Looking to get my first Wheel Horse; advise please.

[JPWH 6,033]

To 

[peter lena 8,598]

@GAJoe  welcome to the group  ,  that base line service , like your first thorough look over , for condition  and opportunities  to correct before a failure .  trans oil , milky ?  , get a shift boot , and plan a drainage  , with the bottom of trans , Allen plug . 2 qts of 80-90 gear oil , grease everything , also use aerosol penetrating lubricant . look over wire connections , for corrosion and splitting . take advantage of what works , and enhance / insure that operation . agree with others that horses are a solid machine , regular look overs and maintenance is key  for dependable operation .  don't  be afraid to ask , about anything , like your wildlife pictures , keep in touch , pete

[Snoopy11 5,714]

16 hours ago, GAJoe said:

What are the signs that tell you that it's wore slap out?

To me, there aren't any signs that Wheel Horses are 'worn out.'

 

There are signs that Wheel Horses need someone to love and care for them though! With enough love, care, and elbow grease you will fall deeply in love with your Wheel Horse.

 

You may want to consider completely rebuilding any machine that you buy... just to establish a bond with your tractor, ensure that there aren't any vulnerabilities, and give us lot's and lot's of:

 

Welcome to the forum!!!

 

Don

[jay bee 896]

 to 

I have a B100 that I bought new in 1976. I thought I would never find another tractor that I would like so much. Over the years I’ve bought, sold and given away several B and C Series. All great tractors. Recently I bought a 1985 312-8. I planned on fixing it up a little and selling it. Well, long story short, this thing just said to me that it was never leaving, and I had to agree with it. I thought my B100 was something but this 312-8 is something more. 
Good luck on your hunt for a tractor. If you are fortunate enough to find a 312-8 or 314-8 I am sure you will be more than happy with it. 

[GAJoe 842]

Found my 312-8 I hope. I have a half way meet setup with the seller and he has listed it as pending.  I told him that I would send him my list so that we won't be wasting each other's time and gas.  Help me finish up the list.

 

Thanks for all the comments.  You guys are educating me and making me feel welcome.  I can tell that as long as I can access my computer that I will have all of the support that I need to keep my Wheel Horse 312-8 running for the rest of my days. 

You're a great bunch of guys.

Question: this has the K series Kohler rather than the Magnum. Does that date it as being Pre-Toro?

Edited October 27, 2022 by GAJoe

[953 nut 55,155]

1 hour ago, GAJoe said:

Question: this has the K series Kohler rather than the Magnum. Does that date it as being Pre-Toro?

              That looks like a well cared for 312-8, Nice find!

Toro bought Wheel Horse in 1986 and went to the Magnum in 1987. Not sure when in '86 the sale took place but chances are the supply of engines and associated electrical wiring harnesses were already on hand or contracted for at the time of the sale. 

Edited October 27, 2022 by 953 nut

[GAJoe 842]

It's a 312-8.

I know that the pictures I see of the Magnum equipped tractors also have the troubleshooting lights on the dash. Maybe that was the first wave of changes that Toro made to modernize their new product line. Just a guess.

I would love to hear some actual facts though.

[953 nut 55,155]

Here is the operator manual with wiring diagrams for the 1986 model year, this should be helpful in answering your questions.

 

[D_Mac 8,593]

Those are some great photos. Can I ask what type of camera you shot them with? 

[The Freightliner Guy 1,327]

@GAJoe you could make a topic all about nature shots and such me and others would love to see them 

 

Kollin

[GAJoe 842]

19 minutes ago, D_Mac said:

Those are some great photos. Can I ask what type of camera you shot them with? 

Canon 7DII sadly discontinued.  But I got a pro body R5 and it's even better. 45  MP; resolution is incredible.  This portrait is a crop of the other. Hope that you can see the sharp detail. 

[D_Mac 8,593]

Great photos. I passed them along to a friend of mine. He is an artist. His passion is painting birds. He enters the Federal Duck Stamp contest every year. Although he has never won that contest he has won other prestigious awards like NYS wildlife artist of the year. You have a outstanding talent. Love to see more of your work.

