300, 400 and 500 series differences

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,297]

Similar to the links post in the Wheel Horse topic, I wanted to start a sticky to describe the differences between the 300, 400 and 500 series machines. There is always confusion on just what the difference is so let's make this permanent.

It may be best to break it down by year since I suspect that the year may make a big difference. If there is a correction / addition to a year, put in a post, I will make the change and delete the change post to keep it clean and readable.

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,297]

1993

[*:30um2l0n]300 & 400 series
- Wheel base (in) 45.5
- Overall Width (in) 36.5
- Overall Length (in) 65.0
- Fuel capacity (gal) 2.25
- Turning Radius (in) 32
[*:30um2l0n]310-8
Kohler 10 HP
- 8-Speed, 1" Axle - 4 Pinion
- 15x6.00 front tires
- 23x8.50 rear tires
- 666 lbs[*:30um2l0n]314-8
- Kohler 14 HP
- 8-Speed, 1 1/8" Axle - 4 Pinion
- 16x6.50 front tires
- 23x9.50 rear tires
- 666 lbs[*:30um2l0n]314-H
- Kohler 14 HP
- Eaton 11 Hydro, 1 1/8" Axle - 8 Pinion
- 16x6.50 front tires
- 23x9.50 rear tires
- Hydraulic lift
- 737llbs[*:30um2l0n]416-8
- Onan 16
- 8-Speed, 1 1/8" Axle - 8 Pinion
- 16x6.50 front tires
- 23x9.50 rear tires
- 662 lbs[*:30um2l0n]416-H
- Onan 16
- Eaton 11 Hydro, 1 1/8" Axle - 8 Pinion
- 16x6.50 front tires
- 23x9.50 rear tires
- Hydraulic lift
- 712llbs[*:30um2l0n]520-H
- Wheel base (in) 47.5
- Overall Width (in) 40.5
- Overall Length (in) 67.0
- Fuel capacity (gal) 2.25
- Turning Radius (in) 28
- Onan 20
- Eaton 11 Hydro, 1 1/8" Axle
- 16x7.50 front tires
- 23x10.50 rear tires
- Hydraulic lift
- 794 lbs

The 416 and 510 also have adjustable seat and the 520 has arm rests and full instruments

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,508]

Karl,

I know you have the 310-8 and the 314-8, but what about the Classic 300 series, i.e. the 312-8, the aforementioned 314-8 and the 315-8. The 312-8 had the 15 x 6.00 rims, with a 12.5 hp Kohler Command. the 314-8 (my tractor) had the bigger 16 x 6.5 rims and a 14 hp Kohler Command, while the 315-8 had the 16 x 6.5 rims and a 15 hp Kohler Command. These were made by Toro in the late '90's until last year and were the really last remnant of the Wheel Horse design, i.e. cast iron front axle, 8-speed cast iron transmission, the frame design and open hood design of the older Wheel Horse.

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,297]

1985

[*:8ieg3kxt]300 & 400 series
- Wheel base (in) 45.5
- Fuel capacity (gal) 3
[*:8ieg3kxt]310-8
Kohler 10 HP
- Overall Width (in) 34.1
- Overall Length (in) 64.8
- 8-Speed, 1" Axle - 4 pinion
- 15x6.00 front tires
- 22x7.50 rear tires
- 622 lbs[*:8ieg3kxt]312-8
Kohler 12 HP
- Overall Width (in) 34.1
- Overall Length (in) 64.8
- 8-Speed, 1" Axle - 4 pinion
- 15x6.00 front tires
- 22x7.50 rear tires
- 634 lbs[*:8ieg3kxt]314-8
- Overall Width (in) 36.0
- Overall Length (in) 64.8
- Kohler 14 HP
- 8-Speed, 1" Axle - 4 pinion
- 15x6.00 front tires
- 22x7.50 rear tires
- 652 lbs[*:8ieg3kxt]314-A
- Overall Width (in) 36.0
- Overall Length (in) 64.8
- Kohler 14 HP
- Eaton 7 Hydro, 1 1/8" Axle - 4 pinion
- 15x6.00 front tires - with tubes
- 22x7.50 rear tires - with tubes
- Manual lift
- 689 lbs[*:8ieg3kxt]416-8
- Overall Width (in) 36.4
- Overall Length (in) 65.0
- Kohler 16
- 8-Speed, 1 1/8" Axle - 8 pinion
- 16x6.50 front tires
- 23x8.50 rear tires
- 858 lbs[*:8ieg3kxt]417-8
- Overall Width (in) 36.5
- Overall Length (in) 65.0
- Kohler Series II 17 HP
- 8-Speed, 1 1/8" Axle - 8 pinion
- 16x6.50 front tires
- 23x9.50 rear tires
- 669 lbs[*:8ieg3kxt]417-A
- Overall Width (in) 38.0
- Overall Length (in) 65.0
- Kohler Series II 17 HP
- Eaton 11 Hydro, 1 1/8" Axle - 8 pinion
- 16x6.50 front tires - with tubes
- 23x9.50 rear tires - with tubes
- Hydraulic lift
- 739llbs

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,297]

Karl,

I know you have the 310-8 and the 314-8, but what about the Classic 300 series, i.e. the 312-8, the aforementioned 314-8 and the 315-8. The 312-8 had the 15 x 6.00 rims, with a 12.5 hp Kohler Command. the 314-8 (my tractor) had the bigger 16 x 6.5 rims and a 14 hp Kohler Command, while the 315-8 had the 16 x 6.5 rims and a 15 hp Kohler Command. These were made by Toro in the late '90's until last year and were the really last remnant of the Wheel Horse design, i.e. cast iron front axle, 8-speed cast iron transmission, the frame design and open hood design of the older Wheel Horse.

Terry, as you can see the year makes a difference not all 314's are equal. I suspect that some years are the same, like 1993 and 1994 and if anyone can verify that I will update the year. If you have the specs and year of the other machines, let's get it in here.

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,508]

I have some specs, I'll just have to dig some up.

Question - I noticed you have 22 x 7.50 listed for the rear tires on some of the 300 series, should that be 23 x 7.50?

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,297]

I have some specs, I'll just have to dig some up.

Question - I noticed you have 22 x 7.50 listed for the rear tires on some of the 300 series, should that be 23 x 7.50?

Nope, according to the sales brochure, the tires are 22x7.50's

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,508]

Interesting - the tires on the Classic 300 series are all 23 inch tires where the 312-8 have 23 x 8.5 and both the 314-8 and 315-8 have 23 x 9.5 tires.

I also noticed these were also used in '94. :D

[Curmudgeon 28]

I don't remember where I downloaded this, but in looking for the history of Wheel Horse document I have SOMEWHERE, I ran across it:

What is the difference between the GT

series of Workhorse by Wheel

Horse tractors verses the "classic"

300/400/500 series. The Workhorse

by Wheel Horse series were produced in model years 1982 to 1984 are

all Briggs and Stratton powered and pewter gray in color with the

3/4/500 series sheet metal. My 1982 GT-1848 Workhorse has pewter

gray metallic paint, this might be the only model or model line Wheel

Horse tractor produced with metallic paint! The 1982 and 1983

models included a mower deck with the tractor the 1984 models did

not. 3 sizes of the Workhorse line were produced a 11 hp single

cylinder, 16 and 18 hp twin cylinder engines. The 18 hp twin has a

ball bearing on the PTO side of the crankshaft the 16 hp does not.

The GT-11xx and GT-16xx have 8 speed transmissions with 4 pinion

differentials, I have not been able to determine if they are 1" or 1

1/8" axles. The GT-18xx has the Eaton 11 hydro with hydraulic lift, 8

pinion differential and 1 1/8" axles. In 1982 there were also a

couple more tractors produced the SB-421 with a 11 hp Briggs and a

42" mower deck and a SK-486 16 hp Kohler and 48" mower deck. Both

the SB and SK tractors had 4 pinion differentials with the C series

hood, they were painted Wheel Horse red.

1985 is the first year for the 300 and 400 series with 2 hydro models

the 314-A using the Eaton 7 hydro with manual lift and the 417-A ( KT-

17 Series II twin cyl. ) having the Eaton 11 with hydraulic lift.

Both had Kohler engines as did all the 300 and 400 series through

1988 except for the 1988 316-8 with a Onan.

1986 is the only year for the 512-D with the Robin 12 hp diesel

engine, not really the first 500 series more like a 300 with a

diesel. 1986 is also the only year for the 420-LSE, 20 hp Kohler

Twin with the Eaton 11 hydro and lots of chrome, model number is 31-

20KE01 check out the Deluxe Leather Seat on the Master Parts Viewer.

1988 is the first of the 500 series all are Onan powered, the 516-H

and some 518-H's have the Eaton 7 and manual lift, some 518=H's the

520-H and 520-HC have the Eaton 11 hydro. 1989 hydro line up was

identical to 1988 without the 516-H. There were no 300 or 400 series

hydros in 1988 or 1989.

1990 had hydros in all three lines the 312-H, 416-H, 518-H and 520-H

all with Eaton 11 hydros. The 312 is a Kohler all the rest Onan

powered. 1991 was the same lineup without the 518-H. 1993 the 312-H

was replaced with the 314-H, the 416-H and 520-H remained. The lineup

remained the same through the 1997 model year.

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,369]

My 312-8 (1989) came with from the factory 22x9.00x12 rear skins. It had 15x6x6 on the front so the 37" side discharge deck would clear the front tires.

Just thought I'd throw that into the mix......Mike

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,508]

Again, Dale, great info just like your post in the main forum. Great stuff here and there.

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,508]

I know this thread is old, but Jason sent me a pdf file of his 1986 brochure. Interesting stuff in there. Thanks, Jason, for sending it to me.

After viewing the specs on the 400 series versus the 300 series, brings up some questions, at least for me. As everyone knows I have a '98 314-8. It has 16 x 6.5 front tires and the 23 x 9.50 rear tires that the 1986 400 series had. The 1986 300 series had the 15 x 6 fronts and 22 x 9 (or 7.5) rears. The 1986 400 series had 8 pinion rear axles and the 300 series had the 4 pinion rears and I believe my 314-8 has 4 pinion rears. I'm assuming the 1986 400 series had 1 1/8" diameter axles and the 1986 300 series had the 1" axles and I believe my 314-8 has the 1" axles also. There are some other differences in the 400 series and the 300 series in 1986, mostly cosmetic or convenience differences.

Now I believe my 314-8 used features and specs from both the older 400 series and the 300 series, sort of combining features from both, sort of a mixed tractor. Now, I wonder why Toro didn't offered up a hydrostatic version of the 300 series in the latter years instead of just the 8-speed (I know, cost cutting). But it would had made sense and been more competitive to, say JD's 300 series which had hydrostatic transmissions, hydraulic lifts and some had power steering. I would love for my 314 to have a hydrostatic transmission and hydraulic lift. I think Toro really missed the boat in the late '90s and early 2000.

[CasualObserver 3,408]

You're welcome Terry.

[willy victor 0]

I have an 83 GT1142 that has 23-850-12 tires with the Briggs engine. Bought it new, always garage kept, does burn oil though.

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[willy victor 0]

Here are some specs on the GT1142

Length 66 ins.

wheel base45.5

wt.617

front tires 16x650x8

Rear tires 23x850x12

fuel tank 3 gal.

eng. Briggs 11hp.

TX 8spd

Crankcase oil 1 and a 1/2 qts.

Mower deck 42in. side discharge

Willy

[combatmp29r 27]

When my Dad bought our 1st 312-8 new he bought both turf and ag tires for it from wheel horse. The turfs are 22 x 7.50s and the Ags are 23 x 8.50s. Which of course both came on identical 7" x 12" rims.

[foxwoodworks 0]

From posts I am reading, can I assume that Toro is no longer making the 300 series tractor? I currently own two 312-8's. (1988 and 1998) Last month I was given a c-145 with no engine. The hood is different from the 312's but all the rest appears to be the same. Is it basicly the same tractor as the 300 series?

[fretscha 0]

Don