1962 wheel horse 502 predator swap

[Jhook 849]

Well this project is well under way but i figured id start a thread on it anyways. It started with a 1962 wheel horse i grabbed for 50 bucks. It came with a poorly running briggs and a home made hood. The engine i swapped in is a predator 212 from harbor freight. All said and done i should be into this tractor for less than 500 with a factory hood installed. 

This is the tractor as i bought it: 

Pulled the engine off and pressure washed the entire machine, removed the factory battery box and ground down the frame to weld in new motor mount plates:

welded in 2 pieces of 3/16 inch flat stock to mount the new engine to and bolted down the 212as of right now the engine is installed and running. Next step is to get a belt stop/guard in place as the belt keeps spinning when clutch is pressed in and i cant drive the machine like that. It will be getting new tires all around, a paint job, and a factory hood in the next week or so. 

[slim67 2,735]

5 minutes ago, Jhook said:

Well this project is well under way but i figured id start a thread on it anyways. It started with a 1962 wheel horse i grabbed for 50 bucks. It came with a poorly running briggs and a home made hood. The engine i swapped in is a predator 212 from harbor freight. All said and done i should be into this tractor for less than 500 with a factory hood installed. 

This is the tractor as i bought it: 

Pulled the engine off and pressure washed the entire machine, removed the factory battery box and ground down the frame to weld in new motor mount plates:

welded in 2 pieces of 3/16 inch flat stock to mount the new engine to and bolted down the 212as of right now the engine is installed and running. Next step is to get a belt stop/guard in place as the belt keeps spinning when clutch is pressed in and i cant drive the machine like that. It will be getting new tires all around, a paint job, and a factory hood in the next week or so. 

I put a 212 in my b80 and it does everything I need it to. cheap and easy conversion.

[Jhook 849]

8 minutes ago, slim67 said:

I put a 212 in my b80 and it does everything I need it to. cheap and easy conversion.

The motor seems awesome! For 135 bucks out the door it should be good. No wiring, nice and compact and quiet. I havent worked mine yet or even driven it but im confident it'll push and pull what i need it to. I wouldnt run a big cutting deck or blower off one but im sure it would do it. I have an amr300 supercharger that ill be mounting on a predator. Not sure on this tractor but itll def go on a wheel horse! Did you make a custom belt guard to stop the belt? If so give some details please

Edited October 28, 2020 by Jhook

[slim67 2,735]

13 minutes ago, Jhook said:

The motor seems awesome! For 135 bucks out the door it should be good. No wiring, nice and compact and quiet. I havent worked mine yet or even driven it but im confident it'll push and pull what i need it to. I wouldnt run a big cutting deck or blower off one but im sure it would do it. I have an amr300 supercharger that ill be mounting on a predator. Not sure on this tractor but itll def go on a wheel horse! Did you make a custom belt guard to stop the belt? If so give some details please

I used the original belt guard and when I can get you a pic,I will. Long day and turning in soon.

[Jhook 849]

28 minutes ago, slim67 said:

I used the original belt guard and when I can get you a pic,I will. Long day and turning in soon.

Thanks👍

[cschannuth 3,816]

1 hour ago, Jhook said:

Well this project is well under way but i figured id start a thread on it anyways. It started with a 1962 wheel horse i grabbed for 50 bucks. It came with a poorly running briggs and a home made hood. The engine i swapped in is a predator 212 from harbor freight. All said and done i should be into this tractor for less than 500 with a factory hood installed. 

This is the tractor as i bought it: 

Pulled the engine off and pressure washed the entire machine, removed the factory battery box and ground down the frame to weld in new motor mount plates:

welded in 2 pieces of 3/16 inch flat stock to mount the new engine to and bolted down the 212as of right now the engine is installed and running. Next step is to get a belt stop/guard in place as the belt keeps spinning when clutch is pressed in and i cant drive the machine like that. It will be getting new tires all around, a paint job, and a factory hood in the next week or so. 

When I did my 606 I only had to slightly trim the belt guard. I also had to widen the sides of the grill to clear the air cleaner. With regard to performance, the little 212 Hemi is very strong and pushes my 42” snow blade like it’s not even there. And that’s with an upsized engine pulley for additional speed.  Sorry I don’t have better pictures  

[SylvanLakeWH 25,598]

I did a build based on a C 105 frame. Only needed a very slight adjust of the end tab for the guard to accommodate the Predator...

 

 

[slim67 2,735]

8 hours ago, cschannuth said:

When I did my 606 I only had to slightly trim the belt guard. I also had to widen the sides of the grill to clear the air cleaner. With regard to performance, the little 212 Hemi is very strong and pushes my 42” snow blade like it’s not even there. And that’s with an upsized engine pulley for additional speed.  Sorry I don’t have better pictures  

Very nice machine

[slim67 2,735]

16 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

I did a build based on a C 105 frame. Only needed a very slight adjust of the end tab for the guard to accommodate the Predator...

 

 

Thats what im thinking of doing with the 165 roller I just got. You inspired me!

[ebinmaine 67,590]

1 hour ago, slim67 said:

Thats what im thinking of doing with the 165 roller I just got. You inspired me!

Don't forget the hunk o giant chain!!

