Can i ask the masters

[BOB ELLISON 2,981]

I have only owned a wheel horse for 6 months now.i have been reading a lot on Redsquare about  all the different types and models of wheelhorse. Can any one tell me what the difference is between the B series and the C series. i have a b80 and a c160. they both look the same to me except for the 8 horse b80 and the 16 horse c160. is the frame the same ? i know tire size is different. Is the c series built stronger ? I try to research here as much as i can. I  do read often as much as i can without going blind.there is so much info here and thanks to everyone for it. 

[Racinbob 11,938]

This gets brought up quite a bit. It depends on the year. Prior to 1978 they were much the same. In 76 and 77 the difference was the rear tires, 22.750 vs 23.850, low back seat vs high back, 13" steering wheel vs 15", headlights standard on the C's, optional on the B's, the horsepower of course, and a couple of insignificant things. The B-60 is recoil start. I bought a 1976 B-80 brand new and after a couple of years I 'converted' it to a C-160. The frame and transmission are identical. In 74 and 75 they made 4 speed B's but they were still the strong garden tractor. Starting in 1978 the B's became lawn tractors and weren't nearly as strong.

Edited February 16, 2016 by Racinbob

[rmaynard 16,299]

I took a 1977 B-80 frame, C-160 front axle and steering, C-120 8-speed transmission, B-80 fender pan, and a B-100 hood and put it all together to form a 1977 tractor. The only thing that was missing was an engine. If I put a K-181 on it, it would have been a B-80. If a put a K-241 on it, it would have been a B-100. If I had put a K-301 on it, it would have been a C-120. K-341, a C-160. I ended up with a K-241 and so it was a B-100. I added the appropriate decals and there it was. So, in answer to your question, basically no difference other than horse power and lights.

[DougC 2,643]

[Rob.A.700 306]

5 hours ago, rmaynard said:

I took a 1977 B-80 frame, C-160 front axle and steering, C-120 8-speed transmission, B-80 fender pan, and a B-100 hood and put it all together to form a 1977 tractor. The only thing that was missing was an engine. If I put a K-181 on it, it would have been a B-80. If a put a K-241 on it, it would have been a B-100. If I had put a K-301 on it, it would have been a C-120. K-341, a C-160. I ended up with a K-241 and so it was a B-100. I added the appropriate decals and there it was. So, in answer to your question, basically no difference other than horse power and lights.

Didn't Johny Cash sing that song 

[Pullstart 66,843]

Thanks for the clarification fellas!

[BOB ELLISON 2,981]

Its nice to know that there is a lot of different horses that interchange parts.thank you racinbob and rmaynard .i wonder why they never made a B160 or a C80.

[Theroundhousernr 590]

42 minutes ago, BOB ELLISON said:

Its nice to know that there is a lot of different horses that interchange parts.thank you racinbob and rmaynard .i wonder why they never made a B160 or a C80.

They did make a C81

[rmaynard 16,299]

I guess it had a lot to do with marketing. AMC Motors had acquired Wheel Horse by then.

[DennisThornton 4,771]

B was their "value" line.  Still as functional but cheaper than the Cs.  I think the WH model naming leaves much to be desired, and at very best leaves lots that's confusing.

853 vs 953

854 vs 1054

77 B vs 78 B

C-175 vs C-195

520 vs 520XI

(perhaps more examples?)

 

All lead one to believe that it's just a step up in horsepower, slightly bigger or better somehow yet they are entirely different models!  I think WH marketing missed some huge opportunities!