Ed Kennell 38,178 #1 Posted April 25 I recently realized how little I know about these tractors. Is there a way to determine the year of the 1955 - 1960 tractors? All I can find is the 55 to 57 had the Pond trans mission., 58 to 59 had the 5003 wheel horse, 60 had the 5010 wheel horse. Some had the Wheel Horse pressed in the hood. Thanks for any help that will help this rookie ID these tractors. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,322 #2 Posted April 25 ED - we need pictures. All too often, a previous owner with "good intentions" does a mix-and-match of parts of various years...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,232 #3 Posted April 25 7 hours ago, Ed Kennell said: I recently realized how little I know about these tractors. Is there a way to determine the year of the 1955 - 1960 tractors? All I can find is the 55 to 57 had the Pond trans mission and the '57 had Wheel Horse embossed in the hood., 58 to 59 had the 5003 wheel horse, 60 had the 5010 wheel horse. '60 has two levers in a rectangular mounting for the choke and throttle while the '61 has two pull cable knobs. Some had the Wheel Horse pressed in the hood. Thanks for any help that will help this rookie ID these tractors. Ed, you ain't no ROOKIE! 1 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,885 #4 Posted April 25 All RJs had a welded steel front axle. Suburbans and up had cast. All RJs also had the three piece transmission. Some Suburbans had a three piece, some had a two piece. Those are my first quick identifiers… 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,178 #5 Posted April 25 2 hours ago, ri702bill said: ED - we need pictures. I don't have one Bill. I'm just trying to educate myself to be able to ID them If I see another one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #6 Posted April 25 6 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said: If I see another one. Rule is Ed if anything with a round hood is seen pull the trigger... we'll check for horns later... 3 1 5 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,178 #7 Posted April 25 (edited) On 4/25/2024 at 7:58 AM, WHX?? said: round hood or any WH is seen pull the trigger. There, I fixed it for ya Jimbo. On 4/25/2024 at 7:22 AM, Pullstart said: All RJs also had the three piece transmission. Is this true for the 55-57 RJs....the book shows a Pond Tranny. Is the WH 5003 the 3 pc. tranny and the WH 5007, 5010, and 5025 2 pc.? On 4/25/2024 at 7:03 AM, 953 nut said: '57 had Wheel Horse embossed in the hood. I know the RJ55s did not have the WH name Richard. What about the 56 and was the RJ57 the first and how many after that ? My 58 had the WH name Here is my round hood ID plan. Please add and correct any data that will help. YEAR MODEL TRANSMISSION HOOD THROTTLECHOKE ENGINE HP FRONT AXLE ??????? 1955 RJ-35 pond no WH name B&S 2.5 welded RJ-35 pond no WH name K-90 3.5 welded RJ-35 pond no WH name Clinton B-1200 3.6 welded 1956 RJ-25 pond B&S 2.5 welded RJ-35 pond K-90 3.5 welded RJ-35 pond Clinton B-1200 3.6 welded 1957 RJ-35 pond WH name K-90 3.5 welded RJ-35 pond WH name Clinton B-200 3.6 welded 1958 RJ-58 WH 5003 * WH name K-90 3.5 welded RJ-58 WH 5003 * WH name Clinton B-1290 3.6 welded 1959 RJ -59 WH 5003 * WH name K-90 3.5 welded RJ-59 WH 5003 * WH name Clinton B-1290 3.6 1960 Surburban 400 WH 5010 # WH name levers K-91-31388A 4.0 cast Surburban 550 WH 5010 # WH name levers Tecumseh H-55B-1170 5.5 cast 1961 401 WH 5010 # WH name pull knobs K-91-41437A 4.0 cast 551 WH 5007 @ WH name pull knobs Tecumseh H-55D-2 5.5 cast 701 WH 5007 @ WH name pull knobs K-161S-28622E 7.0 cast 1962 Lawn Ranger 32E WH 5025 @ Tecumseh HT55C-3089 5.5 Lawn Ranger 32R WH 5025 @ Tecumseh HT55C-3088 5.5 * 3 piece case with vertical brake band tab # 3 piece casewith 45 degree brake band tab @ 2 piece case Thanks for the help, keep it coming. Edited May 7 by Ed Kennell 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,885 #8 Posted April 25 Yes, sorry about that Ed Dog! The RJ25 and RJ35 had the same transmission as the 2 wheeled walk behind Pond Walk Away Jr. Luckily I have one overhead I can get a good picture for reference 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,232 #9 Posted April 25 1 hour ago, Ed Kennell said: RJ55s did not have the WH name Richard. What about the 56 and was the RJ57 the first and how many after that The '57 was a POND drive but Wheel Horse on the hood and the decals, to my knowledge that is the first "Wheel Horse" named garden tractor although Terry sells some Ride-Away Sr. decals that say Wheel Horse. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,741 #10 Posted April 25 Check the Photo Galery Ed...some great pictures there. There are a few excellent threads on the 55,56,57 horses...try a search. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,178 #11 Posted April 26 6 hours ago, stevasaurus said: Check the Photo Galery Ed...some great pictures there. There are a few excellent threads on the 55,56,57 horses...try a search. Thanks Steve, I am still looking and learning. Being able to ID the transmissions would be a great help in IDing the tractors. Is there any visible differences in the Wheel Horse 5003, 5007, 5010, and 5025 transmissions ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 17,000 #12 Posted April 26 8 hours ago, Ed Kennell said: Thanks Steve, I am still looking and learning. Being able to ID the transmissions would be a great help in IDing the tractors. Is there any visible differences in the Wheel Horse 5003, 5007, 5010, and 5025 transmissions ? 5003 RJ and 5010 Suburban 3 pc trans have the brake band mounting tab in slightly different locations. RJ - the mount tab is vertical and Suburban that mount tab is at 45 deg angle. 5007 trans looks just like a modern 2 pc trans. Same for the 5025 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,178 #13 Posted April 26 Tks John, that is a great help. Any idea on Wheel Horse embossed hoods. 55 no 56 ? 57 yes 58 yes 59 ? 60 ? 61 ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 17,000 #14 Posted April 26 (edited) 20 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said: Tks John, that is a great help. Any idea on Wheel Horse embossed hoods. 55 no 56 ? 57 yes 58 yes 59 ?YES 60 ?YES 61 ?YES Hoods are different from RJ, (400 & 550) (401 & 501) Throttle choke controls are different on each Are you getting interested in little ball burner round hoods? Or just want to recognize what you see when coming across them? We can go over some of things to look for at the big show so you can recognize the models from sight Edited April 26 by wallfish 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,178 #15 Posted April 26 21 minutes ago, wallfish said: Hoods are different from RJ, (400 & 550) (401 & 501) Throttle choke controls are different on each Richard gave me some info on this just want to recognize what you see when coming across them? Yes, for myself and my 92 yo neighbor and WH collector Mr. Charlie Cordray We can go over some of things to look for at the big show so you can recognize the models from sight. Great idea,,,see ya there. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wh315-8 460 #16 Posted April 26 (edited) The 64 hood, I call a teardrop hood was used on the 603 Special & 64-68 Lawn Rangers. The 61 hood solid grill was unique to the 701 with own style decal. my typing was wrong should be late 56-58 with Wheel-Horse front. Also decals were different on 55, 56, 57, 58-59 Edited April 26 by wh315-8 1 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #17 Posted April 26 Tell ya what Ed Dog all joking aside this is good ref tra for us old salts... what we called refresher training in the Navy ... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 17,000 #18 Posted April 26 5 hours ago, wh315-8 said: The 61 hood Nice display of hoods! FYI The one tagged for 60-61 is a 1960 only hood. 400 and 550. The throttle / choke lever controls go in that square hole. In 61 that same area is a round hole with hole plug in it and the controls are push/pull type and located up near the steering shaft hole. 401 551 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,178 #19 Posted April 26 5 hours ago, wh315-8 said: The 64 hood, I call a teardrop hood was used on the 603 Special & 64-68 Lawn Rangers. The 61 hood solid grill was unique to the 701 with own style decal. my typing was wrong should be late 56-58 with Wheel-Horse front. Also decals were different on 55, 56, 57, 58-59 A lot of ID info there. Is it safe to say only 57-58 hoods were no riibs solid fronts with no grill openings with Wheel Horse embossed and 60& 61 were ribbed with solid fronts and Wheel Horse name embossed name and 62,63, &64 were ribbed with slotted grill and Wheel Horse name embossed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,232 #20 Posted April 27 13 hours ago, Ed Kennell said: A lot of ID info there. Is it safe to say only 57-58 59 hoods were no riibs solid fronts with no grill openings with Wheel Horse embossed and 60& 61 were ribbed with solid fronts and Wheel Horse name embossed name and 62,63, &64 were ribbed with slotted grill and Wheel Horse name embossed 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wh315-8 460 #21 Posted April 27 15 hours ago, wallfish said: Nice display of hoods! FYI The one tagged for 60-61 is a 1960 only hood. 400 and 550. The throttle / choke lever controls go in that square hole. In 61 that same area is a round hole with hole plug in it and the controls are push/pull type and located up near the steering shaft hole. 401 551 Yes your correct. The 61 had a plug put in place of the levers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wh315-8 460 #22 Posted April 27 (edited) 15 hours ago, Ed Kennell said: A lot of ID info there. Is it safe to say only 57-58 hoods were no riibs solid fronts with no grill openings with Wheel Horse embossed and 60& 61 were ribbed with solid fronts and Wheel Horse name embossed name and 62,63, &64 were ribbed with slotted grill and Wheel Horse name embossed Yes, 57-59 were same some of 56. 55-early 56 had no logo on front. Edited April 27 by wh315-8 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OoPEZoO 524 #23 Posted April 27 Speaking on details of round hoods….the RJ58 I picked up from Ed earlier in the week has a few small holes in the hood. As in, 1/16” evenly spaced intentionally drilled holes, some on the front, some on the sides. I think I’ve counted 15 or so. I don’t recall seeing them on other RJs, but I’ve honestly never payed that close attention until I had one in the garage. Are these normal, or should I add it to the list of body work repair? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,178 #24 Posted April 27 13 minutes ago, OoPEZoO said: Are these normal, or should I add it to the list of body work repair? I'm no round hood expert Keith, but I am learning from this thread. IMO, those are Fe2O3 holes and need to be repaired. I think the only holes in that hood should be the four for the fuel tank straps and the two for the throttle control, and the three that bolt to the frame. Those two holes in front of the throttle were from a tool box that the PO added. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wh315-8 460 #25 Posted April 27 So to add to the round hood history lesson, here are the decals used by the year. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
