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My widowed neighbor brought this sign into my shop about 3 weeks ago. Her special needs son had tried to restore it with a rattle can. She said she had a dream about the sign and my name came up. Would I like to paint it.? No way I can ruin a dream for a wonderful neighbor. So it became a project. I took the sign to a local cabinet / sign maker for advice on paints and clear coatings. In 2 minutes he had it on his screen. He made the sign in 1995. I thought about paying him to make a new one, but I knew my neighbor would prefer the old one. It had taken a 1/2" warp over the 30 years and I decided to not correct it, but added two ribs to keep it together. Used some soldering irons as wood burners to reestablish the outlines. Three coats of brown oil based enamel, three coats of gold water based acrylic, and the fourth and final coat of water based spar poly today.

Well except for the 855 I should have never sold! So Tom @Shynon texts me a listing on FB for this girl and I stepped on it immediately. I learned long ago ya snooze ya loose. Just got yourself a free plow day t 👕 Tom. It's not real local but a nice hr 1/2 away. It looked real nice in the few pics that were shown but we know how pics look. At first look at it I knew right away it was going on the trailer. Love at first sight... yep. For what price was the only issue. More after the red porn...

Today I did something I’ve been meaning to do for years. Take the transmission and hydraulic system out of this 416-H. I took out the wiring harness and might save the spindles and steering wheel. This tractor was given to me and was already in rough condition. I lent it to a buddy to use around his farm. He is not known for taking good care of his equipment, so that’s why I let him use this particular tractor. Well after a few years of use he called me and said it’s making a funny noise. I went there and listened to it, it was knocking like crazy. Checking the oil I found none on the stick. I was not surprised or mad because I knew this could happen with this guy. Luckily the transmission oil was full so I drove it around and it worked fine. I brought it back home a few months later and it sat in my back yard for a few more years. So I decided today was the day to finally do this and junk the rest. While I was working on it my granddaughter decided that she wanted to clean and work on her tractor too! I was absolutely thrilled to have her in the garage with me! ❤️

Over the weekend we flew down to see my daughter in Charleston,S.C. and decided to go check out this museum. I must say that I was super impressed by the quality of the restorations of these trucks. Figured I would take a few pictures for you guys, I know how much you love pictures!!

Found yet another use for the Horse. First year I didn't have to drag a deer over 100 yards uphill with a rope!

Everyone meet Jerry, Jerry meet everyone. my 5 year old stepson wanted to have a skeleton on a tractor. He went with his mom to go see his sister at her college this weekend. Can’t wait til he sees it. I’m going to get a different skeleton for the one who’s getting mowed up. Now the wheels are turning on getting Jerry some friends doing other crazy things. He’s temporarily mowing with my 12auto until I get the rusty 14-8 up from out back.

Just in time for Halloween VID_20251023_182838325.mp4

The ol girl worked good today. Dug up a brick and mortar foundation and hauled it away with no sweat!

Picked this lawn ranger up a few months ago and right away my youngest claimed it as his! Being all original we stared cleaning and buffing it up. We just have a few things to button up but for the most part it’s done. We did a makeshift muffler to keep the noise down being right in town lol. He was excited to take it for a few laps around town. FB3CA92C-1526-49E2-89A2-3FF456044131.mov D0676C82-8D93-4955-9852-853793D1A035.mp4

This past weekend I acquired this tractor from one of the tractor pulling families. They said it ran 4-5 years ago. (Maybe I believe it) Anyway, Over this past week me and @TonyToro have replaced a few ends on the battery cables, new solenoid, good used starter as ants were coming from the old one, all new fuel lines, new ignition switch, carb cleaning, rebuilt the metal Kohler fuel pump, new spark plug and changed the oil. Today we finally got everything put back on and within a few minutes it fired right up. It also came with a snowplow which I believe is a 48”. Needs a good degreasing and a PB blaster and scotch brite pad cleaning. We did a little on the fenders and it came out pretty good and at least smooth. Going to run it for a little bit and change the oil again as it was very black. More additions to come soon as this will mostly be a plowing snow and dozer blade work tractor. Enjoy the pictures! IMG_1006.mov

On my way home... diverted and stopped here. Talked with a couple workers who where cutting the lawn and remembered WH. Kinda cool to have walked the grounds Tony

Got tired of robbing parts machines so, Made a few shifter grub screws on mini lathe. Now the other horses want be jealous and everyone will have a shifter that works .

We miss you @Stormin, today would have been his 78th birthday.

Hello All, First off... I will NEVER believe that theres only "225" This is number 3 for me (sold first one dangit) Plus @Sparky has one in his garage and I saw another sell this week. There EVERYWHERE... Anyways... took a few days off from work and went on a road trip. Im 1000 miles west of home in Indianna. Picked these up today, doing a couple other things around here tomorrow--that will be another post. Supposidely the one on the back was fully rebuilt--engine and trans wise and painted by a member here on the Square. ( Ronald Castleman?) The dealer in pic was original seller and supposidely big time WH / Toro. Tony 6pm update... Got to hotel I'm staying at... unloaded everything and put that big azz deck on back to take the squat out of my truck. No need to kill it like that for 1000 miles 20251019_153909.mp4

I put a magnetic cup holder on the 314. I’m resting now 🤪

There’s nothing more satisfying than using a Wheel Horse to perform a chore. Unless, of course you’re using two!

Construction began on the 515 West Ireland Road Wheel Horse Factory The rapid growth of demand for Wheel Horse Garden Tractors was too much for the building that Pond had occupied for twelve years. On October 11, 1960, construction began on a new 46,500 square foot steel frame and masonry exterior factory building situated on 36 acres of land on Ireland Road, South Bend, IN. The new factory was ready for occupancy in August of 1961, the move from the old Pond factory on South Dixie Way (near Pond Street, wonder if this was one of the subdivisions built by Elmer Pond) took place in time for the next year’s production. The 1962 models were the first built in the new plant on Ireland Road. They included the 502, 552 and 702. All three models featured the new front mounted engine and cast iron cased transaxles. The business was acquired by American Motors (AMC) on May 24, 1974. The company paid $30 million as it expanded into non-automotive markets. In 1982, Wheel Horse was spun off from AMC to Munn Investment Group. During this time some cosmetic changes were made, but frame and attachment design remained the same. In mid-August 1986, Wheel Horse was sold off from Munn and purchased for $8 million by Toro. Tractors were built under the Toro banner for the next two decades. The Wheel Horse name was eliminated from production after 2007. Today the building is occupied by Lock Joint Tube, a specialty fabricator of metal tubing products used by diverse industries such as office furniture, automotive, health care, display fixtures and exercise equipment. Chandler Sales and Service located next to the old South Dixie Way factory is thought to be the first Wheel Horse dealership.

Good morning, all! My name is Derek. I'm from Churubusco, Indiana. I was told about this forum from a guy named Bob. He said that this forum was the place to be to find info from some really helpful people. Bob drove 1.5 hours to buy a Wheel Horse mower deck that I was selling and he told me about this forum. I've just recently gotten my first Wheel Horse tractor. It's a '98 312, at least I think its a '98. The tractor came with a mower deck and a snow blower attachment but I don't have a need for the mower deck nor the snowblower. I just want the tractor. I want to use it as a trail rider. I bought two other brand tractors for my wife and my daughter because the prices were nice. I'll be doing the wrenching, as needed, so that we can go riding together. Anyway, I'll keep this short for now. I'll browse the forum and I'm sure I'll be back to ask questions and share pics and stories.

Its stored in a metal shed behind my shop out of the elements along with a bunch of generators and saws, i dont really go back there much unless im trimming but i needed something this afternoon, its sat since about May, untouched. Hopped on, key on..meter said 11v, choke...turned over 6-7 times...started up, backed it out...let it run to recharge the battery. I remembered i had wheel covers to put on it from earlier in the year. The old Kohlers do run smoothly, this is the K181S that i did a quick refresh on in 2023, popped the piston out, put on new rings, new piston, put it back together in about an hour...didnt touch the bore..it was consuming about an ounch of oil in 10 minutes prior to😆. This is the Horse that started it all for me in 2002, the WH Yahoo Groups, all that. Side note...the ebay seat covers suck, they get sticky after about a year and turn dark..never sits outside, never rained on.

My name is John. I have been researching and lurking, finally signed up and thought I would post a hello. Picked up a 633 Round-nose from a nice guy the next state over. Currently working on/restoring.

Buy from women who are pissed at their ex!

Glad I got those parts tractors to @WHX??'s plow day so I could make room for this RJ. Saw it on Marketplace when I got home yesterday and picked it up on my way home from work. Not running but has compression and shifts into all gears. Sheet metal is in great shape and looks to be all there. Came with mower deck and plow blade.

Celebrate the Navy’s Birthday on October 13 and recognize the brave men and women who have served our country — past and present. Established during the Revolutionary War, the original Continental Navy was formed, disbanded, and then reestablished nearly 10 years later. Today it’s the largest and most capable navy in the world, with the highest combined battle fleet tonnage. The Navy also boasts the world’s largest aircraft carrier fleet, over 300,000 active personnel, and nearly 100,000 in the Ready Reserve. A few fun-facts about the US Navy; General Washington commissioned two small schooners to patrol in and around Boston Harbor as the Revolutionary War heated up — eventually leading to the Navy we have today. The Massachusetts cities of Beverly and Marblehead have long argued over which was the birthplace of the Navy — which takes no official position on its place of origin. All submariners are volunteers, those serving on submarines are among the most highly trained personnel in the military. If not for the Navy, James T. Kirk would have been captain of the USS Yorktown Star Trek’s USS Enterprise was originally called the Yorktown. After some debate, creator Gene Roddenberry eventually renamed it. SEAL Team 6, officially known as United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group — along with Delta Force — are the most highly trained elite forces in the U.S. military. On a personal note, if you travel through Fort Pierce, FL, visit the UDT/SEALS Museum. I had the honor of being one of the founders of this museum and am proud of the way it represents team members past and present. This was the birthplace of special forces in World War Two with the formation of the Underwater Demolition Teams, UDT.

Had our contest today. And the winner. And a pumpkin cake. Got some, post them here?

The BBT aka Lead Logging Supervisor and I went off to the right side forest to get a few pieces of standing dead trees. 3? Small ash. A couple small maples. We sectioned them to 84" because we use 14" cuts of firewood. 6 pieces there. We hand hauled those 40 to 60 feet out to the pole trailer. Then brought that to the upper yard.

Rolled into crab camp at 3PM and moved in for the week. And the relaxing begins.

I took out some tractors I had stored in my enclosed trailer to put different ones in to go to a show yesterday. When I got home I didn’t feel like reloading them so I just put them in the garage.

Moved the 2” receiver from the Workhorse to the 520-8.

Recently my wife and I went out to dinner for our 32nd wedding anniversary. One of our favorite places to go is usually a 30-40 minute drive, however we are camping in a county park that happens to be only ten minutes from this restaurant. This place is as old fashioned as it gets! It’s got wall to wall carpeting, wood panel walls, and music playing at a low respectable volume from the 1950’s to the 80’s. The name is the Modern Snack Bar and it’s anything but modern! Everyone that works there is in a good mood and happy. It’s been in the same family since it opened 75 years ago! Some of the waitresses have worked there for over 30 years. Now two of the brothers run it with one cooking and one who will come to your table to ask you exactly how you would like your cocktail made. And let me tell you, he knows how to make cocktails. Be it an Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Martini or a summer time watermelon mojito, this guy nails it. Their motto is “Great home cooking’ on the North Fork of Long Island” which it certainly is. One of my favorites is their classic pot roast that you can cut with a fork. They are also known for their soft shell crabs which @Ed Kennell would love! When I saw crabs on the sign outside I thought of Ed and decided to take a picture. Across the street is the last duck farm on Long Island. That’s another one of my favorites, their roast duck. If you still have room after a delicious dinner they have homemade pies to finish you off. I thought I would start this post so others can share their favorite old school mom and pop style restaurant. My wife and I prefer this type of place over a chain restaurant any day. So post up your favorite place with a story and maybe some pictures and enjoy!!

