New to the Wheelhorse

[swade41 7]

Just bought my first Wheelhorse but have admired this style for 20+ years after seeing my first rolling chassis at an auction. Not sure on the exact year but has a Kohler 181S spec 30108A engine, that needs carb rebuilt. Where can I get a rebuild kit for it to stop the gas from coming out of carb. The float seems free and level to carb body which was my first thought and a rebuild kit couldn't hurt anyways.

[KC9KAS 4,744]

Not sure on the model/year of your tractor.
Is the ID tag still on it?

[MikesRJ 558]

Welcome to Wheel Horse addiction ...

Looks like you're the proud owner of a 1962 Suburban 702. That engine should be a K161S-28622E if it's the original engine.

 

Edited August 11, 2015 by MikesRJ

[swade41 7]

On the engine but nothing anywhere else,(Where do you look ?) googled the engine number for carb rebuild kit but it comes up with several to choose from. Just not sure which is the right one.

[MikesRJ 558]

What numbers are on your engine? The tractor serial number tag should be on the dashboard riser below the dashboard. See image below.

TRACTOR MANUAL: http://www.mywheelhorse.com/graphics/file/Tractors/TR_1962_502-552-702_502P.pdf
TRANS MANUAL: http://www.mywheelhorse.com/graphics/file/Transmissions/Transmission_Uni-drive_1958_-_1982.pdf
ENGINE SERVICE MANUAL: http://www.mywheelhorse.com/graphics/file/Engines/Kohler_K91-141-161-181-241-301-321-341_tp_2379_SM.pdf

Edited August 11, 2015 by MikesRJ

[Rob.A.700 306]

This might help if it has been re-powered it helped me. 
http://www.kohlerengines.com/onlinecatalog/pdf/tp_2379.pdf 

[swade41 7]

I reckon it's not the original engine then, defiantly says 181S  spec 30108. I'll look for that number under the dash after dinner.

[MikesRJ 558]

You probably reckon correctly. The K181 engine didn't come standard on a Wheel Horse until 1964 on an 854. The engine you have, based on the Spec number, is probably off (or a replacement for) the 1964 854 or a 1965 855 or 875-Auto.

Edited August 11, 2015 by MikesRJ

[953 nut 59,800]

   Glad you were able to find the one you have always wanted, if you are like most of us you will want more and more and more!  

[swade41 7]

Thanks for those manuals, nothing under the dash on the riser, couple holes where an id plate might have went. So anyone have a direct link to a carb kit for it, like to get this baby running ?

[MikesRJ 558]

Assuming your needle valves and the seats in the body are still good, here's the kit for your Carb:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CARBURETOR-KIT-for-Kohler-K-Series-Engines-Carb-Repair-Rebuild-Overhaul-/261100698379?hash=item3ccad07b0b

Edited August 11, 2015 by MikesRJ

[swade41 7]

I'm to used to Holley carbs on my cars, that's all the kit contains ?  I mean other than a new needle and seat it just looks like a couple gaskets, these carbs must not have many working parts.  As far as that plow blade....you know I could use that here in Buffalo...ha ha ha

[JPWH 6,338]

 That's how it starts just get it running then take it for a drive. Next thing you know you're looking for things to do with it, then things to do it with...  

[boovuc 1,090]

You can go to your local NAPA auto parts store and get a kit from them. Tell them what you have. i have bought two kits for the K series Kohlers from NAPA and they worked great1

Welcome to Redsquare!

[swade41 7]

Ha ha, I'm a car guy and definitely know how the snowball rolls out of control. I just want to let my 10 yr old ride around the yard and me too. I'm a suburbia dweller so no real place to do a lot but sure intend to get my 75 bucks worth out of it.
How did ya determine that it was a 62 ?

[prondzy 3,889]

Welcome to red square and glad to hear you found a beautiful tractor! I'm not a serial number or spec number decoding guy but by the look of your tractor you have a 854. If it is an 8hp repower the the other model numbers are 753, 653, 754, it can't be a 702 the front axle and brake pedal are 1963-1964. A 702 would have a square front axle and a pointed flag brake pedal. My guess is 854. If you take a little brake cleaner or laquer thinner on a rag you might br able to wipe off the square on the belt guard and reveal the model number. Hope this helps

Edited August 12, 2015 by prondzy

[bmsgaffer 2,053]

I would vote 854... I think the spec number is correct for that, isnt it?

[Jake Kuhn 1,579]

Also agree on 854.

[DennisThornton 4,771]

Welcome to red square and glad to hear you found a beautiful tractor! I'm not a serial number or spec number decoding guy but by the look of your tractor you have a 854. If it is an 8hp repower the the other model numbers are 753, 653, 754, it can't be a 702 the front axle and brake pedal are 1963-1964. A 702 would have a square front axle and a pointed flag brake pedal. My guess is 854. If you take a little brake cleaner or laquer thinner on a rag you might br able to wipe off the square on the belt guard and reveal the model number. Hope this helps

Nice catch on the front axle!  I have pics that are SUPPOSED to be a 702 that show a front axle with an indentation through out the center of the casting which I assume is what you are referring to as NOT "square".  63 thru 67s do but this is obviously not an 875 or newer square hood.

I would like to do a study on WH axles.  Not as readily changed as other characteristics and I think a good way to help ID a WH.

