'74 C160 Tecumseh engine tractor. Let's put it to use!

[sqrlgtr 1,683]

7 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Two cautions: not every 520H has the “swept” front axle and not every swept axle 520-H has the reduction steering.

One encouragement: Look also at 520-HCs. Some of those had both the swept and reduction. 

The swept axle has heavier spindles (1”), better wheel bearings, and stronger tie rods. It runs wider front tires, too. It adds 2” to the wheelbase and has a 40 inch front track.

 

 

2 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

I'm much more knowledgeable on the older rigs. 

 

I  > believe <   the 520H breakdown is as follows. 

1988, 89. No swept axle or gear reduction. 

1990 swept axle started but no gear reduction. 

Either 1991 or 92  both became standard equipment

 

great info. I was aware that some 520's had sweep axle but thought all swept axles had reduction steering. Is it safe to say that the wider wheels where on the swept axle machines unless someone had changed them?

[ebinmaine 76,326]

11 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said:

. Is it safe to say that the wider wheels where on the swept axle machines unless someone had changed them?

 

 

Not sure on the year spread there. 

 

@Bill D or @Handy Don  ?

[Handy Don 15,515]

2 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said:

Is it safe to say that the wider wheels where on the swept axle machines unless someone had changed them?

Ah, the big “IF”! “Previous Owners” are a mysterious and mischievous lot. 

Lots of front wheel sizes but, my experience is that the 16x7.50-8 tires were only on swept-axle tractors. The wheels had taper bearings in a different hub. The next largest (from memory here) was 16x6.50-8 on 418’s and the earlier 520s. Depending on the tire, they can be hard to distinguish. 

[sqrlgtr 1,683]

3 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Ah, the big “IF”! “Previous Owners” are a mysterious and mischievous lot. 

Lots of front wheel sizes but, my experience is that the 16x7.50-8 tires were only on swept-axle tractors. The wheels had taper bearings in a different hub. The next largest (from memory here) was 16x6.50-8 on 418’s and the earlier 520s. Depending on the tire, they can be hard to distinguish. 

I'm just going by a pic but appears it has the bigger wheels/tires on front, can't see rears. this got me to thinking about the rears, did all the swept axle tractors have the wider rear wheels?

[ebinmaine 76,326]

5 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said:

I'm just going by a pic but appears it has the bigger wheels/tires on front, can't see rears. this got me to thinking about the rears, did all the swept axle tractors have the wider rear wheels?

 

 

I believe so... not positive.  

 

 

[kpinnc 16,450]

28 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said:

Is it safe to say that the wider wheels where on the swept axle machines unless someone had changed them?

 

As Don said the PO may have changed some things. 

 

I've only ever seen the 7.50 front tires on the swept axle 520 models, but have seen them with 6.50 as well. 

 

I put both on my modified 14hp tractor. The difference is minimal. The pics below are 6.50 and then 7.50. Same exact tread pattern, so it's quite hard to see the difference. Tiny bit more bulge in the sidewall is about all that is visibly different. The third pic is a close up of the 7.50 with weights. 

 

 

 

Edited Friday at 01:33 AM by kpinnc

[sqrlgtr 1,683]

17 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

As Don said the PO may have changed some things. 

 

I've only ever seen the 7.50 front tires on the swept axle 520 models, but have seen them with 6.50 as well. 

 

I put both on my modified 14hp tractor. The difference is minimal. The pics below are 6.50 and then 7.50. Same exact tread pattern, so it's quite hard to see the difference. Tiny bit more bulge in the sidewall is about all that is visibly different. The third pic is a close up of the 7.50 with weights. 

You're not kidding, is the 7.5 on the left side in top pic? It looks slightly flatter across the tread to me. 

[Handy Don 15,515]

20 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said:

I'm just going by a pic but appears it has the bigger wheels/tires on front, can't see rears. this got me to thinking about the rears, did all the swept axle tractors have the wider rear wheels?

Pretty sure only the later 520’s (which would have been the swept models) had the 23-10.50x12 rears from the factory. 9.50 was next largest.

As @kpinnc notes, that front inch may or may not matter a lot. Same on the rears--the tires you mount are the biggie. I had 10.5 wheels with turf tires on our 520 but we realized that for camp use on rough terrain and in tight quarters, they were not ideal. Swapped on 9.5s with lugged ag tires and we’re satisfied. The turfs went onto a tractor that only sees grass and pavement. 

[sqrlgtr 1,683]

@Handy Don @kpinnc and @ebinmaine  thanks for all this info. Will be handy if I get to look at this 520 in person. 

[kpinnc 16,450]

16 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said:

You're not kidding, is the 7.5 on the left side in top pic? It looks slightly flatter across the tread to me. 

 

Nope. Both 6.50 in first pic and both 7.50 in the second. I think the narrower width just pulls the tread a little flatter on the smaller tire. 

 

I think older tires had significantly more difference between the two sizes. I purchased the 7.50 size because of a set of old Carlisles I had seen on a 520-H. 

