Hot rodding a wheel horse

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

So this tractor here was my introduction to wheel horses. I love it, but man does it drive me crazy. It never wants to start, it rattles like crazy, and the tin is pretty beat up. 
so here’s my thinking. Sell the deck and the  blower and make it a show tractor of sorts. Shiny new paint, predator engine, and a larger drive pulley. No crazy speeds but enough just to have some fun. Anyone ever make one, I’d love to see some inspiration.

Maybe make it more of a pulling tractor, wheelie bars and all. All I know is with my new job I won’t really have hours to clear my driveway with the blower anymore. And my zero turn does a better job than the 310 cutting 

Edited February 14, 2022 by Ifixoldjunk

[Jeff-C175 7,206]

@Snoopy11 will be by shortly, I'm sure!  Have you seen his "Hell Horse" ?

 

[Snoopy11 5,718]

Anthropomorphic beagle present.

 

 

Yeah, you could do it. I am also working on such a build now... (Red Barron)...

 

Various ways you could go about the engine-work... just depends on what power level you want, how much money you want to spend.

 

I have a 51 HP Duromax with billet rod, billet flywheel, thumper hot cam, 7,650 "Safe" rpms...

 

I have videos of it on Youtube...

 

Don

 

 

[pfrederi 18,658]

Then this topic should move to restoration/modifications

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,147]

2 hours ago, Ifixoldjunk said:

so here’s my thinking. Sell the deck and the  blower and make it a show tractor of sorts. Shiny new paint, predator engine, and a larger drive pulley. No crazy speeds but enough just to have some fun. Anyone ever make one, I’d love to see some inspiration.

Maybe make it more of a pulling tractor, wheelie bars and all. 

I sure hope this is an early April fools day prank 

[Snoopy11 5,718]

That's not fair. If this is something that @Ifixoldjunk wants to do... then what is wrong with making something awesome? I would advise against going with something REALLY extreme... but I don't see anything wrong with making something awesome if he wants to?

 

Don

 

 

[kpinnc 14,630]

3 hours ago, Ifixoldjunk said:

Shiny new paint, predator engine, and a larger drive pulley.

 

Hard to believe a Magnum is hard to start. My 310-8 is my most dependable. I'll bet a primer bulb would solve the hard starting.

 

And unless it smokes like a freight train, that Magnum will outlive anything Predator makes about 5 times over.

 

Your tractor of course. Just my two cents.

[SylvanLakeWH 28,387]

Some good comments above to consider… but at the end of the day It’s yours - do what you’d like… 

 

 

[Snoopy11 5,718]

1 minute ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

at the end of the day It’s yours - do what you’d like… 

Yep, my thoughts exactly.

 

I think of it this way... if this is something that he is going to do... he isn't going to get any better advice anywhere else than Redsquare.

 

Don

[Snoopy11 5,718]

1 hour ago, pfrederi said:

this topic should move to restoration/modifications

Not really. All he wants is to know is if:

3 hours ago, Ifixoldjunk said:

Anyone ever make one, I’d love to see some inspiration.

He isn't actually restoring/modifying it in this thread.

 

@Ifixoldjunk... if you want to see some inspiration... check this out...

 

https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/profile/26650-snoopy11/?tab=field_core_pfield_17

 

Don

Edited February 15, 2022 by Snoopy11

[Snoopy11 5,718]

34 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

Predator

I wouldn't go with a predator, either. @kpinnc is correct there.

 

DEFINITELY go with Tillotson. MUCH MUCH MUCH better made.

 

Don

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

@kpinnc It’s not necessarily the magnum that’s fighting me it’s everything else. Any chance it gets it eats solenoids, safety’s and anything electrical it can. It’s completely mind boggling.

[Pullstart 66,690]

I could have stuck a 10 hp Kohler in this and straightened some sheet metal and tightened up the front axle and called it good.  I have 4 other ones I could do that to as well.

 

I think I came out ahead.  
 

 

[kpinnc 14,630]

I will say this to all of you:

 

I'm a big proponent of folks doing what they want with thier tractors. I am not a member of the WH Police!

 

I was just hoping to point out the massive potential of that Mag10 compared to anything manufactured in the last 15 years, and even more so when made in China. And it was NONE of my business! I just have a soft spot for Magnums. They are the best of both worlds between the ruggedness of a K series and the convenience of magneto ignition. 

 

Disclaimer- I regularly use china copies of carbs and cheap volt guages and so on. I have no room to judge anybody!

 

Short version point being- it was the opinion I would give myself in your position. Nothing more. I didn't mean to sound otherwise.

 

I've seen plenty of ifixoldjunk's posts here, and it is some great stuff. Sometimes I forget that I'm responding to a seasoned member. 

Edited February 15, 2022 by kpinnc

[Darb1964 1,115]

I'm not into hot rods personally, not saying I wouldn't if I had the time, just so many other things I like to do. I have two ten horse, wheel horse tractors and they run very good and are probably the best all around worker's they made, in my opinion. Fuel efficient, powerful, long lasting, and durable. All of mine are workers and I have from eight horse to twenty, twins and single cylinder. You probably have a ground problem and or bear wires, with the sheet metal rattling like you mentioned, not unusual in a decades old WH.

