How Many Direct Hours???

[leeave96 488]

I've got relatively few hours on my Wheelhorse tractors, but we all see high hour tractors. Some of my Brethren with other color tractors have told me about putting 1,000 plus hours on their tractors, probably many more than that.

My question is - what is the most hours you have put on a Wheelhorse and are you still using it, how did it hold-up, did the deck last through these high hours (if you were mowing), was the weak link (if there is one) that at some point the engine needed rebuilding or replaced from high hours, etc.

What is the most hours you have directly put-up on a Wheelhorse tractor.

It would also be interesting to hear from those that bought their tractors new and rolled-up the high hours from when the hour meter was at zero in the beginning.

Thanks!

Bill

Edited February 5, 2013 by TT

[dcrage 629]

Well, I will jump on this one -- I am just short of 900 hours on my 310-8 -- I bought it new off the dealer floor -- It is doing well and has worked hard; very hard thru its 20+ years -- I have used up one set of blades on the 37" deck -- If I can get the correct idler and cable it will be my tractor to use the tiller with -- Doesn't use much oil -- I have yet to change the transmission oil; I check it all the time but it looks good to me -- It helps that it has set inside for its entire life and the last 13 years have had some heat in the winter

[wh500special 2,249]

In 1987, my dad bought a new 211-4 lawn tractor with 37" deck. After a season or two, we installed an hour meter in the dash. That meter now reads 1700 hours and the tractor still operates as it should despite the aluminum Briggs engine and aluminum Peerless rear end. It was the only tractor he had for weekly use for about 13 years and was very reliable. The only service replacements it has needed were a new sump gasket in the engine, a replacement drag link in the steering, and a new cast iron brake pedal after the original broke off in a rollover in the driveway (the tractor got hit by a car and tipped over).

If a vertical shaft LT can be that durable, the cast iron GT's ought to last forever.

Steve

[welderman85 53]

i bought a 314h classic with almost 1700 hours on the clock. the hour meter dosnt work so im sure it has many many more that. it runs a 48" deck and cuts 4 acres all summer. no smoke and runs great and when i got it the tractor look like it sat out side and didnt get alot of care

[Wheel-N-It 2,971]

Bill, the 312-8 I bought my Son In Law had a hair over 1200 hours. It does not knock or smoke. The engine cranks right up and runs silky smooth. I believe regarding these Kohlers, if you will change the oil religiously every 25 hours and use a best quality oil like Lubrication Engineers, run 1oz of MMO per gallon of gasoline, clean the air filter after every mowing use, replace it every year, and keep the cooling fins clean, these Kohlers will outlive us both. I know you have a couple of Onans and they have their own issues, but I cannot help but believe the same advice and outcome applies to them also.

[BOWTIE 226]

MY BROTHER BOUGHT A NEW 1988 312-8 WITH 42" SD DECK FOR $2600 DURING THE OHIO DROUGHT THAT YEAR. THE TRACTOR HAS 2400 HOURS NOW AND STILL RUNS GREAT WITH NO SWOKE. ALL HE EVER DID WAS MOW GRASS. THE DECK WAS REPAIRED TWICE FOR RUST AND REPLACE WITH A USED DECK WHEN THE TRACTOR HAD 2100 HOURS. HE CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 25 HOURS AND KEPT EVERYTHING GREASED AND OILED. I WILL END UP WITH THE TRACTOR MY BROTHER PASSED AWAY 10/21/2012.

BOWTIE IN OHIO

[JC 1965 1,532]

I agree with Van on this. I have a 1979 C-81 that i purchased new. I don't have any idea how many hours it has, ( don't have hour meter ) but it mows in the summer and pushes snow in the winter. Runs like new , starts right up, no noise, no smoke. Regular maintenance is the answer like Van said That's what keeps them running. :hide:

[Whmaverick 54]

In 88' the western pa conservancy purchased a new leftover 87' 418-8 to replace a mtd cc they had for many years, I was the first to use the new wh and put 40hrs/week on it to maintain the property. Last time I asked it was still the only machine in use and with deck replacement at some point and regular maintenance. It is still going strong. How many hrs? You do the math.

[leeave96 488]

Great responses - sounds like I'm going to have to get a bigger yard, mow the Church more often or live longer to find out if I can run-up enough hours on my fleet to wear them out - LOL!!!

[jimbo7921 8]

I inherited my fathers 520h that he bought brand new in 93, when he retired from farming. Just turned a 1000 hrs this summer has the original 60" deck on it and just a few small repaires and regular maintainance on it, still runs as strong as the day it was bought. Was used to cut a few acres of grass on the farm and is just seeing its first winter of work with a blade i bought this year. If u take care of them they will last forever.

[Wishin4a416 2,191]

_{I bought my 312-8 new in 87. It has 1607 hours on it. I pulled the head once and decarboned, replaced one solenoid, replaced one stator? [ the charging thing] and replaced one broken tie rod. Knock on wood. Not bad for its age I believe. I got a 416-8 parts tractor last fall [no motor] with over 3000 hours on the meter.}

_{They just keep goin and goin and goin!}

[can whlvr 993]

i have around 2500 hours on my 308,bought it new,its on its 3rd motor,and had to put a whole new top on the deck,but i have zero complaints,shes worked really hard,even take it to work from time to time,i also have a 414 with 1200 hours and it runs real nice,every thing is solid,but the deck has been worked on a fair bit

[Wheel-N-It 2,971]

Great responses - sounds like I'm going to have to get a bigger yard, mow the Church more often or live longer to find out if I can run-up enough hours on my fleet to wear them out - LOL!!!

LOL thats a good one Bill. I've been thinking about taking over mowing the Church yard, and the Mason Lodge yard in about six years after I retire. Then hopefully I can finally get all the Wheel Horse seat time I've always dreamed of :laughing-rolling: