ZXT 2,394 #1 Posted November 22, 2018 (edited) Well... I've been scrolling past these two wheel horses for a few weeks. One of the tractors is a C160, the other a C120. Both hydros. They'd been posted for 6 months, so I figured they were gone, but I inquired anyways. $600 for the C160, $500 for the C120. That was more than I figured they were worth, so I forgot about them. Checked back a few days ago, and they'd dropped the price of the C160 to $300 and the C120 for $225. After messing with my GT-14, a friend of mine became interested in WH's. He decided he wanted the C160, so I figured I'd buy the C120. Both are supposed to be good running tractors, and they have new Exide "classic" automotive batteries on them (Which are about $100 a piece). The C160 needs a starter; the shaft snapped as can be seen in the picture. The handle to engage/disengage the hydro is also broken. The C120 unfortunately has a Tecumseh, but is supposed to run good. I can always put a Kohler on it if I have issues. I believe both have 42" decks that appear to be in amazing shape. One deck has Toro on it, so I know it's newer. As an unexpected, but welcomed bonus with the tractors was an extra attach-a-matic with mule drive, which will go on my GT-14 for when I find a deck. They were about 2 hours from my house, but about 15 miles from my moms place, which I was going to anyways for thanksgiving. They're sitting outside but I won't have a chance to mess with them much until I go home on Friday. How do y'all think I did? I haven't found a mower deck, let alone a complete tractor for $200, so I don't think I got hurt too bad. Edited November 22, 2018 by ZXT 9 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Razorback 1,032 #2 Posted November 22, 2018 They definitely look better on your trailer and in the bed of your truck! I think you made a great deal! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 62,332 #4 Posted November 22, 2018 6 hours ago, Razorback said: They definitely look better on your trailer and in the bed of your truck! I think you made a great deal! Agreed The way I look at it is if the separated parts are worth what I paid for the whole then I'll be ok. You nearly bought 2 mowers and got 2 free Tractors at that price. Well done. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 10,642 #5 Posted November 22, 2018 From the pictures they look like fine tractors, I paid more for my 16 Auto than you did for both tractors, As long as you can get them both running I think you made a good deal. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 50,997 #6 Posted November 22, 2018 Sounds like you and your friend did very well! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZXT 2,394 #7 Posted November 22, 2018 Thanks guys! I sent a few pictures to my buddy and he seems pleased with the c160. I have noticed a few things on the c120. It has an electric PTO switch, but a manual PTO. Also has a push button for the starter in addition to the factory ignition switch, but it works. I've read up some and people seem to say that the Tecumseh's are OK. Its too bad that you cant use a vertical shaft Kohler in a horizontal application, because I think I have a few of those around.. Here's the picture of the starter that I forgot to include last night. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 62,332 #8 Posted November 22, 2018 16 minutes ago, ZXT said: Tecumseh's are OK Basically what it comes down to is that those have a love-hate relationship. There a perfectly fine and good running and Torquey engine while they're going okay. if the ignition system stops working it is often less expensive to get another used engine than it is to fix the ignition system. If it's running and doing okay... Leave it in there. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZXT 2,394 #9 Posted November 22, 2018 (edited) 8 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: Basically what it comes down to is that those have a love-hate relationship. There a perfectly fine and good running and Torquey engine while they're going okay. if the ignition system stops working it is often less expensive to get another used engine than it is to fix the ignition system. If it's running and doing okay... Leave it in there. I'll have to do some research on their ignition system. You'd think it would just be typical points, condenser and coil.. Edited November 22, 2018 by ZXT Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 62,332 #10 Posted November 22, 2018 1 minute ago, ZXT said: I'll have to do some research on their ignition system. You'd think it would just be typical points, condenser and coil.. It is on some of them and on others it is an electronic ignition. Kohler engines are far easier to work on when replacing parts. Also, the teckeys can be very finicky to get the timing right when you go to put it back together and you have to disassemble more of the engine to reset the timing than you do on a Kohler. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZXT 2,394 #11 Posted November 22, 2018 1 minute ago, ebinmaine said: It is on some of them and on others it is an electronic ignition. Kohler engines are far easier to work on when replacing parts. Also, the teckeys can be very finicky to get the timing right when you go to put it back together and you have to disassemble more of the engine to reset the timing than you do on a Kohler. Ah, I see. When I was younger I messed around with mowers and small engines for fun... I always remember the Teckey's being a pain to do anything on compared to B&S engines. Never ran as well as I thought they should either.. That's where most of my bias against them comes from. Maybe this one will prove me wrong! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 8,761 #12 Posted November 22, 2018 Considering your here in Texas, were you wearing a mask. You just about stole them. Great score, you will like the hydro and the C series are beast of a worker. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jebbear 377 #13 Posted November 22, 2018 Great Catch!! You did well. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZXT 2,394 #14 Posted November 22, 2018 (edited) 11 minutes ago, oliver2-44 said: Considering your here in Texas, were you wearing a mask. You just about stole them. Great score, you will like the hydro and the C series are beast of a worker. Haha! I called on them Thursday of last week, and told the guy I couldn't get there until Wednesday. He said he'd hold them until then, but I figured someone would offer more and wind up with them. Luckily that didn't happen! The only other one that I've seen for sale in Texas is further east, a C-111 with a blown up 11HP B&S and manual trans for $300. Figured this was better. Bought them from Don at D&D Tractor in Princeton. Very nice and helpful guy. Thanks! My dad hasa c141 and it's a great tractor. If this one performs anything like it does, I will be pleased. Edited November 22, 2018 by ZXT Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZXT 2,394 #15 Posted November 24, 2018 Well, I got both of them running! The batteries were put on 4 months ago and they haven't been run since. They were a tad bit low so i put them on the charger to bring them back up. Before I tried starting them, I rolled both of them through by hand. Tecumseh had amazing compression. Kohler had very little. The muffler was installed by someone who wasn't very bright. They pointed it up wards where it would catch water! Exhaust valve was sticky. Poured some oil down the cylinder and got some on the valves. Once they freed up, it had great compression. The Kohler fired right up with the gas that was in it. After adjusting the carb a bit, I had it running and idling good. Hydro is very strong and he mower deck seems to be in great functional condition. Initially when checking the oil, it looked brand new. After running it for a minute, it was milky. Can't imagine why. Oil will be changed before it is run any more. Oil in the trans looks fresh. The Tecumseh took a little more to get to start, but once it did, it ran great. Not one hint of smoke ever. Trans oil was a bit low, but looked fresh. Topped it off and it should be good to go. It could stand to have new axle seals. The trans on the C160 seemed stronger, in the sense that the tractor seemed a bit faster. Might be that they have different units. It pulls hills without issue. Overall, I'm very pleased! I'm especially pleased with the Tecumseh. If it continues to run as good as it does, it can stay put. I did however buy a K321 from my neighbor to build; it needs a piston and rod. I'll have to research whether or not the crank is the same size since it came off of a John Deere 214. I know CC's have cranks that are different size than WH's, but I'm not sure about JD's. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 62,332 #16 Posted November 24, 2018 9 hours ago, ZXT said: Initially when checking the oil, it looked brand new. After running it for a minute, it was milky. Can't imagine why. Oil will be changed I'm going to theorize that the water running down from the upside down muffler is the culprit. When you checked the oil initially you would have not seen water on the stick because it was sitting in the bottom of the pan below the oil. Start the engine, mix things up.... Milk. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZXT 2,394 #17 Posted November 24, 2018 Whoops, my sarcasm didn't translate well through the text. Thanks! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 62,332 #18 Posted November 24, 2018 23 minutes ago, ZXT said: Whoops, my sarcasm didn't translate well through the text. Thanks! Should have seen what happened on the 1267 yesterday. I had left it outside with a can on the stack and the can blew off in the middle of a rainstorm.... So I drained out the oil and checked the level and started it up. It was blowing water out the exhaust like a fountain! Apparently it had settled into the muffler but not going down into the engine. It has occurred to me that maybe the exhaust valve was closed so there was no water going down into the engine so I'm going to probably repeat the procedure of draining the oil. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZXT 2,394 #19 Posted November 24, 2018 Well, if anything, that tells you that your exhaust valve seals good! Probably ran water into your new oil right when you started it. Oh well, better safe than sorry. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 62,332 #20 Posted November 24, 2018 27 minutes ago, ZXT said: Well, if anything, that tells you that your exhaust valve seals good! Probably ran water into your new oil right when you started it. Oh well, better safe than sorry. Yeah that's what I was thinking too....... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tankman 3,514 #21 Posted November 25, 2018 Excellent! Two Stallions! You two made out great! Two Horses moving to excellent homes too! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites