D-Series History

[Challenger 27]

I'd like to know more about the "D" series tractors. What is their history? Where built?

I tried using the search function but didn't get much.

Thanks.

- Challenger

[JamesBe1 82]

I don't know if anyone has ever written up the history of them. Since I have two, I would personally find it interesting, and I know several other folks around here would also.

Hopefully one of our move knowledgeable members will chance upon this thread and chime in.

j

[sscotsman 148]

I dont know..but the history can be found! right here on Redsquare..

in the upper-left corner of the page, click on "forums"

then scroll down to "wheel horse picture gallery"

then "Model List 1955-1984", which lists all the models..

The D-series ran 1974 to 1981, not all models made all years..

there are also a lot of nice photos in the picture gallery area..

Scot

[Hodge71 664]

In the fall of 1971 Wheel Horse sales requested the R&D dept. to come up with a full size garden tractor with more power than the then big shot GT-14, a rear PTO to power implements and a category 0 3 point hitch. They ended up coming up with the 1973 18 auto which would eventually be the D180 in 1974. During their development they decided to go with a "divorced" hydro system with the pump being driven directly off the motor and the hydro motor being mounted to the transmission with a set of steel lines coupled to the pump to drive the unit. They called it the "in-line power train". They also had 2 hydraulic spool valves, 1 controlled the mid implement lift and 1 for the rear 3 point. There was a actually provisions to disconnect the rear rubber lines from the steel lines and use the spool valve to power rear mounted implements. Through the years there were improvements but the tractors were basically the same. In 1976 they improved the drive system by putting grade 8 bolts in the bull gear to help stop them from shearing off and damaging the transmission when they fell into it and also by putting an external brake band to aid the transmission's hydraulic braking with mechanical braking. 1974 brought the D-160 which was Onan Powered, and the D180 and 200 which were powered by Kohler 482 and 532 engines respectively. 1975 was the last year for D-180 and in 1976 the folks in South Bend entered into and arrangement with Guttbrod from Germany. They had them build a tractor for them which they rebranded the Wheel Horse D-250, it was based on the Guttbrod 2500 and was Renault powered. The D160, 200 and 250 all continued until 1981 when they discontinued the D-160 and continued on with the D-200 and 250. In 1982 both tractors disappeard form the line up of machines and the D was replaced by the C-195 or "Super C" for 1982 and 1984. In 1983 there were no actual C-195s built but there were a few 1982 leftovers sold as 1983s.

Heres a pic from my 1973 sales book, as you can see the 18 auto has the 4 lug rear hubs of the GT-14. These were later replaced with 6 lug hubs when the 18 auto went into production. Also if you look very closely you can see the exhaust exiting under the oil fill/dipstick. When the tractor went into production they went with the Nelson muffler that went straight out the bottom. In the picture is also a rear trailing reel gang mower. Take notice to the 2 hydraulic lines going to the mowers lift wheels from the rear of the tractor. These were controlled by the spool valve for the rear hitch. I was told by a dealer aquaintance that the mower was actually 8 feet wide and was for commercial/government use to mow huge areas but never made it into production.

[wheeledhorseman 574]

A clue as to the origin of the 'D' design can be found in a thread here

According to Lars (Knusern) the D-250 was based on the Gutbrod 2500

You can certainly see the resemblance.

Andy

[varosd 1,185]

facinating thread imagine those guys at WH R+D making drawings and schematics of a new product line all on paper! err maybe also microfice?

[Jake Kuhn 1,555]

Interesting thread,thanks for the info Jeff. Jake

[JamesBe1 82]

Wow Jeff. That's a great writeup. Thankyou for filling in the missing history.

[1maidenfan 202]

In the fall of 1971 Wheel Horse sales requested the R&D dept. to come up with a full size garden tractor with more power than the then big shot GT-14, a rear PTO to power implements and a category 0 3 point hitch. They ended up coming up with the 1973 18 auto which would eventually be the D180 in 1974. During their development they decided to go with a "divorced" hydro system with the pump being driven directly off the motor and the hydro motor being mounted to the transmission with a set of steel lines coupled to the pump to drive the unit. They called it the "in-line power train". They also had 2 hydraulic spool valves, 1 controlled the mid implement lift and 1 for the rear 3 point. There was a actually provisions to disconnect the rear rubber lines from the steel lines and use the spool valve to power rear mounted implements. Through the years there were improvements but the tractors were basically the same. In 1976 they improved the drive system by putting grade 8 bolts in the bull gear to help stop them from shearing off and damaging the transmission when they fell into it and also by putting an external brake band to aid the transmission's hydraulic braking with mechanical braking. 1974 brought the D-160 which was Onan Powered, and the D180 and 200 which were powered by Kohler 482 and 532 engines respectively. 1975 was the last year for D-180 and in 1976 the folks in South Bend entered into and arrangement with Guttbrod from Germany. They had them build a tractor for them which they rebranded the Wheel Horse D-250, it was based on the Guttbrod 2500 and was Renault powered. The D160, 200 and 250 all continued until 1981 when they discontinued the D-160 and continued on with the D-200 and 250. In 1982 both tractors disappeard form the line up of machines and the D was replaced by the C-195 or "Super C" for 1982 and 1984. In 1983 there were no actual C-195s built but there were a few 1982 leftovers sold as 1983s.

Heres a pic from my 1973 sales book, as you can see the 18 auto has the 4 lug rear hubs of the GT-14. These were later replaced with 6 lug hubs when the 18 auto went into production. Also if you look very closely you can see the exhaust exiting under the oil fill/dipstick. When the tractor went into production they went with the Nelson muffler that went straight out the bottom. In the picture is also a rear trailing reel gang mower. Take notice to the 2 hydraulic lines going to the mowers lift wheels from the rear of the tractor. These were controlled by the spool valve for the rear hitch. I was told by a dealer aquaintance that the mower was actually 8 feet wide and was for commercial/government use to mow huge areas but never made it into production.

:woohoo:

[Challenger 27]

Thanks for all the history and information so far. Big help.

Among Wheel Horse D-Series collectors, is the D-250 held in equal esteem to the D-160, D-180 and D-200? I ask this given the fact that it was based on the Guttbrod 2500 and sounds like it was not a fully Wheel Horse engineered machine.

Thanks.

[Hodge71 664]

Challenger,

From my understanding the D-250 had nothing Wheel Horse on it other than the color and name. All South Bend did was take the Guttbrod 2500 paint it red and label it the Wheel Horse D-250. Thats why there are a completely seperate set of attachments. They are completely propietary to the D-250 and wont work on the rest of the D series.

[Wheel Horse Kid 105]

In the fall of 1971 Wheel Horse sales requested the R&D dept. to come up with a full size garden tractor with more power than the then big shot GT-14, a rear PTO to power implements and a category 0 3 point hitch. They ended up coming up with the 1973 18 auto which would eventually be the D180 in 1974. During their development they decided to go with a "divorced" hydro system with the pump being driven directly off the motor and the hydro motor being mounted to the transmission with a set of steel lines coupled to the pump to drive the unit. They called it the "in-line power train". They also had 2 hydraulic spool valves, 1 controlled the mid implement lift and 1 for the rear 3 point. There was a actually provisions to disconnect the rear rubber lines from the steel lines and use the spool valve to power rear mounted implements. Through the years there were improvements but the tractors were basically the same. In 1976 they improved the drive system by putting grade 8 bolts in the bull gear to help stop them from shearing off and damaging the transmission when they fell into it and also by putting an external brake band to aid the transmission's hydraulic braking with mechanical braking. 1974 brought the D-160 which was Onan Powered, and the D180 and 200 which were powered by Kohler 482 and 532 engines respectively. 1975 was the last year for D-180 and in 1976 the folks in South Bend entered into and arrangement with Guttbrod from Germany. They had them build a tractor for them which they rebranded the Wheel Horse D-250, it was based on the Guttbrod 2500 and was Renault powered. The D160, 200 and 250 all continued until 1981 when they discontinued the D-160 and continued on with the D-200 and 250. In 1982 both tractors disappeard form the line up of machines and the D was replaced by the C-195 or "Super C" for 1982 and 1984. In 1983 there were no actual C-195s built but there were a few 1982 leftovers sold as 1983s.

Heres a pic from my 1973 sales book, as you can see the 18 auto has the 4 lug rear hubs of the GT-14. These were later replaced with 6 lug hubs when the 18 auto went into production. Also if you look very closely you can see the exhaust exiting under the oil fill/dipstick. When the tractor went into production they went with the Nelson muffler that went straight out the bottom. In the picture is also a rear trailing reel gang mower. Take notice to the 2 hydraulic lines going to the mowers lift wheels from the rear of the tractor. These were controlled by the spool valve for the rear hitch. I was told by a dealer aquaintance that the mower was actually 8 feet wide and was for commercial/government use to mow huge areas but never made it into production.

Great history lesson on the D series tractors! I sure learned alot!

[wfrpalm 218]

I know this is an old thread but thanks for the good info.