 5xi series, A 522xi weight almost 1200lbs without a deck. Add a two speed rear, tight turning radius, cruise control, and power steering and you have a great tractor. I think the 5xi series was one of best Wheel Worses. I prefer it for everyday mowing over my 520H's. Nothing against the 520H or other WHs. The 522xi and 520H are among the best tractors in this class.

Brought in another trailer load of pumpkins with the 312 8. Tinkered on the 655 with a predator motor..my misfit tractor.

Interesting EB ..Dan @Achto reports see another one where this had been done. The OEM 1/8" npt x 1/4" cock was changed to a 1/4x/14 barb one. Any chance this was a dealer thing in the day or just coincidence?? It's actually not a bad idea..... much easier to get at.

HAPPPYY BIRTHDAAYYY

looks like the c160 was built from 1974 to 1977 and the c161 was 1978-1979 and could be had with a 8 speed or hydro, if you go to tractordata.com it tells you about them.

There should be a tab over the idler pulley that keeps the belt from coming off of it. Also the engine should have a small clip which is about 1/4" round stock that will keep the belt in place at the engine pulley. Finally your belt guard has a track at the bottom that will stop the belt when the clutch is depressed. If there id any question about the condition of the belt I would suggest you replace it. If the belt gives out it will pick the most inopportune time and place to do so.

That looks really good. Better than a pristine chrome on that tractor I think. Good work. Cleat

Happy Happy Bert!

I've been up to 8, but back down to 4 at the moment.....space is the real issue...so I go into the garage, open a quart of 90wt oil, open a pint of Rust-O-Lium Regal Red, and give a good healthy spray of Val-Spar Linen Beige and sit back with a Rock & Rye. Heaven!!! With my back...the 857 is the Horse of choice to sit on. Some good music is also soothing.