Help with first tractor purchase

[oilwell1415 563]

Here are the other pics from the ad.  It says it's a 64 Wheel Horse, it looks a lot like the PC you posted other than the hood and nose.  Are they good tractors?  It looks like someone has added the angle iron brackets under this one.

 

[WHNJ701 4,165]

that design was developed and sold by porter cable (1958-1959) and then, sold off and the design was built under different names in the 60s, with minor changes, (moto mower, dura corp, lawnmaster, massey executive)

it's a very simple design, the engine on this one appears to be a briggs 5 3/4 hp.

it would have 3 forward and 1 rev gear box.  the sheet metal looks great, the small belt guard is missing, no clue what the brackets are for.  for the most it will be as reliable as the condition of the engine.  

[tom2p 2,394]

that plane is mint ... a beauty 

 

needs to be pulled by a mint early 60's Wheel Horse ... or maybe IH Cub Cadet ... 

 

( apologize for including the Cub lol )

 

something like this :

 

 

 

can't recall where I found the pics of these sweet tractors  - but I believe they belong to RS members 

 

 

Edited December 17, 2019 by tom2p

[tom2p 2,394]

or this :

 

 

 

this is one of the coolest little tractors on the planet  - just like the plane !

 

but prepare for some wheelies with this one !

 

 

Edited December 17, 2019 by tom2p

[oilwell1415 563]

Thanks Tom, and everyone else, for the comments on the plane.  I can't take credit for it since I got it that way.  The PO did a complete rebuild on it in 2009 so I got basically a brand new plane in 2013 when I bought it.

I am more inclined to do something like the green tractor instead of mint.  If I do end up getting a WH to do the job I hope you guys don't send me to exile for the way it ends up.  My search started looking for an early Cub Cadet and that search led me to searching for an early David Bradley since the nose of that tractor looks a lot like the nose of my plane, but finding one down south has proven impossible.  The only one I found was junk and the guy wanted a fortune for it.  Now I just search for antique tractors and see what pops up.  I'm very interested in this little Suburban if I can just get the people to a reasonable price for it.

[Pullstart 67,082]

Most of us are pretty lenient on what you do with your Wheel Horse, so long you don’t try to turn it into another brand...   such as John Deere green.  We save that for painting who we love on the water tower, like my buddy Joe Diffy and Sharlene.

 

 

[WHNJ701 4,165]

early david bradley like this one, I wouldn't recommend it around an airplane, it's a cool driving tractor, but they have really no neutral and clutches can stick

[oilwell1415 563]

1 minute ago, jabelman said:

early david bradley like this one, I wouldn't recommend it around an airplane, it's a cool driving tractor, but they have really no neutral and clutches can stick

Yes, that's the one.  I had read about the no neutral and was planning to either install a clutch on the primary belt or do a centrifugal (which I'm not a fan of) to eliminate that.

[WHNJ701 4,165]

a panzer might be a better option 

[Pullstart 67,082]

If you can find a Panzer that is...  I’ve been looking for one for Mrs. Pullstart.  She seems to really like them, but the couple I’ve seen around here lately are as expensive as gold bars.

[oilwell1415 563]

A Panzer is on my list as well.  There are actually two of them for sale north of Kansas City that I was thinking about going to get.  I think the guy wanted $300 for the pair.  I'll see if I can find the ad.

[WHNJ701 4,165]

panzers are super tough and heavy, you can still can find parts for the tractors,  the rear is an inverted chrysler with indepent drum brakes, attachments however are extremely difficult to find anymore.

not sure how much reverse you will be doing, they do use a rubber "puc" 

biggest item make sure it has the correct engine pulley!  3 or 2 groove with the rubber puc mount

[oilwell1415 563]

45 minutes ago, pullstart said:

If you can find a Panzer that is...  I’ve been looking for one for Mrs. Pullstart.  She seems to really like them, but the couple I’ve seen around here lately are as expensive as gold bars.

PM sent on those Panzers.

