Wheel Horse newbie looking for some guidance

[ddunne1971@gmail.com 17]

Hello,

Let me start by saying I am new to the world of Wheelhorse.  I live in New England and have been thinking for a while that as I get older I would need to retire my walk behind snow blower and would get some type of a small sub compact tractor with a snow blower or plow.  I could make use of a loader as well but what I really need is something that can move snow effectively.  I work in real estate and one day while walking through a clients old garage I saw the front end of a Wheel Horse under a tarp.  I had never seen or heard of wheel horse but as I started looking into it,  this powerful and versatile little tractor really caught my eye.  I am a beginner when it comes to my mechanical ability.  I can change my cars oil and air filters and can usually trouble shoot why my husqvarna riding mower, back pack blower or trimmer are not starting. I have even done the brakes on my car in the last year but much more than that and I am in new and uncomfortable territory.  My oldest son is very mechanically inclined but I don't want to call on him everytime my tractor needs repair.  I love what I have learned about the Wheelhorse brand.   They seem like excellent tractors and the prices are so, so much more attractive than the very bare bones entry model of the Kubota or Deere Lines.  I guess my main question is are Wheel Horse tractors relatively user friendly for beginners to work on and are parts readily available?  The tractor that I saw in my clients garage was a 314-8 with a mower deck.  Would that be a good model for me to start with?  Are snow blower or plow implements still available for that model?  Thanks :)

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,318]

Welcome to Redsquare! 
  A 314-8 would be a great machine to start with. Depending on the year it has either a K series or a Magnum series Kohler motor, both are great and parts are easily obtained for both. 
  

[ebinmaine 67,520]

24 minutes ago, ddunne1971@gmail.com said:

my main question is are Wheel Horse tractors relatively user friendly for beginners to work on and are parts readily available? 

 

That my friend are the main reasons why we have so many here.

My other half and I got into these tractors six or seven years ago because we needed something a little heavier duty. Over the years we've bought and sold a few and right now we have over a dozen. She has five. I have seven. We share one.

Each one of us has a couple in particular that are go to workers.

 

If you get to poking around a little bit you'll discover that there are probably 25 or more various implements that have been available over the years.

 

They make excellent mowers and snow blowers and snow plows but also are a full range full strength garden tractor very capable of ground engaging equipment such as tillers or dirt plows.

If you can handle the repairs listed above, you'll be perfectly fine tackling pretty much anything on an earlier less complicated Wheel Horse such as a 314.

That's a great starting point for you.

 

 

 

[lynnmor 7,307]

 

Any lawn and garden equipment will need maintenance and repair, you have to accept the obligation or do without.  Some buy new disposable tractors from a big box store and run them till they quit, others are like us who want better but accept the conditions.

 

Wheel Horse tractors and attachments are basic products that can be kept running for a very long time with some care.

 

Much of what you want can be found used and may need restored as they are getting old.  If you join us here there is much help available, you won't find a better forum anywhere.

[ddunne1971@gmail.com 17]

37 minutes ago, Sparky said:

Welcome to Redsquare! 
  A 314-8 would be a great machine to start with. Depending on the year it has either a K series or a Magnum series Kohler motor, both are great and parts are easily obtained for both. 
  

Thank you for your input!  It has a Kohler Command 14 engine.  

[ddunne1971@gmail.com 17]

26 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

That my friend are the main reasons why we have so many here.

My other half and I got into these tractors six or seven years ago because we needed something a little heavier duty. Over the years we've bought and sold a few and right now we have over a dozen. She has five. I have seven. We share one.

Each one of us has a couple in particular that are go to workers.

 

If you get to poking around a little bit you'll discover that there are probably 25 or more various implements that have been available over the years.

 

They make excellent mowers and snow blowers and snow plows but also are a full range full strength garden tractor very capable of ground engaging equipment such as tillers or dirt plows.

If you can handle the repairs listed above, you'll be perfectly fine tackling pretty much anything on an earlier less complicated Wheel Horse such as a 314.

That's a great starting point for you.

 

 

 

Thanks Eric, I know the part of Maine that your from and am sure you have put the WH through its paces up there for sure.  I really appreciate your advice.  Have a god day. 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,572]

 

3 hours ago, ddunne1971@gmail.com said:

I guess my main question is are Wheel Horse tractors relatively user friendly for beginners to work on and are parts readily available? 

 

YES

 

The tractor that I saw in my clients garage was a 314-8 with a mower deck.  Would that be a good model for me to start with? 

 

YES

 

Are snow blower or plow implements still available for that model? 

 

YES

 

[Achto 27,577]

 

I have worked on many different brands of garden tractors, Cub Cadet, John Deere, Simplicity, etc. What I like about Wheel Horse is the simple yet rugged design that is easy to work on & maintain. 

[Maz91 202]

3 hours ago, ddunne1971@gmail.com said:

  I work in real estate and one day while walking through a clients old garage I saw the front end of a Wheel Horse under a tarp.  I had never seen or heard of wheel horse but as I started looking into it,  this powerful and versatile little tractor really caught my eye. 

Welcome! I like this part of your story a lot because I found out about wheel horse for the first time when I saw an old Raider 12 while shopping for my house! I now own both 

 

I’m new around here too, but so far wheel horse is easy to work on and you can find any info you’re looking for on this site including manuals and diagrams. The people are very friendly and full of knowledge. And they own a lot of wheel horses!! 

