Newbie/Advice Recommendations

[ReelFaster 53]

Hi folks, newbie here and hope you don't mind me asking a few questions and getting some advice on possibly purchasing a Wheel Horse.

 

My needs and what led me down the to road to looking at a wheel horse is having the ability to move my small 16ft bass boat around the property, towing a smaller (but heavy) trailer I used to move wood around, and last but not least mowing my lawn. Wheel horse seems to fit the bill for being solidly built and strong enough to pull something a like a smaller boat or trailer. I do this now with my Craftsman LT2000, however its not built for it and it's just a matter of time before I blow it out.  

 

I apologize in advance for the many questions. I guess I'll start with a particular model or year to look for OR stay away from. I understand Toro bought them at some point. Are there anything I should be aware of or things that are prone to failure? Are they easy to maintain and or repair? Would any reputable lawn tractor repair be able to repair or get parts for them? Loaded question but what is a pretty fair price? I've seen many for sale online in my area on FB and craigslist ranging anywhere from $600 - $1,800.  Thanks so much in advance for your time and help, much appreciated! 

 

P.S. Looking to put something like this on it for moving boat & trailer. 

 

Edited September 20, 2021 by ReelFaster

[SylvanLakeWH 25,598]

 

Great tractors and you are in the right place for questions…!

 

IMHO - Yes they are your best bet for what you describe.

 

Gonna get a lot of opinions on which years / models. I’m partial to the 8 speed manuals… bomb proof…simple…reliable…

 

 

[Pullstart 62,905]

  As long as you have no hills, yes a garden tractor is great for these tasks.  Remember it’s easy to pull a load, but make sure you can stop it 

[ReelFaster 53]

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated! I am in flat lands NJ so I am good with hills. 

 

I should add not super familiar with tech terminology, etc.... My current riding mower is a 16hp with a hydro transmission and I can see it going soon with the loads I am putting on it. Thanks again! 

 

 

[oilwell1415 563]

Pretty much anything will do what you are asking.  I would stick with a hydro.  I find them easier to control when doing things like moving trailers.

[8ntruck 7,016]

to the forum.  @pullstart is correct.  A Wheel Horse is capable of pulling a larger load than it has brakes to stop.  An 8 speed  in the range of 10 to 14 hp should fill your needs.

 

I have a 1973 14 horse 8 speed that will move my 6000 lb travel trailer around the lawn with ease and has no trouble running a 42" mower deck.

 

The 8 speed transmission has reverse, three forward speeds, and high and low ranges.

 

Hydro transmissions will go from creeping to full speed, depending on where you put the motion control lever, so the low range of the gear transmission is not needed.

 

Gear, or hydro?  That ends up being a personal choice.

 

I've got one of each.  I feel more in control of the 8 speed machine going down hill than the hydro - but, I've only had the hydro machine about a month or so.

Edited September 20, 2021 by 8ntruck

[JoeM 7,874]

Ultimate control is a hydro, 400 or 500 series hydro, or even a older C series. 

Some put hitches on the front to steer trailers. Newer 520-H machines 1991 and up have reduction steering and is nice. I am not sure what the tongue weight would be in your case. Of course the more weight harder to steer with a front hitch. 

Small grades can be a challenge. Wheel weights are always recommended. I used my hydro b100 to pull the my Chevy camper special across the yard once (was not to bright of an idea) to lite!

I have a 3x4 tilt bed trailer and loaded it with heavy dirt and started up the hill and it started spinning then proceeded to drift back down. It was steep, but if I could have got traction it would have went. 

Just some ideas. I figure you have a boat not a yacht! 

[rjg854 11,378]

Mowing lawns and pushing snow, hydro is the best, not having to do so much shifting. Ground engagement the gearing is better.

[ReelFaster 53]

Thanks again for all the replies, so helpful, truly are! 

 

Are models after Toro bought them still good and reliable? I am seeing a few of those out there for sale! 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,326]

  That style hitch you posted is what I use to move my 16’ aluminum bass boat and just recently my 17.5’ fiberglass bow rider.

  The machine in the pics has a 10 hp Kohler mated to an 8 speed manual tranny. Also has 75#’s of weight on each rear rim plus 25#’s on each front rim. It’s firmly planted to the ground! 
 

 

[biged77 113]

 

One of our vendors Wheel Horse Parts and More also has receiver hitches.  Great quality and easy to install.  Check them out at https://wheelhorsepartsandmore.com/product-category/hitches/

[8ntruck 7,016]

I built my receiver hitch.  Those are a handy thing.

 

When using one of those receiver hitches, you need to exercise a little care.  The towing load of the trailer is applied above the center line of the axle, which will tend to pull the front wheels off of the ground.  The driving torque being applied by the rear wheels also tries to lift the front tires.  If your trailer does not want to move, the tractor will easily pull a wheelie.  Not a problem if you are expecting this, and can clutch before you get into trouble.  Also, if the tractor is headed up hill, it takes less force to pull it over backwards.

 

 

[Jimdad85 12]

I am also very new to wheelhorse. I have learned that toro bought them out in the late 80's. Thats all i know. I picked up this beaut today and going to transform to a puller. What am i dealing with here??

[lynnmor 7,307]

5 hours ago, ReelFaster said:

Thanks again for all the replies, so helpful, truly are! 

 

Are models after Toro bought them still good and reliable? I am seeing a few of those out there for sale! 

 

The Wheel Horse tractors of the 300, 400 and 500 series were not degraded by Toro.  There are some upgrades for safety and emissions that add a bit of complexity, but not really an issue.

[Handy Don 12,235]

7 hours ago, ReelFaster said:

I apologize in advance for the many questions

This is the right place and your questions are very relevant. Welcome.

 

56 minutes ago, lynnmor said:

The Wheel Horse tractors of the 300, 400 and 500 series were not degraded by Toro

Agree on this totally. 

If you are not planning to maintain it yourself, then I'd stick to single-cylinder models to keep you maintenance costs down. These max at 16 hp but, as noted above, it sounds like a 14hp would be the sweet spot for you. Gear or hydro is your preference, but note that with the hydro you usually also get a hydraulic lift for the mower/snowblower (on a couple hydro trans models the lift is electric).

 

Prices are all over the place and up noticeably from this time last year. Knowing as much as you can about a candidate tractor's past is a big help and do you trust what you are being told? A good 314-H with a clean deck and fewer than 700 hours would be anywhere from $500 to $900 in my area, depending on age and condition and the seller's urgency.

 

Picking a winner.

Does it start easily (with 15 seconds or less of cranking) and run smoothly at all speeds from idle to full throttle with no white or black smoke and no surging, and with the choke off once it's warmed up? How was it stored (outdoor storage is very hard on tractors, even when covered)? Condition of the tires, sheet metal, seat, belts? Are all the belt covers in place? Oil in the crankcase at the correct level and not the consistency of molasses or mixed with water? Oil in the transaxle at right level and clean? Oil leaks on the engine or where the rear axles enter the transaxle? Does the wiring look frayed or burned or corroded or rusty? Any unconnected wires? Any of the safety switches bypassed? Any modifications? Does the deck have any rust holes (look carefully and thoroughly!) and are the wheels in good shape? Does the deck vibrate when engaged or make whining or grinding noises?

 

Edited September 21, 2021 by Handy Don

[oliver2-44 9,759]

The Toro 300 400 500 and 500 city series are true Garden Tractors. 
The C series horses are a nice blend of simple electrics and solid. 
 

Stay a way from the Toro vertical shaft engine plastic body
Wheelhorses

[R Scheer 502]

There are 2 different hydros used in the 300 400 500 series.  The Eaton 700 and 1100, if you are going to be towing trailers you will want the Eaton 1100. In any case you will need weights on the front of the tractor, doing wheelies is kind of fun, but makes it hard to steer.  I'm running about 120 lbs of suitcase weights on the front when towing.

 

There Is a manuals section on this site which will help you maintain your tractor.  Of course you can always ask questions as well.  

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

 

Edited September 21, 2021 by R Scheer

[kpinnc 12,083]

17 hours ago, ReelFaster said:

P.S. Looking to put something like this on it for moving boat & trailer. 

 

Glad to see you already did some research and found that hitch. 

 

The factory drawbar hitch is plenty strong, but often gets a heavy trailer dropped on it, which cracks the bottom of the tranny case. The add on receiver is an excellent addition!

 

 

[953 nut 55,297]

11 hours ago, Jimdad85 said:

I picked up this beaut today and going to transform to a puller. What am i dealing with here??

You have a 1964 Model 1054 that has seen a few modifications in the past. We have a section on Red Square dedicated to pullers, you can probably get a lot of good information there.

https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/forum/48-pullers/

[Pullstart 62,905]

17 hours ago, ReelFaster said:

Are models after Toro bought them still good and reliable? I am seeing a few of those out there for sale! 

Generally anything with a horizontal shaft engine is going to be a huge improvement over what you’re currently using.  Don’t sell the Xi series short.  I think it’s the most underrated Toro made machine.  The frame is pickup truck quality and it still has solid power train under the steel body.

 

@Jimdad85 nice 1054!  I like the C series grille adapted to the nose!  Get that winch off the cast nose and slap a hood on, you’ll have a pretty awesome machine!

[Ed Kennell 38,209]

 to the  Reel.

 

If I could only have one tractor,  It would be my 312 hydro . It has the Eaton 1100 with hydraulic lift.    It easily turns a 42" deck and is my go to snow plow tractor.    IMO, a hydro lift is a must when operating a snow plow or blower.

 

I have ball hitches on the front and rear and use the front hitch to push trailers into thier parking spots in the barn.  The heaviest is a 3KLB boat.    

Like stated above, stopping a heavy load is a problem.   When using the rear hitch, I also keep the trailer tongue jack locked in the down position to take some of the tongue weight and to prevent a back flip of the tractor.

 

Edited September 21, 2021 by Ed Kennell

[JoeM 7,874]

And don't count out the xi series, good hydro, 2 speed cast transmission, heavy machine, shaft driven and they can be had very inexpensively. 

[ReelFaster 53]

 

@SparkyThat hitch is exactly what I am looking for, it's perfect!

 

Here are few pic's of what I am pulling. Few times a year I am moving the boat (16ft aluminum bass boat) or trailer to and from the front of the house. Few times a year I am moving the wood splitter and probably what I use the most is the wood trailer. She's really heavy, handmade from an old farm implement, pretty sure it will outlast me. I don't have a large property so not pulling very far or long and all on a flat surface. Am pretty amazed I've gotten this far with my riding mower, credit to that little guy has served me well. 

 

I cannot thank you all enough for all the excellent and outstanding advice! Seems like a great forum here with a great group of folks. I'll take all that info and advice and keep my eyes peeled for something. 

 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,598]

6 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

When using the rear hitch, I also keep the trailer tongue jack locked in the down position to take some of the tongue weight and to prevent a back flip of the tractor.

 

I leave the trailer tongue jack down front or back… let’s the tractor just push or pull…

 

[Tuneup 1,433]

I've pulled a couple of those Craftsmans apart after engine grenading. early MTD wasn't bad for what they were designed to do. She's served you very well. When you have a line on a WH, let us know. Plenty of experience to lean upon as you've learned. subscribed.