no more wheel horses?

[dgjks6 8]

I was at the tractor shop today getting parts to rebuild a carb from a craftsman. On the floor they had a classic wheel horse 60th annivesary for $5300. It looks just like my 312-8. The owner said it is a 2007 - and that was the last year of production. Tell me it isn't true. No more wheel horses and only toros? Wish I had an extra 5 grand sitting around. I guess I'll just have to keep mine running forever.

Just as an aside - What makes the new $1000 tractors so cheap that they won't last as long as my horse.

[baerpath 517]

Yup it's true no new ones Lots of old ones though :WRS:

[rustbucket 4]

the newer "mower tractors" that are out now a days are made with thinner sheet metal that is made from scrap metal in china and not made to the exacting standards we set over here in the states so every batch is not the same. the engines and tranies are made from real poor quality aluminum parts and break easily plus they are only made in very limited one year drops and the manufacture wont cover parts and labour after a set time line. also the new mowers just are not built to the standards of the good old days. todays disposable econamy is to thank for the down turn in good quality machines like our wheel horses as well as the jacobsen tractors and look at john deere they have resorted to tin ghosts to keep up with everything else.

[HorseFixer 2,013]

I was at the tractor shop today getting parts to rebuild a carb from a craftsman. On the floor they had a classic wheel horse 60th annivesary for $5300. It looks just like my 312-8. The owner said it is a 2007 - and that was the last year of production. Tell me it isn't true. No more wheel horses and only toros? Wish I had an extra 5 grand sitting around. I guess I'll just have to keep mine running forever.

Just as an aside - What makes the new $1000 tractors so cheap that they won't last as long as my horse.

Save your money bro! You allready have a nice tractor!

Duke

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,610]

Duke is right, you already got a good tractor in that 312-8. But, playing the devil's advocate here, that Classic 315-8 would be a wise investment. If will be around to pass down to your grandkids long after those cheap tractors were salvaged and turn into other cheap sheet metal gadgets. :whistle:

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

that Classic 315-8 would be a wise investment. It will be around to pass down to your grandkids long after those cheap tractors were salvaged and turn into other cheap sheet metal gadgets.

The Kohler Command engines might be soda cans and seamless gutters by then though.

Too bad the K-341's and M16's are gone..... they would have made the Classics even CLASSIER!

[MaineDad 87]

TT - I agree. I'd take a K or M series Kohler any day :whistle:

[jerrell 1]

am i right in assuming that Toro builds wh, if so , i have one that is a monster, Toro came out with the first 0 turn mower some where in the late 50 or 60, they bought the idea from a man who worked in hydro all his life, Toro made an industral mower, a big, heavy monster that acts more a bulldozer than mower,

I recently bought a Hustler Exce 296 and in researching this thing it is one of the first built, it has a 86" deck,500 pounds, the unit is 1200 pounds with the hydro bagger on, it has a TC 56 Continial engine and will run over what it can't cut, Like i said it is the Monster,(that's what i call it. By the way it cuts and runs great, the guy i bought it from said the starter was shot, i changed the battery cables, and it started right up,, Yall are right about the metal , i think this thing is made out of 1/4 inch it's heavy enough (does not like wet ground, had it stuck several times) if any one has any info on this monster please let me know.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

Toro bought Wheel Horse in the late 80's. Prior to that, there was no affiliation.

The design of the "Classic" 300/400/500 series of tractors was done by Wheel Horse engineers (under the ownership of American Motors Company at the time) and Toro essentially kept producing the same tractor.

Your machine is probably some kind of golf course / greens mower, which Toro was famous for building. I did a quick check at the Toro MPV and didn't see anything listed with a Continental engine though. If you can get pictures, models numbers, etc., and post them here (start a new topic under "other brands") maybe one of us can dig up some info for you.

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,610]

TT,

I will never attempt to argue about the Kohler K's nor the Magnums because you're dead right. But I do think the Kohler Commands are one of the best aluminum blocks out there, but I will say they're not a K series nor a Magnum. But it will last a long time and then, when that engine is shot just drop in a Magnum or a K-series (if one is smart he will have one of those on the shelf by now). :whistle:

[dgjks6 8]

So I take it from this discussion that the kohler 12 magnum I have in my tractor will last a long time?

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

If your 312 has a Magnum 12, that would put it somewhere around the 1987, 88, 89 range.... so it's already provided "20-ish" years of service.

If it was maintained correctly, (regular oil changes, clean air filter, periodic valve adjustments, and clean cooling fins at all times) it could potentially have another 20 years left in it.

I have a few Kohlers here that are over 40 years old and they still work as great as the day they were built! :D

[Teddy da Bear 11]

I have a kohler magnum in my B-100.

I know it is not original. But it is why I decided to buy the

tractor. It was a new engine. Cannot figure out why

they sold it so cheap with a new engine. I have had it

about 8 years now and still doing great.

[HorseFixer 2,013]

I have a kohler magnum in my B-100.

I know it is not original. But it is why I decided to buy the

tractor. It was a new engine. Cannot figure out why

they sold it so cheap with a new engine. I have had it

about 8 years now and still doing great.

Nice find Mike! Is that one of the ones you got a good deal on? Nice to find a stong runner, I had a couple that smoke like a chimney!

Duke