cleat 4,987 #1 Posted May 13, 2016 (edited) I went and test drove this unit a few days ago and it needed a boost but otherwise ran smooth and quiet. 48" deck runs smooth with a couple of weld repairs but otherwise in good shape. Offered him $600.00 Canadian (464.00 US) and he agreed. Got it home last night after around a 20 minute trip to get it and put it in the garage. Tore it apart a bit today to get a better look and holy crap, what a mouse nest. When I removed the tunnel covers, the nest was completely solid to the bottom of the cover from the rear end right up to the plate below the battery. Never saw anything like that before. Got the nest dug out, no smell or anything, just packed in tight. Made quite a pile on the floor. Pushed tractor outside and pressure washed it. It turned out quite nice. Except for the bent pink hood, the sheet metal and general paintwork is better than any I have brought home so far. Deck has been cleaned up but I don't have a pic of that right now. Here is the deck as received with the guards removed and some tractor parts I removed to access the nest. Fuse block has been removed and 3 inline fuses in it's place. 9 pin connector is removed with wires joined into one continuous harness. Actually looks good, just will make engine removal more difficult. I will likely replace the connector in time. Edited May 13, 2016 by cleat 18 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 24,175 #2 Posted May 13, 2016 Nice haul! Did any mice come with it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roadapples 6,981 #3 Posted May 13, 2016 Great buy Cleat, even if you had to destroy a home to get it ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pollack Pete 2,273 #4 Posted May 13, 2016 Nice 520H.Mice are like us...........they love Wheel Horse tractors.Have fun with your new toy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cheesegrader 433 #5 Posted May 13, 2016 That already looks much better. I wonder how long it took a little mouse to haul that much crap in there? I'm sure that when you are done, it will be better than new. I like the idea of just removing the 9-pin connector. I'm sure it is usefull when assemlbing components during maunfacturing, but they seem to cause so many problems. I have never felt the need for one, and if I ever have to remove an engine, I could just cut it free. I know. It isn't "original", but it just seems to make more sense at this stage of a tractor's life. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elcamino/wheelhorse 9,062 #6 Posted May 13, 2016 Nice haul except for the mouse nest. Had tractor been setting for a while or are Canadian mice more industrious than their American cousins? 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TDF5G 2,051 #7 Posted May 13, 2016 (edited) A mouse made a house out of a horse? Now a mouseless horse and houseless mouse! Looks like a great project! Edited May 13, 2016 by TDF5G 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 4,987 #8 Posted May 13, 2016 The guy I bought it from was using it but he wanted a new box store tractor. His way of thinking is my gain. He thought the Wheel Horse was top heavy on hills. I think a new light duty lawn tractor will be worse but who knows. He just bought it last year so the guy he bought it from must have had it sitting for quite a while for this nest to form. Nest was totally blocking all cooling to rear end. Luckily he had a small lawn to mow or the poor hydro would have been burned out. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
new horse 44 #9 Posted May 14, 2016 looks like a nice machine! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,369 #10 Posted May 14, 2016 Guess it wasn't as bad as my latest 520 and on the wire harness when I cut the Molex connector out I used crimp on "bullet" type connectors with dielectric grease for ease of removal later really didn't take anymore time and good luck with your new horse,Jeff. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muz123 1,191 #11 Posted May 14, 2016 Nice find. How many hours on it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 4,987 #12 Posted June 24, 2016 The hour meter did not work so it has been thrown out. I think it read around 700 I now have it basically ready to go except for painting the hood and fender and installing new decals. I will eventually convert to to Matt's foot pedal control but for now I will leave it like this so my daughter can drive it (she can't reach the pedals yet). She has been helping to clean it up. I have installed SW gauges I had. For the light panel, it will be like a 516 or 520HC with just the oil pressure light because that it the decal I have and I kind of like the look. Decal is not installed yet. I already got rid of the steering column motion control and put it in the tunnel. That works best for Bailey and also will make it easy to install the foot pedal kit. 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 4,987 #13 Posted June 24, 2016 Deck cleaned up and works well. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
19richie66 16,954 #14 Posted June 24, 2016 Good looking tractor. Cleaned up micely. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kthack657 254 #16 Posted June 26, 2016 keep getting it cleaned up, next year at the WHCC show, the feature will be 520's ( for those members who were at the meeting, and heard that it was the class of 63, it got changed as they already did that group,) so get that 520 ready to go and we will hopefully be able to see you next year Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
parsonsponyz 64 #17 Posted June 26, 2016 Hopefully this isn't a tease for this old fart. I was just thinking how cool it would be to do 520 as a feature, especially with the 20th anniversary of the last tractor produced being next year that makes it special. Is next years show dates June 22-23? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kthack657 254 #18 Posted June 26, 2016 2 minutes ago, parsonsponyz said: Hopefully this isn't a tease for this old fart. I was just thinking how cool it would be to do 520 as a feature, especially with the 20th anniversary of the last tractor produced being next year that makes it special. Is next years show dates June 22-23? it is not a joke, 520's are the feature, and the show dates are June 23 and 24th with setuo on the 22nd. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
parsonsponyz 64 #19 Posted June 26, 2016 I'm already excited for next years show. That provides some additional motivation to get the 520 restored (also will make the wife happy which never is a bad thing). Let the countdown begin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wishin4a416 2,189 #20 Posted June 26, 2016 Another nice 520 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 4,987 #21 Posted June 27, 2016 It should be done by then. I will have 4 at that point. I guess I will need a large trailer to bring them all down. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
new horse 44 #22 Posted June 28, 2016 520's next year???? I'm going!!! and bringin mine, even if it still has issues!!- Share this post Link to post Share on other sites