My big ol' 1998 Toro Wheel Horse 520Lxi thread

[DeltaNu1142 28]

Sometimes when I make a vehicle or motorcycle or other big-project purchase... I start a thread in a related forum to track what I do with it. I've currently got active threads for two vehicles and one motorcycle in three different forums, and I was pleased to find this forum a few weeks ago when I started shopping for a WH. This forum is an incredible resource, and it's clear there's a wealth of knowledge and experience in the member base here...

 

A couple of years ago, I picked up a 518xi with 2-stage snow thrower and 48" deck for my father. He loves the think, and it's a tank. He only uses it for winter duty, and he offered up his deck if I were able to find a tractor for it.

 

So, after a few weeks of poking around FB Marketplace, I picked up a 1998 520Lxi with 588 hours. It came with a 4' plow, 48" mower deck, wheel weights and chains, a belt-driven blower and bagger, and a milk crate full of random parts. The seller reported an issue with the battery not charging, and he replaced the regulator to no improvement. I'm thinking the problem probably lies with the stator, but I'll get to that later.

 

The day I unloaded it at home, I removed the bagger and blower and mowed about 80% of my overgrown lawn before the PTO engagement started acting up (a clue that the battery might be getting low on power), and the next time I shut down the mower, it wouldn't restart. I left it on a charger for a few hours and finished up the lawn. One problem I was seeing was that the water temperature light was coming on solid for maybe 30-60 seconds, and then going back out. The temperature gauge looks good. I plan to flush the coolant and change the oil soon anyway, so I didn't worry too much about it. In the back of my mind, though, are the plastic gears in the water and oil pumps that apparently plagued this model/year. I did take my leaf blower to the engine bay and cleared out a bunch of clippings, but that didn't resolve the light coming on.

 

Yesterday, I decided I'd take a look a the air filter, and... oh, my. A desiccated mouse and his kingdom of debris were packed tightly around more than half of the airbox. Maybe that explains my temperature issues (real or otherwise)? I've got a paper filter on the way. I did not order an outer foam filter, and I wonder if it's necessary to have one. I'm going to be able to keep the mice away from the tractor from now on out, at least. I haven't started the tractor yet since cleaning out the box, but I don't expect it to run worse...!

 

I put the plow, deck, blower, and bagger in the Classifieds and on FB Marketplace. A guy about 2 hours north of here said he'd take the lot. I'll be driving that way in a few weeks anyway, so I plan to deliver it to him. I've got a lot going on this summer, so I'm hoping to find time here and there to change fluids in the WH and find a snow thrower so I can use it this winter.

[ebinmaine 72,497]

2 hours ago, DeltaNu1142 said:

.. I start a thread in a related forum to track what I do with it

 

I do the same.  

I have threads for members of our Herd going back several years.  

I keep a note file with the "shortcut" to each. 

 

2 hours ago, DeltaNu1142 said:

there's a wealth of knowledge and experience in the member base here...

 

Again....     

 

You've added yourself and your future information to that very base by keeping this thread.  

 

 

 

2 hours ago, DeltaNu1142 said:

. A guy about 2 hours north of here

 

Invite him to the site!

[Handy Don 14,031]

3 hours ago, DeltaNu1142 said:

I did not order an outer foam filter, and I wonder if it's necessary to have one

Mandatory? Probably not.

I recommend using these since they do a good job catching the larger stuff to extend the life of the paper filters and are washable to extend their own life. 

[DeltaNu1142 28]

3 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

I recommend using these since they do a good job catching the larger stuff to extend the life of the paper filters and are washable to extend their own life. 

I'll get one on the way. Do they need oil?

[Handy Don 14,031]

26 minutes ago, DeltaNu1142 said:

I'll get one on the way. Do they need oil?

The outer collar style are used dry (and might degrade if oiled). When the foam was the only filter element, then they were oiled.

Edited July 10 by Handy Don

[DeltaNu1142 28]

1 minute ago, Handy Don said:

The outer collar style are used dry (and might degrade it oiled). When the foam was the only filter element, then they were oiled.

OK, no oil when both are used... in any case, the filters that are on there are both dusty, dry, and riddled with whatever the mouse brought in there.

[ebinmaine 72,497]

1 minute ago, DeltaNu1142 said:

, the filters that are on there 

 

 

If you have a place to store stuff, I always keep one or two extra for most equipment on hand.

[DeltaNu1142 28]

It's a good idea... and I do. I'll start collecting stuff soon, I'm sure. I haven't really looked in the milk crate that came with the tractor, but it looks like all hard parts... no consumables, probably.

[DeltaNu1142 28]

I had 30 minutes between things today to clean the air filter until the new ones arrive, and I found a few concerning things. Nothing too serious yet, but I haven't looked that hard:

• After filling up the right (from the seat) front tire twice in as many days, I'm sure I need a new one. The fronts are Trac Gard N766 16x7.5-8. They're on AZN, but I'd rather buy local/small business if possible.
• Is this a head gasket leak? I'm getting wisps of smoke when opening the cowl, and I'm pretty sure gooey blue stuff isn't factory Kawasaki sealant:

 

 

The other side of the engine doesn't have the gunk this one does. That first image also shows the air filter after removing removing the mouse & its house, but before blowing out with compressed air. This is after:

 

 

Better, but hardly optimal.

 

Back to the head gasket... the oil is present on the dip stick, but low. I'll change it before running it again for any length of time. I need a tire on it, anyway.

