C161 twin fender search

[EthanL 35]

Just picked this up today. New to me C161 twin automatic. It’s going to be designated lawn mower as my 11hp struggles on hills. The engine was swapped to a 18hp Briggs. It needs a carb clean and adjustment. I’m going to order a decal kit as the hood reads “twin eight speed” but it’s a hydro. I’m an huge fan of the black hoods on these. What does everyone else think on the 161s? Also the rear fender looks like it’s swapped off a 520 or similar unit. Anyone know where I can find an original metal fender for it? Or just wait till a parts unit comes up for sale. 

[Pullstart 70,404]

Congrats, I’m sure that’s going to work well for you!

 

The black hoods came with a very brittle plastic fender, and the steel fender from later models became the next best thing for replacement.  You could locate one from a later C-series to be closer to the era, but I think yours looks just fine on the machine.  

[Pullstart 70,404]

16 hours ago, EthanL said:

I’m going to order a decal kit as the hood reads “twin eight speed” but it’s a hydro.

 @Vinylguy Terry has been known to customize decals in the past.  C-185 Automatic sounds pretty beefy 

Edited 22 hours ago by Pullstart

[rjg854 13,154]

2 hours ago, Pullstart said:

Congrats, I’m sure that’s going to work well for you!

 

The black hoods came with a very brittle plastic fender, and the steel fender from later models became the next best thing for replacement.  You could locate one from a later C-series to be closer to the era, but I think yours looks just fine on the machine.  

[Vinylguy 4,780]

[EthanL 35]

5 hours ago, Pullstart said:

The black hoods came with a very brittle plastic fender, and the steel fender from later models became the next best thing for replacement.  

Wow thanks for that info @Pullstart. Metal fender is here to stay if that's the case. I agree it doesn't look bad at all

 

@Vinylguy these look fantastic and I will be ordering soon. Thank you!

[Vinylguy 4,780]

3 hours ago, EthanL said:

Wow thanks for that info @Pullstart. Metal fender is here to stay if that's the case. I agree it doesn't look bad at all

 

@Vinylguy these look fantastic and I will be ordering soon. Thank you!

Just make a notation in the note to seller box during checkout ( This is for a C-185 twin automatic)

 

 

[sqrlgtr 3,149]

18 hours ago, EthanL said:

Also the rear fender looks like it’s swapped off a 520 or similar unit.

No way I would change that fender for a plastic one, and I'm purist at heart. I never liked the big plastic fenders on the black hoods, but some do and thats all right too. I think they look so much better with that style fender you have on her right now.

[EthanL 35]

1 hour ago, sqrlgtr said:

No way I would change that fender for a plastic one, and I'm purist at heart. I never liked the big plastic fenders on the black hoods, but some do and thats all right too. I think they look so much better with that style fender you have on her right now.

Yup the metal is here to stay. I didn’t realize the originals were plastic. 

[EthanL 35]

After mowing this evening, this C161 is quite the upgrade from a manual 11hp

[rjg854 13,154]

13 hours ago, EthanL said:

After mowing this evening, this C161 is quite the upgrade from a manual 11hp

 

Being a hydro makes a world of difference, especially if your mowing, pushing or blowing snow.  Not having to shift every time you change directions makes the experience so much sweeter.

[sqrlgtr 3,149]

58 minutes ago, rjg854 said:

Being a hydro makes a world of difference, especially if your mowing, pushing or blowing snow.  Not having to shift every time you change directions makes the experience so much sweeter.

A few years ago, you couldn't give me a hydro Wheel Horse, but I have really warmed up to the 520H's with the Eaton 1100 transaxles'. 

 

1 hour ago, rjg854 said:

especially if your mowing, pushing or blowing snow.

 

[EthanL 35]

@sqrlgtr @rjg854 you guys are right on. I will still be using my manual tractor for ground engaging work such as plowing and discing in my garden. It did great this year, no need to switch that up.