Wheelhorse C-141 Automatic

[Gregor 4,847]

I have always wanted a Wheelhorse, and recently one came up for sale in my area. so I jumped on it. I have rebuilt a LOT of Lawnboys mowers, a couple of Massey Ferguson 14 garden tractors, and 1 John Deere. I plan to do a complete rebuild on this C-141 also. I have a couple of questions if I could. Here is a tag from the mower deck. Someone had it pinched under a piece of metal on the deck. I would like to know if anyone is reproducing them, and where the tag was located on the deck originally.

Also, I am trying to remove the steering wheel. The spiral pin drove out fairly easily, but the wheel is stuck to the shaft. There doesn't seem to be a center cap on the wheel that can be removed to facilitate using a puller. I could use a bearing separator, and a slide hammer, but I worry about what damage I may cause to the dash and elsewhere. I would be willing to drill out the top of the wheel, but only if I had another one in my hand to take it's place. Any ideas would be appreciated.Thanks Greg

[8ntruck 7,136]

I don't think anybody is reproducing deck stamping.  Most of the parts that are bolted to the deck are available either new or used.  The spindle bearings and seals are standard sizes and are available at places like NAPA stores.  Some new blades are available through aftermarket sources - Oregon is one.  There are others.

 

Removing a steering wheel is one of the rites of passage into Wheel Horse restorations.  There have been many threads on the subject.  Someone will probably be along with tips and encouragement before too long.  I can't really speak to the subject, as I have not had to remove mine yet.  Penetrating oil and time will be your friends in this process.

 

A while back, somebody posted a thread on a fabricated deck. 

 

There is a search function on the forum that will help you chase down some of these subjects.

 

Good luck and have fun.

[sqrlgtr 552]

vinylguy is who you need to see about id tag decal.His website is redoyourhorse.com. 

5 hours ago, Gregor said:

I have always wanted a Wheelhorse, and recently one came up for sale in my area. so I jumped on it. I have rebuilt a LOT of Lawnboys mowers, a couple of Massey Ferguson 14 garden tractors, and 1 John Deere. I plan to do a complete rebuild on this C-141 also. I have a couple of questions if I could. Here is a tag from the mower deck. Someone had it pinched under a piece of metal on the deck. I would like to know if anyone is reproducing them, and where the tag was located on the deck originally.

Also, I am trying to remove the steering wheel. The spiral pin drove out fairly easily, but the wheel is stuck to the shaft. There doesn't seem to be a center cap on the wheel that can be removed to facilitate using a puller. I could use a bearing separator, and a slide hammer, but I worry about what damage I may cause to the dash and elsewhere. I would be willing to drill out the top of the wheel, but only if I had another one in my hand to take it's place. Any ideas would be appreciated.Thanks Greg

 

[SylvanLakeWH 26,021]

 

@Vinylguy is the guy you want to contact about reproduction decals. He’s a vendor on this site and does great work!

[The Tuul Crib 7,337]

36 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

 

@Vinylguy is the guy you want to contact about reproduction decals. He’s a vendor on this site and does great work!

[Achto 27,840]

 If you can get the dash to slide through the cross pieces on a press, you can press the shaft out of the steering wheel. Some guys have customized their press for this procedure. @WHX24

[WHX?? 49,247]

1 hour ago, Achto said:

 If you can get the dash to slide through the cross pieces on a press, you can press the shaft out of the steering wheel. Some guys have customized their press for this procedure. @WHX24

I recently ran into the same steering wheel removal predicament on that C-160 parts tractor.  Trouble is Dan is the top cap is  molded right into the rest of the wheel so there is no way to get at the top end of the shaft without cutting a hole in the top to get a arbor on it.  My thoughts were the same as Gregors and cut that hole so that a older style cap with a decal could be fitted on. My other thought is go at it from the other end and grind the weld off the lower pinion.

Another way is to just cut the shaft then use a 3/4 id coupling and recouple it when reassembling. That's probably the best way to avoid french and hair pulling! 

I have yet to get the spirol pin out that's another battle.

This is the style of wheel we are talking about.

Edited October 28, 2020 by WHX24

[WHX?? 49,247]

What Dan was referring to about the modified press to be able to get the whole dash in. The collar under the dash needs to be slid down so the dash can drop. Many times the collar is seized on and needs to be cut off.  

Edited October 28, 2020 by WHX24

[bottjernat1 2,190]

Welcome to the group!! I also in reverse just started to get into lawn boys along with my horses.

[bottjernat1 2,190]

38 minutes ago, WHX24 said:

What Dan was referring to about the modified press to be able to get the whole dash in. The collar under the dash needs to be slid down so the dash can drop. Many times the collar is seized on and needs to be cut off.  

You need this beauty I own it works awesome! It was my late dads. A guy made it. One of these days i will get measuments so someone else can make them. 