But I'm not getting what you mean about the pedals though so please help me...  I think pedals is another complete study to try to ID these guys!  If you have a good grip on this please share and I'll take notes so we can share again later!

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,498]

Dennis, wellcome  to red square. Looks like an 854 to me. Nice ride. Good luck.

Glenn

[DennisThornton 4,771]

"I believe" (which I intend to be my standard phrase from now on dealing with at least WHs!  If that phrase is not there just assume that it is...) that the 854 was the last year to use the cast gas tank sitting on the dash tower. I have a 654 which uses a very different hood, dash tower and gas tank! (which "I believe" is an example of Elmer's and Cecil's frugality and at least one reason why IDing these is quite difficult!)  You can't always use differences to distinguish years since those differences were used across years but on different models!  So my 654 looks VERY much different than an 854 where a somewhat learned person might assume that the only difference would be the engine, but NO!  Actually a very different looking tractor style!  I'm guessing (which is even less definite than "I believe" ) that they used up the older style gas tanks/hoods/dash towers for the 854s as they switched to the newer styles on the other models based on on-hand supplies and new purchase contracts.  I assume (even less definite than "guessing"!) that the newer combo of hood, gas tank and tower were cheaper and perhaps served just as well...

So, 854 "I believe".

[Rob.A.700 306]

You can go to your local NAPA auto parts store and get a kit from them. Tell them what you have. i have bought two kits for the K series Kohlers from NAPA and they worked great1

Welcome to Redsquare!

I don't know about the Napas in your area but you would just get a weird look from the ones where I am.

[JC 1965 1,532]

Hello and    Great lookin little tractor.      

[bmsgaffer 2,053]

"I believe" (which I intend to be my standard phrase from now on dealing with at least WHs!  If that phrase is not there just assume that it is...) that the 854 was the last year to use the cast gas tank sitting on the dash tower. I have a 654 which uses a very different hood, dash tower and gas tank! (which "I believe" is an example of Elmer's and Cecil's frugality and at least one reason why IDing these is quite difficult!)  You can't always use differences to distinguish years since those differences were used across years but on different models!  So my 654 looks VERY much different than an 854 where a somewhat learned person might assume that the only difference would be the engine, but NO!  Actually a very different looking tractor style!  I'm guessing (which is even less definite than "I believe" ) that they used up the older style gas tanks/hoods/dash towers for the 854s as they switched to the newer styles on the other models based on on-hand supplies and new purchase contracts.  I assume (even less definite than "guessing"!) that the newer combo of hood, gas tank and tower were cheaper and perhaps served just as well...

So, 854 "I believe".

854 and 654 were the same year, 1964. Which was the last year before the square hoods. The 854 was their top of the line flagship round hood tractor (the 953, 1054 were much larger), I think the cast tanks were seen as a more elegant design with the ability to use an amp gauge with the dash, as on the years they were used they were generally used on the higher horsepower (thus more expensive) models. That's totally conjecture though, but its true the cast tanks were only on the higher horsepower models. Some years that was all models but the lowest one, some years (1964) that was only that highest model.

Oh and the 854 had a hood that was longer than all the other round hoods by about 1" or so, but I dont know what the measurements are so that's another way to distinguish it.

Edited August 12, 2015 by bmsgaffer

[DennisThornton 4,771]

"I believe" (which I intend to be my standard phrase from now on dealing with at least WHs!  If that phrase is not there just assume that it is...) that the 854 was the last year to use the cast gas tank sitting on the dash tower. I have a 654 which uses a very different hood, dash tower and gas tank! (which "I believe" is an example of Elmer's and Cecil's frugality and at least one reason why IDing these is quite difficult!)  You can't always use differences to distinguish years since those differences were used across years but on different models!  So my 654 looks VERY much different than an 854 where a somewhat learned person might assume that the only difference would be the engine, but NO!  Actually a very different looking tractor style!  I'm guessing (which is even less definite than "I believe" ) that they used up the older style gas tanks/hoods/dash towers for the 854s as they switched to the newer styles on the other models based on on-hand supplies and new purchase contracts.  I assume (even less definite than "guessing"!) that the newer combo of hood, gas tank and tower were cheaper and perhaps served just as well...

So, 854 "I believe".

854 and 654 were the same year, 1964. Which was the last year before the square hoods. The 854 was their top of the line flagship round hood tractor (the 953, 1054 were much larger), I think the cast tanks were seen as a more elegant design with the ability to use an amp gauge with the dash, as on the years they were used they were generally used on the higher horsepower (thus more expensive) models. That's totally conjecture though, but its true the cast tanks were only on the higher horsepower models. Some years that was all models but the lowest one, some years (1964) that was only that highest model.

Oh and the 854 had a hood that was longer than all the other round hoods by about 1" or so, but I dont know what the measurements are so that's another way to distinguish it.

Yes of course, both the same year.  That was my point that WH would use different sheetmetal on different models but even within the same year!  And I agree with you that the 854 was their flagship, the only model that year with an amp meter as referenced in one of the WH ad flyers.  But I never even thought about the 854 hood being longer!  Do you mean the 854 hood was actually longer than say the 753 or the 702 hood?  If that is what you mean do you suppose they needed that extra space for the 8hp K181S?  It was the first year for a Kohler 8hp.  If so then I must conjecture that the 854 hood is unique!  Never seen before or after on any model?