What have you done to your Wheel Horse today?

[Snoopy11 5,714]

I got my Tillotson stage ...uh... 3-4+++ on the tractor yesterday. Runs like a banshee. I dunno what the power level is to the wheels, but when I clock 6,500 RPMs... I am flying... and I only have it timed for 6,500... I could run much higher. The engine does not balk when I drop the clutch at all. It just purrs.

 

I am in the process of getting an 18 hp Duromax monster. This, obviously will be a backup engine if both my Tillotson engines go down... and then even if ALL of those go down, I will still have my Massimo. The Duromax has a 1 inch shaft, so I will probably using the original pulley from the L-157 Tecumseh engine...

 

I do plan to remove the governor from the Duromax... but I only plan to run a max of 5,500... maybe... until I get billet internals, like I just did on my Tillotson stage... 3-4+++

 

I changed the oil in my 212R engine, and boxed it up for storage in case my staged engine goes down.

 

By the way, if any of you guys need parts for these types of engines, best place to get the parts, and the best advice is ARC Racing. They are outstanding, upright people. You can even buy stock replacement internals for these engines, if you don't want to go the racing route...

 

Don

 

 

[Maxwell-8 4,276]

17 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Fire in the hole!!!!!

New coil, points and condenser and the C85 project is alive!!!

Transmission seals leaking but she sounds good in all gears!!!!

Happy camper! 

IMG_0377.MOV

mhhh, great job, she running smooth! 

[Wheel Horse 3D 3,795]

6 hours ago, KensSmallEngines said:

Are the White knobs for the throttle controls available anywhere?

 

Glen Pettit in the vendors section has white "T" knobs listed in his for other tractors section, they may not be labeled as Choke and Throttle, and he might also be able to custom mold ya a set of the ones he has listed for WH in white with black letters. I'm pretty sure he 2 part molds all his stuff in house.

[ebinmaine 67,550]

42 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said:

Oh come now... I have a John Deere zero turn... and I have 20 acres.

 

I love the zero turn... and my wheel horse both...

 

Don

 

I can see the appeal of a zero turn for larger yards IIFF SMOOTH having mowed four acres for my grandparents when I was younger.

 

JD has a great dealer network and parts availability. I'll give you that.

My life experience with that company has only been with a couple of their garden tractors and having friends and acquaintances with their farm tractors.

 

There are a lot of other brands before I would buy a JD...

[Maxwell-8 4,276]

35 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said:

max of 5,500... maybe... until I get billet internals,

5500 on stock internals and stock flywheel?  

 

[Maxwell-8 4,276]

2 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

parts availability.

But at its price. 

 

2 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

There are a lot of other brands before I would buy a JD...

Like what is the next good thing after WH? Bolens? Cub's? Can't find no Horses around here. I even have a wanted ad on the local craigslist.

Edited May 12, 2021 by Maxwell-8

[ebinmaine 67,550]

26 minutes ago, Maxwell-8 said:

what is the next good thing after WH

I don't have enough experience with any other brand to answer that.

Trina and I aren't collectors. We have our tractors to work.

It's just a simple matter of practicality for us.

Wheelhorse tractors are reliable, tough, easy to build and maintain. Parts availability is excellent.

 

For a working tractor there just is not another one that we would buy....

[Shed 248]

I know it's in the classifieds too but just seeing if anyone can use it or maybe point me in the right direction to get it running I put a new starter it turns over I really think it needs a rebuild of valves at least heard they were known for that. I wanted to use it for a wood splitter 16hp to turn a 22gpm pump but has a nice 5 gallon tank too. It's a kholer magnum. I was looking at those Duramax engines the 16hp one

[Handy Don 12,232]

18 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Vile green thing!!

 

AAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!

I find it too bad they are so expensive and so well ..... green and yellow! (Someone on the forum suggested the green paint was laced with gold--makes some sense ).

IMHO, though, there are some older models (the early 90's 318 and the 445 come to mind) that were good workers with some nice features.

[ebinmaine 67,550]

4 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

318

I've read somewhere by a reputable intelligent person that a properly equipped JD 318 is arguably amongst the best garden tractor that's ever been made.

 

 

[Maxwell-8 4,276]

8 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

I've read somewhere by a reputable intelligent person that a properly equipped JD 318 is arguably amongst the best garden tractor that's ever been made.

Mechanically the look like it, big beefy trans 

[953 nut 55,279]

10 hours ago, KensSmallEngines said:

Are the White knobs for the throttle controls available anywhere?

 

              Here you go.           

 

[Snoopy11 5,714]

4 hours ago, Maxwell-8 said:

5500 on stock internals and stock flywheel?  

 

Thus... why I said "maybe"

 

I am still pondering some ideas. I have ran the duromax previously up to 5,000 rpm safely and reliably. Any higher... I would be testing my luck. Some guys run 5,800... Shivers run down my spine...

