cdsl810 181 #1 Posted October 2, 2013 By the Wheel Horse bug! I'm getting Horse #2 tonight. It's what looks to be a 1990 or newer 310-8. 512 hours on the 10 HP Kohler Magnum. It is in really rough shape, but everything works. The words "Classic" and "TORO" appear on the badly faded decals and that's what I am basing my age estimate on. When it's in my garage I will be able to look up the model number and confirm the year. The tractor was stored outside, and has a bad case of sunburn (extremely faded paint and decals). It hasn't been started or moved for 2 years but when I looked at it this morning, it started right up. The motor is solid, the trans is solid, and it moves in every gear. The owner had it listed on CL for $400. Best of all..... The guy is giving it to me!!! Despite the current condition, I figure a FREE Horse is a good Horse, especially when it comes with a Kohler Magnum. Included is a set of turf tires on the original rims and a set of AG tires that it's currently wearing, tiller, dozer blade, 3 different mule drives, extra gas tank, cast iron wheel weights, 3 hitches, and a box full of belts. The guy admits that he has neglected it. But it has the two most important features for a Wheel Horse: It runs well and it moves. I plan on doing a thorough clean-up and restore to the point that it can be a proud worker. It's joining a big brother currently in the barn, a 1990 520-H. I will post some pics soon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zieg72 209 #2 Posted October 2, 2013 Free is the best price, congrats!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SousaKerry 503 #3 Posted October 2, 2013 Ok I am confused. How do you go from $400 to Free... or is that a "trade" secret Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cdsl810 181 #4 Posted October 2, 2013 Update... It's a 1993 model. SousaKerry, let me clarify. He had it listed for $400. He didn't sell it at that price, so then he called me and offered it to me for $200. That prompted me to go take a look. When I said above, "everything works," I meant that the motor runs flawlessly and all the gears work. That statement was the optimism in me showing through. I got there and it is in really poor condition cosmetically, and the last guy to look at it snapped a tie rod connector when he was test driving it. The choke cable is frozen, and the seal between the gas tank and the shutoff valve is leaking. These are all minor repairs, but It needs a lot of TLC. At the beginning of summer, his wife commanded that he clean up the property. Long story short... I was pointing out all the flaws, and all the stuff I would have to do to get it into serviceable condition. He finally caved and didn't want to negotiate. He just said, "Take it all, you seem to know what you're doing." He just needs it gone. That's how it went from $400, to $200, to FREE. I better pick it up before he changes his mind... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
546cowboy 302 #5 Posted October 2, 2013 You mean you left without it You better get back there real fast or some sneak will cart it off. I have seen it happen before and so have many on here. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,196 #6 Posted October 2, 2013 Screw the trailer... I would have locked the car, and walked that horse down the road. Free means it going home with me now. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boovuc 1,090 #7 Posted October 2, 2013 Great story and a great price at a goose egg! Now you can afford to throw some sorely needed TLC, (which in this case is another word for money and time), at it. The fact it is a 1993 tractor is a bonus as I have found that those later 90's 300, 400 & 500's have a lot of really cool but small little updates that I think enhanced their value. (Like ditching the little plastic idiot light sticky-outy lenses for the larger flush mounted lense, using a beefier footpad on the rails, etc). We want PICTURES when you get this home! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cdsl810 181 #8 Posted October 3, 2013 AMC, fear not... I know the guy... And I will hold his brand new TORO commercial zero-turn hostage if there is nothing there for me to trailer tomorrow. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leeave96 490 #9 Posted October 3, 2013 You'll like that tractor - especially the Kohler Magnum engine. You'll like the 8 speed too. I have a feeling that tractor will clean-up good without even seeing it. Maybe a paint job might be the ticket, but at 500ish hours, the tractor should have plenty of life left in it. Good luck, Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tankman 3,523 #10 Posted October 3, 2013 GREAT deal! Free is the best way to go! Don't forget decals from http://www.redoyourhorse.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,196 #11 Posted October 3, 2013 OK awesome! So you've got this in the bag...then you know what's coming next... AMC, fear not... I know the guy... And I will hold his brand new TORO commercial zero-turn hostage if there is nothing there for me to trailer tomorrow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cdsl810 181 #12 Posted October 3, 2013 I have corralled the horse. Too dark to take any pics. I'll post some tomorrow... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cdsl810 181 #14 Posted October 7, 2013 I had a one he[[ of a time getting images uploaded. Anyway, here are the photos I took the morning after "Old Paint" came home. It doesn't look like much yet, but it runs great. The ol' swayback will begin its rehab soon. I have already repaired the tie rods and installed a new battery, and it is actually doing some odd jobs around the property. The tiller works fine but will need a set of tines to be fully effective. The AG tires are Carlisle 23x10.5-12s mounted on rims from a 518 that the PO once owned (I still can't believe that someone could own Wheel Horse tractors and just let them rot outside like this guy did). They are a shade larger than the stock size for the 310-8, but they fit nicely and do the job. I like owning both a gear drive 310-8 and hydro drive 520-H, since they both have their uses. The Kohler Magnum 10 is a great engine, and I'm impressed with its "forgiveness factor." This one was missing an air pre-cleaner and had a rusted, dusty air filter element, choke stuck open, dirty oil, old spark plug--but it still started right up after sitting out to pasture for nearly 3 years without being run. I plan on running the 310-8 with a blade this winter and using the smooth power of the 520-H for snowblowing. That's a 1, 2 punch for the white stuff for sure! I plan on bringing "Old Paint" back to a proud work horse--not show quality, but a clean, solid, respectable machine. My daughters are trying to talk me into an "alternative" color scheme that still maintains a classic WH look. Kind of like the alternate uniforms worn by your favorite sports team. Haven't decided yet... I like traditional, but this could turn into a fun project for the girls to get involved. I'm looking forward to sharing how this project turns out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel-N-It 2,976 #15 Posted October 8, 2013 Way to go!!! I love the little 310's Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