 

[Vinylguy 4,674]

10 hours ago, Gregor said:

I have always wanted a Wheelhorse, and recently one came up for sale in my area. so I jumped on it. I have rebuilt a LOT of Lawnboys mowers, a couple of Massey Ferguson 14 garden tractors, and 1 John Deere. I plan to do a complete rebuild on this C-141 also. I have a couple of questions if I could. Here is a tag from the mower deck. Someone had it pinched under a piece of metal on the deck. I would like to know if anyone is reproducing them, and where the tag was located on the deck originally.

Also, I am trying to remove the steering wheel. The spiral pin drove out fairly easily, but the wheel is stuck to the shaft. There doesn't seem to be a center cap on the wheel that can be removed to facilitate using a puller. I could use a bearing separator, and a slide hammer, but I worry about what damage I may cause to the dash and elsewhere. I would be willing to drill out the top of the wheel, but only if I had another one in my hand to take it's place. Any ideas would be appreciated.Thanks Greg

 

Welcome to the forum Greg. 

 I make a thick brush chrome and black decal to apply over the original metal tag.

 I m not sure about the first numbers on your deck tag but here is what I read it to be.

[Gregor 4,847]

My steering wheel does not have a center cap that can be removed.

[WHX?? 49,247]

Yep therein lies the problem... I wouldn't be afraid to try the slide hammer trick if you can grip the shaft tight enough. Clamp the pinion gear shoulder up tight in a vise if you can move the dash out of the way??? Just thinking out loud here. 

Start soaking it with your fav penetrant. 

Edited October 28, 2020 by WHX24

[Pullstart 63,118]

What about gripping the steering shaft with a pipe wrench and spinning the wheel opposite, now that the pin is removed?  Maybe some heat direct to the shaft, then paraffin wax to lube the whole works.  It draws in like solder to copper.

[Gregor 4,847]

41 minutes ago, bottjernat1 said:

Welcome to the group!! I also in reverse just started to get into lawn boys along with my horses.

You have to watch those Lawnboys, when you're asleep, they seem to reproduce. This is some of them, I have 17 in storage. My wife.....

[edgro 677]

Just a thought on cutting the shaft. When I did mine, I cut it at an angle so it would naturally go back together in the correct alignment.

[Gregor 4,847]

That may be a good option.  Thanks

[R. L. Addison 299]

I take the console out of the diecast dash housing & remove the bolts from the housing & take the entire unit to my press. That is my method for a while now.

[Pullstart 63,118]

2 minutes ago, R. L. Addison said:

I take the console out of the diecast dash housing & remove the bolts from the housing & take the entire unit to my press. That is my method for a while now.

With this particular wheel, there is nothing to press against because the center is molded to the wheel.

[R. L. Addison 299]

I've never seen that before. I have put the shaft in a vise and used a pipe to turn the steering wheel on the shaft. but care must be taken. Also I put anti-sieze on them on reassembly hoping to make it easier if there is a next time.

[Gregor 4,847]

I have been doing a little preliminary looking over of the C-141. Seeing what parts I need to order for the rebuild, even though it probably won't happen until spring. If I order some now, and some later, maybe my wife won't get sticker shock. I noticed this and decided it was time for a new head gasket. When removing the bolts I discovered some of them were not very much more than finger tight it seemed. EXCEPT ONE! Near the exhaust of course. Ii refuses to budge. I have tapped on it, put my small 1/4" impact on it, but it's stubborn. I am sure I could get my 1/2 breaker bar out, and either loosen it or break it, one or the other, I am not willing to risk that. Then I thought about heat. Would running the motor, getting it good and warm be a good idea, or a bad idea. This motor starts and runs very well. I sure don't want to damage it.

Edited October 28, 2020 by Gregor

[c-series don 8,910]

Two things, as far as the steering wheel removal I restored my C-121 without removing the wheel. I started to fight with it and then since the wheel was in good shape I just masked it off with tape and newspaper and painted around it. Second thing, yes I’d run the engine to get it good and hot and then try to remove the bolt. If that doesn’t work and since you’re not in a hurry I’d keep soaking it with penetrating lube. Tapping and trying. Patients will have to be your best friend and it will come out. Here’s two of my C-series that I restored.

[echris 1,425]

@Gregor
I worked on tons of those old Lawn Boy mowers when I was a kid. Solid, simple 2-cycle machines with an aluminum deck. Except all the ones I worked on came in beaten to death by the landscaper crews. 

Don't forget to scrape the muffler! 

[chip61 664]

I have a hand-me-down lawn boy from the 70's. The bearings were shot and when I went to look into parts a Tecumseh guy heard me at the counter (this was in the late 80's) and said "I have a replacement engine for that". Tecumseh built a 2-stroke replacement engine to retro-fit on a Lawn Boy. I used it for years-easy to start and plenty of power. 

[Gregor 4,847]

I had to do a little repair on the motor shroud. I have seen this before on the K321. Must be a common problem. A little strap, a welder, and some JBWeld, and it's all good now. I also removed the flywheel, checked and cleaned the stator and magnets. Once I got it back together, I fired it up, and let it get good and warm. That stuck head bolt came right out.