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When did tractors replace the horse? The number of draft horses and mules utilized for farming peaked at just over 25 million animals around 1910, 17 million in the great planes states alone. About that same time, the number of tractors began rising and peaked at just under 5 million in the late 60s and 70s. The turning point when the amount of tractor power overtook the amount of horse power on American farms was 1945. With the increasing amount of farmland made available through the homestead act large steam traction engines were used to break the ground. However, horsepower remained the primary force for planting, cultivation and harvesting. Each steam traction engine required several horses to pull wagon loads of wood to fuel them and water to replenish the boiler. The first gasoline powered tractors were also very large and though they no longer required teams of horses to pull tenders they weren’t useful for planting and cultivation at the time. Smaller eastern farms didn’t benefit from early tractor designs due to their size. It wasn’t until the smaller general-purpose tractors were introduce in the late teens that horseless farming became a reality for them. Each gasoline powered tractor freed up about thirty acres needed to feed six horses on the average 160-acre farm allowing more cash crops to be grown or a larger heard of dairy cattle to be raised. Altogether tractors allowed sixty to seventy million acres of productive farm land to be added by the 1920s. Also, the labor force needed for farming was reduced from 13.5 million people in 1910 to 4.2 million in 1973 while the average farm size increased from 138 to 385 acres. This allowed many people to work in the newly founded industrial companies that were springing up everywhere. According to the Economic History Association's 1955 estimate, the U.S. would have been almost ten percent poorer in the absence of the farm tractor. The tractor has had a markedly positive economic impact. Horses and mules, while providing farm power, ate up more than twenty percent of the food they helped farmers grow! This excerpt from a 1923 Australian newspaper sums up the transition from horses to tractors very well. Considerable interest is being evinced by farmers on Yorke Peninsula. and elsewhere, on the question of mechanical versos horse power for the efficient and economical cultivation of the land. It is becoming more generally recognized that the tractor of today is not an experiment, but holds out possibilities of not only doing the work much 'cheaper but of getting it done quickly in its season, taking full advantage of weather conditions and giving the farmer more leisure and time to attend to other matters. The fact of farmers succeeding in the past with horses is all very well in its way, but up to a few years ago business generally was working more slowly, and everything was in rhyme with the times. Today, the great industrial machine of the world has been accelerated, and as each industry works in conjunction with the other—each forming a link/ as it were, in a great chain—so, for success, all must work together. Ther is no doubt, so far as farming is concerned, that the tractor is going to reduce the working cost of cultivation and harvesting considerably, and help in other ways to get a move on and succeed in keeping up with other industries. Each gasoline powered tractor freed up about thirty acres needed to feed six horses on the average 160-acre farm allowing more cash crops to be grown or a larger heard of dairy cattle to be raised. Altogether tractors allowed sixty to seventy million acres of productive farm land to be added by the 1920s. Also, the labor force needed for farming was reduced from 13.5 million people in 1910 to 4.2 million in 1973 while the average farm size increased from 138 to 385 acres. This allowed many people to work in the newly founded industrial companies that were springing up everywhere.

Over the past couple weeks BBT and I have made a few trips over to our friend's place to get the Workhorse set up with its mowing deck. Took us 4 or 5 attempts because we have very little familiarity with this model and even less with any mowing deck other than the one we recently put on @Qball 's tractor. (My parent's). At least two of those trips were to find broken or worn out parts. Standard fare for an older ride but a work stoppage for the day none the less. Well yesterday was the magic day!! Here's Tom driving his new mower while I observe. We'll need to make some adjustments to height and replace a bushing at some point. Otherwise it's going good.

Hate it when my knob gets caught........

Picked up another box today. It's a Sipco. Not a high end box but pretty nice. Has a metal outer shell and oak drawers underneath. I'm guessing it's from the 40s. Original finish and felt. No key. Don t know why I like boxes so much but I do .

You might want to get a little sun on those legs Kevin ??

OK I see the handle. where is that lift flag?

I got this C-161-8 roller from my dad and a motor from a worn-out 416-8. It runs really smooth and looks pretty sweet, too!

Calling this one done. Seat yet and some cobbling on the fender pan. Dan is gonna see about getting me two pieces of flat steel to sammich the rotted out area. Less someone's got a better idea. I got other pans but patina is way off. Passenger side rear only holds air for a day so need to tube that. Amazing the others hold air. Electric clutch is toast... open field winding... so just for show n tell. @Mike'sHorseBarn if you don't need that seat I have on the 1267 throw it on Kev's truck at the BS. It would be a good seat for her. If you need it tho no big deal. I have others I can cobble on.

What I do is pull the harness totally out of the tractor and lay it out on the work bench. Then I can totally go through it and fix up any bad wires, connectors etc then rewrap it and it is as good or better than new. Never have an electrical issue after that.

Little update on the 312-8 rebuild. Had some electrical issues to start when I bought it couple months ago and some transaxle leaks. So, not a complete tear down, but getting there. Thanks to this site and members help, I got through the transaxle rebuild which found out wasn't original to the 88 model. As far as the electrical goes, I've cleaned and replaced almost everything, but found the wires to the ignition module were completely bare as it passed through near the engine. Most likely my starting problem, but to be determined. I have thoroughly enjoyed taking my time to pay attention to every part as it comes off, clean, repaint or wire wheel it so someday when she's up and running it'll be an eye catcher. If all goes well, should be ready to plow this winter!

Nice 60's mid hitch. $20 SOLD

No trips to the ER or even the walk-in clinic not even a bandaid, Kevin, you are slipping, we expect more from you.

One snow blower handle in there for a year and I'll never hear the end of it! LOL ( Could've been 2 years IDK )

I've never stopped to consider how much land was needed in order to feed the mules and horses for farm operations. I also didn't consider that teams were needed to fuel the early steam engines with wood and water. Mom who was born in 1935, was saying the other day that before her dad updated to a tractor in the 1940's, that it was her job to bring in the team to the barn or for her dad. She said she would walk barefooted to catch Doc and Dolly. One of the horses would allow her to climb on and ride back home.

I would get another head

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the plug in the hood below the steering wheel would indicate that it's a 1961. The engine looks like a Tecumseh. 551?

It looks like the same part as the ones on Parts Tree. I would have to go look at my 520 to be 100% sure. Let me know if you want me to verify. Did not list a price. Maybe 3 or $ 400 if it's for a friend.

And NLA…so priceless eh? Probably not a part folks need to often I suspect.

In the front and on the bottom of course!

Toro # 78-7740 Brake Pivot NLA 520-H @Sparky

"Get rid of that hay burner and get your self a Wheel Horse". A little something that I like to tell my real horse owning friends.

This has all been so interesting and amazing the progress that was made in a relatively short period of time.

After 5 failures, finally a couple key racks in progress.

to. In this Forum you got the most successfully and knowledged answers. dunno how much time you can and will spent, but in 14 day‘s is the Big Show in PA an anual meeting for and about Wheelhorses. Here you can walk arround and thru the years and machines - from patina up to completely restored where also things and machines will be traded and lot‘s of knowledge is also there. would be worth a visit imho. i‘m from the other Side of the Big Pond and got me a Wheelhorse 656 from 1966 with Patina on it. planing it since several years go to the Big Show and this year i be there. Guess why. i keep on my Wheelhorse the Patina because i love that look. this machine has a history that must not being hidden with it‘s 58 springs on it. Mine is a hard worker and is nearly each Weekend in Service. mowing about 2800 sqm, dump all the garden gunk in a Forrest about 10 min drive away with my Cart. never would change my Horse to another Machine. i have also an Iseki TX1300 ( same as a Bolens) with hydraulic and threepoint hitch and with homemade FEL but t mostly use the Wheelhorse for daily tasks. It must be serviced and it can be serviced. a well maintenance give them a long live and they be with just a little maintenance normally stressless workers. just my 2

You kidding me! You still have the bike in there from 3 shows ago. You never u load that magic van

I'm still in the procrastination stage. Right up to the end

IMHO... The day after an annual event is acceptable time frame for loading for the following year.

I ordered one of their replacement spindles for a Troy Bilt ZRT and it looks and operates well. Only time will tell about the qualty of the bearings, shaft and overall endurance of them.

Show time next week , well kind of any way. I will have a chance to do some practice runs as well as have the tractor teched to ensure that it is with in the rules. Given this fact I figured that I best get the finishing touches on it. The final required piece was the fire extinguisher. held it up in several locations & finally settled on this one. Easy to get to with little to no operating interference.

