NEED advice! About to buy my first Wheel Horse(s)

[PeteB88 0]

Great site, thanks!

Decisions - should I go Hydraulic drive/lift or 8 speed? 12 or 14 HP? I have a chance to get two to build up one awesome rig.

DISCUSSION _ I am about to buy my first Wheel Horse or two of them. Main use is to clear and reconfigure wooded area on my lot with blade (very sandy soil), that slopes to a small creek. I will be cutting up downed trees and hauling smaller chunks out to open up the creek. Neighbors on both sides will be doing the same, mine will be primary tool for work. I will have some use for mower. A rototiller could be great later on to help make trails, churn up old lawn and maybe garden space. I would use rig for plowing snow - 200 ft drive up hill - I have Ariens 9HP 26 inch blower that is awesome.

I have two WHs spotted - one is an older Electro 12 (owner removed all the clutch components and discarded) with hydrostatic drive, lift, 42inch blade, DUAL ag tires and original cast iron WH weights and chains. It is in fair condition, some cobble/customization but extremely strong runner. Price is about $300 bucks. I ran it Saturday for about an hour pushing gravel and sand for about up hill and more - besides some gear whine it was extremely strong running. Owner admits some lube leaks from rear end and says it always has. He has solid background in farm equipment and has owned the rig for about six years. He is selling because he is moving to bigger farm and bought a full size backhoe and loader. He has a second WH for pulling light trailers.

The other is a 312 hyrdo, mower only, great shape, black hood w/ depression, plastic rear deck thing and hydralic lift. My plan is to take parts off the first one and build what I want out using this platform. The rear-end transaxles are different - but the 312 has no evidence of leaking and runs fine. This one has filter on LHS of transaxle, parallel to the tractor chassis and has motor oil in sump. The other one has filter on RHS and forward, perpendicular to the midline of the tractor and has ATF in the sump. I Plan to run it hard tonight before decision.

Third option is 312-8 single owner, well maintained w/ plow and mower - 1900 hours on meter and great shape. No hyd lift obviously. My intended use will be a lot of blade time and I think using the blade w/o hydraulic lift is much more difficult. This one comes with mower and blade.

I can get the first two for about $700 TOTAL and the 312 8 for about $500. No chains, no weights.

A fourth Bronco 15 is available with no accessories, hydro drive about $350. Condition unknown but another "grandpa's tractor".

Should I go hydro or standard? Any other comments about the models? I don't have all that doctor/lawyer money so I have to be careful with my purchase.

I appreciate your time. Thanks

[W9JAB 156]

Take a look in the trany section.

Hydraulic drive/lift or 8 speed

way more problems w/hydros

just me! :D

[HankB 16]

:D

Should I go hydro or standard? Any other comments about the models?

You may get as many opinions as there are members who care to comment.

W9JAB may be right about the proportion of problems. I can't say as I haven't counted. I think that the actual number of problems with either - provided they are properly maintained - is pretty low. I don't think it is high enough to dominate the decision. (It is high enough to make sure that the seller isn't selling his problems to you.)

I've had a couple that both had hydros and had no difficulties with neither. Then again, mine see relatively light duty on a suburban lot.

I like the hydro for plowing snow due to the hydraulic lift and ability to change speed and direction easily. Others like a geared transmission for tilling due to the constant speed - unless you're tilling new turf where the hydro lets you inch along.

They each have their strong and weak points and either will probably meet your needs.

As for your choices... I didn't know there was a 312-H (hydro) with a black hood. I thought all black hoods were Cs (and this would be a C-120 I think.)

The Electro has a Sundstrand transmission and if you ran it for an hour and it didn't lose power, it sounds like it is in good shape. The 312-H has an Eaton 11 I believe which is used all the way up to the 520-H. I suspect it may be more robust than the Sundstrand, but I have no evidence to support that.

FWIW, I have just bought an Electro 12 for $250 but have not seen it. It also has a conversion to mechanical clutch which was pretty common. I'll pick it up from my son's place this weekend. He did enoiugh mowing with it to confirm that all seems well with it. I think I got a pretty good deal and your deal for $300 seems to be in the same ballpark.

Good luck finding your Wheelhorse!

[PeteB88 0]

Thanks - I have Boston Whaler boats and it now looks like I am entering into another obsession. These tractors are fascinating.

What about M vs CS model Kohler engines? I am looking at 12 HP one 14 HP and one 16 - the 14 and 16 are 8 speeds.

Thanks -

[refracman 167]

Liike stated before everyone has their own opinion.

Me, all I have ever run is hydro's and yet to have one fail. Had a loader on a gt14, was rode hard and put away wet for 7-8 years before sold. You cant beat a hydro w/hyd. lift for pushin snow/ gravel.

Never had a tiller on one, so no opinion there. Some say gears is the way to go there.

Heck get'em all, you will eventually anyhow :D

[jimbotelho 1]

Pete I am fortunate to have a full hydro and a 8speed .You know what, they are both good. I had a little trouble getting used to the hydro but after a while I found that it made a lazy man out of me .Instead of braking all you need to do is pull the lever back towards reverse no brake is needed like everyone else said your choice mine although I like both I would choose the hydro just my 4 cents hope this helps :D

[rickv1957 74]

Hello and Get one of each,as they both are great! Rick

[jachady 130]

If you plan on getting a roto-tiller at some time in the future, make sure one of the tractors has the rear lift mechanisms. I have ten acres of land that I have been clearing, hauling, and tilling for 6 years. I use a 8 speed with a 12 hp engine. 12 hp has always been enough, although more is probably better. I recently bought a 14 hp hydro that I was going to use at the land, but realized it doesn't have rear lift, so no tiller use. Good news is that I kept the 8 speed so now I'll just use them both. :D

[HankB 16]

I recently bought a 14 hp hydro that I was going to use at the land, but realized it doesn't have rear lift, so no tiller use.

