cruisnblue48 835 #1 Posted November 30, 2013 (edited) So, I have been a RedSquare member for about two years now and I just want to share with y'all what I have collected so far. My collection started about 2-1/2 years ago when my uncle found my dad's old 1962 Wheel Horse 552 tractor and gave it to me for free. Then... and now... restoration in progress... same tractor but now with a 502 model Lauson HT55C-3088 engine and new front tires... My 2nd Wheel Horse was another 1962 model 552. This was a clist find that I basically bought so that I had one to refer to when tearing apart my dad's 552 for a full restoration and putting that one back together... My 3rd Wheel Horse was an RJ-58 (early S/N) that I bought from JDog's Horse Ranch. She has the original Kohler K-91T 3-1/2 hp engine and still runs great. I refinished the front wheels and mounted new front tires... Then my 4th, I saved this 1961 model 551 that was abandoned in a wooded lot about 25 miles from my home. This was a clist find for $75. This photo is from when I got it home. I already had an original Lauson H55D-2113 engine for it which is shown here just set on the frame. Since then, I have acquired new wide rear wheels/tires, and a hood for it. Not posting new pics now as it is in the back corner of the shed patiently waiting for serious restore time, but the plan is to build a rat rod out of this one... I got my 5th Wheel Horse about a year ago, a $500 clist find, this 1995 314-8 is in great shape with a mower deck and snow blower. I sold my 11hp Crapsman so this is now my worker... and a hard worker she is... I bought my 6th Wheel Horse earlier this year from RedSquare member Big Jake. This is pulling tractor... a 1977 C-120 WH chassis with a 1965 hood and a 22hp Robin Subaru V-twin engine. I went to about four local pulling events this year and had a ton of fun learning about garden tractor pulling... And my most recent addition to my herd about two months ago is another 1961 551 Wheel Horse. This is my 7th WH, another local clist steal. This tractor is nearly complete (also came with a heat shield not mounted) but does need some engine work and a new red coat. A rare feature on this tractor is an NOS replacement hood with the horizontal open slots you would find on the 1962 models... So, that's my current 2-1/2 year Wheel Horse collection. I am now a serious Wheel Horse collector, and yes, I do proudly admit it. There are a few other models that I have on my wish list but as you can probably tell, I really admire the late 50's-early 60's round hoods, So, I am always looking for more if and when the right ones come along. I am also very proud to be a member of the RedSquare forum where I have found so much more information about Wheel Horse tractors than I ever imagined. I have attended the last two Big Shows in Arendtsville, PA just looking for parts and admiring everyone's tractors. I hope to maybe bring a few of these fellers along with me to the next show in 2014. Dave from south central PA Edited November 30, 2013 by cruisnblue48 10 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,497 #2 Posted November 30, 2013 THANKS for posting, looks great. i must be the only guy still lOOking. cant wait. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leeave96 487 #3 Posted November 30, 2013 Very nice & especially good deal on the 314-8. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RMCIII 838 #4 Posted November 30, 2013 Nice collection Dave...Didn't you do a thread about the first horse some time ago? If not, then someone else, also has an uncle that game his nephew his dad's first wh....Regardless it was a great read. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
qd-16 14 #5 Posted November 30, 2013 Nice collection Dave! Where did you get the front tires that you have on your first and last tractors? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jake Kuhn 1,555 #6 Posted November 30, 2013 Very nice collection Dave! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boovuc 1,090 #7 Posted November 30, 2013 Very nice collection, Dave. I have always noticed you guys south of me in the Reading, York and Lancaster areas see a lot of CList WH tractors verses what I have up north. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,130 #8 Posted November 30, 2013 (edited) Yep, I think we can call Dave offically... another certified member. Edited November 30, 2013 by AMC RULES Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeek 2,286 #9 Posted November 30, 2013 (edited) Ahh you ended up with Big Jakes puller. I was checking that out when he had it at the show in June. Glad it went to a good home Edited November 30, 2013 by Zeek Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JC 1965 1,530 #10 Posted November 30, 2013 Great looking tractors Dave. Thanks for the photos. I can see, ( you have the addiction ) ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC9KAS 4,741 #11 Posted November 30, 2013 Nice collection. Thank you for the photos....They all are nice GT's Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Old Ways 30 #12 Posted November 30, 2013 Glad to see another WH guy in S/C PA. I'm really keeping my eye out for one of those 551's to restore with my father and grandfather. That's a great collection you have going there --you have a right to be proud! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fun Engineer 859 #13 Posted November 30, 2013 Nice collection Dave. Good job on the restoration. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cruisnblue48 835 #14 Posted November 30, 2013 RMCIII, yes there is another lengthy thread with some history behind my dad's tractor. You will probably find a thread on most of my tractors. I just wanted to update my entire collection in one thread for all RedSquare members, and particularly for recent new members. I bought the front tires on my dad's 552 online from M.E. Miller Tire Co., very close match to the original tires. The tires on my recent 551 came on the tractor. Not sure if they are original or not. Yes, there are lots of WH tractors available on clist here in southern parts of PA... this IS Big Show country! I am 35 miles from Arendtsville, PA. Many on clist though are not in very good condition or way over priced, so we do have a lot to pick and choose from. My pulling tractor that I bought from Big Jake was not at the Big Show this year. I bought it in April and other than a few pulling events, the only "tractor show" that I took it to was the Little Guys Tractor Show on the Rentzel farm in Mt. Wolf, PA to do some non-competitive fun pulls. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 21,315 #15 Posted November 30, 2013 You didn't waste any time amassing a good collection! There was a time a few tears back when if something red showed up on Craigslist or e-bay within 100 miles of my house I was all over it like it was the last red tractor out there. Seemed like every WH tractor guy in Connecticut was in a race to get it! Now I've slowed down the hunt and only look for certain stuff...(makes the wife happy for some reason ). Mike............ 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
timo4352 147 #16 Posted November 30, 2013 A very cool and diverse collection to be proud of. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,189 #17 Posted December 1, 2013 (edited) You are addicted; ! That is a great collection you have going. Edited December 2, 2013 by 953 nut Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
