Wheel Horse ZTR 616z

[vinnyfish1 9]

Anybody familiar with a 616z zero turn ?    made in 1990 I think   onan powered ... I found one that is a make offer kinda deal ... whats one of these things worth

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,122]

... whats one of these things worth

I would also want to know how available parts are for that unit before draggin it home.

Mike.........

[vinnyfish1 9]

Yeah that's kinda what I am thinking .....it looks to be a vertical shaft engine so I am not sure the engine parts would be valuable to me ...have not seen one before so it got my attension

[ericj 1,579]

bearpath on here runs 1 with a kohler because he hates onans, thats ok duane i'll take all that you will give me cheap, but back to the piont, he has one that he mows with if he still has it and might be able to give some pointers on them. i have a 20 hp p220v onan that runs, most of the internals and carb interchanges with the other p220, except the intake,crankshaft, oil pump pick up tube and probably forgetting 1 or 2 other things but i plan on converting my vertical into a horizontal shaft motor.

 

 

 

 

 

eric j   

[baerpath 517]

That's right Eric.  This will be an Onan free zone again as soon as I drop this 16hp off to you at Harrisburg. 

   My zero turn is a 718Z different unit The 616's were a cheaper model More of a homeowner special and hard to get parts for. I've past on running ones for $400 but would take any 700 series, their tanks and if I need parts I can get them through Grass Hopper for now..

[motox25 36]

Make sure you test the hydros well after they've warmed up, I have seen many of those around here with weak and bad hydros.

[vinnyfish1 9]

Hey ericj ... would it be ok to ping you with ONAN questions every now and then .... I have couple I plan on working on once the POLAR FRICKIN VORTEX exits my beloved state  Indiana

[ericj 1,579]

Hey ericj ... would it be ok to ping you with ONAN questions every now and then .... I have couple I plan on working on once the POLAR FRICKIN VORTEX exits my beloved state  Indiana

i'll try to answer your questions if i don't know i can probably steer you to somebody that would know the answers

 

 

 

 

eric j

[6bg6ga 272]

Hi,

 

First post on this forum. I also have a 616Z  a Wheel horse version before Toro bought it out.  It has a Onan P216V engine. I've had this zero turn since 2010 and its worked flawlessly until two weeks before the grass cutting season ended last fall. It died I cussed and the mower sat in my Mothers garage untouched until last weekend when I figured I had better check it out and see what caused it to die a death unfitting for a machine its age.  Note here* Bought the Wheel Horse Zero Turn because it was only 1K in 2010 and looked like it could do my 92 year old Moms yard with lots of obstacles.

 

Armed with a copy of the Onan manual I purchased off ebay on CD I started out with my VOM meter to check the damage.  The check revealed the coil was good and the module was bad. Five minute job.  I never realized that some of these parts were gold plated with prices ranging from $74-159 for the ignition module.

 

I order a module and crankshaft sensor ring.  Checked the stator and found you cannot rely on info on the internet especially you tube videos. Doesn't anyone understand how stators work? Amazing.

Anyway ordered a regulator also. Stator was not open and no shorts to ground.

 

Having been a machinist for many years then going to a service/control type of employment I found working on the Onan to be a simple task. Note*  Last year before retirement. The hardest part was finding a flywheel puller and found one on the cheep at Harbor Freight less than $15.  Happy to say the magnets were still attached to the flywheel.

 

Parts should be here any day now and looking forward to putting my old friend back together again.

 

Nice forum here.

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,599]

1 minute ago, 6bg6ga said:

Hi,

 

First post on this forum. I also have a 616Z  a Wheel horse version before Toro bought it out.  It has a Onan P216V engine. I've had this zero turn since 2010 and its worked flawlessly until two weeks before the grass cutting season ended last fall. It died I cussed and the mower sat in my Mothers garage untouched until last weekend when I figured I had better check it out and see what caused it to die a death unfitting for a machine its age.  Note here* Bought the Wheel Horse Zero Turn because it was only 1K in 2010 and looked like it could do my 92 year old Moms yard with lots of obstacles.

 

Armed with a copy of the Onan manual I purchased off ebay on CD I started out with my VOM meter to check the damage.  The check revealed the coil was good and the module was bad. Five minute job.  I never realized that some of these parts were gold plated with prices ranging from $74-159 for the ignition module.

 

I order a module and crankshaft sensor ring.  Checked the stator and found you cannot rely on info on the internet especially you tube videos. Doesn't anyone understand how stators work? Amazing.

Anyway ordered a regulator also. Stator was not open and no shorts to ground.

 

Having been a machinist for many years then going to a service/control type of employment I found working on the Onan to be a simple task. Note*  Last year before retirement. The hardest part was finding a flywheel puller and found one on the cheep at Harbor Freight less than $15.  Happy to say the magnets were still attached to the flywheel.

 

Parts should be here any day now and looking forward to putting my old friend back together again.

 

Nice forum here.

