What is the difference between the A, B, and C Series?

[wheelhorsekid 141]

What are the main differences between the A, B and C series?

[rmaynard 16,292]

What years are you referring to?

[wheelhorsekid 141]

Like 71' or 72' through 79'.

[rwilson 128]

There are alot of differences. Most of your A's are verticle shaft yard tractors, B's and C's share some things but differ in many ways.

Just go through the pictures and take a look.

[reecie 3]

How do Cs and Ds from the 70s differ?

It's hard to get perspective if you don't own one of each, and their not sitting next to one another in the same picture, for comparison.

M.

[rmaynard 16,292]

There are too many different variations to accurately describe. Like Rich said, most of the A's were considered lawn mowers, where the B's & C's were garden tractors. However, later on, some B's like the B-111 were described a lawn tractors, not garden tractors, mainly because of the vertical engine..

[rwilson 128]

The C's are totaly different from the D's. Too many differences to list.

[Rooster 192]

Was the B111 the only one with the complete pan chassis? I have seen some with a partial pan, but never anything else with the complete pan?

[reecie 3]

Thanks RWilson.

[boovuc 1,090]

I'll touch on some of the differences and hopefully give you an idea of their size and functionality.

First, all the A series were lighter-weight vertical shaft lawn mowers. Tractors in the A series mostly used very light-weight axles/transmissions similar to box store tractors.

Some of the B series tractors were horizontal shaft tractors and were considered Garden Tractors. I believe the majority of the B series Wheelhorses were considered lawn tractors and not a true garden tractor. Most did not accept attachments for the C-series tractor. The rule of thumb on the B series is; "If it has a horizontal shaft engine, it's a Garden Tractor. If it has a vertical shaft engine, it's a Lawn Tractor".

The C series tractors were garden tractors. They all had horizontal shaft engines ranging from 8 horse to as much as 19 horsepower. (Both Briggs and mostly Kohler powered). All the C's shared implements between each other with few exceptions. (The C-195 was bigger and didn't handle all the C series attachments). Based on their engine size, some C's were better able to handle larger decks and snow throwers. Though these decks and blowers would fit any C series, smaller horse power tractors weren't recommended for some attachments.

The C series were the size of most other residential tractors of today. All the D series tractors were bigger/heavier machines that took their own attachments. These tractors were more in-line with today’s compact tractors in size. The D series tractor accepts only D series attachments and if equipped with a 3-point hitch, any manufacturer's attachment designed for that class hitch. If you look at how heavy these machines are, you'll get an idea of how they differ in size and construction.

A 1983 B-80 weighs about 400 lbs. with a 36" mower deck installed.

My 1983 C-175 weighs around 680 lbs. with the 42" mower on it.

A D-200 with a mower deck will weigh around 1300 lbs.

(Big differences)?

The C series tractors can mostly share all the attachments of the 300, 400 and 500 series Toro/Wheelhorse tractors in which some models were made well into this century.

(The 520-H, 312, 314 & the 315-8 speed Classic to name a few).

I hope this helps you visualize some of the differences between the lines. There are always some nuances and models that don't fall between these lines and I'm sure some of the experts will point a few out. If you own a C-Series Wheelhorse, you have a machine that is about as interchangeable and enduring as any machine any manufacturer has ever produced. A C-series Model C-120 made in 1974 will accept most attachments that could fit on a 2004 315-8 speed. That's a 30 year span where attachments are interchangable. An amazing length of time for a company to keep a product line compatable!

If you hang out here with us long enough, you'll pick this stuff up in short order!

Regards,

[farmerall 23]

Here is a picture of the 1979 Wheel Horse brochure. It can give you an idea of the size difference between the different models.

[reecie 3]

I'll touch on some of the differences and hopefully give you an idea of their size and functionality.

First, all the A series were lighter-weight vertical shaft lawn mowers. Tractors in the A series mostly used very light-weight axles/transmissions similar to box store tractors.

Some of the B series tractors were horizontal shaft tractors and were considered Garden Tractors. I believe the majority of the B series Wheelhorses were considered lawn tractors and not a true garden tractor. Most did not accept attachments for the C-series tractor. The rule of thumb on the B series is; "If it has a horizontal shaft engine, it's a Garden Tractor. If it has a vertical shaft engine, it's a Lawn Tractor".

The C series tractors were garden tractors. They all had horizontal shaft engines ranging from 8 horse to as much as 19 horsepower. (Both Briggs and mostly Kohler powered). All the C's shared implements between each other with few exceptions. (The C-195 was bigger and didn't handle all the C series attachments). Based on their engine size, some C's were better able to handle larger decks and snow throwers. Though these decks and blowers would fit any C series, smaller horse power tractors weren't recommended for some attachments.

The C series were the size of most other residential tractors of today. All the D series tractors were bigger/heavier machines that took their own attachments. These tractors were more in-line with today’s compact tractors in size. The D series tractor accepts only D series attachments and if equipped with a 3-point hitch, any manufacturer's attachment designed for that class hitch. If you look at how heavy these machines are, you'll get an idea of how they differ in size and construction.

A 1983 B-80 weighs about 400 lbs. with a 36" mower deck installed.

My 1983 C-175 weighs around 680 lbs. with the 42" mower on it.

A D-200 with a mower deck will weigh around 1300 lbs.

(Big differences)?

The C series tractors can mostly share all the attachments of the 300, 400 and 500 series Toro/Wheelhorse tractors in which some models were made well into this century.

(The 520-H, 312, 314 & the 315-8 speed Classic to name a few).

I hope this helps you visualize some of the differences between the lines. There are always some nuances and models that don't fall between these lines and I'm sure some of the experts will point a few out. If you own a C-Series Wheelhorse, you have a machine that is about as interchangeable and enduring as any machine any manufacturer has ever produced. A C-series Model C-120 made in 1974 will accept most attachments that could fit on a 2004 315-8 speed. That's a 30 year span where attachments are interchangable. An amazing length of time for a company to keep a product line compatable!

If you hang out here with us long enough, you'll pick this stuff up in short order!

Regards,

BOOVUC,

THANK YOU!!!

That overview is exactly what I have been looking for since I bought my D about two months ago. My experience had been strictly with Gravelys, and a lot of them, up till then.

This is exactly the type of information I wanted and will use to make another WH purchase.

I hope your post gets moved to the useful posts section at some point. I know there are other newbies who will want to get a sense of the overall WH line.

OLDWHEELHORSE, Thanks to you too. The pics certainly augment what Boovuc stated.

Regards,

Maurice

[wheelhorsekid 141]

Thaks for the great information everyone. I appreciate it. I'm gonna go shine up my C101 now :)

[Hydro 131]

Thank you I really enjoyed the read.

[Warning:Unsupervised 82]

I'll add a bit more Wheel Horse confusion here for future buyers who are pondering this same question.

I own a 1976 B100-8 Garden tractor. Its actually the large C frame series tractor just with a smaller 10hp Kohler K-series side shaft engine. The B100-8 came with the exact same 8sp/8 pinion trans a larger C series has which confuses people. It weighs about 580 lbs without deck.

I also own a 1988 414-8 Garden Tractor. Mechanically & operationally everything between these two tractors are the same except 414-8 has a 14hp Kohler Magnum engine for more power. It weighs a bit less at 530 lbs without deck. 

 

 I agree here, if it came out with a side shaft engine setup its a garden tractor. I'll add that if ones WheelBase is 45.5 inches long its built on the larger C series frame. 

Seems there is one discrepancy posted: 

The B80 model is a little more tractor than is described, the B80 "Tractor" was a side shaft machine using tach-o-matic, built from 1974-1977 just on a 43" frame not the actual 45.5 C series frame. Weighs 540 lbs without deck.

Sorry BooVuc, please forgive me...lol

 

[Lee1977 7,190]

The D series, the C-195, and the 520 with extended front axle were the only one that could used a 60" deck. The c series could use decks size 36", 42" and 48". The 300 series with 6" front wheels could use the 37" deck.

[ebinmaine 72,534]

2 hours ago, 123GO said:

Seems there is one discrepancy posted: 

The B80 model is a little more tractor than is described, the B80 "Tractor" was a side shaft machine using tach-o-matic, built from 1974-1977 just on a 43" frame not the actual 45.5 C series frame.

Definitely agree that a B80 in that vintage is a garden tractor. NOT a lawn mower.

The frame size on those is:

1974, 1975, mid-length.

1976, 1977 was the long frame as used on the C series.

In 1976 and 1977 you could get a B series tractor with an 8 or 10 horse, only. C series of course was available up to 16 horse at that point.

I don't remember the other differences off the top of my head but it was something to do with the type of seat and the C-series had standard things like hubcaps that the the B series could be ordered with, but were optional.

[Warning:Unsupervised 82]

Head/taillight on my B100-8 was optional as were it's 23" lug tires in the 76 yr.

 Yep' no high back seat.

May have been same for B80 but not sure?

 

I removed the wider front tires and installed an older style narrow set on it so it turns much easier,  like power steering in comparison. Rest is unchanged. 

Edited July 5, 2019 by 123GO