PaulC 341 #1 Posted May 13, 2014 (edited) Hey Guys, I am nearing the end of the process on redoing my 1990 312H. It is not a restore as I didn't take every single part off the machine but I did take it down pretty far and its definitely going to look much newer when I'm done. Sorry but I am the get it done now type of guy so I don't seem to ever have the foresight to take good before and during pictures, so unfortunately I only have a handful of before pictures. I should have started this thread sooner but to late for that so I will post the pictures I have taken to this point and add more and update until I am finished. Here is the before of the tractor(one pictured left, the 312A on the right is currently for sale as I don't have room for it) Here are two befores of my 42" rear discharge deck, it was in pretty rough shape but solid with no holes or rot at all A short back story on how I got into Wheel Horse. My Grandpa who recently passed away bought a 312-8 new which is still around and is a 1985, he also had one sweet lawn sweeper he always used with it. Well when him and my grandma got to be older the 45 acres they had got to be to much for my gramp to maintain so they sold the property to my dad which is where he currently lives. I got married in September 2012 and moved into my first home in June of the same year. I have 3/4 of an acre to mow so I asked dad if I could have the old wheel horse as he now has a zero turn that he mows with. That 312-8 was rolled down the bank of the pond on that property at one point so it looks pretty beat up, but I got it to my house and my dad did a quick carb clean and that thing purred like a kitten and did a darn good job mowing my lawn. I used it for that summer and as it got close to winter time I started to look for a blower attachment because I knew the wheel horses had some attachments available. I hopped on CL and there was a 1987 312A with side discharge deck and 42" blower attachment on there. I was psyched for the hydro tranny as I hated shifting the 312-8 so I went and met the guy and bought it. I then began some research which brought me to redsquare where I learned a lot of the history of wheel horse and how awesome these machines really are. I continued to troll CL and came across my 1990 312H, had a lot lower of hrs hydraulic lift and the 42" rear discharge deck that I really wanted so I decided to pull the trigger and go buy that one too . It is now official I am a Wheel Horse nut at least that's what my wife says The main reason for that back story was to explain my next photo which is my Grandpas beloved lawn sweeper. The leaves started to fall at my new home and I quickly realized I needed to do something about it. I asked dad about gramps old sweeper and sure enough it was still in the weeds where it had been for the previous 5 years or so. I brought it home PB blasted the pants off of it and got it going. Its the baddest lawn sweeper ive ever seen and have just recently learned its made by a company named Wilco? They are still available today as well as all the parts for it and retails for a whopping $1295 !!! I did not take a single before pic of the sweeper but here is the after. Painted it the same "Wheel Horse Red" as the rest of my equipment I'm doing and plan to put a Wheel Horse sticker from Terry on it even though its not I don't have the bag on it or the attachment bar, it will be shown in a later post when the tractor is done and out for duty Here is the picture of the deck all finished. I removed all of the attachment linkage did some work to the sheet metal and bent myself some new belt and pulley covers. Then sanded and repainted everything. Bought all new wheels and a new belt. I brush and roll painted the sweeper, deck, and frame of the tractor but knew that wouldn't fly for the sheet metal. Fortunately I have access to a spray booth here at work so I brought them in and sprayed them with the same Rustoluem Farm and Implement IH Red I used on everything else. Needless to say I impressed the heck out of myself and laid down one sweet paint job, well at least I think so. Here are some pics I painted the wheels, engine covers, and all the other black Rustoleum flat black here are the pics, first one shows how far I had the tractor disassembled. I apologize for congesting all of this into this one long post and not starting this thread earlier but like the old saying goes better late then never. I welcome everyones comments and look forward to completing my project and will post updates as I get further. I think my plan for this afternoon is to finish installing Matt's foot pedal kit, man am I pumped about that!! Thanks for your time and I hope you enjoy Paul Edited May 16, 2014 by PaulC 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmsgaffer 2,043 #2 Posted May 13, 2014 Looking good! I like the flat black wheel on that style of tractor. Looks mean! Does your frame reinforcement get in the way of any of the mower decks? I've never inspected to see how close they get, but I just figured that's why it was shaped like that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rexman72 210 #3 Posted May 13, 2014 thats looking really good, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wishin4a416 2,190 #4 Posted May 13, 2014 Everything looks great. Good job! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,102 #5 Posted May 14, 2014 Yeah, them black wheels do look tough. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jachady 130 #6 Posted May 14, 2014 Nice job, love the flat black. Cant wait to see it with the shiny red tins. Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
608KEB 795 #7 Posted May 14, 2014 Nice looking tractor. The WH bug has bit you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jparkes43 329 #8 Posted May 14, 2014 OMG! That looks amazing, my resto project is still ongoing James Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PaulC 341 #9 Posted May 14, 2014 thanks a lot everyone!! the wheel horse bug has definitely big me I keep trying to explain to my wife how much better off we are putting the effort and small amounts of money into this setup then if we were to buy something new, but.....she still thinks im nuts haha. I actually have chrome hubcaps too which I will get a pic of. They were in rough shape so I intended to paint them flat black or red but when I started to clean them up to prime I actually got them pretty clean. Buffed them out a bit and got a pretty nice shine still. I like the flat black myself but gonna see how the chrome with the black outer ring looks. Looking good! I like the flat black wheel on that style of tractor. Looks mean! Does your frame reinforcement get in the way of any of the mower decks? I've never inspected to see how close they get, but I just figured that's why it was shaped like that. I haven't actually mounted my deck to the tractor yet but looking at the 42" sd and 42" rd decks that I have it doesn't look like either will interfere with the bracket, but I will find out for sure pretty soon. I got the pedal kit installed yesterday so now im dying to get her back together and ride it around, plus my grass really really needs to get mowed. Hoping for this weekend. More to come soon!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jackhammer 546 #10 Posted May 16, 2014 Lookin real good PaulC keep them coming Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PaulC 341 #11 Posted May 16, 2014 Ive gotten some more work done over these past few days so I have some more pics!!! I now only have a very small list of things to do, paint the front of the hood black, install my new rubber floor board covers, reassemble the seat bracket(paint currently drying) mount new seat, and then apply all of my new decals when I receive them!!! I was able to test out Matts foot pedal kit earlier this week and wow that seems like an awesome addition. If theres anyone out there still on the fence about it I say pull the trigger I am extremely happy that I did. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PaulC 341 #12 Posted May 19, 2014 well I had her out for duty this weekend so I have some more pics of her very nearly completed before it got filthy mowing the lawn. once again matts foot pedal kit is an awesome addition, much more comfortable and a lot easier to maneuver. the only things left are the decals which are on order from Terry and to paint the front grill section black, but im still not sure on that so id like some redsquare opinions!! my wife and I think myself are voting to leave it alone and my buddy and my brother have said to paint it black so help me decide guys!! thanks again for looking 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shallowwatersailor 3,213 #13 Posted May 19, 2014 I vote for painting the grille black. It carries the "theme" through with the hoodstand and seat. The black wheels with hubcaps looks great! Nice Job!!! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
doc724 925 #14 Posted May 19, 2014 I agree with John, paint the grille black. It looks "incomplete" with out it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
312Hydro 474 #15 Posted May 19, 2014 Really nice work ! Those pulley guards look factory and your paintwork is very nice. I vote for black too. :handgestures-thumbupright: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jdleach 525 #16 Posted May 19, 2014 Paint the hood grille black. That is one awesome refurb. Makes me want to head to the garage and start ripping my 312-8 apart. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmsgaffer 2,043 #17 Posted May 21, 2014 Yep what they said, paint it black to match the rest of the black. I think that will be a sweet lookin' horse. I am REALLY loving the black wheels with the chrome caps! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stigian 1,234 #18 Posted May 21, 2014 I'm with the other guy's, paint the front of the hood black. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jparkes43 329 #19 Posted May 21, 2014 I'm with the other guy's, paint the front of the hood black. That's how they were originaly right, because mine came like that bit I changed the colour to Matt black as I prefer it to satin James Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 10,858 #20 Posted May 21, 2014 Great job on your tractor. I'd vote for painting the black too especially with the black wheels. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PaulC 341 #21 Posted May 21, 2014 thanks once again for the all the support, I am so pleased with the outcome. I guess the front is getting painted black as not one vote is for keeping it red. Once I receive my decals and get it cleaned back up and paint the front black I will post some final pictures. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmsgaffer 2,043 #22 Posted May 21, 2014 Looking forward to the finished product! If Terry hasnt made your decals yet, have you considered doing black/chrome instead of the maroon? I think this is something he could do and would really make your tractor unique. Keeping with the style That would look SWEET. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PaulC 341 #23 Posted May 21, 2014 (edited) Thanks and me too!! that is a very cool idea but yes I think its to late as I did order them. I am not going with the exact match of what it came with though so I do think it will be somewhat unique and look cool. Here is exactly what I am getting but for a 312-H along with a kit for my rear discharge deck and a couple larger wheel horse decals for my sweeper(even though not a horse ) and my snowblower attachment. Edited May 21, 2014 by PaulC 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
56flatbed 29 #24 Posted May 26, 2014 That is one Sweet tractor! Paint the grille black Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PaulC 341 #25 Posted June 23, 2014 Hi all I finally got the decals on and painted the front grill and I am very happy with the results, glad I painted the grill it does look much better. I had to swap the muffler so I lost the chrome guard for now but I will get it back on it at some point. Thanks to Vinyl Guy Terry for the decals they are very nice and definitely finish off a project like this. Thanks for looking Paul 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