[ebinmaine 67,520]

36 minutes ago, Maz91 said:

And they own a lot of wheel horses!! 

 

Some more than others.  ........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

😬

[SylvanLakeWH 25,572]

13 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

Some more than others.  ........

 

 

😬

 

This just in: Breaking news... C-160 Wheel Horse tractors have disappeared from the Northeastern US, with a particular scarcity in Maine... Authorities are investigating whether pirating, cross-border raids and inexplicable paint schemes are being used to hoard these once free-roaming majestic creatures... 

[rjg854 11,366]

    There isn't a better garden tractor made than a Wheel Horse. That's why after some 50 years they're still going strong. And lots of parts can still be bought right off the shelf.

[ebinmaine 67,520]

8 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Authorities are investigating whether pirating, cross-border raids and inexplicable paint schemes are being used to hoard these once free-roaming majestic creatures... 

Yes

[Jon Paulsen 290]

[Pullstart 62,900]

 If you have the humility to ask for help, we’re glad to!  Doing oil changes, brakes, etc on a car are the fundamentals of GT maintenance.  
 

If snowblowing is your ultimate goal, finding a hydro may be a better suited tractor in the long run.  Most have hydro lift, and will save from making your left arm look like Popeye’s!

[953 nut 55,255]

7 hours ago, ddunne1971@gmail.com said:

I guess my main question is are Wheel Horse tractors relatively user friendly for beginners to work on and are parts readily available? 

Sounds like your mechanical skills are more than ample to work on a Wheel Horse. Most of the parts you will eventually need are standard off the shelf bearings and seals that can be found at your local NAPA or on line. We have vendors that sell quality used parts and new parts so there is no problem there. 

[ddunne1971@gmail.com 17]

Thank you to everyone who responded.  You have bolstered my confidence and I beleive I am well equipted to own and work on these machines.  I have one other question related to manual transmissions vs hydrostatics.  One response on this thread suggested that I should consider a hydro machine because of the assisted lift feature.  Since I have never used a WH I am not sure how hard the manual lift aspect works but the idea of an assisted lift seems nice.  The videos I have seen online shows that larger implements bounce significantly when lifted with the hydro lift and I am not sure if that can negatively effect the life of the tractor or the implement.  I actually found a 1986 417-a for sale relatively close to me that comes with a blower attachment as well as a mower deck and snow blade.  It looks pretty good in the photos but I have not seen it in person yet.  Based on what I can find online some of the hydro related engines have issues with seizing due to poor lubrication.  I am waiting to hear back from the owner to see if the engine is a Series 2 Kohler that is supposed to have the lubricant related issue corrected.  Are there any other reasons that I should avoid a hydrostatic machine?  All of my previous riding lawn mowers (Husqvarnas and Deere's) have been hydro's and for some reason that makes me think that a Wheel Horse with a hydrotransmission is not a real garden tractor.  I am not looking to spark a large debate in this thread with this queastion but figured I would throw it out there.  It seems like Wheel Horse hydrostatic transmission has been around for a long time so its probably perfectly fine.  Thanks again for your help and input guys!  Have a great thanksgiving

[953 nut 55,255]

15 minutes ago, ddunne1971@gmail.com said:

All of my previous riding lawn mowers (Husqvarnas and Deere's) have been hydro's and for some reason that makes me think that a Wheel Horse with a hydrotransmission is not a real garden tractor.

The Eaton 1100 transaxle used by Wheel Horse is a very strong unit and is  cast-iron as opposed to the aluminum planned obsolescence junk you will find in the big box stores. I have a 418 which is just like the 417 (just a year or two newer) and must say it is a fantastic snow mover. The hydraulic lift "bounce" isn't a big problem, the front axle on the Wheel Horse is also cast-iron rather than stamped steel.

The Spec numbers on  Series 1 KT-17 are 24299 or lower. The Spec number for '85 417-A is 24350 and the '86 used Spec number 24363 so both were Series 2 which have the improved lubrication system.

GO GET IT!                  

[ddunne1971@gmail.com 17]

2 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

The Eaton 1100 transaxle used by Wheel Horse is a very strong unit and is  cast-iron as opposed to the aluminum planned obsolescence junk you will find in the big box stores. I have a 418 which is just like the 417 (just a year or two newer) and must say it is a fantastic snow mover. The hydraulic lift "bounce" isn't a big problem, the front axle on the Wheel Horse is also cast-iron rather than stamped steel.

The Spec numbers on  Series 1 KT-17 are 24299 or lower. The Spec number for '85 417-A is 24350 and the '86 used Spec number 24363 so both were Series 2 which have the improved lubrication system.

GO GET IT!                  

Fantastic news!  Thanks for the info and your service to our country!!

[OldWorkHorse 3,045]

314-8 is a awesome tractor. It's what got me into wheel horse and I now have 5? Parts are pretty available for mine it's a 97 model. But if the part is hard to find u found the right site to look for it. I got into horses and re did mine by lurking on this site and didn't post anything till it was refurbished and done just buy the info I read on this site!

[oliver2-44 9,756]

Buy the 314-8 and the 417 Auto. 
May as well start the addiction early instead of suffering for a while

[ebinmaine 67,520]

2 minutes ago, oliver2-44 said:

Buy the 314-8 and the 417 Auto. 
May as well start the addiction early instead of suffering for a while

 

Good logic