July 2013 - 1965-1979 (All models EXCEPT for D series)

[CasualObserver 3,408]

Time to nominate your tractor for the July Wheel Horse of the month!
Please include at least one clear image, a short description and history, and any other information or stories you'd like to share.

A maximum number of twelve (12) nominations will be accepted until 7/22/13.
Voting will begin when either the maximum limit of nominations or the date has been reached.
The winner will be announced on 8/1/13

Current nomination models are anything from 1965-1979 (except the "D" models... those are coming later)

One entry per person, please.

Good luck!

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,269]

In 1974 my father bought a brand new C160 Automatic, 36" RD deck, dump cart and Parker Sweeper to replace our junkyard Springfield.  During my mowing years, I used this tractor every week.  We didn't have a snow blade or blower so it was a summer tractor only.  My father passed away in 1991, and my mother kept the tractor.  When I bought my house in 1993, I bought my brand new 416-H because of the experience with the C-160.  Well, my mother moved and no longer needed a tractor, gave the C160 to my brother and God knows what happened to it but sad to say it's gone.

 

I had wanted to have a father / son project and thought what better tractor to get than a C-160 Automatic.  Looking around all I could find was an old Electro and C-120 Automatic.   A short time later Eldon (kj4kicks) found a C-160 somewhere in the midwest.  It ran but wasn't much to look at.  He offered to go pick it up (he was going that way anyway) bring it back and trade the Electro and C-120 for it.  I agreed because it would complete the cycle from my father, to me to my children.

 

Well, I went to pick up my C-160, expecting to get a rusty old tractor, but instead I received this:

 

It turns out that with a collection from the members, and Eldon's awesome talent, he dismantled the tractor, painted it, and put it together.  There was only a few odds and ends for me to complete.  It was a complete surprise and I am still in awe of what everyone had done for me.  This is one C-160 which is truly a RedSquare tractor, and it is my entry for this month's category!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lane Ranger 10,946]

My 1974 Wheel Horse B-80.  The work horse tractor of the house!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[octfst 378]

No story just found this driving down the road. Just a cool tractor. My 1975 B145 Elec-trak w/forklift

 

 

 

Edited July 1, 2013 by octfst

[Martin 2,131]

i want to nominate my 1057. the whole story on the build on this one can be found here.......

 

 

to date this has definitely been the most detailed build i have done. i also do my painting with powder paint, which presented a few challenges along the way, as much of this tractor as possible was painted this way, lots of parts had to be totally dismantled, engine, generator, fuel pump and carb for example, any of these parts just cant be bead blasted as an assembly and powder coated. they need to be totally dismantled and anything at all that wont survive 400 degrees in a cure oven needs to be removed. i also wanted to keep detail as much as possible as can be seen if you read through the build thread or look at some of the pics below. 

this tractor while looking nice, drives the best out of anything i have as no worn part went un-noticed and was either rebuilt or replaced......

 

 

 

engine that was used for the build.....

 

 

 

and heres a few through the build........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[whfan74 2,066]

This was the first tractor that dad and I tackled to clean up and put back in to good working order.  It was the feature model for the 2012 WHCC show in Arendtsville, PA where it was revealed.  We had a great time and learned many things through the process of doing our first machine.  We were pretty pleased with the results and have had a lot of fun on it.  It now has the correct seat and is getting a sickle bar mower cleaned up to install on it.  Here she is........

 

 

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,175]

My son "Andrew" would like to nominate his Tractor.   It's a 1967 L-157 Lawn Ranger.   It's for the most part Original with a few extras added.    

