Wheel horse.. . torro

[jhef 10]

Was told today my 87 414-8 wasn't a real wheel horse. That it's just a torro lawn mower. That it's not worth anything other then any other old craftsman. 

[Ironhorse1077 21]

Blasphemy!

[TDF5G 2,069]

The way I remember it, WH was bought by TORO in 1986.   TORO didn't put the WH name on the tractors.  After complaints from consumers, the WH name was eventually put back on.  

 

But regardless, it's still really a WH.

Edited February 17, 2016 by TDF5G

[illinilefttackle 399]

Sometimes you have to take what people say "with a grain of salt"- in this case, a whole shaker full!-Sounds like whom ever told you that is either jealous or grossly uninformed- be proud of your HORSE!- Al

[Ironhorse1077 21]

Does that mean that there are Toro tractors out there from 86/87 that do not have the Wheelhorse name on them?  

[dcrage 628]

 "Does that mean that there are Toro tractors out there from 86/87 that do not have the Wheelhorse name on them?   "

 

Maybe -- I for one don't know what Toro was producing in 1987 -- I DO KNOW that the 414-8 that you have is a Wheel Horse -- All that changed when Toro bought the Wheel Horse business was the ownership -- As I recall Toro purchased them from some investment group who bought Wheel Horse from American Motors... -- You need to go back further than that to get to the Ponds -- The tractor you own is Wheel Horse designed and manufactured at the Wheel Horse factory in South Bend -- None of that changed when Toro purchased the Brand other than the $ all 'flowed' thru Toro after that date

[Phatboy 565]

No there were toro wheel horses made every year... And tell him toro continued to use the same parts as they always did and they were still made in USA .. Until they came out with the plastic hood toro's - wheel horses then rear ends and all were different from then on out which took place in like 2002 if memory serves me right , but is was somwhere around then ,, but all the steel hoods were exactly the same as they always were parts and all, so he obviously dont know what he is talking about.. So love your Horse its a great machine..

[shallowwatersailor 3,213]

This has been discussed before so you might like to look through previous postings. The change came in 1990 when Toro started putting their name on the Wheel Horse tractors and started painting them Toro Red. I can't place my 1989 and 1990 brochures right now but the phrasing for ownership on the back page changed between the two years. That also coincides with the change from maroon stripes to black stripes. But it was Toro that brought us the swept axle and 60" deck for the 520-H model.

 

Toro also made their own tractors prior to buying Wheel Horse. Those were lawn tractors.

[Retired Sparky 526]

Talk about opening up a hornets nest.  This thread has certainly started vigorous conversation.  I know when I bought my in 86' from the dealer there was only one logo in the hood, and that's the same one that's on it today, it says Wheel horse. Toro also made their own tractors. They didn't look anything like a . 

                                                    jhef, I'd have that bluster son of a gun's blood alcohol level checked. 

[Racinbob 11,306]

Ask him about when American Motors owned them (1974), then Munn Investment Group (1982). Toro bought Wheel Horse from Munn in 1986. I lived 45 years just outside of South Bend. As the Toro purchased developed it was all over the local news. Toro promised not to change the name and not to move the plant out of South Bend and other things. They always had Wheel Horse on them and they didn't change the design. Yea, they moved out of town but in retrospect it was probably for the best and was due to financial issues. 2007 was the last year for the Wheel Horse. The newest one I have is a 2005 and believe me, it's Wheel Horse inside and out. The reality is that Toro did Wheel Horse fanatics a favor. They kept producing 'real' Wheel Horses longer than probably anybody else would have. 

 

Oh......yea.....Your 414-8 is a true Wheel Horse and one fine machine.

[Jparkes43 329]

Hello.

 

Not that it probably matters but i had a 1990 toro wheel horse 227-5.... so i suppose toro did just relabel wheel horse machines?? i hope i have helped somewhat. also not sure if it matters but this was a UK tractor. but mine has toro where wheel horse would be and the 227-5 is accompanied with the wheel horse name, but it still has the wh logo at the front but toro on the steering wheel if i recall 

Relabelled it as a wheel horse as for one, they were available, two i liked them better.

this was as it was

 

 

James

Edited February 17, 2016 by Jparkes43

[cleat 6,723]

I put the maroon Wheel Horse decals on all my machines as I redo them. I also like the look better.

 

[Jparkes43 329]

Just now, cleat said:

I put the maroon Wheel Horse decals on all my machines as I redo them. I also like the look better.

 

i agree!! 

 

james

[Phatboy 565]

58 minutes ago, shallowwatersailor said:

This has been discussed before so you might like to look through previous postings. The change came in 1990 when Toro started putting their name on the Wheel Horse tractors and started painting them Toro Red. I can't place my 1989 and 1990 brochures right now but the phrasing for ownership on the back page changed between the two years. That also coincides with the change from maroon stripes to black stripes. But it was Toro that brought us the swept axle and 60" deck for the 520-H model.

 

Toro also made their own tractors prior to buying Wheel Horse. Those were lawn tractors.

Yup my 310-8 is a 1990 and has the Black decals and says "Toro Wheel Horse Classic" on them ...

Cleat just likes to Tease me with all them Beautiful 520's lol ill have a 520 one of these days as soon as i find a mint condition one !!! Will be soon,, just hard to find the right one..

[can whlvr 993]

ask the guy  if he wants to hook em up,his crapsman against the toro,see how he likes being dragged around all day

[Phatboy 565]

17 hours ago, can whlvr said:

ask the guy  if he wants to hook em up,his crapsman against the toro,see how he likes being dragged around all day

HAHAHA !!! I tell my brother the same thing lol he has a new Huskavarna , ( lawn mower ya sit on ) cough cough ,,, anyway he is  always  saying " Lets  have a tug of war " !! I just tell him naa i dont wanna break your new toy in half " ,, lol

Edited February 18, 2016 by Phatboy

[Tankman 3,520]

My '90 520-8 had TORO all over the poor Horse. Turned my tummy, I wanted to hide.

 

Then I took care of that.

 

.

17 hours ago, Phatboy said:

HAHAHA !!! I tell my brother the same thing lol he has a new Huskavarna , ( lawn mower ya sit on ) cough cough ,,, anyway he is  always  saying " Lets  have a tug of war " !! I just tell him naa i dont wanna break your new toy in half " ,, lol

Reminds me of my USMC days. In '65 I purchased a Barracuda with the V-8 Commando. That Plymouth would race any vehicle on the road. 

 

If I was next to a Chevy 396 or a Hemi, I just didn't feel like racing.

 

Our Horses are another story, wanna play? The Stallions will bury you!

[cleat 6,723]

The little details like the engine and steering wheel cover are also important to do a complete conversion to straight Wheel Horse badging.

 

I also changed the steering wheels to say Wheel Horse on them as required. 

 

 

Also Toro gauges must go. All of mine now have SW gauges, Toro gauges are all gone.

 

Likely a little anal but what can I say.....

 

 

Edited February 19, 2016 by cleat

[DennisThornton 4,769]

On 2/17/2016 at 2:49 PM, jhef said:

Was told today my 87 414-8 wasn't a real wheel horse. That it's just a torro lawn mower. That it's not worth anything other then any other old craftsman. 

 

You were listening to the uninformed!  Yours is still a full blooded Wheel Horse.  And there were some VERY good Craftsmans (AYP)!  Preceding those very good Craftsmans were some great Sears machines (Roper)!  Chain yours to his and have someone shout "Go!" and then drag his all over!