dkg520 520 #1 Posted June 30, 2020 (edited) I have heard many of you speak of “Barn Finds”. I always thought to myself how great it would be if someday I was as fortunate to find a old tractor hid away in a barn somewhere. Well it finally happened to me with this 1977 12hp Wheel Horse that sat in a barn in southern Virginia for the past 12 years. There are too many mice nests to count as you can see but it’s all original and I couldn’t beat the asking price. The original owner passed away many years ago and the tractor sat unused in his barn. His daughter finally decided to part with it. I feel very fortunate to have gotten it. Edited June 30, 2020 by dkg520 6 10 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JAinVA 4,629 #2 Posted June 30, 2020 The first Wheel Horse I ever owned was a C !20 just like your barn find.I loved it.Tough and dependable..You have a keeper there. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 69,255 #3 Posted June 30, 2020 Agreed. I have 2 from 1974. Yours isn't a 71... That should be either a 76 or 77 C120. (No hood ornament and a forward tilting seat) Still a GREAT tractor!! Nice find. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dkg520 520 #4 Posted June 30, 2020 Thank you for the information. The daughter thought her Dad purchased it in 1971. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 69,255 #5 Posted June 30, 2020 On the side of the steering tower by the lift handle there's a tag. That'll give you the numbers to identify it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JCM 9,768 #6 Posted June 30, 2020 One of my favorites for sure. Pictured is a 1977 as delivered and now cleaned up as original from the original owner complete with owners manual. Good luck with it, Great tractor. 4 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JAinVA 4,629 #7 Posted June 30, 2020 JCM Nice machine.Don't see many of the solid rear wheels 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dkg520 520 #8 Posted June 30, 2020 The tag on the column starts with a 71- What numbers identify the year? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JCM 9,768 #9 Posted June 30, 2020 (edited) Mine is a 71-12K801 = 1977 Can you read the rest of the #'s . @dkg520 From what I can gather info it appears if your #'s start with a 71 it is a 1977, if it started with a 61- it would be a 1976. Edited June 30, 2020 by JCM 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dkg520 520 #10 Posted June 30, 2020 It reads 71-12K801. 4894 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee1977 6,895 #11 Posted June 30, 2020 (edited) 58 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: On the side of the steering tower by the lift handle there's a tag. That'll give you the numbers to identify it. If that number on the side starts with a 61 it's a !976. If it starts with a 71 it;s a 1977. I have owned a 1977 C-120 for 43 years has been my main tractor mower. It's seen a few changes over the years. Edited June 30, 2020 by Lee1977 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 49,599 #12 Posted June 30, 2020 No matter the year dkg ... '77 is the year I gradiated from high school so a fav.. '67's are my fav model year ... either way yer hooked.... our job here is done! 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dkg520 520 #13 Posted June 30, 2020 Yes. It’s a 1977. Thank you all for your help. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,158 #14 Posted June 30, 2020 There is a good chance the 3rd set of numbers on the plate are 7310 and that is wrong. Should be 6310 for a build date - 1976 310th day Friday November 05 1976 Garry 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 69,255 #15 Posted June 30, 2020 7 hours ago, JAinVA said: solid rear wheels Well I'll be... I Never noticed that.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scWHhauler 96 #16 Posted June 30, 2020 Give her a good clean up dump old gas wipe the dip stick fire it up and let that horse feed 😁 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 56,379 #17 Posted June 30, 2020 11 hours ago, dkg520 said: Well it finally happened to me with this 1977 12hp Wheel Horse that sat in a barn in southern Virginia for the past 12 years. There are too many mice nests to count as you can see but it’s all original Those barn finds do come up now and then. Hope the wiring hasn't been chewed up too much. Chances are the engine tins are hiding a few more mice condos too. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dkg520 520 #18 Posted June 30, 2020 How rare are the solid rear rims and what years were they used? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chip61 664 #19 Posted June 30, 2020 Looks like a nice machine! Did you find it in Powhatan?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 63,291 #20 Posted June 30, 2020 30 minutes ago, chip61 said: Looks like a nice machine! Did you find it in Powhatan?? He mentioned Southern VA, Powhatan looks to be central? I love the geography of the world and didn’t realize there was such a place. Cool to link modern day stuff with historic fact and understand the distance of travel by foot, or animal, etc! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
12Horse Paladin 1,038 #21 Posted June 30, 2020 C-120. One of WheelHorse's Finest...if not THE Finest of, machines; dependin' on who's doin' the talking/admiring😉 Awesome score; it'll serve you well. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chip61 664 #22 Posted June 30, 2020 41 minutes ago, pullstart said: He mentioned Southern VA, Powhatan looks to be central? I love the geography of the world and didn’t realize there was such a place. Cool to link modern day stuff with historic fact and understand the distance of travel by foot, or animal, etc! lol I missed the southern va part. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elcamino/wheelhorse 9,358 #23 Posted June 30, 2020 @chip61 you know as hard as WH are to find around here much less the costs , he may not let us know his secrets. Ha ha 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dkg520 520 #24 Posted June 30, 2020 Lol. For those of you who live in Virginia you know we speak of Northern Virginia being much different than Southern Virginia. The C120 was found in southern Chesterfield County. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chip61 664 #25 Posted July 1, 2020 15 hours ago, dkg520 said: Lol. For those of you who live in Virginia you know we speak of Northern Virginia being much different than Southern Virginia. The C120 was found in southern Chesterfield County. LOL that's for sure!! You didn't have to go far at all for that one. I've had to go all the way next door for 3 of mine down in Mathews. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
