Let’s see your favorite wheel horse

[The Freightliner Guy 1,327]

My favorite wheel horse is the only one I have I called him Reese by now almost all you have heard about him or seen him so  I won’t show him again anyways let’s see you most prized horse!

 

 

kollin

Edited September 23, 2022 by The Freightliner Guy

[JCM 9,177]

You never forget your first girl. My favorite.

[Lee1977 6,664]

C-120/180

[WHGuy413 2,696]

It’s either of these 2 for me my all original Rj or my restored 603

[Retired Wrencher 5,464]

Just finished this one this summer. My third one and I think best. Because the other two had modifications done to them by the p/o.

[Racinbob 11,088]

For me choosing a favorite is kinda like choosing a favorite child or grandkid. I currently have five and each one has some sort of story to it that could make any of them my favorite.

 

Let's start with the oldest first.

I still remember the day in 1960 when my Dad pulled in the driveway with a brand new Suburban in the back of the Plymouth Valiant station wagon. In 2014 when we were still living in Florida I was scanning Ebay just to look at pictures when I ran across this Suburban. Not even thinking it would be anywhere near I about messed my shorts when I saw it was about 15 miles away. Since it wasn't listed I couldn't tell from the pictures if it was a 60 or 61 so I contacted the seller. He didn't know so I asked him if I could come look at it. Sure. I made sure I would win the auction but I still got it cheap because there was only one other bidder. The pulley was welded on the tapered shaft engine. I got a different K-91 from a member here at the big show. There's a thread on here about the rebuild.

 

 

After a complete nuts and bolts rebuild this is how she ended up. 

 

 

This was the picture that Terry used on my big show banner. To my surprise it was also the picture he used on some signs he made that you can see above the banner. The background and stack have been photoshopped (or something) out.

 

 

How can you help but love the little Suburbans?

 

Next up is the 854 I picked up at the 2018 big show. It had been restored but had some paint damage and it had been reassembled haphazardly. Here's when I first saw it. 

 

 

This is it now and dedicated to the sickle bar mower. Everything on the sickle bar was complete frozen up with rust and I believe the guy I got it from considered it nothing but scrap. There's a thread here on the rebuild.

 

 

854's have always been one of my favorite models.

 

Now comes the 1968ish Indy 500. I remember trying to talk my Dad into getting one when we were looking at one on the dealer floor. He wanted nothing to do with the Tecky engine. There's another thread telling the full story but in a nutshell a 657 and a 500 Special, both complete messes, were given to me in Florida. I used both plus more parts to build a version of a 500 Special my Dad probably would have bought. The K161 spent it's early years running a pump sprayer for Micky Mouse.

 

 

Next in line is my 'B'-160. Other than saying that I bought this brand new as a B-80 and I won't go into it again because most of you know. This tractor runs a 42" deck (off a 2005) in the summer and a blower in the winter. If being sedimental was the only criteria here this would be my favorite.

 

 

Newest on the list is my 2005 Classic. 

 

 

I found this on the Gulf coast. It was only 4 years old and only had 100 hours on it and he was wanting $1200 for it. I stumbled across it on Craigslist and told my wife that this guy had no idea what he had. I immediately contacted him and drove over there with trailer in tow. He met us in front and said he would drive it around. The second I saw it I was dropping the ramp on the trailer. My wife had the $1200 in her purse and I told her to give it to him. My mind was saying hurry up before he changes his mind. Well, he did sorta change his mind. As my wife was handing him the money he said to just give him $1000 because we drove all that way. This seems to carry most of the work around here. In the summer I use the 48" deck I bought in the 70's when I converted the B-80. The 42" that came with this is used on the 76. In the winter I used a blade on it. The blade was also given to me and was totally rusted tight but was no match for a big hammer and PB Blaster.

 

[D_Mac 8,620]

My favorites that I spotted on the ole internet are the first two. Again, not for the people that like them original but I love the look. The favorite that I ever owned would have to be the 416-8. One because its was a beast of a machine and second because I did a lot of work to it and was pleased with it when finished.

[rjg854 11,378]

One of the reasons this is my favorite is because its the month and year I was "BORNED ON" 8/54

[OldWorkHorse 3,045]

Probably my custom built 1257Heavy, I love all my horses but this one has the most of my time and passion into. Not 100% done yet but free time is hard to find lately 

[hcminis 1,557]

my favorite.

 

[whtractors24 3,116]

My favorite only 200 made 36 years ago . 

[The Freightliner Guy 1,327]

28 minutes ago, hcminis said:

my favorite.

 

That thing is bad to the bone 

[Horse Newbie 7,074]

Mine are like children… I can’t choose between the two…

[SylvanLakeWH 25,598]

[Sarthurs01 824]

[Brockport Bill 1,668]

3 hours ago, Horse Newbie said:

Mine are like children… I can’t choose between the two…

 

 

i love the work horse gray, red and black contrasts --- you did  terrific -- maybe next yr thats my goal to do a 18 workhorse

[Horse Newbie 7,074]

Thank you @Brockport Bill !

It was fulfilling to take a Wheel Horse that was in need of some love and bring her back to workable condition!

[johnnymag3 2,520]

I guess one of these..............

Edited September 27, 2022 by johnnymag3

[Inspectorjoe 471]

My favorite is an unpretentious hard worker that proudly wears the minor scars of 49 years of service.

 

 

[The Freightliner Guy 1,327]

Reese is currently hiding he was on the concrete patio at my grandparents house but it was leaking calcium chloride all over so they pushed him here he is either hiding or sleeping I dunno

Edited September 27, 2022 by The Freightliner Guy

[Retired Wrencher 5,464]

16 hours ago, Inspectorjoe said:

My favorite is an unpretentious hard worker that proudly wears the minor scars of 49 years of service.

 

 

Nice ride Joe. Enjoy.

[Inspectorjoe 471]

8 hours ago, Retired Wrencher said:

Nice ride Joe. Enjoy.

Thank You.

She sat unused since the end of winter, but I just put on chains and the 'new' $60 blade I recently bought for dirty work (I don't want to scratch up my 'nice' blade). Tomorrow, she moves dirt!

[Retired Wrencher 5,464]

Big block will get it done!

[Pullstart 62,905]

After a steering fix, Putt Putt will be on the straight and narrow again!

 

First and still my favorite 

[Handy Don 12,235]

Easy to get the lower steering arm out without removing the engine once the fan gear is off the shaft. But how did you get it back in?