What Is Different About Wheel Horse Enthusiasts?

[jsoluna 84]

Since I am new to Wheel Horse as an enthusiast, but not new to garden tractors, I'm curious:

 

What do you think sets the Wheel Horse community of enthusiasts apart from other garden tractor communities?  So far, I have noticed that people on this forum have been very helpful and knowledgeable, without being condescending which is great for welcoming new members.  I've been Cub Cadet enthusiast for about 15 years.

 

What do you all think?  What is it about the tractors themselves that made you a Wheel Horse enthusiast over other manufacturers? 

 

And what makes the community unique?

Edited August 12 by jsoluna

[Easton Rich 649]

For starters, WH has a very neat backstory. We all want the hobby to continue on. I can confidently say that this is the best forum on the internet. These tractors were overbuilt compared to their competition. We all wanna help out cause we love to see others enjoying the hobby also. Thats my take on it

[wallfish 18,240]

31 minutes ago, jsoluna said:

What is it about the tractors themselves that made you a Wheel Horse enthusiast over other manufacturers? 

Simplicity in design with the quality to last for many years

 

And what makes the community unique?

The comradery of the people and their willingness to help others 

 

[ri702bill 9,528]

5 hours ago, jsoluna said:

sets the Wheel Horse community of enthusiasts apart from other garden tractor communities?

The interchangeability of parts & implements over many years and models of tractors for one. Because a Horse needs a companion, even if it's a parts donor..... very few on the Forum have only one WH tractor. Some have a dedicated tractor per implement......

[ebinmaine 72,970]

A hair covered horse is a herd animal.

A paint covered horse is also a herd animal.

 

We have wheel horse tractors because they're extremely easy to build rebuild repair maintain disassemble reassemble Etc.

You'll see many references to BBT or Trina. That's my other half. She's extremely practical minded. She does most of the work on the tractors that we restore. It's unlikely she would have any other brand.

7 or 8 years ago I guess it was now? We set it out with one tractor. We now have over a dozen.

 

The other big thing is the people. Red Square in particular is a great bunch of folks.

[AlexR 2,020]

I agree with @Easton Rich this is the best forum there is, in any category. It's the only forum that I support. 

 

Same as the others the compatibly through the years, there are attachments and parts from the 90's that fit tractors from the 70's and vise versa.  

The "keep it simple stupid" way these horses are built is I think what really sets them apart.

 

I can appreciate some other garden tractor brands I have a 75 simplicity myself and I may end up getting a cub cadet someday but Wheelhorse will always be my favorite. 

[JoeM 8,427]

The other day, when I was at a show, I noticed an abundance of John Deere machines. Wondering why so little Wheel Horse machines. 

 

Thinking, (my wife says I am dangerous when that happens!), I started making comparisons.

JD in the early sixties entered the riding mower market just as the WH brand was also picking up steam. Pricing was pretty much in the same ballpark between the two. The difference, JD was a huge established equipment mfg. long before WH and i think people purchased on their (JD) reputation. Brand recognition was king back then. Lack of WH dealers in this area was an issue.

 

I remember having a conversation with a local WH dealer. The guy had a established farm equipment business and was doing well. He said his son came in one day (early eighties), and said he picked up WH garden tractors and become a dealer. The old man said "I'm not to sure about this WH thing" As it turned out the boy emptied the show room and filled it with WH machines. The old man told me that was a golden decision. He still had the other equipment sales but his focus shifted to the WH stuff. The machines we so tough, simple and little trouble. 

 

WH was one of the best kept secrets. Just like their owners!

 

 

 

[Pullstart 67,040]

I think it’s wild how everybody comes from different backgrounds, upbringing, religions, political views, etc… and Wheel Horse is the one common ground that brought us here.  Some maintain their city lot, some maintain their truck patch, some plow fields, some plow snow.  We all have a different reason to stop by Red Square and chit chat, but it all seems to work great!  My hat’s off to the moderators who keep it the way it is, and the supporters who keep the lights on!  I began my Wheel Horse journey back in 2013 when I just needed a lawn mower.  I found this really cool 1962 502 on Craigslist and it really clicked.  Seeing my kids enjoy growing up with these little tractors around has been amazing, and watching them become responsible drivers has been a bonus!  Everyone is happier on a Wheel Horse!

 

 

[jsoluna 84]

Great responses everyone.  Thanks for the background, stories, and opinions.  I look forward to being able to contribute to the community.

Edited August 12 by jsoluna

[MainelyWheelhorse 1,611]

13 hours ago, jsoluna said:

 

What is it about the tractors themselves that made you a Wheel Horse enthusiast over other manufacturers? 

 

And what makes the community unique?

 

Like others have said Simplicity, Toughness, and Reliability. The fact that for roughly 52 years the major design didn’t drastically change is an uncommon occurrence nowadays. The 3 tractors I have from three different decades the vast majority of the parts interchange. That really helps with familiarity, cost and space restrictions. Apple used to say their Computers “just worked” that definitely applies here.

 

I came here looking for help fixing my 92 312-8 my first Wheelhorse in 2021/22 to change a starter.
There is a camaraderie, friendliness, and a willingness to help others here. It is no doubt fostered by the mods on this forum. I’ve gained so much knowledge from everyone here, I have with a lot of help from the forum basically rebuilt a 1978 C -141 automatic to a usable tractor, and I’ve only been officially a member here since 2024.

My experience here overall has been excellent. It’s not just about WH tractors too. It’s having discussions on various topics as well. I’m definitely going to be here for the foreseeable future.

 

 

[953 nut 60,341]

My first Wheel Horse was purchased to maintain some vacant property we owned. I was so impressed that when the opertunity to get another came my way I jumped at the chance, and then another and another, you know how that song goes.

Like most members of Red Square I came here seeking some information. I had owned Wheel Horses for several years but the GT-14 was the first hydro and I asked a simple question. The next day I found a couple of very good answers and a dozen or more welcomes. Those welcomes and the courteous responses impressed me so I became a supporter and have enjoyed the site ever since.

Our moderators keep it family friendly and keep us in line and the regulars keep it interesting.  

[ML3 1,727]

3 years ago I bought my 1st Wheel Horse C105 locally. I actually was going to look at a Cub Cadet & I saw the C105 he had. Seller was a bit reluctant to initially sell it. I tried to focus on the Cub but kept getting drawn back to the C105. $200 later I was hauling it home. Within a month I got my 654.....yes it happend that quick! And by end of that year I was up to 5 Wheel Horses! Now I've got 8 & still looking for at least 1 more particular model. Hoping to have 2nd storage building built by end of September cause I'm absolutely out of room! More storage room leads to more tractors. The people I've met on the forum & at big show just make the hobby more enjoyable. 

[jsoluna 84]

I have enjoyed working on Cub Cadet tractors for years for many of the same reasons.  Simple, reliable, and many times actually enjoyable to work on.

 

Wheel Horse is a very different design, and I do appreciate its simplicity and ruggedness.  It's fun to see how you can have similar results with a completely different approach to the particulars.

 

Eventually I want to find a 500 series, as I would like to see how it compares to the Cubs of the same era.  My daily driver is an 1862 Cub, with the M18 engine and power steering/tilt wheel/hydrostatic drive.  Comfortable machine that is still rugged as they were in the 70s.  520H with the steering gear reduction would be a fun one to find as a comparison.

[wallfish 18,240]

24 minutes ago, jsoluna said:

I have enjoyed working on Cub Cadet tractors for years for many of the same reasons.  Simple, reliable, and many times actually enjoyable to work on.

Nothing wrong with enjoying those too. Each manufacturer has their successes and reasons for their following. It's probably whatever we're exposed to first maybe????

We see it at many local tractor shows where different people have "their brand" and we also see the guys that collect them all or anything different. Many people on here have different machines too but of course we prefer WH ---- but

 

Right now the only different tractor I have is a Roof 60

[c-series don 10,142]

I bought my first Wheel Horse over forty years ago when I was in high school. I remember going to the dealership, walking around looking at all the Wheel Horses, talking to the owners and the salesman. They had A LOT of them! At one time they were the largest dealer on the east coast according to them. They had a showroom with large plate glass windows like a car dealership, and it was full of new Wheel Horses! I can even remember seeing a 420-LSE in the showroom wishing I could have it, not knowing that one day I’d actually own one. I was addicted to these tractors at an early age. Before the internet I remember thinking that I can’t be the only one who likes these tractors so much and wondered how many other people were out there like me? Then I bought my second one when I was about twenty years old. Shortly after that I inherited two from my step grandfather who introduced me and my dad to the brand. 
 Then came the internet and the Big Show and that really fueled my addiction to these tractors. At that point there was no going back! I started buying more tractors, implements and memorabilia. And then came the game changer, Red Square 🟥 This is when I met all of you nice people. People with so much knowledge about these tractors it’s amazing. It seems that guys have their niche as far as the different eras and wow, they have so much information it’s unbelievable. Never here will you get a snide or condescending response or comment from a question. Folks who are like that are quickly made unwelcome or simply banned. It seems that the people here are all pretty much like minded and truly enjoy keeping their tractors going. I really have made a lot of friends over the years because of these machines and Red Square. Having easy access to other enthusiasts makes it easy for me to want to keep this hobby going. The guys here appreciate the durability and simplicity of WH’s and realize that “They just don’t make em like this anymore!” Anyway, thanks for reading my long winded response. As some of you know I love talking about these tractors and could go on and on!………….

[Retired Wrencher 5,836]

On 8/11/2025 at 11:05 PM, Easton Rich said:

For starters, WH has a very neat backstory. We all want the hobby to continue on. I can confidently say that this is the best forum on the internet. These tractors were overbuilt compared to their competition. We all wanna help out cause we love to see others enjoying the hobby also. Thats my take on it

Well said Easton.

[Retired Wrencher 5,836]

7 hours ago, c-series don said:

I bought my first Wheel Horse over forty years ago when I was in high school. I remember going to the dealership, walking around looking at all the Wheel Horses, talking to the owners and the salesman. They had A LOT of them! At one time they were the largest dealer on the east coast according to them. They had a showroom with large plate glass windows like a car dealership, and it was full of new Wheel Horses! I can even remember seeing a 420-LSE in the showroom wishing I could have it, not knowing that one day I’d actually own one. I was addicted to these tractors at an early age. Before the internet I remember thinking that I can’t be the only one who likes these tractors so much and wondered how many other people were out there like me? Then I bought my second one when I was about twenty years old. Shortly after that I inherited two from my step grandfather who introduced me and my dad to the brand. 
 Then came the internet and the Big Show and that really fueled my addiction to these tractors. At that point there was no going back! I started buying more tractors, implements and memorabilia. And then came the game changer, Red Square 🟥 This is when I met all of you nice people. People with so much knowledge about these tractors it’s amazing. It seems that guys have their niche as far as the different eras and wow, they have so much information it’s unbelievable. Never here will you get a snide or condescending response or comment from a question. Folks who are like that are quickly made unwelcome or simply banned. It seems that the people here are all pretty much like minded and truly enjoy keeping their tractors going. I really have made a lot of friends over the years because of these machines and Red Square. Having easy access to other enthusiasts makes it easy for me to want to keep this hobby going. The guys here appreciate the durability and simplicity of WH’s and realize that “They just don’t make em like this anymore!” Anyway, thanks for reading my long winded response. As some of you know I love talking about these tractors and could go on and on!………….

Nice post Don. You told it like it is and it’s all good. I would say we all feel the same way you do otherwise why would we be here? Enjoy the ride. 

[Retired Wrencher 5,836]

On 8/11/2025 at 11:12 PM, wallfish said:

 

Ditto on that John.

[Beap52 1,476]

There's a wealth of knowledge on this site.  Not only tractor knowledge but check out other threads such as bumps and bruises, gardening and others.  I am amazed at the wide and varied topics and advice given.  AND, once you begin to know the  guys, you'll be hitting the ""  button.  It's about as close to sitting around the "liars table" at local restaurant as it gets but with folks from all over our wonderful country

[jsoluna 84]

4 minutes ago, Beap52 said:

There's a wealth of knowledge on this site.  Not only tractor knowledge but check out other threads such as bumps and bruises, gardening and others.  I am amazed at the wide and varied topics and advice given.  AND, once you begin to know the  guys, you'll be hitting the ""  button.  It's about as close to sitting around the "liars table" at local restaurant as it gets but with folks from all over our wonderful country

Thanks again for the warm welcomes.

 

It's the nice thing about sticking to the forums vs using social media.  The culture on forums is much more mature, helpful, and knowledgeable.

 

I've heard several people mention the show.  Maybe the Raider 10 Revival and I will make it there some day.

Edited August 14 by jsoluna

[adsm08 3,338]

On 8/11/2025 at 10:37 PM, jsoluna said:

What do you think sets the Wheel Horse community of enthusiasts apart from other garden tractor communities?

 

Mental illness mostly

[jsoluna 84]

I honestly see a lot in common between the Cub forums and Wheel Horse.  In general, garden tractor enthusiast are just salt of the earth type people I think.

[ebinmaine 72,970]

11 minutes ago, adsm08 said:

 

Mental illness mostly

 

Seconded.   

[Retired Wrencher 5,836]

9 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

Seconded.   

I third that.

[SylvanLakeWH 28,580]

10 hours ago, adsm08 said:

 

Mental illness mostly

 

9 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

Seconded.   

 

24 minutes ago, Retired Wrencher said:

I third that.

Hey hey hey... I represent that