What 14 HP WH Hydro doesn't have a lift? Not all have the lift mechanism built in. I had to add the guide tube and rock shaft under the seat to my 314-H.

[jtmoyer 1]

having both an 8 speed and a hydro, i have found i like the hydro better. the 8 speed only has one real advantage as i see it, you don't have to run it wide open saving on fuel. people will tell you they like the 8 speed better over a hydro because they understand how the 8 speed functions and how to fix it. i found i would trash an 8 speed trying to change gears with out stopping, yes i'm lazy.

if you are going to pull large logs to a place where they can be cut up what gear are you going to use? one that will get you going and drive slow all the way, or a higher gear to give you speed and trash you tractor on take off, or are you going to shift?

with a hydro you solve the problem.

but i would table the issue and buy more then 1 tractor. you will find that you need at least 2.

just my thoughts. if you get one you don't like you can always buy more.

[DoctorHfuhruhurr 137]

When in doubt I always buy both :D

[clintonnut 126]

Just get the Electro 12. Clutch parts are easy to find and you can never have enough ag tires. The power to weight ratio is great and it is a collectible tractor. The 312 trannies are weaker then the 500 series trannies and a good electro tranny is stronger then the 312 tranny. Just replace the seals and the electro will be fine.

Charlie

[Ken B 3,189]

I had an Electro 12 and I loved it. It was an animal and I wish I still had it. Heck, you drove it for over an hr. with no complaints and the price sounds fair. :D

[PeteB88 0]

Update - I bought the Electro, something just cool about that unit w/ the duals and it is a strong running machine. The other tractor turned out to be a 14 HP, great condition but lift did not hold, mower would not stay up. The ram actuated instantly but deck would drop in a few seconds. I consulted one of you guys and best guess was lever (valve). I ran that tractor for about 30 minutes, up and down some hills, ran the mower (needed blades), rear tire wouldn't hold air (no biggie) and slight concern about tranny. I was ready to go, made the dude a fair offer based on likely cost of repairing the lift and he declined. (He is flippiing and did some work, put in new batt).

He made a big deal out of having someone ready for full price purchase (I gave him $20 to hold the unit last Sat and told him to keep a list. So yesterday when it ran out of gas, he had none so I took his can, drove to the gas station and put $10bucks of fuel into it for the tractor and his quads I guess .

I told him I would buy it if the other guy passed for a fair price. He blew me off as I was leaving I mentioned the $30 bucks.

We'll see.

I am going to keep looking and decided I want to find a sweet 12, 14 or 16 and it would be great to have a rototiller.

For now me and the Dualy will be having some time to bond

Thanks!!!

[jtmoyer 1]

it may need the lift rebuilt but the hydro lift will not stay up unless the tractor is running. with the tiller on the back mine will drop in under 10 min. i have never tried it with just the deck.

[WheelHorse_of_course 99]

Glad you are getting the Electro. I have a 1969 Charger 12.

But I would suggest also getting the 312 8 speed.

Always better to have 2 tractors. For one it means you needn't panic if one has some down time.

I am a big fan of the Hydros (no experience with the eaton but the Sundstrand is a system). I suspect one of the few areas a geared transmission would be best it tilling. Probably also land plowing particularly if you have long rows.

Anyway

:D

[tgranthamfd 29]

I have 4 and my brother has 2, all geared transmissions, 1 1960, 1 1974, 2 1975's, 1 1980, and 1 2005. We mow, moldboard plow, snow plow, till, box blade, harrow, pull an ATV disc, and grader blade, without issues. With that being said, I am looking for a good hydro just to give it a try because I want to see what ease of lifting will be like. That and I haven't bought a in 6 or 8 months. Never hurts to have a couple back ups.

[PeteB88 0]

Your responses are really appreciated. This reminds me of the Boston Whaler site I have been on for a long time - awesome boats, fantastic people and some of the closest friends I have ever had.

That little and well used Electro Dually I picked up is nothing but awesome. The previous owner ran the heck out of it on his small farm grading sand, contouring his yard, plowing snow and more. He put stick on letters on the hood - All Go, No Show - and that really defines this machine.

As regards pushing and moving dirt: it's quite a trick using the "go" lever on the right side, the hydraulic lift lever on the left side and steering it somehow - and fun. Probably like trying to fly a helicopter. With a little practice it's no big deal and tons of fun. Being able to feather that blade with the hydraulic lift is a super bonus and makes it like running a big rig only small scale - like HO train set almost - but don't tel All Go, No Show that. I can't wait to start using it around my place this weekend.

You guys got me hooked on the site and I totally understand why some of you have 50 Wheel Horse units and why some dudes have 50 Boston Whalers. My bet is many Whaler owners have two or more. I have three. Lots have six or 10. It's because Whalers and Wheel Horses are the epitome of American ingenuity, quality and bad ass function. What a legacy

Now I have to find a unit for mowing and probably tilling - previous owner pushes all his leaves into a big pile/area and tilled them into the soil making incredible compost. Great idea.

I'll keep you posted.

[HankB 16]

That little and well used Electro Dually I picked up is nothing but awesome.

And I am officially jealous.

A couple weeks ago my son sent me a picture of an electro 12 that was for sale about 1/2 mile from his house. He asked if I was interested. I did some research and decided that I was. So I had him pick it up.

Mistake #1. I suggested that he mow once with it just to evaluate the trans. He told me everything was fine.

Mistake #2. I delayed two weeks picking it up. I was supposed to get it this weekend.

He just notified me that he decided to keep it! I hope he didn't cash the check.

I get the A-80-E (which I git running for him) back.

So I guess I no longer have an electro 12. It did seem like it would be a nice complement to my 314-H.