noob questions: models, transmissions and transaxles

[oifla 0]

hello all

first time post here...

i'm new to garden tractors and have some (perhaps basic) questions on wheel horses...

can someone please give me a rundown of the more common transmission and transaxle setups used by wheel horse?

i understand there are models everybody refers to as hydros (i'm assuming hydrostatic) and there are manual transmissions (8 speeds and the like). the manual transmissions are selectable mechanical gear transmissions (i.e. not selecting belts), correct?

i noticed the manuals typically have a selectable axle ratio (low/high), do the hydros typically offer the same selectability? what are the more heavy duty hydro models? are any of them pedal controlled?

astly, on garden tractor models, i've seen some really large GTs the D180 and D200 models. in terms of heavy duty GTs, what else is in that category of being a true heavy duty GT?

here's what i need my new (new to me because i can only really afford used right now) tractor to do: i need it to mow (duh), haul a 1/4 ton trailer around + various contents (it is mostly used for hauling firewood), possibly plow the driveway, and, every now and then, drag larger logs with a choke chain. a sleeve or 3 pt hitch and rear end gear selection would be nice.

thanks in advance

[varosd 1,185]

Welcome!! More folks will chime in and offer lots of advice! what part of Indiana are you from? lots of WH fans out there! multiple factors will determine wether you want to look at the WH begining with RJ models (round hoods), 60's , 70's mid years(like my 77 B-80), 80's black hoods or "classic"300/400/500's. there are also the mighty D series D-160/180/200/250 etc and of course the well liked GT-14. hydro or manual? so many choices! it's an addiction and keepinga memory alive. also a lot of folkscollect old IH/Cub cadets /Case/Powermoweretc, and yes, JD! as long as we honor the past and not forget "Save old Iron" (one of WH members username who is the smartest electrical guy out there!)

[racinfool40 203]

Well I'll chime in on Tranny's...The Basic's..

1. 4-speeds some with 1' axle's some have 1-1/8 axle's with 4-pinion or bevel gear differentials- Some time's referred to as 3-speed uni-drives and no high/low..3 speeds forward and 1 reverse.

2. 8 speeds have 2 shifters one for your main 4-speeds and 1 for the high low selector, also come with 1" or 1-1/8 axles..also vary in differential styles can have a 4-pinion.8-pinion or a 10-pinion posi-style differential..They consider the 8-pinion-1-1/8 axle to be the strongest.

3 hydro's vary also with the older substrand piston to piston and the hydro gear then you get into the newer eaton 700 or the eaton 1100

as far as pulling and plowing you can never beat a good 8-speed In my opinion..But I'm sure there are other that would disagree..

Jump into the tranny section grab a beverage and sit back for some very informational threads!!!

and

Another Member here also has a site with about every manual you could ever need might take a look and join:

http://www.mywheelhorse.com/index.php

and here's the tranny manual which will explain alot:

http://www.mywheelhorse.com/graphics/file/Transmissions/Transmission_Uni-drive_1958_-_1982.pdf

[can whlvr 994]

:WRS:what tractor you need is a few factors,how handy are you at fixing and diagnosing problems,that determines what price range,the more you spend the better shape it should be in,in your area i think there is a fair supply of horses,so you can get a nice one for a fair price,in my opinion you could stick with a c series or a little newer,classic 300-400-500 series,once you get a good reliable tractor then you can go older,but it is a little easier to get parts,which you will need sooner or later,and the implements are important too,basically any c series(a couple of b series but not all)and newer uses the same method of attaching them,so there are lots of mower decks,snow throwers and plows etc,the list is large,to choose from,any horse power requirements have to be considered too,do you plan to run a large mower deck,48 or bigger its nice to have the power there when needed,a 2 stage blower needs power too,i have 10,12,14,16 hp tractors and i seem to like the bigger motors,buts thats just me,and then theres the d seriers,but ill let someone else fill you in on them

[HorseDrawn 1]

You might be suprised how strong these tractors are. This little one still has the three speed unidrive. I bought it because it was a tiny tractor but still had the iron cased tranny.

[Trouty56 567]

in my opinion you could stick with a c series or a little newer,classic 300-400-500 series.

What Don said....The "C" is a very good all round tractor. The D is like a Clydesdale.....heavy and powerful but not maneuverable enough to be your daily worker. JMO.......

[oifla 0]

You might be suprised how strong these tractors are. This little one still has the three speed unidrive. I bought it because it was a tiny tractor but still had the iron cased tranny.

what model is that? i've seen a few WHs on the local CL over the past weeks but nothing that had a side shroud on it like yours

[oifla 0]

in my opinion you could stick with a c series or a little newer,classic 300-400-500 series.

What Don said....The "C" is a very good all round tractor. The D is like a Clydesdale.....heavy and powerful but not maneuverable enough to be your daily worker. JMO.......

yeah, i agree that D's are too big for my intended purposes (although they would obviously have no trouble with what i need to do). i'm looking more into transmission options for Cs

[HorseDrawn 1]

what model is that? i've seen a few WHs on the local CL over the past weeks but nothing that had a side shroud on it like yours

I'd put up a thread in this forum as I've never been really able to match it to anything. Had replies like missing parts, wrong parts, parts scabbed from other tractors, and even Frankenstein!!! I'm hearing rare prototype myself !!!