  I'm glad you found us.  It's ironic, since Wheel Horse got into the zero turn thingy before Cub Cadet, John Deere and a few others, but the rise of the market for zero turns probably help fade out our classic Wheel Horses, plus other GTs.  With the market place clamoring for ztrs and SCUTs, the demand for GTs has dwindled to the point that only a few of the players are still in the game, and they come with a hefty price tag for the most part.

 

Shoot a few pics of your mower and post them here.  We like all things red here.

 

And, again, welcome to RS.

[6bg6ga 272]

 

The Wheel Horse Brand of machinery in my opinion was built to be used hard and with confidence. I don't see a lot of Wheel Horse Tractors in my area unfortunately. If I did I would surely have dragged something home. Leafing thru a few threads has me wanting to find and restore one of these fine old girls.

 

It has been mentioned by some that the 616Z is not really a Wheel Horse and I would like to comment on that. Maybe its not a classic tractor like some of the art posted here on the forum but it too shares the distinctive Wheel Horse Legacy in my opinion. Its still red it bares the Wheel Horse Logo and commitment to quality. Comments have been made as to the lack of quality in the hydraulic pump assemblies. This has me wondering if those commenting did in fact purchase a 616Z new and are actually qualified to comment based on experience. Its easy to purchase something used and abused and comment that its inferior. My particular 616Z was purchased with 450 hrs on the meter. Prior to it letting me down last fall it has run and hadn't missed a lick. The hydraulic systems seem to function fine cold and or hot.

 

The 616Z was the trend setter and was first on the block in zero turn technology as mentioned. Other brands copied from the "Z" mower and thus the evolution had begun. Sure I would love to have a true Red Wheel Horse to play with but the reality of my situation is I don't have the room to run a tractor with the obstacles in the yard I mow. In the past I had a tractor not of the "RED " origin and found it to be too bulky and time consuming as the mow time doubled with a tractor as opposed to the "Z" mower.

 

Playing a waiting game now with my ignition module. The tracking number had it within 100 miles of my location and departing the terminal only to be in limbo as it hasn't arrived in my post office yet and that was a day ago. Someone probably lost it or couldn't read the address and it was sent back to the sender.

 

Last thing is to find a oil filter. Didn't want a mess so I haven't unscrewed it to check on the number. I'm thinking maybe a PF56 full size oil filter?

 

Pictures to follow soon. Note* I have manuals if someone wants a copy. I have the P216V engine manuals.

[ericj 1,579]

I purchased a 616Z last summer witha 42" side discharge deck in a non running form. I played with it till I got it to run. I still need a ignition switch I believe, in the mean time I just jump the starter. When I try to start it with the key, the started won't disengage, but when I pull the start wire off the starter and jump it it is fine. My other problem is the deck is messed up. the baffles under the deck that separate the blades is bent down and when I put the deck back on it now mows to low and scalps the yard. I parked it and haven't had time to fool with it since. The motor runs good now. If I remember correctly I think I replace the coil and cleaned the carb to get it running. I either need  to find a parts machine or get rid of it. I would like to find a 48" mower deck to fit it. A couple of years ago I bought a P220V that I could drop on it if needed. 

 

 To check you stater you need to have the machine running and check a/c current at the outside terminals on the regulator, I believe you should have 32 volts at 1/2 throttle and more at wot. check the onan manual it will tell you how to check everything on that motor. good luck

 

 

 

 

eric j

[6bg6ga 272]

I also have a deck problem with mine.  Do you happen to know if another model deck will bolt on or if a Toro never deck would work?

 

With respect to the stator... I should have been more specific with my comments. What I meant was I tested the two leads with a meter on ohms scale and my reading was .1 ohm and the book says .1-.9 ohms. Basically this test is to make sure there is continuity and no excessive resistance. The second check is from each lead to ground and the result needs to be an open. If these conditions are met the stator is good. I did however purchase a new regulator to be on the safe side as I found a new one for less that $13 shipped. What you posted with respect to AC output is correct but one also needs to check the final DC voltage at the battery to make sure the regulator is functioning correctly. Note since all the stator coils are in series and there were no shorts to ground and the magnets are good unbroken and attached its a no brainer it will output its rated voltage in AC as well as DC when the regulator is good. The only reason it would be lower or for that matter higher AC voltage would be if someone mismatched the stator from a different model machine.

If I cannot find a new deck minus the hardware I will probably end up making one from 1/4" steel plate. I would however like to stick to the factory type deck.

[6bg6ga 272]

Got the old girl running again.  Don't have a fancy flywheel holding tool but a piece of apple branch served to fold the flywheel while I torqued it down. Replaced the sensor ring, Ignition module, and charging system regulator. Charges a nice 14.65 VDC with the AC right where it needs to be.

 

I seemed to have lost the piece of choke linkage so for right now its choke it by hand to start it. 

 

Anyone have an extra choke linkage piece they would sell?  Its a Link-choke  PN 153-0500