C-85 681 #1 Posted January 15, 2010 Hi, I am a big W/H fan! I grew up in the outdoor power equipment business as we had a family business. My job in my younger days was to put together all the new stuff that came in a box. I started doing this about the same time I could hold a wrench! Then as I got older I worked on repairs and sales. I left that business in 1988 (a family fall out)! But I miss the equipment business very much! We carried W/H, Ariens, Toro, Bolens, Ski-doo, Moto-Ski, Poulan, Partner, Pioneer, Dolmar chain saws and all kinds of other equipment. Of all those brands, W/H was my favorite tractor, it's too bad Toro had to get involved and ruin it! I live in Vermont and am a proud Vermonter! I just turned 49, have a wife and 13 year old son. I have 2 W/H tractors, a C-85 and a C-105. I bought the C-85 used years ago and it had a bad knocking engine so I rebuilt it with a .10 oversize piston and it's runs just like new! The C-105 is has a little different story. I sold it new when I worked at the family business. The guy that had it died years later and his wife called me to see if I wanted to buy it. So I went and looked at it and it did run, but barely. It smoked really bad and actually was blowing oil out of the muffler. So I bought it and rebuilt that too. This took a .20 piston and undersize rod to bring that back into shape. Then I sold it to my wifes boss. He used it for a few years and decided he'd rather chase his walk behind mower for exercise and didn't want it anymore. So he called me and asked if I was interested in it and he ended up giving it to me! So I thought about selling it again, but I figured that I've owned it now 4 times and have decided to keep it! I have my plow blade on the C-85 and my 36" rear discharge mower on the C-105. I hardley ever use the C-105 because I have also liked the excercise I get from my walk behind mowers. I have 2 1968 Toro Whirlwind 21" mowers I use. All my equipment is old, but I wouldn't care to have new ones as they aren't built anywhere near as tough and rugged as the old stuff! Glad to be a member! C-85 or Dennis Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nylyon-(Admin) 7,289 #3 Posted January 15, 2010 The C-105 seems like it's really attached to you so you might as well keep it. Welcome! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 15,508 #4 Posted January 15, 2010 :thumbs: Glad to have you aboard. We like pictures, so next time you post, give us a look at the horses. Bob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suburban 550 28 #5 Posted January 15, 2010 :banghead: Dennis. Great story too. :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 21,321 #6 Posted January 15, 2010 Another Black Hood owner is here !!! Mike...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bitten 134 #7 Posted January 15, 2010 Great story and :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rickv1957 72 #8 Posted January 15, 2010 Hello and Rick Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duff 206 #9 Posted January 15, 2010 Hey - I KNOW this guy!!! ! Duff :banghead: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gwgdog66 23 #11 Posted January 15, 2010 :banghead: and :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Indy w h 5 #12 Posted January 15, 2010 Hey Dennis, gotta love an old dolmar man!!!!! Indy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
W9JAB 156 #13 Posted January 15, 2010 :thumbs: :banghead: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VinsRJ 721 #14 Posted January 15, 2010 :banghead: Classic, got to love the family members.... :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whfan74 2,066 #15 Posted January 15, 2010 :banghead: Glad to have you aboard and looking forward to your posts! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fabricator2009 48 #17 Posted January 15, 2010 :thumbs: Ken in Mentone In. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d180man 5 #18 Posted January 16, 2010 Hi and we love photos! :banghead: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C-85 681 #19 Posted January 18, 2010 Thanks for the warm welcome, Today at 01:09 pm Group: Members Posts: 2 Joined: November 24, 2009 Wow, now I've figured out how to use these great smilly faces! Another first for me! Hi Red Square folks, Thanks for the warm welcome and advice! Several members wrote with ideas on how to mount my weight box on a C series unit. Of those suggestions the best one was to get a 3 point hitch, but that's not in the budget right now. So I am going to pursue another suggestion and that was the one that mentioned using a Reese type hitch with a 2" square hole. I think I can find a used hitch that won't cost much. I will have to find out more about how that person made that up. I get a big kick out of my 81' C85, which as you all know is just an 8hp tractor. When I tell people it's just an 8hp they don't believe me. In physicall size, it's bigger then most of the 25hp tractors for sale today. I like the big tires that roll over most anything, another short coming of the new ones with their little tires. Most of all my equipment is old iron that I keep going. At least with the old stuff, you have something to work with and can keep in service, unlike the new stuff that's all just basically throw away! We have quite a fleet of stuff, but not as much as some of you members, which I'm jealous of!!! 5 Ski-doo's, '88 Tundra I bought new, '89 Citation, "96 & '98Touring E LT's, and an '01 Formula Deluxe 380 fan cooled rig. That's not to bad seeing how there is only 3 of us in my family. We have a '79 Jeep CJ-5, which is like new. I have owned this since '85 and a spare for parts. I don't drive it in the salt and I oil undercoat it, we oil undercoat all our rigs, it's the only thing that will save them from all the salt they use in Vermont! A '88 Chevy 1500 PU, that is also almost like new, which I bought new, '04 Chevy Venture van and '04 Ford Focus. I have the 2 W/H tractors, 2 '68 Toro rotary mowers, '86 Toro self propelled reel mower, and several junks for parts. I should have enough parts around to keep all this stuff going for a long time! Gas trimmers and chain saws. 2 Snow blowers, an '95 ish Ariens 10/28 with cab that I bought new, and a Toro single stage for small areas through ebay. 26", 20ton wood splitter with 5hp I/C Briggs. It was a rental and has been really used, but still works good. A lot of members suggested pictures and I'd like to but don't have a clue how to do it, so that may come later after I figure out how to do it, I'd be glad to share. My wife accuses me of "collecting engines", and maybe that's true, and if so, so what I can think of a lot worse habits to have! Best, C85 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHC-125 4 #20 Posted January 18, 2010 :banghead: Dennis! Sounds like you have a had quite a history with that C-105 :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites