opinions on 314A

[Ronnie J 0]

Hello,

I am looking to purchase my first Wheel Horse.  I just found a 314A for sale with an asking price of $850.  It has a recently rebuild engine.  I do not yet know if it has the hydraulic lift or not.  I am just looking for opinions on the hydrostatic vs the 8 speed.  I really only need it to cut one acre of grass but wouldn't mind getting a snow blade for it at some point.  At first I found a really clean 244H but when I saw opinions of it on this site I began to look into the 300/400/500 series.  The 244H did look more like a garden tractor with the wheel and tire set up but apparently is more of just a lawn tractor.  Any opinions on this would be appreciated.

  --Thank you,   

[roadapples 6,983]

If I  was buying my first wheel horse 314A would be near the top of my list...

[Handy Don 12,235]

314-A does not have hydro lift. Uses an Eaton 700 hydrostatic trans. As noted here in many threads, this is a perfectly good transmission but NOT intended for rugged duty. Rugged = heavy snow, dozer, grader, or moldboard plowing or for towing heavy loads. No worries for mowing, light-moderate snow plowing, or for snowblowing. Unless you have a lot of obstructions or steep hills, a 48" deck will make your mowing take less time!

[SylvanLakeWH 25,600]

Should be great tractor.

 

I’d get details on the rebuild… who, how, oversized piston? Etc…

 

Start it cold and then let her warm up… smooth, no smoke / noises…?

 

[roadapples 6,983]

Didn't realize it had the 700 trany...

[bds1984 1,435]

56 minutes ago, roadapples said:

Didn't realize it had the 700 trany...

I believe you and thinking of the later 314H models with the Eaton 1100 transaxle that are fairly common. Every time I see a 14 hp Wheel Horse for sale I have to double check for the hydro lift just to be sure I am not passing up a great deal.

[Handy Don 12,235]

1 hour ago, roadapples said:

Didn't realize it had the 700 trany...

The "A" is the giveaway. "H" is the full hydro.

[dcrage 628]

4 hours ago, Handy Don said:

The "A" is the giveaway. "H" is the full hydro.

Except for those few times it does not follow convention; 516-H, 518-H and I thought one of the 300 series hydros was “mislabeled”. 

[Handy Don 12,235]

13 hours ago, dcrage said:

Except for those few times it does not follow convention; 516-H, 518-H and I thought one of the 300 series hydros was “mislabeled”. 

Agreed. "A" is always a 700 ("Automatics" were Sunstrands) but that "H" can catch you out!

[Ronnie J 0]

Will the 314A push a snow plow ok with the hydro trans?

[TJ5208 1,824]

Yes but you would probably want a standard transmission 

[rjg854 11,385]

I plow snow with my C-160 Automatic, prefer that over a standard, and the hydraulic lift is another big plus.

[Rfp55 33]

I have plowed snow with an Eaton 6, similar to the 7 (but without decelleration valves, so not so quiet or smooth). Works fine until you get to a bigger pile than you should move. Then it just stops moving or relief valve opens/ bypasses- i think. Not like it'll explode and leave parts rolling down the driveway. The shuttle ability to just go back and forth without clutching and shifting is nice and with chains & weight added it did surprisingly well. For mower work and  under 6" snow depth i vote 314A adequate, and i'll duck now - but the 244H would do for you quite a while too. THE major thing I would avoid with the lighter duty hydros is pulling a trailer with a 1000# of firewood especially downhill. When you lightly reverse for dynamic braking you might come to grief. A manual trans comes downhill under engine compression and has actual mechanical brakes.