Wow what is happening to me?

[378Pete 237]

I guess one is never enough. Very innocently I acquired a 69 charger v8 to get going for my son. Well its up and going now and the girls ask me where there's are. So now I have 3 wheel horses in two months. I picked up a running and driving rj58 and a 60 suburban with a plow. I thought the whole getting addicted thing was a joke and now I am searching high and low for all things wheel horse. Hopefully pics will post. Thanks to all that offered help with my boys tractor! Pick these both up from my local shop for $600 for the pair. Both do run but I have to tinker with them a bit.

[stevasaurus 23,281]

I think you did pretty good.    You do realize, there is no cure. 

[RedRanger 1,469]

$600???!!!!???

[378Pete 237]

My wife has even started helping me look for parts. She is very supporting of the wheel horse herd. She has made it clear about not letting the girls drive them until we have fenders for both. Any body know where I can get fenders? They don't have to be original or even correct. Just something that looks OK and won't require hacking the tractors. Most important is safety!

[RedRanger 1,469]

My wife has even started helping me look for parts. She is very supporting of the wheel horse herd. She has made it clear about not letting the girls drive them until we have fenders for both. Any body know where I can get fenders? They don't have to be original or even correct. Just something that looks OK and won't require hacking the tractors. Most important is safety!

How old are the kids?

[378Pete 237]

$600???!!!!???

That is probably on the high side but the girls really loved them. And they are running so that is a big bonus with my limited time

My wife has even started helping me look for parts. She is very supporting of the wheel horse herd. She has made it clear about not letting the girls drive them until we have fenders for both. Any body know where I can get fenders? They don't have to be original or even correct. Just something that looks OK and won't require hacking the tractors. Most important is safety!

How old are the kids?

girls are 12 and 8. My boy is 10

[RedRanger 1,469]

I think $600 was a deal!

Plow and weights are worth $100 each.
400 is worth $300+
RJ is worth $400-$600 as is if it runs good.

I'd bet the package is worth $900+.  You did good.

At those ages, I'd be concerned with exhaust burns, engine pulleys, and getting their legs under the rear tires while in motion.
Also school them on keeping their hands out of the backside of the drive pulleys.

Oh!  and don't pop the clutch at wide open throttle!
Safety first.

[RedRanger 1,469]

I don't think the fenders would make much of a difference in safety.  The seat actually sits up above them and the fenders don't extend out over the tires anyway.  More for looks than anything.

[378Pete 237]

I think $600 was a deal!

Plow and weights are worth $100 each.
400 is worth $300+
RJ is worth $400-$600 as is if it runs good.

I'd bet the package is worth $900+.  You did good.

At those ages, I'd be concerned with exhaust burns, engine pulleys, and getting their legs under the rear tires while in motion.
Also school them on keeping their hands out of the backside of the drive pulleys.

Oh!  and don't pop the clutch at wide open throttle!
Safety first.

I am very nervous about those things. They are familiar with pulley dangers and the exhaust dangers. Never allowed on any of the tractors with shorts or flip flops. Number 1 rule is long pants and boots to ride. No exceptions. The exposed tires is my main concern at the moment and that is a deal breaker because I just can't let them ride.We have a few tractors now that they all run around on so they know the ins and outs pretty well when it comes to being safe. They learned on this old gravely 810

[RedRanger 1,469]

Those mid engines are very light in the front.  They'll flip over easily in the right conditions.  Make sure they understand that.  I stood my 401 on end once.  Not a good feeling.

I think $600 was a deal!

Plow and weights are worth $100 each.
400 is worth $300+
RJ is worth $400-$600 as is if it runs good.

I'd bet the package is worth $900+.  You did good.

At those ages, I'd be concerned with exhaust burns, engine pulleys, and getting their legs under the rear tires while in motion.
Also school them on keeping their hands out of the backside of the drive pulleys.

Oh!  and don't pop the clutch at wide open throttle!
Safety first.

I am very nervous about those things. They are familiar with pulley dangers and the exhaust dangers. Never allowed on any of the tractors with shorts or flip flops. Number 1 rule is long pants and boots to ride. No exceptions. The exposed tires is my main concern at the moment and that is a deal breaker because I just can't let them ride.We have a few tractors now that they all run around on so they know the ins and outs pretty well when it comes to being safe. They learned on this old gravely 810

Look at those wide floor boards!  Got to be 18 inches wide.  Love old barns.

