pwf209 0 #1 Posted September 12, 2011 Hi, I am a newbie and just wanted to post a couple of pictures of the 1975 B-80 that I rehabbed for my son as a housewarming gift. I wish I had taken a couple of before pictures since it was fairly rough. I would like to thank the members of this forum for the wealth of information I was able to access as the project progressed. I know it is not a show quality restoration like some I have seen here but I figured it was intended to be used and would no doubt get a few dings and scratches along the way anyway. I was fortunate to find that the founder of Norms Wheel Horse Barn is retired and living just a few miles from me. He was a great help with information and parts, along with some Wheel Horse history. Thank you Norm. It still smokes a little but I figure rebuilding the engine will be a good wintertime project. We tried it out today and it mows like a champ. I feel a lot better about giving him this than I would a cheapie mower that would just need to be replaced in a couple of years. Besides, mowing is more fun on a classic and how many other riders have hood ornaments? Other than a clutch problem that produced a wheelie high enough to eject me off the back of the tractor and resulted in a short driverless trip (full throttle- third gear) across the yard and into the side of the neighbors pickup truck the whole project went amazingly well. Fortunately the neighbor has a sense of humor and the damage to the newly painted tractor (still visible in these pictures) was slight and easily repaired. Who knew that 8 horses could get so unruly? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Martin 2,130 #2 Posted September 12, 2011 first.... and that tractor looks real nice, hope your son enjoys it. much nicer than mowing on something modern, and im sure he will get some looks from passers by as he mows...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
massey 111 #3 Posted September 12, 2011 Good choice for a housewarming gift it looks great and I'm sure he'll appreciate it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr.pipes 4 #4 Posted September 12, 2011 It looks good and that sure is a nice house warming gift. Do you have any photos of you chasing it and catching up to it just after it hit the neighbors truck? :thumbs2: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikesRJ 552 #5 Posted September 12, 2011 :banghead: I wish your son many years of success with the machine. :thumbs2: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JimD 3,345 #6 Posted September 12, 2011 What a great thing to do for your son. Oh , and on the restoration. :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
COMMANDO6 20 #7 Posted September 12, 2011 Very nice. Hood ornaments is the way to go! :banghead: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,011 #8 Posted September 12, 2011 Nice job and excellent choice for your son, I'm sure he'll enjoy it. :thumbs2: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WH nut 553 #9 Posted September 12, 2011 Will you give me one when I buy a new house :thumbs2: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
546cowboy 301 #10 Posted September 12, 2011 Great looking tractor and I'll just bet your son is really proud of it and his father. That's the way I do restores, so they can be used by someone that enjoys them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
71_Bronco 1,072 #11 Posted September 12, 2011 Very nice tractor, great job with the resto, and great idea. I am currently still living at home , and am saving for a house. I am restoring a Bronco 14 for the same reasons you did, better quality machine, classic machine, durable, rugid etc etc. I figured that while I live at home (and have the help of my dad), that I would restore the tractor and this way, when I move out, I will have a bad@$$ tractor to mow with / do lawn chores with, and it will last me many many years. Now go out there and enjoy / use that bad boy :thumbs2: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SAM58 30 #12 Posted September 12, 2011 Hello and Very good restore, I have seen a lot worst at the shows.... :banghead: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HorseFixer 2,012 #13 Posted September 12, 2011 :banghead: Looks like a nice Horse. ~Duke Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
can whlvr 991 #14 Posted September 13, 2011 :banghead: looks good to me and what pride your son will have when he tells people my dad rebuilt this tractor :thumbs2: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pwf209 0 #15 Posted September 13, 2011 Thanks everybody for the positive feedback!! I WISH I had some footage of me trying to catch that tractor, I'm sure just the expression on my face would have been priceless. A lesser tractor would have been severely damaged. That little B-80 dug a pretty good sized hole trying to push that truck over!! I can see how these Wheel Horse tractors can really lure you in. I remember looking longingly at them on the showroom floor years ago. Even though I'm already the 'King of Unfinished Projects' I think I might keep my eyes peeled for another one, someday. After all, it's always more fun to start a new project than finish an old one, right? One thing I could still use is the correct gas tank. Someone substituted a much smaller one alopng the way. It works for now but I'd like to have the right one. Again, thanks for the nice comments and the help along the way. Pat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rexman72 210 #16 Posted September 13, 2011 :thumbs2: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
