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I suppose for me it would be this one. I had the most fun building this one, I have the most fun while riding this one, and its all me.

For $50 you can buy 10' of chain, a chain break tool, extra links and have change for a 6 pack.

Since its already open.... I like to give the shift rails a little tickle. Clean out the bores that the rails slide on and the ones that the balls and springs live in. Polish the shafts (scotchbrite) and check for burrs on the sides of the grooves where the detent balls sit. Often you will get a little burr where the ball rolls out of its groove. A few minutes work there can make the trans shift a whole lot nicer.

As some of you already know, I put the tiller on the C-160 recently, and had to build a front weight setup for it, as it was very light in the front with the tiller up. I also ordered a lift assist spring from Glenn Pettit, as these tillers are quite heavy, and it gets old lifting it up at the end of every row. I made the brackets for it out of 1"x 1/4" steel strap. For the bracket on the tractor, I just welded an extra piece onto the already existing bracket. The tiller bracket was quite easy as well. I just heated it with a torch to make the bends, welded the two pieces together, and drilled the necessary holes. I must say, Glenn's spring makes it much easier to lift, and its a very high quality piece! Anyone needing one, should check his store out here in the vendors section. Thanks Glenn. Matt

I just put one of Glen's springs on the ST326 snow blower that's mounted to my 857. Made a BIG difference!

Lapping valves is the process whereby you create a matching surface between the valves and the valve seats. As the engine runs, the surfaces of the valves and the seats will wear. Sometimes it's bad enough that both the valves and the seat need to be ground. This is done at the machine shop unless you have the equipment, and if you did, you probably wouldn't be asking this question. Sometimes the valves need to be replaced. However, if your situation is such that all you need to do is "lap" them, that is done with a lapping tool: and valve lapping or grinding compound. The process is done by attaching the suction cup to the top of the valve, applying a small amount of compound to the underside of the valve, applying a small downward pressure while spinning the lapping tool between your hands. As Jrblanke said above, it is well covered with many videos on YouTube. A finished lapped valve will look similar to this.

Here are a few of mine...

I am in the "It was my Dad's group" my 701, I grew up on that tractor. That tractor and I were made the same year.

I think Gunny hit the nail square on the head. For many of us WH collectors, it's all about sentimental value... having a unique item that keeps us close to family, i.e grand dads, dads, sons (and daughters), and the grand kids. When I was a youngster, I would ride our lawn tractor around on the blacktop in oval circles pretending to one of my heros at the local dirt track races instead of actually mowing grass. He would yell at me and ask me if I was trying to wear out the tires or blow up the engine. My dad passed away 23 years ago but yeah, I also still have to look over my shoulder for my dad when I ride my puller. Still missin' ya, Pop.

IF I CAN NOT TAKE 3 OR 4 WITH ME I WILL SEND THEM A HEAD.

Keep spares on hand, I have an extra chain and drive belt for that just incase time. But I also have I think 4 showblowers in the barn also plus the 2 stage Just in case ya know

Since Kelly wet your appetites about Wheel Horse tractors at Indy with his story and pictures of his White Walls from the Indy 2 1/2, I thought I'd also share these pictures I've dug up by scouring the internet. A while back, several of us had been discussing some Indy stuff and it prompted me to go looking. If I remember right, it was sorekiwi that posted a pic that showed a Massey and a Wheel Horse Charger both behind a pit wall, someone else posted a Panzer towing a racer. I had the thought that rather than searching for pics of tractors from the era, I should search for Indy Pit Pictures. I managed to come up with this small collection from the early 60s. There is at least one Wheel Horse in every one of these pictures. The key is to look at the background. Some of you have seen these before, but many of you have not. Enjoy guys! Sometime, I would love to find the time to be able to look through the photo archive albums at the Speedway in Indy, They have hundreds of thousands of photos. A year or two ago at the show, one of the prizes was several reprints of official Indy Motor Speedway Wheel Horse pictures. They are copyrighted material that can't be posted online though.

I recently installed the tiller on my C-160, and with the tiller raised the front of the tractor was way to light. If I wasn't very careful releasing the clutch, it would do a wheelie, and drag the tiller on the ground. I have an old junk JD F510 that had some small weights on the back, and I figured anything from a John Deere makes good Dead Weight, right? Anyway, I had an extra mule drive laying around, so I made a few modifications to it, and bolted the weights on the front of the Horse. They snap right into the tach o matic, just like the mule drive does. Now, unless I just dump the clutch, the front end stays on the ground. Here are a couple pics, and yes they are from today. We're still gardening down here, although we're expecting temps close to freezing tonight, which is why we put bags over the tomato plants. This garden actually belongs to my good friend Byron, who is also a member here (byrunner). I help out with the equipment needs, and we're also tending it right now, as he is out of the country for a month. Matt

Saturday we got around 8-12" of snow here in western Indiana. The most my little Suburban has ever pushed in one day. Cleared the long circle drive twice plus the neighbors once. Here are a few pics of the little beast after the first run.

Matt, just wanted to add that I think that tiller looks really nice on your c-160.

got the trans down a little more. heres some more pics...... some of the gears have some burrs from grinding the gears, they will need some tidying up and the shift rails might need just a tickle.........

You drink expensive beer, I would have enough for a case.

Well with the lovely weather we are having here in Northern Indiana, school was closed. I heard that work was being done on the club barn and asked if I could come down to lend a hand. After taking care of some responsibilities around home I headed south to lend a hand. Here is where the building was as of yesterday afternoon. This building is 12x20 which will be perfect for the club. The steel roof is actually a chocolate brown and the trim is a tan. Here is a photo of the barn before the siding started to go on. Kind of cool to be building a barn inside of another barn! The guys started insulating yesterday and finished it up this morning. Once I arrived I helped put the last piece of plywood on the walls. You can see from this picture that the walls are done as well as the electric. The outlet receptacles need to be placed, breaker box hooked up and mounted as well as the ballast for the lights. The grand kids of the builder are going to paint the walls white and the floor will be painted grey. If you look at the ceiling you will notice that an I-beam has been placed which will support a hoist to help with those heavy jobs. After working for quite some time I was able to help put the metal siding and securing it to both sides. Here is what it looks like when I left. It is really taking shape and is simply amazing! Both ends need to be sided and the garage door needs to be placed along with the other things that I already mentioned. I need to get the heater down to them so that it can be mounted and ready. I am very grateful for this gift and pleased that I had the opportunity to lend a hand!

I had a lift assist spring set-up just like this using the "trip spring" from a dozer blade. Unscrew the cast iron ends of the spring, apply hot wrench to 'uncurl' a 3/4 circle loop at each end, then let it air cool so it doesn't get brittle and break. Use the eye bolt to adjust tension on the spring.

Brings back memories of learning to lap Detroit Diesel 6-71 injectors and valves in Engineman "A" school.

Good looking rig.

For 50 bucks I would make them all day long.

got it figured out, the switch connectors are corroded and wiggling the wires on the switch male connectors, worked like a champ, one rear light bulb is blown, both front work, need to get some more dielectric grease and contact cleaner then will put it back together...they work tho... RJMcEachern

Looks good Matt ! Question though. Is the 40lbs enough to keep the fron end down when loading the tractor and tiller on a trailer?

Sales conference...So that is what you guys call it!

Looks very clean and compact. I like it! I had to add some weight to the front of my C 120 also. I really haven't had a problem with the front end coming up when taking off but I do have trouble turning some times when the tiller is on. As my garden in fenced in on three sides I don't get to make those nice long runs that would make it easier so being able to maneuver the tractor is important. I am very envious of your early start with the garden. Next month the cold weather stuff is going in up here in OK. Happy Growing!

For me, it's my '79 C-101. My Dad bought it new on 12/29/1979 (trading in our old 854) and it has been in the family ever since. I just plowed the driveway with it yesterday, and it brought back a flood of memories. My Dad passed away 10 years ago, and the C-101 is one of my strongest links back to him.

