Serial number question please

[Jase675 10]

Hi All,

 

I'm a new Wheel Horse owner, yay! C 161 8 speed manual. 

It's a fixer upper and my goal is to eventually get it ready for the UK roads so I can get from field to field.

First thing I want to do is to identify the tractor serial number. I've looked at the silver sticker under the dashboard but it's so faded I can't make out the numbers. 

Is there a serial number elsewhere on the tractor? Are there any tips on how to reveal the invisible number?? 

I can clearly read the engine number and was wondering if there's any correlation to chassis serial number or a way to cross reference from archives??

The chassis serial number is significant for dating and positively identifying the tractor, enabling UK registration. 

 

Any help or steers will be much appreciated! 

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,111]

Here in the USA a C161 is a 1978 or 1979 machine. Not sure if thats the case in Europe.

  Can you post up a couple pics as well as those motor tag numbers. Someone here will be able to decipher the motor numbers. 

[Jase675 10]

Thanks,.Sparky! It's just after midnight here and raining but I'm so tempted to nip outside and take photos! 

I'll take them tomorrow and post on here, thanks.

 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,439]

Welcome to the forum.

Here are the model numbers.

B = Briggs and Stratton

K = Kohler

 

1978 C-161 8-Speed model 81-16K801

1978 C-161 Automatic model 81-16KS01

1978 C-161 Twin 8-Speed model 81-16B801

1978 C-161 Twin Automatic model 81-16BS01

 

 

1979 C-161 8-Speed model 91-16K801

1979 C-161 Automatic model 91-16KS01 (One found in Holland Made in Belgium)

1979 C-161 Automatic model 91-16KS91 (Made in Belgium serial 167284)

1979 C-161 Twin 8-Speed model 91-16B801 

1979 C-161 Twin 8-Speed model 91-16B802 

1979 C-161 Twin Automatic model 91-16BS01 

1979 C-161 Twin Automatic model 91-16BS02 

 

Garry

[ebinmaine 72,366]

 

There's a few of you over-the-pond folk hangin around here. 

@Mickwhitt @Dan.gerous @Stormin 

[SylvanLakeWH 28,309]

8 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

There's a few of you over-the-pond folk hangin around here. 

@Mickwhitt @Dan.gerous @Stormin 

 

 

And there’s a long thread on here about making one street legal on your side of the pond... may be of interest to you...

 

Here’s the link:

 

[Dan.gerous 2,696]

Where is Bucks? Was just stalking you through your profile 🙂

 

I have a c161 as well, mine has the twin Briggs and it's an automatic.

[Jase675 10]

Thanks,.Sparky! It's just after midnight here and raining but I'm so tempted to nip outside and take photos! 

I'll take them tomorrow and post on here, thanks.

 

[Jase675 10]

@Dan.gerous- I'm v close to Aylesbury.

 

 Thanks to all that are helping, it's much appreciated.

 

I've managed to work out the serial number by using a torch at an angle.

 

The type/model number is more tricky as it's less legible. Can anyone decipher what it means?

 

Thanks again!!

[953 nut 59,735]

12 hours ago, Jase675 said:

Are there any tips on how to reveal the invisible number??

The model number and serial number were mechanically stamped into the sticker on most models of . If you carefully remove the sticker the back side will have the reverse of the numbers.

[Jase675 10]

Top tip, thanks. That's probably why the torch at an angle helped - slightly indented characters. I'll take another look.

 

The engine number is easier to see. I'm wondering if there's an archive that cross refers to model or chassis serial??

 

 

[Jase675 10]

4 hours ago, 953 nut said:

The model number and serial number were mechanically stamped into the sticker on most models of . If you carefully remove the sticker the back side will have the reverse of the numbers.

 

I think my numbers have been etched or printed, not stamped. 

 

It looks like I have:

 

01_16KH8_

 

The first underscores (did they use them back in the 70's??) could be the base of a number one and the second underscore looks like the base of a Z.... t's hard to tell.

Edited October 3, 2020 by Jase675
Re-examined the tractor plate.

[ebinmaine 72,366]

4 hours ago, Jase675 said:

@Dan.gerous- I'm v close to Aylesbury.

 

 Thanks to all that are helping, it's much appreciated.

 

I've managed to work out the serial number by using a torch at an angle.

 

The type/model number is more tricky as it's less legible. Can anyone decipher what it means?

 

Thanks again!!

 

@Jase675 can you post more pics?

Whole tractor from a couple angles?

 

@gwest_ca

Could this be a 1980 model?

 

 

 

[Lee1977 7,185]

4 hours ago, Jase675 said:

@Dan.gerous- I'm v close to Aylesbury.

 

 Thanks to all that are helping, it's much appreciated.

 

I've managed to work out the serial number by using a torch at an angle.

 

The type/model number is more tricky as it's less legible. Can anyone decipher what it means?

 

Thanks again!!

My guess is that the 0 is really a 9 and the H is a B  so it would be 91-16B801 or 02 !979 model

[stevasaurus 23,274]

Need pictures of horse...hood, dash, both sides and rear.  My guess is C-165 8 speed 1980  model # 01-16KH801

16 hp Kohler  K-341AS  718030   

 

Your model # is also close to this horse.  SK-486 8 speed  model # 01-16KH01  1982

16 hp Kohler  K-341AS  71311A

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,439]

The engine was made in 1982 so it should have landed on a 1982 or 1983 model of tractor.

There was only one 16hp Kohler engine used in 1982 on a SK-486 model 01-16KH01.

No 16hp Kohler used in 1983.

https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/search/?q=01-16KH01&quick=1&type=downloads_file

 

Garry

[Jase675 10]

Thanks so far, everyone!

 

I'm now wondering if I have a sk-486 with a C 161 bonnet......hood! 

This is a pretty steep learning curve but I can't visually or technically see any differences between the two models. Can anyone shed any light on this please??

I will definitely post photos tomorrow - if there's any specific item that I should post a photo of to help identify the model, please suggest.

 

My model number is pretty close to that of the SK - 486 but not exact. Maybe it's a euro variety?? 

1982 on a SK-486 model 01-16KH01 vs  01 16KH81 (as it seems to read)

 

Thanks everyone 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,439]

Most 8-speed tractors have 1-1/8" diameter rear axles.

The SK-486 used a transmission with 1" diameter rear axles.

The earlier Twin models with B&S engines also used 1" axles.

Every once in a while Wheel Horse would build special models to use up an excess of parts. The SK-486 is one of them.

From 1980-1984 we call the tractors "black" hood models because of the shape and way they are painted.

The SK-486 uses a pre-1980 hood like the C-161's used.

 

Garry

[Jase675 10]

Thanks so far, everyone!

 

I'm now wondering if I have a sk-486 with a C 161 bonnet......hood! 

This is a pretty steep learning curve but I can't visually or technically see any differences between the two models. Can anyone shed any light on this please??

I will definitely post photos tomorrow - if there's any specific item that I should post a photo of to help identify the model, please suggest.

 

My model number is pretty close to that of the SK - 486 but not exact. Maybe it's a euro variety?? 

1982 on a SK-486 model 01-16KH01 vs  01 16KH81 (as it seems to read)

 

Thanks everyone 

[Jase675 10]

Ooops, somehow re-submitted a post.....newbie!

 

@gwest_ca thanks for your great steers - seen some of your valuable contributions on other sites too.

 

Just waiting for a gap in the rain and I'll be outside with the verniers and camera!

 

Thanks 

 

 

[Jase675 10]

@ Gary W

 

So, it appears I have a 1" axle (25.95mm including grime)

 

I'm beginning to think it's a SK-486 with a c-161 decalled hood. I now know the hoods are interchangeable.

 

The previous owner had 2 WH in his yard and I seem to remember the other had lights. I'm thinking he did a hood swap as the one I have is missing a hinge bracket.

 

I'll politely contact him and see what he says.

 

Thanks again, photos later when the rain stops.....

[Jase675 10]

Hi All,

Leaning as I go!

 

The tractor's engine is plate mounted so further evidence this is an SK-486.

 

I'd rather become attached to the idea of owning a C 161 but as they look identical it won't matter. 

 

Still need to fathom this model number though. 

[Jase675 10]

Hi All,

Leaning as I go!

 

The tractor's engine is plate mounted so further evidence this is an SK-486.

 

I'd rather become attached to the idea of owning a C 161 but as they look identical it won't matter. 

 

Still need to fathom this model number though. 

[Jase675 10]

@gwest_ca

 

OK, need to go back a step!

 

My model is 0116KH81 which I can't find reference to anywhere whatsoever. It's badged as a C161 but this was only made in 78 and 79 in the states.

 

I'm reckoning that in the UK the C-161 in 1982 was sold as a run-out model same as SK486 was in 1982 in the US. It's the only explanation I can conjure because my model definitely exists - i found another mentioned on here in Scotland and only a hundred serial numbers away from mine.

 

So I seem to have a 1982 C-161. If anyone can validate or disprove my theory, either way it would be appreciated. If there's any way to cross check, please let me know. The Toro website looks like a great resource but my model number isn't mentioned there either.

 

Cheers.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,439]

I think your original hood has been replaced by the same part number 9699 hood that was used 1970-1979 on all long frame tractors like yours. It was used on over 100 different tractor models in that time. Your's just happens to have come from a C-161.

Not uncommon to see variant digits for the last two digits in the model number for product that came out of Belgium. A 9 was often used and have no idea why. There is a Belgium list of models but don't know if it originated there or in America.

Garry