Dream Tractor

[tomtractor 71]

So I am thinking ahead...  I currently have a C120 with a 42 inch rear discharge deck and dozer blade.  The tractor mows and preforms everything I need it to do. It is a great tractor.  BUT ... of course I am thinking I need something bigger.  What wheel horse tractor can support a 52-60 inch deck, hydro drive and is very reliable?  Thoughts.  Also what other model or make may I also consider?  I mostly mow grass and pull a cart with my tractor.

-Tom

[squonk 41,016]

520

[can whlvr 993]

well if its gonna be a bigger deck than 48 inches,you will want to look at the 520,s,your on your own concerning the onan,some like it,some dont,maybe a 418,or the elusive 420,which is rare and not really a consideration for just anyone as they are pricey,but really the 520,s are more suited to the 60 inch deck,if you want to run a 48 then theres alot more options,then you could go down to maybe 14hp,thats a little small for a 48 but if one keeps the grass well cut it will easily handle it,then theres lots of models from 14hp-23hp,there is the newer models like the 523,but im not very famililar with them so ill let someone else tell about them

[baerpath 517]

C 195 or a D180/200  If your staying WH    I'd rather have a dependable motor not an Onan

[953 nut 55,027]

In my opinion the GT-14 is as good as it gets, they are strong runners and fun to drive. With a 48" deck they have power to spare, don't see any reason a 60" wouldn't work. My yard isn't flat enough for a 60" without scalping high spots!

 

[tomtractor 71]

I really like the K series motors.  Although I hear the 18hp has problems with cooling.  What about the Bolens HT 20?  Or the Case 444?  Reliable? 

[tomtractor 71]

How reliable is the hydro on the GT 14's after 40+ years.  

[whfan74 2,066]

522xi

[Forest Road 594]

Xi series. 18 - 23 hp. Power steering came on many of them. I'm just over 1000 hours my 522 Xi with a loader and she's going strong.

[cdsl810 181]

Another vote for the 520-H (or 520-HC). It's hard to argue with that kind of power and capabilities. And, if the 20hp Onan is not your cup of tea they can be repowered easily. FWIW, I like the unique sound of the Onan and it has power to spare.

[cdsl810 181]

Another vote for the 520-H (or 520-HC). It's hard to argue with that kind of power and capabilities. And, if the 20hp Onan is not your cup of tea they can be repowered easily. FWIW, I like the unique sound of the Onan and it has power to spare. The 48 and 60 inch side discharge decks are great on the 520 too. As far as reliability: mine has been flawless for 23 years and the Onan exhibits no sign of giving up anytime soon.

[WH nut 553]

Once you run a 520 the others feel like just toys.

 

 

 

Althought i switch off with mine so I dont neglect the others.

[Tankman 3,518]

 

C 195 or a D180/200  If your staying WH    I'd rather have a dependable motor not an Onan

My '90 520-8 (don't know its' history) has the Onan engine. Clock is reading 2500+ hours.

My only gripe with the Onan is its' thirst, a real petrol hog. Stallion works hard, effortlessly, I can live with its' thirst.

Engine never misses a beat, the 48" go through it all without ever a complaint or grunt.

My other four Horses, all Kohler. I have always been "Kohler" but nowadays I find myself cranking up the Onan for wo.....wo......work!

The 520-8 has the swept forward front axle, a 60" deck will fit. My 400's have the straight axles, doubt if a 60" deck would fit. Other forum members'll verify yes or no 'bout deck sizes.

[Austin860 82]

A d250 will handle a 60 inch fine! Haha

[papaglide 542]

Onans make me nervous. I had a 520 and the Onan crapped out. I currently have a 416-8 with an Onan and it smokes on occasion and may need a rebuild. As far as power, I never noticed a difference in power or torque between an Onan 16 or 20hp and a Kohler command or magnum 18 hp of which I have owned 3 tractors equipped with them. Onans do sound unique but they are VERY thirsty engines.

Right now my go to grass cutting machine is a Cub Cadet 1864. Power steering, 54" deck, kohler command 18 hp engine, and 26" turning radius can't be beat. It is an 880lb monster with a top speed of 7.5mph. Hydro too.

Now on to " other" brands. Was my 520 with forward swept front axle and " steering reduction" steering a bad a## tractor? Yes. But so was my Cub Cadet 1882 with power steering, steering brakes, 3 point hitch, 26-12-12 rear ags and 50 inch deck. My point is that all of these older garden tractors, be they WH, CC, Bolens are bad a## tractors that were built to do work. They each have their good points and bad points. But they all were hard core and made to WORK. You can't go wrong getting any of them.

Don't misinterpret this post though. I have 3 WH and love them all. I also have 2 Cubs and love them too. Don't be closed minded and limit yourself to one or the other, check out all makes. Just make sure that they are old school garden tractors.

I must say this though, Wheel Horses are a dream to work on, they're simple and straight forward. CC's on the other hand are almost over engineered and not easy to work on. This is based on my experiences working on both brands. This may have an influence on what your future tractor may be.

WH 520, 5--xi series, C195, D180, D200

IHCC 982

CC 1882,1872, 2072, 1782, 1861, 1862,1863, 1864, 2082, 2084, 2086, 2182, and more.

Edited June 3, 2013 by papaglide

[Hodge71 664]

I honestly cant justify the extra cost of a 520 unless you absolutely positively need that 5 foot deck.I have been looking on ebay and craigslist for the majority of the NY,NJ PA,MD area within a 5 hour ride 1 way for a 16 auto or a C-160 and the same 520's have been on for weeks for $2500+ with a 48 inch deck. Expect to pay another 500-600 bucks for a good 60 inch deck on top of the tractors investment. My Dads 1973 12 auto has the 48 incher from my 416 on it and we just had it out the gun club to mow 5 acres of thick heavy grass and weeds that was 12+ inches tall, mowing it in the transport position which should mean taking about 7 inches or a bit more off and that Kohler thumped away like it was nothing at all and got a whole lot better fuel economy than my 416 Onan got  with the 42" RD deck on it and sharing the duties at the gun club. I would also say to stay away from C-195's. They are very pricey and the parts are nonexistant for them. Its a whole special setup to run the 60 inch Ariens deck on there and the cone clutch and all the parts is obsolete. Baerpath was right with directing you towards a D-180/200 if you really need the big boy on the block.....  

Edited June 3, 2013 by hodge71

[Brownta 5]

I'd give another vote for the 520H. I've had 2 with the 60" decks and never had an issue with the Onan. I don't know why others have. Could have been previous owners not taking care of them. I run 30W oil in the summer and 10w-30 in the winter and keep the air intake screen clean.  I love the sound of the Onan compared to the K series Kohlers. As long as I kept up on the cutting they had plenty of power to run those big decks. If I let it get too long I would have to slow down my ground speed to get a good cut. When I sold my place in town and moved I had to get rid of the 60 and get a 48 because of scalping. The 520 just plays with a 48 in any type of grass. I could mow my pasture with it and I'm not sure I could strain the motor too much. And although I have never owned and xi series my self. Most people I talk to that have them, love them. I couldn't fault you for looking into those either. Although used attachments are harder to find with the xi's because of less production years compared to the "classic series" we will call them. I asked my local dealer about them, and he said they are 2000 hour engines. After that he strongly recommended that they be gone through. My current one has 500 hours on it, and the other one I had, I sold it at 2200 hours (that might be why he told me 2000 thinking I would take it to him to be redone) and it wasn't week or making any unusual noises. I just didn't need 2 anymore and naturally wanted to keep the one with less hours on it. They are both 1991 versions. 

 

Long story short, I've had 2 and loved them both and not had any issues with the Onan's. We use a welder at work that have the same Onan engine in it (PG220) and we haven't had any issues with it either. and it has tons of hours on it. 

[tomtractor 71]

Thanks for the info on the 520's, 416's and the like. It seems like the logical choice is the 520 with lower hours. I am also going to look into the Bolens HT20 and the Case 444.  Any thought on those tractors?

[cdsl810 181]

Well, you could try painting either one of them red, but I'm not sure it would be quite the same.

[leeave96 487]

Depends on how big you want to go.  It might be that a 48 inch deck will suffice or you may want the 60 inch deck.  Cool thing about the C series, 300, 400 and 500 series tractors is that the decks interchange - except for the 60 inch deck.

 

Your C-120 should handle a 48 inch deck.  If you can find yourself one, buy it and give it a try.  If your grass is to tall or thick for the 12 hp engine, you could find a 314 or 414 tractor, either gear or hydro (or a C series with 14 hp engine).  Same can be said for the 16 hp versions of these tractors too.

 

IMHO, the 520H with swept forward axle is a great machine - especially if you outfit it with Matt's foot control kit.  I don't know how many of these 520H tractors were made, but I see a lot of them on craigslist, etc.  I feel the weak link on any of these Wheelhorse tractors is the motor.  Eventually they need replaced or a rebuild.  The 520H with the Onan makes for a GREAT platform repower - if and when it's ever needed.  There were some recent posts on a Honda repower.  I can see me doing this with my 520H one of these days - should the Onan ever give up the ghost.

 

The 520H will handle the 60 inch deck and with the swept forward axle (early 520H tractors did not have this - so look for it), has a 26 or 28 inch turning radius - tighter than the straight front axle tractors.  Also, later 520H tractors had a gear reduction on the steering that makes for VERY easy steering.

 

Sooo - were I you, I'd just find a 48 inch deck, try it on your present tractor and then contemplate a larger tractor.  If you need more than 60 inches, get a 520H - or just get one cause they are a great tractor.

 

Good luck!

Bill