New to the Wheelhorse

[CasualObserver 3,411]

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!

 Dennis... there are some subtle and not so subtle differences to the front axles for the 60s models. Here are a quick few....
1960 Suburban, Cast iron V shape form with large indent in casting, flat plate at end of frame rails, single short tie rod, long flat drag link connected other spindle.

1961 701 same axle flipped upside down (inverted V) for taller stance, flat plate at end of frame rails, single short tie rod, long flat drag link connected other spindle.


1963 633/653/753 new design cast iron inverted V, new design offset bend front plate  (note the 603 still used the previous version and the 953 was another completely new different design)


Again, notice the difference in the plate at the front of the frame rails.


1965 changed to the wedge shaped square hood and the front of the tractor changed for the hood mount but not the axle. There were a few different hood mounts.

The clutch pedal only had a few changes. Again... a quick few... 
1960 Bent piece of flat stock steel.


1961 New cast iron rounded off point flag style


1963 New cast iron squared off flag style



 @swade41 I would agree with the other guys on your tractor being an 854. That being said, your engine is the original spec. Otherwise,  it looks like the guys have got you squared away.  

[bmsgaffer 2,053]

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?

Yep, the 854 hood is unique to only that machine and the 754 (which is a story in and of itself... apparently there was a shortage of the k181s and so they ran a special run of 854's with the k161 7hp engine calling it the 754. They are somewhat rare if found original).

Thus, when you have an 854 hood with holes in it that look like they were made with a large caliber weapon (like me) its hard to find a replacement!

Edited August 12, 2015 by bmsgaffer
Cleaned up the massive multi-quote.

[CasualObserver 3,411]

I believe if you look at the engine, the extra hood length was necessary to clear the larger air cleaner.

[swade41 7]

Wow ! Some great information, so it's a 1964 model 854. I ordered the carb kit yesterday from the ebay link and it was shipped today, so hopefully it arrives by the weekend. I paid 75 bucks for the tractor and my neighbor has offered me 150 already, ...not for sale...lol  It sparked memories for the 88 year old, as he worked for the city of Buffalo and was the main man to order the new equipment, his choice of mowers was the Wheel Horse. I told him he could drive it around though when I get it running right or I'd attach my antique radio flyer wagon to the back and tow him around..ha ha ha

[DennisThornton 4,771]

Wow ! Some great information, so it's a 1964 model 854. I ordered the carb kit yesterday from the ebay link and it was shipped today, so hopefully it arrives by the weekend. I paid 75 bucks for the tractor and my neighbor has offered me 150 already, ...not for sale...lol  It sparked memories for the 88 year old, as he worked for the city of Buffalo and was the main man to order the new equipment, his choice of mowers was the Wheel Horse. I told him he could drive it around though when I get it running right or I'd attach my antique radio flyer wagon to the back and tow him around..ha ha ha

Great info indeed!  Man!  I suppose so!  I got to go thank CasualObserver-(Super Mod)  profusely!
Here's another little tidbit:

From page 54 of "Straight from the Horses Mouth . . .the Wheel Horse Story" first edition, by Mike Martino", *
For the 1960's Wheel Horse models, for the center number:
0 = manual start (Usually!)
5 = Electric Start
6 = six speed
7 = Wheel-a-Matic,    ( as always there were exceptions, like the 633 and Lawn Ranger models ).
And as you know; the first number/s was horsepower and the last number was for the year.

633 is an exception.  It's a recoil or combo.  Not sure...
"702 and 701's both came with electric start."  There was no 751 or 752!  I think when the Kohlers were used they only came with electric start.  Seems they would have continued the same naming rules and used 751 and 752 but....

And not sure what the "4" stands for in the 1045 or the mystery 1046.

I own a rough 654 so I will be following all you share.  There are some that think the 854 was the nicest of all the Round Hoods and I'm sure you will treat her with respect!  

Take your time but keep us up to date!

Edited August 12, 2015 by DennisThornton
corrected name

[DennisThornton 4,771]

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?

Yep, the 854 hood is unique to only that machine and the 754 (which is a story in and of itself... apparently there was a shortage of the k181s and so they ran a special run of 854's with the k161 7hp engine calling it the 754. They are somewhat rare if found original).

Thus, when you have an 854 hood with holes in it that look like they were made with a large caliber weapon (like me) its hard to find a replacement!

Wow!  So they had to make a not only for just one year but also for just one model longer hood!  I'm surprised.  And then you toss in a model I've never heard of so off I go to double check and only then continue to read "the rest of the story" and how interesting is that!  They used up earlier model dash towers and gas tanks on their flagship round hood with the biggest engine ever for the round hoods, have to make a special hood to fit it and then run out of the very engine that required the longer hood!  I suppose the 7hp might have required the same longer hood, but...

I know a guy that ran a body shop for 15 years!  Pretty sure I can fix your hood.

[DennisThornton 4,771]

CasualObserver-(Super Mod)

Wow!  What a post!  Gosh!  Golly!  I want to hang out with you!  By you a beer or two!  What a great collection of info!  And quickly!  I would have quoted it and replied directly to you, but long post!  I've got to go over it a few times and save all the visuals to my collection and get back to you in more depth!  This is the kind of info SO hard to find anywhere else that really needs to be collected sorted and documented.  This is the kind of info I was hoping to elicit when I started the "Wheel Horse Identification Project" 

Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

 

Let's stay in touch!

[DennisThornton 4,771]

Oh!  Jason!  Meant to ask.  I had noticed the straight, V and inverted V axles though not all that long ago, but you mentioned something I'd never noticed or even thought about.  Do I understand from you that there are indeed the same axle?  Same part number?  Just inverted?  They look as though the could be!

 

[CasualObserver 3,411]

Oh!  Jason!  Meant to ask.  I had noticed the straight, V and inverted V axles though not all that long ago, but you mentioned something I'd never noticed or even thought about.  Do I understand from you that there are indeed the same axle?  Same part number?  Just inverted?  They look as though the could be!

 

No, not the exact same part. I think the pivot pin hole is cast in different places on them.

[mikeeyre74 289]

I think it mentions that in "the book"  

I'm still all sorts of hung up on that belt driven starter setup on the first pictured machine.. I wanna swap my '77 over to that! 

[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.

I must have been at the wrong napa at the wrong time tried again at a different napa and got it same day. It was even a kohler kit!