Can anybody help me identify this tractor?

[tunahead72 2,553]

This was my very first Wheel Horse, the one that first impressed me. I bought it (very) used back in 1984, but it was obviously a much older model.

The belt guard on the tractor clearly said "Lawn Ranger", and a tag on the hoodstand identified it as serial number 48191. It had a Kohler 8 HP engine (presumably a K181), electric start and a 4-speed transmission.

So for all these years, I've thought that my first Wheel Horse was indeed a Lawn Ranger, until I started poking around on RedSquare several months ago, and now I'm not sure what the heck it was.

According to the information in the Picture Gallery, the Lawn Rangers were made from 1962 to 1971. They all had a 4-speed transmission, but they all had Tecumseh engines (5-1/2 to 8 HP), not Kohler.

Shortly after I bought this machine, I wrote (by hand) a letter (a what?!? ) to Wheel Horse, asking for an owner's manual. They asked me for more information, I sent them the photos I'm posting here, and ultimately they sent me an "Operation and Service Manual with Parts List" for a model 854. They also sent me a rather hefty publication titled "Prior Models - Section III - Mower Attachments"; the photos in there seem to indicate that my mower was a model RM-324.

Again from the Picture Gallery, the 850 series (854 through 857) was made from 1964 to 1967. They all had 8 HP Kohler K181S engines with a 4-speed transmission.

I've looked at all the photos in the gallery from these two series, all of them are similar to what I had, but none are identical. From the photos, my best guess right now is that this tractor was indeed an 854, with a Lawn Ranger belt guard (or even just an insert) for some reason, but I'm wondering if you guys see anything to either confirm or reject that hypothesis.

Here's some photos, the first two from the right side. The decals on the hood don't look right for the machine, they look like they're later, maybe from 1970-1973 or so?

And the front, with a good view of my custom-built half-a-spoke-no-outer-rim steering wheel:

Left side:

And finally a couple of shots of the rear. The dash plate looks home-made to me, and I don't remember what the toggle switch was for. The top tag on the hoodstand is where I found the serial number. You can also see another tag just below the gear position diagram, which I never was able to read, even after several applications of paint remover.

So, if anybody has any thoughts, let 'em rip!

Thanks! :dunno:

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

1961 701 with a few minor mods. (bits & pieces of a few tractors)

[buckrancher 2,695]

looks to me like there are several tractors in this one

753/854 (1963/64)frame and front axle

701 (1961)fenders and double motor pulley (fenders are on backwards)

701/702 (1961/62) gas tank and hoodstand

lawn ranger belt guard

whats left of a 1964 style steering wheel

hard to tell if the rear hubs are 3 bolt or 5 bolt (5 bolt 1964 and newer)( 3 bolt 1963 and older)

and yes the decals do not belong on this tractor

Brian

[tunahead72 2,553]

You guys are amazing. I hit the "Submit" button, go to get some dinner, and 40 minutes later I have two good replies!

It looks like this machine was possibly even more of a mongrel than I ever imagined. I see all of the influences you've mentioned, but if you don't mind my asking:

Terry, why do you think this was basically a 701 with some mods? The front axle in particular looks more like the 753/854 to me, but I will admit it doesn't show up very well in any of the photos. Nor do I really know what I'm talking about here!

And Brian (lucky you, more questions):

• [*:2uqg8pv6]Would a Lawn Ranger belt guard fit a lot of other models as well?
  [*:2uqg8pv6]What makes my steering wheel look like a 1964 style?
  [*:2uqg8pv6]I thought it was obvious that the rear wheels had 5 bolts, but I saw some photos of earlier models that seem to have the 5-bolt wheels mounted with only 3 bolts -- is this what you meant by the 3-bolt hubs? You're right, you can't tell from my photos.

I assume it would be fairly straightforward to fit the Kohler 8 HP on any of these platforms?

Does it help to know that this tractor was offered for sale with a snow blade (I didn't take it)?

And finally, does the serial number (48191) tell anybody anything?

Thanks again! I kinda wish I had her back, just so I could look at her again.... :dunno:

[Kelly 1,033]

I'll take a stab at this and maybe answer some of your questions as I go. starting at the bottom, the frame is a 63, 64 it has the step in the front where the axle goes, the axle was thicker than the 61, 62 machines, 5 bolt hubs say 64, but could have been added, engine if it was a 8hp could have been from anything, but it does have the 701 double pulley on the engine but not on the starter, 701's were 7hp but look just like a 8hp for the most part, the fenders and tool box are 701 only year they used that style, the main body/dash tower is 701 the left side is not drilled for bolts to hold a brake guard on and the lip is wider and rolled on the edge, all other years are drilled and not rolled or as wide, hood is a 62, it does not have the rolled lip around the bottom edge, in 63 they added a rolled piece of metal to stiffen the hood, and a 701 would have no grille, the steering wheel or what is left of it, is the 2 spoke style that started in 64 till about 68 on most models, the belt guard is a ranger one, and will bolt on to any round hood or short frame tractor, but the tabs in the front will only be correct for the tecumseh engine, I have modified them to fit Kohlers, but you have to weld a tab on them, or just don't bolt it to the engine, and the deck I think they started that style in 64 or 65, so yup it was a frankenstein machine, I see at least 3 diff. machines there.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

I can't see the front of the frame clearly enough to see if there's a hood hinge rod present. The front axle / spindles are actually '65 or newer - and since the tires are the branded 5.50's, the frame, front axle assembly, and possibly even the engine could be from the same tractor - like an 855/856, etc.
I used an 855 frame & engine on my 854, but changed the front axle back to the correct ('63/'64) narrower version with the cast steering arms on top of the spindles. The biggest difference was that pesky piece of round stock (hood hinge rod) welded sideways to the front of the frame.

Definitely a "frankenhorse", but the "top half" - minus the hood - was from a 701.

[buckrancher 2,695]

I can't see the front of the frame clearly enough to see if there's a hod hinge rod present. The front axle / spindles are actually '65 or newer - and since the tires are the branded 5.50's, the frame, front axle assembly, and possibly even the engine could be from the same tractor - like an 855/856, etc.

I used an 855 frame & engine on my 854, but changed the front axle back to the correct ('63/'64) narrower version with the cast steering arms on top of the spindles. The biggest difference was that pesky piece of round stock (hood hinge rod) welded sideways to the front of the frame.

Definitely a "frankenhorse", but the "top half" - minus the hood - was from a 701.

good eye TT front axle was dark enuff I missed seeing that the tye rods were mounted lower on the spindles

looks in the second picture down the hinge rod is gone but the hood has been cut and a door hinge added

Brian

[tunahead72 2,553]

Great eyes guys! I don't know how you're managing to see all this from your houses -- I've been looking at the original photos with a magnifying glass, and playing around with some digital copies using various photo software packages, and I'm not catching half the details you're seeing.

I do vaguely remember something goofy going on with the hood hinge -- in the 3rd photo, you can see what looks like 4 screws/bolts/rivets/something, not perfectly lined up or evenly spaced, probably holding the hood to the hinge that Brian's seeing (I still don't see that).

I'm also not seeing the brand on any of the tires -- can somebody point me to the right photo? Nice paint job on the rims, huh?

I was just looking through some papers and notes from way back when I first looked at this machine, including the original ad in our local "Trade Talk". The guy I bought it from was a real character, my kind of guy, I'm not surprised to learn after all these years that he (or somebody else) pieced this tractor together from several different machines. He made it a point to tell me "I don't sell no junk", and at the time, he also had Snapper, Simplicity, Deere and Bolens mowers for sale. I bought the Wheel Horse, and the rest is history.

"Frankenhorse" huh? I like it! :dunno:

[buckrancher 2,695]

"Frankenhorse" huh? I like it!

[clyde 5]

:dunno: thats a johnny cash tractor one piece at a time.i have 2 original 2nd owner 1964 they have 3 bolt rear hub i think the 5 bolt started in 1965.awesome

[squonk 43,939]

My 64 704 and the 64 604 I had as a kid had 5 bolt hubs. :dunno:

[clyde 5]

:wh: i wonder what gives on the rear hub my 2 tractors are 604-654 i wonder if the late 64s had 5 bolt hubs now im curious :dunno:

[clyde 5]

squonk the wheels were 5 bolt but the hubs were 3 did yours have 5 bolts in them?

[RJR49 138]

My Father's 1964 Model 1045 had 5 bolt hubs

[Kelly 1,033]

Pretty sure the 5 bolt hubs started in 64