 

 

Edited July 10 by DeltaNu1142

[ebinmaine 72,497]

26 minutes ago, DeltaNu1142 said:

head gasket

 

I'm not at all familiar with those engines but that looks maybe like a valve cover gasket leak (??)

 

 

[DeltaNu1142 28]

21 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

I'm not at all familiar with those engines but that looks maybe like a valve cover gasket leak (??)

Oh... that's what I meant. I found P/N 95-9700 95-9708 for the valve cover gasket. Available from Toro in like 10-15 days. Discontinued from Toros... I'll check with the site vendors.

 

Still looking for a tire locally. I can keep the oil topped up, but the tire isn't lasting overnight and that'll get painful quick.

Edited July 11 by DeltaNu1142

[ebinmaine 72,497]

1 minute ago, DeltaNu1142 said:

Oh... that's what I meant. I found P/N 95-9700 for the valve cover gasket. Available from Toro in like 10-15 days. I'll check with the site vendors.

 

Still looking for a tire locally. I can keep the oil topped up, but the tire isn't lasting overnight and that'll get painful quick.

 

It's a bit of a drive for you but Rick n Ray's in Buxton may have a tire?

 

You get in a jam I've definitely got something here but not that 7.5" wide.  

I have a pair of oddball 18" OD I'd let ya have that are "off size" 

Might work......

 

 

For OE Toro part numbers send an email to billsplaceshop.com 

Excellent service.  

[DeltaNu1142 28]

3 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

For OE Toro part numbers send an email to billsplaceshop.com 

Excellent service.  

Cool, that's where I'll get it then.

 

I ordered the tire. Called my local shop, checked some other sources... and then gave in and ordered it when I couldn't reasonably get it anywhere else.

[Handy Don 14,031]

1 hour ago, DeltaNu1142 said:

I dunno. This looks more to me like spill at filling or the breather not trapping the oil vapor. 

[Pullstart 66,683]

Xi’s are so big and tough!   and great work digging into the issues that are present!

 

I’d suggest inspecting your front axle pivot.  It’s a poor design and destined for failure.

 

https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/topic/92609-xi-series-front-axle-pivot-repair/

 

[DeltaNu1142 28]

2 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

I’d suggest inspecting your front axle pivot.

Yep, I read about that, thanks!

Going to have a look at it when I change this tire.

[DeltaNu1142 28]

14 hours ago, Handy Don said:

I dunno. This looks more to me like spill at filling or the breather not trapping the oil vapor. 

I think I see what you mean... the gunk is pretty uniform all the way down the outside of the tube. I guess the blue goo caught my eye. I can clean it up, change the oil and run it, and see where it's coming from.

[DeltaNu1142 28]

If it does end up being a valve cover gasket... I think I can understand the use of RTV or whatever to make a replacement. I can't find 95-9708 anywhere.

Edited July 11 by DeltaNu1142

[ebinmaine 72,497]

4 minutes ago, DeltaNu1142 said:

If it does end up being a valve cover gasket... I think I can understand the use of RTV or whatever to make a replacement. I can't find 95-9708 anywhere.

 

 

As long as the application and usage is done correctly, RTV should be perfectly fine there.

 

[DeltaNu1142 28]

Tire in hand, went out to the shed for a few minutes to see if I could pull the wheel... cotter pin out, thrust washer removed... bearings exposed (!) as the outer race/cone of the bearing has worn away. The bearings look good, otherwise... but I can't get the wheel off. There's no noticeable rust on the axle or wheel. It just doesn't want to budge.

 

The good news is, there doesn't seem to be any undue play in the front axle pivot.

Edited July 14 by DeltaNu1142

[ebinmaine 72,497]

@Pullstart

Have you had a wheel off one of these yet?

[lynnmor 7,809]

On 7/10/2025 at 12:28 PM, DeltaNu1142 said:

I'll get one on the way. Do they need oil?

Yes, you oil the foam filter.

From the manual:

[DeltaNu1142 28]

32 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Have you had a wheel off one of these yet?

Nope, first timer here.

 

7/14/2025

589.0 hours

 

I didn't set out to do it, but I ended up changing the oil... 1.9 qts Valvoline 5W-30 full synthetic & a WIX 51394XP filter. The oil was low... it came out looking OK, if a little thin. No shiny stuff. I rode around a bit and that seems to have been the cause of my temperature problems.

 

I still need to mount the new tire. I will flush the coolant soon. I put the other mower deck on today, and it's got a frequent (but not regular) tick-tick-tick coming from the left side somewhere. I wasn't able to see it, so I might remove the deck and check it out. The Attach-A-Matic system is great. It was way easier than replacing the deck on my Craftsman was, and that was almost 20 years newer.

 

I cleaned up the engine a bit to see if I can ID the oil leak. I got no wisps of smoke when I shut it down.

[DeltaNu1142 28]

3 minutes ago, lynnmor said:

Yes, you oil the foam filter.

I have the manual... missed that, apparently. The WH didn't come with a foam filter installed. But I've got one on the way, and I'll oil it when it goes on. Thanks.

[lynnmor 7,809]

1 minute ago, DeltaNu1142 said:

I have the manual... missed that, apparently. The WH didn't come with a foam filter installed. But I've got one on the way, and I'll oil it when it goes on. Thanks.

 

I saw the excellent maintenance by the previous owner, he probably just tossed it.