Restore or ??

[PaulM77 16]

Greetings all.

Long story short, while cleaning out storage garage of Father in Laws estate we found a Wheel Horse Lawn Ranger.   I rescued it from the junk pile everyone wanted it to go to.  But now I have a dilemma, been sitting a year in my shed!  I am over my head as far as skills go with this.  pull the rope and it does turn over, that is good.  But I fear much work is needed, since no one had a clue he had this, betting it was covered for at least 25 years or so.  One voice says run, another voice in my head would like to see it functional again.

Questions  1) Where / who would be able to tackle this?   2)  Maybe should be #1: Is it worth sticking $$ into?  I'm willing to pay to have it done but want cost to be low enough so I do not end up sleeping in garage with it.  It is a cute mower, but not that cute. 

Would prefer anyone within a day trip travel of Wis. 

First wish would be running and 100% operational, second dream is a repaint etc., again, is that worth it?

Obviously I cannot get a quote from the pictures here, but anyone that has done anything similar?  What should I brave myself for?

Sorry for all the questions.

Thanks in advance for any ideas and/or help in this quest.

 

-Paul

[Pullstart 67,042]

@WHX?? @Achto @jeremi3210 @Streetrodchev  ?

[EB-80/8inPA 1,872]

Looks like a keeper to me, but I’m no expert.  What I do know is the super knowledgeable gear heads on this site will happily help you get it sorted with the minimal $$$ investment possible.  But as far as time is concerned…

That may be a whole ‘nuther story.

I say go for it.  With a little encouragement and inspiration, you may discover you have latent skills you never knew you had that just needed a chance to be exercised.

It’s a fine machine!  Wouldn’t it be fun to mow with it once you got it running?

[AlexR 2,024]

Definitely start with getting it running and driving. It's worth at least that. 

I will let people closer to you recommend who to take it to if you aren't comfortable doing that yourself. 

 

Second it's not in bad shape paint wise. My recommendation would be paint the rims, clean the tractor really good and use some penetrol flood or something similar on the paint. 

 

If you are really wanting to get it repainted, if you don't do it yourself it will be quite expensive.

Again it could look pretty nice even without a complete repaint. It's amazing what a difference just painting the rims makes. 

Edited yesterday at 12:49 AM by AlexR

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,521]

Would be nice to know what model it is.

Click on the fuzzy part of this link to see where the ID plate was in 1966

 

[Ed Kennell 42,164]

25 minutes ago, PaulM77 said:

 

Questions  1) Where / who would be able to tackle this?  Paul can do this 2)  Maybe should be #1: Is it worth sticking $$ into?Yes, the satisfaction you will get from saving an heirloom is priceless.  I'm willing to pay to have it done but want cost to be low enough so I do not end up sleeping in garage with it.  It is a cute mower, but not that cute. It's her Fathers, she'll be ever grateful to you for saving it.  

Would prefer anyone within a day trip travel of Wis. 

First wish would be running and 100% operational, second dream is a repaint etc . Please do not cover that beautiful patina that took 50 years to create. , again, is that worth it?  Yep

 

                           to the 

[WHX?? 51,909]

First off  Paul. We always need another cheese head here... 

 

2nd off DO NOT LET THAT GO TO SCRAP!!!!

39 minutes ago, PaulM77 said:

second dream is a repaint etc., again, is that worth it?

It could be worth scrap but anyone here is going to tell you YES. 

 

39 minutes ago, PaulM77 said:

Maybe should be #1: Is it worth sticking $$ into?

Again everyone is going to say absolutely but you are dealing with horsoholics here. 

The bad news is with most if not all horses it's a labor of love. Don't expect to get out of it what you have into it. Goes double for a full blown resto or repaint. A full blown resto yes chances are you will have a couch in the garage and become quite familiar with it. Paying someone to do or even get it running can be $$. 

Given that it has a Tecumseh it's most likely it's going to need a competent small engine guy to get it running unless one got real lucky. Teckies as we call them are not a favored motor around here ... mostly due to the fact they don't age well and parts are getting hard to find. 

I would suggest what we call a mechanical only resto. Means giving it a bath and just addressing issues to get it running and mowing. 

 

Again don't junk it please I would gladly give you scrap value for it. Even if it was scrap there are parts there to save another. 

Looks like you are in Philips ... small world ...I go right up through there on 13 on my way to our place in Clam Lake.  

Edited yesterday at 01:03 AM by WHX??

