WheelhorseBob 1,549 #1 Posted April 26, 2021 (edited) It’s fairly obvious that if you’re here you love Wheel Horse garden tractor’s. But what else if anything catches your eye? For me it’s the hydraulic Colt/Case/Ingersoll's. Mind you I like the old Economy tractors pretty well too. I own a very nice 56’ Economy but my wandering eye is on the look out for a Colt/Case/Ingersoll. How about you guys, only Red or do you stray? BTW I’ve never owned a Case. Edited April 26, 2021 by WheelhorseBob 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,397 #2 Posted April 26, 2021 Good thread topic! We keep Wheelhorse tractors for reasons of practicality. They're easy to build, maintain and repair. Parts are readily available. And they're VERY reliable. That said..... I do like a lot of other machines. I tend to lean towards round or no fenders. Power Kings in the early years. Pretty much anything lever steer. Love the look of a lever steer. Most machinery fascinates me. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stepney 2,325 #3 Posted April 27, 2021 I have a 1957 Economy/Country Squire, it's great for lugging things around, but their implements, even in the 80s, never did much for me.. just crude. Maybe fine by 50's standards, and as you know very little changed.. for the better and occasionally worse. For me? Narrow frame Cub Cadet, Case 4xx series, or a Sears Suburban. Have had eyes on a Case 195 high wheeler for a while, but having my Economy now renders a machine that size less interesting. A 4xx would be welcome though. Also have a '51 Farmall F-Cub. Might as well be a garden tractor I suppose.. it's interesting in it's own right. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,831 #4 Posted April 27, 2021 Hot rods, strong trucks, buggies, dirt bikes, race cars, diesel stuff... and lately watching mma and various technical fighting. Funny story. My neighbor stopped by today. He’s the good ‘ole boy I plow for. He has a 1929 sedan hot rod and is looking to trade it for a mule, gator, etc. I suppose it’s time to look for one of those to trade! 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 7,873 #5 Posted April 27, 2021 Had a guy show me some old Massey 12's, nice machines. I think if i can find one for the right money someday it will be in the herd. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldlineman 1,481 #6 Posted April 27, 2021 I have a Ingersoll 446 along with my horses. It is a very well made heavy tractor. Many things in common with the horses! 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
horseyheaven 112 #7 Posted April 27, 2021 My vote is Simplicity/Allis-Chalmers because they are the only non Horse brand I own. They are durable and simple as well. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,130 #8 Posted April 27, 2021 If it ain't W-H red... leave it in the shed! 2 3 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gregor 4,846 #9 Posted April 27, 2021 9 hours ago, JoeM said: Had a guy show me some old Massey 12's, nice machines. I think if i can find one for the right money someday it will be in the herd. I love my Masseys. If you are going to get one. step up to a 14 or 16. Two speed Sundstrand hydro, shaft driven, hydraulic lift, and a beast of a tractor. I don't have a 16 yet, But keeping my eye out for one. 6 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pollack Pete 2,273 #10 Posted April 27, 2021 (edited) Basically anything with an engine.Have my late Father's Bolens 1250.Have a Bolens 1050 that I work on once in a while.Have a Case Ingersoll 446 with a 16 horse Onan.I have a Ford compact tractor.Have a Ford 8n and a Ford 800 .Construction equipment.Can't forget the Mahindra emax-25 and the Mahindra 2638.Have two Allis Chalmers model WD and one Allis Chalmers WC.Also have a Ford 555B 4 wheel drive backhoe. The Squaw and I collect and play pinball machines.We have about 40 of them.Most didn't work when we got them and I repaired them.Have 6 or 7 old jukeboxes.Had to fix most of them too.Three of them play CD's.The others play 45 rpm records.Just kinda got into the Japanese slot machines.I never say to the Squaw " I don't have anything to do today ". Edited April 27, 2021 by Pollack Pete 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tractorhead 9,064 #11 Posted April 27, 2021 All pieces of Machinery they have a gasoline or also a Dieselengine in. The less electronic crap and lot‘s of manually/gear driven things. I have an Iseki TX1300 4WD, also sold as a Bolens, but i preferr my Wheelhorse because of the simple technic. in other Words - i love my Horse. 3 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,163 #12 Posted April 27, 2021 11 hours ago, WheelhorseBob said: if you’re here you love Wheel Horse garden tractor’s. But what else if anything catches your eye? At my age I have been looking at a few wheel chairs that may be worthwhile. 1 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,397 #13 Posted April 27, 2021 14 minutes ago, 953 nut said: At my age I have been looking at a few wheel chairs that may be worthwhile. High speed gas engine type of course? 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,831 #14 Posted April 27, 2021 18 minutes ago, 953 nut said: At my age I have been looking at a few wheel chairs that may be worthwhile. If you need any lessons... I know a guy... 1 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seuadr 488 #15 Posted April 27, 2021 i too have looked pretty hard at the case line - especially the 446 and 646. i almost had an 446 before i got my 520H. had a bunch of attachments, a 3pt hitch, rear remotes and even a log splitter. of course i hemmed and hawed a little too long and by the time i called back it was gone 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike'sHorseBarn 2,998 #16 Posted April 27, 2021 I've had a lot of tractors over the years of many brands. WH, John Deere, Cub Cadet, Economy, Sears, Ford, Montgomery Ward, Allis Chalmers, Lawnmaster (MotoMower Built), Gilson, Panzer, Speedex, Massey Ferguson & Gravely. I don't have all these machines anymore but it's good to have a broad education on GT's lol. I always come back to WH though as being my favorite! Of all those brands WH is the nicest to work on! 