The best part about it was $24.95 off that auction site from a really nice seller who even dropped it off to me. Didn't have a motor but my brother picked up a pressure washer from the dump with a blown pump and the running 5hp honda thats on it now.

I bought it for moving a considerably smaller boat and utility trailer around the "estate" and was really suprised it moved my '20 Penn Yan that has a 302 Ford straight inboard in it. My son calls it the stunt tractor though as I've had some wild rides on it.

[oifla 0]

still reading around trying to make sense of the wheel horse universe. it helps that there are distinct types Cs and Ds, etc. i'm fairly handy and mechanically inclined so i'm looking into the and and old models but i'm still not clear on capabilities, especially for the older models. recently a couple of C120s came up for sale locally. this is one of them:

would this c120 be able to do everything i listed above? they seem like they are fairly tough tractors. i found a couple online that had FELs on them but then again it seems people slap a FEL on all sorts of tractors so that's not much of a guide...

[Don1977 605]

As for the C-120 and C-160 8 speeds are as tough as any that Wheel Horse built. They are also the easiest to work on. They don't have the extra electrical equipment that some of the later models have. The black hoods have more room under the hood If you are thinking of using newer v-twin engines.

[can whlvr 994]

i have 4 cs,and they are very nice and easy to work on,they take most of the attachments available for gt,s,and some parts can still be had from the dealer

[HorseDrawn 1]

As for the C-120 and C-160 8 speeds are as tough as any that Wheel Horse built. They are also the easiest to work on. They don't have the extra electrical equipment that some of the later models have. The black hoods have more room under the hood If you are thinking of using newer v-twin engines.

OK black hoods have been brought up so here is what I had to learn. I bought a black hood which is my second wheelhorse. It is a model C105. Even though it starts with a C its called a black hood and I dont believe its a C series at all. I needed something heavier for my towing duties and found this one. Its a 10 horse kohler 8 speed 3 foward and reverse with high and low. 1 1/8" axles so it seems to be one of the respected transmissions. Lots of good hardware and it seems like a larger tractor than some of the earlier models. Other model black hoods have more horsepower engines but I believe this one would lend itself to a larger motor easily. It seems like the black hoods can be had really reasonably. Not to insult other owners just something I've noticed.

Pretty obvious where the name came from.

[Hydro 131]

When it comes to putting horse power to the dirt I think Wheel Horse does it best! Simple in their design and for the most part easy to repair. There are many choices for you to consider. I have used mine mainly for mowing and this year I will blow snow. As you can see on this site these tractors are used in a variety of ways. If you are going to tow I would recommend you consider a heavier hitch. Some of our members have made some awesome accessories just for that purpose. I can easly pull 3000 lbs and in my situation the trailer has a tongue weight of about 300lb. I made a heavier class II hitch and used a receiver welded to 1/4 angle iron which is bolted to the rear axle.

I like the 300-400 series with the Kohler engines. I have owned four hydros and now 1-8 speed. If you are doing alot of back and forth I think the hydro has an advantage but pound for pound a big kohler in from of an 8 speed will handle as much or more than any tractor it's size. They al1 pull well. The horsepower you need may be determined by the size of deck you want for mowing.

These tractors were so popular there is an abundance of used parts also. We have vendors here that have an extensive inventory of used parts several of the models.

Half the fun of what you are doing is in the hunt! Good luck.

[oifla 0]

still looking around and reading... i looked at a tractor this weekend (not a wheel horse) and it had a 3pt hitch and power lift. i didn't like the condition it was in so i passed but the hitch and power lift made an impression. i know D wheel horses have power lift and 3 pt hitches. any others?

[can whlvr 994]

well the c195 had it and i think maybe gt14,s could have it,its also been developed for hydro machines by a member here,the 2 modles i listed arnt common wheelhorses like a c or 300-400-500,and many more models like raiders,noname years,around73-74,there are more,the c120 is as capable as they come other than horsepower,i have a fair range of power,10,12,14,16,i tend to lean towards the larger motors for most things,but you have to decide what kind of power you need,large lawn,2 stageblower,you want hp,tilling,pulling a wagon,dont need as much,so thats why i like 14-16 hp,works for me

[6wheeler 669]

Welcome to R.S. You are gonna like it here. I like the C series tractors. I have a C-165 (blackhood) and it is by far my favorite. I just traded my semi-restored C-120 for a 520h . It was a good deal but I do miss the 120. It was a very versatile machine. I also have a couple of green tractors. The WH's are much simpler to work on.One of the things I like the most with these tractors, I can drop the deck in no time and change implements with relative ease. They do alot of different jobs from mowing to working the gardens. I am working on a wood splitter for the C-165. When I get it done and figure out how to post pictures, I will post em. Good luck on the "hunt" Pat