Research & Devlopement

[horsefeathers 15]

Friends I picked up a '60 suburban your typical barn find!

Rusted,Busted,not to be trusted! W/ a BS engine! (that's no BS)!!!

Your average ho hum round hood nothing special!

I know, I know! Kind'a boring just another horse in the barn!

Butttt..... when I got it home I saw something very strange happinin'!

First off this is a very early '60 model

And as I was lookin' in the mouth of my gift horse! (don't Piss Off the PO)!

I realized the front axle is a mid '59 research & devlopement Prototype!!!

Ultra rare! You bet!! It either sliped out on the assembly line orr...

A factory worker carried it out in his lunch bucket!!! Johnny Cash?

Can't be many of these around the "Roundhood"!

Anyone seen one before?

HORSEFEATHERS!

[wheel horse 1045 2]

Ive seen allot of the suburbans and have never seen one like that ,great find :thumbs:

[Suburban 550 28]

Nice find, Bud. Never saw a front axle like that before. :thumbs:

[wheelhorsec85 5]

boy they really screwed up the cantering for the spindles . must have had a couple of beers that day . ok now i think im seein things . the center bolt where it bolts to the frame . that is not centered at all , more to the left as you are sitting on the machine than the right <_< :hide:

[JUSS10 250]

I'm pretty sure thats just perspective foreshortening.... (the front axle looking off center)

[Kelly 1,028]

Or someone broke the orig. front axle, and made a new one, looks like a high school shop project.

But could be a rare prototype, we will probably never know, you might ask the PO if he's had it very long, and that you noticed the axle is not orig.

[Kelly 1,028]

I just looked better the spindles are not even close to being centered in the ends of the housing, both are to the left setting in the seat. but still a very cool find, I would love to know the history.

[wheel horse 1045 2]

in the first picture there is a rusty chassis sitting by a tailgate that matches the seat ,hood and front end ,did somebody do some swapping ?

[Don1977 604]

in the first picture there is a rusty chassis sitting by a tailgate that matches the seat ,hood and front end ,did somebody do some swapping ?

That's HorseFeathers "Yard Art", and He has added a Dodge tailgate to it.

[wheel horse 1045 2]

Im giving it an A+ because of proper use of a wheelhorse :thumbs:

[Don1977 604]

I just looked better the spindles are not even close to being centered in the ends of the housing, both are to the left setting in the seat. but still a very cool find, I would love to know the history.

That the first extended wheel base, and every one though that the 520 was the first.

:wh:

[massey 111]

Looks like it would be good in left hand turns. How is the toe? Is it a solid axle? Looks beefy.

[Jim_M 178]

I'm betting Kelly is right, the original axle broke and somebody made a replacement. I just can't see the factory making an axle like that, even if it was a proto-type. They had the equipment and the craftsmen to make it right.

Remember one thing....When that tractor was still fairly new there were no used parts and the dealer may have had to wait months for a replacement axle. There was no one parting out Wheel Horses for profit and no internet.

People did whatever it took to get things going again.

[horsefeathers 15]

Guy's, I also belive that Kelly hit this one right on!

I first thought that a machinest made this... shapes and angels!

It's an amazing peice! But closer inspection does show spindel holes offset!

To the left from drivers view as Kelly stated!

A profesional machine shop wouldn't make that mistake!

Soo... I also belive a kid in high school shop made this!

Not selling the kid short! This took some time and skills to make!

IT IS VERY COOL!!

I'll take it off and get some better pic's so we all can get a better look!

Stay tuned I'll try posting pic's in a day or two!!!

Thanks everyone for your intrest!!

HORSEFEATHERS!

[dhuberinc 1]

Maybe the better story would be why it needed a new axle in the first place.. .."hey buddy, hold my Budweiser & watch this"....

[SALTYWRIGHT 859]

HI.........IN THE EARLY 60'S WHEEL HORSE HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE WHEEL HORSE TRACTORS THAT WERE SHIPPED TO FRANCE. THEY WERE BRACKING OVER THERE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY WERE USED. THIS IS ONE OF THE ONES THEY TRIED. I HAD ONE SOME THING LIKE IT BACK IN THE 60'S. THE WHEEL HORSE BOOK ALSO TALKS ABOUT THIS. RUSS

[Jim_M 178]

Russ,

I think you're thinking of the RJ's shipped to Spain.

Jim

[horsefeathers 15]

Guy's I got the pictures I promised!

End view from left.

Rear view.

Botom view from front.

Top view shows spindel holes offset to left.

Front view from bottom shows spindel stops machined in.

And center pin frame width stand off left after machining.

It's solid steel, most likley mild steel, machined to a fine finnish.

Center pin hole is centered, spindel holes are offset to the left as stated.

I like the machined in spindel stops. And forward swept spindel mounts!

If a high school kid in shop class made this some thought went in to it!

I'd give him an "A" for amazing!

The only thing! No zerk fittings for grease!!!

And the spindels were very tight had to hammer them out!! Very dry!

All in all a vey cool peice!

Research 'n Developement?... Maybe not but it makes for a good story!!!

And we all like a good story! Don't we?

I was hopeing to find some stampings, date, name, Mfg. But nothing there!

Guess we'll never know for sure! That's what makes it interesting!

Should I hang it on the wall or put it back on the tractor?

Glad y'all showed interest in this! Enjoy the pic's!

HORSEFEATHERS!

[racinfool40 202]

My 2 cents I would install grease zerks polish it up and reinstall would make a great conversation piece... Thanks for sharing Horsefeathers... :thumbs:

[multihobbyguy 35]

That looks pretty nice to be turned out of a High School shop or most home shops for that matter. That is a neat piece, I wish you knew more about the history.

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,041]

Guys,

Russ worked at a dealer and sold these new back in the 50's and 60's.

[Ken B 3,116]

Anything is possible. Personally, I have my doubts that this may have been made up in high school shop class. Not that it's not possible. I wouldn't modify it in any way until you know for sure what the story is on it. If Russ says he seen one very similar back in the day......... :thumbs:

[dryrun 0]

Hey BUD, great pictures of axle. Just a few thoughts, do you think this is mild steel, cast iron, or cast or forged steel? I noticed the raised boss for center pin, and raised bump stops one on each side, have a filet contour where they meet the main axle. Most guys who would machine one of these out of a bar would not take the time to filet these corners. This peice certainly has the look of a cast or forged part. If it was made in somebodys small shop, I would certainly stand up and applaud. I would say drill and install zerks and use it in good health.

regards GEORGE ps, and brag about it!

[horsefeathers 15]

Guys, I do belive that this is made of mild steel.

And milled out. But I'am not a machinest .

I don't think it's cast or forged. No flash or parting lines.

And Yes, I do think this would be too much for a high school kid!

But the spindel holes drilled offset makes no sence?

PO didn't know any history, he sells,trades,collects tractors.

Soo... Maybe Stevebo and Russ are right!

Russ says he has seen these before!

Maybe he'll key back in with more info!

Research & Development... Could Be!!

[SALTYWRIGHT 859]

HI......MINE WAS CAST IRON. IT WAS NOT THE SAME AS THIS ONE, BUT CLOSE.

BACK THEN WHEEL HORSE MADE MANY CHANGES ALONG THE WAY. WHEN YOU ORDERED ONE YOU NEVER KNEW THAT MOTOR YOU GOT. THEY USED WHAT THEY HAD IN STOCK. YES IT WAS IN SPAIN THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE AXLES.

THE COMPANY WAS VERY SMALL THEN. WHERE I WORKED WAS THE FIRST DEALER IN CT. THEY ALL CAME THRU WITH A/G REAR TIRES. RUSS :thumbs: