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Last Sunday Janene Peirce pasted away due to injuries that was caused by being hit by a car last December. Many members on here know her as the bushing lady that set up at the show every year. Her battle has been tough over last few years from loosing her husband Jim and her daughter Christine but now she can be with them once again.

Big shout out to Tony Toro Jr. for inviting me into the Wheel Horse world. He sold me a 1989 312-8 with a 37" deck and the bagger system. I don't have the time right now to go as deeply into it as I'd like. But, it has been an amazing learning experience and has provided the opportunity to have a wrench in my hands once more. First thing I did was install a new solenoid as it was not working when I got it. Installed the new one while it was on the trailer and then realized I had never driven a tractor nor did I really know how to back it off the trailer. Trial by fire. I'm still alive and no broken limbs, so all is good. I've used it mostly to cut the lawn (37" deck) and haul firewood closer to the house. Removed the mower deck while moving the wood and noticed some rust and a hole in the front. So, I decided to take it all apart, cut out the hole and weld a piece of 1/8" steel in place. I took the whole thing down to bare metal, used Rust Restore and black Farm Equipment gloss black on the inside and IH Red on the outside which I applied with a brush. I also used Blaster Surface Shield on the inside of the deck. Supposed to protect it for 2 years, so we'll see. Sanded and touched up the edges of the fenders, under the seat, the floorboards, etc. with the Red. Added skateboard sticky stuff to the floorboards. New drive and mower deck belts. New brake shoe installed. Replaced the headlights with LEDs. Everything is greased and it runs like a charm. Here are some pics.

1067 that was cheap and 15 minutes from home last night after work. Gonna use the weights and maybe part the rest out or pass it on to someone who wants to do something with it.. Electrically it's a mess. Thoughts anyone?

Hey guys. New here and just bought my first ever tractor: a Wheel Horse 312-8. No idea on year or hours, as there is no hours meter, but she seems to run very well and I'm excited to learn how to maintain this! I have a ton of questions and I'm hoping I can get some help here, as google researching isn't turning up much for me, and obviously Wheel Horse is no longer in business. I bought the tractor today but didn't have a way to get it to me, so will have it later this week and can get some photos/details if needed. Anyone know how I can get a parts manual? I'd like to have one in case I run into issues later on, and also just to get the basics sorted out: Spark Plug, Air Filter, Tire size, Light Bulb size, belt(s) etc... I like to keep spare parts on hand and would like to get some now! Likewise, I'd like to have a service manual too if there exists one, or just a general owners manual. Need to know oil capacity, how to remove the deck (won't be mowing with this so removing the 42" deck), how to replace a tire, etc Speaking of manuals, I found a few online but they seem to be for the newer Toro Wheel Horse models. Not sure how much they align with the older models Anything I should know specifically about this model or Wheel Horses in general? I will be using it primarily for hauling carts of firewood to and from the house during the heating season, and maybe for moving dirt and mulch in the summer I know I need a new seat for the tractor and am overwhelmed and confused when googling online. Any idea how I can figure out what seat would fit this model? I'm thinking I could maybe sell the 42" deck if there is a market for it. Anyone know if they are worth selling? That's all I can come up with now. I'm sure I'll come up with more! Unfortunately I'm busy with work the next week or so but plan on taking off a day next week to give this thing some TLC: wash her down, clean up any rusty spots, oil change, clean the air filter, check the tires, etc. Thanks all for your advice and I'm excited to be here!

Another thing to add to the checklist for ‘new to me ‘ tractors. Remove the tins that surround the engines. Check out the mouse nest material I removed from the 312-8 that followed me home last summer.

Clearing the air flow on an air cooled engine is as important as checking the fluid in a liquid cooled engine.

NOOOOOOO! Always stop before shifting gears. The transmission will thank you kindly!

I'd keep it all here so easy to reference...

I have made it a practice to put a tarp over any newly acquired parts tractor and set off a bug bomb while it is on the trailer. Kill the critters before they get into my shop.

Looks like the ID decal is below your seat. Should be model number, serial number and 4-digit Julian build date on it.

