Rookie vs. Wheel Horse

[shaggydoink 81]

Hello all!  Over the years I have restored old ISUZUs, mopeds, motorcycles and campers, but never set a finger on a tractor.  I just picked up this guy today, first Wheel Horse and post here.  The seller didn't know the year/model, and I have not been able to find an identification plate.  Lots of searching has me thinking it might be a 1973-74 Ranger 700 or 800, although that's a complete guess... not to mention the engine looks newer which is throwing me off even more.  Any thoughts on what this might be?  Thanks in advance!

 

Jonathan

 

 

 

 

 

[Horseoholic 167]

I can see in your 3rd picture, below the dash the serial number tag is still there , if you can provide us with the information on it we can help you out . Welcome to Red Square .

[Retired Wrencher 5,440]

Jonathan It looks to be a low end lawn mower.I do not Know the model of it. Looks like needs some TLC. Hope you can get it running. I would NOT put a lot of $$ into it. Good luck with it.

Edited September 29 by Retired Wrencher

[ebinmaine 67,232]

1 minute ago, Horseoholic said:

I can see in your 3rd picture, below the dash the serial number tag is still there , if you can provide us with the information on it we can help you out . Welcome to Red Square .

 

Good eye!

 

Here's a zoomer inner:

 

 

 

 

@shaggydoink

[SylvanLakeWH 25,486]

[953 nut 55,044]

14 hours ago, shaggydoink said:

the engine looks newer

Sometimes the engine manufacturer used better paint than Wheel Horse did.              The TVXL designation on your engine shows that it was the top of the line engine offered by Tecumseh at the time, Tecumseh Power Vertical Extra Life.   The DOM number is the birthdate, 263rd day of 1974. But, since Wheel Horse didn't make a 10 HP vertical shaft lawn tractor that is all useless trivia.

Wheel Horse did make vertical crankshaft Tecumseh powered lawn tractors from 1969 to 1975 maned Lawn  Rangers or Rangers. With your model number we will be able to give you access to all sorts of information.

[shaggydoink 81]

Wow, good eye indeed - if it was a snake, it would have bit me as the saying goes!  Below is a picture of the plate.  I found another thread with a VIN decoder, thus far I'm thinking:

 

7 - model year = 1977

2 - type = lawn tractor

10 - hp = 10

B - engine type = Briggs & Stratton (originally at least)

P - transmission type = Peerless

0I - feeling like this might be 01, parts list code = 01
1799 - serial number = 1799

 

6 - manufactured year = 1976?  Seems to conflict with the 7... hmm

294 = manufactured day = October 21

 

But I'll defer to you all with far more knowledge than me.  I enjoy bringing things back from the edge of death, but will make an assessment once I can get a match to a parts list... I bought it sight unseen (only for $100) and it's definitely a little more rough than I anticipated.  Thanks so much everyone!

 

Jonathan

 

[shaggydoink 81]

p.s.: I just found another document on the forum, wondering if I might have a 1977 A-100 with a swapped out motor?

[rmaynard 15,425]

 

 

 

 

As far as the date, probably made in 1976 for the 1977 model year.

Edited September 29 by rmaynard

[shaggydoink 81]

Thank you!  Feeling like I might be better off investing in a different machine, but I'll see.  I appreciate all the help!

 

Jonathan

[953 nut 55,044]

1 hour ago, shaggydoink said:

Feeling like I might be better off investing in a different machine, but I'll see.

That all depends on what you will be using it for. Nothing wrong with an "A-100" for light duty yard work and cruising the show grounds.

[shaggydoink 81]

48 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

That all depends on what you will be using it for. Nothing wrong with an "A-100" for light duty yard work and cruising the show grounds.

 

Yeah, I had not intended to super hardcore things with it so it may indeed be a fine model for me.

 

I started tearing things back this morning to see exactly what I was dealing with.  Despite the outward appearance, things were looking good.  Engine spun freely, transmission shifted smoothly then I noticed something... I realize I'm only a day two owner, but pretty sure a fuel tank and system are suppose to be in the big open space!  LOL!  Might be the cost breaker as thus far I had only seen the need to replace the tires and a tie rod, I'm off to read up on other threads to see what my options are.

 

[shaggydoink 81]

I spent most of the day working on the A-100 and as of this moment, I'm feeling like I'll try to save this poor little guy.  It might not end up being the best return on investment decision, but I think I can give it a new life and home which is a much better fate than rotting away in the woods.

 

The seat is complete toast, but the mounting bracket is salvageable and I'm hoping will work for a universal seat replacement.

 

 

The tires and rims... oh goodness!  The metal band of the tires were fused to the rims with rust, but with about 38 tools I was able to break them free.  A lot of work ahead on these wheels...

 

 

I power washed everything, sprayed PB Blaster on every bolt/nut I could see and removed a bunch of other items... steps backward to hopefully take steps forward.

 

[ebinmaine 67,232]

54 minutes ago, shaggydoink said:

might not end up being the best return on investment decision

 

Mehhh...

LOTS of us don't get return on investment with tractors or many other things.  

And.... it's perfectly fine.  

 

You may have a lighter duty Horse than a true Garden Tractor but you DO have a good quality USA made piece that'll give years of service from proper maintenance and repair. 

 

 

1 hour ago, shaggydoink said:

but with about 38 tools

 

 

 

That was all???

[953 nut 55,044]

1 hour ago, shaggydoink said:

The seat is complete toast, but the mounting bracket is salvageable and I'm hoping will work for a universal seat replacement

A few years back we had a little contest goin on, we may want to declare you the new winner.

What do you think Jim @WHX???  Seems like a hands down winner to me.

 

[WHX?? 48,754]

I dunno Richard ... no fungus or moss... no trees growing in it... no ants... pan has a nice patina tho... 

 

 Shaggy

Personally I  think yer off your rocker. Much better horses out there to resto or even get into shape to work. 

But as long as it keeps you out of the tavern go for it ... 

[shaggydoink 81]

29 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Personally I  think yer off your rocker. Much better horses out there to resto or even get into shape to work. 

But as long as it keeps you out of the tavern go for it ... 

 

Thanks @WHX??.  Pretty much everything I have bought and restored to date have been misfits... it's how I roll I guess.  

 

Jonathan

[Horse Newbie 7,051]

3 hours ago, WHX?? said:

Personally I  think yer off your rocker

It didn’t make sense to some people when I got my 1994 520H, and my 1984 Work Horse GT-1600, but I had an interest in the 520H, even though I didn’t need it.

I had never had a real small garden tractor.

Now I’m infected.

While I will admit that your project is in a good bit worse condition than what I started with, I kind of do see your point in “giving it a shot.”

It just seems easier and more sensible to spend money on an older piece of equipment or tool that is quality made than to spend the same money on something that is not made nearly as well and will most likely not outlast what is already 40 years old.

So… I had fun with my 2 so far (kinda working on a 3rd), and glad I did it.

Edited September 30 by Horse Newbie

[kpinnc 11,880]

6 hours ago, WHX?? said:

But as long as it keeps you out of the tavern go for it ...

I have started with much worse. We call it “swamp fresh” when they come from the south! 
 

@shaggydoink I say use this mower to learn a bit. You said you’ve got some experience on other equipment, so this will be easy. 
 

Your mower isn’t as heavily built as its big brothers, but still tougher than most of the machines it was built to compete with. You can learn a few tricks on this one and keep your eyes open for one of those big brothers. I’ll bet you still enjoy the experience and get some use out of it regardless. 
 

I have restored several tractors. I’ll never recoup the money spent on them, but I enjoy it regardless. My first “restore” was an old Murray mower when I was just a kid with no money or sense. Not only was it fun, but it made me proud to have something I brought back to usefulness. Then I found my first Wheel Horse, and that was a long time ago. I still have that machine, though it has seen continual improvements. It would be the last I’d ever let go of now. 
 

Edited September 30 by kpinnc

[ebinmaine 67,232]

@shaggydoink

 

As you can see there's a couple great examples above. 

 

Here on our acreage, my Other Half Trina has 5 tractors of her own. 3 have been restored. 

I have 8 or 10 setting here. Two of mine have been restored fully, two more mechanically.  

She and I also share a Backhoe on a Wheelhorse. 

 

Just keep an eye out and work on what you've got there.  

 

[shaggydoink 81]

Beautiful machines @Horse Newbie and @kpinnc!  I appreciate everyone's positive energy and encouragement, I'll keep posting up as I make progress.

 

Jonathan

[shaggydoink 81]

I did not have a ton of time today due to that silly thing called work, but I was able to get the engine out which was my main goal plus remove a few of the mower deck components which I don't think I'll use, but will save in case I or someone else down the road needs them.  The engine replacement was fairly evident by the hole cut in the chassis that didn't look quite up to factory standards!  

 

 

So now a question.  I spent a while searching for information about engine swaps, but didn't find a lot.  The Tecumseh that I removed will need some work, is a pull-start vs. electric and has no fuel tank/system so my inclination is to replace it.  Are there threads anyone can point me to which might give me some ideas and/or educate me on how engine swaps work on these machines?  For example, I'm trying to figure this out... the current engine has the main V-belt pulley at a 1-3/4" drop... can I use basically any replacement engine that matches this or is there more to it?

 

Jonathan

 

Edited September 30 by shaggydoink

[Wayne0 428]

As long as you can line up the belt and it fits under the hood, anything is possible. We'll help you as needed.

[ebinmaine 67,232]

28 minutes ago, Wayne0 said:

As long as you can line up the belt and it fits under the hood, anything is possible. We'll help you as needed.

 

 

Being a vertical shaft rig I'd second that. 

 

 

[WHX?? 48,754]

1 hour ago, shaggydoink said:

or is there more to it?

Nope ... if it fits it ships...