ronhatch 406 #1 Posted April 5, 2015 Can someone tell me the difference between a 857 and a B 80? Is the B 80 a short frame? Is there more room under to hood to fit a 10 to 16 HP Kohler without chopping up the hood. I was going to put a 10 HP Kohler in my 857, but because it wasn't going to fit very well, I just went ahead and rebuilt the original 8 HP Kohler. Thanks, Ron Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 23,147 #2 Posted April 5, 2015 If your asking whether a 10-16hp Kohler will fit under the hood of a B-80....the answer is yes. Mike.......... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slammer302 2,156 #3 Posted April 5, 2015 I've put a 10hp on a b-80 fit no problem I think a 10-16 would not fit easily on a 857 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boovuc 1,090 #4 Posted April 6, 2015 Hi Ron, A B-80 is a long-frame tractor. It can have various engines placed in it other than the K-181 it came with. Your 857 as you already know is a short frame and is limited in the size motor you could repower it with. The B-80 also has the much improved PTO/Atach-matic system that was used on most WH/Toro tractors from the late 60's to the mid to late 90's. The 857 used the slip-belt pulley on the older decks and implements. I love my 857 and it can mow, plow and till with the best of them but the horizontal shaft B-tractors, C-Series, 300, 400 & 500 series tractors are more versatile and friendlier to change out implements and to repower if you need to or you so desire. Notice I wrote " horizontal shaft B-tractors" as the B-Series line was eventually transformed into vertical shaft lawn tractors that were not as heavy-duty as the garden tractors and would not work with the GT implements. If you find a B-series tractor, make sure it is powered by a horizontal shaft engine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbarnhart 240 #5 Posted April 6, 2015 (edited) Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that there was a year model change for the B-80. Some were short frame and some were long frame. I don't know when the change happened. The long frame models were essentially a c-series with a small block Kohler. Have to do a little more research. I found some more info here. It seems the '74 and '75 B-80s had the short frame, I don't know if the big-block would fit or not, as some of the B-100s may have had the short frame as well. I guess you have to tray it and see. Edited April 6, 2015 by tbarnhart Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theroundhousernr 590 #6 Posted April 6, 2015 I thought the earlier B-80s where not quite as short as the short frame tractors but fall somewhere in between. Also , some B-80's where 4 speed and others where 8 speed. Its gets tricky with these. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slammer302 2,156 #7 Posted April 6, 2015 I believe they were 2" shorter and there was sum 4 speeds the one I put a 10hp in was one of these Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sorekiwi 761 #8 Posted April 6, 2015 Early B-80's were 2" longer than a short frame tractor. Later ones were long frame (4" longer than a short frame). A big block Kohler will bolt right in once you remove the motor plate. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,925 #9 Posted April 6, 2015 (edited) 857's had a 41 1/4" wheelbase, 75 and earlier B-80's had a 43 1/2", 76 and 77 were 45 1/2" and the same as the C series. Later B's were lawn tractors with a vertical shaft motor. It is a snap to put a big block Kohler on a 76-77 but I'm not sure about the others. Edited April 6, 2015 by Racinbob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smoreau 658 #10 Posted April 6, 2015 My 74 B100 is the same length as my 74 C160. I fact they look about the same all the way around, but with skinner rear tires. Same sun strand transmission and same hood and dash. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scotty 252 #11 Posted April 7, 2015 I always thought my 74 b-80 was a long frame. So they made a mid frame machine? Mine uses the long frame snow plow too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,925 #12 Posted April 7, 2015 With Wheel Horse it wouldn't surprise me one bit if they had both. All you can really do is look in the owners manual or that years brochure. I've even seen contradictions there too. The B series seems to be one of the models that varied a quite a bit over the years. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites