1054 Wheel Horse—a 10hp Beast!

[PeacemakerJack 10,738]

It is funny how an individual can be oblivious to another model of GT until he or she has an occasion to own one.  I recently picked up a 953 and a 1054 in a package deal.  The 953 has been on my radar for about 2 and a half years since Dad got one.  However, I haven’t studied the 1054 at all but since I own one now, I’ve been trolling the archives last looking for posts concerning them and I was disappointed that there isn’t much out there.  

 

So, I’ve decided to start a thread dedicated to the 1054 and 1054A.  I would like you guys to post pictures and information about your 1054 that you currently own or used to own.  I would like to get any stories about the history of these tractors. I went to the Wheel Horse “Bible” and there was next to no information about it.  It is intriguing that the 953 and 1054 were so popular and yet they completely discontinued it never to be revived.  The GT-14 was the next Big Wheel Horse and it was hydrostatic drive which was the right decision but I find it fascinating that they didn’t offer it in a GD model.  What changes were made from the 1054 to the 1054A?  Why was the 1055 a small wheel tractor?  I know, I have a lot of questions but there seems to be a lot of mystery surrounding this machine.  It is such a beastly departure from the small wheel tractors at the time.  I weighed the front cast iron grill surround and it weighs 48# all by itself!  

 

To start things off,  I purchased my 1054A from a guy who only had owned it for a couple of years. He had purchased it from a long term wheel horse gentleman, who’s health was forcing him to sell it.  He had completely rebuilt the rear end but I have no paperwork to verify.  I will say that the shifter boot is in new condition. 

This tractor appears to be mostly original except for the dual electric horns and button on the left side of the dash. Those of you who are well versed in these, please point out anything else you see that doesn’t look original.  

Serial number is 49349.  This tractor runs extremely well for how it looks on the outside.

It is my desire to keep it looking pretty much like it sits right now on the outside.  I want to clean the fuel system including the tank and replace fuel lines and seal the tank.  I want to get a vintage headlight lens for the missing one and also a vintage tail light lens as that is also missing.  

The steering wheel is in great shape and the dash decals are in good overall Patina condition.  The controls need to be cleaned and lubed well and I need to verify the drive belt and clutch spring as it seems really “jumpy”. 

I’m looking for opinions on the wheels.  Should I restore/paint them antique white or leave them with the Patina that they have? I am not planning to change the tires as these are the same exact ones that were on the 875 that I grew up using except for the 15” rim size of the rears.

I can honestly say that it is so fun using this tractor and I can’t wait to learn more about this model and see pictures/read stories of your original and restored 1054’s...

[ebinmaine 67,421]

Well I really don't have much to offer to this thread as far as knowledge or information but it's going to be fascinating so I'm going to follow along.

 

My vote on the wheels is to paint them.

I don't know why but there's something about an older patina on a tractor that has nice fresh looking wheels that is pretty awesome.

 

 

[PeacemakerJack 10,738]

Thanks Eric for chiming in and your thoughts on the wheels.  I have always liked that look too but I’m curious what people’s opinions are concerning this.

 

 I also need to contact @Vinylguy to see if he can create a 1054 decal that looks weathered yet readable.  I’m disappointed that neither hood decal and grill decal is gone.

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

  Not sure about this for sure, but didn’t one of the years they have Work Horse decals on the hood?

I don’t have to many pics of mine on my phone, it’s obviously a repaint and I did my rims completely different, but Terry sold me a set of Work Horse decals. 

  Somebody here like  @953 nut might know if there is any truth to it. 

[PeacemakerJack 10,738]

Can’t wait to see more pics of this tractor when you can dig them out and also hear the story about it!

 

Very interesting about the Work Horse decals...

[CasualObserver 3,408]

I'll follow this for sure... It will be interesting to see how much info can get into one spot.  Personally I'd like to see if anyone knows the significance to the designation of some 953/1054 models as "Work Horse" rather than "Wheel Horse".

 

If I remember correctly, the designation of 1054A was rumored to be the 65 production. I believe there are some historical posts regarding that. I also remember there being something about the 1054 and 1054A using different choke/throttle knobs? 

I believe @Lane Ranger has quite a bit of info regarding these models and will chime in.

[RandyLittrell 3,877]

This is gonna be another good thread to follow. When I joined here was the first time I saw a picture of a 953/1054. My first thought was it didn't look like a wheel horse. You just don't see those in my area. 

Can't wait to see what is to come in this thread! 

 

I do think repainted wheels with a patina tractor looks good. 

 

 

 

Randy

Edited September 9, 2019 by RandyLittrell

[Pollack Pete 2,273]

Yup,953's and 1054's are pretty neat tractors.I had a real nice 953 and sold it a couple yrs ago.Still have a 953 skeleton here in my bone pile.Her's a pic of my 1054 that I've shared here before.I use it as lawn art and flower planter.I offered it to a guy last year for 200 bucks.He offered me 100 because the ignition coil is missing and he said he'd have a hard time finding one??Just as well he didn't buy it.Anyway,have fun with your new toys.

[19richie66 17,500]

Here’s mine.   Of course this one is getting built for my wife.

I like the painted wheels/ patina look. It’s what I am going for on my 953. Here is a picture I picked up off my facebook group. It’s exactly how I want to do mine. I believe he used linseed oil. I have the AMC rules “Johnson paste wax” for mine. I will be painting my wheels also.

 

Edited September 9, 2019 by 19richie66

[19richie66 17,500]

4 minutes ago, Pollack Pete said:

 

It does make quite a nice flower stand 👍

Edited September 9, 2019 by 19richie66

[PeacemakerJack 10,738]

7 minutes ago, Pollack Pete said:

Here’s a pic of my 1054 that I've shared here before.I use it as lawn art and flower planter.I offered it to a guy last year for 200 bucks...

Thanks for sharing the pic Pete and the quick story.  

 

8 minutes ago, 19richie66 said:

Here is a picture I picked up off my facebook group. It’s exactly how I want to do mine. I believe he used linseed oil...

Thanks Richie for sharing that cool pic. That is a sweet looking big wheel.  I can’t wait to see yours rebuilt...

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

47 minutes ago, PeacemakerJack said:

 

Very interesting about the Work Horse decals...

There’s always the possibility that the Work Horse decal was just a Terry custom  and I ended up with them. 

 @Vinylguy

[Herder 2,354]

Here's my 1054.  I purchased this tractor in Long island NY, it had spent it's entire life caretaking an estate.  After the owners passing his family sold off his collection, I wish I could have seen the rest.  I love this Tractor.

[Vinylguy 4,674]

1 hour ago, Sparky said:

  Not sure about this for sure, but didn’t one of the years they have Work Horse decals on the hood?

I don’t have to many pics of mine on my phone, it’s obviously a repaint and I did my rims completely different, but Terry sold me a set of Work Horse decals. 

  Somebody here like  @953 nut might know if there is any truth to it. 

 

I made the 1054 work Horse decals years ago at the request of a customer and just assumed he was knowledgeable on those tractors as of course at that time I didn't know a 1054 from a B-80. 

Would be awesome to find out the real story on them. I will happily mail you a pair of Wheel Horse 1054 decals Sparky. Let me know

 Also my opinion of treating the tins with oil rub may be in error but once the oil penetrates the metal you can not get decals or paint to stick even after sandblasting.  So if that is true it is kind of like

getting a tattoo. Make sure it is what you want. Has anyone had experience repainting a hood that has previously been given the oil treatment?

 

 

Edited September 9, 2019 by Vinylguy

[ebinmaine 67,421]

14 minutes ago, Vinylguy said:

Has anyone had experience repainting a hood that has previously been given the oil treatment?

I've had pretty good luck with oil removal.

 

Even on cast parts which are somewhat porous.

Brake clean works wonders.

So does a pressure washer.

Also I've heard tell of literally cooking a part clean of oils.

I've personally used a torch to "empty/cleanse"  wheel hubs and other things.

 

 

[CasualObserver 3,408]

54 minutes ago, Sparky said:

There’s always the possibility that the Work Horse decal was just a Terry custom

No... not customs... the originals. Jim posted his in this thread years ago.

 

[PeacemakerJack 10,738]

Thanks for that link.  This is the kind of information that is worth its weight in gold for this model and exactly what I’m excited to read and find out about.  

 

So...were all 1054A models equipped with the Work Horse decal or only certain configurations?

[953 nut 55,188]

This photo from the post Jason attached speaks volumes, weathered original, looking good.

I always figured the ad for the 1965 models did show the 1054 Wheel Horse decal,     but  upon closer examination I do think it is "WORK HORSE"       

[CasualObserver 3,408]

2 hours ago, PeacemakerJack said:

So...were all 1054A models equipped with the Work Horse decal or only certain configurations?

 

No, I believe most were sold using the regular Wheel Horse labeled decals. The Work Horse ones are so few and far between, but I don't think anyone has ever been able to come up with the "why" there was a difference. 

 

I have a vague recollection of a posting here at some point of a 953 using it as well.... but can't dedicate the time to the search engine to see if it's even still here!.... Unfortunately there are a great many pictures, posts and historical observations shared by former members that have been lost from the years 2006-2011 when we were on the free forum service.

[Mikey the Monkey 697]

Seems as though I've read somewhere about that work horse name. Maybe wheel horse wanted to use it but got in trouble because it was too close to a Canadian tractor brand??? Am I dreaming this up? Maybe I'm inhaling too much regal red?

[Lane Ranger 10,968]

We have several 1054's and one 1054-A.   Main difference on 1054-A is frobnt and rear tires on the original tractor.   Turf type tread on back and wider tires on front than the 1964 model.   Wheel Horse advertised and sold 1054 and 1054-A into 1966 (see company advertisement literature).

 

 

I do not know of any knob differences on shifter , etc.   The 953  had white knobs on the Throttle and Choke cables and black on the 1054- and 1054-A's.

 

These are really great tractors.  The early 953's had the Ross steering gears.   The demand for the tractor forced Wheel Horse to develop a fan gear as they could not get enough Ross steering gears to meet demand.  The Ross steering gear was being used and sold in a number of other model garden tractors at teh time.

 

 

The 953/1054/1054-A is the first garden tractor with a 48 inch Mower Deck made in the USA.

 

 

The first photo of four of our 1054

s was used in the "American Pickers"  TV Show shown on December 4, 2014 (The Grudge Match)  when they bough a 633 Wheel Horse Garden Tractor in Iowa.  The picture was used as backup history on the Wheel Horse company in the segment.

 

 

 

[Lane Ranger 10,968]

2 hours ago, Mikey the Monkey said:

Seems as though I've read somewhere about that work horse name. Maybe wheel horse wanted to use it but got in trouble because it was too close to a Canadian tractor brand??? Am I dreaming this up? Maybe I'm inhaling too much regal red?

 

Our  Work Horse Wheel Horse !

 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

Lots of interesting info here, learning something today about these machines 

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Restore/repaint the rims. 

[Chris G 3,296]

This is my 1054 i just recently picked up. Love the machine and definitely a tough tractor.