Well after owning this 1056 twice I guess you could say second time was the charm. Some may remember that I bought an engine from Stebo a 1964 engine. It runs well. I Finished up the plow and checked everything out. Looks like it’s ready to push some snow .I have Ariens contractor grade that cost me a little over two grand about 10 years ago. That thing is a tank and at my age is getting a little hard to aggressively move it around so I just do straight back-and- forth. Also I bought a small block heater for it. It is a magnetic base. This engine has no A -C -R . So the heater should help cold start up. It was only $30 and only used it when I am blowing snow after that I will shut it off. and what is left I push to the side. My wife had both knees done so that is why I scrape it to the pavement. Hope you enjoy the pics.

Finally got to replace the O-rings in the pump for the Hydro motion control on my 1973 12 auto. Thanks to @pfrederi he was kind to send them to me . I decided to have a go without separating the trans. It’s doable thanks to the cut out on the right side ,was able to remove the motion control out of the way enough to replace the o-rings. hard part was putting it all back together. Some how one seal was smashed as if someone had this apart at some point and didn’t line it up correctly. I also replaced the axle seals wile I was it. Already for winter,hope fully we get some snow this yr

Assembled some new old stock accessories :

Picked up a C-120 auto with a snowplow and wheel weights today. Started to mess with it a bit but going to need some cleaning and a few battery cables and some good needed maintanece. Picked it up from the original owner and they were looking for the manuals and such but couldn’t seem to find them. Everything seems to be there. More to come soon.

Gave this a second look today. Just not a Tecky guy, shame WH seat has a hole ate in it.

At a local show today I scored this C-111 with a plow/weights/2 link chains for cheap $$$. No idea what my plan is. I really don’t need another plow here, sold off a couple plows this summer so I only have 5…and today I added another one back Into the mix

I haven't forgotten anything, everything is in there someplace, my memory is prefect, but my retrieval mechanism leaves a bit to be desired.

LOTS done with the Wheelhorses and trailers today! Earlier today I got the newly acquired and painted steel weights from @Sparky on my 1974 C160-8 Cinnamon Horse. We used Cinnamon to yank this project trailer outta its hole. Someone else can tackle it... Then we cleaned out the slot of forest it was in. Trim. Rake. Blown leaves. Cut sticks etc... Now the big 7 x 16 flatbed trailer has a home. Trina and her momma been working on firewood again today. Super friggin hot 🔥 🥵 so momma takes lots of breaks. The shed is full. 2.5 cord. The barn overhang is starting to get there too.

Piece by piece, I'm gradually getting the paint sorted on my GT18. Here are the steps in fixing up one of the foot rests: A fair amount of rust had developed under the rubber mat: I slathered on a thick coat of CitriStrip, wrapped it in a polyethylene sheet, and let it sit for a few hours. About 98% of the paint came right off without any scrubbing or scraping: Here's how it looked after washing off the CitriStrip and removing a few bits of remaining paint: Next, I let the foot rest sit in a phosphoric acid bath for a while, which took care of most of the rust, and then hit any stubborn remaining pockets with my spot blaster. (Note: I don't use phosphoric acid on high-strength or hardened steel, since I want to avoid hydrogen embrittlement.) I applied the initial coat of self-etching primer, which contains zinc phosphate: Then I filled the pits with 3M High-Bond filler and sanded it flat: Here it is after more primer coats: And after a few coats of paint: Now on to the next one.

If anyone here has seen the movie "Hacksaw Ridge" knows about the heroics of Desmond T. Doss. There was a TV show, "This is your Life", and one episode, it honored Doss. To make this on topic, the show gave him a brand new Wheel Horse Ride-away. You can see it on the below video at 24:30. Dorothy Doss, his wife, died in a car accident in 1991 and Desmond, himself, died in 2006 at age 87. He was a real life American hero that most don't know about.

So replaced the brake lining on my 857 today and wanted to give a review of the brake lining I got from @rmaynard. I am very pleased with outcome. This little tractor has always been a bear to stop going backwards especially with a load behind it. I'm glad to report it has brakes going backwards know .

I just picked this up and I after I power washed it I can't decide if I should paint it or clear coat it the way it is. I have a few days waiting on electrical and fuel parts for it so I need to decide.

Glued one of @rmaynard brake linings on today. Had an extra brake band and drum so didnt even have to take tractor out of line up for drying time .

Just for inspiration...

Trina's family has a look looonnngg standing tradition of Goin' apple pickin' 🍎 every year... for DECADES. They figure they haven't missed one in at least 30 years. Even then it was because some folks were 1000 miles away but some folks still went... My own past was also into the tradition but not quite so often or steadily. Well this year the grand baby is 16 months old and starting to walk/run explore. Most apple farms in this area have the standards in place. Apples in trees. Apples on the ground. Apples in bags for sale. U-pick. They pick. Whatever. Then some attractions like a playground and/or old machines to stare at. Cute little farm stand or store with various apple or other products for sale along with an assortment of ... various variables. Trina's daughter wanted to try a more "retail" farm with lotsa stuff to do. Ricker Hill Farm is all that & then some. The place is it's own destination. All of the above and on the grand scale. They even run a literal tractor & hay wagon commuting service for the whole day. Yesterday we happened to be there during a Craft Fair as well. All local. All home made items. This is Jaxon eating an apple his way. 1. Peel with teeth. 2. Discard peel. 3. Eat the nummy section below ridiculous annoying peel. This is how we hunker down below a tree and really set to munchin' Don't mess with him in this mode. We tried to get the kid to make a funny face but only the Bear succeeded. This bouncy house obstacle course was HUGE. Trina - being an average 5 year old - had to go through it. So she took the kid. These red standing pieces would bend towards you and knock you sideways. Jaxon kept going near, getting knocked over, and laughing really hard. Repeatedly. So eventually Trina stuffed him through. Here's the hay wagon ride settin with "Pappy Bear" nice n comfy after a busy few hours...

Did a few things today. New wheel on my B-80 36 inch mower deck. working on a transmission to change on a RJ. Cracked the drive pulley but had a couple extras. Also put Schnacke recoil back on my new to me RJ. With one of the new 1 1/2 inch hex nuts i had made. 7/20 fine thread on both ends of the 1 1/2 inch long 7/8 hex nut. Made so you can turn it around and use again if the hex gets rounded by the three recoil fogs!

Just returned from our first trip to England and most likely the only one. Friends who have been to London about twenty times said let's visit there so off we went for ten days. Did many of the newbie London tourist stuff. Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, theater, Churchill War Rooms, Bletchley Park, British Museum, Highclere Castle where Downton Abbey was filmed. Also a neighborhood pub with the son of another friend. We only scratched the surface. One could spend ten days in the British Museum alone. Our friends knew how to use the Underground (subway) and we traveled all about using it.

Got the 418-8 ready for plowing. Took the tiller off and replaced some leaking axle seals.

Not sure what the primary purpose you'd be using would be, but I'll tell you how mine works: I built my lift so it would fit nearly any standard tractor. It locks onto the frame crossbar and has a plate that catches under the transmission mount. The part that catches the crossbar is a modified belly hitch so it locks and the tractor can't fall off. The lift only raises about 30 inches, but that puts it at the perfect height to work on. My 701, 523-H, Bronco 14, 310-8, Charger, and 867 all fit. The distance between the footpeg crossbar and tranny plate is fairly common on most Wheel Horses. Long or short frame makes no difference. Of course GT14, 953, 1054, and any D series is different. I don't have any of those machines to test. Of course if you want to be able to leave a mower deck on this isn't what you need. I made my lift to be able to start with a bare frame and build from there or tear down to a bare frame if needed.

New member, glad to find this group. Just pulled this 520H out of my neighbor's parent's shed yesterday. When they parked it 15 years ago, it only needed a coil. Parts everywhere. I ordered a fuel pump, a coil, and new filters. Parts should be here later today, hopefully I can get it to run. Although I'm sure the carb needs to be soaked. Looking forward to posting my progress.