1964 model 754

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

Of the alleged 421 754's that were built, I know there are a few of them in the barns and sheds of some of the RS members.

There is currently a 754 listed on EBAY, and I won't doubt that it is one, but EXACTLY what will identify this model? (Let's say the engine and belt guard are both missing. )

I have heard that they are identical to an 854, with the exception of the 7hp K-161 - 28626E engine and the decal on the belt guard. Is this true?????

Other sources claim that the 754 model still had the 3 bolt hubs, but the few I've seen all have 5 bolt hubs.

Jerry -- I know you have 4 of them, I believe BP has at least one, and Dustin listed one too..... can we get this cleared up once and for all? :D

[DMESS 24]

Terry, mine is a 3 lug, BUT I feel the rear may have been swapped at some point. I'd say it's safe to assume they could have gone both ways, but 5 lugs would make more sense since it duplicates what is found on the 854.

Other than the K-161 and the "754" belt guard decal, the only other indicator would be a range of serial numbers. Mine is 48110 and the others I have seen are all very close and fall within an acceptable range of a possible 421. The ebay one in question is certainly close enough in serial number range that I would say it is legit. It would be interesting to know what the 704/??? auction tractor is as well. Could be another one!

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

The seller of the 704 added a picture clearly showing an "854" decal on the belt guard of that tractor. :whistle:

[DMESS 24]

The seller of the 704 added a picture clearly showing an "854" decal on the belt guard of that tractor.

Ahhhh. okay. Cool. :WRS:

[BPjunk 184]

Terry,

It's like one of them Mack trucks with either a gold or chrome bulldog on the hood .... its either a pedigree or it's not! (I jus' threw that in ta' bug ya')

Any how the model 754 will be the same as a model 854 in every way with the exception of the engine and the "754" decal on the drive belt cover. When Dustin's dad got his 754 from Illinois it was discovered that the transmission had a different shade or red from the rest of the tractor and it did have three bolt hubs. We have felt the hubs were from the donner tractor as the transmission. From what I have been told is the 754's started with the serial number of 48xxx and only 421 were manufactured. The hood (with 16 inch center measurment) and air filter assembly are also the same as the 854 even though the engine is a Kohler K-161 7hp.

I have never seen a owners/parts manual for a 754 nor is this model listed in any Wheel Horse factory listings.

I will be dong a indepth Uni-Drive transmission rebuild article in Lawn and Garden Collector Magazine using my 754's transmission. (it has a worn third gear )

Wild Bill in Richmond, Va.

Attached Image

[chevelletown 37]

Terry & Bill,

I'm going to need some parts for a 754 now (air cleaner and starter belt cover to name a few) Bill it looks like I'll need to find a copy of the article you are writing too. It was too close to pass up (only about an hour drive). :WRS:

[DMESS 24]

Congrats on the 754. I was really surprised it only brought the starting bid, but I think alot of people still don't "buy" the thought of a tractor existing that wasn't "on the books" per say.

I was hoping someone here would go after it!

[chevelletown 37]

Thanks Dustin, I've been debating a 754 myself for a while now, but it seems that enough people in this hobby (especially experts like Bill & Terry) agree that they did exist I felt good about adding it to my "list". This one is pretty worn out, but the guy that sold it still mowes every week with it

Expert = Old drip under pressure? LOL TT thanks for bring this topic up, hope we can get to the bottom of this too.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

Glad to hear you rescued one of the mythical 754's, Ken! (should we call them unicorns? )

If the air cleaner is supposed to be the thicker one like used on the 854's, one from an 855/856/876/857/867/Commando 8 & 800/B-80, etc should fit the bill.

A-231886-S is still a good number and is the entire air cleaner assembly, but it's around $55.

The S/G belt guard might be a tricky one to find, especially if it's like the 753 style. (smooth face with the bead-rolled flywheel opening and the raised bump over the S/G pulley nut.)

I'll keep an eye out. :WRS:

[DMESS 24]

I've heard two different stories (and at this point that's all they are) about the creation of the 754 that I will share. Remember, just hersay at this point until BP gets us the straight scoop!

#1: First story is that Wheel Horse was just using up a large "pile" of left over K-161 S engines that they had from 753 production. 421 to be exact. Possible, but seems weak.

#2: 854 production was underway but a supply problem surfaced with the new K-181 engine. 1 specific distributor was demanding tractors and Wheel Horse built these machines to temporarily satisfy this demand until K-181's were available again. This one seems more plausable.

So BP, what can you add?? You MUST have something for us!

[CasualObserver 3,411]

Congrats on the score Ken... too bad he jacked up the price after people started telling him about it being a rare 1 of 421 produced. He had it listed for less and then changed the opening bid when he found out what he had. But you still ended up with a nice machine at a decent price. :whistle:

[wh500special 2,277]

"too bad he jacked up the price after people started telling him about it being a rare 1 of 421 produced"

Same thing happened about 6 months ago on the 520-8 that was listed in IL. Originally listed with a $1200 BIN that got yanked and exchanged for a much higher number after people - who knew they wouldn't bid - told the seller it was a hens tooth.

