What have you done to your Wheel Horse today?

[kpinnc 13,494]

15 minutes ago, TonyToro Jr. said:

Got a couple of inches of snow today.

We never get enough snow here to do that. Doesn’t help that my driveway is gravel… 

 

Looks like a lot of fun! 

[ML3 1,434]

1 hour ago, kpinnc said:

We never get enough snow here to do that. Doesn’t help that my driveway is gravel… 

 

Looks like a lot of fun! 

Should I be embarrassed to say it's fun? 🙄 I've had gravel driveways. I always ran shoes on my snow plows & raised the skids on my snowblower so they didnt pick up the gravel. 

[ebinmaine 70,364]

2 minutes ago, ML3 said:

Should I be embarrassed to say it's fun? 

 

IT IS FUN!!!!

 

[2drxploder 127]

On tonight's menu we have: hydro pedal and reciever hitch install, with 2 sides of foot rest repair, not the correct red, but red and close enough to keep this unit working.

[2drxploder 127]

I am jealous of yall getting to play with your horses in the snow. We rarely get snow in south carolina, I'm just south of Charlotte nc. At the same time, the older I get, the more I despise the cold

[Bar Nuthin 905]

Dug a couple of amber marker lamps out of a bucket of old tractor lights I was given and decided to throw a wig-wag controller on them to go with the fronts.

They have to be 40+ years old. I'll speed up the flash once I get some LED replacement bulbs to put in them.

 

 

[kpinnc 13,494]

5 hours ago, ML3 said:

Should I be embarrassed to say it's fun?

Absolutely not! It’s fun to pull a moldboard in spring too! Or run the tiller, or cultivator, and occasionally even run a mower! 

 

We just don’t get the amount of snow here you do. Plowing a driveway just looks like a lot of fun. 

[Pullstart 64,385]

Finished page 900 of this thread.  I’m a bit behind I suppose.

 

I read @JCM’s post about the brochures/ads from the days of old.  Link Here.

 

I love the structure of these ads.  Real words, making up sentences, who’da thunk that would work?  Most ads these days, I don’t even want to spend my time inquiring, knowing they will respond with some hieroglyphics!

[Pullstart 64,385]

And now spent some time this quiet Sunday morning catching up the rest of what did you do to your wheel horse (on and off topic) today?

 

Check that off the list before we head to our wrestling tournament!  @Blasterdad we’ll be in Plainwell all day at the high school!

Edited December 22, 2024 by Pullstart

[ebinmaine 70,364]

I got this here book to peruse at leisure.  

 

 

[TractorEd 638]

5 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

I got this here book to peruse at leisure.  

 

 

Nice read.  I like the cover; mine is the color version with a dvd, which is nice, but I like the black jacket with the silver inlay.

[kpinnc 13,494]

3 hours ago, TractorEd said:

I like the cover; mine is the color version with a dvd, which is nice, but I like the black jacket with the silver inlay.

I've never seen the black cover. It looks very nice. I have the original red version (wife bought it for my birthday before we were married 20+ years ago) and the second with the recorded intro from Cecil. He was at the PA show with Mike when that version was released, and they both autographed a lot of these. 
 

I hate to be this way, but a local buddy asked to “borrow” these to read, and I said NO. I told him he can read them all he wants right here, but these do not leave my house! 
 

 

Edited December 22, 2024 by kpinnc

[Bar Nuthin 905]

Must have been a pretty popular book with so many different printings! ($109 on eekbay)

 

[kpinnc 13,494]

5 minutes ago, Bar Nuthin said:

Must have been a pretty popular book with so many different printings! ($109 on eekbay)

I think the first printing was not as well known when it came out, because it didn’t have the social media machine to advertise. Then it gained a big following and Mr Martino had a second version published. I haven’t kept up much since then. 
 

Funny- my original was $27 when my wife bought it. Online bookstore as I recall. 
 

Some people had a bit of heartburn over the book because it does in fact have a few errors in it. To me, I think it’s awesome that it even exists. No other publication has ever been so popular that was exclusively about Wheel Horse and it’s history. 