Edited Friday at 02:08 AM by kpinnc

[sqrlgtr 1,683]

2 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

 

Nope. Both 6.50 in first pic and both 7.50 in the second. I think the narrower width just pulls the tread a little flatter on the smaller tire. 

 

I think older tires had significantly more difference between the two sizes. I purchased the 7.50 size because of a set of old Carlisles I had seen on a 520-H. 

Oh I misunderstood I thought you had two different sizes on at one time. I cant tell difference.

[kpinnc 16,450]

2 hours ago, sqrlgtr said:

I cant tell difference.

 

If I had known how little difference the 7.50 was, I would have left those brand new 6.50s right where they were. 

 

Of course different brands may be closer to the "actual" size. I have a couple sets of 520 front wheels with older 6.50 tires that are as wide the 7.50 size that I bought. 

[Bill D 2,484]

10 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

@Handy Don  or whomever...

 

the bearings at the ends of the steering shaft. 

3/4" bore. 2 bolt holes.  

 

How do I buy those? 

I think those are still available thru Toro.  Don't know the part number though.

[ebinmaine 76,326]

On 1/1/2026 at 7:50 PM, Handy Don said:

They are called two-bolt flange bearings. Surplus Center or McMaster for sure.

 

 

Looks like the OE Wheelhorse bearing is an odd size. 

 

[Handy Don 15,515]

4 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Looks like the OE Wheelhorse bearing is an odd size. 

In which dimension? Lower steering shaft diameter? Mounting bolt placement? Height above the mounting surface?

[ebinmaine 76,326]

4 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

In which dimension? Lower steering shaft diameter? Mounting bolt placement? Height above the mounting surface?

 

Shaft diameter is easy to find at .75 or 3/4.

 

Mounting height has a little bit of flexibility in it as well.

 

 

The ones I'm seeing online all seem to have a 2.5" mounting bolt center distance. 

The one I have is 2.25"

 

[ebinmaine 76,326]

More progress on this beast yesterday. 

 

While I was working on engineering and creating a stepped key for Trina's Military Tribute Tractor  "Millie",  she was puttering on my frame and steering. 

 

She started by scrubbing the dust & rust off slightly. Then used rags to lay on some used motor oil. I'd have used Flood Penetrol but didn't have any. The oil will work fine for rust and corrosion resistance. 

Before:

 

 

After:

 

 

 

Also note in the above pic that the gear reduction steering system is now in. 

During installation I tightened up the castle nut on the reduction gear to eliminate most of the slop. 

The forward bearing however is quite loose. I have communications out to @76c12091520h about getting new ones.  

At this stage it's only a few bolts to pop out and replace that bearing.

 

The only issue we could see that needs immediate addressing is that the rear horizontal gear ⚙️ is contacting the tractor lift arm. 🤔  

Either the pillow needs to be moved forward or the arm needs to be trimmed. Possibly a bit of both. 

I'll also drill and/or resize the 2 extra  holes where the pillow block sets. 

 

 

As some folks know, the upper steering shaft from a 520H sets higher in older tractors because of geometry differences. 

The extra height of the steering wheel is a little odd looking to me but we decided it would be best to leave the height until I get some good driving time to see how it works. 

Just sitting on the tractor  - I LIKE the extra height. A lot. There's a good 2" to 3" of added space for shifting. Also, the vertical position of the wheel is better for me as a tall driver whose height is in the spine, not long legs. 

 

 

 

 

[Handy Don 15,515]

Accidental duplicate post

Edited Sunday at 06:57 PM by Handy Don

[Handy Don 15,515]

4 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

At this stage it's only a few bolts to pop out and replace that bearing.

Downright difficult to do after the engine is installed!

 

And yes, clearances inside the hoodstands are minimal for every WH I’ve touched. Those WH engineers didn’t waste much space!

 

[ebinmaine 76,326]

1 minute ago, Handy Don said:

Downright difficult to do after the engine is installed!

 

Yepp.  

 

I'm thinking about adding another of the OE Wheelhorse bearings to the top of the upper shaft for additional support. Keep things from moving around even more. 

 

 

[Handy Don 15,515]

Just now, ebinmaine said:

 

Yepp.  

 

I'm thinking about adding another of the OE Wheelhorse bearings to the top of the upper shaft for additional support. Keep things from moving around even more. 

 

 

You have more room there to use one of the 2.5” OC flange bearings, if you choose. I seen that enhancement posted by a couple of members in the past. 

 

So many members have added “small” improvements to both tractors and implements--including me. When my neighbor asked “Why didn’t the company do it that way to begin with?” I pointed out how quickly adding even minor parts to a manufactured item escalates the cost and, hence, the price. In a manufacturing process, the design, testing, supply chain/inventory, and labor far exceed the cost of an individual bushing, bearing, or widget--it’s a critical price vs. value comparison. We devotees, applying these as one-offs, are willing to invest our time, energy, as well as some dollars.