Newbie....To tractors and this forum

[MEBDRB 1]

Hi Gentlemen,

I will give you a little background as how I got into this situation, I had a 4 wheeler with a blade and found I was not using the 4 wheeler all year long until winter came and I would use it between 4 and 10 times to plow my drive. So this year I decided a 5k dollar machine didn't need to sit in the shed and I sold it. I used my snow blower a couple times after selling the 4 wheeler and soon discovered I was to FAT and out of shape for that so I started looking for a cheap lawn tractor with a blade to do the drive with.

Here is where the story starts, I was on Craigslist and there was a Wheel Horse listed on there for sale with a blade. Well not knowing what that was I went to look at it. I build Hot Rods and Dune Buggies for fun, so restoring or rebuilding things is interesting to me but I was not looking to do this with a lawn tractor, or actually had even thought about it. Well, when we turned the corner, there it sat in the front yard and I told my wife,"that is Kool, I want it" so I went and checked it out. It has a ton of things wrong with it and after I have found this site and seen what you guy's pay for them realiize I paid way to much. Oh well, it's done now. He wanted 650.00 for it and the blade, no deck or anything. I gave him 525.00 for it. Well this little devil has stole my heart, It starts and runs excellent, the ignition does not work so I have to start it by the silinoid (sp), headlights don't work, and a few other things are not right, but man I love this little devil.

Ok, sorry for the life story......now to the first problem, The wife and I have nicknamed it "Crazy Horse" because there is NO neutral to be found, so when you are plowing and trying to run the blade it can get kinda crazy when you are around the shops and cars, you are either in forward or reverse. I think I found the answer by a link to the transmission adjustment, but I would like to hear from you guys on it.

By the way, I have never owned or worked on a lawn tractor of any type before.

This is (I believe) a GT-14 automatic, that is what the hood says on one side.

I also have not looked for the Model and seriel #'s as of yet.....

THIS WAS COPIED FROM MTF.....AND EDITED FOR THIS SITE...

I have pics and will see if I can figure this site out..... I am active on allot of Buggy sites, but seems each one is different, so let's see if I can get it to work....

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,882]

First welcome to the site, that is a GT-14 which is a very nice garden tractor, in my opinion borders on SubCompact Tractor. In any event, if you look at your 3rd picture on the side under the dash to the left of the batter, that is your model number and serial number. Just post what that is here and you'll know the exact year.

The transmission is adjustable for neutral. I don't have the experience with that model, but it shouldn't take much to do.

Again welcome and thanks for sharing the pictures.

[combatmp29r 27]

Daren, I sent you an email, I have the manual for your tractor on pdf that I can send you. That will walk you through takeing some of the crazy out of her. Also I recommend you join the yahoo manuals groups. 8 total ther are alot of resources on there. You can find them under the links thread here, or here is the first group Manuals Group

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,610]

Darren,

I've seen this post on MTF - and I also responded to your post in the "Where's Everyone From?" thread. I just want to welcome you again to this site. There are some knowledgeable members here. Joel and Karl has already chime in with their suggestions and advice.

I can tell you that the GT-14 is one nice machine, very versatile and capable. Will we see a restoration job on this or are you just content to make this a worker? It sounds like you bought it as a worker, but some people do change their minds.

Again, welcome to the Red Square. :D

[MEBDRB 1]

Ok, Thanks for the welcome......pics worked.....that is a start...

I do know where the #'s are, thanks though, I just have not been out to get them yet..

I also learned how to adjust neutral and look for worn parts there in the slide, but at this time the tractor still works and does the intended job, so I want to leave it together until the snow season is over.

The goal with this tractor will be a partial teardown and rebuild, fixing everything not working as it should and getting new paint to pretty it up a bit. It will be a worker, that is what I bought it for. The two things I will be looking for in the end is...

1. Everything must work and it needs to plow snow and other small tasks around the house and shop.

2. Look good and give it the respect it deserves. :(

[MEBDRB 1]

Daren, I sent you an email, I have the manual for your tractor on pdf that I can send you. That will walk you through takeing some of the crazy out of her. Also I recommend you join the yahoo manuals groups. 8 total ther are alot of resources on there. You can find them under the links thread here, or here is the first group Manuals Group

OK, I am posting at the same time as some of you Gents....

Joel, I returned your e-mail.....thank you oh so very much.......

Guy's I promise you this will be a very nice "worker" when we are done with it.....I love this little bad boy to death, I was already given an offer to sell by my neighbor and the answer was NO.....

Joel.......I have joined a couple of the Yahoo groups and I got to tell you I consider myself fairly able on a computer but that Yahoo stuff confuses the heck out of me. I cannot follow a thread on there for anything......for example, say I just go in to wheelhorses group and there are posts on there, it seems to me there is no ryme or reason as to how they are posted.

I wanted to go to where there is a list and pics of all the Wheel Horse models and I was not successful in getting that done.... I wanted to learn some about the models to see what I liked, I know already I want another one, a round hood small one, like what I believe you guys call a suburban, with a plow.....

I have to tell you guy's so far I REALLY like this site and format....

Here is an example of what the wife and I have built, this was done two years ago and since been sold.....not saying the WH will go this far, but it will look good moving snow......

[combatmp29r 27]

Thats a sweet ride Darren.

I agree about the yahoo threads. Thats why we all like it here so much. This is so simple to follow and you can post your pics right in the thread.

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,610]

Darren,

Nice ride. I don't want to be negative about any site, but the Yahoo group format has it's limits. That's not the individual site's fault, but it's the format they have to work with. The yahoo group format is basically no topical thread and posts are posted chronologically by time. It is what it is.

I also like a format that organizes posts in topical threads and where you can insert pictures in the post itself. It makes it easier to follow and you only have to view the threads you're interested in. Also this format you can just click on the "Today's Active Posts" link toward the bottom of the home page and only see the active threads.

[MEBDRB 1]

I understand what you are saying about chronological order and I guess if I had hung around long enough I would have figured it out, but I am to impatient... :D

[MEBDRB 1]

Hi Gents, well time for a post from the lurker.....I don't post much because I don't know anything about Wheel Horses except for what I am lurning from you guys and what "Crazy Horse" is teaching me as I go. So I mostly just lurk and try to learn...

Well before the fun, lets get to the serious part. Since I had to get Crazy Horse out I got the #'s off her so you guys could do a for sure indentification for me. I think I have it figured out but want to hear it from you guys.

Here they are........

Wheel Horse........seriel # 725096

......................... Model # 1-7452

plow.....Wheel Horse.......76-42BC01-2358

.....................................6182

Now here is a little story for ya, we got 11' of snow Saturday afternoon, which then it warmed up to thirty nine degree's and started raining, so I thought well ok it will rain it away. Well needless to say it rained it down to two inch's of slush and overnight got cold again and snowed another seven inch's on top of that slush. So Sunday morning I told the wife I had better get Crazy Horse out and get some it moved because they were calling for another 4" over night.

So here is some pics for you guys, you will notice I have no hood on it because I have to start it off the silinoid....

Moving this stuff was like plowing a field of snotty bugers... I had little to know steering the slush was so slick, you really had to pull back and slow down to turn so the front tires could get a grip.

Notice the cone head..

That is the back half of my driveway, I have about anothe 150' of concrete that is not shown in the pics. This area is gravel.

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,882]

Aside from the fronts not getting enough traction, it looks like your 1970 GT-14 is pushing it just fine. That plow looks bigger than a 42" model. Does the GT have front wheel weights? That would probably help with the front traction, that or maybe a set of chains for the front too.

Thanks for the pictures, and hope you get your electrical problem fixed so you can put your hood on again.

[combatmp29r 27]

Darren,

The tractor is a 1970, and the blade is a 1977 42" that is the wrong blade for the GT. It should be 54" blade.

As far as the pics go, I want half of your storage space

My herd is packed into 3 8x10 sheds and a 4x10 leanto

The snow look sfun, but you can keep the slush. It looks like you had some fun, and thank the Mrs for the pics for us

[combatmp29r 27]

You know Karl I was just thinking the same thing about how bidg the plow looks. I was looking at the pics towards the top with it on the trailer and it looks like a 54 Hmmmm.

[perry 82]

welcome to the club. and thanks for the pics. looks like your having too much fun on your new horse. .

[MEBDRB 1]

I do not have front wheel weights, nor chains....and all the other push's I have done with it since getting it have been fine until the snotty slush, it was no big deal it handled it fine, but as you can see I plow around allot of obsticles...

I have never laid a tape to the blade, but it sure seems bigger then 42", I wonder if the frame work is from a 42" and someone changed the blade? is that possible to do?

I will get the electrical fixed when I pull it down to freshen it up after the season is over..... :D

[Jim_M 179]

That looks like a 54" blade to me. I don't think you did too bad on it, $525.00 for a running driving GT-14 with a 54" blade isn't a bad deal at all.

[Curmudgeon 28]

Uh, hate to be the bearer of bad news, but someone stole the front and half of one side off your storage building..... :D

[WheelHorse_of_course 99]

Mr B,

Welcome. This site has been growing like crazy, but that is for good reason.

Congratulations on your horse

When blading this slippery stuff you can just pull up on the blade when turning and it makes a big difference. Usually I turn the wheel and then firmly yank the lever a couple of times. You don't need to actually lift the blade, just transfer some of its weight to the frame.

The Suburbans are small round hoods with mid-mount engines (roasters). These are draft ponys. The Lawn Rangers were even smaller and are pony's.

The GT14 was the first "big" model and a very nice one.

Have fun :P

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,610]

Darren,

Nice pictures, your wife should get an award for taking these. It looks like you're still having some fun, there, even with the slushy mess. :D

[refracman 167]

Looks like your given a good work out there

Hmmm was ther mass quantities consumed afterward Beldar?

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,166]

Well since you need the hood off to use it right now you might as well git some red paint on it and make that yellow go away.

I love pics of tractors workin over just sitting still . And your are great pics!!

Keep em coming.

Mike...........

[Nick 13]

Doesnt look like you did bad at that price and if those wheel weights came with it you did even better. I might have missed if someone else mentioned this but I think the 54" blade came with 4 springs so they might have done some changes with the blade and frame.

Nick in Ohio

[MEBDRB 1]

Thanks for all the responses guys, I have not been able to get back on the site because we have been continuing to get snow.... ......so I have been moving snow and trying to keep us opened up.

I thought I saw pics of some 54" blades with two springs, did they all have four?.......That area of the blade does not look messed with.

I re-checked my #s on the blade and they are correct...........

The wheel weights and chains did come with my purchase of the tractor.... ......and they have come in handy the last few days.......

Just tring to answer a few of the questions that were posted, I have to move snow today and they are calling for four to six more tomorrow....

Thanks guys......

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,610]

Sounds like by the time it gets through snowing, you will have your fill of it this winter.

Sparky brought up a good point, I wonder why the yellow hood?

Keep warm and safe out there, Darren. And keep the snow west of the Rockies, eh! :D

[Nick 13]

I could be wrong on the trip springs. I had thought all the long frame 54" or 56" blades came with 4 springs.

Been a while since I saw any sell but my guess is those weights would be around $100.

Nick with no snow in Ohio