[squonk 41,037]

My Spirit of 76 C-160. Smoked like a chimney when I first got it. A little Seafoam in the oil and working it hard cleared it up. It does all my mowing and most of the snow removal. Customized lift lever for one hand operation. Electric fuel pump installed. Killed the hydro pulling a fertilizer 3 yrs ago. Rebuilt with E-bay parts. Nice comfy seat. No tear downs on this tractor, just work. 817 hrs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 5, 2013 by squonk

[formariz 11,987]

Here is my 1969 Electro-12. We have a habit around here of naming everything and this one is affectionally named Kenny. Named Kenny because I got it in 2010 in a trade with Ken B. I still have in my mind the picture of Ken driving away with a basically empty trailer with only a little Suburban in it, while I had tractor and tractor implements basically falling off of my truck. I never got over the guilty feeling.

 

This is the work horse around here. Absolutely invaluable.Runs beautifully and starts every time.It has power and its fast. The entire property  is maintained with only this tractor.I now pull a gang mower with it instead of using the deck. Its major advantage however is plowing in the winter since the Hydro is easier and quicker to operate the plow than a regular set up. This is a machine that definitely changed how everything is done around here.Thanks again Ken.

 

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Edited July 7, 2013 by formariz

[Racinbob 11,045]

_{Here's a Commando 800 I rebuilt for my grandson. Pretty much stock except for a set of 22-750 rear tires from a 76 B80 and a seat bracket from an older Raider to allow for a bit more leg room. My Mother used this tractor since about 1980 until health issues forced her to stop. I hauled it down here to Florida to rebuild and then hauled it back to northern Indiana for my grandson. A sharp eye will notice quite a few tweaks done to it during the rebuilding process.}

[jay in nc 210]

I want to nominate my c161 8 speed. It was a P.O.S. when i bought it on E-BAY around 2005. It was painted med. metalic blue. & didn't run, I striped the paint ,rebuilt the engine, widened the rear wheels & put on new decals,  I know the ones on the hood are on the wrong side but too bad! I put a complete NOS. sleve hitch on it & it's my plow, disc, dirt tractor. one of my favorites! As you can see im not afraid to get it dirty or work it hard. thanks Jay In NC

[CasualObserver 3,408]

That's ten guys.... let's get two more in here and we'll open the voting!!

[leeave96 487]

My bad - I missed the date for tractors so I removed my post... 

 

Thanks!

Bill

Edited July 13, 2013 by leeave96

[CasualObserver 3,408]

Here is my entry - a 1997 314-8 w/ 36 inch RD deck on it.

 

Thanks!

Bill

 

Sorry Bill... not qualified.  Those models are coming another month.  July is for 65-79 (non D-series) models only.

[wh1257 226]

here my wheel horses from 1968-1979

 

1967 857 and 1975 c 120 hydro

 

1968 commando 8

[55rj35jr 623]

_{MY 1968 INDY 500 SPECIAL RESTORED 2 YEARS AGO}

[CasualObserver 3,408]

Ok, we've hit our 12 nominees.....

 

Let the voting begin!!!

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,330]

AND THE WINNER IS ......................................... OUR FEARLESS LEADER NYLON (KARL) !!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATS PAL !! 

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,269]

Thank you all who voted for the tractor, it's a special machine for so many reasons and this just added another reason!

[C-160 Auto 10]

Everyone of those are awesome. Living in SW Florida. ..I never see WH tractors other than mine. Thanks for showing them off!

[Racinbob 11,045]

I feel your pain C-160 Auto. I had a barn full when we lived in Indiana. Had to sell everything because we decided to travel in our motorhome full time. That got old and we settled down here in central FL. It took me forever to find a Wheel Horse within a days drive. I was about to go up north and haul one down here then I finally found one in Pinellas county.

[C-160 Auto 10]

I feel your pain C-160 Auto. I had a barn full when we lived in Indiana. Had to sell everything because we decided to travel in our motorhome full time. That got old and we settled down here in central FL. It took me forever to find a Wheel Horse within a days drive. I was about to go up north and haul one down here then I finally found one in Pinellas county.

 Yup, most everyone who moves to FL sells everything before they move down.  I got lucky and found my C-160 in Brandon 6 years ago.  Now if only I could find a tiller & plow close by.....hahahahahaha, yea right!