Suburban 550 28 #1 Posted December 5, 2010 Last Saturday morning while I was on Craigslist under Wheel Horse tractors, I noticed an estate sale listing that included 3 Wheel Horse tractors. The tractors listed were a 700 Special, a Charger 12 and an 852 (which I knew was a mistake). I called to make arrangements to see the tractors and I was told there was going to be a big yard sale there early Sunday mornin' beginning at 7 a.m. and all the tractors were still available. The wife and I headed out at daybreak and with no intention of really wantin' to buy any of the tractors listed I left my trailer at home. Well as it turned out I got there a little after 7 and wasn't really interested in any of the tractors listed until I looked into a shed attached to the garage and found a dusty and dirty, fairly original 702 sittin' in the corner, which I ended squeezing in the back of my pickup for $150.00 The yard sale was being held by the daughter and 2 sons of a 90 year old man who passed away and liked to tinker with Wheel Horses. Had it up and running for a short time yesterday and the 7 h.p. Kohler sounded really sweet. Heres some pics after I brought it home loaded in the back of the truck. Some pics from yesterday after workin' on it Special thanks to my good friend Terry JW who spent a couple hours with me yesterday helping me work on it. :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Horse'n Around 22 #2 Posted December 5, 2010 Thats a good looking 702. Its going to make you a really nice tractor John Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,275 #3 Posted December 5, 2010 Good for you Ray...I love a happy ending. Nice 702 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JimD 3,345 #4 Posted December 5, 2010 That's really in great shape Ray. Nice find! :ychain: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dgoyette 12 #5 Posted December 5, 2010 Did you say $150? WOW Very nice find, looks like everything is in very good shape. Congrats Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TT-(Moderator) 1,129 #6 Posted December 5, 2010 Did you say $150? WOW You used to be able to find lots of them for $150 or less! Great catch, Ray! Amazing what's still hiding in barns and sheds, huh? :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 36,961 #7 Posted December 5, 2010 Really nice find there, can't wait to find mine too. :ychain: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suburban 550 28 #8 Posted December 5, 2010 Thanks guys. You don't find too many like that anymore, and like TT said, there are probably a lot more laying around in peoples barns and sheds. This one looks like it had a new short block put in it at one time or another and other than the old guy likin' to paint everthing red, I think it will be a decent tractor. :ychain: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
horsefeathers 15 #9 Posted December 6, 2010 Ray, COOL! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckrancher 2,678 #10 Posted December 6, 2010 good looking one Ray love those $150.00 deals be sure the spark plug is tight :ychain: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevebo-(Moderator) 8,060 #11 Posted December 6, 2010 Ray, Those rear tires really look good almost like they have no tread wear. What are your plans with this one? Show tractor or worker? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VinsRJ 721 #12 Posted December 6, 2010 Now thats a great haul for $150! I would have jumped on a deal like that also. :ychain: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rickv1957 70 #13 Posted December 6, 2010 Nice find on that 702! Rick Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Indy w h 4 #14 Posted December 6, 2010 Nice find Ray!! Indy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bell 11 #15 Posted December 6, 2010 BEAUTIFUL tractor Ray! :ychain: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kelly 1,028 #16 Posted December 7, 2010 I just picked up a 702 a few weeks ago and paid $125 for it and it's not even close to being as nice as that one i think you got a good deal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
btrrg1969 11 #17 Posted December 7, 2010 Looks Good :ychain: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suburban 550 28 #18 Posted December 7, 2010 Thanks again guys for all your compliments. I know tractors like this don't always fall into your hands that easy and I didn't even have to go that far to get it. Steve, I was really hopin' after lookin' in the dark shed it would have been a 701 instead of a 702, for the simple reason I already have a restored 702, but I just had to bring it home with me. As far as worker or a show tractor remains to be seen. Like Kelly said in another post there is nothin' better than a wife that supports your tractor addiction and even helps ya bring them home. Now back to the tractor, first thing is to tear the carb apart, clean it up and rebuild. Second thing will be a complete tune up and totally rewire it. After that, tighten up the steering and pull the tranny and see what it needs (seals and a new brake band I know for sure). Once I get that far and make sure it is mechanically sound I'll make my decision to do a total restore or not. If it wasn't for the guy painting it up with a spray bomb, I could have left it pretty much original. And last, to answer Brians question, the threads in the head are in perfect shape so it looks like you won't be taken' this motor back to New York to get a broken head bolt out for me. :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TerryJW 0 #19 Posted December 7, 2010 :ychain: A few more pics of Ray hard at it on the new 702 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dandan111 31 #20 Posted December 7, 2010 Looks like a real nice find. :ychain: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suburban 550 28 #21 Posted December 8, 2010 Forgot all about you snappin' pictures, Terry. Hope you're feelin' better after smellin' all that bad gas. :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeek 2,284 #22 Posted December 8, 2010 Special thanks to my good friend Terry JW who spent a couple hours with me yesterday helping me work on it. Wow, what luck! If you were closer I'd help you! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites