Mike in NC 341 #1 Posted August 5, 2021 This was given to me by my father in law. I drove to PA to pick up another garden tractor for him that was his dads. The 312-H has 697 hours, hour meter does work. It has a 42" deck. This will become my weekly grass cutter. I believe it is a 1991. I had to replace that battery as he did not use the Wheel Horse much. It also needs a choke cable and some tire tubes. 9 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,828 #2 Posted August 5, 2021 52 minutes ago, Mike in NC said: given to me by my father in law Your FIL need anymore SIL's ?!?! Nice tractor gotta love the hub caps! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill D 1,926 #3 Posted August 5, 2021 1 hour ago, Mike in NC said: This was given to me by my father in law. I drove to PA to pick up another garden tractor for him that was his dads. The 312-H has 697 hours, hour meter does work. It has a 42" deck. This will become my weekly grass cutter. I believe it is a 1991. I had to replace that battery as he did not use the Wheel Horse much. It also needs a choke cable and some tire tubes. Try stripping the plastic sheath off the choke cable and soaking it down with your favorite penetrating oil. That may free it up. You can buy a roll of heat shrink at Home Depot that can be used to replace the plastic sheath you stripped off. Replace the nut holding the choke cable in the dash with a 3/8" fine thread Keps nut instead of the original nut. I have done this on all my machines and it works great. Very nice machine. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee1977 6,666 #4 Posted August 5, 2021 Do like bikers do . Put the penetrating oil in a plastic bag tape it to the cable and hang it up. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,634 #5 Posted August 5, 2021 @Mike in NC, lucky you ! to have your FIL give that to you , says a lot . if I were you , make quick work of the things that need help , and put an oil rub down on that finish , my experience is a couple of oil coats feed the paint , use penetrating oil on a clean cloth , after the second coat rub down till dry , any wax , I use a 6' hand buffer , that paint will pop right thru with a deep shine . next time " dad " sees it , he will more that understand , he made the right choice, good luck with that , pete 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike in NC 341 #6 Posted August 5, 2021 My FIL knows how much I like old tractors. We are now up to 22 garden tractors, not to mention how many antique engines we have. He always liked the Wheel Horse tractors, and bought this 312. He used it a few times but prefers to push mow his lawn. He says it looks better, which I think it does. His dad passed away a couple years ago, and then his mom just passed away a couple months ago. They are cleaning up the stuff and he wanted his dads last garden tractor, not a Wheel Horse, but still wanted it. He said he had no room for both of them and since I drove the 1000 miles + to get the things he could not put in his car, I could have the Wheel Horse. There are a few spots that the paint has peaked off and is starting to rust. I am trying to decide if I want to repair the spots or just coat over them with an oil. I used this tractor for about 4 years when I blew a rod in my old Gravely rider. It needs a few things to be right, but still a nice addition to the collection. Now we have 4 Wheel Horses. Thank you for all the comments!! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,088 #7 Posted August 5, 2021 A 312-H is a solid tractor! Same tranny as a 520-H, paired with a Magnum 12. Definitely a keeper! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike in NC 341 #8 Posted August 11, 2021 Here are some more pictures. taken in the daylight. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rusty Tinsnips 477 #9 Posted August 12, 2021 Really nice! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,088 #10 Posted August 12, 2021 The only thing I see that it needs are mats on the footrests! Congratulations! Another excellent machine to add to your collection. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike in NC 341 #11 Posted August 12, 2021 I got the choke cable freed up. Now to install it. Thanks for the tips! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tom2p 2,394 #12 Posted August 13, 2021 On 8/12/2021 at 2:38 PM, kpinnc said: The only thing I see that it needs are mats on the footrests! truer words rarely spoken step on a footrest missing a mat just one time with wet / muddy shoes when mounting or dismounting is all the convincing one will need 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee1977 6,666 #13 Posted August 14, 2021 My tractors will never have rubber mats, when I got the 520 the foot pads were rusting under the mats. I have a C-120 I have had for 44 years no rust on the foot pads. The 520 will get grip tape if I ever get around to painting it. My Wheel horses are all working tractors, but I like to keep them looking good. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,235 #14 Posted August 14, 2021 25 minutes ago, Lee1977 said: My tractors will never have rubber mats, when I got the 520 the foot pads were rusting under the mats. I have a C-120 I have had for 44 years no rust on the foot pads. Yeah, this is a useful point. On my last refurb, on one side, the original mat had no rust under it at all. On the other, there was more than a little. I did some careful thinking before putting skateboard non-skid on the freshly-painted footrests. I am hoping that the clean paint surface, the incredibly strong adhesive, and careful application gave it a really tight bond and are sealing out moisture! Time will tell, of course. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,088 #15 Posted August 14, 2021 We're hijacking a good thread, but I can't help myself... Best footrest material? Diamond plate. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
