WHX?? 48,815 #1 Posted July 10, 2023 (edited) So our brothers from a different mother... the Iowa boys. Mike & his boy Eric Meuch brought this gem to the Portage Show. It just fascinated me. A 854 with what appears to WH factory paint in a dull green. Not much known about it other than it was made for a company called Detecto based in Clarion, IA and they modified a stock 854 to meet their sales. Apparently it was set up with a hydraulic drilling rig on the rear and used for boring holes along gas line routes and sniffing for gas leaks. They are the third owners and the PO did some mods to use it as a trailer mover. PO cut off the drilling rig but thankfully saved it and they have it. HY tank underslung with a elaborate system using the orginal right mower pto for operation. Hy pump runs off the mower pully. Note the hy motor to run the drill and the long skinny cylinder to raise and lower it. Hoses long gone. I think some more research is in order. They didn't do much with it but did have it running. The muffler is some sort of spark arresting style. No other WH badges other than the steering wheel cap and SN decal. A rare find west of the Mississippi. Hope my pics do it justice. Edited July 10, 2023 by WHX?? 8 26 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,216 #2 Posted July 10, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, WHX?? said: Hope my pics do it justice. They do. Thanks for spotting it, grabbing some pictures and the story, and sharing both. I can definitely see how having a small, maneuverable tractor with a drill would speed up searching for leaks! Edited July 10, 2023 by Handy Don 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8ntruck 6,998 #3 Posted July 10, 2023 Neat machine. I'll bet that Detecto made a special order for a group of 854's painted to their specifications from Wheel Horse. Detecto probably took delivery of that group at their facility, where they added the hydraulics, drill and detector systems. The steel wheel company I worked for often did special orders with special paint for various customers. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel-N-It 2,968 #4 Posted July 10, 2023 Again, it still amazes me to learn what the Wheel Horse tractors were capable of 60 years ago. I wonder if the owners of this 854 would let someone bring it to the Big Show next year? I would enjoy seeing this one in person. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wild Bill in VA 1,452 #5 Posted July 10, 2023 Very interesting Wheel Horse to say the least. I wonder why the dash panel decal was removed but the shift pattern/serial number decal was retained? I would love to see the paint on the drilling rig VS the paint on the engine and frame components. Could there be any sale literature for this unit? How about a data tag? Yes, I would love to see this Wheel Horse! Wild Bill in Richmond, VA 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,454 #6 Posted July 10, 2023 Thanks for posting this! I really do enjoy seeing Horses painted a different color because it's very rarely acknowledged to have been done. Very very interesting tractor. The spark arresting muffler may have been done at the request of government or landowners. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 5,451 #7 Posted July 10, 2023 WHX. Thanks for the post. We all are enjoying it. I agree with @Wheel-N-It that would make a great show pice. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,840 #8 Posted July 10, 2023 1 hour ago, ebinmaine said: The spark arresting muffler may have been done at the request of government or landowners. It was an awesome Horse indeed! I’d imagine a regular spark allower muffler and potential gas leaks wouldn’t play well together 1 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,840 #9 Posted July 10, 2023 Some footage of this one here at 36:58 I think in the Horse Barn. It’s always great hanging with Eric and Mike! @wheel horse men (I think is their combined handle) thank you for sharing what knowledge you’ve found thus far! 2 3 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #10 Posted July 10, 2023 I wasn't sure of their handle here Kev thanks. I know they're not on much. Going to text a link to this thread to Mike to see if he can add more and correct me on anything. Don't think there was any paint on the drilling rig @Wild Bill in VA. I can tell you the hy tank and such were painted the same green. The guys did say there was no red under the green on the tractor. No other data tags but might be under grease/dirt. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #11 Posted July 10, 2023 (edited) 9 hours ago, 8ntruck said: Neat machine. I'll bet that Detecto made a special order for a group of 854's painted to their specifications from Wheel Horse. Detecto probably took delivery of that group at their facility, where they added the hydraulics, drill and detector systems. Our guess as well. I get some time I'll research this Detecto Co. Edited July 10, 2023 by WHX?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,305 #12 Posted July 10, 2023 I guess the guy that drew the short straw operated the drill looking for a damaged gas pipe. 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,454 #13 Posted July 10, 2023 4 hours ago, Pullstart said: It was an awesome Horse indeed! I’d imagine a regular spark allower muffler and potential gas leaks wouldn’t play well together I don't know why you say such silly things..... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,316 #14 Posted July 10, 2023 6 hours ago, Pullstart said: It was an awesome Horse indeed! I’d imagine a regular spark allower muffler and potential gas leaks wouldn’t play well together Olny once....only once......... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D_Mac 8,610 #15 Posted July 10, 2023 If it had yellow wheels and a yellow seat we all be singing a different tune. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,454 #16 Posted July 10, 2023 3 minutes ago, D_Mac said: If it had yellow wheels and a yellow seat we all be singing a different tune. That green's to dark to be the 🤢 green. 🙂 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,316 #17 Posted July 10, 2023 Now THIS one would have been a perfect candidate for the 6 or 8 speed swap. Pop it in Low range - position it exactly where you want it... almost as good as a parking brake!! A couple of years too early....... could have been added later... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wild Bill in VA 1,452 #18 Posted July 11, 2023 And yes. that spark arrester muffler ..... now let's think a second. It is not surprising that you would need that type of muffler for the work application this tractor performs but what about the starter generator? I wonder what type cover it has. Back in the 1950's to the early 1990's manufactures would use a pneumatic type starter motor when working around petroleum based products. Also the company name painted on the hood is a 1960's style design along with the P596 which could easily be the company that owned the rig their unit number. Wild Bill in Richmond VA 4 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #19 Posted July 11, 2023 6 hours ago, ri702bill said: Now THIS one would have been a perfect candidate for the 6 or 8 speed swap. Now yer talkin like a sausage Bill...this girl is way too orginal to be messin with tranny swaps. Doing anything with it other than cleaning up might be sacrilegious in my book. Maybe a full blown resto but it's not that far gone. I see what yer sayin tho. Know what yer sayin too @Wild Bill in VA ... from what I saw all motor/S/G was bone stock Kohler & 854. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,316 #20 Posted July 11, 2023 (edited) Agreed - original. Just sayin' if it were offered in 1964, a creeper gear would have been most useful at work............... Edited July 11, 2023 by ri702bill 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #21 Posted July 11, 2023 3 hours ago, ri702bill said: Agreed - original. Jusy sayin' if it were offered in 1964, a creeper gear would have been most useful at work............... OK I got ya. Makes a guy wonder if they weren't made with a '67 long frame? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #22 Posted July 11, 2023 (edited) OK did some research on this Detecto Co. and came up empty. Thinkin that maybe just what the company called their product. I did find ties to a Jacob's Bros company in IA that may be the root. Long disfunct. More digging in order... specifically sales literature on this girl @Wild Bill in VA Next step is contact a historical society if ther is one. Edited July 11, 2023 by WHX?? Speeling 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CasualObserver 3,408 #23 Posted July 12, 2023 I think you guys should take a look at the tractor in this topic I just stumbled across while looking for something else! Same exact foot rests, and same color green seat! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #24 Posted July 12, 2023 1 hour ago, CasualObserver said: I think you guys should take a look at the tractor in this topic I just stumbled across while looking for something else! Same exact foot rests, and same color green seat! @Chris G any comment? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beap52 811 #25 Posted July 13, 2023 If I remember, when we had a boat with inboard Chevrolet engine, the alternator had a very fine wire screen on the cooling openings that I always figured was there to help prevent a fire if gasoline was ever present within the engine covering. Could it be that similar screen could have been used on these tractors? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
