Story in progress........

[whfan74 2,071]

Good evening everyone........

I am looking down at the corner of my laptop screen and it says that it is 12:09 a.m. Friday night.

There is a reason for this story as it is still in progress at this time. I know we all have done some interesting hauls and have acquired tractors through different circumstances.

Well here is how mine begins............

Hanging out at home on Friday night. Wife is gone for the weekend for a girls weekend away. So what to do on a Friday night but to spend a little time tinkering on the boss' tractor, order pizza, and then retire to the couch and watch some t.v. and cruise the net.

As I was checking out our beloved Craigslist at approximately 11:00 p.m. I see that a 1985 Wheel Horse 312-H pops up for sale. Actually have really been wanting to add one of those to my "workers" collection. It comes with a 42" side discharge deck and looks pretty good for a worker. Everything works on it as it should and it also comes with a bagger unit.

The nice thing is the tractor would be 15 minutes away from me tomorrow while I would be hanging out at a tractor show. Otherwise it would take me about an hour to go and get it. So I decide to send an email and it says "call any time" Well I just couldn't call that late...........but I didn't want to miss it. So I took the chance that it was a cell phone number and sent a text. I got a return text to my suprise less than 5 minutes later saying they would call me in a few minutes as they were in the bath................I thought oh crap this is going to be weird.

The phone rings and we start talking about the tractor.......not a darn thing wrong with it. The guy actually needs money for 6 new tires on his roll off wrecker tomorrow. I said I would be there in the morning. He wanted me their early and said I would do my best. He asked where I lived and I told him.

Long story short he also uses his wrecker as a repo man. He is actually heading to my town tonight to pick up a golf cart and a car hopefully. He likes to be a "thief" at night when everyone is asleep. Real nice guy to talk to and is being pinched for money at this time so his trusty Horse has to go.

I told him I had no reason to go to sleep in a cold bed tonight so I would be up if he wanted to throw it on the truck. He said as soon as the wife rolls in he would be on his way.

So needless to say this is my most interesting Horse purchase to date. Once I get it in the garage I will try and take some pictures of my new acquisition and post them up for all of you night owls.

Does anyone else have some interesting Horse transactions they would like to share? This tractor will definitely have a story that goes with it. Can't beat having it delivered right to your door.

Stay tuned............

[JimD 3,347]

Great story Scott. I'm looking forward to the pics. :D

[whfan74 2,071]

Well it arrived 5 minutes before 1 a.m. Can't say I haven't done that before but the guy was super nice and was glad to hear it was going to a good home. We stood out in the driveway for 50 minutes and chatted it up. Neighbors had to think I am crazy...........oh well, they are right!

It needs a couple of little things tinkered with but is going to make a fantastic worker. I was wrong initially it is not a 312-H but rather a 1985 312-A.

Sorry for the dark pic........what do you expect it was late!

After talking a bit more I found out I was getting a nice little gift with the late night purchase. He handed over to me the original folder and all of the manuals, maintenance records, warranty cards, etc. from when it was purchased new. So all in all............great night! Now the question is what story am I going to come up with when the wife returns from her weekend get-a-way??? Oh well I have time to come up with something good!

[Gene_S 93]

Wow Scott that is a off the wall story... But very, very good!!! :D

[JimD 3,347]

Just tell her that you had a guy weekend, and you got bored. :D

[buckeye 5]

She's never gonna leave you home alone again Having one delivered to your house in the middle of the night; priceless :D

[bo dawg 517]

Just tell her you had a visit from the... "Repo man"... looking to steal your vehicle in the middle of the night . But the brave soul that you are went out and fought with him defending your processions and the tractor was the prize for winning such a valant effort.

Or you woke up from a nap hearing some noise in the garage and to your surprise the tractor was just sitting there.

:wh:

[rickv1957 74]

Scott,what a story,nice find!,Rick

[stevasaurus 23,274]

Great story Scott...thieves in the night... :D

[gattonde 2]

Great deal Scott, if you decide you don't what it, I will buy it but you have to deliver it to my front door.

Dan

[Rollerman 290]

Scott I seen that add too.

Sounds like you made out pretty good....delivery too.

Hmm, a Horse delivered at night on a roll off....can you touch it or will it burn you? :D

[Jim_M 179]

I was about 10 seconds away from answering that ad when my brother from IL pulled in the driveway. We started shooting the breeze (and drinking beer) and I forgot all about it until I read your post today.

Oh well it all turned out for the best, I didn't really need another tractor right now anyway.

[whfan74 2,071]

Thanks guys for all of the advice, she will be home in less than 24 hours and I need to come up with something. Actually she is really cool about it and doesn't think twice, a little shake of the head and shrug of the shoulders and then she is off to the next thing.

Actually she has been asking to mow more lately and I think I can swing this one in to my favor. She has been mowing lately on the C-85. We have only had one little "oops" with forgetting to push the clutch all the way in while trying to shift gears.

So I bought this tractor completely for her as there is no shifting and should be a little bit more simple for her to maneuver.......yeah that's it, this is her tractor!

Spent some time changing the oil, greasing her up, putting on the new air filter, taking off the 37" deck...........which looked like it was spinning tooth picks. Some people think those blades last forever. Swapped that deck out and put on a 36" rear discharge. Cleaned her up a little more. Took off the 6" rims and spindles and replaced with 8". Took off the rear 22x9.00-12's and replaced them with 23x9.50-12's. Installed a new throttle cable, adjusted the carb and we are in business. Engine sounds great and the hydro is very strong. It isn't a show queen but it still has a lot of life left in her.

Stephen.......it did feel weird but was a great transaction and really nice fella to do business with. I am sure the neighbor's weren't too pleased to be woken up just after 1 a.m. Oh well............

Sorry I beat you to the punch Jim..........I don't need another one but now I am getting my work tractors all set for each job. 312-A....mower, 312-8....snow removal, C 85.....rototiller, D 160....dad's snow removal, 520-H....dad's mower, Both Commando 8's are on cart duty and probably will have a plow on the front in the winter for little snow falls.

Great chatting with you on the phone today Gene........hope you and Sara had good luck with finding boat seats in the booming metropolis of Warsaw!

Now I need to put some focus on that E..........those batteries won't be cheap but it is time.

Thanks for all of the comments............you guys crack me up!

[Gene_S 93]

Yes it was great chatting Scott and yes we made out great on the boat seats... Big-R had everything we were looking for!

As for your tractor... You done what I would of done with the tires... Just don't look beefy enough with those smaller treads does it... :D

[whfan74 2,071]

Glad it was a worthwhile trip for you guys!

I like the look of the new rims and tires on it. Makes it look like a tractor instead of a lawnmower! Just need to get some headlight bezels and tighten up the steering a little bit. Nothing too serious, just some things that I would like to finish up.