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chip61 658 #17 Posted April 27, 2021 I like tractors of any kind-as long as it's an older machine with a horizontal shaft engine. I've always been partial to Wheel Horse, but the first two tractors I got both came from family friends, an Allis Chalmers B112 and a Sears Suburban Super 12 with electric 3pt hitch. Both very tough and capable machines, but nowhere near as easy to work on as a Horse. I do have to admit the yard looks better when I use the Allis than any other mower I have. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnnymag3 2,517 #18 Posted April 27, 2021 Wheel Horse for me...…...RED 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricF 589 #19 Posted April 27, 2021 (edited) Might be the nostalgia, but a square fender JD 112 might be nice, like the one I grew up around. This is it, brand-new in 1970. It got the headlights in the front panel a few months later; they had to be added as a kit and the kits weren't in stock when my dad took delivery. It was always well-maintained, but sadly wasn't kept past the early 2000's. I liked that tractor -- well-built, comfortable, well-laid out operator station, great Kohler engine. Just not always the easiest to change belts and such on, and JD parts tend toward more specialized ones and have never been exactly inexpensive. Much prefer the simplicity and standardized parts on Wheel Horse. My dad, on the other hand, would have been mortified to know I keep a Wheel Horse -- He never liked anything about WH. "Cheaply built... Outdated... Company was ****..." -- No end of trash-talk. But it had something to do with his job in IRS collections in South Bend. My guess is he never liked the Ponds' frugal ways. Companies that kept their finances conservative tended to leave fewer opportunities for taxation that wasn't cut-and-dried, leaving few opportunities to pick up anything more on audits. Which probably didn't do him any favors for performance ratings. (Of course, he ran his own, and the family's, finances to avoid having to pay one cent more than necessary... so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ) Edited April 27, 2021 by EricF 7 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pollack Pete 2,273 #20 Posted April 27, 2021 3 hours ago, seuadr said: . of course i hemmed and hawed a little too long and by the time i called back it was gone That's what always happened to me in the past.Snooze,ya lose is one of my sayings now.I guess that's why I have a yard full of crap now and have a new building built here every few years.I've honestly hardly ever had buyers remorse.Have had sellers remorse MANY times.Life's way too short to not have what you want. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SPINJIM 1,981 #21 Posted April 27, 2021 I'm going to give a different kind of answer. I would go for a late-80s muscle car like a GTO or a Chevelle SS, but my bad back and knees only allow me to work on smaller machines. So if I'm going to work on garden tractors, Wheel Horse is my preference because they're easy to work on, parts are available, and I don't live very far from the Big Show. Jim 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gregor 4,846 #22 Posted April 27, 2021 24 minutes ago, SPINJIM said: and I don't live very far from the Big Show. Speaking of the "BIG" show. Has it been confirmed? Is it on? Is it off? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SPINJIM 1,981 #23 Posted April 27, 2021 1 hour ago, Gregor said: Speaking of the "BIG" show. Has it been confirmed? Is it on? Is it off Show is on for June 25-26th with some additional precautions. Mask required inside the building and for close socializing. Dues to be paid ahead of time to avoid lines at registration. Must be a member to sell at show. I just received my WHCC newsletter yesterday. Y'all should have yours soon. See you there. Jim 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike'sHorseBarn 2,998 #24 Posted April 27, 2021 4 hours ago, EricF said: Might be the nostalgia, but a square fender JD 112 might be nice, like the one I grew up around. This is it, brand-new in 1970. It got the headlights in the front panel a few months later; they had to be added as a kit and the kits weren't in stock when my dad took delivery. It was always well-maintained, but sadly wasn't kept past the early 2000's. I liked that tractor -- well-built, comfortable, well-laid out operator station, great Kohler engine. Just not always the easiest to change belts and such on, and JD parts tend toward more specialized ones and have never been exactly inexpensive. Much prefer the simplicity and standardized parts on Wheel Horse. My dad, on the other hand, would have been mortified to know I keep a Wheel Horse -- He never liked anything about WH. "Cheaply built... Outdated... Company was ****..." -- No end of trash-talk. But it had something to do with his job in IRS collections in South Bend. My guess is he never liked the Ponds' frugal ways. Companies that kept their finances conservative tended to leave fewer opportunities for taxation that wasn't cut-and-dried, leaving few opportunities to pick up anything more on audits. Which probably didn't do him any favors for performance ratings. (Of course, he ran his own, and the family's, finances to avoid having to pay one cent more than necessary... so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ) A square fender kohler powered 112 is one I would like to have someday. I have a square fender 110 with the 8hp kohler, but I would like to upgrade lol 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricF 589 #25 Posted April 27, 2021 That 10HP Kohler always sounded nice working into a snowbank with the single-stage showthrower. It cut grass the rest of the year, outside of winter I can't say it ever had to work all that hard. No substitute for the sound of my Onan twin in the 520 working into a heavy snowdrift though. That thing's a beast! I was lucky to snag a 520H when I first went looking for a Wheel Horse; it was at the top of my "wish list". 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites