What have you done to your Wheel Horse today?

[squonk 47,108]

23 minutes ago, Sparky said:

Old gear oil out, then a kerosene flush and drain…now the fresh stuff goes in.

1978  C-81 

 

Something tells me you didn't spend the afternoon on a black roof in this heat! 

[ebinmaine 79,319]

Page number.      1054 !!

 

[Sparky-(Admin) 25,725]

 Was not a fan of these big goofy headlights on my 857, after two years of owning it I finally removed them. 
  Much better looking! Too bad there’s a big ‘ol hole on both sides of the hood 

 

 

 

[EthanL 13]

6 minutes ago, Sparky said:

 Was not a fan of these big goofy headlights on my 857,

 

 

 

My tractor had the same round lights, they got old and burned out. Rather than replacing them I found new LEDs that looked very similar. Since this tractor is my work horse, the LEDs were a very functional upgrade. 

[ebinmaine 79,319]

13 minutes ago, Sparky said:

big goofy headlights

 

If ya need a home for those.. I'd be interested. 

[Sparky-(Admin) 25,725]

9 minutes ago, EthanL said:

My tractor had the same round lights, they got old and burned out. Rather than replacing them I found new LEDs that looked very similar. Since this tractor is my work horse, the LEDs were a very functional upgrade. 

 And yes, if this was a worker I would have kept the headlights. But it’s pretty much just a show cruiser. Occasionally I’ll hook up a trailer and move firewood but never at night. 

[Handy Don 16,814]

18 minutes ago, Sparky said:

I'm sure you can find something to attach there that is more pleasing to look at, for example a side marker light or a simple reflector.

You might consider, too, a reinforced filler covered by a decal from redoyourhorse--something custom, even, like your horse’s name. 

I do agree those lights look better in the parts bin than on the tractor! 

 

[Handy Don 16,814]

On 6/29/2026 at 6:05 AM, adsm08 said:

In fact I may grab those ones and use them since that deck now has a broken cross shaft.

I have found two potential “gotchas” on these decks when mixin’ & matchin’ apart from those driven by the 32 vs 36” sizes. 

In ’68, WH added shoulders on the bottoms of the cross-shaft bearing holders around the mounting bolt holes. I believe it was better for locking in cross shaft alignment. These then needed enlarged holes through the shell and into mating sockets in the cast iron bearing holder.

In, I think, ’66 or ’68, the spindles were lengthened by ⅛” to accommodate a thrust bearing below the spindle gear--previously there was a simple thin thrust washer. 

[squonk 47,108]

48 minutes ago, Sparky said:

 Was not a fan of these big goofy headlights on my 857, after two years of owning it I finally removed them. 
  Much better looking! Too bad there’s a big ‘ol hole on both sides of the hood 

 

 

 

Red Square stickers would cover them up!

[adsm08 4,709]

32 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

WH added shoulders on the bottoms of the cross-shaft bearing holders

 

I believe the ones on the 32 inch deck had them. I have not inspected the ones from the 36 we just took apart yet.

[sqrlgtr 3,073]

1 hour ago, Sparky said:

Too bad there’s a big ‘ol hole on both sides of the hood 

had a set of extra holes in my 1257 hood but added lights instead of removing 

[ML3 2,351]

10 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said:

had a set of extra holes in my 1257 hood but added lights instead of removing 

My free 702 already had holes w/no lights installed.  Since its a functional tractor I installed led lamps. They definitely work great & at least I dont think they look too bad......It kinda ugly old tractor anyways! 🤣