My first restore ever - of anything. 1975 C-100

[DuchApl 13]

I bought this at a yard sale for $100 back in March of 2011 because I needed a riding mower - that was all. I didn't even know what a Wheel Horse was. That first summer, I spent a lot of time on the Internet and money out of pocket just getting it mowing again. Thanks for letting me lurk here and learn how special these Wheel Horse tractors really are. In the process I've developed an appreciation for how well they were built - and started to realize that some day I'd do a full-on restoration. By the way, I graduated high school just two years before this was built and I've never restored anything. I've spent my entire live avoiding things mechanical, so every time I picked up a wrench, it was a learning experience. In fact, now that the project is finished, I've amassed quite a collection of tools I've never owned.

Sometime around September of last year I decided I was just going to paint the air cleaner cover... I swear I just wanted to see what kind of results I'd get with a can of IH Red and some sandpaper... nothing serious. A mild winter, a lot of paint, elbow grease, mistakes, and successes resulted in this.

I love this photo - looks like it could be out of an advertisement from back in '75.

This winter, I signed up for a small engine repair class at the local high school. I figured that if I was going to pull the motor, I was going to do it under supervision, but I really just wanted to get my hands on the inner workings of an engine. I had it soda blasted before dragging it back and forth to school, and worked on it for six weeks both in class and out of the back of the station wagon (way to heavy to drag all the way back to the barn every week.) I think it looks pretty good now, and runs great too.

I didn't do any body repair - maybe that's the next class, but somehow leaving the dings and dents in says "I worked hard and deserve this." Perhaps that's me talking and not the Wheel Horse. The mower deck is mechanically restored, but still needs a few coats of paint - some time this summer.

Again, thanks for all the help in this forum. It's been invaluable. Now, if I could just get my head around the governor/linkage/throttle thingee, I'd be a happy camper. I'm gonna take a break and ponder the whole thing while I bask awhile in the glow.

[Bobie01 22]

Big like :thumbs:

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,398]

Very nice job! So whats next ? Just like Lay's Potato Chips...Ya cant eat (or own) just one....

Mike.........

[DuchApl 13]

Very nice job! So whats next ? Just like Lay's Potato Chips...Ya cant eat (or own) just one....

Mike.........

HA! - I actually saw a WH on the side of the road a couple weeks back, but Wifey was with me and we just sped past without stopping. I suppose this is a little like childbirth. If a woman remembered the pain, she'd never have another. I still remember the pain - maybe later.

[1maidenfan 202]

"I love this photo - looks like it could be out of an advertisement from back in '75."

Would have to agree with you on that one! Sure is a great looking :happy-wavemulticolor:

[wingrider 21]

Nice work on the restore and keep it up. Before you know it you'll have a garage ful of tractors to work on.

I'm not sure how that happens it just does.

Good Luck Wingrider

[oldredrider 2,549]

Yeah...I think that air cleaner looks great!!!

[Ole MN 11]

Excellent job :text-bravo:

[AMC RULES 37,134]

Great job with your first, you do really nice work.

Nice photography too, but this is the one that looks like a factory advertisement to me. :text-coolphotos:

[can whlvr 993]

really nice job,something about bringing these machines back to new,when you need info about the gov,post pics and questions,someone will be able to help.in the kohler rebuild manual is a good description of how to set it up and someone will be able to post pics of the linkage

[bowtiebutler956 650]

Man you sure that was your first resto? That really looks great! Its a good feeling doing it with your own two hands isn't it. Outstanding work, and I can see your addiction getting worse by the minute. Hi my name is Matt, and I'm a horseaholic.

Matt :flags-texas:

[varosd 1,185]

looks like a pro resto..and this was your FIRST?!? what paint did you use? looks dead on!

[DuchApl 13]

looks like a pro resto..and this was your FIRST?!? what paint did you use? looks dead on!

Valspar IH Red in a rattle can. But I have to admit to lots of trial and error. The hood and fender have multiple coats of red followed by lots of sanding and lots more red and lots more sanding, rubbing and polishing. The thing about your first paint job is you have no fear. ..along with no expectations. I actually did the hood twice. I experimented with a clear coat, but apparently hadn't let the color dry enough and was left with something resembling a dog' breakfast. So, I took it back down to metal and started again.

[WH Raider10 17]

I'm in the same progres of redoing parts of my raider I'm not happy with. BUT, your restoration looks great! Congrats! :woohoo:

[DuchApl 13]

Great job with your first, you do really nice work.

Nice photography too, but this is the one that looks like a factory advertisement to me.

Thanks, Craig!

Hey we're practically neighbors.

[DuchApl 13]

I'm in the same progres of redoing parts of my raider I'm not happy with. BUT, your restoration looks great! Congrats!

I hate to admit it but I've bolted on a couple of parts I'm not happy with at all. Just don't look too closely. I tried a Preval system on the belt guard. Preval works great if you get the paint thickness just right. It calls for 4 to 1, but I think that's too thick.

[Forest Road 594]

Very nice job neighbor! Love the reupholstered original seat.

[DuchApl 13]

Very nice job neighbor! Love the reupholstered original seat.

No, totally original seat. After watching these things go for a hundred bucks or more on eBay, I had nearly given up and was ready to drop a dime or two on an upholstery job... Until I found another '75 C-100 at the LOCAL toro dealer. No engine but a nearly pristine seat and a bunch of other parts. $40. Alas, no headlight lens, and a badly pitted hood ornament. I need the clutch arm and idler off the donor, if I can EVER get the freakin' roll pin out.

[KC9KAS 4,741]

You have done an excellent job on your tractor!

I think you should go back to where the other WH was along the road and save it too!

[DuchApl 13]

You have done an excellent job on your tractor!

I think you should go back to where the other WH was along the road and save it too!

Thanks, KC. But the truth of this tale is that my car, my principal mode of actual transportation is sitting in the driveway in need of some expensive repairs., So I'm nearly always with Wifey in her car and it does not brake for Wheel Horses. She's pissed about the car/WH spending ratio, so I'm layin' low. Told her last week that I thought I needed a red '75 pickup to match the c-100.

[Fun Engineer 859]

Nice job. Keep up the good work.

[shootinok 15]

Beautiful Work!

Many of us understand the car/WH spending ratio - and while I have a wonderful and understanding wife, she asked me last weekend..."why don't you just buy a new mower and quit spending so much time and money on the old ones?"

She just doesn't understand the Wheel Horse addiction :lol:

[gwgdog66 23]

Sweet!! Very nice job!!

I have a 1975 C-100 that I purchased as a parts tractor. It was all there except the engine needed rebuilt. I decided to get her up and running. When I get time this summer I'm going to start the restoration on it.

[DuchApl 13]

Yeah...I think that air cleaner looks great!!!

...because that was really the only goal I set. Everything else was just coincidence.

[DuchApl 13]

Beautiful Work!

Many of us understand the car/WH spending ratio - and while I have a wonderful and understanding wife, she asked me last weekend..."why don't you just buy a new mower and quit spending so much time and money on the old ones?"

She just doesn't understand the Wheel Horse addiction

Update: Wifey tonight informed me that we need a new oven. Coincidence? Perhaps. Payback? Definitively. So I went on CL looking for something I could restore. She was not amused.