Workhorse 700 / Commando 7- same thing?

[DIBNAH 17]

I have what is now believed to be a workhorse 700 from 1969 after researching this through VHGM. For this information im grateful to Simon Smith and Anglo Tractor. I returned to where I fetched this tractor from after a gap of nine years to talk to the previous owner. I brought the tractor from him (swopped a restored Lister for it actually) . He produced a photo of the tractor with his son on it sitting on his knee, that was 1970. In the photo (b/w) can be seen a decal with Commando 7 Three speed on the steering column, many years later I gave him the lister in return for the tractor which had been stored in a lean-to that had caught fire - minus engine, hood, fenders and tyres. His son was doing it up at the time and these were off the tractor.After the fire the scrap man calls and these were sent to the furnace. The only thing that saved its identity was molten plastic had covered it I.D plate, (from the fuel tank?).

So is this a workhorse or not, we removed the decals stuck to the barn wall and their back in my workshop. so my questions are: did they make 700s and commando 7 in the same year and what if any were the differance between models, this a Mod 1-3742 serial no 124952. the owner stated it was pull start.

This is now a working tractor but not reconisable as a 700 or commando 7 but I got because it was to be scrapped and saw it as a project but would love to restore if I can find enough info on it. DIBNAH.

[neil 2,415]

Welcome Dibnah to I have just checked in the files section on the Wheelhorse by years file & your Model nuimber is similar to that of the workhorse 700 except yours ends with a 2 and not a 1 so im not quite sure that yours is the US or European version.

Wheelhorse brought out the workhorse version because of a copyright issue with another company naming there tractor similar to wheelhorse, if i remember rightly

although i havent heard of any other Workhorses in Uk but have seen a few commando 7s & according to the wheelhorse by year file the workhorse started life with a tecumseh engine.

Im sure we can get to the bottom of your question as there are lots of knowledgable people here at Redsquare . & its good to have another European member join here and great to see the Euro section Growing

Im sure youve been asked a thousand times but is there any connection in your name with a said person

Does your tractor have the dealers plate under the dash as most wheelhorses in Uk came from the dealer J D mountfield of maidenhead

[DIBNAH 17]

Hi Neil, the only connection I have is I admired the bloke, what a treat it was to watch his programmes, his skill and knowledge sadly missed, and if I dare say the Kingdom Brunel of my era. Fred I salute you.

[DIBNAH 17]

Sorry Neil didnt see the question at the bottom of last post but thats correct, if it had been anywhere else it would have melted !.

[Stigian 1,235]

Hi Neil, the only connection I have is I admired the bloke, what a treat it was to watch his programmes, his skill and knowledge sadly missed, and if I dare say the Kingdom Brunel of my era. Fred I salute you.

Yep, Fred is sadly missed. Watching his programs is always a pleasure.. Fed Dibnah.. Maybe one of the world "most unlikely" TV stars!

Oh Welcome to RedSquare Dibnah :handgestures-thumbup:

[neil 2,415]

what a British Hero he was

[Don1977 605]

The model list in the Picture Gallery lis a 1-3741 and a 1-3745 so I believe you have Work Horse 700. They may have named it different, but thoes are the only numbers that are even close.

[meadowfield 2,932]

welcome to the group dibnah !

[Anglo Traction 761]

Hey Paul, and welcome. Great to have you aboard here. By doing so , you increased your odds of solving all Wheel Horse concerns by at least a thousand and links to another Continent of felllow enthusiasts. You can also have a laugh and you won't get hammered for modifying a WH (as long as it's not an RJ).

From Sheffield eh! The home of quality Steel and products. As already said, an Apt Username and long may he be remembered.

We'd like to see pics of all your Tractors when you can. We love lots of Pics on here.

I suspect the Old Commando Decals on your Workhorse are also a result of the confusion/non conformity in the Amnor Assembly plant. I'm still struggling to find any Commando 7 models. There was an '8' Kohler engine, a 'V7' Vertical shaft Techy , a 'V8' Vertical Shaft Kohler.

I still believe you have the remains of a Workhorse 700. I also believe Commandos had 7x12" wheels, yours are 6x12" as per the '700'. Maybe guys Guys in U.S. can give us their expert opinions on it for you.

Regards

[DIBNAH 17]

Hello Stigian - Don 1977- Meadowfield and Anglo thanks for the welcome. When I can work out how to get pics and video on here (and VHMC site) I will post some. Glad to hear I wont face a firing squad for the the changes done to this tractor, but everthing is reversable. If it turns out it is a workhorse I may shoot myself ! . Most of my time is spent refurbing farm tractors or implements so my projects get put on the back burner. The workhorse/commando 7? is by now a old project and has to work for its keep so will need to strip it in the near future- paint looks a little shabby now and drive chains need changing. The C121 is also stripped down ready to do at the same time,and Im making a "special " with the C120. Please note that no horses will be harmed during this process!. pictures will follow. But back to the Workhorse - if I take what Redsquare has told me up to now the tractor was produced in 69 the same year the factory opened with parts shipped from the US using 68 or previous stock. I assume it has a US team to help out a new workforce and also it makes several models. at the same time = Pressure. Pressure = Mistakes = Wrong Badged Item - Get it out of the door and sell it !. A bit like Johnny Cash - one piece at a time. Love his music. I have no idea how many tractors came off the line or how many different models were produced in the first year - Any idea anyone !

[meadowfield 2,932]

Paul,

All tractors in Belgium were manufactured with parts shipped from the US. That is 90% of the components were containered - they were what is called a 'knocked down' assembly. It's far more cost effective to ship a container of engines - a container of tinwork, etc. Seats/Steering wheels/tyres were relatively easy to source from Europe - hence the different wheels/seats.

What that meant though it because of the similarities in most models (tin work, tranny, etc) it was very easy for the Oevel factory to substitute and end up with semi-custom models. At the end of the day, once we skip the model year, the major differences are only ever the engine size and the transmission - whether it be 4/8/auto.

...and to 99% of Joe public that ever bought them - the hood decals were the indentity, nothing else !

mark

[Anglo Traction 761]

When I can work out how to get pics and video on here (and VHMC site) I will post some. The C121 is also stripped down ready to do at the same time,and Im making a "special " with the C120. Please note that no horses will be harmed during this process!. pictures will follow.

I have no idea how many tractors came off the line or how many different models were produced in the first year - Any idea anyone !

Hi Paul,

This may help you with the pics Posting. Check out the 'General Talk' section on the Main Page. In that Section, look in 'Finding your way around Redsquare' ..... bottom of page one (currently) shows you how to Post Pictures using a Pic Hosting website(s) ( I use photobucket) and how to link them to a Post on this Forum (and others).

Many of us have a link to our Hosting site in our Signatures (at the bottom of our Posts).

Pics have to be a certain Kb size usually, but can be sized on the Hosting site. Hope this helps.

Would be good to know the Model numbers/years of your C-120 & 121. I'm working on C-120 (Euro Raider 12) at the moment as well.

There is no info yet on the Amnor Plant Output, but most WH Tractor Models and Implements were assembled there from the start.

Regards

[DIBNAH 17]

Thanks for the photo info, would also be interested in knowing how you registered your tractor. The C120 is Mod71-12k8 serial no 160487 1977 and C121 is Mod81-12k801 1978, Cheers Dibnah.

[rbthefirst 0]

Hello everyone! I have a question. Did a Wheel Horse work horse 700 come with steel wheels? No rubber at all just steel.