[oliver2-44 10,724]

The true RJ and Suburban fenders and tool boxes are hard to come by.  Can someone on here comment, will the round fenders and tool boxes from some of the 63,64,65 WH's fit, or be easily modified to fit?
They seem more available!....We got to help get those kids on their tractors!

[378Pete 237]

I don't think the fenders would make much of a difference in safety.  The seat actually sits up above them and the fenders don't extend out over the tires anyway.  More for looks than anything.
i may look for something a little bigger. Even if it doesn't look good. Those look good on there but you are right very little protection

[bmsgaffer 2,053]

I don't know what your fabrication skills are, but I would HIGHLY recommend custom fenders with running boards that bolt on in stock locations. It is VERY easy to slip a foot off the footrest and have it fall right in the path of the tires. Also weight down the front end of those tractors like crazy! My 854 is a front engine tractor but its still light enough to pick the front wheels up going up a hill or if the clutch is slipped off of. 

The small horses are cute, and seem good for kids because of the size but really arent all that safe. I picked up my 854 for my son to ride in the future (he's 2), but after working with it myself the future got pushed back pretty far! He will be riding the 520H long before the 854.

Your kids are (probably) old enough to understand the safety of it as long as they can reach all the controls. I just like to be over careful rather than under prepared! 
 

[DennisThornton 4,771]

I think you did pretty good.    You do realize, there is no cure. 

3 in two months!  Two at once!  He's already in bad shape!  No hope now, no cure indeed!  Nothing we can do but offer supportive care...  Sounds like he has infected his wife too.  However!  This might be a variant!  Might even be useful!  Could be worth spreading around if it can jump sexes!

[WNYPCRepair 1,923]

It's worse than just buying tractors, it makes you buy tools too!  

[DennisThornton 4,771]

It's worse than just buying tractors, it makes you buy tools too!  

Tools!  Buildings!  Hours upon hours on the computer!  The rest of the time in the shop!  Then more Wheel Horses and then the most devious affliction, yet more tractors but with different colors!  Marital issues!  Family!  And while alcohol has AA and drugs have other support groups all we have is us!  Here!  Ahh, here!  I am so glad it has not affected me...

[squonk 43,833]

He's got it bad and blamed the kids! 

[AMC RULES 37,196]

OK, stand up, state your name, and share with us the the reason we're all here.   


  Edited November 7, 2015 by AMC RULES

[JimD 3,347]

Ebay is a good source for the fenders you want. Also post in the Wanted classifieds here and check the vendors section for our in house parts suppliers. With you all the way on keeping the kids as safe as possible.

[rjg854 12,203]

I think you did pretty good.    You do realize, there is no cure. 

ahhh but here is............ more horses
like the Scott's guy says   FEED IT

[buckrancher 2,694]

69 chargerv8 did your local dealer finally sell that 60th anniversary tractor he had

Brian

[378Pete 237]

69 chargerv8 did your local dealer finally sell that 60th anniversary tractor he had

Brian

I don't recall seeing any anniversary machine so he may have sold it.  I asked him for awhile about the two I got and he wouldn't part with them. I brought the girls in one day and they sat on them and he sold them to my girls in about a minute.I am really lucky to have this shop so close. He also sold me a Briggs for my sons repowered charger. And he is also a very nice guy as well. Always willing to offer advise for any mechanical issues I have. 

 

[AMC RULES 37,196]

Saw an interesting set of fenders on Ebay just now... 
sent you the auction link, in case you might be interested.  

[roadapples 6,983]

I think for safety sake you should save these until they`re older. In the meantime get them each a newer one with floor boards and full fender pans. Just trying to help.

[378Pete 237]

I think for safety sake you should save these until they`re older. In the meantime get them each a newer one with floor boards and full fender pans. Just trying to help.

Actually working on an alternative now. Unfortunately probably gonna sell the RJ. I am not a collector so I think somebody else would appreciate it more than me. The suburban will be for my 12 year old and she fits it perfectly. I am working on a smaller wheel horse for my youngest girl. Thanks for the feedback.