bell 11 #1 Posted January 21, 2009 I went to see a local guy that had some "parts tractors"... Along a row of short frame Wheel Horse carcases, I saw the checkered flags.... I wasn't sure if any other models used them, but I had a pretty good idea that it was legit. He said that he wanted the 8hp Breaks & Scrappem off of it, so I made an offer. We loaded it up and I hauled it home... I punched in the numbers at the toro site and... Sure enough! (most of) a 1968 500 Special! It's (what's there) is in pretty darn good shape! The tires are EXCELLENT and the transmission shifts nice and smooth. They didn't cut up the belt guard and used a plate to bolt on the briggs with no extra holes drilled. I'll roll it to the back of the stable and start my search for a 68-ish short frame hood... and a H60 Tecumseh. OR, I may use that recoil start K181 on it... :dunno: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,643 #2 Posted January 21, 2009 Nice save, Jon. So how many does that make you now? Must be getting close to 50. :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TJ 184 #3 Posted January 21, 2009 Nice find. :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bell 11 #4 Posted January 21, 2009 Nice save, Jon. So how many does that make you now? Must be getting close to 50. Thanks fellas..... Terry, I only have 15..... and 3 or 4..... or 5 parts tractors.... :dunno: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sorekiwi 761 #5 Posted January 21, 2009 Everybody knows that "Parts tractors dont count..." :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerrell 1 #6 Posted January 21, 2009 :thumbs: not familiar with that tractor , does the 6 with the flags mean it is a 6 hp or 6 speed???? great find Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duff 206 #7 Posted January 21, 2009 Everybody knows that "Parts tractors dont count..." To quote Colonel Potter in an episode of M*A*S*H, "Horse hockey!!!" If'n it still has got enough parts and pieces to be recognizable as a tractor, it counts!!!!! Duff :whistle: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Old Iron 0 #8 Posted January 21, 2009 not familiar with that tractor , does the 6 with the flags mean it is a 6 hp or 6 speed???? great find I'm wondering, too. It looks a lot like my 1057.... almost exact, actually. The dash has the warning light and cigar liter blanked out but the rear fender looks exactly the same. (whitch I could use, by the way... ) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Teddy da Bear 11 #9 Posted January 21, 2009 Amen Duff... Nice score on the 500 Indy! :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linen beige 15 #10 Posted January 21, 2009 If'n it still has got enough parts and pieces to be recognizable as a tractor, it counts!!!!! Unless, of course, you're trying to justify to the wife that you need to add another complete tractor to your count. BTW. Nice find Jon :whistle: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pond195520032003 27 #11 Posted January 21, 2009 the "6" means 6hp recoil start only and was a tecumseh thats why it has the delete plugs nice score John :horseplay: :whistle: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bell 11 #12 Posted January 21, 2009 Yes, the 500 Special was a VERY basic tractor... It was a "commemorative" tractor for the Indy 500... 6hp Tecumseh, 3spd trans, 6-12 rear tires... very basic, but VERY cool looking (IMO) In order to consider one a parts tractor, for me, You cannot put 4 wheels on it...(ie: transaxle missing, front axle missing) and the hood/ or a major part of the "body" has to be missing... Just don't tell my wife about the transaxles and hoods in the garage... :whistle: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CasualObserver 3,411 #13 Posted January 21, 2009 Everybody knows that "Parts tractors dont count..." That used to be in my siggy line... "Honey that doesn't count, it's a parts tractor!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CasualObserver 3,411 #14 Posted January 21, 2009 the "6" means 6hp recoil start only and was a tecumseh thats why it has the delete plugs Unless I'm mistaken, the 500 special was not a recoil only, it was Electric start. And yes, the 6 was for 6 HP. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TT-(Moderator) 1,162 #15 Posted January 21, 2009 Unless I'm mistaken, the 500 special was not a recoil only, it was Electric start. They were originally recoil start only, but a few have been turning up with electric start. An educated guess would be that the electrics were dealer-added because of consumer requests. (It's much easier to charge a battery than relocate a shoulder. ) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael Bullington 5 #16 Posted January 21, 2009 hey great find and save!! I hate to see these ole tractors tossed away! I like these Tecumseh tractors because no one else want them! :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg Parnell 6 #17 Posted January 22, 2009 Hey Jon, I didn't know WH made a Indy tractor, that's one of the coolest tractors I've seen. A WheelHorse pace tractor!! Real good find Ya learn something new around here every day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TT-(Moderator) 1,162 #18 Posted January 22, 2009 Yeah.... they made a few. Look, Jon.... this one has a Kohler! :horseplay: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BPjunk 184 #19 Posted January 23, 2009 Jon, The 1968 '500' SPECIAL is a neat find, from what I have figured only 2,500 of these models were produced. The versions with the crossed flags were the early models as some hood stand decals did not have the number "6" because the crossed flag decal was also used on the Wheel Horses that worked the pits at the Indy 500 car race. (since some of these pit tractors had more then 6 hp). If the ignition switch has only one wire then the engine was a recoil start version, meaning a dealer did not install a electric start Tecumseh H-60 to help sell the unit. To get this '500' SPECIAL correct look for a H-60 that does not have bolt holes for a electric starter and try to find a 1969 WORKHORSE 700 for a parts tractor as most of the parts will interchange. The folks who brought their '500' SPECIALs to the show last year had a blast with them as we took lots of pictures of then and had them lead the parade after Cecil and Betty Pond. Wild Bill in Richmond, Va. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Docwheelhorse 2,778 #20 Posted January 23, 2009 Who are Cecil and Betty Pond??? Tony Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bell 11 #21 Posted January 23, 2009 TT, thanks for the inspiration! That K181 recoil start I have will look JUST RIGHT in there... Bill, thanks for the great info! Sorry but this one is going to get a kohler... I hope I'm not hated for it... I figure that If I hadn't bought it, it would probably be gone forever... and I don't have/ like the original engine for it, so I might as well put a good ol' kohler in it... Funny that you mention the Workhorse 700, I just won this on epay... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...:EOIBSA:US:1123 :banana: :horseplay: :banana: :horseplay: :banana: :horseplay: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buzz 502 #22 Posted January 23, 2009 Here's some of the 500s at the show last year: http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/index.php?showtopic=6182 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
marvairplanes 34 #23 Posted January 23, 2009 The 1968 '500' SPECIAL is a neat find, from what I have figured only 2,500 of these models were produced. The versions with the crossed flags were the early models as some hood stand decals did not have the number "6" because the crossed flag decal was also used on the Wheel Horses that worked the pits at the Indy 500 car race. (since some of these pit tractors had more then 6 hp). Wild Bill in Richmond, Va. Bill, From an earlier exchange of "stories" re the 500 Special, you have serial # 49068, I have # 485079, and I just learned of another in Georgia with # 501989. How does one read these numbers, and what do they "mean" ? Marv (NW Oh) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bell 11 #24 Posted January 25, 2009 Well, it's alive!!!! I spent the morning cleaning 40 years of grease, oil and grass clippings from the engine area and bolted in the K181... It started pretty easily but wouldn't run above idle... (I bought this engine on ebay and hadn't started it yet) I originally thought it was carburetor troubles, so I pulled it apart, gave it a good cleaning and tried it again... still the same. I then looked towards the ignition. I screwed in a new spart plug and went to put in a new set of points, when I realized that someone had put a condenser on it... They had wired the condenser to the mag wire then to the points... I went ahead and put on a new set of points, without the condenser And it started right up and ran GREAT! (EDIT: after getting set straight by TT, it IS supposed to have a condenser, just different than the one for battery ignition... THANKS TERRY! ) I put on a spare '65 hood that I had in the attic of the garage (the correct hood should be here next week) and took it for a spin... :horseplay: All is well! I will park it in the "horse port" and start gathering parts for a full resto! Or, would that be a resto-mod with the Kohler? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linen beige 15 #25 Posted January 25, 2009 Or, would that be a resto-mod with the Kohler? You'll have to renumber it a "501" special now. You know with a Kohler it'll go the extra mile. :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
