Vertical Shaft Vs. Horizontal. What do you think?

[Killer 2000 Chevy 83]

I have a chance to possibly get a B-111. It has a mower deck and runs. It comes with almost another tractors worth of spare parts. Now my question is would it be worth a trade for a motor. It is a wheel horse and I could use it to mow. Should I go for the vertical shaft Briggs powered horse or not? I'll try to get some pics.

[leeave96 488]

If all you are doing is mowing, the vertical shaft would be OK, but IMHO, with a Wheelhorse, once you've deviated from horizontal shaft, you no longer have a garden tractor.

[Jake Kuhn 1,579]

I have a b111 that I used for mowing and it was great for that. But it is worthless for anything else. They can make great tractors to mow with though. ~Jake

[Sparky-(Admin) 22,195]

You dont say what motor your trading to get the B-111 so its hard to say if its a good trade value wise.

  If your after the B to do some basic mowing chores and nothing else it will probably be fine. If your thinking about sinking a few dollars into it and flipping it for a profit then forget it.

   There is no re-sale value in vertical shaft WH's from that era.

Mike...............

[JackC 617]

I have both and would advise staying away from the vertical shafts.  

Some are good mowers but they are different animals.

More like a dog than a horse, in more ways than one.

[Killer 2000 Chevy 83]

Well I've got a ranch king with a 16.5hp twin briggs I use to mow. The motor is all I would be trading. So it would be a motor for the whole deal. "wheel horse b111 has high / low range may need tires tubed from sitting . they are not weather cracked that i know of . its a 11hp vertical briggs 36inch rear discharge deck 3blade . have spare parts that include deck , front axle with rims and tires , hood, dash top section , and rear fenders with seat and also complete spare engine with clutch" This is what I know of the B111

[Tankman 3,520]

Except for mowing, I don't consider a vertical shaft a "garden tractor."

True Wheel Horse garden tractors all have horizontal shafts.

Vertical shaft engine, forget it IMHO. Want a vertical, head on over to Home "Cheapo."

[leeave96 488]

Well I've got a ranch king with a 16.5hp twin briggs I use to mow. The motor is all I would be trading. So it would be a motor for the whole deal. "wheel horse b111 has high / low range may need tires tubed from sitting . they are not weather cracked that i know of . its a 11hp vertical briggs 36inch rear discharge deck 3blade . have spare parts that include deck , front axle with rims and tires , hood, dash top section , and rear fenders with seat and also complete spare engine with clutch" This is what I know of the B111

 

For mowing, IMHO, sounds like a pretty good deal - unless you can use the Briggs in another tractor.

 

Good luck,

Bill

[Tim 97]

I did not know WH made a vertical shaft tractor with high and low range transmissions

[Don1977 604]

If you have a good engine it's worth more than the lawn tractor.

[Irv 115]

I have an "85  216-5 (16 hp Briggs) that I mowed with up until 3 yrs. ago (25 yrs.) and other than replacing tha starter solenoid once, never had a problem. That being said, all I did was mow with it.

[Wheel-N-It 2,971]

I can't see what the good deal is here for you. Not trying to talk bad about the verticle shaft wheel horses, but you've got a running/mowing verticle shaft lawn tractor. Unless the engine is worn out (of the ranch king), I can't understand why you would want to take the motor out of it and trade it for a verticle shaft wheel horse. Then what are your plans for the ranch king rolling chassis?

[JC 1965 1,532]

I don't like the vertical shaft engines but that's just my opinion.  

[redidbull 54]

I just recently bought a vert shaft WH with a tecumseh for 100 bucks with a mower deck  and think it was a good deal. The owner said the cup was leaking a bit but I have replaced the cup and gasket on my walk behind before. It is a pull start. I don't have a big yard so it will do a great job being a little smaller. I figure I could use it for a few years and still get the 100 back at any time. At the minimum it is a riding lawn mower.  That being said my 73 No Name has no mower deck. If it did I probably wouldn't have bought it. Jim

[welderman85 53]

i have two vert shaft tractors that i use for mowing. my 211-5 came with a 30" tiller and a snowblower i havnt used the tiler but it runs the blower ok.Although the dont compare to bigger horses in toughness they still work hard. but i wouldnt pay much for one

[can whlvr 993]

i would rather sit on a true garden tractor to mow or till,it just feels right,keep away from the verts,they take up space a horizontal shaft could use,jmo

[Killer 2000 Chevy 83]

Thanks for all the feedback but the deal fell through anyway, I guess I had my mind made up for me.