Commando 800 Restoration - Help Required

[FarmerFox 7]

Hello!

I'm new to this forum and the whole restoration game, however I recently received a Wheel Horse Commando 800 in desperate need of some love and attention and decided to give it all a shot!

 

Knowing very little about Wheel Horse tractors in general and only having a basic understanding of mechanics, I'm after a little help in identifying exactly what I've got and what I've let myself in for! Plus any other advice and information would be gratefully received! 

 

So far I've established it's a commando 800 via the decal on the side

Upon further investigation I discovered it has a Kohler K181S engine: 

 

MODEL: K181S

SPEC NO: 30629D

SERIAL: 6194174

 

The bodywork is in very poor condition and almost everything is seized, however I found an identification plate: 

 

MODEL: 1-0141

SERIAL: 144344

 

this means nothing to me, but I can also make out the word Belgium? 

 

So yeah.. It's in the workshop drying out and I'm trying to work out where to start, so any and all help or information would be extremely helpful!

 

Thanks for reading!  

PS, I'm not sure why the pictures are showing upside down?

 

 

 

 

[stevasaurus 22,910]

Welcome to Red Square 

This is going to get interesting.  What we really need is a vin sheet for the tractors that were made in the Belgium factory.  We may have one on the site, but I can't seem to find it.  What happened in the states is not always what happened in Belgium.

    For instance, your model # 1-0141 would be a B-80 made in 1975 here.  Your engine is right for that, but you have an 8 speed transmission there, where here it would have a 4 speed #5084 transmission.  In the states, the last Commando was 1972...model #1-0110...same engine you have with an 8 speed transmission #5085.  That is what happens between the states and Belgium.  We think it has something to do with parts availability for the most part.  You have, for sure, a Commando 800 made in Belgium, if I had to venture a guess on the year...1975   

     Don't worry, someone here has a list of the model numbers produced in Belgium and I hope they will hop in here.  That looks like a nice tractor, and you will love that K181S with the 8 speed trany. 

     Pictures...get a Photobucket account, upload your pictures there...then click on the IMG code, click copy and then come into your thread and click paste.  They will be right side up then.  Have fun .    I managed to turn your pictures right side up. 

 

WOW!!  just caught a good look at that steering wheel...don't think I have ever seen one like that.

[stevasaurus 22,910]

Check out page 7 on this list of Belgium horses...found it. 

[C-101plowerpower 1,606]

welcome to redsquare, looks to be in good condition, just a bit dirty

[FarmerFox 7]

2 hours ago, stevasaurus said:

"... but you have an 8 speed transmission there, where here it would have a 4 speed #5084 transmission.  In the states, the last Commando was 1972...model #1-0110...same engine you have with an 8 speed transmission #5085."

     

 

"WOW!!  just caught a good look at that steering wheel...don't think I have ever seen one like that."

 

I have a feeling that's it's not the original transmission, I have since discovered another gearbox buried, however it's now very dark and the batteries on my torch have died so I'll have to go back and do some more digging tomorrow..

 

It's a pretty nifty steering wheel, I might have to replace it with an original though!  

[WHX?? 49,484]

Nice

[stevasaurus 22,910]

Funny, you should say that about the transmission.  It was bothering me that something did not look right how the 2 shifters come through the sheet metal...I was going to ask you for some more pictures of that and the trans.  Specifically, how those shifters come through the sheet metal and ...take a look at the left side of the transmission.  Does the brake shaft come out the hole just in front the axle, or the next hole towards the front of the trans.  Take a shot of the trans from behind the axle also...showing the fill plug on the left side.    Do you think you could measure the axle diameter across one of the hubs.  It is either 1" or 1 1/8".

[C-101plowerpower 1,606]

now you say that steve, those shifters dont look right coming out there

[stevasaurus 22,910]

What are you thinking Koen...he's got some sort of a gear reduction thingy going on??   

[C-101plowerpower 1,606]

4 minutes ago, stevasaurus said:

What are you thinking Koen...he's got some sort of a gear reduction thingy going on??   

 

nah just an 8spd with a 4spd shifterplate, they might have bend the high low shifter

 

also i do spot another wh trans on pic 2 and 3

Edited January 3, 2016 by C-101plowerpower

[FarmerFox 7]

34 minutes ago, stevasaurus said:

Funny, you should say that about the transmission.  It was bothering me that something did not look right how the 2 shifters come through the sheet metal...I was going to ask you for some more pictures of that and the trans.  Specifically, how those shifters come through the sheet metal and ...take a look at the left side of the transmission.  Does the brake shaft come out the hole just in front the axle, or the next hole towards the front of the trans.  Take a shot of the trans from behind the axle also...showing the fill plug on the left side.    Do you think you could measure the axle diameter across one of the hubs.  It is either 1" or 1 1/8".

I'm sure I can. I'm back in the workshop later in the week so I'll send pictures and measurements.  

[stevasaurus 22,910]

In the long run Farmer, we have a good group of members on that side of the pond (like Koen)...I'm sure they will add to this thread when they see it.  I'm looking to help @gwest_ca out with that spread sheet he has for the Belgium horses.  I am thinking he will have some information to add when we figure out what you really have there. 

 

I really like that steering wheel.  Would sure like to identify it.   

[C-101plowerpower 1,606]

he has the comando 800, there are a few floating around like that, with the b80 vin on them. i think james has one

[stevasaurus 22,910]

Right mate...open that link from above and take a look on page 7 1-0141...a bunch of info missing that may have a chance to fill in the blanks.  The trans is one of the things missing.    Not to mention the name Commando.

[FarmerFox 7]

10 minutes ago, stevasaurus said:

I really like that steering wheel.  Would sure like to identify it.   

 

I'll see if I can find any sort of numbers on it for you

[953 nut 56,158]

The steering wheel may not be original, but it is in the family.

[stevasaurus 22,910]

The plot thickens...this is the stuff we live for.    Is there any more history you can ad here??  Farmer, you have to understand...the on that side of the pond stuff is intriguing to both sides, and when things come up, it puts pieces in the puzzle.  Thanks for helping. 

[FarmerFox 7]

On 3 January 2016 at 8:54 PM, stevasaurus said:

The plot thickens...this is the stuff we live for.    Is there any more history you can ad here??  Farmer, you have to understand...the on that side of the pond stuff is intriguing to both sides, and when things come up, it puts pieces in the puzzle.  Thanks for helping. 

I will be sure to find out as much as I can, and keep you all updated!!

 

On a side note, does anyone know what the internal diameter of the fuel line is on the commando 800?  5mm / 6mm / 8mm etc? I stupidly forgot to take measurements!

[WHX?? 49,484]

Might be standard 1/4" fuel line so should be around 6 MM (1/4" = 6.35 MM)

[ztnoo 2,298]

How is the project going?

We really haven't had a report for 10 months.

Just curious.

 

Regards,

Steve

[FarmerFox 7]

2 minutes ago, ztnoo said:

How is the project going?

We really haven't had a report for 10 months.

Just curious.

 

Regards,

Steve

Unfortunately I've had to put the project on hold.. I overturned my truck and I'm the process broke a few bones so have been unable to complete my work. However before doing so, I had managed to get the engine running, however there was something wrong with the throttle and it kept over revving then cutting out. Since then I haven't been able to start it again. The majority of the metalwork has been taken off and primed ready for painting, but it all now sat under a dust cover in the workshop.