WH 520 vs JD 445

[Al C. 1,428]

I’m considering adding a third toy to my herd.  A Wheel Horse 520 or John Deere 445 - wondering which is an overall better tractor.  Mypurpose is to tinker and have the pleasure of a third beast.  Thoughts?

 

[953 nut 58,336]

2 minutes ago, Al C. said:

Thoughts?

         You came here to ask if a Wheel Horse, the finest piece of machinery ever built, is better than a green thing! what answer did you expect.   

           Let me think about this:    GET A HORSE OF COURSE!

[SylvanLakeWH 27,745]

Red.

 

[Al C. 1,428]

I’m surprised.  I thought the Onan engine would handicap the 520.  

[ebinmaine 71,097]

47 minutes ago, Al C. said:

My purpose is to tinker and have the pleasure of a third beast.

I wouldn't get either one. 

The level of complication of the overall build of either machine is FAR higher than something like a mid 70s C160 or even an 80s 4(00) series. 

Too much wiring to lose circuits. 

Too many other areas of wear items. 

 

IMHO:

If you really want to "tinker" on something those 2 tractors aren't going to be the best choice. 

 

Given consideration to the above, if you're set on those 2 choices... 

I've never been a Deere fan. 

They do make some great machines. Yes. But here in Northern New England they are overpriced. The parts availability is good but also overpriced. 

 

Unless it was a gift there are several other brands I would choose long before anything JD green lands here. 

 

 

Buy a well maintained and documented

WHEELHORSE

520. You'll have all the assistance you need here on Redsquare to keep it running great. 

[horseyheaven 113]

520 hands down.  Take care of the Onan.  I always had kohler sand Briggs.  After buying a 520 and 520hc, I kept them because I like the Onan so much.  Plus, you got the best engineered machine.  I used to mow a 15 acre cemetery with all Simplicity, Allis-Chalmers, and Wheel Horse.  The cemetery board leased a new deere for us to use instead of our own equipment.  I wouldn’t have traded that new green one for my most worn out orange or red machine.  I wasn’t impressed the way they held up.Too many wear items and light duty components compared to what I was used to.  Could never keep a deere deck leading edge from curling under.  The green one disappeared and old red and orange continued taking the abuse.  The cemetery was really rough due to a Case 580 running around digging graves.

[oliver2-44 10,441]

Here's my biased thinking. 

2 hours ago, 953 nut said:

         You came here to ask if a Wheel Horse, the finest piece of machinery ever built, is better than a green thing! what answer did you expect.   

           Let me think about this:    GET A HORSE OF COURSE!

 

i recently picked up a JD210 at the scrap yard for the engine, Ross Steering Column and to part out. it was certainly a heavy built machine. The JD 445 is even heavier.

Getting the Ross Steering Column meant everything had to come apart,.  Even with the assistance of a grinder cut-off wheel it was a pain.  i could have had my C-160 apart with wrenches and back together in the time it took me to get that JD apart. 

So as EB said 

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

I wouldn't get either one. 

IMHO:

If you really want to "tinker" on something those 2 tractors aren't going to be the best choice. 

 

Buy a well maintained and documented

WHEELHORSE

520. You'll have all the assistance you need here on Redsquare to keep it running great. 

.

[leeave96 488]

IMHO - the 520H.  That is a very special tractor and while Onan can have valve seat issues, it’s not anywhere the normal as there are ton of those engines in Wheelhorse tractors still going strong.  But to me the best reason to go 520H over the JD is just parts and implement interchangeability.

[clueless 3,129]

I think the first question is what do you mean by tinker with?

[WVHillbilly520H 10,376]

16 minutes ago, oliver2-44 said:

Here's my biased thinking. 

i recently picked up a JD210 at the scrap yard for the engine, Ross Steering Column and to part out. it was certainly a heavy built machine. The JD 445 is even heavier.

Getting the Ross Steering Column meant everything had to come apart,.  Even with the assistance of a grinder cut-off wheel it was a pain.  i could have had my C-160 apart with wrenches and back together in the time it took me to get that JD apart. 

So as EB said 

.

Most older Cub Cadets use the Ross steering box and aren't to bad to dissect... Now to the original question I'm totally biased here having owned a 520H since new, even with the 9 pin Molex being probably the biggest electrical gremlin and the Nikki carbs surge the most aggravating of mechanical issues the aftermarket has started to help with more common replacement parts (Voltage regulator and fuel pumps) over the price Cummins/Onan wants... So yeah get yourself a 520H... But on the flip side the older 318 and 420 JD would be a better choice than the 445 IMHO.

[82Caddy 851]

IMO you’re not really comparing two apple to apple tractors. Fuel injected vs carb, shaft driven implements vs belt driven, two hydraulic ports for lift/tilt vs one, factory available 3 point and rear PTO vs none.
 

If you want a machine to tinker and play with, I’d avoid the Deere (not because it isn’t a great machine, it’s just more complex and there really is less to tinker with on it) and go for a older c series machine. The c series or 520h will be able to utilize all the implements and attachments you already have. From experience Deere equipment is expensive to get into. 

[Pullstart 64,930]

I like Wheel Horse.  Nuff Said.  

[Al C. 1,428]

Great feedback!  I’m not interested in getting into a higher level of complexity.  And, I don’t want the potential problems of the Onan engine.   Someone suggested a C-160.  It sounds like this is my best route.  I have the Koehler 341 engine on my SK-486.  Great engine!  Wouldn’t mind having another.  Thanks!!!!

[ebinmaine 71,097]

1 hour ago, Al C. said:

Great feedback!  I’m not interested in getting into a higher level of complexity.  And, I don’t want the potential problems of the Onan engine.   Someone suggested a C-160.  It sounds like this is my best route.  I have the Koehler 341 engine on my SK-486.  Great engine!  Wouldn’t mind having another.  Thanks!!!!

A C160 (1974 - 1977) is basically a predecessor to your SK486. 

C161 (78 & 79) or a black hood C165 (80 - 82/3?) would also be comparable. 

In the newer models an early 416 with a single cylinder is the closest. 

 

 

[tom2p 2,394]

6 hours ago, Al C. said:

I’m considering adding a third toy to my herd.  A Wheel Horse 520 or John Deere 445 - wondering which is an overall better tractor.  Mypurpose is to tinker and have the pleasure of a third beast.  Thoughts?

 

tinker ?   520 prob not the ideal tractor just to tinker 

 

cut a lot of grass or plow big garden or push / throw a lot of snow ?   520 might then be ideal 

 

try a 520 - or even a smaller displacement Onan powered 416 - before you dismiss because of possible valve seat issues 

 

strong runners with gobs of torque 

 

520 with around 33 ft lbs of torque prob has the same or possibly more torque than the liquid cooled 22 hp Kaw in the 545 Deere ... ( I believe the 22 hp Kaw has around 31 or 32 ft lbs ?) ... and the Onan generates the max torque at a lower rpm

 

Edited August 22, 2020 by tom2p

[clueless 3,129]

Your SK-486 is really just the last C-160, just a different decal and the smaller 1" rear axle. If you want to tinker find a good 1 1/8" rear end and bolt it up, then you have the IMO best WHs made. the only thing better would be if it had the M16 on it. If it had not been for the distance your SK-486 would have been mine the first day he listed it. It's a looker . 

[oliver2-44 10,441]

I gave a C160 and it had amazed me what it can do. 
A C165 With that great 16 hp thumper and the Eaton 1100 hydrostatic would be my Cadillac 

[WVHillbilly520H 10,376]

7 hours ago, Al C. said:

 And, I don’t want the potential problems of the Onan engine.  

Unfortunately ALL engines are mechanical and built by human beings and unless it's brand new unused can we really tell how well it was taken care of by other human beings therefore they ALL (Kohler included) have the potential for problems and Kohler K series factory parts are getting just as expensive as Cummins/Onan. Again your original question was between the 520 and 445 not a C series and 200 series JD and of course I am biased as having owned a very low issues Onan powered 520H since new... Definitely a luxury ride vs a C series but less refined than a JD 445 or WH xi series.

[Al C. 1,428]

5 hours ago, clueless said:

If it had not been for the distance your SK-486 would have been mine the first day he listed it. It's a looker 

I purchased the SK-486 in April 2016.  Brent Robbie “Bowtie” was the original owner who I purchased it from.  List price $1,500 - and I was happy to pay it in full.   I remember the day I picked it up and met Brent.  A SUPER nice guy.  We spent a couple hours talking shop and looking at his collection.  All in pristine condition.  We traded our assets and I was off.  The machine runs as well as it looks.  Little did I know, Brent had cancer while be we’re visiting.  I recognized that he was not 100% when we were together, but had no idea how seriously ill he was.  He told me the SK-486 was his favorite, but he just didn’t need it any longer.  Brent passed away two months later.  Since then, I have felt an obligation to him to keep his tractor in at least as good of condition as it was when he passed it down to me. I can say without exaggeration, it’s as good as new.  

[WildmanC120 613]

I like wheel horse and am a wheel horse fan but the 445 I feel is a better, more versatile tractor. I'm currently looking at 445/455 series units. 

 

The 445 is 22hp fuel injected, foot controlled hydro drive, auxiliary hydraulics for attachments, no more belts to deal with and shaft drive implements, 3 point hitch and rear pto, power steering, differential lock.

 

A 520 is a great tractor. One of the best. But the 445 is just in a different category. 

[sqrlgtr 573]

AIC.,You should submit a picture of your sk486 to tractor data.com.They dont have one in thier describtion of the tractor.

[ebinmaine 71,097]

9 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said:

AIC.,You should submit a picture of your sk486 to tractor data.com.They dont have one in thier describtion of the tractor.

That's a great idea.

I'll second that. 

[82Caddy 851]

10 hours ago, WildmanC120 said:

I like wheel horse and am a wheel horse fan but the 445 I feel is a better, more versatile tractor. I'm currently looking at 445/455 series units. 

 

The 445 is 22hp fuel injected, foot controlled hydro drive, auxiliary hydraulics for attachments, no more belts to deal with and shaft drive implements, 3 point hitch and rear pto, power steering, differential lock.

 

A 520 is a great tractor. One of the best. But the 445 is just in a different category. 

if you’re looking at a 445 machine also look at the x485 essentially the same machine with different aesthetics or the x585 just a selectable 4x4 version of the x485. I have both a 445 and an x595 (diesel version) and they’re pretty awesome. 
 

Don’t forget about the hard cab with heaters as an option too. 

[WildmanC120 613]

33 minutes ago, 82Caddy said:

if you’re looking at a 445 machine also look at the x485 essentially the same machine with different aesthetics or the x585 just a selectable 4x4 version of the x485. I have both a 445 and an x595 (diesel version) and they’re pretty awesome. 
 

Don’t forget about the hard cab with heaters as an option too. 

 

The 445 I'm looking at has the hard cab, 54" deck, 47" blower, bagger system, quick attach with blade too.  140 hours. 

[82Caddy 851]

1 hour ago, WildmanC120 said:

 

The 445 I'm looking at has the hard cab, 54" deck, 47" blower, bagger system, quick attach with blade too.  140 hours. 

Not sure how familiar you are with those machines, but check the sprockets and chain on  the blower for wear. Generally people don’t check the tension on the chain causing premature wear and skipping teeth on the sprockets when under heavy snow. Not a hard repair but time consuming. Also check the center pin (rotation) on the quick hitch for wear. It’ll cause the front portion of the hitch to rub on the back.