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I have had this D-180 in the garage a long time. Seemed like I fixed one thing and something else decided to go south...Today we rode out of the garage and hooked up the 50" tiller. I think the governor needs some attention, the motor surges under load. It was still a fun ride though.

OK, I like to post these wierd things every once in a while (Remember my "theme" thread?). I find some of the stories delightfully entertaining and all of them interesting. So... WHY do you collect these old Wheel Horse tractors? - - - or - - - HOW did your addiction start? In my case, the story is simple: Dad bought a shiny, new Wheel Horse in 1987. With the tractor came the "Horse Sense" magazine subscription. In the back of the magazine were "Love Letters" that showed old tractors that owners kept alive. Many folks had more than one tractor too! (If you can believe that). So, we added an "oldie" to the mix. Then another. Then another. Eventually we ended up with a sizable fleet, and I even relocated to South Bend for a while due to this affliction. So, what's YOUR story? Steve

2000 posts Craig, does this mean we can call you blabber-mouth , or perhaps that should be blabber-fingers Congratulations fella! ....4 in the morning, sleeping in the chair,........ it must be lambing time. :wacko:

And the Wheel Horse is my Weapon... gotta love cell phone pics at dusk...NOT!!!

congrats,keep em coming

yeah, i look at some of the post counts of members on here and wonder how worn out their keyboards/fingers are! man, im only in the 700s and cant imagine getting to 1k anytime soon....... It's the quality of your posts Martin, just like your builds...you've got it in spades my brother. Thank you so much. :)

The rear tires are Duro 26x12-12 the front are the 8 inch Tri-Ribs from Miller Tire. A couple more of the D, the tiller locked up while tilling some dirt.

congrats on the 2k craig......... yeah, i look at some of the post counts of members on here and wonder how worn out their keyboards/fingers are! man, im only in the 700s and cant imagine getting to 1k anytime soon.......

congrats Craig! Know I have to know, how many key boards have you gone through to get to 2K? I'm trying to get to 1K but its taking sooo loonng!!

CONGRATS on the 2K! :handgestures-thumbupright:

Congrats Craig! Keep up the good work.

Congratulations Craig! Thats some serious typing. :bow-blue:

Lambing 2012 Prenatal ITC Mother and todler

why deside just buy both then you can tell use whitch is better

"With the engine running I have 14 volts dc on the gray signal wire and 30.1 volts ac. That doesn't make sense to me" Remember, in a Kohler RR setup, the B+ output from the RR is also electrically common with one of the AC terminals. I was surprised to find this to be true during my RR autopsy (posted a few years back on RS). If you happen to have the signal and ground inputs to the tach connected to the B+ and AC terminals which are electrically the same, you are not applying any signal across the tach inputs. I wonder, is the stator in the Onan referenced to ground where the magnum stator is floating? Only grounded thru the regulator? I wonder, If you take a standard 24 VAC transformer and connect it to the S and ground while the I terminal is powered at 13 VDC, the 60HZ signal should give you a ???? RPM indication. Guess you would need to calculate how many poles on the 520 stator / how many AC cycles per revolution. Looks like one of us has to hook up the scope to a stator and check the frequency.

After seeing the picture, I can't remember what anyone wrote regarding this thread. YOUR NEW TRACTOR ROCKS!!!

Looks good. I remember the days of the D200. I had an NOS tiller on the back that I just had to get it dirty.

If you can get both pieces clean, I would suggest using 100% clear silicon adhesive. It has worked for me on the new brake linings that I sold, and I would think that a clean, old lining, and a clean brake band will bond just fine.

Steve...I think your biased. Commandomayo?...those old Sears tractors are pretty tuff, but you better have a package of bandaids ready & a few choice word ready first time you have to change a drive belt. There are several well built GT's out there, you just can't beat a Wheel Horse for it's simplicity, ease of maintanance & repairs when needed. Between the Auto14 & the GT 14....the A14 is probably a more practical tractor since it can use all the standard "tach a matic" implements. I'm not a big fan of the A14's direction control lever....it's hard to reach below the wheel & between your legs. The GT14 has the same DCL setup, but a little more roomy around the wheel. I'd probably take the GT 14 if the hydro was strong. They can be had with a factory 3PH, the bigger wheels gives them a nice ride too. With a little minor fabbing the newer implements can be made to work....except the decks.