I find it kind of neat. Unless I counted wrong, 10 of the replies to the question so far, contained "Grand Dad, Dad, Son or Grandson" somewhere in the body of the reply. Folks often ask me why I get wore out tractors and spend the time to fix them up. Just think, in 10-15 years someone on this forum will re-ask the same question......I wonder what the answer will be then. Hopefully, even then it will contain the same words. If we are lucky, it will be memories about the same tractors we all have now. Sometimes I even try to pop a wheelie on that 857, then look around and make sure Dad didn't see me.......and he lives 120 miles away!

Boy this is a tough one. I would have to say my 18 Automatic as its the tractor I always wanted from the first time I could read my Dads 1973 sales brochure. Now if by some chance I get my Dads 100% original 12 Automatic that would be the one I could never give up no matter what. That tractor has over 5000 hours on the Kohler and tranny and runs as good today as it did when he picked it up in October of 1973. Never sat outside a day in its life and has tilled a garden, plowed their 300 foot long driveway, mowed over an acre of grass for 40 years, 35 of which it had the factory lawn vacuum on it. Now it lives with a 48" side discharge deck from my 416 on it to mow.

Here is my question What is a CUT?????????????????? Wingrider

My grandson gets my 417-A and he will also get my favorite,it's a GT14 I sold to a friend and sorry I did.He promised me I could have it back if he decides to sell.I didn't realize what an animal that GT14 was until I sold it.Now it's what I judge ever GT by

My late grandfathers 875 he bought new in 1965. It's the one I got to drive as a kid

I am in the "one I bought new camp" -- It would be my 310-8 with the 37" SD -- It made a WH lover out of me

I would say my GT-1142 my grandpa bought it new and I never knew him so its all I have to remember him by. I respect the tractor and will never let it out of this Desko family nor would I let my dads D-160 go because that's the first horse I learned to ride

hard question to answer,love em all,but for me it would be my 308 that I bought brand new and the 42 side discharge deck

The 314 in action

Mine would be my 1045 Pulling Tractor that my grandpa had for close to 25 years (if not longer) and it was the tractor that my dad used for mowing and snowplowing when him and mom first moved into our house after they had the house built. Also, it was the tractor that grandpa and dad turned into a pulling tractor for me when I was a little kid and then grandpa gave it to me a few years later. It will be with me till the day I die!

My 857. My Dad purchased new in 1967, I received it in 1998 and has been worked with and played with by 4 generations of our family. The youngest being 8 months old went for a ride over Christmas. Last week it went from pulling pine logs, to being ridden by an 8 year old all within an hour. It is indeed a multipurpose machine.

I forgot, not pictured is a 1979 Camaro ready for paint and a 1967 Buick GS with a factory 4 speed ( 2000 built) waiting for it's turn to be reborn.

Here's a couple pics from yesterday, the only things left to remove is the gas tank and stands. They came off today and into the blast booth it went. I got it about half done when the sand turned to talcum powder. I'll get some more in the morning and may get it all done tomorrow and get some pics of a Ford in bare metal, the sand gives it a dull silver look. Now for the toys A 1969 Caddy drop top with a worked 472, in the process of getting a new white top A 1964 Merc with air and a big block with 3 deuces that was a Long Haul member for the 2011 Hot Rod Power Tour A 1968 Road Runner with etched quarter glass Mid seventies Nova with circle track suspension, 600+ hp 400, 4-speed and quick change rear. Bare block is a 383 for the road runner, the red one is a dirt track motor with aluminum Pontiac NASCAR heads and other dirt motors. It's a pretty cool place to hang out and restore a tractor I guess!

