Letting cat out of bag...

[Docwheelhorse 2,766]

Hello All,

First off... I will NEVER believe that theres only "225"

This is number 3 for me (sold first one dangit)

Plus @Sparky has one in his garage and I saw another sell this week.

 

There EVERYWHERE...

 

Anyways... took a few days off from work and went on a road trip. Im 1000 miles west of home in Indianna.

 

Picked these up today, doing a couple other things around here tomorrow--that will be another post.

 

Supposidely the one on the back was fully rebuilt--engine and trans wise and painted by a member here on the  Square. ( Ronald Castleman?)

 

The dealer in pic was original seller and supposidely big time WH / Toro.

 

Tony

6pm update...

Got to hotel I'm staying at... unloaded everything and put that big azz deck on back to take the squat out of my truck. No need to kill it like that for 1000 miles

 

 

Edited 12 hours ago by Docwheelhorse
Added pic

[Andy N. 2,493]

I have never seen one with electric lift. Can you tell if it came that way or if it was added on later in life?

 

Nice finds!

[Docwheelhorse 2,766]

12 minutes ago, Andy N. said:

I have never seen one with electric lift. Can you tell if it came that way or if it was added on later in life?

 

Nice finds!

I was told it was installed by dealee before customer pick up

[c-series don 10,459]

@Docwheelhorse I’m totally with you on the “Only 225 built” I’ve seen way too many of those for only 225 built. Only 200 420-LSE’s were built and you rarely see them pop up. 
 If that’s “THEE” Humphrey Wheel Horse dealer I’m thinking of then yes, they have a long history with Wheel Horse. Pretty sure an internet search will reveal some cool old photos and the history of that dealership. I even have a key chain from there! I’m not sure where I got it from? Maybe the Big Show? 
 I’ve said it here before, I’m not sure why those 520-8’s didn’t come factory with electric lift? Anyway, nice score and we look forward to more pictures when you get them home! Safe travels…..

[Retired Wrencher 5,992]

You did very well, Tony. So what’s the plan with these two a bucket list keepers. Safe travels on the way home.

[wh500special 2,308]

Nice haul. 
 

Another few miles and you’d have been in my state.  

 

Before he retired, Ed from Toro looked up how many 520-8s had been produced.  He found that 225 serial numbers were issued.  I probably have his email about this saved somewhere.  
 

While it’s possible he missed another run of them, I doubt it.  I’m of the opinion that it’s a good number. 
 

It never dawned on me to ask how many tractors in general were produced in the same year(1990).   
 

Granted, they do seem to be more common than that number suggests.  I’ve had two or three of them.  My closest dealer here told me he likely sold more of them than any other dealer as he was able to discount them since nobody else wanted them. 
 

They are a bit of an odd duck.  The 20-hp engine was needed for the 60” deck but really no other implement (maybe the 44” two stage blower) really needed the extra power.  But the manual lift was a poor match for the heavy implements.
 

The model was like the c-195:  a response to perceived demand by dealers and customers.  But not a sales sensation. 
 

safe travels,

Steve 

[sqrlgtr 849]

4 hours ago, Retired Wrencher said:

You did very well, Tony. So what’s the plan with these two a bucket list keepers. Safe travels on the way home.

 I envy you guys that can find these ol wheel Horses they are just not any around these parts... 

[JoeM 8,721]

On 10/19/2025 at 3:52 PM, Docwheelhorse said:

First off... I will NEVER believe that theres only "225"

I hear the number is 250 

Someone has to have some kind of info on those, wouldn't you think?

[MainelyWheelhorse 1,967]

Could some be clones?  Especially if it seems like there is more than 225 520-8’s. If you could get the special parts through Toro I could see something like that happening. I’ve heard of it in the muscle car hobby. Maybe it happens in the Tractor community too?