Im like good neighbor????????Oh.....Like a good neighbor!!!!!!!! State farm is there!!!!!!!!!! Anyways Craig......Congrats on 2K

I think any "LT" type rider with an aluminium case transaxle or less than steel gears in the diff would be at risk from loaded tires or really, really heavy wheel weights. Frame mounted weight will wear on the axles & bearings more so than loaded tires or wheel weights too....since the weight is being carried on the tractor & not within the wheel. Regardless with the Wheel Horse uni drive trans can handle permanently mounted wheel weights. The only down side I can think of is haveing to push a tractor with heavy weights if for some reason it won't run. :hide:

Guess it depends on the tasks you will ask from it. Both units are capable. I use my GT14 for the heavy stuff and my C160, which is basicly the same as the 14auto, for the lighter things, If I did have to chose between the two, I would take GT14.

Congrats Craig! Jake

If you are referring to not liking the snow blade on the Sears, I knew you wouldn't. They look like a shoe maker designed and made them. They lift up when pushing heavy snow too. Wheel Horse really nailed it with the design of their snow blade, the design is perfect in all ways. IMO your Sears isn't all that ugly. The earlier ones are no doubt ugly. With a narrow set of rims with tri ribs up front, some ags in the rear and a pan seat on it she will look much better. I haven't owned a GT 14. There are a few I was interested in but the lack of interchangeability of attachments always kept me from pullin the trigger on one. Go with the 14 auto as most guys suggested, you won't regret it.

Time to find a new dealer. I used to use a local guy just 6 miles away but he and his staff were not very friendly and if you did not have a model# they wouldnt help you....period. I found a dealer farther from home but closer to work and they are great. Plenty of times the guy behind the counter will swivel the monitor around so he and I can both see the screen to discuss what I'm after for parts. They still offer nice old fashioned customer service so they get all my business. Plus the service manager lets me stroll thru his junkpile if I ask. Thats priceless!! Mike..........

I've never been asked by a dealer to look up a part number myself but I always make every effort to have the model# off the machine to make his job easier. Mike..........

I got some goody's From Terry tonight I have to say I REALLY LIKE THESE DECALS! They look great and will be even better once there on the hood! I have to paint the hood in a few days and let it dry for a few weeks before I can install them, but I did put the rear fender one on and it looks AWESOME!! SO here are the pics of some really great AMERICAN decals! And the ones that will go on the 417A "V" blade tractor! THANKS TERRY FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO!! YOU ARE A REAL ASSET TO US GUYS!!!

here you go !

I guess my story is a bit sentimental. Everytime I see a wheel horse....I can see my dad. My dad past away back in 1998. The first memories I have as a child is my dad and his 1963 Lawn Ranger (which I still have). I guess there are sights and smells that get "ingrained" in a child. My strongest memories are of the smell of fresh cut grass... And the smell of our garage and of the wheel horse itself (gas and oil). My dad used to put us on his lap and that is how we learned to steer. Then when we were old enough he let us "solo" and I can remember him walking along side the tractor as we drove it. My brother was not as attached to the tractor as I was. So I always got to mow the lawn with it. I got older and met the love of my life (my wife) and we bought a large plot of land. The grass was too tall to cut while riding forward...(the grass would just bend over under the deck and not get cut)...so I drove that little lawn ranger backwards over 4 1/2 acres. The acreage was too much for the little tecumseh and it gave out. I felt responsible so I ordered an 8 hp tecumseh and installed it for Dad. Finally got married..... Dad was there again. He gave me that 1963 Lawn Ranger as part of our wedding gift. I used it for a couple of seasons and bought a bigger tractor (a B-80). Then I designed and was building the home we live in. My dad was there mowing the lawn. I think he really enjoyed driving that larger frame tractor. And he came almost every day to help me with whatever I needed to build our house. So all my collecting is on behalf of the memory of my Dad... God rest his soul...... he was the best.