1975 C160 Automatic Restoration

[ebinmaine 67,462]

A little over a year ago @JCM Jim and I took a trip up to Port Clyde Maine where I got 4 tractors and a few parts. 

One of those was this '75 C160 Automatic.  

 

It was repainted and somewhat mechanically restored back around 2012 with limited usage since. 

The person who owned it at the time was a former Wheelhorse dealer and very much appreciated certain models.  

I don't know if he was the one who did the work. But... It's not exactly precisely painted.  

Only the visible part of anything was painted. 

Grease and oil were painted over. ((WTH??))

That said, the widow I got it from was very sure that only genuine Wheelhorse maroon paint was used.  

Maroon.  

It's just ... Not our favorite color...

 

This was my snow tractor last year. It went well so I've decided to fix it up more.  

 

Well... I have a laundry list of things to do to the Automatic and had no intention of painting it right now. 

 

But... after we got it taken down to it's current state Trina and I talked it over.

We've decided to take the extra couple days and repaint while the Auto is apart.

The transmission will be off and split so I can add Limited Slip Differential.  

The hydraulic system will be disassembled. Rebuilt cylinder. Rebuilt valve and at least 2 new hoses. 

Engine is being swapped for another K341 I have here.  

MANY other things... 

 

 

@WHX?? Jim you'll ecstatic to know this one will be RED. A slightly brighter red than mid 70s stock color.  

 

I'll be adding a pile more pics as I go, along with the list of things to do.  

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight's "before" pic.  

 

 

Here's the progress after about 2 hours:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 29, 2022 by ebinmaine
Corrected thread title

[Blasterdad 2,692]

She's got great bones, should be fairly easy to clean her up.

By the looks of her front wheels I think she might have the mumps though...

Looking forward to your progress on her. 

Edited November 28, 2022 by Blasterdad
typo

[kpinnc 12,017]

She certainly had a big pair ...of front tires there Eb. 

 

Maroon... I'm constantly amazed at just how much people get completely wrong about these old tractors. Statistically speaking, folks should be able to guess right more than they do. 

 

As has been said already- looks like a good solid machine. Now if you can put it back together... 

Edited November 28, 2022 by kpinnc

[ebinmaine 67,462]

5 hours ago, Blasterdad said:

By the looks of her front wheels I think she might have the mumps though

 

45 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

She certainly had a big pair ...of front tires there Eb. 

 

😂

 

Them's the 20 x 8 x 8 fluid filled tires I use for snow. 

 

46 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

Maroon... I'm constantly amazed at just how much people get completely wrong about these old tractors. Statistically speaking, folks should be able to guess right more than they do

 

BBT and I have seen at least 3 or 4 go through our shop. 

Perhaps it's a personal preference?

Perhaps that's all they had available at the local dealer?

 

I dunno....

 

This one will no longer be encumbered by it.  

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,552]

 

Eehhh... Gonna use Colossus while this one's down...? 

[ebinmaine 67,462]

Pictures from the day Jim and I went to pick up this tractor.

 

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,462]

November, 2021.

Rebuilt carb and changed the seat & mounts to be more Bear friendly.

 

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,462]

December, 2021.

Fixed the fuel cap where the previous owner had left it completely without a gasket.

 

 

 

 

Added fluid filled rear tires, 2 link Vbar chains, steel weights inside and out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Month and a half or so after I picked it up here. Seems to have assimilated into the herd fairly well.

 

 

 

Edited November 28, 2022 by ebinmaine
Correct genius autocorrect

[ebinmaine 67,462]

[PeacemakerJack 10,738]

I’m gonna follow along on this journey!  Can’t wait to see the finished product.  This tractor is a great starting point for a refurbish/restore project.  

[Snoopy11 5,714]

8 hours ago, kpinnc said:

Now if you can put it back together

If I can put that old dinosaur 718-Z back together... then a bear can put the c160 anything back together...

 

Don

[ebinmaine 67,462]

5 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said:

If I can put that old dinosaur 718-Z back together... then a bear can put the c160 anything back together...

 

Don

I appreciate the vote of confidence but if you gave me a 12-in square jigsaw puzzle that only had four pieces it probably would take me a half an hour

 

 

[Snoopy11 5,714]

3 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

I appreciate the vote of confidence but if you gave me a 12-in square jigsaw puzzle that only had four pieces it probably would take me a half an hour

 

 

Have you ever seen the mental test where they ask you to put the square peg in the square hole and the round peg in the round hole?

 

I'm one of those thoughtful plantains who will put the square peg in a round hole... and if it didn't fit quite right, I would get a hammer and beat it in, then JB weld the gaps.

 

 

Moral of the story: I'm one to talk...

 

Don

[Lee1977 6,658]

EB just isn't right. nothing wrong with the paint on that C-160. Just look at the Hot Pink wheel weights he thinks is the right  Wheel Horse color.

[ebinmaine 67,462]

Hot pink?? No no no no. So you got to adjust the color on your TV monitor. Ain't no hot pink anywhere in my house land acreage properties or possessions.. 

[kpinnc 12,017]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

I appreciate the vote of confidence but if you gave me a 12-in square jigsaw puzzle

 

I was gonna say I'd break out a hammer but Snoopy Don beat me to it...

 

A hammer, a grinder, a flat file, and a stick welder. Everything else is too advanced for me!

[Snoopy11 5,714]

1 minute ago, kpinnc said:

I was gonna say I'd break out a hammer

You do know the saying about great minds...

 

Don

[WHX?? 48,815]

22 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

WHX?? Jim you'll ecstatic to know this one will be RED. A slightly brighter red than mid 70s stock color

Glad to see your color blindness is in remission... 

 

8 hours ago, PeacemakerJack said:

I’m gonna follow along on this journey!  Can’t wait to see the finished product.  This tractor is a great starting point for a refurbish/restore project.  

Knowing EB  You might be waiting awhile Jack... 

How is 160s fall from the sky ther yet rare around here!?! ? 

[ebinmaine 67,462]

We did some more disassembly and cleaning this evening. 

Trina started considering the path for painting the hood.  

The top is orange peeled pretty badly.  

We're thinking about sanding off a bit then add filler primer to help smooth it out.  

Not looking for show quality. 

 

I removed the gas tank, battery and its tray, safety switch and bracket, oil filter.  

 

Also picked up the front of the machine so the transmission would finish draining.  

 

 

Here's a good example of how NOT to have a tractor prepped for painting.  

 

 

 

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,462]

9 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Glad to see your color blindness is in remission... 

 

Knowing EB  You might be waiting awhile Jack... 

How is 160s fall from the sky ther yet rare around here!?! ? 

 

No waiting on this one brother man.  

Trina and I are aiming to have it drivable by year end.  

 

[Snoopy11 5,714]

6 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Here's a good example of how NOT to have a tractor prepped for painting.

4 words:

 

Pressure washer.

 

Don

[ebinmaine 67,462]

2 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said:

 

Pressure washer

That's tomorrow.... 

 

Just need to separate the frame and transmission.  Then drag the frame outside.  

[wh500special 2,175]

6 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

I was gonna say I'd break out a hammer but Snoopy Don beat me to it...

 

A hammer, a grinder, a flat file, and a stick welder. Everything else is too advanced for me!

Or, find another solution:

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,462]

2 minutes ago, wh500special said:

another solution

That. Is. Awesome.   

[SylvanLakeWH 25,552]

8 hours ago, wh500special said:

Or, find another solution:

 

 

But... but... but... do I still get a trophy? Maybe a participation award? 

 

That was priceless...

Edited November 29, 2022 by SylvanLakeWH