THEN AND NOW MY WHEEL HORSE JOURNEY

[Vinylguy 4,690]

 It all began when I listed a C-101 hood decal set in November 2007. I was bombarded with questions of "Do you have this decal or can you make this decal" 

Not just a few questions but literally hundreds of emails from Wheel Horse collectors needing graphics to restore their prized vintage tractors. 

 I was contacted soon after by One of our most knowledgeable and passionate members who thought I should take a look at the forum as it would be

invaluable to me in my quest to perfect all the templates for these iconic American Made Garden Tractors. The rest is history as they say.

​ But that is not so much the story I planned to tell here today but a lead in to my addiction.  More than a few times in the first 4 years I had been asked why I do not

have a Wheel Horse. My standard answer was (I have no need for a tractor) or so I thought. A local friend was in my shop and seeing all the Wheel Horse graphics laying around said he had a little Wheel Horse. He thought it was a Lawn Ranger. I told him I would buy it if he ever wanted to sell. A year later we met on a motorcycle escort for a 

Local Fallen Hero and he offered it to me so I bought it sight unseen. I remember telling TT in a phone conversation back in the early days that I would never have 

a need for a tractor and would probably never own one. His response was something on the order of ( Wrong my friend, You will have one and probably more than one.)

Right here is where I need a smiley eating crow.   I now have two tractors. the Little Lawn Ranger and a  1993 520-H. I certainly am a  hopeless HORSE-A-HOLIC.

I got my 520 at the Big Show after getting advice from my good friend TT and then Eldon and Ken found the best available 520-H for the money. 

They asked Lola (Mrs. Redo) how much I had in my tractor fund and she said she would put in a bit more if needed to do the deal as she did not want to

listen to me cry about the empty trailer all the way home to Illinois. She's a good wife. I let her ride it once. 

 

It seems now I find a use for it almost everyday. We rent a condominium across from our shop and the maintenance guy does a terrible job of grinding the lawn

with his plastic JD.

so I asked him if he would mind me giving the 520 a workout on our building.  So yesterday I set the deck and cut the lawn about 2.5 inches. The rear discharge Deck cuts great. Thanks Eldon! 

Also the shrubs have been horribly neglected so I hooked up our old M/C trailer behind the 520 and started cutting and hauling away volunteer trees and cactus.

I also mow the lot north of our shop and they finally got around to tearing down the old shack of a house and clearing the lot. So this morning I used the 520 to

pull a rotten stump then hauling a bunch of tree branches and cocklebur  weeds to a burn pile. Seems I had forgotten how much I enjoyed yard work and how

important it is to have a good garden tractor to make things easier.  

 

 Most importantly the friendships we have made over the years and the common bond of this hobby are more important to us than the business reasons that got us 

involved over six years ago. We so much enjoyed meeting so many members at Big Show and can not wait to go again. 

 

Finally remembered how to embed a video to share.

 

Edited July 14, 2013 by VINYLGUY

[varosd 1,185]

Terry,

          It was great to meet you and your wife at the big show!  Thank you all the support you have shown to the WH community!  Now that you have 2...what will be the next one or 2 or 3.....?

[squonk 41,774]

I like the empty trailer part. Now next year you come empty and FILL IT! I was waiting for a Dino to go whizzing by on a   with a snow blade looking for snow!

Edited July 14, 2013 by squonk

[Vinylguy 4,690]

Terry,

          It was great to meet you and your wife at the big show!  Thank you all the support you have shown to the WH community!  Now that you have 2...what will be the next one or 2 or 3.....?

Thanks Don

 I am really liking TT's gt1848 but who knows what we will run onto. Right now i am hoping to get a snow blower for the 520 before winter.

 

What the heck am I doing wrong when trying to embed a video and why does it work one time and not the next.

Anyway to prove I did let Mrs. Redo ride the 520 this is a link to a video of the occasion. Notice the smile.

 

 

http://s306.photobucket.com/user/vinylguy52/media/MrsRedoSeatTime_zpsddca7d9d.mp4.html

[varosd 1,185]

Terry,    Now that Lola has 'her' 520-H....what will you ride!! :rolleyes:

[Rollerman 290]

Nice video Terry, great decals!

We met & talked at Scotts meet n great back in 2011.

Hope to see you at a show or MnG in the future.

[Marv 952]

Terry,

I and my wife were happy to meet you and Mrs Redo at the big show. Having your own horses is very addictive. They keep showing up.

Marvin

[KC9KAS 4,741]

Very nice story.

Each one of us probably has a good story on one or more of our Wheel Horse projects, thank you for sharing yours!

[squonk 41,774]

Terry,    Now that Lola has 'her' 520-H....what will you ride!! :rolleyes:

[JimD 3,345]

I remember telling TT in a phone conversation back in the early days that I would never have 

a need for a tractor and would probably never own one. His response was something on the order of ( Wrong my friend, You will have one and probably more than one.)

Right here is where I need a smiley eating crow.

 

Well, you asked for it,

 

 

Desert with that?

 

Seriously now, congrats on your acquisitions and thanks for all the hard work on the many sets of decals you so skillfully produce. Truly first rate work.

[Vinylguy 4,690]

I remember telling TT in a phone conversation back in the early days that I would never have 

a need for a tractor and would probably never own one. His response was something on the order of ( Wrong my friend, You will have one and probably more than one.)

Right here is where I need a smiley eating crow.

 

Well, you asked for it,

 

 

Desert with that?

 

Seriously now, congrats on your acquisitions and thanks for all the hard work on the many sets of decals you so skillfully produce. Truly first rate work.

Now that is an emoticon I can use. Fits me like a glove.

[AMC RULES 37,143]

 LOL! You   let her ride    it once!  

[55rj35jr 623]

My wife and I enjoyed meeting you both at the "big show" we are the couple that left a get well card for our good "part of the family" friend Derek OCTFST for R S members and fellow collectors to sign, thanks again for handling that,, looking forward to seeing you both again.Your decal work is excellent!!!    Mike & Deb

[Lagersolut 697]

 It all began when I listed a C-101 hood decal set in November 2007. 

 

 

  The C-101 set you did in 2013     

 

When I decided to  re-do my tractor this year I was nosing around the internet looking for parts that were needed and found this forum and the vendor's - to say you guys played a very important role in making this  possible would be an understatement and I even got to meet  you at my first big show ....already ready for next year .

 

 

Redsquare

 

 

 

 

[roscoemi 245]

I'm happy you got reeled in to the 'Horse hobby and the wife looks happy on HER 520! BTW, I always get compliments on the veterans decals you did for me!     

 

 

 

 

Keep up the awesome work, you made  mine one of a kind!