Glad you got the 754! I a-l-m-o-s-t dropped a last second bid!

Steve

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

I've heard two different stories (and at this point that's all they are) about the creation of the 754 that I will share.

#1: First story is that Wheel Horse was just using up a large "pile" of left over K-161 S engines that they had from 753 production. 421 to be exact. Possible, but seems weak.

#2: 854 production was underway but a supply problem surfaced with the new K-181 engine. 1 specific distributor was demanding tractors and Wheel Horse built these machines to temporarily satisfy this demand until K-181's were available again. This one seems more plausable.

It sure seems strange that these tractors all received "754" decals on the belt guards though. You would think that if they were built in such a rush to satisfy a demand that there wouldn't have been time to whip up 421 special "754" decals. (I know - it's just a cross between a "753" and an "854" sticker and could probably have been done in less than a day.) But no recognition from WH in the line of manuals, or in the models listing?

We already know that WH was known for exhausting inventory by using up parts on the next years model. (and doing some other weird things too) Clintons on 400's (and 401's?), the 603, SK-486/SB-421, and the GT-2500 Anniversary Special all come to mind.

What if it was just an "executive decision" to use up the K-161's that were leftover from 1963?

Why would the 854 have been designed with a longer hood if engineering didn't already know what the new K-181's had for air cleaners? Kohler must have supplied a few 8hp engines for research, right?

I'm sure there could have been supply problem with Kohler, but why would WH have put the taller air cleaners on the 161's in the 754? Those engines should have had the short filters already on them and it doesn't make much sense that they would have been changed.

This should end up being a good investigation, even though I don't have a 754. I'm curious to see what it stirs up. :D

[DMESS 24]

So it could be safe to say, that since these are supposed to have the tall air cleaner, we can assume they were not using "left over" engines from an existing supply.

LOL, ours appears to have the short air cleaner, but lord knows it may have been swapped over the years too.

Something else to think about. My 854 is serial number 41xxx, 7000 couple BEFORE my 754 of 48xxx which matches the majority of others around 48xxx. This would lead me to believe 754's were built after a decent number of 854's had been produced. This is what tends to make me think WH wasn't using up left over engines from 753 production and why I'm more apt to think there was an issue with K-181 supply. Kohler simply may have offered a 161 spec'd identically to the 181 (external accessories) to satisfy WH's engine needs.

SOMEONE "made the call"! We should have asked Cecil!

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

SO..... there's always the possibility that the 854's were already in production and Kohler came up short on the 181's for the next order. Maybe a WH "suit" said "hey.... don't we still have a few K-161's for the 753's sitting in the warehouse? - let's just throw them on there and call them a 754!"

It's too bad the serial numbers didn't actually identify the time of manufacture or the exact model of these tractors. Apparently they just started with the lowest numbered sticker and put them on the tractors as they came down the line. (regardless of the model)

I still think there had OR has to be a record of how many of each model were produced and sold somewhere. It may have never made it past the accounting department, but you can't run a large company and not have any records of what parts were bought and/or produced, and how many models were ordered or sent to dealers to be sold. Uncle Sam would have never let them get away with it. :whistle:

[CasualObserver 3,411]

I still think there had OR has to be a record of how many of each model were produced and sold somewhere. It may have never made it past the accounting department, but you can't run a large company and not have any records of what parts were bought and/or produced, and how many models were ordered or sent to dealers to be sold. Uncle Sam would have never let them get away with it.

Actually Uncle Sam did let them get away with it. That's the biggest holdup I have to the next step I need researching Wheel Horse snowmobiles. Apparently there was no legal requirement to keep serial number records until the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson-Moss_Warranty_Act Until this time, company records of serial numbers were basically just a "good idea"! :WRS:

[DMESS 24]

Ed Cole's article from the WHCC newsletter a few years back:

 

NEW MODEL FOUND!

Well, not exactly. More correctly, a previously undocumented Wheel Horse has been discovered, researched and verified as having been built. Back in 2002 Eric Van Look asked me to look up production information for a tractor Joe Papke had acquired. Claimed it was a 754. Well, said I, we didn't make a 754, just an 854."

 

BUT the production records had a peculiar note that seemed to indicate that Joe was right, that he DID actually have a 754. The records alone  were not clear enough to give the 754 legitimacy - we needed to validate this "new" model by checking the engine model and specs - unfortunately, Joe's tractor did not have the original engine,

 

I checked tractors at the Wheel Horse show without luck the next year. Joe Papke reported that he had found a couple, but hadn't had "eyes on inspection" of either of them yet. Fortunately, I saw one the next year at the Wheel Horse show, and have since seen one or two others.

 

It took awhile, but the "new" 754 Wheel Horse was added to our product database. It's actually an 854 chassis with a 753 engine. No doubt Kohler or Wheel Horse had some engines left over from the previous year, so poofl, "instant new model." It appears 421 were built and they went to the Wheel Horse distributor in Indiana at the time, RECO Sales.

 

[HorseFixer 2,013]

None the less this is very good information, Since I have a 854 this is very interesting reading! Oh, and I just went out and looked at mine and it has 5 lugs on the rear.

Duke

[linen beige 15]

#2: 854 production was underway but a supply problem surfaced with the new K-181 engine. 1 specific distributor was demanding tractors and Wheel Horse built these machines to temporarily satisfy this demand until K-181's were available again.

This is the story I've heard a couple of times. It also explains the air cleaner question. Kohler had K-161s' on hand, but no K-181s', so they supplied the K-161s'. Wheel horse could easily have produced the 754 decals while waiting for the K-161s' to be delivered.

But the question I have is, if there is no company documentation that they were built, how did we come up with a figure of 421 produced?

There has to be an old dealer out there who was shipped one of these and remembers it. Being a "downsized" engine, and the 854 already on the market, they may not have been easy to sell when new. But I would sure like to have one now.

[oldandred 15]

Ok here I go back in 1996 I was in NC working for about three week and told one my my helpers I needed a 16 hp side shaft engine to put on my sears tractor he said he hod one I said bring it the last day Im here so here come the last day and here he comes with this tractor on the back of his truck he told me it wasnt a 16 hp but a seven hp kohler if i wanted it i could have it for a big $25.00 yea I guess so i can do some with the engine so up the road it came got it home and looked at the hood it had wheel horse on it finnaly got it out of the truck as i had to take off the wheels to get it in.

Rolled it in to the yard stood back and looked for a wile the wife comes out and ask what are you going to do with it I dont know she said it looks like a nice tractor or was I pulled the plug put in some gas turned it over by hand a few times put a battrie to it and HOT DOG it started up right away well to make a long story short its one of my show tractors now but untill 2005 I got Ed Coles from toro to look at the tractor well he said the engine is a 1964 the number on the tractor says 1964 so its a 754 one of 421 slod by rico sales.

now he didnt say why the 7 hp kohler was used but I can tell you that toros ser, numbers back before 1973-5 meant nothing other than the run off the line as they keep no record of them.

this tractor like i said came from NC but the guy that owned it retired for a telephone company in the same state that wheel horses were made even the same town with in 50 miles of the plant

Now I have four in all

and yes i do have more whs like all of the lawn rangers and a few more

[BPjunk 184]

Ok

Back in 1964 there is a problem getting Kohler K-181 8hp engines and your trying to sell a tractor in the market place with a electric start Kohler in this horse power range. You need 421 electric start Kohlers but can only get a model K-161 7hp ... you buy the K-161's to meet the demanded need. Now legaly you can not sell a Model 854 because the number "8" denotes the horse power and the true horse power of the unit is only 7 (Kinda' false advertising ). Shoot for 50 bucks ya' get some stickers made that say "754" and your back in the tractor buisness!

Now here's what gets me ....... a 754 I can find no problem .... the same with a Senior or lever steer BUT every time I hunt a 854 down a try to purchase the model 854 some thing happends and I come home empty handed. <_<

1) A guys has a real nice 854 for sale and I come back with the money and he has a migraine head ache and will not answer the door. He then sells it to a buddy because he thinks I am no longer interested.

2) Another guy lists he has one for sale and several e-mails get sent back and forth but when it came time to sell .... no seller or tractor.

3) Good lookin' 854 on ebay ..... high bidder is a first time bidder .... I figure I got it in the bag now ... WRONG! First time bidder was a much higher bidder then I was.

Wild Bill in Richmond, Va.

[HorseFixer 2,013]

Now I have four in all

and yes i do have more whs like all of the lawn rangers and a few more

If you have (4) and Im not doubting you, then you have to many! You need to give me one for Christmas! I'll wash you car and even give you my secret BBQ sauce recipie!

Duke

[DMESS 24]

So Bill, I could probably get just about anything out of you for a nice 854 then! Hmmmmmmm........what could I use.......... :whistle:

[Curmudgeon 28]

If you have (4) and Im not doubting you, then you have two many! You need to give me one for Christmas! I'll wash you car and even give you my secret BBQ sauce recipie!

Duke

Duke Duke Duke.... how about a case of Amsoil?

Wish I had something you wanted!!!! I don't have ANYTHING that takes ONE quart! LOL

[HorseFixer 2,013]

Duke Duke Duke.... how about a case of Amsoil?

Wish I had something you wanted!!!! I don't have ANYTHING that takes ONE quart! LOL

That could be arranged AMSOIL I mean! Soooooo Are you gonna be at Kelly's If so I can hook ya up! Be a shame to wait till next year show! Then youll prolly want some more rooster rings!

Duke