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This is my grandpa and dads old wheel horse, my dad took the black and white picture back in the 70s when he was younger than me about 12 then in the 80s he gave it to his friend. My dad has been after him to get it back for years, then when my grandpa passed away I wanted it even more, so yesterday I was going through some 857 parts and told my dad to call Hus friend and try to get it back. When he did he decided to part with it, so today we went up and worked out a deal. Since hes had it he welded a plate to the frame for a 12hp Kohler and cut the console for the battery. So when we got home we pulled the motor and put the hood on. My planes for the tractor is to make it as it is in the picture and get something done on the fender in memory of my grandpa, for example my grand pa cut the hood for headlights and taillights on it, he also had a signs in the hood.

motor rebuilt and back together back on the frame pretty much done Brian

Wheel horse's are my first and most favorite tractor to collect and restore but having said that I find that I really like a few other brands and wanted to add them to my herd too the old round nose Bolens tractors are one of these I always thought they were cool looking I happened to be telling a coworker this that work one day and he looks at me and says I think there is one of them sitting in a hedge row at my moms house who'd a thought I have only been working with the guy for 30 years. anyway he promised to take a picture I went and picked her up the following saturday she was very rough that was a year ago in apirl I have been working on restoring her off and on for a year now. I wish I had taken some pics before I turned her in to a pile of rusty parts many parts were replaced with new pieces I built as they were very badly pitted some need repairing like this pulley's bad key way or totally rebuilt like this belt cover

Hey Guys, I am nearing the end of the process on redoing my 1990 312H. It is not a restore as I didn't take every single part off the machine but I did take it down pretty far and its definitely going to look much newer when I'm done. Sorry but I am the get it done now type of guy so I don't seem to ever have the foresight to take good before and during pictures, so unfortunately I only have a handful of before pictures. I should have started this thread sooner but to late for that so I will post the pictures I have taken to this point and add more and update until I am finished. Here is the before of the tractor(one pictured left, the 312A on the right is currently for sale as I don't have room for it) Here are two befores of my 42" rear discharge deck, it was in pretty rough shape but solid with no holes or rot at all A short back story on how I got into Wheel Horse. My Grandpa who recently passed away bought a 312-8 new which is still around and is a 1985, he also had one sweet lawn sweeper he always used with it. Well when him and my grandma got to be older the 45 acres they had got to be to much for my gramp to maintain so they sold the property to my dad which is where he currently lives. I got married in September 2012 and moved into my first home in June of the same year. I have 3/4 of an acre to mow so I asked dad if I could have the old wheel horse as he now has a zero turn that he mows with. That 312-8 was rolled down the bank of the pond on that property at one point so it looks pretty beat up, but I got it to my house and my dad did a quick carb clean and that thing purred like a kitten and did a darn good job mowing my lawn. I used it for that summer and as it got close to winter time I started to look for a blower attachment because I knew the wheel horses had some attachments available. I hopped on CL and there was a 1987 312A with side discharge deck and 42" blower attachment on there. I was psyched for the hydro tranny as I hated shifting the 312-8 so I went and met the guy and bought it. I then began some research which brought me to redsquare where I learned a lot of the history of wheel horse and how awesome these machines really are. I continued to troll CL and came across my 1990 312H, had a lot lower of hrs hydraulic lift and the 42" rear discharge deck that I really wanted so I decided to pull the trigger and go buy that one too . It is now official I am a Wheel Horse nut at least that's what my wife says The main reason for that back story was to explain my next photo which is my Grandpas beloved lawn sweeper. The leaves started to fall at my new home and I quickly realized I needed to do something about it. I asked dad about gramps old sweeper and sure enough it was still in the weeds where it had been for the previous 5 years or so. I brought it home PB blasted the pants off of it and got it going. Its the baddest lawn sweeper ive ever seen and have just recently learned its made by a company named Wilco? They are still available today as well as all the parts for it and retails for a whopping $1295 !!! I did not take a single before pic of the sweeper but here is the after. Painted it the same "Wheel Horse Red" as the rest of my equipment I'm doing and plan to put a Wheel Horse sticker from Terry on it even though its not I don't have the bag on it or the attachment bar, it will be shown in a later post when the tractor is done and out for duty Here is the picture of the deck all finished. I removed all of the attachment linkage did some work to the sheet metal and bent myself some new belt and pulley covers. Then sanded and repainted everything. Bought all new wheels and a new belt. I brush and roll painted the sweeper, deck, and frame of the tractor but knew that wouldn't fly for the sheet metal. Fortunately I have access to a spray booth here at work so I brought them in and sprayed them with the same Rustoluem Farm and Implement IH Red I used on everything else. Needless to say I impressed the heck out of myself and laid down one sweet paint job, well at least I think so. Here are some pics I painted the wheels, engine covers, and all the other black Rustoleum flat black here are the pics, first one shows how far I had the tractor disassembled. I apologize for congesting all of this into this one long post and not starting this thread earlier but like the old saying goes better late then never. I welcome everyones comments and look forward to completing my project and will post updates as I get further. I think my plan for this afternoon is to finish installing Matt's foot pedal kit, man am I pumped about that!! Thanks for your time and I hope you enjoy Paul

I would keep the B-60. In fact I would love to have one. Kinda rare.

I have what's known as a "box" train layout. This has been going on for years!

Steve, I'll bring it if I can make it. I'll let you know Friday evening.

Wow, Karl you did all in an hour before work. Have you ever thought of joining pit crew for forumla 1 motor racing .

Putting diesel in a gas engine is harmless to the fuel system. Going the other way will make short work of a diesel injection system...... So if the choke is off, and assuming the air filter off, open the throtlle to full on your cable. When the governor arm opens up and the engine sounds like it is overfueling (black smoke) begin adjusting the main jet clockwise until the engine runs perfect. Once you get it running perfect, most manuals have you turn the jet in until it runs rough, then back out (counter clockwise) until it runs rough again, and then go right in the middle for you final adjustment. This always works great for me. If during operation it needs another fine ajustment, then I will consider it. On the idle mixture screw, when the engine is at idle, and you open the throttle full very quickly, the engine should not die down and then pick up. That would indicate you need to turn the mixure screw counter clockwise until it accelerates smooth. If you open the throttle quick and the engine accelerated but you get a puff of black at anytime during this transition, then you need to turn the mixture screw clockwise to lean it out. The air filter element will get destroyed if diesel gets on it. It is bascially an oil and will block the paper from flowing air.

Pics to come soon. I'm not very good with compooters and the interweb. I do my best work with a cutting torch, a stick welder, and an 8lb hammer.

I'll make it if I don't have to work, probably won't know 'til Friday.

It has been a while since my last update on this project. Now that that nicer weather is here I am able to get back to working on it. I put the bed back on. I started to install the new wiring harness today. It was one made for this truck so it is going together pretty good. I will need some help with the final wiring since this motor is set up for 12 volt and there will be a few mods that need to be done. I also got the 4th rim painted and tire mounted and balanced. I decided to go without the hubcaps and install some longer chrome lugs which I think got the look I wanted. I may end up installing some trim rings too. My goal is to be able to drive this truck to the Kent show in the fall with an RJ loaded up in the back!!

the biggest problem was the motor a kohler K160 was missing the complete ignition system. one finally came up on E-Bay and I got it I assembled the motor and got her started I just wanted to see if the old girl would still run before I did a complete rebuild getting the painting done

Jeff; Don't assume you can till in the mud.

Emptied the Workshop out for a clean and reshuffle, so drove the Horses around onto the Lawn for a Sunbathe and see how things are growing fast now- Look's like they won't have much work to do this year, so I'll just have to ride around on them

Wonderful day in the garden. Mighty 520H, 12 inch Brinley, Matt's foot control kit and this: Foot control is very nice as you can limit the wheel spinning as the ground changes.

I think I'm going to keep the b-60 its pretty sweet!!!!''''

everything would have been painted green except the rims color is a med. metallic green omni base coat clear coat had the colors matched from the original paint Brian

Done and home Brian

That is gorgeous, she really pops!

I've been restoring my dad's 1962 model 552 Wheel Horse tractor for the past three years now. I am actually converting it to a 502 model with the correct Lauson HT55C-3088 which I found. I am close to getting her finished and really want to take her to the Big Show next month. But now I have one problem... the hood doesn't fit and I don't know why. I know you guys like pics so here goes. I've gone from this... to this as of now and painting sheet metal parts... The original gas tank and hood were beyond repair, so I have replaced those items only to find now that the replacement hood appears to be about 5/8" to short where the bottom of the front grill mounts on to the front of the frame... I have the engine mounted on the original holes in the frame, the replacement hood matches the old hood dimensions, and the gas tank dimensions match the old one as well. In order to fit the hood over the gas tank and line up the two rear holes, the front tab on the grill is about 5/8" behind the front of the frame. I also had to remove the air filter from the front of the engine to fit the hood in place as well as there was interference there also. I can not figure this out as all of the parts are correct for the 1962 model year... and the hood is really nice and straight. Any advice would be greatly appreciated if anyone else has ever had this problem with a hood not fitting properly on a 502/552 Wheel Horse.

