What's the difference?

[mkevinr63 4]

I have an 1985 310-8 that has an all red hood. I have seen several that have the grille area blacked out. Is there a significant difference? Was it done by a previous owner or was there some special edition from the factory? :thumbs:

[TJ 184]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think they all came with the black grille.

[qd-16 15]

My 1985 310-8 is also red.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

Although I can't elaborate on it more, it is my understanding that the red grille indicated that those models were sold through locations other than Wheel Horse dealers. (I have heard Lowe's is one place.)

[jtmoyer 1]

i have seen a few red ones and they all were 310's

i would paint it, it just look strange to me :thumbs2:

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,557]

I remember growing up my dad bought a new 310 back in 85 from a wh dealer and it came with black grill. Then shortly after he talked our neighbor into buying one which was a 308 which had a red grill. Same dealership. Did the 308 ever come with a briggs?? I am pretty sure it was an 8hp kohler

[bitten 134]

This is a question I have wanted the answer to for some time. I have only seen the 310-8 and the 308-8 with the red hood. Mine came from a dealer. It did not come with a highth adjuster, or anything for a rear lift(dont know if these were options), so maybe made to just cut grass with? It will not be used for cutting grass by me but might fix up a deck for the wife to use I got a tiller so I added the rear lift and highth adjuster along with a rear atachement braket.

I'm not sure if I will ever find out the significantance of the red hood but I will paint it all red when Im done with the resto. Along with a 8 pinion rear and forward swept front end with the 1" spindals(already have) and hopefully a reduction steering set up.

P.J.

[can whlvr 994]

I bought my 308-8 directly from our local toro dealer who was a wheelhorse dealer for many years before toro got involved,and it was a red hood,and the deck wheels were red inside ive seen only one other in my life,and we in ontario just got the lowes stores,i think it was a cheaper tractor with no lift adjustment knob,plain paint,plain steering wheel but is the same in most every other way,i painted my grill black,i like it better.

[Rideawaysenior 28]

I've got a 308-8 with the red grille. If you look at some of the early mid 80's brochures, you will see that there are 310's and 308's pictured with all red hoods and silver decals.

[oldandred 15]

TT is right the all red hoods came from lowes wheel horse farmed out some for them to sell But there one problem they were too too high and were droped from them I forget the years or year

[johnnymag3 2,582]

On 6/23/2009 at 5:01 PM, TJ said:

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think they all came with the black grille.

they did not ....I have a red hood   oem paint     310-8      K engine, Kohler

 

it Came from a Wheel Horse Dealer,,,, I have the Invoice and the Brochure, along with every belt, filter, plug used through the years

 

Edited August 21 by johnnymag3

[johnnymag3 2,582]

 

 

Edited August 22 by johnnymag3

[kpinnc 14,999]

3 hours ago, johnnymag3 said:

it Came from a Wheel Horse Dealer,,,, I have the Invoice and the Brochure, along with every belt, filter, plug used through the years

 

 

I think this story includes the original 308-8 as well. They had red noses too. 

 

The gray Work Horse models actually were released a couple years prior to the Red Wheel Horse classic tractors (WH was still selling black hoods), and they most definitely were big box store entries. Stands to reason that the first 308 and 310 models were intended for the same sales path. That being said, Wheel Horse was notorious for not wasting anything, so some may have found thier way to a dealership. 

Edited August 21 by kpinnc

[c-series don 10,261]

I just looked at that picture and realized that I have more WH’s than are in the picture 😳 I think I might have an addiction issue with these things? 🤔 And why am I still looking in the classifieds and peoples garages and backyards? 

[kpinnc 14,999]

1 hour ago, c-series don said:

I might have an addiction issue with these things?

 

Just remember: you can quit anytime.... 

 

It's what I always say. 

[Retired Wrencher 5,959]

7 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

Just remember: you can quit anytime.... 

 

It's what I always say. 

Easier said than done. I think most of us been in that boat at least once.

[johnnymag3 2,582]

Quitters are for Quitters...   

 

These machines never let us quit  !!!   once you are bitten, as I was in 1974.......... I never looked back....

[kpinnc 14,999]

12 hours ago, Retired Wrencher said:

Easier said than done. I think most of us been in that boat at least once.

 

Always.

 

...sometimes peaceful cruising, sometimes bailing with a bucket! 

[RED-Z06 2,622]

I see see a red hood, i want to paint it black.

 

Also...who wore it best 

 

 

Edited August 23 by RED-Z06

[Retired Wrencher 5,959]

10 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

Always.

 

...sometimes peaceful cruising, sometimes bailing with a bucket! 

Well said Kpinnc, with a lot of truth to that statement.

[Retired Wrencher 5,959]

On 8/22/2025 at 6:44 PM, kpinnc said:

 

Always.

 

...sometimes peaceful cruising, sometimes bailing with a bucket! 

Binggo! On that.

[C-85 775]

During my time as a  dealer, we were told that Work Horse was originally designed to be for Sears, but they weren't cheap enough and got rejected, so then they put them out to the dealers instead.

 

C-85