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,251]

If everything is original on this it would be a 1968 Lawn Ranger…the only year produced with the three spoke steering wheel and “Lawn Ranger” decal on the hood.    These are nice units to restore IMO…😎

[PaulM77 16]

12 minutes ago, gwest_ca said:

Would be nice to know what model it is.

Click on the fuzzy part of this link to see where the ID plate was in 1966

 

 

[WHX?? 51,909]

5 minutes ago, Terry M said:

1968 Lawn Ranger

I was gonna say '67 Terry but you know I am biased ... 

 

[WHX?? 51,909]

Here ya go Paul ... we also have manuals for the transmission and motor if you require them. 

 

[Achto 29,432]

1 hour ago, PaulM77 said:

pull the rope and it does turn over,

 

Welcome fellow cheese head. 

 

I would start by pulling the spark plug out and seeing if you have spark. If you have spark then maybe after a fuel system cleaning, you could have a running engine.

There are plenty of people here that are willing to give advise and support.

 

@ebinmaine, care to post that "New to me check list" ?

Edited 23 hours ago by Achto

[RED-Z06 2,590]

You should scrap it...

 

Scrap it to a pallet and ship it to Florida...😁.  That thing is twice as complete as they usually are found in the wild.

[WHX?? 51,909]

8 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said:

twice as complete

And unmolested 

[PaulM77 16]

3 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said:

You should scrap it...

 

Scrap it to a pallet and ship it to Florida...😁.  That thing is twice as complete as they usually are found in the wild.

Even to a noob, that is funny!   For others wondering, it appears complete, not beat up (that is what first caught my eye) and original, except for a plate around shift lever.   

[RED-Z06 2,590]

Its even got the deck, and not just a skeleton of one

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,251]

1 hour ago, RED-Z06 said:

You should scrap it...

 

Scrap it to a pallet and ship it to Florida...😁.  That thing is twice as complete as they usually are found in the wild.

It would be easier to ship to Minnesota....

[ri702bill 9,533]

Welcome!

IMHO, any "Round Hood" Wheel Horse is worth either saving or kept for parts to save another.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,521]

Another ID plate with an Anco breakaway tab that did not break away.

Every time I see one of those I think of Anco wiper blades. Bet they are the same company as both involve aluminum stampings.

[SylvanLakeWH 28,588]

[Pullstart 67,042]

9 hours ago, Pullstart said:

@WHX?? @Achto @jeremi3210 @Streetrodchev  ?

Pardon my manners… I was trying to get you a helper to get it running.   from the right side of the pond!

[ebinmaine 72,986]

8 hours ago, Achto said:

 

Welcome fellow cheese head. 

 

I would start by pulling the spark plug out and seeing if you have spark. If you have spark then maybe after a fuel system cleaning, you could have a running engine.

There are plenty of people here that are willing to give advise and support.

 

@ebinmaine, care to post that "New to me check list" ?

 

Here ya go...

 

 

 

[953 nut 60,348]

                                       

That is one fine looking family heirloom.  Your late father in law obviously took pride in ownership of this Wheel Horse and now it is your turn. If you can find a hobbyist who enjoys working with engines I wouldn't be at all surprised to find it will run and drive well. Then you can tell the in laws    "told ya so!"   

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,266]

 

 

I see @Pullstart has the vultures circling lol

 

Like @WHX?? said that's a good looking machine. Maybe just get it running, clean it up and leave it as is. They do look nice painted up, but I'm biased as i have one myself! Mine has an 8hp kohler engine swap though and has been claimed by my niece 

 

[WHX?? 51,909]

3 hours ago, Pullstart said:

Pardon my manners

 

39 minutes ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

@Pullstart has the vultures circling

 

Yah Mike maybe we should revoke his pardon ... 

As I mentioned in our PM Paul we are a pretty tight knit bunch... truly brothers from a different mother. We often catch up at events across the country despite geographic's.

One of the many great things about Redsquare. 

 

BTW I have a recliner in the garage for when I drag home another horse. She caught on to the fact that it is not @Achto's tractor! 

 

Pullstart eating melted ice cream with Mike having a belly twister. He was out yakking horses when he should have been in line. 

 

Speaking of pics if you brouse here https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/forum/17-wheel-horse-picture-gallery/ 

You will undoubtable find pics of more LRs. 

I know @pfrederi has one since new and still works it. 

 

Calendar shot there Mike ... 

Edited 11 hours ago by WHX??