 

Don

[Pullstart 62,905]

I haven’t done much of anything... but saw this in town.  Looks like a nice restoration in process...

 

 

[Gregor 4,846]

5 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

I have a John Deere zero turn.

How do you hold on to your beer?

[Handy Don 12,232]

5 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

I've read somewhere by a reputable intelligent person that a properly equipped JD 318 is arguably amongst the best garden tractor that's ever been made.

Lot to like. Same engines as a 518-H or 520-H (depending on year), strong hydro pump for motion and dual hydro lifts with remote quick connects in front bumper, open rear (3 pt optional),split rear brakes, oil cooler, power steering option. In later versions, foot motion control was an option. Price was up to twice a 520-H, depending on implements and options. 425 is the slightly larger successor--bigger engine and liquid cooled. Lots of 425s got FELs.

Edited May 13, 2021 by Handy Don

[Lee1977 6,663]

44 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Lot to like. Same engines as a 518-H or 520-H (depending on year), strong hydro pump for motion and dual hydro lifts with remote quick connects in front bumper, open rear (3 pt optional),split rear brakes, oil cooler, power steering option. In later versions, foot motion control was an option. Price was up to twice a 520-H, depending on implements and options. 425 is the slightly larger successor--bigger engine and liquid cooled. Lots of 425s got FELs.

If I remember right the 425 also had a plastic cam shaft. My friend is a mechanic just the parts to fix his was over $900. If you had to get JD to fix it was $1900 + new oil and antifreeze taxes added another $100 or so.

My thinking if you have unlimited funds go JD.   I have a 1959 430 that had to have a new carb float, I don't remember the exact price but there wasn't enough left of 100 dollar bill to worry about.

Edited May 13, 2021 by Lee1977

[Handy Don 12,232]

22 minutes ago, Lee1977 said:

If I remember right the 425 also had a plastic cam shaft. My friend is a mechanic just the parts to fix his was over $900. If you had to get JD to fix it was $1900 + new oil and antifreeze taxes added another $100 or so.

My thinking if you have unlimited funds go JD.   I have a 1959 430 that had to have a new carb float, I don't remember the exact price but there wasn't enough left of 100 dollar bill to worry about.

Yep. You put your finger right on it! Many unique parts, often due to JD-proprietary specs on engines and other components, sold through exclusive dealers at high markups and "take your breath away" labor rates. And they are not easy machines to work on, either, since they are usually fully enclosed.

First I've heard of the plastic camshaft. I thought they used 22hp Kawasaki (this was one of their early V-twin OHV jobs due to the emissions standard changes).

[Lee1977 6,663]

6 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Yep. You put your finger right on it! Many unique parts, often due to JD-proprietary specs on engines and other components, sold through exclusive dealers at high markups and "take your breath away" labor rates. And they are not easy machines to work on, either, since they are usually fully enclosed.

First I've heard of the plastic camshaft. I thought they used 22hp Kawasaki (this was one of their early V-twin OHV jobs due to the emissions standard changes).

They usually go out right before 1000 hours he replaced his with a metal replacement before it quit.

[kpinnc 12,065]

4 hours ago, Gregor said:

How do you hold on to your beer?

My Scag has dual cup holders...

 

But to make this a legit post, I did replace the keys on my whatchamacallit hubs and added stainless setscrews...

Edited May 13, 2021 by kpinnc

[Greentored 3,214]

15 hours ago, Maxwell-8 said:

5500 on stock internals and stock flywheel?  

 

My 212 ran 5800 for 13 MONTHS on my old kart, racing two nights a week. Bone stock internals, even the cam with the plastic gear. Piped, jetted, milled head, bumped timing, 10.8 valve springs, punched out carb throat and send it. Still ran when I pulled it, was just getting tired and wouldn't keep up.

Cant say enough about those little 212s, especially for what they cost.

[R Scheer 502]

Changed the hydrostatic fluid and filter, greased zerks, checked tire pressures.  Then dressed it up for towing.

[OutdoorEnvy 1,522]

1 hour ago, R Scheer said:

Changed the hydrostatic fluid and filter, greased zerks, checked tire pressures.  Then dressed it up for towing.

 

 

Nice rig!  Anymore pics of the winch/lift setup?  Looks pretty handy...

[R Scheer 502]

@OutdoorEnvy

 

As requested.  I just made this for light duty lifting, less than 300lbs, and for an independent lift for the back plow.  It mounts to the rear attachmatic plow mounts.  It's handy for connecting the trailers as well, drop the trailer hitch right on the ball. 

 

[Jhook 849]

First mow with the new 416h today. Deck is nice and smooth and tractor did great. Found a blown exhaust gasket on the 315 so thats waiting for parts.