@JCM @Alrashid2 I have a 312-8 that has the hard plastic steering wheel and rear reflectors/not tail lights. It also does not have an hour meter . I’ve had the head off the engine and its bore is definitely that of a 12 hp. Mine has the K series Kohler and is an 84 or 85 based on the engine serial number.

Looks like someone had charging issues amd said screw it. Fried voltage regulator, new starter genny, after market volt meter. Sketchy wiring. Might not take much beyond an expensive key switch, a regulator and new wiring. Has a very leaky axle seal too.

I have enough winter projects to do me probably 20 years. Hence why I may pass this one one lol

Learning as I go.will do!

No need to buy manuals on line, you can download them for free on this site. Once you know the model number we will hook you up with the correct ones.

We've spent the past few days looking over the mid-eastern part of our state of Missouri. Bonne Terre Mine is a closed lead mine that had been operated from mid 1800's until 1962. I think the mine is 5 levels and 500 feet deep. The mine is mostly flooded so water level is something like 150 feed below surface. Apparently it's a location that attracts scuba divers. We rode the pontoon boat around and toured the mine--see picture below. We visited a earth berm walled civil war fort and Elephant Rocks State Park, a closed granite quarry from 1800's, I wondered how a fellow strolling around 150 years ago would decide to open a lead mine or granite quarry. If I just wondered through those woods, there would have been nothing that caught my attention to the point of establishing a mining operation. The last place we visited was a state park near Missouri and Arkansas border. The state park consists of a collapsed cave, a couple hundred feet wide and 3/4 mile long and more than 130 feet deep. A cave like hole, probably 10 feet tall drains the collapsed cave into a spring some 6 miles away. The collapsed cave void can fill with rain water in a few hours time up to 100 feet deep and may take days or weeks to drain. Hopefully you can enlarge the second picture and read more details about the cave.

Hello ! Some of you might remember I inquired about 856 during I wanted the big block short frame 1277. I picked it up on Sunday - 200 CAD. I will be my project hobby for next spring. And it runs though!

Today on Wheelhorse corner… the painting is done for now. There’s new LED headlights on the 308 and I painted the guards for the 42”RD deck on the 312. The paint on the guards was peeling off. It’s not pretty, but I plan on going through the deck and fixing issues this winter.

Eric, are you feeling OK that's never stopped you before.

The key is what locks the lever to the shaft. Not the hairpins. Put everything in the correct holes, raise the deck till it locks, then adjust the deck up till the rubber bumpers touch the foot rests.

Can't be that bad. I don't see any wire nuts hanging out of it!

I had a customer when I was in the home improvement business who owned a 1965 Dodge Pickup which was his daily driver. He said that he would only part with it if he died. When he did die in 2020, the truck had well over 1,000,000 miles on it. He kept track of the mileage by scratching a line on the dash each time the 5 digit odometer would hit 99,999 and flip to all zeros. He also marked it down in the owners manual. Prior to his death, he had at least 10 offers from Dodge truck enthusiasts to purchase it. When he died, his widow gave it to a local Dodge dealer.

Wow, quite a party. Looks like the boys have all your questions answered. Sorry I'm late. I have a 312H and a 310-8. Both have great fuel sipping Magnum Kohler engines. I use the 310-8 with a 42" SD for mowing, hauling firewood , and hauling my lazy rear to my deer stand. I much prefer the 312H and hydraulic lift for snow removal. to the

And our Penns Cave. in central Pa.

Glad I asked haha! So what's the purpose of 3rd gear then? I assume then I can safely start straight from third? Just faster?

It would be best to take that friction assembly apart where you adjusted and clean it properly. While apart, sand the friction washers flat, then reassemble with no lubricant. You can oil all the joints there and under the console plates, just keep the friction washers dry. Adjust till it takes about 7 pounds of pull at the handle.

Most any seat labeled universal will fit ... it's all a matter of personal preference. We can tell yer excited right Plunge?!?! That's a good thing!

WELCOME to the OCD CLUB

You may have a 310-8 possibly. 312 's had hour meters.and a soft feel steering wheel. Yours has a plastic wheel. Is the sticker on the fender pan between your legs when seated legible ? probably not. If you have a K-Series Kohler with a coil it is either a 1985 , 6 or 7. If it has a Kohler Magnum. no coil it is an 88 or 89. This may help a bit from memory, mine.

Did some trading with my buddy Ken b. He ended up with a really clean/mint 417-8 that I got from him a while back and I got a really clean, low hour 523dxi. I have not had much more than a little while this afternoon to start to mess around with it but I did manage to swap out the stock rear meats with a set of trails I had from another xi I had. So far this thing is strong. I have a nice 60” deck she will spin next summer and maybe back up snow machine this winter. As always great doing some trading with Ken!

Gotta love the enthusiasm of a green horn eh fellas ... don't worry we'll coach ya

Ignore the part about "battery ignition" 24037 bx

@JimSraj I looked on the "new to the herd" checklist. We've mentioned looking for hay straw or debris sticking out and we've mentioned blowing out the engine sheet metal with compressed air. We didn't exactly write down that we should absolutely remove engine sheet metal on every tractor.

Pure awesome luck!! I got nothing constructive to add. Just wanted to say welcome.

You guys are awesome :) definitely making me feel less anxious about taking on a new project! This thread has gotten pretty big, so I think tomorrow when I get more details I'll post a fresh thread and link back to this one so we're all on the same page as to what model and engine I have. Thank you all again!

as you've already realized, there's not a question you can ask, that you can't get an answer to.

yes you can start in third... no need to be in neutral just push in clutch and brake.

Welcome! Here is a compiled ever-growing list of suggestions for the New Owner. Covers a lot of common problems & fixes. Pay no attention to Kevin & the burning tractor.....!!

Absolutely necessary. It should be on the list in the thread we all made. I'll check it later.

That stuff catches fire, it happened to my 418a

The wiring of my new to Moo-Wah C-145 with rusted out deck & a Snowblade that followed Moo-Wah home Sunday night has been used as a chew toy by rhodents. You probably saved yourself quite a headache getting rid of that. It is Shocking what those little characters can do to evrything....

Thanks, guys! Real happy to be here and so excited to finally have a tractor. Checking another box on my mini-homestead wish list for our 1.5 acre property I'll go search there now

I bought a used 1965 D-100 Dodge in 1976 while I was building my house. The odometer showed about 20K so I figured it was probably 120K. the slant six ran great and would haul quite a load. One day a fellow was looking at the truck in a parking lot when I came out of the store. Turns out he had driven the truck for a previous owner and told me it had over 400K on it. In 1987 I traded it in on a new Dakota, by then it had a bit over 500K on it, never had a bit of trouble with it.

Been working here and there on my 520-8 restoration and I had brand new stewart warner gauges but I guess they weren’t very good at cutting the holes out at the factory lol so I ended up buying used 520H gauges because they obviously combated the issue with a small diameter face ring. I toyed with the idea of cutting the holes out slightly larger to fit them properly but from the best I can find put the bezel is pretty much specific to the 520-8 so I don’t want to mess it up. I thought about a 518H bezel but the collar around the steering shaft is totally different where as this one uses a bolt on style much like the 520H

Well, Just got home from a road trip to pick up this 1980 C-145 with a deck & snow blade. The guy said he paid $100 to have a shop diagnose it & it needs a tuneup.... points & condenser,,,the P.O. was really sad to see it go & funny thing was, he actually said this, " send me pictures as you get it going again & I will probably by it back from ya..." little does he know that's probably Never gonna happen because 1 I really do Not want to sell 1 of these to someone who has No Idea how to take care of & or repair it. These are a piece of History much like classic cars but another realm.... 2 I doubt he will like the new Price when I am done nursing it back to health & the amount of time & labor involved to do anything like this weather it's a '69 Mustang or a 45 year old lawn mower.... & to those of us who Know, this aint just some old lawnmower. ok.... stepping off the soapbox now.... The Tune Up Should be easy enough as I was raised on that system. Gonna order that & a few other things tonight, The 257-H will get attention tomorrow. I am super stoked to have found this smokin' deal... the blade needs a few pieces of the necessary hardware but that won't hold Moo-Wah back.... The fender & seat are in the back of the truck. I didn't know the fender was plastic but ok maybe I can find a steel 1 somewhere.... the seat yeah that's gonna get replaced with a really nice 1 at some point. Just super happy to have another & a start on my "herd". Here are some pictures for All enjoy as well. More tomorrow....