26 Years - Still Going Strong?

[leeave96 487]

I believe 1997 was the last year of the mighty 520H and Kohler cast iron engines in the Wheelhorse tractors.  26 years since they rolled off the assembly line.

 

Is the WH still your go to - roll up the hours on it, using it and mowing grass like the tractor was still new?

[ebinmaine 67,444]

5 minutes ago, leeave96 said:

Is the WH still your go to

Absolutely and without equal. 

 

I have a 1974 and a 1975. 

Trina has a 1966 and two 1967s. 

 

We restore them. 

We work them. 

We maintain them. 

 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

28 minutes ago, leeave96 said:

 

Is the WH still your go to -

  It is..I will admit that I have a Craftsman with a triple bagger setup that mows maybe every third time. But one of the 3 or 4 Wheel Horses I have with mower decks do most of the mowing and one with a plow does all my snow removal. 
  But having so many I don’t really “roll up the hours” on any of em. 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,544]

32 minutes ago, Sparky said:

I will admit that I have a Craftsman with a triple bagger setup that mows maybe every third time.

 

 

 

Perhaps Red Green paraphrased here might help you with this issue:

 

I have a Craftsman 

I can change

If I have to

I guess

[Handy Don 12,214]

55 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

 

 

 

Perhaps Red Green paraphrased here might help you with this issue:

 

I have a Craftsman 

I can change

If I have to

I guess

My name is Handy Don and I am a Snapper user...

 

If there was a true mulching (recycler) deck for a round hood (854) that could really take care of moderate falls of leaves the way the Snapper can without bagging, I could kick the Snapper habit for sure.

[8ntruck 6,998]

My go to mower is a 1973 14-8.  Been in the family since the late 70's.

 

Like @ebinmaine, I work it and maintain it.

 

I've mowed once with my C-195 that I bought a year or two ago and have been slowly working on.  I think I like it for mowing better than the 14-8.  That was the first time I ran it at WOT for an extended period of time.  That session exposed an oil leak that I have not had time to chase down yet - the C-195 is on the limited service list.

[ri702bill 8,316]

Here - It's Dad's 702, my 854 8 speed, and the C81. All outfitted and ready for work. And a 502 with a 6 HP yank start in the wings. How many grease fittings on the Crapsman???? The WH has 14........

[JCM 9,130]

34 years and runs like the day the dealer dropped it off in my driveway. Has been the best money ever spent on anything I own. It has a very pampered life now. Saving it for someone who appreciates a made in the USA tractor. Applying it's first coat of wax in June of 89, a winter picture in 09 and a current picture.

[Bill D 1,920]

5 hours ago, Handy Don said:

My name is Handy Don and I am a Snapper user...

 

If there was a true mulching (recycler) deck for a round hood (854) that could really take care of moderate falls of leaves the way the Snapper can without bagging, I could kick the Snapper habit for sure.

I have a 21" two stroke Snapper walk behind.  Great machine.  Got it at a yard sale for $10 with a "seized" engine.  Turns out Mickey got stuck in the engine brake under the flywheel.  Cleaned it up and fixed a chewed wire and rebuilt the carb.  Runs great.  Doesn't get much use so I like not having to change the oil.

[kpinnc 12,008]

9 hours ago, leeave96 said:

Is the WH still your go to

 

My Scag Tiger Cub is my primary mower. But my 520-H is the backup, and unfortunately the 520-H mows more often than I like. 

 

Simple truth is that the 520-H is slower, and not nearly as strong as the Scag, yet far more dependable.

 

Today's commercial mowers are much faster and more powerful than anything Wheel Horse ever produced. Performance wise, there is no comparison. But they only do one thing, are very expensive, and break down regularly. 

 

There is something to be said of the dependability and durability of these old tractors that still work 40+ years after they were built. I'm thankful for my red tractors!

[Pullstart 62,838]

6 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

My Scag Tiger Cub is my primary mower. But my 520-H is the backup, and unfortunately the 520-H mows more often than I like. 

 

Simple truth is that the 520-H is slower, and not nearly as strong as the Scag, yet far more dependable.

 

Today's commercial mowers are much faster and more powerful than anything Wheel Horse ever produced. Performance wise, there is no comparison. But they only do one thing, are very expensive, and break down regularly. 

 

There is something to be said of the dependability and durability of these old tractors that still work 40+ years after they were built. I'm thankful for my red tractors!

My 5 year old Scag 52” hasn’t ever left me stranded  how does yours break down so often?  

[Retired Wrencher 5,451]

15 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Absolutely and without equal. 

 

I have a 1974 and a 1975. 

Trina has a 1966 and two 1967s. 

 

We restore them. 

We work them. 

We maintain them. 

 

Well said Eric!

[kpinnc 12,008]

2 hours ago, Pullstart said:

My 5 year old Scag 52” hasn’t ever left me stranded  how does yours break down so often?  

 

Mine is a repowered 2006 model. It's not that it breaks that often, but it's hard to work on when something fails. This past year I broke belts, had the PTO clutch quit, and now the starter solenoid went out. Then the "interlock control module" broke, and I just rewired the whole machine. Mostly what I'd consider normal wear stuff. The clutch alone was listed at more than $500, though I finally found a new one for $150. Same part, just not through Scag.

 

I don't have a decent shop here for parts either. A broken belt can take several days to get, and half the time it's wrong. 

 

My Wheel Horses have pulled me out of a mess more times than I can count. While they can't cut as fast, they sure keep me caught up. 

[rjg854 11,361]

I'm still using my '68 Commando 8 with the roundish gear drive deck.  I like the cut of that tractor better than the 42"recycler RD deck that's on the C160.  Another nice thing is it uses way less gas.  Yeah it might be slower than a zero-turn, but a lot more fun. I'm retired so I've got plenty of time for mowing.

[Handy Don 12,214]

31 minutes ago, rjg854 said:

I'm still using my '68 Commando 8 with the roundish gear drive deck.  I like the cut of that tractor better than the 42"recycler RD deck that's on the C160.  Another nice thing is it uses way less gas.  Yeah it might be slower than a zero-turn, but a lot more fun. I'm retired so I've got plenty of time for mowing.

Nice looking tractor, there!

I completely agree on the terrific cut you get from those late 60’s 36” gear decks--they cut wider and more evenly than my Snapper and yes, less fuel used. That’s why it’s my go to deck on an 854.

What the Snapper does (with its multi-edged blade and enclosed housing) is pick up, recirculate, and finely shred a moderate covering of leaves blowing them down amidst the grass to decompose. The WH deck tosses them out the back in big pieces.

My adjacent neighbors both have lawn services that run big Scag ZTs. They mow quickly but then spend a lot of time with backpack blowers going over the whole lawn! 

[rick 233]

My 1997 314-8 and a 1993 48" SD keep my grass cut while the 416H languishes in the shop waiting for me to do a 500 hour service.

I am in the thinking stages of going to a 48" cut commercial ZTR.  I will then divest myself of the 416H and 48" deck.  The 314-8 will stay.

[leeave96 487]

Thanks for the replies!!!!

[ML3 1,197]

My primary mower is a Garden Way Troy Bilt 33. Don't really have a big yard. Great mower! My secondary mower is my 654 w/rear discharge. I find myself using it more often just because I like to "play" on it. However, I should be walking behind the Troy Bilt as I need the exercise.