Wheel Horse H55B-1170. Suburban with Kohler Engine

[Jason70 0]

So this tractor does run, the battery is dead. Does have headlamps. It has some wear to it.  Would anyone be able to tell me what something like that is worth, because my friend just wants to sell it. 

[wallfish 18,467]

So... the tractor frame and trans are a 1960 model 400 or a 550. That Tecumseh/Lauson engine would make it a 550 and the H55 1170 is the correct original engine for a 550

The hood is a 1961 factory replacement hood so the original hood must've been damaged and replaced. Don't see very many of those replacement hoods

The headlights aren't original and holes were drilled into the hood to add them

The front tires aren't correct and the original rims probably rotted out from the calcium chloride the factory added for weight.

It does have the belt guards, heat shield, correct foot rests and the correct deck for a 1960. Somewhere along the line it had a front dozer blade because I see the foot pedal on the right side which was used for that.

All in All it's a pretty good find for round hood collector as it has some rare stuff. (Collectors know what they're worth and rarely pay top dollar unless it's one they have to have) 

Guesstimate from pics only $500 - $800 but I've been out of the round hood buying mode for a while .

Edited September 5 by wallfish

[953 nut 61,083]

                                                     

Lots of Wheel Horse owners up your way, shouldn't be to hard to find a buyer. A running 551 with good tires, all the guards and foot rests should probably be in the $ 500 to $ 600 range in my opinion.

Put an add in our classifieds and you should generate some interest.          https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/classifieds/for-sale/

[oliver2-44 10,840]

Looks like an older repaint, that knocks some value off!

[Retired Wrencher 5,959]

On 9/5/2025 at 7:24 PM, wallfish said:

So... the tractor frame and trans are a 1960 model 400 or a 550. That Tecumseh/Lauson engine would make it a 550 and the H55 1170 is the correct original engine for a 550

The hood is a 1961 factory replacement hood so the original hood must've been damaged and replaced. Don't see very many of those replacement hoods

The headlights aren't original and holes were drilled into the hood to add them

The front tires aren't correct and the original rims probably rotted out from the calcium chloride the factory added for weight.

It does have the belt guards, heat shield, correct foot rests and the correct deck for a 1960. Somewhere along the line it had a front dozer blade because I see the foot pedal on the right side which was used for that.

All in All it's a pretty good find for round hood collector as it has some rare stuff. (Collectors know what they're worth and rarely pay top dollar unless it's one they have to have) 

Guesstimate from pics only $500 - $800 but I've been out of the round hood buying mode for a while .

Boy John, you sure you know you’re round hoods.

[wallfish 18,467]

1 hour ago, Retired Wrencher said:

Boy John, you sure you know you’re round hoods.

Well Gary, It costs 1000s of dollars and 1000s of hours over 20 years from buying, researching, and finding all of the correct parts to make them factory whole again. Lots of lessons learned from working on them. Lots of info at the big show too. But most of all, thanks to the CORRECT information provided and shared right here on Red Square so the info should be paid forward.

58 to 61 are what I've had the most of for tractors.  

[Retired Wrencher 5,959]

5 hours ago, wallfish said:

Well Gary, It costs 1000s of dollars and 1000s of hours over 20 years from buying, researching, and finding all of the correct parts to make them factory whole again. Lots of lessons learned from working on them. Lots of info at the big show too. But most of all, thanks to the CORRECT information provided and shared right here on Red Square so the info should be paid forward.

58 to 61 are what I've had the most of for tractors.  

I can agree to that John. It’s like me with the 67s and 66 and 68 models no hydros always  the four speed. I know them well. Thanks for the post buddy. See you in a few weeks.

[Retired Wrencher 5,959]

21 hours ago, wallfish said:

Well Gary, It costs 1000s of dollars and 1000s of hours over 20 years from buying, researching, and finding all of the correct parts to make them factory whole again. Lots of lessons learned from working on them. Lots of info at the big show too. But most of all, thanks to the CORRECT information provided and shared right here on Red Square so the info should be paid forward.

58 to 61 are what I've had the most of for tractors.  

Nothing wrong with that buddy. That is there hay days John when companies made things to last for years not months like today.