I Need Advice for Restoring a 1975 Wheel Horse C-160

[Padrickk 2]

Hello there,

 

I recently acquired a 1975 Wheel Horse C-160; and I am excited to restore it to its former glory. This is my first restoration project, and while I have a decent understanding of mechanical work, I’m new to the specifics of these vintage tractors. I would greatly appreciate any advice, tips, or resources you all could share to help me along the way.

 

First off, the engine is in decent shape, but it hasn’t been started in years. I am planning to do a full tune-up, but I’m wondering if there are any particular issues with the Kohler K341 engine that I should look out for? Should I replace all the gaskets right off the bat, or is there a chance some of them are still good?

 

The electrical system is another area where I could use some guidance. The wiring looks pretty old and brittle, so I’m considering a full rewire. Has anyone here done that on a C-160, and if so, do you have a wiring diagram or any advice on sourcing the correct parts?

 

Lastly; I am looking to repaint the tractor to match the original color. Does anyone know the exact paint code or have recommendations for where I can find the best match?

 

Also, I have gone through this post; https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/topic/86998-new-member-ccsp-1975-wheel-horse-c-160/ which definitely helped me out a lot.

 

I am excited to learn from this community and get this classic tractor back to working order. Any advice; whether it’s about specific parts; tools; or techniques; would be invaluable.

 

Thank you in advance for your help and assistance.

[ebinmaine 67,766]

 

 

 

Some of the jokesters that will answer below me here, May possibly tell you that I have enough c-160s for the whole neighborhood.

 

I can offer you several threads and give you a fair amount of advice along with all the rest of us. You'll be in good hands.

 

You can start here:

 

 

 

 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,070]

Welcome to Red Square.

You most likely want to change the oil and get it running. A shot of Marvel Mystery oil or 2-cycle oil in the fuel helps lube the rings and valve stems.

When the engine is off the frame or the hood is off a good time to check the valve clearances and service the crankcase breather.

8-speed?

 

[Ed Kennell 38,329]

to the And thank you for a great introduction.        The C-160 with the K341 engine is one of Wheel Horses best tractors and is  very collectable and worthy of a restore.      It does have the Sundstrand #90-1140 hydro transmission that can be a problem.     When I buy an older tractor with a hydro, the first thing I do is check the strength of the transmission by securely strapping it to a tree and make sure it will spin the tires in full forward and reverse.  Even if the engine is not running, this can be done by parking a running wheel Horse behind and using the PTO and a long belt to power the transmission.

 

This is my C-160....one of my first restorations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[953 nut 55,393]

The wiring on the C-160 is not too complicated. You can use 16 gauge wire for everything except the battery connections. I would recommend adding a 30 amp fuse to the green wire from the amp meter. The wiring terminal ends can be found through various vendors, use the Packard Delphi units for best results, they are the same as used in the factory.   https://www.customconnectorkits.com/products/2973422?device=c&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&utm_term=&matchtype=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwlbu2BhA3EiwA3yXyu2VdZ6taTP_eFdxUWu4g05NXN1MaKw7xA3OovSpbUtnSQsmbhMLowRoC5-cQAvD_BwE

[kpinnc 12,175]

22 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

May possibly tell you that I have enough c-160s for the whole neighborhood.

 

More like enough for a county... 

Edited August 28 by kpinnc