A LOOSE LATCH CAN HURT YOU!

[Lane Ranger 11,754]

Something to really watch our for!

 

 

 

 A friend was working on his Wheel Horse C-161.    This 1970's model has a seat pan with a locking latch that keeps it sitting down but opens on the forward side where your upper egs and hips ride!

 

He worked on his tractor and put his shifter in gear.  He though he was reversing but it was in third gear.

 

The Wheel Horse took off but the seat pan flipped up knocking him off the back of the tractor.

 

Turns out the metal locking tab on the seat pan had worn down from raising and lower the pan.   

 

It can be corrected by bending or using a rasp/file to ensure it stays locked down!

 

 

Edited 20 hours ago by Lane Ranger

[ri702bill 11,183]

I've said it before...There'a a reason they don't make them that way anymore...

[Ed Kennell 44,725]

 Those rear flippers not only damaged operators,  they bent the seat pans when they hooked in the tires.

[c-series don 11,280]

Are you sure it wasn’t a C-160? The 1978-79 C-1x1 series didn’t have a flip up fender pan.  The tractor in the picture has a fixed pan. The fuel tank is under the seat and no storage area/tool box like the 1977 and earlier models. Anyway I’m glad your friend did not get hurt! Recently I sold a C-160 that had the same problem. I learned this while I leaned on the seat back with my hand and the fender and seat popped open! The gentleman I sold it to was made aware of this and since he was the handy type, he informed me that it was no big deal and he would fix it. 

[Racinbob 12,714]

1975 was the last year for the flip back seat. When I restored my 68 Indy 500 I added a spring to help the latch stay in the forward latched position. That may not work if there's damage or excessive wear to the latch. 

[squonk 45,410]

My 76 C-160 has the flip seat so you really can't go by the year

[Racinbob 12,714]

I forgot about yours Mike. But you know how Wheel Horse was about using up the previous years parts. There's no more reliable way to know what was original than the original parts manuals. Then they find a few leftover parts on the shelf. It actually makes the models that get them kinda special. 

[Pullstart 68,793]

Bang! Pow!  To the moon Alice!