 

And I have never met a collector who doesn’t have their own “theory” here and there about some machines. Some are way off, but most are just fun points of discussion. This isn’t military doctrine, it’s a bleeping hobby primarily made up of old farts who inherited it from older farts. We just talk a lot! 
 

 

Edited December 22, 2024 by kpinnc

[Pullstart 64,385]

2 hours ago, kpinnc said:

I think the first printing was not as well known when it came out, because it didn’t have the social media machine to advertise. Then it gained a big following and Mr Martino had a second version published. I haven’t kept up much since then. 
 

Funny- my original was $27 when my wife bought it. Online bookstore as I recall. 
 

Some people had a bit of heartburn over the book because it does in fact have a few errors in it. To me, I think it’s awesome that it even exists. No other publication has ever been so popular that was exclusively about Wheel Horse and it’s history. 

 

And I have never met a collector who doesn’t have their own “theory” here and there about some machines. Some are way off, but most are just fun points of discussion. This isn’t military doctrine, it’s a bleeping hobby primarily made up of old farts who inherited it from older farts. We just talk a lot! 
 

 

 

Please do tell, what errors are in the book?  I haven’t ever heard that… but I did read it in one day when I got it for my birthday once upon a time…. It’s an awesome story!

[953 nut 57,551]

I have never even removed the dust covers from mine to see what color the binding is.               I bought the third edition when it came out in 2015, love it. I had the first edition on my  watch list to see how high people would bid on it, some of them go for stupid money. The auction ended while I was in the hospital and my wife thought I must want it real badly to have it on the watch list so she got into the last minute bidding frenzy and bought it for me.  I won't tell you what she paid and I know her intentions were the best.  It should have been gold plated    gota love her.

[kpinnc 13,494]

50 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

Please do tell, what errors are in the book?  I haven’t ever heard that… but I did read it in one day when I got it for my birthday once upon a time…. It’s an awesome story!

I don’t remember specifics at the moment, but anything some folks brought up were minimal. I think some mentions of numbers produced and/or how long it took things to be rolled out were questioned. I also remember some folks saying that a couple entries in the tables in the back of the books weren’t always 100% accurate. 
 

The fact that Mr Martino took the time to research what he did is in my mind- exceptional. And I have really enjoyed the books. What he published absolutely exceeded my own knowledge base, and is good enough for me. 
 

I believe that many of the “points” some people talk about these tractors have a degree of mythology baked in. I question things like “only 200 produced” of the 520-8 and such. Now something like the 420LSE that had a serialized run? Of course that is documented. But that is just me. 
 

The fact of the matter is that Wheel Horse was like any other company in that they had to react to engine/ other suppliers inventory as well as many other things, and they were in business to stay in business. They had to adjust to the market and competitors. If they didn’t document everything and some urban myths were created at sales meetings doesn’t bother me. 

Edited December 23, 2024 by kpinnc

[c-series don 9,376]

1 hour ago, Pullstart said:

 

Please do tell, what errors are in the book?  I haven’t ever heard that… but I did read it in one day when I got it for my birthday once upon a time…. It’s an awesome story!

I got mine for my birthday too! On my birthday as a matter of fact! Signed by Cecil himself ! I’ve got all three, two signed to me by Cecil and Mike, and the last one signed by Mike.Pictures to document as well. It’s part of my collection that I’m honored and proud of own. 

[kpinnc 13,494]

1 hour ago, c-series don said:

Signed by Cecil himself !

I always thought he was such a good sport to come out to the show and put up with all of us. He was one heck of a nice fella! 
 

He just said “good luck” on my copy. Made me wonder if he knew more about me than he said. 
 

As you said Don, a prized part of my collection! 
 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2024 by kpinnc

[8ntruck 7,332]

On 12/22/2024 at 7:10 PM, kpinnc said:

 The fact of the matter is that Wheel Horse was like any other company in that they had to react to engine/ other suppliers inventory as well as many other things, and they were in business to stay in business. They had to adjust to the market and competitors. If they didn’t document everything and some urban myths were created at sales meetings doesn’t bother me. 

I have some friends who are active in the Buick GS club.  Some of the folks involved spend much time and resources restoring their car to 'as it left the factory' status - date codes on the parts, inspection chalk marks, etc.  One day at the GS Nationals, my Buick friend and I heard a couple of these types in a discussion about what the proper color was for the markings on the windshield washer hose was - white, or yellow.

 

When we had walked beyond earshot, my friend chuckled amd made a comment that these GS cars were just another car moving down the assembly line when they were made - nothing special to the factory, just a low take rate option package.  Whatever common parts that were in the factory were used to get the car assembled and out the door.

 

I imagine that Wheel Horse did the same thing to get tractors out the door to fill their orders.

[Handy Don 13,260]

22 minutes ago, 8ntruck said:

I imagine that Wheel Horse did the same thing to get tractors out the door to fill their orders.

I’d bet a large sum (25¢ at least) that WH was exactly this sort of company.

Focus on the customer and competition, excellent engineering, efficient supply chain, low inventory, well-controlled costs across the board.

The idea that people might 50 years hence obsess over the product the worker was assembling today? Hilarious!

My sense is that the ownership aged out at about the same time the market shifted away from their core product line. The new owners aimed to ride the mature product’s declining demand curve and then close it out.

[kpinnc 13,494]

1 hour ago, 8ntruck said:

imagine that Wheel Horse did the same thing to get tractors out the door to fill their orders.

 

Without question this was common practice at Wheel Horse. The 1045, the 754, and most any machine made with "special" in the name are just a few examples. Although they built many of the components in house, they still relied on supply of engines, wheels/ tires, seats, steering wheels and electrical parts. Just like any other manufacturer, they had to make minor and sometimes major changes to the finished product. 

 

I understand there are some purists out there who can get rather torqued over small things not being "correct". But in all honesty, it is conceivable that many of the same year model had variations that aren't what are considered by the book. 

 

Not one of my tractors are original. Of course I try to get reasonably close, but for me it is far more important to use and enjoy them than to fret over minor details that can't be confirmed one way or the other. 

[ebinmaine 70,364]

Wee but o' moving fluffy white stuff around the door-yahd. 

 

 

 

[pfrederi 18,285]

1 hour ago, kpinnc said:

 

Without question this was common practice at Wheel Horse. The 1045, the 754, and most any machine made with "special" in the name are just a few examples. Although they built many of the components in house, they still relied on supply of engines, wheels/ tires, seats, steering wheels and electrical parts. Just like any other manufacturer, they had to make minor and sometimes major changes to the finished product. 

 

I understand there are some purists out there who can get rather torqued over small things not being "correct". But in all honesty, it is conceivable that many of the same year model had variations that aren't what are considered by the book. 

 

Not one of my tractors are original. Of course I try to get reasonably close, but for me it is far more important to use and enjoy them than to fret over minor details that can't be confirmed one way or the other. 

 

Same with military vehicles I swear some guys would only be happy if it had NOS air in the tires...

[bassJAM 93]

I got my C-125 running today!  

 

Maybe 4-5 years ago I went to start her after it snowed and she'd turn over but wouldn't fire so I had to shovel my 200ft driveway by hand.  Later that week I tried a few things to see what was wrong but never figured it out.  At the time we had an infant, a 1 year old, and a 3 year old plus a pre-teen and I always had other priorities and never got around to looking at it until last weekend.  Cleaned out a mouse nest from the engine cover.  Drained the tank and fuel lines, cleaned out the carb, adjusted the points, new spark plug and battery, new engine oil and transmission oil.  After all that still nothing.  Spark, but she wouldn't fire up.  Bought a new condenser and after that could get her to fire up and idle but if I'd go past 1/2 throttle she'd shake violently.  I must have cleaned & adjusted the points 5 times before finally buying a new set.  I had a few minutes to put on the new points today and that was apparently the problem because she immediately fired up and she purrs like a kitten again!

 

We don't get a lot of snow here in Cincinnati, but I just have a feeling that we're due for a good snowfall this year so I REALLY wanted to have my Wheel Horse back!

 

Edited December 24, 2024 by bassJAM