I'm interested in watching what you built, like others have stated, it's you tractor do with as you please, if you have a youngster around, good chance to get him or her exposed to the passion.

Darb

[953 nut 59,903]

13 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

at the end of the day It’s yours - do what you’d like

Very true!                  Whatever you decide to do with YOUR  is the correct thing to do with it.   Please bring us along for the ride by posting updates with lots of .

[Snoopy11 5,718]

13 hours ago, kpinnc said:

Short version point being- it was the opinion I would give myself in your position. Nothing more. I didn't mean to sound otherwise.

I certainly didn't take it that way, @kpinnc.

 

I just don't want @Ifixoldjunk to get the wrong impression from people who wouldn't do what he is thinking about doing.

 

I have done it... am in the process of doing it again with Red Barron...

 

What I will say. Once I finish Red Barron, I will have taken 2 scrap metal Wheel Horses, and resto-modded them.

 

@Ifixoldjunk's tractor is not scrap metal. Thus, why there is less reason to modify it... as opposed to keeping it in its current condition, and fixing the motor. That is my perception of your opinion, @kpinnc... am I wrong?

 

Certainly nothing wrong with that logic. But, hey... if this is something that @Ifixoldjunk is going to do... I'll follow it, and I will help where I can.

 

Don

[edgro 680]

Could go for a two wheeler

[kpinnc 14,630]

1 hour ago, Snoopy11 said:

That is my perception of your opinion, @kpinnc... am

 

Not wrong at all. I just love old Kohlers. If maintained, they will be here after we are gone. Unfortunately they aren't making more of them.

 

As I said it wasn't my business anyway. My bigger mistake was not paying close attention to who I was responding to. He knows what he is doing. I will follow ifixoldjunk too.

 

So many times people drop in here to float ideas, destroy a decent machine, and are never heard from again. I've found many tractors locally after someone ran out of interest, and left a rusting pile of scrap. Even a neighbor of mine once found 8 tractors, mostly mid 60s square hoods. He piddled with a couple and got them running, and then scrapped the rest. None were pretty, but nearly all were complete with good sheetmetal and implements. One had a clevis hitch and the old style electric lift. He's a great fella, and a good friend. He certainly owes me nothing- but that bothered me a bunch. I think I could've found most if not all of them a home better than a scrapyard.

 

End of rant.  But I hope it clarifies where my knee-jerk comes from. Here lately it is like a reflex, and like any other I didn't think before posting a reply.

Edited February 15, 2022 by kpinnc

[Snoopy11 5,718]

3 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

So many times people drop in here to float ideas, destroy a decent machine, and are never heard from again.

Yep, I know what you mean. I was talking to a guy about that very thing just yesterday.

 

Me personally... I like to take scrap-metal that someone else has given up on, or trashed, and turn it into something sweet.

 

Now... I wouldn't SUGGEST that someone modify anything other than a heap... but if that is what they want to do, by all means... I'm all for it.

 

Don't beat yourself up @kpinnc... you are one of the best guys on the forum. You helped me A LOT when I needed it. I won't be forgetting that anytime soon.

 

Don

[kpinnc 14,630]

1 minute ago, Snoopy11 said:

Don't beat yourself up @kpinnc... you are one of the best guys on the forum. You helped me A LOT when I needed it. I won't be forgetting that anytime soon.

 

Thanks!

 

And it's not beating myself up so much as I hate to come across the wrong way. Like these old tractors, places like this are fading away. I want to keep it clean and civil, and 'functional' for as long as we can. 

 

 

[Snoopy11 5,718]

4 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

I hate to come across the wrong way. Like these old tractors, places like this are fading away. I want to keep it clean and civil, and 'functional' for as long as we can. 

Yes sir. I come across wrong all the time. I am more of a humorous... playful kind of guy. Doesn't come across right all the time... sometimes people think I am being an A-hole... when I certainly am not!

 

I think of it this way... one day... perhaps... our grandchildren may read our comments on Redsquare. For... some of us... our grandchildren are... already reading... our comments... if you know what I mean...

 

PM and the forum makes it hard to tell what people's attitudes are. If... most of the guys on the forum talked to me on the phone... they would know that I am... quite a character...

 

Don

Edited February 15, 2022 by Snoopy11

[Snoopy11 5,718]

3 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said:

quite a character

@Jeff-C175 is another...

 

That guy makes me laugh more than anyone else I know...

 

Don

[kpinnc 14,630]

2 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said:

think of it this way... one day... perhaps... our grandchildren may read our comments on Redsquare.

 

Only if they are on "old farts you barely remember from holidays.com" 

 

My kids like driving my tractors. One drop of grease or other, and they are DONE and back on thier mobile device...

 

We better quit this. We done hijacked the heck out of this one!

[Snoopy11 5,718]

1 minute ago, kpinnc said:

We done hijacked the heck out of this one

 

 

 

Don