[D_Mac 8,593]

Here is one of his paintings. 

[Horse Newbie 7,065]

On 10/25/2022 at 9:40 PM, GAJoe said:

I enjoy doing wildlife photography.

If that’s the case, make sure to come to the Big Show next June in PA… there will be plenty of horses, old goats, wolves, chicks, turkeys, badgers, and strange birds to photograph there !

Edited October 27, 2022 by Horse Newbie

[Horse Newbie 7,065]

On 10/25/2022 at 9:46 PM, The Freightliner Guy said:

Got any beaver pics? 

Naughty, naughty…

[The Freightliner Guy 1,327]

21 minutes ago, Horse Newbie said:

Naughty, naughty…

What I just like beavers 

[Horse Newbie 7,065]

2 minutes ago, The Freightliner Guy said:

What I just like beavers 

Nothing… they are amazing creatures.

[TonyToro Jr. 1,411]

to 

[953 nut 55,155]

2 hours ago, Horse Newbie said:

If that’s the case, make sure to come to the Big Show next June in PA… there will be plenty of horses, old goats, wolves, chicks, turkeys, badgers, and strange birds to photograph there !

              Hay!   I resemble some of those remarks!          

[WHX?? 48,809]

As you might have guessed Joe these  like to go a little 

... especially  this  @ebinmaine

Doesn't help when you put up them ...

There is another section here ... non tractor related discussion... put up more please... BTW  @Ed Kennell and I like deer and bear....  ... well beeves too!

[GAJoe 842]

6 hours ago, WHX?? said:

As you might have guessed Joe these  like to go a little 

... especially  this  @ebinmaine

Doesn't help when you put up them ...

There is another section here ... non tractor related discussion... put up more please... BTW  @Ed Kennell and I like deer and bear....  ... well beeves too!

I put up a few in non-tractor related discussion.

[ebinmaine 67,380]

8 hours ago, 953 nut said:

              Hay!   I resemble some of those remarks!          

Which ones??

 

 

7 hours ago, WHX?? said:

you might have guessed Joe these  like to go a little 

... especially  this  @ebinmaine

MMEEEEEEE?????

 

My entire existence is off topic. Off center. Off kilter. Odd angles. Offenhauser. Wait no nevermind I have a Clifford performance intake manifold.  

[953 nut 55,155]

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

11 hours ago, 953 nut said:

              Hay!   I resemble some of those remarks!          

Which ones??

come to the Big Show next June in PA… there will be plenty of horses, old goats, wolves, chicks, turkeys, badgers, and strange birds to photograph there ! and a few that @Horse Newbie left out!                       

[GAJoe 842]

Well I'm sorry to say that the deal didn't finalize for the 312-8. It was a Face Book Market Place add. We just couldn't come to terms. I wanted to know that if I drove four hours that it would be held for me and not be gone. I thought that we came to an agreement but he "wouldn't hold it for anyone" and never listed it as "Pending Sale". It would have been a hundred dollars in fuel and a whole day of driving and testing. I wanted to know that it wasn't a wasted trip.

But I should have known that the good Lord had a surprise in store. Last night I saw a new add for a C-160 but I was to tired to look closer. This morning it was still there so I looked at it and found the location. It was an hour and half drive and in great looking shape. He didn't dodge my questions and flat told me that the front tire wasn't holding air and the deck was in rough shape as a '75 deck normally would be. He agreed to hold it until lunch to give me time to get the cash and get there. A totally different attitude than the other. I went and saw the C-160 that was a "single owner/family" The guys Father in Law bought it in MI and this guy wound up with it. He said that his Wife (the buyer's daughter) hated to see it go but he needed it out of the way. It hadn't been used in quite a while. He had a charge on the battery and it fired right up. I got it for a reasonable price considering that the deck will need to be replaced soon. Definitely not a wasted trip.  I like the style of these older "C" series WH's over the 300 series.

[ebinmaine 67,380]

That should be a 1974 or 5. 

Looks to be in good solid overall condition.  

 

The absolute beast of the vintage.  

The holy grail of Wheelhorses to many.  

I have 6 of them here in our herd.  

 

You've done VERY well.