first experience on a wheel horse

[williamgrgn 4]

So how did this obsession start with you is the question at hand. Mine started with my family ny uncle always had this old 1963 wheel horse with Ag dual tires and a dozer blade when I was young but would never let me drive it. The frost one I got to drive was when I was 13 dad went to this auction looking for a mower but ended up bringing home this John Deere green and yellow looking mower yes you seen it someone painted this 1970s wheel horse green and yellow it didn't have a Kohler engine but an 8hp Briggs stuffed and we used it like a tank I remember pulling logs with it, that was in 2001 my brother is now the proud owner of this green wheel horse I am now the proud owner of my uncles look alike wheel horse also he did eventually let me drive his tractor and also my brother is going to keep his green and yellow for sentimental reasons our dad passed in 07 he said that mower wouldn't last a month with us kids tearing it up well he was wrong. What's your story?

[WheelHorse79 271]

Mine started with the first tractor my Dad ever bought, an 854 he purchased used on June 6th, 1966.  I wasn't allowed to drive it until I was 10 years old (1970), but once I was allowed, man was it ever great!  It was the first real responsibility my Dad had ever given to me and trusted me with.  I loved mowing the yard and the sense of accomplishment I had when it was finished.  I bonded with that simple, rugged and reliable 854 and it felt like part of me.  My Dad traded the 854 in on a new C-101 on 12/29/79.  I still have the C-101, and I purchased an 854 last year and restored it.  Both of these tractors bring back so many good memories.  I guess that's why I will always love Wheel Horses.

Edited February 17, 2014 by WheelHorse79

[squonk 41,010]

Started out in 69 on a 64 604. Went thru 4 Tecky's by 77. I got a 704 4 yrs. ago at the show with a Kohler 

[AMC RULES 37,125]

How do you say?

Techy challenged.    

[Ken B 3,164]

My first experience with a Wheel Horse was in the very early 1980's on a B-80. A friend in my neighborhood had a MINT B-80. His Dad let us use it as much as we wanted to so long as we kept it clean and took care of it. We mowed a ton of lawns with it for money. I didn't get much money because all I really wanted to do was ride the tractor! I loved the sound of that 8hp Kohler under a load.

[williamgrgn 4]

I have to say my funniest experience was with my Hodge podge wheel horse I had an old brigs twin 18h mounted on and old frame it didn't have 3rd gear the engine was so big I had to remove the battery box to clear it I had a set of Ag duals the two inside tires had holes in the sidewall but still held air I was pulling a 12foot oak log out of the woods when a fed ex man drove by stopped and watched me do this then a week later he came by and bought that wheel horse off of me I guess sometimes seeing is believing

[smoreau 658]

My first experience was when I was 12, I was on the tractor in my avatar  pushing snow around in the driveway. I would watch the weather every winter night just to see if I could plow the driveway again! My skinny little backside didn't way enough to push any real snow, but I didn't care! I got more seat time backing up and hitting it again and a again tell the drive was clear. I remember being in tears when I came home from school after a all day snow and seeing my oldest brother just finishing the drive with the 875 Lots of great times on that old 875! When My other brother broke the differential moving dirt at his place 4 years ago. That started the madness into high gear! Restoring that 875 was so much fun and enjoyable, I collected 4 more tractors before I was finished!

[Digger 66 3,478]

Mine started with the need for a cheap tractor to cut grass at the spot we used to drop out wheelers at : 

 

 

 

 

And has become a " mechanical " resto obsession :

 

 

[Uncle Buck 246]

I had never heard of or seen a Wheel Horse until about 1985 or 1986. Pop was retiring and got it in his head he wanted a riding mower to use instead of push mowing. I went with him to look at a rider he thought he might buy which turned out to be a 1968 Lawn Ranger. I was immediately taken with the style and design of the little tractor that was setting out taking the weather behind the sellers house. The guy wanted something like  $100-150 for the machine.

 

I recall pop saying what if the engine is shot to me since it did not run. I told him so what, what if the engine was shot either rebuild it or buy a new Tecumseh to replace the one that was there. My logic was the tires looked good, the thing looked like it was built like a tank, I really could not see how there was anything seriously wrong with the machine. Pop bought it, repainted it IH red and I think Allis Chalmers cream, all with a brush. In spite of that it came out looking great. He did put a new Tecumseh engine on it, new belts, new choke and throttle cables, a new high backed seat for his bad back and it was good to go.

 

Pop used it a few years then later turned it over to me when I needed to mow 3 acres a week which I did with the Lawn Ranger for a couple of summers. The LR started my affliction and I have since added three more WH tractors since then. Of course I still have the Lawn Ranger too

Edited February 18, 2014 by Uncle Buck