School me on the Chargers/Electros/Raiders!

[Jrblanke 875]

Good evening y'all and Happy New Year!

I've had a couple weeks off work during the holiday's and of course, and as most folks do, I browsed the facebook marketplace listings to see what's out there! I saw this Electro 12 listed as "wheel horse". That was it! I decided to use the excuse of not having a running truck as the reason for not going to buy it. (Though i'm sure @Wheel-N-It would have been more than happy to let me borrow a trailer).

 

So anyways, I got to thinkin, I really don't know much about the Electro, Charger, or Raider. I assume they are from 1968-1972ish? Did they have numbered tractors during these years? Like the 857 would have been an 8hp from 1967, and a 1056 would be a 10hp from 1966. I know the Commando started in 1968, so I assume the electro, charger, raider were the just the higher horsepower versions. But im not sure what the names mean, or if they are for a specific horsepower or transmission. I thought the electro meant that it had an electronic PTO. Were all electros 12 hp? Were all electros automatics? What about chargers and raiders? 

 

Here is the electro 12 that was listed locally for $300 bucks. It has since sold. It was a nice tractor! I almost regret not going to get it!

[AlexR 759]

Not sure about Electro's I think you might be into it though because every electro I have seen has a electric pto

But Raiders are manual's I believe 10-14hp and Chargers are automatic's also I believe 10-14hp

[Ed Kennell 39,068]

 

[kpinnc 12,751]

1 hour ago, AlexR said:

Not sure about Electro's I think you might be into it though because every electro I have seen has a electric pto

But Raiders are manual's I believe 10-14hp and Chargers are automatic's also I believe 10-14hp

 

Pretty much spot-on. In the late 60s Wheel Horse tried using names for models instead of numbers. 

 

 

Commando- 3 speed and 8hp

Raiders- 6 speed transmission. 9-12hp. 

Chargers- hydro and manual lift. 9-12 hp. 

Electro- hydro, manual lift 12hp and electric PTO. 

Bronco- 1971 and 72 only, 14hp, hydro with hydraulic lift. Electric PTO. 

 

I think 1968-70 had the hood like the first picture above. 1971 and up had the hoods more like the early C-series. 

Edited Saturday at 04:41 AM by kpinnc

[Mark siebenaler 107]

I have a electro 12 and it has a hydraulic lift.  ?.  I also replaced the electric pto

To manual pto.

Good plow tractor. 

[kpinnc 12,751]

31 minutes ago, Mark siebenaler said:

I have a electro 12 and it has a hydraulic lift. 

 

I honestly don't remember if that was standard or not on the early Electro. But I do know that adding hydraulic lift was an option on any Sundstrand hydro. 

[ebinmaine 68,749]

7 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

 

I think 1968-70 had the hood like the first picture above. 1971 and up had the hoods more like the early C-series. 

 

1970 was the first year of the later style hood. 

[AlexR 759]

9 hours ago, kpinnc said:

Raiders- 6 speed transmission. 9-12hp. 

I have a 1972 Raider 14hp and it has a 8 speed but 1972 was the only year they made a 14hp 8 speed, model number 1-0320

 

I don't believe they made a Charger 14hp though, so I was not correct there. Probably because of the Bronco. 

Edited Saturday at 01:59 PM by AlexR

[pfrederi 17,959]

Electros had hydro lift and electric PTO and Chrome Hub caps  (They were gold plated Chargers...sort of like Mercurys were gold plated Fords ...for you old guys)

 The Chargers and Electros were made for were made 1968-72

 

Lots of variation over time.  Very Early models had Starter Generators.  Kohler was experimenting with ignition systems and depending on the year you could wind up with a battery points system, a magneto points system or the breakerless (First try at an electronic ignition)

They had 10 pinion LSD differential 1-1/8" axles.

 

They are my favorite WHs  (I have six)  They make fantastic snow machines with the LSD. The sunstrand hydros were also a bit faster than the later eatons.  (I do not polish or lube my snow plow blades ..stuff just rolls of at 7mph)

 

Would have been nice if they had a couple more HP for snowblowing  (I up engined two of mine to 16hp)

 

 

Edit:  Forgot to add the Charger 9 and 10 had a 10hp Techy engine

Edited Saturday at 02:29 PM by pfrederi

[Jrblanke 875]

Thanks for all the replies! I think I like the electro/raider/charger because of the mid 60s styling, but they put the floor boards on it instead of the stirrups. 

[ebinmaine 68,749]

31 minutes ago, Jrblanke said:

Thanks for all the replies! I think I like the electro/raider/charger because of the mid 60s styling, but they put the floor boards on it instead of the stirrups. 

 

I agree with that but they still only had one foot pedal. 

I'm a two pedal fan.  

Separate clutch and brake pedals. 

[pfrederi 17,959]

Brakes... who needs stinking brakes.  none of my early sunstrands have brakes.    Haven't' crashed in to anything yet

[ebinmaine 68,749]

Just now, pfrederi said:

Brakes... who needs stinking brakes.  none of my early sunstrands have brakes.    Haven't' crashed in to anything yet

 

Yeah.  .....   some of us like a manual transmission.  

 

[Ed Kennell 39,068]

33 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

Brakes... who needs stinking brakes. 

Freddy

 

 

 

[kpinnc 12,751]

15 hours ago, AlexR said:

I have a 1972 Raider 14hp and it has a 8 speed but 1972 was the only year they made a 14hp 8 speed, model number 1-0320

 

I was thinking they made a Raider 14, but couldn't remember for certain. I must be slipping! 

[ebinmaine 68,749]

7 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

I was thinking they made a Raider 14, but couldn't remember for certain. I must be slipping! 

 

Don't worry about it K. P. 

The rest of us'll cover for ya. 

 

I was told many moons ago to initiate using post it notes 📝 to remember things. 

It's a good useful tool.