[tom2p 2,394]

here's a sweet one 

 

fairly certain this one belongs to a RS member 

 

 

 

[tom2p 2,394]

maybe something different ... unique ?

this one might be for sale ?

 

 

Edited December 17, 2019 by tom2p

[Ed Kennell 42,195]

       Not for $200 though.

[Ed Kennell 42,195]

  

 

You could go for a real airplane tug.

 

Edited December 18, 2019 by Ed Kennell

[oilwell1415 563]

I considered a real tug, but there are two big reasons I don't want to go that route.  First, and this will probably make you guys laugh, they are expensive.  If I was going to be towing 20-30 planes per day that would be reasonable, but I only need to do it a few times per week at most and my plane is much smaller than those are designed for, so I'd be paying big money for something that was overkill for my needs and not used that often.  Second, a lawn tractor makes a better tug than a tug makes a lawn tractor.  There are occasions I will likely need the tractor for something else and a tug wouldn't do the job.  Plowing the driveway during our one snowfall per year comes to mind.

[oilwell1415 563]

Back to the drawing board.  This lady says if she can't get $1000 out of it then she'll just keep it.  I hope she likes it because she's going to have it for a long time.  The hunt continues.....

[ZXT 2,401]

On 12/17/2019 at 8:47 AM, oilwell1415 said:

Here are the other pics from the ad.  It says it's a 64 Wheel Horse, it looks a lot like the PC you posted other than the hood and nose.  Are they good tractors?  It looks like someone has added the angle iron brackets under this one.

 

That tractor has been on FB marketplace for well over a year. I knew it wasn't a WH, but I never sent the seller anything telling him that since I figured it was just an old ad. 

[WHNJ701 4,165]

7 minutes ago, ZXT said:

That tractor has been on FB marketplace for well over a year. I knew it wasn't a WH, but I never sent the seller anything telling him that since I figured it was just an old ad. 

that's a good buy at 225, not rare but an very uncommon tractor and the sheet metal is in great shape.  they drive nice.  that's an easy restore 

[oilwell1415 563]

5 hours ago, ZXT said:

That tractor has been on FB marketplace for well over a year. I knew it wasn't a WH, but I never sent the seller anything telling him that since I figured it was just an old ad. 

Yes, it’s been on there a long time.  He just dropped the price in the last week or two.  It was $300 and I think I remember it being $400 before that.

[oilwell1415 563]

6 hours ago, jabelman said:

that's a good buy at 225, not rare but an very uncommon tractor and the sheet metal is in great shape.  they drive nice.  that's an easy restore 

Posted this before and it’s disappeared.

 

I looked briefly for a PC tractor forum and didn’t find anything.  What is the parts and tech support like on them?  I really like the look of that tractor, but don’t want to end up with an orphan.

[WHNJ701 4,165]

33 minutes ago, oilwell1415 said:

Posted this before and it’s disappeared.

 

I looked briefly for a PC tractor forum and didn’t find anything.  What is the parts and tech support like on them?  I really like the look of that tractor, but don’t want to end up with an orphan.

I am your tech support for these!  there's a very small following I don't think there are any sites for them.  as long as the transaxle is good you will be fine.  its a basic briggs engine, as said the sheet metal is great, it's a very basic simple design, brake band/clutch pedal.  I restored 2 porter cables, both in worse shape than that style, which I think is a 61 or 62 lawn master.  these tractors were sold under different names so parts do pop up online occasionally.  if you decide to get it feel free to contact me I have the parts diagrams and manuals

[WHNJ701 4,165]

giving it more thought, I have rebuilt and restored many different brands mostly uncommon, unusual types.

you really can't beat the wheelhorse.  any part you need you can in 15 minutes.  plus you cant beat an 8 hp kohler.  they make a nice hitch adapter to for the wheelhorse transaxle.  

I think a 61 to 64 round hood wheelhorse would be your best option.  if you have the room and time pick up that lawnmaster too!