I put one of Denny Clarke’s fantastic Lawn Rangers to work the last couple of days trying to smooth out a wet ditch that I have rutted up when I’ve been mowing it. This little thing is a beast. @dclarke

I have a set of fenders I removed from a 61 suburban 401 and they have a small flare that I've never seen before. Are they wheel horse? They exactly match a set of suburban fenders without the flare. I need an expert!

Frt. Wheels don't look correct to me either.

Skateboard Grip Tape, even comes in colors. https://www.ebay.com/itm/151156825400?itmmeta=01HZ8F8X19SQD5F5RPR1JMCVQ4&hash=item2331a61d38:g:158AAOxy5jxSdDdQ&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8F36CCxliLv39dnA%2FtiB325aFno2ks0PDC731wPmkkxChFMBsqn5Xzpsbi84eOoxG8HJClQ%2F9TS8bCHQoHh9CQDSkd366hlvsr9%2FoIhNXx83ID1NXzdzgWTXKDGPHW1mKcchzZ2%2FwSc6xO0ppwO2px9TNR%2FaBzGh626eM3yZoy84D%2BqF7TjvYWIpcV64gl4ET6%2BGhJiG%2FipZIHqic5L6qK8ND43z4lmZeKYhI2EyG%2BUzVKe4zyy6z7bQVoAgDdgHZbGX%2FeVltXRALEp%2Fx%2FD2BBCnAQWyO0ylUYSu2a6AlIR1PuhwyiOWuvQ8xUBVzY6R7A%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR9zQo4_6Yw

6-12 General branded ag tires. In great shape and cleaned up. Very little cracking if any. $50

Well thanks @ebinmaine and @JCM for the fast detective work! If either of you need one you know who to call.

Funny thing on that Mike. We've had two of those go through our shop in the last 6 months and they were BOTH BENT.

The white wires from the stator go to the two outside terminals of the voltage regulator, it doesn't matter which ones. To diagnose your charging problem download the Onan Service Manual. There you will see the specifications for the AC voltage coming from the stator and the DC charging voltage from the center terminal of the voltage regulator. Note that the body of the voltage regulator must have a good ground as it is the negative connection.

Only the rear mower wheels are in contact with the ground except when irregularities are encountered. The rollers at the front is to prevent scalping. The deck height is adjusted by the rear wheels and the deck level is adjusted using the J bolt at the center rear of the deck. Looking at that sparse crop of grass, I would make the deck perfectly level, the only reason that a lower front is specified is to prevent re-cutting the same grass. Be sure to have the tires properly inflated and you are doing the leveling on a flat surface. Measure from the flat surface to the blade tips front and rear. This tool can help, before I had one I used a deep socket of the proper length for my gauge.

Among those industries were agricultural equipment manufacturers! Noting too, that the farm size didn’t say constant with the tractor giving the farmer more free time. No, the farm size grew (and the workforce shrunk) so that fewer, now-more-efficient farmers worked more land. One wonders what happened to the horses.

did you order them? if so keep me updated. I have a 42inch deck off a b100 and its been down for 3 or so years because I didn't wanna pay that much for a 150ish per spindle when I needed all 3. when I had other mowers to use. because 450 for spindles is Alot when your 17 or 18. but I could afford that set if they're decent

Another tractor saved.

Nice to see a Wheel Horse stay in the family.

Thanks for all the replies! I'll tackle this project when I get a chance and think I will add a tender and some lights!

Looks like someone tossed them through a bead roller. Sweet!

Like black hoods and being a sixties guy they grew on me. The ones that fell from the sky helped...

News to me but looks cool. Gotta stiffen them.

Those 1978-79 C-Series are some of my favorite models.

I'm still in the cleaning and prep stage lol

@PH707 ! Consider becoming a member as there’s a wealth of information and knowledge on here . There’s usually someone on here that will answer your questions and few threads that get lots of attention . We also love pictures and being a member sure makes that that easy . Add that dealership to our registry as they weren’t many Horses west of the Mississippi River let alone a Dealership .

Red Square is a great site! You guys are cool! The other site I posted on doesn't get anywhere near the engagement by its members. We may get a little off topic, but at least we talk. It's nice to be here! Paul