My New B-80

[Richcz28 24]

Hi Wheel Horse People,

 

I picked up a new to me 1977 B-80 last night. As a kid, I spent a many hours behind the wheel of a 1967 Wheel Horse. I've always wanted my own. When my shifter lever broke off my constantly failing Craftsman two days ago, I took to the Craigslist. As luck would have it, there was a Wheel Horse for sale within an hour of my home. 

 

I don't know much about the different models, but I think the B-80 is going to be perfect for me. It has the 3 speed manual trans with high and low range. I'm excited to have a real gear box. The tractor is mostly original. I think the carburetor is a replacement unit and the mower deck is definitely newer. The deck has warning stickers that just look way too safe for 1977. 

 

The B-80 will mainly be serving duty as a lawnmower and wagon puller. I have a bigger Massey-Ferguson for heavy lifting. I think the deck on this unit is 38" which should be perfect for my lawn with many trees.

 

The tractor does run and drive, but it has a few issues to work out. I replaced the front tires last night when I got her home. The previous owner had picked up some new units, but they weren't installed. The fronts are now tubeless and even hold air! Unfortunately the wheel bearings are a mess and there is an assortment of washers and different snap-rings on the front spindles. I'd like to get some new bearings up front and have the correct order of parts.

 

The PTO clutch for the mower deck is not engaging. I pulled the pulley off and there also was some odd washers and snap rings holding this together. A really neat washer with roller bearings inside was hiding in the grease of the pulley. I believe I found where it rides. Again, I'd like to replace the bearings here and get everything in the proper order.

 

The 8hp Kohler, which I believe to be original, runs smooth at high rpm. At low rpm it doesn't hold idle and makes some bad noises. It sounds like it could be piston slap, but I'm not a master of small engines.

 

Future projects will include new rear tires, lights and a small stack with the quietest muffler I can come up with.

 

-Rich

 

 

 

 

Edited July 26, 2020 by Richcz28

[scWHhauler 96]

Good looking tractor keep her real and let her feed.

[ebinmaine 68,887]

 

From another Mainer!!

Where are you located?

 

You'll love that B80.

That model was/is my first horse and we have several others now.

 

Lemme know what you need for the front end as I have a couple spare axles.

 

The most quiet way to add a stack is to use a cub muffler turned upwards. That's what's on my own B80 and sounds great.

 

 

[Richcz28 24]

Hi Eb!

 

I’m in Bethel. 
 

I would really like to put new wheel bearings in the front wheels and put whatever the correct washers and clips are back on in the right order. I imagine I’m missing some sort of hub caps too, but they may not be necessary.

 

-Rich

[Richcz28 24]

Well, I broke my first part. I’ve been trying to gently move the PTO pulley a little further off the engine after doing some reading on here and I cracked the pulley. I was hoping to move the pulleys closer together to get better pto engagement.

 

i loosened the Allen set screws up, and I thought she’d slide back easily. I may be doing something incorrect, but the pulley looked like it had been move backwards.

The belt needs replacement, so I know I’ll be opening this side up anyways. Now to source a replacement.

 

[ebinmaine 68,887]

I'm in South Hiram a little over an hour south of you. 

@JCM and @Stepney are fellow neighbors, sort of.

 

I'm not sure how to remove that pulley with the PTO stuff there. None of ours have that PTO in place. 

 

Perhaps the manual section or another member could help you out. 

 

I don't have a spare pulley.

Parts can be had from our own members via a want ad in the classifieds or by calling Lincoln at A to Z tractor in PA.

 

When you get to tearing into the spindles post a pic or two of what ya need.

It's highly likely I'll have those. 

[SylvanLakeWH 26,155]

[Richcz28 24]

I did a compression test for kicks. She’s got about 35 psi. I’m guessing this isn’t very good, but I don’t know these engines.

 

 

[JCM 9,636]

@Richcz28      Jim here, Go on Parts tree and enter your Model #'s on the ID plate on the left side on the hoodstand and it will bring up the parts in the correct order to ease removal and install. Also go to RedSquare herd and check out the dates for the N. Berwick Maine  Meet & Greet, hoping to pull it of again this September and you are invited.   Good Luck

[ebinmaine 68,887]

29 minutes ago, Richcz28 said:

I did a compression test for kicks. She’s got about 35 psi. I’m guessing this isn’t very good, but I don’t know these engines.

