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I’ve never attended the annual Wheel Horse Show. There’s always been a higher priority. But every year the pictures of the event tell the real story of our legacy … it’s the kids. It’s hard to image what the difference is that these machines make in their lives, but there is no question that it influences them and hard to believe in anything but a very positive way. Our granddaughter … her first ride and her latest ride.

Thanks to @Herder for the gifting of the chassis in the first place. 1966 856 with a 1968 Tecumseh 10 HP. It still needs some tinkering on the belt guard and the carb needs a good cleaning. Other than that it's a pretty wicked runner!! O. E. Engine pulley is 2". This one is a 4". Fast little ride. Works out fine because Trina normally goes everywhere in 2nd. With Millie she'll use 1st. Wooooohooooo!!!!

New driveway, sidewalk and porch cap done! Cure time now for 7 days before I park on it… Broom finish, fiber mesh, six sack concrete for those interested in the details… exactly 30 yards. My “inspector” made sure the damage to the bamboo was limited…

It’s amazing watching their face as they figure things out too. I watch and let my girls get into sticky situations on occasion just to see what they do to get out, if they help each other, if they figure out a way...

We enter this world with no knowledge of anything. Kids only know what they are taught. Up to a certain age anyway. If you can get them interested in something that truly excites them, at a young age, when the teen years come, and they are influenced by their peers, the influence won't be as great.

It could be, if you are using a cell phone, or a certain browser...it could also be Karl updating the system. It does happen once in a while. It might be more beneficial if you listed the time and date?? That way we might be able to check what it might be. BTW...Gregor, you are special.

Warning! Objects on ebay can look smaller than they actually are. This thing is a beast! Cricket pitch mower. Kohler Magnum 18 twin on it! Rolled down the ramps on its roller brakes no problem. Mrs W is not my biggest fan at present. And tonight I'm off to collect a cylinder mower grinding machine. I may be sleeping with it....

This morning I piled up what's left of the willow tree, and now the rest is history.

Finished! The logo is a bit rough and ready, but this thing will be a battered wreck in a few weeks. Trials later today once the real work is finished, will post a video of me crying next to a pile of broken steel....

I finished the painting today!! The Toro Red really pops!! I hopefully will have the tractor finished as soon as we get back from vacation and/or get the decals in. We will also be color sanding when we get back. Also make sure you're wearing a respirator when painting its pretty important if you see what it caught in the filter! Coming together!!

Drilling a couple holes in the casting the pin passes through down to the pin will allow you to get some penitrating oil directly to the pin.

And don't forget the 68 year old kids like me.

I get around the whole safety switch debate by simply buying tractors that are old enough to not have them.

I like this sequence. It takes care of something important--if someone has hammered on the pin, it might be peened over and won't go through the casting. Cutting it off gets you down to "round only". If you don't have an impact driver and will be using a punch and hammer, be sure to brace the thick side of the trans case near the pin to absorb the energy of the hits.. Rust. Nature's welding!

(1) Cut the pin on EACH SIDE of the slot hitch and remove the hitch. (2) The pin is soft...drill a 1/8 center hole as deep as possible on the THIN side of the trans case, then open that drill hole to 5/8 dia...(3) Using a HARD round punch, punch that pin out thru the THICK side of the trans case.

Finished cleaning and polishing the 99 265H for my Son. Still needs a few tweaks on the carb (runs better with a little choke on) and fix the loose hood latches.

K341 reliable powerful engine. No fancy electrical stuff to cause issues like newer units.

Your electricity goes the wrong way so it prolly never got to the part where it crashed!

Went to an Estate Sale this morning. Walked out with this beauty. I have always made out pretty well turning them over. I already removed some paint splatter that was all over it. Cleaned it inside and out. Waxed it all up. Came out pretty good with not so much effort. I should do well with it.

Wouldn't you know it...I was able to pickup a plow locally here in Oklahoma...needs some surface rust cleaned off and paint but it'll get the job done...

Behind every successful man is a good woman..... telling him he is all wrong.

And when they turn 16, get their driver’s license, maybe they’ll have more respect for their vehicles and be better/safer drivers.

I've posed that number chart here many times. Look for the model number. Odds are in your favor it has ball bearings on the crank if it is 18+ HP.

The C-160 whether a hydro or an 8 speed is everything you need and nothing you don't. The early C-series are a.so the easier to change equipment then the later tractors

Horse of the Corn

Well everything bolted up nice as expected and it functions perfect! It desperately needs paint...blends into this Oklahoma red dirt a little too well at the moment... it'll give me something to do between now and winter... I like knowing it's in the arsenal though as it just gives the 312 more versatility for fun projects

THe Old Old Stock truck is getting in Ready to Rustle condition.For its age she is in good knick for our area. On a trip, it got 22 MPG and then a no runner and sat for four years. A crank position sensor got it running, so I had the shop it was in completely change the transmission filter and the remaining fluid. Sometimes it starts out in too high a gear, but put the selector in low at a stop sign and then it cycles fine. So we are running fine for at least local stuff for now and needing to assess a few things here and there as it returns to service. The nice features are the big V-8 and a solid chassis . It has the lifetime roadside assistance go handle installed, and I can use the phone a friend app to have it towed. I named it Tomka Truck in honor of my BIL Tom, and as you can see he has a big brother that will also get upgraded and repaired. We lost a rear wheel bearing on The Mighty Cummins and the fix for that is a service that jigs and welds on a new axle end ready for new bearings and the live axle install The 160 lost a bearing on the mule drive clutch and that part proved to be instrumental in the replacement of the rear axle drive pinion seal. The seal was a super tight fit and would not start into the hole. We put it into the freezer and used the clutch drive as a seating tool since the hollow part fit over the axle stub protruding drive shaft stub.So now Tomka is again on the road. And all my stuff matches in Wheel Horse Red

I've had a front end loader for over 10 years, and thankful that everything works as it should, because I have no idea what you guys are talking about...

I have a 416-8 and love it. It is an Onan not a Kohler. The service life is completely dependent on on how well it is maintained. Onan's in welders and generators have excellent reputation's. 3000 hrs is not uncommon. On Garden tractors they are more likely abused than the previous applications and do not like dirty cooling fins. If the cooling fins get dirty from grass, dirt and oil they will run hot and possibly throw a valve seat. I personally like my Onans, I have a p216 and a P220. They sound great, are fairly easy to maintain and parts availability is very good. Keep in mind OEM parts are not cheap but much less than OEM Kohler parts in my opinion. The rest of the tractor is as boollit proof as any Wheel Horse. Good luck.

My racing wheelhorse had motorcycle disc brakes on the rear axle.

actually - a machine that just runs and runs is a fitting description of a Wheel Horse tractor this is the number one reason I am a Wheel Horse owner around 1974 we got a 704 and later added a 312-8 and 416-H ... used the 704 for 20+ years - 800+ hours on the 312 and around 1000 hours on the 416 - and basically problem free ... almost zero issues I can basically name the issues - the pull start spring / mechanism on the 704 began to act wonky - and broke a short lift rod on the deck of the 416-H never touched the engines - the 704 still has the original points little bit of maintenance and TLC and you are good to go !

Very good Al teach them young. That way they will not go to big box stores and buy there junk.

Lol ain't this the truth. It's super satisfying to keep a decades old machine in good working order and then use it! Because they're so simple to work on keeping them in shape is pretty doable with common tools and common sense (and this forum of course). I really appreciate the straightforward design and engineering that went into these machines, and the honest hard-working materials they're made of. I don't think there's much plastic at all on mine, as opposed to my neighbor's brand new Cub which is very nice looking but I doubt it will be in service 35 years and 1600 engine hours from now... That's why I bought 2 wheel horses for less than the price of one big box special when I moved to this property.

All of them

The fumes will get ya too! I use the organic filter pods on my mask but they're pricey. So to get a little more life outta them I put n95s OVER the pod. Let THOSE get red!

The filter was white before!!

And Brakes not made for that speed.

25x10x12 ITP mudlite 2. They're heavy and beefy tires that are intended for UTVs. Thick sidewalls and decent load rating, also astonishing traction with deep lugs. I was worried about running ATV tires in terms of load ratings but those fears were completely unfounded. These tires are awesome for every job I've thrown at them from mud bogging, dragging logs, trail riding, pulling the utility trailer, snowblowing, and field mowing. They don't damage turf as long as it's dry, I use this tractor to pull my aerator, dethatcher, and lawn sweeper.

Been pup proofing the decking area today ready for the anticipated new arrival. The original larch lap fencing died the death a while ago. Never got round to replacing it. This morning into Carlisle and got some lattice fencing. Fencing panels were 7ft long and just fitted in the Santa Fe with a foot sticking out the tailgate. Back home and replaced the posts that I'd removed. Then measured up and cut down the panels to height and length then fitted them. An off cut was made to fit one end to act as a removable gate. Four off cuts of scrap aluminium fastened to the posts made a slot for the gate/panel to slide into. There were two off cuts left over and these went to block a couple more escape routes. The scraps off the panels would just about fill a bucket. Nice and handy for lighting the stove. Waste not. Want not. Not bad for an afternoons work with the temperature in the low 80s. Just as well the decking is shady till late afternoon.

30W Rotella year round. This engine has had Rotella for 10 years. 1000 hours and I took it apart because the balance gears bean to rattle. Look how clean it is. No sludge or gunk.

Me too...I have used Stabil in all my small engine fuel...haven't had any fuel/ starting issues either.

Looking at picking up a one owner 1994 416-8. Has 1100 hours on it, original owner. Kohler Power Plus. 48inch deck. Deck has only seen belts and blades and it also has the optional bagging/vac/fan assist unit. Asking price is $900. Owner says the clutch pedal needs adjustment. Overall I like what I see but have not had a in person visit. So 1100 hours is about 1/2 through the average service life for this unit or is it likely on the downside of it's run time? I'm wondering about parts availability for it too. What should I check that might be needing repair/replacement? Thanks.

It is red but not a WH. Beats moving around with an engine lift. Easier on me and faster.

They are still making these chests and still family owned. Right down the road at 25 miles away

What would we do without it?

I cruised for an hour and 15 minutes. The tractor never once hiccuped. Which is a good thing as it would have been a long walk home. I stopped periodically to check battery voltage. At idle 12.9, at full throttle 13.4. The dash mounted volt meter never reached 14 V. I think one of my problems is, I like paint. A lot of paint. 2 coats primer, several coats color, and at least 2 coats clear. This practice may be preventing me from getting that all important COMPLETE ground at times. This morning I cleaned up some wiring, and also removed the VR. Scraped away some paint to insure a good ground. Maybe that, or a combination of things, fixed the problem, but to me, I think it's OK now. Thanks for all the help @Jeff-C175 and all. Greg P.S. I think maybe I need shock absorbers, and a rear view mirror.

When you went from Oil to ATF did you completely drain and flush the system?? oil and ATF do not play well with each other. If your valve plate is deeply gouged i think LJ fluid power has them but $$. If your slippers are beyond help you have to get a whole new piston block and slippers. about 10 years ago I was quoted $5-600. If it works reasonably well now then you should be able to get away with resurfacing the valve plate and slippers

I’ve owned the Simplicity version for 5yrs now and had no issues other than the stripes it leaves in the lawn . Buy some Oregon high lift blades and you won’t be disappointed .