Dipping my toes into garden tractors 520H w/ kwik-way loader?

[The Rooster 2]

Shy of 3 acres, I've used a White lawn tractor to cut the grass and pull a small trailer. I've forked out enough renting subcompact tractors in the past for landscaping and some construction works but never had an interest in owning something "that big."

 

Recently thought of getting an old Craftsman or Husqvarna with a front scoop like the Johnny Products stuff or building a FEL but someone had me look at WH products and I've spent HOURS now looking into 400 & 500 series stuff - very impressive! 

 

Up here in Canada there's someone passionate about WH tractors selling a 1995 520H with 800 hours including wheel weights and a Kwik-way FEL (incl. New hydraulic hoses and repacked cylinders). Asking $CDN 7000 (~USD 5000). 

 

I figure this is as big a tractor I need or want to get so appealing to the wise folk here on 

1. What to look for in buying this kit so I'm not pulling my hair out in a few months? Or what questions should I be asking? 

2. Does this seem a reasonable asking price? 

 

From what I've seen so far, yeah the WH community seems very upbeat, helpful and positive!

[Ed Kennell 42,700]

to the The 520 experts will be here soon to report the good and the bad.

[Achto 29,604]

Price is not too bad with a loader included. Find an immoveable object to run the loader against. Try pushing it and make sure it will spin the tires. This ensures the hydro is good.

[Handy Don 14,414]

Welcome to the forum. We’re glad you found us. 

The ’95 520-H was at or near the end of production for that model.

20hp with plenty of torque (though it can be thirsty).

The Eaton hydro and Unidrive transaxle are rock solid.

The “swept” front axle angles forward and wider than pre-92 (?) models. Has 1” spindles and heavier wheel bearings. It’s designed to allow room for a 60” mower deck and for better stability with an FEL.

Gear reduction steering (twice as many turns lock-to-lock for easier steering with loads)

The hydrostatic forward/revers motion control is column-mounted.

To me, though, USD 5,000, even for a well-maintained, 800 hour unit with Kwik-way in excellent condition is a bit ambitious. You didn’t mention a mower deck or other implements.

In my New York Metro area the ask would be more like $4,000. Adding an excellent condition 60” deck would be another 500-700. 

 

Things I would check:

- records, especially of oil & filter changes on the engine and transmission

- any sign of “surging” in the engine (i.e. revving up and down on its own) - make sure that once warmed up it runs without any choke at all

- a foam rubber gasket installed around the engine oil filter (absolutely critical for proper flow of cooling air)

- oil levels and condition in the engine and the transaxle

- echoing @Achto suggestion--with the bucket low against something immovable, and the front wheels just barely off the ground, can the tractor spin the rear wheels?

Edited yesterday at 12:13 AM by Handy Don

[953 nut 61,320]

If the 520 and Kwik-Way are in great condition as stated then you will not have overpaid in the long run. They will both last a long time with proper maintenance and before long you will wonder how you got by for so long without it.

[SylvanLakeWH 29,102]

[Ed Kennell 42,700]

520H Value - Page 2 - Wheel Horse Tractors - RedSquare Wheel Horse Forum

 

Some good current info here.

I have never experienced any problems with the Eaton 1100 hydro, although some of them require a long (10 minute) warm up time in cold temperatures. 

  I found the surging of the Onans was cured with a good cleaning of the carbs.

Edited yesterday at 11:48 AM by Ed Kennell

[rjg854 12,417]

[mrc 968]

i've had 2 wheelhorse tractors with loaders.  so i have some experience.

you will need:

rear wheel weights (as heavy as can be)

rear tire chains

some sort of rear counterweight.

foot pedal drive  (not absolutely necessary but, well worth the extra coin)

 

the wheel horses with loaders are ok for snow, mulch and light dirt/stone work.  if i were going down that road again i would look for an older 4WD diesel powered kubota with loader and 3 pt on the back.   

 

regards

mike

[sergeant 335]

32 minutes ago, mrc said:

i've had 2 wheelhorse tractors with loaders.  so i have some experience.

you will need:

rear wheel weights (as heavy as can be)

rear tire chains

some sort of rear counterweight.

foot pedal drive  (not absolutely necessary but, well worth the extra coin)

 

the wheel horses with loaders are ok for snow, mulch and light dirt/stone work.  if i were going down that road again i would look for an older 4WD diesel powered kubota with loader and 3 pt on the back.   

 

regards

mike

While 4WD or AWD is nice, it's not really necessary for loader work. It's the lack of power steering that always kept me away from buying a WH 300, 400, or 500 series Wheel Horse, and go figure, my 1st garden tractor with a loader lacked power steering, which was a 1999 White GT2055, which I bought new. A year later, I bought a used JD 425 with a 40 loader, which I had for 3 years, and I traded the JD 425 in on a JD 2WD X485 with a 45 loader, and it had power steering and a liquid-cooled Kawasaki engine with EFI. I used it for 11 years on a 5.5-acre spread. I could have bought a 4WD JD X575, X585, or a diesel X595; they had manual shift 4WD. But I didn't like their turning radius in 2WD. 

 

Well, in 2014 I bought a used 2012 JD X748 diesel with hydraulic front-wheel drive. I traded my X485 for attachments for my X748 and kept the 45 Loader. With a shimmed transmission, the X748 with a 45 Loader will pick up more weight than most subcompact tractors with a non-self-leveling loader. I have a JD compact with a loader as well. But I use that X748 for most loader work, as it can get in places most subcompact tractors will not fit. I still have the White GT2055 with a Kwik-way loader, but it's on sort of permanent loan to my older brother, who uses it for mulch and snow work. So he's not carrying heavy loads where it gets tiresome to use with the lack of power steering.  I Bought the X748 for it weight not the AWD though it is a nice Bonus. The Deere AWD or Hydraulic front wheel drive tractors give you a tight 25-inch turn radius which is the same as the 2WD tractors

 

I considered a 5Xi in 1999, but the lack of a 3-point hitch is what made me go for the lower-cost White GT2055 because it came standard with a Cat 0 3-point hitch. At that time, Master sergeants (E-8) didn't make the money they do today. For the size of the tractor, Toro should have had a 3-point hitch and diff/lock. 

 

My purchase of the used JD 425 gave me a 3-point hitch, rear PTO, diff/lock, and a loader powered by the tractor's onboard hydraulic system. That is, place Deere always seemed to beat the competition with their hydraulic systems. The Case and later Ingersoll hydraulic systems could actually run the Kwik-Way Loader. Kwik-Way only made loaders for the Case 400 and Ingersoll 4000 series. . The Case 200 or Ingersoll 3000 series could have run it as well. But Kwik-way didn't make a subframe for those tractors. 

 

I also have an Ingersoll 3016PS. Which we purchased new in 1992 because the dealer claimed the Kwik-Way Loader would work on it. I bought that because John Deere had dropped the 318. When I could finally afford one on an E-7's salary. But that's another story.

 

But don't sell 2WD short for loader work. That 2WD X485 dug a loader-wide, 3-foot-deep by 100-foot-long trench for a drainage system I built for a driveway on my last property. For the Wheel Horse 300 through 500 series I think the Johnny Bucket Jr's are better suited for moving material . I just need to Buy a  Johnny Bucket sub frame for my Wheel Horse 416H. I have a JB Jr for My Cub Cadet XT3GSX. 

 

I do agree foot Pedals make loader work a Lot easier though. With the white GT2055 you needed 3 hands to operate the Loader while Maneuvering as it also has Hand speed controls  on the same side as the loader levers 

 

 

 

  

[rjg854 12,417]

11 hours ago, sergeant said:

 

Do you have a thing for JD