[Jhook 849]

I should have specified also that i do not have an original belt guard for this machine. Thanks guys 

[Pullstart 62,905]

3 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

I did a build based on a C 105 frame. Only needed a very slight adjust of the end tab for the guard to accommodate the Predator...

 

 

 

2 hours ago, slim67 said:

Thats what im thinking of doing with the 165 roller I just got. You inspired me!

If you need any information, just ask... Jim.  If you need more pictures or measurements, I know the guy that has it now 

[slim67 2,735]

26 minutes ago, pullstart said:

 

If you need any information, just ask... Jim.  If you need more pictures or measurements, I know the guy that has it now 

Thanks pullstart. I did a 212 in my b80 but I mounted the engine further back . Congratulations on your Senior by the way.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,598]

2 hours ago, pullstart said:

 

If you need any information, just ask... Jim.  If you need more pictures or measurements, I know the guy that has it now 

 

Easy - Big hammer, duct tape, baling wire, pile of mis-matched parts and some "NOS" (NOT original stuff) etc...

 

Oh..and the help of some outstanding junior wrenches that are just learning the trade...

 

Edited October 29, 2020 by SylvanLakeWH

[Jhook 849]

I got an original hood today. Slight bend on one side but the mounting tab is original and unbroken. Happy it clears the motor fine as i had nothing to base it off of when choosing a mounting position

[WHNJ701 4,165]

Sweet tribal graphics!!  Just curious did that old briggs run?

[Jhook 849]

9 hours ago, jabelman said:

Sweet tribal graphics!!  Just curious did that old briggs run?

Yes and its for sale!

[APG2 5]

On 10/28/2020 at 7:49 PM, slim67 said:

I put a 212 in my b80 and it does everything I need it to. cheap and easy conversion.

I'm new on here and was glancing at the engine swap posts, do you run anything off the PTO on the 212 or do you just use it for plowing/pulling/ etc? 

[ebinmaine 67,590]

5 minutes ago, APG2 said:

I'm new on here and was glancing at the engine swap posts, do you run anything off the PTO on the 212 or do you just use it for plowing/pulling/ etc? 

 

 

What are you looking at repowering?

 

Kohler engines are plentiful and inexpensive. 

 

[APG2 5]

1 minute ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

What are you looking at repowering?

 

Kohler engines are plentiful and inexpensive. 

 

I have a '72 Commando 800, k181, I've had it for about 8 years, bought it with a rear discharge mower and blower for $100 and it only needed a battery, everything great shape. Well a couple yrs ago,  it was literally something different every time I hit the key, screwed with that for a couple years. Just tired of something different every time I use it, like a 70's sled, down time more than up time. Want to keep the tractor, I love the rear discharge deck, plus I live in an A-frame and one side is completely windows, so I don't worry about throwing a rock out the side. Looking at installing a Honda GX370 or under, but I haven't found enough info on people using the engine swaps with the small singles and still be able to use the PTO

[953 nut 55,297]

16 minutes ago, APG2 said:

I'm new on here and was glancing at the engine swap posts, do you run anything off the PTO on the 212 or do you just use it for plowing/pulling/ etc? 

If you intend to use a PTO you probably need to look for a Kohler unless you plan to use an electric PTO. The force exerted on the end of the crankshaft would hurt an engine without thrust bearings.

[ebinmaine 67,590]

1 minute ago, APG2 said:

literally something different every time I hit the key,

Like Richard says above you'll want to find a Wheelhorse Engine to make the swap easy. 

 

What I'm wondering is:

How many of your issues are directly caused by a bad engine?

What exactly is wrong with the existing engine?

 

Are there other more common issues such as dirty wiring connections?

Worn out ignition switch or safety switches?

 

What were some of the issues you were encountering?

 

[slim67 2,735]

31 minutes ago, APG2 said:

I'm new on here and was glancing at the engine swap posts, do you run anything off the PTO on the 212 or do you just use it for plowing/pulling/ etc? 

No its pulling and plowing only which is fine for me. It does pretty good for everything I use it for. Grass cutting is my wifes JD L100 and I prefer a blade over snowblower.

[APG2 5]

17 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Like Richard says above you'll want to find a Wheelhorse Engine to make the swap easy. 

 

What I'm wondering is:

How many of your issues are directly caused by a bad engine?

What exactly is wrong with the existing engine?

 

Are there other more common issues such as dirty wiring connections?

Worn out ignition switch or safety switches?

 

What were some of the issues you were encountering?

 

I know it's not the carb. It's getting fuel, ran perfect. Literally ran great, shut it off to let it cool down before I park it in the garage and wouldn't refire. Spark seemed weak, replaced points, condenser, coil and wire plug, battery. Always burned a little oil not bad though. No change in spark, unless I got a new bad condenser, plug, or coil, won't even take off on ether. Combustion chamber wasn't carboned up at all. Pretty much one of those throw in the towel frustrated things

Edited November 21, 2020 by APG2

[APG2 5]

17 minutes ago, slim67 said:

No its pulling and plowing only which is fine for me. It does pretty good for everything I use it for. Grass cutting is my wifes JD L100 and I prefer a blade over snowblower.

Oh ok, very cool. I was just curious