What is the biggest WH tractor ever made?

[WH69GT-14 0]

Just curious. B)

[rustbucket 4]

D-250 i think.

[Teddy da Bear 11]

I saw a D-250 at the Rochester show.

I also saw an older D-200. I think the D-200 has got more mass.

[rustbucket 4]

D-200 with loader and back hoe is king of the big boys.

[Dual Wheels 2]

" The Beast

[chevelletown 37]

Here are a couple fighting,wonder who wins?

[rustbucket 4]

the little red mower deck cause when the two big ones wear each other down and are exhausted all he has to do is come in and poke em to finish the job

[Curmudgeon 28]

D-250, 4-cylinder, water cooled.... largest by far.

[wh500special 2,249]

One could answer this question a number of ways...

1. Biggest (HP) engine in anything Wh branded was the 24 HP Onan in the 724 zero turns (late 1980's-mid '90's).

2. Biggest (HP) engine in a conventional tractor was the 23.6 Hp Diahatsu in the 523Dxi (Late 1990's) diesel.

3. Biggest (displacement) engine was in the 4 cylinder Renault 19.9 HP D250 (1976-1979).

4. Biggest "capability" was probably also the D250 (I find the D-auto series a little "light" in comparison).

Really, I think the answer you deserve is the D250. While it was only a 20 horse, it was more of a "real tractor" than any of the others mentioned above. Aside from some transaxle problems, it was an extraordinarilly capable machine with full cast iron axle tubes, a full length frame, a three point hitch, shaft-type PTO's front/mid/rear, sizeable implements, and lots of power from its "derated" industrial 4 cylinder Renault engine. in Europe, it served duty as a small farm tractor and NOT just a garden tractor as marketed here in the US.

The tractor was years ahead of its time. It was very expensive new, but it really was much more tractor than the rest of the WH (or anybody else's) lineup in the late 70's.

I don't recall off hand the whole story of why the D200 and D250 were rated 19.9 HP and not 20.0, but it was related to the regulatory requirements that all tractors 20 Hp and over be equipped with certain safety provisions; especially a Roll Over Protective Structure (ROPS).

A ROPS kit (Rollbar) was available on the D250 as an option as seen in Cheveletown's pictrures. 5xi tractors too.

For my money though, I feel the most "useful" WH's will always remain the original C-series tractors (1974-77?). Simple, sturdy, durable, and easy to change implements.

Steve

[WheelHorse_of_course 99]

I am NOT sure of my facts but I thought that the D series were made by someone else and only branded as WH?

Someone please clarify my hazy recollection !

Steve, I tend to agree about the C series but don't forget they are really late model chargers, electros and raiders

Hey Karl - I like the new smileys. Is this one a weeee horse? :horseplay:

[TT-(Moderator) 1,147]

I am NOT sure of my facts but I thought that the D series were made by someone else and only branded as WH?

Steve, I tend to agree about the C series but don't forget they are really late model chargers, electros and raiders

The only D series tractor that wasn't an "honest" Wheel Horse product (designed and built by WH) was the D-250.

The C series tractors (100, 120, & 160) may have evolved from the Chargers, Electros, and Raiders, but they evolved from the 1055, 1075, etc. which evolved from the front engined round hoods, which evolved from the mid-engined tractors, which evolved from the walk-behind tractors. Every progressive model has been an improvement over the previous design, with the exception of a few.

The C series tractors received a lot of minor changes that made them stronger and more user-friendly than the "football team - named" tractors of the late 60's / early 70's.

[wh500special 2,249]

. Every progressive model has been an improvement over the previous design, with the exception of a few.

As TT points out, almost ALL of WH's models were simply updated versions of those prior.

Funny thing is, most of the "clean sheet" designs really never caught on and died slow, agonozing deaths...

To wit:

The V7/V8's

The Vertical Rangers (700/800)

The D250

The 5xi

Exceptions DO exist (D-auto series, later verticals, etc.) but the real sweet spot for WH was the C-series style tractor: Transverse Horizontal shaft engine, Unidrive Transaxle, Tach-O-Matic.

The reason the early C's are my favorite over the newer (C-1X1 and C-1X5, 300/400/500) has to do with their simplicity and lack of gingerbread and electronics of the later models. And, the early C's had the toolbox under the seat, fewer "speed fasteners" for assembly, and lacked all the un-necessary frills of the later tractors while being an honest improvement over the Charger/Raider/Electros with the improved attachment mounting system.

The C-160's were the cream of this crop.

Sorry to steer this thread off topic, but it's what I often do...

Steve

[Curmudgeon 28]

While the D-250 may not have been assembled in South Bend, it carried the name and as far as I know, wasn't sold under a different name in the same configuration. (Maybe in Europe??) You could ONLY get that tractor at a WHEEL HORSE dealer, and it only carried a Wheel Horse decal. That's more than you can say for some Toro Wheel Horses.

To me, it's a Wheel Horse, just one ahead of it's time. In todays market of compact tractors, with todays "upgrades" it just might be a best seller.

MHO.