Poppa Bear 15 #1 Posted January 25, 2023 I have a Wheel Horse 12 Automatic? That is what the sticker reads on it. {although it has been converted to a manual transmission unit}. My question - so this unit is known only as a 12 Automatic correct? If my research is correct - was made in 1973? Serial number is 937262 - does this make any difference? Were there changes through production where one sequence of serial number was built one way than after a certain period of time there was a change? It does have a 12hp Kohler. Whe did some tractors get names, come got numbers than there is the lowly 12 Automatic? I am a relative newbie in the Wheel Horse game so trying to learn what I can about his model. Thanks in advance and Cheers - Barry 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blasterdad 2,689 #2 Posted January 25, 2023 The 1973 's we call the "No Names", in 1974 the "C" series began, i.e. C-120, C-160. 1972 & before had "Names" i.e. Bronco, Commando, Electro, ect. Pic's of my "No Name" 12 Auto, ( has the wrong older sticker on the hood ) !976 C-160 Auto 4 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,266 #3 Posted January 25, 2023 1 hour ago, Poppa Bear said: Wheel Horse 12 Automatic? That is what the sticker reads on it. {although it has been converted to a manual transmission unit All the shifting linkage and controls and steering tower that holds the wheel and of course all the controls and wiring in that and belt guard and engine pulley and belt... It takes quite a bit of work and pretty much the whole back half of a tractor and a lot of the right side to convert from automatic to manual or vice versa. Nothing's impossible but I'd be somewhat surprised to see that someone changed all that stuff all over and still calls it an automatic by serial number. Might be more logical that it has a different Hood but one never knows. We've all seen stranger things done and probably a lot of them just today. 😂 Any chance you can post pictures of that tractor? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,032 #4 Posted January 25, 2023 Suspect your model number is 1-0350 or 1-0350-8. Here is what we have on it https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/search/?&q=1-0350&type=downloads_file&search_and_or=or&sortby=relevancy 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHGuy413 2,683 #5 Posted January 26, 2023 This is my 1973 “12 Automatic” it has the wrong decals but I won’t change them since that’s what my dad put on it when he restored it. Like blasterdad said above the 73’s were between the name models and the C models. 73’s are considered the no name tractors. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,502 #6 Posted January 26, 2023 6 hours ago, Poppa Bear said: Whe did some tractors get names, come got numbers than there is the lowly 12 Automatic? From 1960 - '67 had numbers with some meaning. First one or two numbers was the horse power, middle number was the transmission / starter configuration, last number was the year built. Example - 1267 = 12 hp, six speed tranny, made in 1967. 875 = 8hp, hydro tranny, made in 1965 502 = 5hp, 3 speed, pull start, made in 1962 953 = 9hp, 3 speed, electric start, made in 1963 In 1968 they switched to names - Raider, Electro, Bronco, Charger 1973 the no names = hp + auto or #speed. Followed by A,B,C,D series. Then back to numbers 300, 400, & 500 series. The final Toro / series was the XI. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Poppa Bear 15 #7 Posted January 26, 2023 16 hours ago, ebinmaine said: All the shifting linkage and controls and steering tower that holds the wheel and of course all the controls and wiring in that and belt guard and engine pulley and belt... It takes quite a bit of work and pretty much the whole back half of a tractor and a lot of the right side to convert from automatic to manual or vice versa. Nothing's impossible but I'd be somewhat surprised to see that someone changed all that stuff all over and still calls it an automatic by serial number. Might be more logical that it has a different Hood but one never knows. We've all seen stranger things done and probably a lot of them just today. 😂 Any chance you can post pictures of that tractor? 2 photos posted. The I D tag attached to the tractor identifies it as a model 10465 8 - which now confuses me based on the information provided above regarding unit identification. if 12 hp should number not start with 12? and with the number ending in an 8 - does that not refer to 8 speed manual tranny? I am confused. Maybe I am driving FRANENTRACTOR? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,266 #8 Posted January 26, 2023 50 minutes ago, Poppa Bear said: Maybe I am driving FRANENTRACTOR? Nuttin' wrong with a home made rig when they're done right. That one has several interesting elements. Looks as though someone did have a hydro and put a SIX-SPEED in it if the knobs on the shifters are original. For the most part six speeds had round shift knobs and eight speeds had them with a flat top. That would be good news if it's true. The six speeds were Limited Slip Differential. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blasterdad 2,689 #9 Posted January 26, 2023 The list @Achto posted was just an explanation of the model names, letters, & numbers through the years... This is from the actual Model number list, your did indeed start out life as a "No Name" 12 Auto. Some PO has changed the trans... 1-0465 1973 Lawn & Garden Tractor 12 HP Automatic Kohler K301S-47421D 12 Sundstrand 90-1136 From left to right are... Model, Year, Description Type, Engine Model, HP, Drive Model. So... Model. 1-0465 Year. 1973 Description Type. Lawn & Garden tractor 12 HP Automatic Engine Model. Kohler K301S-47421D HP. 12 Drive Model. Sundstrand 90-1136 A couple of examples; 1-0485 1974 C Series Garden Tractor C-120 Automatic Kohler K301S-47421D 12 Sundstrand 90-1136 1-0356 1974 C Series Garden Tractor C-120 8-Speed Kohler K301S-47421D 12 Wheel Horse 5091 Just a heads up... There's going to be quiz on this due by the end of the day. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,032 #10 Posted January 26, 2023 Here are 2 pages of search results for 1-0465 The -8 is not used but was WH's way of identifying the model year when all they had was a model number. 8 minus 5 = 3 = 1973 https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/search/?q=1-0465&quick=1&type=downloads_file 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Poppa Bear 15 #11 Posted January 28, 2023 On 1/26/2023 at 12:46 PM, gwest_ca said: Here are 2 pages of search results for 1-0465 The -8 is not used but was WH's way of identifying the model year when all they had was a model number. 8 minus 5 = 3 = 1973 https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/search/?q=1-0465&quick=1&type=downloads_file I am going to flunk the quiz. Regarding your reply - "The -8 is not used but was WH's way of identifying the model year when all they had was a model number. 8 minus 5 = 3 = 1973." Pardon my ignorance - but - the 8? If the model year was 1973 - why not just use a 3? Not following where the minus 5 comes in to play? Is that some kind of Wheel Horse only calendar/numbering system? If I play with these long enough I may figure it out. Cheers, Poppa Bear 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Poppa Bear 15 #12 Posted January 28, 2023 On 1/26/2023 at 10:09 AM, Blasterdad said: The list @Achto posted was just an explanation of the model names, letters, & numbers through the years... This is from the actual Model number list, your did indeed start out life as a "No Name" 12 Auto. Some PO has changed the trans... 1-0465 1973 Lawn & Garden Tractor 12 HP Automatic Kohler K301S-47421D 12 Sundstrand 90-1136 From left to right are... Model, Year, Description Type, Engine Model, HP, Drive Model. So... Model. 1-0465 Year. 1973 Description Type. Lawn & Garden tractor 12 HP Automatic Engine Model. Kohler K301S-47421D HP. 12 Drive Model. Sundstrand 90-1136 A couple of examples; 1-0485 1974 C Series Garden Tractor C-120 Automatic Kohler K301S-47421D 12 Sundstrand 90-1136 1-0356 1974 C Series Garden Tractor C-120 8-Speed Kohler K301S-47421D 12 Wheel Horse 5091 Just a heads up... There's going to be quiz on this due by the end of the day. Give me a bit of time for the quiz Blasterdad - I am a newbie - so going to take me some time to catch on to this new math. Appreciate the response. Cheers, Poppa Bear 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites