Toro/WheelHorse OEM or Off Brands

[WHwest8597 85]

I need to buy some belts, blades and air and oil filters for my tractors.  Do you prefer Toro/WheelHorse  OEM parts or off brands.  I have always bought WheelHorse belts, but have bought off brand baldes and filters.  My 315-8 currently has a NAPA oil filter.

[Racinbob 11,726]

I like to use an OEM belt for the drive but I'm not as picky about the deck belts. Blades are whatever I find on Ebay and I use Motorcraft filters.

[Don1977 604]

I've always had great luck with OEM belts. Haven't had to buy any belts on the last few of years. The last belt I bought from Toro was in a Gates Sleeve with the Toro number on it in magic marker. I don't know if it came from Toro or the dealer got it from Gates.

[ACman 7,630]

Napa and Car Quest use wix filters . We sold Car Quest for many years , Then Napa . Same with belts , Gates then GoodYear . Plus all of Allis Chalmers oem parts to pic from ,  what memories that brought back  . If you guys knew what kind of parts inventory and shop had access to . It was like heaven , if we didn't have it , the hardware did !  For oil we carried Chalmers , Kendall  (think they were bought buy Philip 66 and BradPenn is now produced there) later BradPenn , and Co-op (Farm Bureau) . I purchased a oem belt for the 1075 just from the consensus of members . For most parts Napa , hardware or the good old web , McMaster Carr Supply Co being one .

Edited September 22, 2016 by ACman

[wh500special 2,249]

Unless your dealer is a complete putz, I'm of the opinion that patronizing your local dealer is the best bet for maintenance items.  Why not?  He might go to your synagogue, sponsor a kid's soccer team, be on the volunteer fire department, or tell you about the trade in that just came in from a little old lady who only cut grass when she came home from church on sundays.

 

Besides, the OEM belt fits properly and is constructed of whatever rubber and pixie dust that's required to make it work correctly.

 

Does this always work?  No.  You might buy a Kohler filter that was made in some offshore sweatshop by an 11 year old.  But I think you stand a better chance of maintaining your continuity if supply if you get it locally.

 

Steve

 

 

 

[CasualObserver 3,410]

 

 

 

[jdleach 525]

On belts, I go Toro.

 

Do I like Toro? Not at all. In fact, I won't own a Wheel Horse made by Toro. My cut-off year for Wheel Horse is 1987. After that...  If one comes up on Craig's List for sale, I pass it by.

 

But for many parts and, especially belts, I buy Toro. For filters, I use NAPA (Wix), also Kohler parts.

 

Bought a boatload of parts for my blackhood C-175 in the last few weeks from Toro. Spent a pile of money. Why? They are EXACTLY like original.

 

Just don't won't the whole tractor from Toro, especially if they have their name on it.

 

Reckon its a personal thing. Except for the quality of parts, and Toro has it. Same dies, jigs and fixtures Wheel Horse used, so the parts are right.

[shallowwatersailor 3,214]

25 minutes ago, jdleach said:

On belts, I go Toro.

 

Do I like Toro? Not at all. In fact, I won't own a Wheel Horse made by Toro. My cut-off year for Wheel Horse is 1987. After that...  If one comes up on Craig's List for sale, I pass it by.

 

But for many parts and, especially belts, I buy Toro. For filters, I use NAPA (Wix), also Kohler parts.

 

Bought a boatload of parts for my blackhood C-175 in the last few weeks from Toro. Spent a pile of money. Why? They are EXACTLY like original.

 

Just don't won't the whole tractor from Toro, especially if they have their name on it.

 

Reckon its a personal thing. Except for the quality of parts, and Toro has it. Same dies, jigs and fixtures Wheel Horse used, so the parts are right.

 

Certainly I respect your opinion. There are some products that I might feel the same about, Canon Products being one. But if you think about it without Toro:

• we wouldn't have the parts supply still available today that we have and able to keep our tractors still working.
• without Toro, Wheel Horse tractors would be disposable.

Then add this: 

• the 520-H tractors, 520-HC tractors, and 520-8 tractors would not have been produced.
• the Steering Reduction system would not have been produced.
• the 60" mower deck would not have been produced.
• the two-stage snowblower would not have been produced. 
• the five different 5xi series would not have been produced.

[Racinbob 11,726]

Well said John.

[DennisThornton 4,771]

I own pure Wheel Horses, Toro/Wheel Horses and a Pure Toro.  My pure Toro LX500 is a decent riding lawn tractor and it's obvious that Toro was frugal, but I think the compromises they made to reach a price point are acceptable for what it is and was intended.  It certainly is NOT of Wheel Horse or Toro/Wheel Horse quality or durability but also makes no claims to be a garden tractor!

 

And while I might have some less than flattering thoughts about the "Toro" brand overall, I see nothing wrong with the Toro/Wheel Horses and would hate for a newcomer to shy away from a Wheel Horse that just happened to have a "Toro" decal on it!

 

I expect my Toro/Wheel Horses to live as long a life as my Wheel Horses have and for decades on.

[Tonyp 285]

Here is a thread where I asked a similar question a few weeks ago.

 

I tried to order some GOODYEAR belts but they were out of stock so I did go over to Tractor Supply and grabbed what I needed for the 315 I just acquired ( Mower deck) it was a Kevlar coated belt for about $20 . Each of the previous WHEEL HORSE belts that I ordered came in a STENS  or TRUE  BLUE packaging.  My take, confirm the length and go get one locally. I am of the opinion that Kevlar is a premium belt but I think many of us have run with standard V-Belts for years. I have a NAPA drive belt on my 310, it's not Kevlar coated, it's been on the machine probably 7 or 8 years !  

 

The same belts GOODYEAR branded, Kevlar, are about $12 each.  I will order a few as spares. 

 

Edited September 22, 2016 by Tonyp

[WHX?? 50,729]

I usually mix it up as (TSC, NAPA, Fleet Farm, etc.)  far as blades  & belts & "comsumables"  but like the others if I want the OEM part I will check with a dealer first. Biggest problem there is I don't have one close. Many of my OEM parts come from a dealer 1000 mills away in Hickory, SC through , I figure he has got to eat too and  kids to put through college! By the time I figure my gas & time his flat rate box is a better deal.

[Don1977 604]

1 hour ago, WHX7 said:

I usually mix it up as (TSC, NAPA, Fleet Farm, etc.)  far as blades  & belts & "comsumables"  but like the others if I want the OEM part I will check with a dealer first. Biggest problem there is I don't have one close. Many of my OEM parts come from a dealer 1000 mills away in Hickory, SC through , I figure he has got to eat too and  kids to put through college! By the time I figure my gas & time his flat rate box is a better deal.

If your buying from Killigans it's in Hickory, North Carolina.

[WHX?? 50,729]

Yes that's the place Don my bad , most of their parts are reasonable, shipping is ok and they seem to have the oddball stuff on hand for fast delivery. If I am not mistaken (again) they are a bigger hardware store & power center.

[jdleach 525]

21 hours ago, shallowwatersailor said:

 

Certainly I respect your opinion. There are some products that I might feel the same about, Canon Products being one. But if you think about it without Toro:

• we wouldn't have the parts supply still available today that we have and able to keep our tractors still working.
• without Toro, Wheel Horse tractors would be disposable.

Then add this: 

• the 520-H tractors, 520-HC tractors, and 520-8 tractors would not have been produced.
• the Steering Reduction system would not have been produced.
• the 60" mower deck would not have been produced.
• the two-stage snowblower would not have been produced. 
• the five different 5xi series would not have been produced.

 

Notice closely what I wrote John.

 

At no point, did I trash Toro or their accomplishments. Further, I said it was a personal thing. The reasons I prefer to not own anything Toro has to do with several complex issues. One would have to have had a family manufacturing business to understand.

 

The post was meant to highlight my trust in Toro's quality, in spite of other reasons I hold.

[clueless 3,111]

On 9/21/2016 at 0:12 PM, ACman said:

Napa and Car Quest use wix filters . We sold Car Quest for many years , Then Napa . Same with belts , Gates then GoodYear . Plus all of Allis Chalmers oem parts to pic from ,  what memories that brought back  . If you guys knew what kind of parts inventory and shop had access to . It was like heaven , if we didn't have it , the hardware did !  For oil we carried Chalmers , Kendall  (think they were bought buy Philip 66 and BradPenn is now produced there) later BradPenn , and Co-op (Farm Bureau) . I purchased a oem belt for the 1075 just from the consensus of members . For most parts Napa , hardware or the good old web , McMaster Carr Supply Co being one .

I, just read that Brad Penn is getting a divorce!