I see a pattern here... either one we bought new ourselves or a new one that belonged to our dads. The one I most definitely will hold onto is the 1962 552 that my dad bought new when I was just six years old. My dad sold it back in the '70s. I got it back from the family that bought it from my dad 2-1/2 years ago after not seeing it or knowing of its whereabouts for nearly 40 years. I am currently restoring it and enjoying every phase of the restoration project. She should be completed by the time the Big Show in Arendtsville, PA rolls around this year. I am hoping it eventually gets passed down to my grandson who is now four years of age.

All of 'em.

10 feet should run about $20. NAPA around here is $18. When you make up the new chain, take five more minutes to make up your "spare" chain. I take the second one and put it in a zip lock bag with a couple of extra master links. I know that the chain will never break unless its freezing cold and I have a lot of snow to move. The last thing I want to do at that time is count links and cut chain. Keeps the blood pressure a little lower when the @#%& hits the fan. It's cheap insurance. You did better than us, I only got about 6" here in CT.

Amen , just get a box of #40 roller chain and a few half/repair links as well as a few master links . I've repaired my old box style one and even had to cut and replace the auger sprocket due to rocks jamming it . Nice part making your own stuff - you can re-gear the ratio a bit , mine throws snow into the next zip code . Need to upgrade the auger's internal bearings to a heavier style - the OEM's aren't designed for that rpm's . Sarge

These pictures are of the 1958 841 Ford Powermaster I rebuilt through the Winter 2 years ago. I bought it from the original owner. The blue looks lighter in color, than it really is, because the sun is reflecting off the chat, I guess.

Firing up the 1977 B-100 to get started on the 4" now, 8" to 10" total to come later. Pictures will follow. So, here's the old man all bundled up in his snow suit. The 1977 B-100 has been sitting out all winter, just covered with a tarp. As I have said before, it never fails me. I grabbed the video camera and started to take a video after I started it. Don't you just love the sound of a properly tuned Kohler singing in the snow? View from the drivers seat as I plow snow in 3rd gear.

First I take off my snowblower and roll it into the corner of my shed. Then I take off the cab and rotate it 180 and place it over the snowblower. That way the short legs land on top of the snowblower, the chute is in the cab and the back legs are on the ground. It ends up sitting fairly level and I'm doubling up on the storage space.

I use the bike rope/pulley hangers in the off winter seasons to hang my cab up by the ceiling in my garage. In the spring, the bikes come down and the cab goes up. I can walk under it without banging my noggin, of course a tall ceiling is good to have too. -BK

So, I am kinda tossing around an idea in regards to my Suburban 401 and would like to get some input from you guys about it: My thought is this: Keep the tractor's patina rusty look, but make the tractor basically new mechanically and replace any worn out parts (fuel lines, springs, trans seals, shifter boot, etc.). I would basically have a new tractor mechanically, but still have the 50 year old tractor look that to the untrained eye looks like it is ready for the junk yard. I have seen guys do this type of things with cars and it usually turns out pretty good, plus it would be a money saver for me! You know what they say: It took 50 years for it to get that way, so why screw it up now! LOL! Any input or opinions would be appreciated. Thanks, Taylor

This is a tractor I got from Jon Bell last week. I try to limit myself to the Round Hoods, but when I heard he wanted to move this one, I knew I needed a 500 Special. I've spent way too many hours of my life at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but as much as I hate the place I have to admit that Race day at the 500 is an awe inspiring experience. There's just something about the place that gets into your brain and haunts you. Before I leave Indiana, I am hoping to get this tractor respectable enough ttat I can take it to the Speedway and get some pictures of it on the "yard of bricks" and in front of the Pagoda. (I think I know someone that will let this happen...) Anyway, enough history, onto the tractor: It's really a pretty solid tractor. I dont intend to do a full on restoration, I'm just going to address a few small "issues", fit a motor and put it to work. It'll be getting a recoil strart Kohler(sorry WH Police), but otherwise I'll try to keep it reasonably "correct". First task was to fix some of the cracks in the rear fender pan: most of the welding got done today, weather permitting (temperature!) I'll get a little more grinding done tomorrow, and a skim of filler. Next on the list will be getting some of the play out of the steering.