My First Post

[mae 28]

Hello all,  I joined not long ago as I have a 1996 314-H that I purchased new.  It has around 250 hours on it and has been sitting idle for years.  It's in excellent condition except that everything was factory including belts, blades, fuel line, tires etc.  The hydro was jerky when going into forward and reverse so it has sat for a few years.  I worked inside the wheel horse offices in South Bend before and at the time Toro purchased them in the late 1980"s.  I would attend the national lawn and garden show then in Louisville every year and it was obvious Toro had no intention of continuing the Wheel Horse line with the same quality.  I recall seeing the old solid product line displayed way off in the corner of the Toro outside display area.  This is why I made my purchases before they went away.  

I have been concerned about finding someone with the knowledge and care to work on my tractor.  The alternative was to sell it for whatever I could get.  Finally I sent it off for a full refresh and hydro adjustment and it came back yesterday and seems like new.  I cannot wait to use it.  Cost was $1600 to replace all the original parts noted and smooth out the hydro.  Feel like I did the right thing because I don't think I could have replaced it with a unit with the same quality for the price.

Thanks for letting me tell my story.  I wanted to share my excitement and I cannot wait to mow etc. with it again once this Ohio weather breaks.

Mike   

[roadapples 6,981]

Nice tractor. You're right about finding anything today comparable for that kind of money. Any questions about maintenance or care can be found here. Any problems that pop-up these guys have already solved. Enjoy.....

[peter lena 8,064]

@mae  agree with your mind set on retaining  a quality piece of  what used to be out there ,  no question for what you paid to refit and refresh that , does not exist in todays plastic world , you will really be amazed and  thrilled to have a like brand new unit , to use , glad for your choice , pete

[ebinmaine 63,113]

 

 

If you spent $1600 to get that gem up n going you've done perfectly fine.  

 

As noted above anything else that pops up please ask. 

Someone in here has likely already experienced and solved whatever you can throw out.  

 

 

[c-series don 7,798]

@mae Hi Mike, since we love pictures here I was wondering if you had any pictures from when you worked for Wheel Horse? 

[mae 28]

Thanks for the replies.  Glad to be on the forum with so many members with so much knowledge.  The proof will be when I use it but around the driveway she felt really good and solid.  Will post again once I give the 314-H a workout soon.

Mike

[mae 28]

Don't have any photo's unfortunately.  I worked for the finance company and we floor planned the inventory to all their dealers but I was on-site and interacted with the management and sales staff.  I believe the president was John Munn who as I recall with part of AMC when they owned Wheel Horse.  He and others took it private as I recall then later sold it off to Toro. The plant and office were on Ironwood Ave. and it was a very solid operation and so were the folks there. 

[WHX?? 46,739]

 Mike... fine looking  there! 

Ones like that is what I would drool over when visiting dealers with dad! A 4 or 500 series in a dealer showroom made me forget all about girls! 

[jay bee 817]

 to 

[ebinmaine 63,113]

51 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

A 4 or 500 series in a dealer showroom made me forget all about girls! 

Now let's just not be getting too silly here....

 

 

[WHX?? 46,739]

Pre-teens EB ... wished I coulda stayed pre-teens would have ALOT more money for tractors! 

[JoeM 7,623]

4 hours ago, WHX?? said:

500 series in a dealer showroom made me forget all about girls

HuH?

 

Plausible but sick!  LOL

[SylvanLakeWH 24,129]

5 hours ago, WHX?? said:

 A 4 or 500 series in a dealer showroom made me forget all about girls!