Wheel Horse live and learn the hard way

[Earle 3]

I'm new here, but had a Wheel Horse maybe C-100 ? in the 90's for about 5 to 8 years . 3 speed with hi and lo transmission. 36 inch rear discharge 8 hp motor mowing 3 acres of lawn with big heavy cast iron reels, sold by Wheel Horse. A wheel horse dealer in Stowe Vt  showed me a skamatic of the reels wheel Horse sold but could not get new gears for them Went to the Toro dealer I Essex Junction Vt  they didn't know what I was talking about.  Blew the 8 HP motor sold everything and bought a used one year old Cub cadet hydro twin cylinder hydro with foot gas pedal, 46 side discharge deck. it kept burning drive belts, Cub Cadet dealer told me they were using 1" short belts then another 1" shorter  also sold me belt belt guard in one summer so I bought a new 48" deck. Drive belts lasted one season on the new deck. Never no problem with the deck belts. At $29 or $30 a belt each year, this was better. that first year I learned the hard way that their was a problem with their 46" deck. Both Cub Cadet side discharge decks left mowed grass look like horse turds every row mowed. Tried mowing with boot on deck up, put a stone through back side window my van. Bought a sweeper as my lawn grew very fast as it was a farmers field that was fertilized a lot. Had to mow twice a week. Hated that  cub tractor. retired a few years back sold my place and everything moved to a southern Vt. trailer park. this winter I bought a 1978 or 1979 C-141 Wheel Horse hydro, with snowplow. This spring I bought a 300 series 42" rear discharge,3 coats rustolium red paint top and bottom. fits great, mows great, no stone into skirting of trailers. have a trailer and do stuff with my tractor in the park. Not sure I like the hydro hand lever miss the standard, but will get used to it. Love my Wheel Horse. Alway wanted another Wheel Horse, should have rebuilt the first Wheel Horse.

 

 

[leeave96 490]

Sounds good w/the new batch of Wheelhorse tractors. The RD deck is the trick for mowing around stuff and not throwing debri on everything too!

Good luck,

Bill

One more thing, you should be able to convert your hydro to foot control with Matt's kit.

[Earle 3]

Thanks, Bill but I sent Matt a note, and he said his kit would not fit my tractor. I think that if I put a slide around the bend of the forward lever, like the brass one, similar to the one on the back wheels of the deck, make it ajustable to a brake shaft to a pedal on the right side of tractor. Only cut 2" out of  floor. this way I can use the hand lever if need be. Or if I sold the tractor,  someone could take the foot pedal off, and run the tractor the way it was made. Richard

[Jake Kuhn 1,579]

  The horse will be WAY better of a tractor than a cub. You will really enjoy it!

[racin_ny 25]

I have mowed 2 1/2 acres with a 48 inch deck since 1993 and have never replaced the belt that drives the spindles. i have changed the motor to deck drive belt 3 times.

[brandonozz 168]

I have mowed 2 1/2 acres with a 48 inch deck since 1993 and have never replaced the belt that drives the spindles. i have changed the motor to deck drive belt 3 times.

 

2.5 acres, almost 20 years - only three belts.............. I think Wheel Horse has it figured out!

[Earle 3]

I've had no trouble either Wheel horse on belts, all the belt problems were on cub cadet, even took the tractor to the dealer twice, I bought the cub private. Only problem on Wheel horse 8 HP I worked it too hard for an old tractor. Richard

[mattd860 162]

Thanks, Bill but I sent Matt a note, and he said his kit would not fit my tractor. I think that if I put a slide around the bend of the forward lever, like the brass one, similar to the one on the back wheels of the deck, make it ajustable to a brake shaft to a pedal on the right side of tractor. Only cut 2" out of  floor. this way I can use the hand lever if need be. Or if I sold the tractor,  someone could take the foot pedal off, and run the tractor the way it was made. Richard

 

 

Richard - I don't remember seeing a note from you asking me this question but I get a lot of messages and emails from people asking me questions so it's possible I'm forgetting. Anyways, my kit will not fit your c-141 but it WILL fit your 300 series assuming it's a hydrostatic tractor with an Eaton transmssion (I believe ALL Wheel Horse 300 Series Hydro tractors had the Eaton transmission).

 

If you asked me about your C-141, I would have said 'no' because my kit will not fit it, however, like I said above, it will fit the 300. Thanks.

[Earle 3]

Matt,I sold my C-100? in 1999 or 2000, it was 8 speed 3 forward 2 reverse with Hi Lo. I send you a note march 1st 2013, on my C-141 hydro and you did say no,your kit would fit  my tractor. But if you see my post I think I can make a pedal to work. Thank Richard

[mattd860 162]

Oh ok. I will be happy to sell you the kit and you can try to implement it onto your c-141. I did successfully implement it onto my c-161 which has the same transmission as your c-141 but it was very difficult and every single person that installed the kit, myself included, spent hours and hours trying to get it to work correctly.

[Earle 3]

Thank Matt, I may take you up on your kit but not right now. thanks Richard

[Retired Wrencher 5,822]

             Hi Earl I am glad u are happy with C141 it all ways treated me good. Also it nice to hear that you got the deck that u where looking for. I hope to see u in Bernardston next weekend. Take Care Gary B.......

 

 

 

[racin_ny 25]

 

I have mowed 2 1/2 acres with a 48 inch deck since 1993 and have never replaced the belt that drives the spindles. i have changed the motor to deck drive belt 3 times.

 

2.5 acres, almost 20 years - only three belts.............. I think Wheel Horse has it figured out!

 

Yeah a buddy of mine has an older Cub zero turn and yesterday I was over talking to him and he looks at the tractor and says I finally got it to keep the belts on. He is a real mechanical type guy and had to totally re-engineer the belt guides and idler pulleys. He has been screwing with it for a year.

[Earle 3]

I plan to be at the Bernardston Engine Show in Bernardston Ma. with my C-141 Wheel Horse on Saturday only on May 25 2013. Hope to see you there Gary B. the snowplow/dirt blade works great plowing dirt. I bought a dump trailer from Ace Hardware and have had it full of dirt the Horse pulls it easy at just over idle. I have hauled brush and I try to wash the Horse every day before I put it up. It's a tractor made to work and I enjoy working with it. Today I went and picked up a snow blower in Vt, only needs some sanding, paint, lubricating, see which I like better, plow or blower. Thanks to RedSquare Wheel Horse I found the snow blower in VT great buy. This is a great site I thoroughly enjoy it. All attachments make it better to sell down the road I don't plan on selling it. Being retired I need something to do I hate pushing lawn mowers or wheelbarrows, I smoked to many years, quit 15 or 20 years ago but pay now. I surely enjoy the Horse, I'm not ready for tv all day or rocking chair or the tombstone yet. thanks everyone for writing bsck, Richard Earle P S you can call me, earl, earle, Richard, ****, or whitey that's what you get with 2 first names. on RedSquare Wheel Horse I'm just Earle

[Lagersolut 743]

My grandfather purchased a Cub I'd say maybe 10-12  years ago ( he since passed away ) just to mow the yard because switching from  mower to tiller on the  WH C-120 was getting too hard for him ....

 

Cub was junk , he had nothing but problems with it from day one brand new unit ( wouldn't stay running ).....I still say these units with fully enclosed hoods are baking the engines .....I'll never buy one . ....

 

 

( the  WH C -120 is still running strong   )

[Earle 3]

Superglider2004, My brother still has my old cub twin cylinder I gave it to him in 2007 when I retired and moved south to Brattleboro Vt. IT is still running. After the first year I had it, I ran without side shields,& my brother doesn't use them. not too belt problems after the first year because I bought 48" deck. there was a problem with the 46"deck, plus the grass balled up even with the boot up on both decks. The rear discharge doesn't do that on the Wheel Horse.   The drive belt  pullys  and  shaft on the front of the cub  is cheesy  not rugid  like the mule on Wheel Horse, take a close look at it if you still have the cub

[Lagersolut 743]

Earle , the Cub's gone ,  he passed away 5 years ago , my uncle was going up from the farm and doing the mowing the last year or so with his John Deere , ( not even sure what my uncle did with it ) , the Wheel Horse though he made sure got a good home , it's stitiing at my Dads , he hauled firewood , mowed , made garden etc ( had all the attachments for that horse ) for 30+ years , I've been in my house for 20 years, Wheel Horse is the only tractor that's ever been here , I'm pretty much blind to anything else .

[Retired Wrencher 5,822]

Earl I am so happy to hear every thing work out for you. Cannot Waite for the show this weekend I will there around 6:00am to get a good spot come early if u can and enjoy the ride. Take Care Gary     B......................

[Earle 3]

Gary, I e-mailed Doug this note  ( doug@bellshome.com

 I would like to setup at the engine show, I have a 1978 Wheel horse Tractor to show and maybe a few things to sell.Can I pay at the gate Saturday Morning and How much. Can we park our Truck and trailer with our setup? thank you in advance, Richard Earle, phone # 1-802 -579-1569 cell # 1-802-888-5101.) this is the only thing on site  at Bernardston engine show that I saw to contact anyone about setting, I thought maybe you knew more about getting setup in Bernardston Engine Show. thanks  Earle

[Retired Wrencher 5,822]

Earl all u have to do is tell them you are showing and there is no charge. but I all ways throw in some $$ to help out the club. As I said get there early on Saturday and u can park where u wish. I will come and find u. there is no real place for engine and tractors it is all mix together. so I will look for u I will be on the grounds buy 6:00am. see u then.   Gary     B...............

[Earle 3]

Gary thanks, I will try to be there if I can get my brother going see you there. Earle

[Retired Wrencher 5,822]

Hi Earl with the weather I think I will not attend the show this weekend. I am so Pissed right now. I really like this show....   Gary    B......

[Earle 3]

Hi Gary, I still plan to go, but if its like this afternoon here I won't either. but I won't bring the Horse unless the weather really changes for the better.  I was looking forward to going with the Horse.  ....Earle