 

 

Can't do a usable compression test on these because that Kohler has a compression release to ease starting. 

 

A leak down test is the way to check it. 

 

[Richcz28 24]

I’m just going to drop my data plate in here for my own future online reference.

 

And, a quick link to my model on Parts Tree.

 

https://www.partstree.com/models/71-08k801-b-60-toro-lawn-tractor-1977/

 

 

 

 

Edited July 26, 2020 by Richcz28

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,137]

Here is what we have on this model

https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/search/?q=71-08K801&quick=1&type=downloads_file

 

Garry

[Richcz28 24]

Cool, thanks Garry!

 

-Rich

 

 

 

 

[JCM 9,636]

Rich, do you have or had a Z28, if so what year. Sorry to get off topic. We may need to go to non- tractor related section.

[ebinmaine 68,887]

5 minutes ago, JCM said:

Rich, do you have or had a Z28, if so what year. Sorry to get off topic. We may need to go to non- tractor related section.

Like anyone on this forum ever got off topic.....

 

[Richcz28 24]

I do. It’s just an 84 with t-tops and a 5 speed. It lives in my mother’s heated garage. I’ll try to remember to grab a pic when I’m there next.
 

I’ve had Richcz28 as my user name since AIM.

 

I play with a t-bucket with most of the time these days.

 

-Rich

 

 

Edited July 27, 2020 by Richcz28

[Stepney 2,325]

Those pulleys are always seeming to break. I'm in Maine too as Eric mentioned, Ill dig around I may actually have a 1" crank WH pulley off a Briggs WorkHorse i dismantled a while back. 
The long flathead screw and the spring arrangement inside that PTO was actually part of the thrust brake to stop the deck fast in the OSHA days. They almost always have fallen apart now and the PTO will work fine without it. I remove them so they cant fragment.  Nice machine. I like the 8hp models. Looks like your PTO adjustment was out of threads. Bet anything that pulley slid inward on the crank and threw the clutch out with it. 

[953 nut 56,181]

21 hours ago, Richcz28 said:

wheel bearings are a mess

Good looking  you have there (like the "T Bucket" too).  I put some sealed wheel bearings on mine from  that were well priced and work great.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-WHEEL-BEARINGS-TORO-WHEEL-HORSE-11-0513-25-1210-110513-and-251-3-4-x-1-3-8/281473149545

[Richcz28 24]

The pulley definitely moved inwards. There is wear on the engine block.

 

I think some of the spring setup is gone at this point. I’ll attach a picture of what was inside in order.

 

I had a good chat with the Wheel Horse parts website in the venders section. They have some bearings for the front axles and a few other parts I may need. It sounds like it could be a bit cheaper than Parts Tree. I’ll know more this evening.

 

-Rich

[ebinmaine 68,887]

2 hours ago, Richcz28 said:

Wheel Horse parts website in the venders section

Lowell and Joette are great people.

 

Another advantage to buying from them is that you are purchasing from one of our own vendors.

Kind of keeps the money in a circle of friends.

 

[The Tuul Crib 7,338]

On 7/27/2020 at 10:28 AM, ebinmaine said:

Lowell and Joette are great people.

 

Another advantage to buying from them is that you are purchasing from one of our own vendors.

Kind of keeps the money in a circle of friends.

 

[WHX?? 49,488]

In case I haven't done so  I can see you get our like for 

Looks like the fellas got you in the right direction.  

[Pullstart 63,204]

Yeah Rich,   I love 8 horse 8 speed models so much that I threw that combo into my ‘62 round hood I call Putt Putt!  It does what most people think it shouldn’t be able to!

 

 

[Richcz28 24]

@pullstart your tractor is absolutely killer! I love the exhaust, you'll have to tell me more about it.

 

Also, do you have a locking rear diff? I've seen a few tractors online now that look to have a rear locker.

[Richcz28 24]

I've been looking into rear tires. I want to get a slightly more aggressive tire, but nothing that will destroy the yard. Is anyone running golf cart or atv tires? Also, is it 'ok' to vary size a little on these tractors? I see a lot of options that are 24x10r12. What are folks opinion on that size? Currently I'm running 22x7.5r12.