SEVEN THINGS A NEW WHEEL HORSE OWNERSHOULD KNOW

[W9JAB 156]

SEVEN THINGS A NEW

WHEEL HORSE OWNER

SHOULD KNOW

1.LUBERCATION, Metal on metal = worn out parts, motors, axels, bushings, and gears need oil and grease. So know where your lubrication points are, keep motor oil, trans oil, axles and bushing well lubricated. And the same for attachments mower decks, snow blowers and the like.

2. Small engines (air and oil cooled) are made to run at full speed. With splash oil systems, lubrication is decreased at low or idle speeds, also the cooling fan air volume is also decreased. Engine temp. raises dramatically at low speeds. Also maximum H.P. is at achieved only at full speed.

3. Belts, If you can, try to get O.E.M. But if not genuine Wheel Horse there are some things to consider when replacing a belt. Wheel Horse belts for the most part are "A" or "4L" size. this refers to the top width and top to bottom thickness, 1/2" wide 5/16" thick. Belts also come in smooth or notched styles. The notched belt "AX" runs cooler and can make tighter radius turns, but have a more aggressive grip and cannot be used in "clutching" applications were loosening the belt is needed to clutch. If a belt is used for clutching it's best to get a Kevlar wrapped belt. The wrapping keeps the rubber from burning when the it is "slipping" on the sheave or pulley.

4. Electrical. Older tractor wiring suffers from two main problems. UV (ultra violet/sun light) degrading of insulation and corroded wire and connections were wires meet or are terminated. When replacing wire in vehicles use a stranded style wire of the same gauge or larger of the wire your replacing. NEVER use a solid wire as vibration will work stress and break it in time. Also to help with corroded connections using silicone dielectric on the connectors helps a lot.

5. The shifter. This is a garden tractor not a race car. They should have called it the speed selector, If you here grinding noises when changing speeds you are shifting too fast, the belt need to stop before you change speeds. You will probably be able to take off in any gear from a dead stop. So you don't need to "run through the gears" like a car.

6. Keep an eye on things, Old parts can just plain were out. Once I found a fuel line not leaking but when move just a small amount fell apart, a real fire hazard.

7. The Old Wheel Horse was made before O.S.H.A. and lawyers took over our life, none the less there is some inherent dangers in the older models, open belts, pinch points, marginal breaks, lack of safety shut offs, etc. Know the dangers and limitations of you tractor.

 

[MarkPalmer 81]

Great post, especially the paragraph regarding engine speed.  A lot of people are afraid to run at full throttle setting because they think it is taxing the engine too much or is making it use too much gas.  These small engines are governed to a top speed.  If it’s governed to 3600 RPM, and you put it at full throttle setting, 3600 is as fast as its going to go, and it should stay there under varying loads.  It’s not really full throttle so to say, because the governor moves the throttle plate back to regulate the engine speed, so it’s not nearly the same as dropping the gas pedal of your car to the floor in neutral and killing it.  Full throttle setting provides the best power, best cooling for both cylinder and oil for maximum life, and the best efficiency.  I’ll admit I do use part throttle for puttering around the yard now and then so I don’t make so much noise, but for any work like mowing or plowing you need to open it up all the way. 

 

-Mark-

[KATO 115]

   

[squonk 43,735]

Wear shoes around the open PTO belts!!!!

[Don1977 605]

That full throttle on and 8 speed you better be real easy with the clutch if you don't want 600# of tractor in your face.

[JackC 617]

Wear shoes around the open PTO belts!!!!

Even more important, wear pants and keep your fly zippered.

 

W9JAB, Thanks for the post and the reminders. We should have those made into the 7 commandments for wheel horse owners.

[dsholler 54]

That full throttle on and 8 speed you better be real easy with the clutch if you don't want 600# of tractor in your face.

I do not want to derail an excellent thread, but this has always bothered me. I have a "grabby" clutch (belt is worn, no doubt) and have popped it many times and gotten that rising frontend sensation, but there is no way I was anywhere close to actually lifting it high enough to turn over, and I doubt any of the engines we have in these things combined with the transmissions could do so, except if you had already jacked the thing way up.  Is this really a caution that can hurt you, or just something that can surprise you if you are not expecting it. ?

[chevyaddict83 39]

That full throttle on and 8 speed you better be real easy with the clutch if you don't want 600# of tractor in your face.

I do not want to derail an excellent thread, but this has always bothered me. I have a "grabby" clutch (belt is worn, no doubt) and have popped it many times and gotten that rising frontend sensation, but there is no way I was anywhere close to actually lifting it high enough to turn over, and I doubt any of the engines we have in these things combined with the transmissions could do so, except if you had already jacked the thing way up. Is this really a caution that can hurt you, or just something that can surprise you if you are not expecting it. ? I know on my c120 hydro, if you knuckle it, the front end can come up2-3 feet, giving you that "pucker" factor you thought you forgot.

Sent from my 416-8

[thehorse 221]

I always shift the machine at a lower throttle speed (8 speed) and also when engaging the PTO.

[scWHhauler 96]

Super great post  

[Trouty56 567]

I flipped an 856 on me once. It can happen.

[ericj 1,579]

the front end may not ever flip over , most of the times it will spin but every now and then when conditions are just right.........

 

eric j

[entropy 104]

Thanks for the post, big help to a new owner. I ran my lawn at 2500rpm and seemed good, but then forum members chimed in about running at 3500rpm and sure enough the manual states just that.

[tunahead72 2,543]

Excellent thread, Joe, but there really should be EIGHT things to know:

 

8.  RedSquare is your best friend!

[puddlejumper 67]

 

That full throttle on and 8 speed you better be real easy with the clutch if you don't want 600# of tractor in your face.

I do not want to derail an excellent thread, but this has always bothered me. I have a "grabby" clutch (belt is worn, no doubt) and have popped it many times and gotten that rising frontend sensation, but there is no way I was anywhere close to actually lifting it high enough to turn over, and I doubt any of the engines we have in these things combined with the transmissions could do so, except if you had already jacked the thing way up.  Is this really a caution that can hurt you, or just something that can surprise you if you are not expecting it. ?

 

I have never felt like one would come over with the mower deck on flat ground but a bare tractor. You better be carefull because there is more guys than just me that have reared them over backwards and that doesnt just apply to the manual tractors, I was being raunchy on a charger ten checking out the hydro and if I had not had a hold of the motion lever when it stood staight up and started over backwards it would have been on top of me but as luck would have it as I went back I pulled the motion controll lever into reverse and it liked to have jarred my eyeteeth loose when it slammed the front wheels back on the ground.

[Irv 115]

In the right conditions they can come back on you, especially if you're on and incline.

[Jake Kuhn 1,579]

never.....EVER mess with the springs on a jd 112 variable speed system! don't ask me how I know.

 

There's a reason I have horses!

Edited May 8, 2013 by Jake Kuhn

[KC9KAS 4,744]

Very good information. Thank you Joe.

[AMC RULES 37,196]

Excellent information to include on a maintenance decal Joe.    

[leeave96 490]

Seven other things new Wheelhorse owner should know:

1. First tractor isn't the last one.

2. Second tractor isn't the last one.

3. Third tractor isn't the last one.

4. Fourth tractor isn't the last one.

5. Fifth tractor isn't the last one.

6. Sixth tractor isn't the last one.

7. Seventh tractor isn't the last one and you may need a bigger garage... ;)

Edited May 9, 2013 by leeave96

[Kevbo 81]

Seven other things new Wheelhorse should know:

 

1.  First tractor isn't the last one.

2.  Second tractor isn't the last one.

3.  Third tractor isn't the last one.

4.  Fourth tractor isn't the last one.

5.  Fifth tractor isn't the last one.

6.  Sixth tractor isn't the last one.

7.  Seventh tractor isn't the last one and you may need a bigger garage...

 

So true...

[MarkPalmer 81]

Remember the wheel horse clutch isn't really a clutch, just a pulley tensioner so it's ok to ride it a little when taking off in a high gear which should prevent front end lift.  Also, when you look at the HP vs. torque curves on small engines there is less torque available when the engine is at full governed speed vs. part throttle, thus wheelies on takeoff come more from the gearing and clutching than they do the speed of the engine. 

 

-Mark-

[papaglide 542]

Regarding the wheel horse clutch: is it ok to ride it to control speed like when backing to an implement or trailer? Can any harm come from riding it to slow down around corners and such?

[Lane Ranger 11,394]

Great post thanks for sharing this valuable information to a "new"  Wheel Horse owner!

 

 

PS:   I would add -no need to mow the lawn in third gear at full throttle  !   THIS IS For MY Brother!!

[MarkPalmer 81]

Regarding the wheel horse clutch: is it ok to ride it to control speed like when backing to an implement or trailer? Can any harm come from riding it to slow down around corners and such?

I use the clutch quite a bit to control speed moving around things.  No real harm to be done, as stated earlier it's not really a clutch just a belt tensioner. The extra wear to the belt would be insignificant, and belts are relatively cheap anyway. 

 

-Mark-