I try to stay from the late 70's on back the sheet metal seems a lot stronger and better made.

I like black hoods but the B/C series in the 70's are, overall, my favorites.

B-60 keep. Doesn't look bad and you don't see them every day. Swap the newer tires onto it

Brian sent me a couple of "Insider Preview" pics! I blew them up on my puter and saw the stainless bolts. I thought I saw an imperfection in the paint and was going bust him about it until I realized it was a speck on my screen !

you might have to look closely at his shoes to see the paint!

and you haul your mighty 520H some 20 miles to the garden spot, make sure you got air in the tires, gas in the tank, charge on the battery, but most importantly, remember to reattach this (from having it off for snow throwing duty a few months ago)... else you'll find yourself looking at this: and your plowing will have to wait until you get back home and make a two minute installation...

As always Brian, superb work! We going to see it this June?

I got some seat springs out of a mower junkyard and bolted them to the seat pan of my 160. Then the seat bolted right onto the springs.

you need to remove the top off the carb and clean the bowel out and spray the tiny holes out, spraying clean at a complete carb will do little.

on the sides where the top meet the front, push in on both sides, that will make the front lower move forwards, the bottom has been pushed back and made the sides bow out, it may not look like it but trust me that is the issue,it will only take a 1/4" on each side to make a big difference at the bottom, I've been doing body work on cars for over 30 years, and have delt with this problem on a few tractor hoods, it may take 2 people to do it, one to apply pressure to the sides at the seam, (not trying to crush it just firm pressure) and another pulling forward at the bottom of the hood, not hard again just pressure, you may have to do this a few times, to get it, the square hoods can have the same issue, in fact the black hoods are the worst, those I stand on to bend when holding them still.

How can I tell if the engine is a KT17 series one - can I check serial numbers?

I pin mine to the chain on the back of the rockshaft, that way it's always on the tractor.

They are an awesome machine. I mowed with my SK-486 this past weekend and just love it. The 16 horse Kohler single has awesome power. I have a 48 inch deck on mine and it really works well even in tall thick grass. Set the deck low or high and let the grass fly! Between this and my dad's 520-H with 60 inch deck we had several acres mowed in no time. Someone will be getting a great mowing machine when they buy yours.

Nice work! Just like you, I have interests in other tractors. I would like to get a Bolens Versa Matic someday.

I always liked the looks of the old Bolens as well, Brian. Nice job!

Real nice work Brian. You are one of those guys on this forum that keeps pushing me to raise my standards higher......

slowly getting the frame back together Brian

Love those Bolens. Nice work Brian. Sent from my tractor seat using Tapatalk 2

Very nice work Brian! I always liked the old bolens ride a matics as well. Love watching your resto threads, looking forward to reading more updates.

Yes, looks like it will be nice. I like the hot weather but last year I heard a lot of complaining about the heat and lack of shade....I think I'm going to throw the shelter in the back of the truck just to keep everyone happy! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The front frame half was badly broken so instead of trying to weld it up I got a frame from a 58 and and cut the spot welds off the front half and modified it to a 57 Brian

And like everything I do this is a low budget paint project so I use what's in stock in my paint cabinet. The only hi-temp paint was black so that's what the exhaust got this afternoon. Mike..........

That seat Racinbob has is the best! I've had one for over 10 years and it's the best tractor seat I ever sat on!

Looks like you've scored...the twin(no pun)to mine. Has a mint plastic pan and high back seat, but I swapped them for the steel 520 version.

Hi Nick, welcome to RS, iam up in Sussex and also love the 'ores's, most people know me as the "the showman" in the UK

better that than road apples

Nice score on that tractor, even if the Onan is toast you can still make a nice tractor out of it. Hey Mike, special pancake mix from Maine? Now I'm craving pancakes!

One owner machine, PO worked it it's whole life... and all I've done was wax the bejezus out of it.

Hi All, Well ive finally managed to finish my latest fun video on building my snow plow, not that ill get to use till next winter, but its done:) Hope you enjoy it! Now i need to find time to get the charging system tested. cheers, Daniel