Your first WHEEL HORSE Memory !! ??

[rustyedge1 176]

In the late 60s early 70s I had just got out of the Army and was living with dad at that time with my first real job. Worked 3rd shift at Dana Corp on the molding floor pouring iron. Got off one morning and stopped in for a few beers at the local tavern then went home, there was dad with this old RED tractor/mower he had just bought from someone he knew. He was just beside himself with the deal he made. I said dose it run and work ? They said it dose he says then hits the starter. Full throttle, 3rd gear I guess, foot slips off the clutch and that old WH jumped right into a new 3 car garage wall he had just built, bang. Dads butt is off the seat hanging on for dear life, bang, again hits the wall a second time, dad in the air again, bang, same thing. That old Horse  just wouldn't go down. Finally he got it under control and I am on the floor rolling. Dad, not pleased. Almost 50 years have passed and that memory just stays as fresh as yesterday. 

 

Who knows why we choose RED ? I believe that memory had something to do with my choices, whats yours ?

["D"- Man 827]

I know this will sort of be redundant as I have posted before on the Square.  My uncle had an early model 953, that he claimed he was able to drive up his clothesline post.  I was a bit sceptical since I was just a teenager at the time but, watched as he proved it.  He simply drove the tractor till it's front was touching the metal post, then started giving it a little more throttle until the post started to lean out and the front of the 953 began to lift after the post stopped any further lean out, my uncle continued till it was vertical.  He of coarse fell off, and gas was coming out of the tank.  I never doubted my uncle again.  Later my father bought the 953.  My younger brother usually mowed, but I did get a few turns myself.  We also used it to plow and disc the garden as well as push snow to clear the drive.  The dozer/snow blade was retro fitted from an RJ if I remember correctly.  Unfortunately the tractor was burnt up in a garage fire, perhaps a bit ironical as it was not long after painting it John Deere green and yellow.  

[Ken B 3,189]

My very first memory of a Wheel Horse... I was about 8 yrs. old, (40 yrs. ago) I can remember there was an older guy in the neighborhood who had this red tractor that was kinda rusty looking but real cool looking. The only time I ever saw it was when it snowed as he would clear his driveway with it and I would always hope I didn't miss that tractor in action.. Man, would that old timer work that little red tractor. He would get a running start and ram the hell out of the snow when it was deep and heavy and that little red tractor would climb the snow banks as he was pushing the snow. I got close enough to see that it said Wheel Horse on its round hood, I can remember thinking to myself, man one day I shall have one of them! If I had to guess I'd have to say it was probably a 702...  I can also remember watching the two plow trucks that would clear the church parking lot directly behind my parents house. I would just sit on a snow bank and watch these two trucks clear the lot for hours. (big parking lot) I realized that the deeper the snow was the more fun it was too watch! If I had to guess I'd say the one plow truck was a 68 Chevy stepside with a 4 speed and probably glass pack mufflers, the other truck was probably a 73 K20 with a 4 speed and loud mufflers as well. Same two guys for many yrs. I'd have to say I learned a thing or two from all these guys I watched. Years later I would go onto manage the snow crew at a very large local shopping mall. I wish I had pictures or video's of me working the loader with a 24 ft. blade on it. Great memories... Here is a video of me yrs. later... Kept that promise to myself that I'd push snow with an old rusty Wheel Horse.

 

[Fun Engineer 859]

I vaguely remember our 953. I would have been 8. I mowed with it some but I was restricted to the flat areas of our hilly property. I helped dad replace a gear or bearing in the transmission when I was around 11 or 12 and I finished the job by hammering out the bent rear fenders from loose tire chains and painting the fender. 

 I remember the day our new Commando 8 was delivered and being instructed on how to use it. My mother wanted the Commando as it had a lower center of gravity making mowing our steep hill easier. 

 

My sister and I logged a lot of hours on that little Commando. It was a 4-5 hour job to mow our property. She'd sing at the top of her lungs to pass the time. I'd just daydream and use the cigarette lighter to burn circles in the plastic light switch cover. 

 

That at little Commando 8 mowed a lot of grass and plowed a lot of snow before her restoration in 2011. Here she is in her new clothes. 

 

Edited July 12, 2016 by Fun Engineer

[rustyedge1 176]

4 hours ago, Fun Engineer said:

cigarette lighter to burn circles in the plastic light switch cover. 

So your the reason WH done away that feature !

 

Nice looking tractor.

6 hours ago, Ken B said:

Kept that promise to myself that I'd push snow with an old rusty Wheel Horse.

Brings back memories.