Gimme a Wheel Horse

[Gregor 4,846]

Sometimes I think we don't really appreciate the simplistic design of a Wheel Horse. Everything is as simple as it can be in most cases. If you are a glutton for punishment, tear down a Massey Ferguson MF16. Actually, tearing it down isn't too hard. Putting it back together again, can be a challenge. Luckily for me, I have two 14's for reference. The 16 is almost identical, but for the muffler, motor mounts, and HP. Yet for all it's extra levers, bellcranks, knobs, linkages, and complexity, it probably won't do any more work, or work harder than a WH C-165. Both have a Kohler 341. The MF 16 has a 2 speed Sundstrand Hydro. The 165 is also available with a Sundstrand Hydro. The MF weighs in @ 940 lbs. The 165, 600 lbs. The one advantage the MF has is top speed. With  the 2 speed hydro, top forward speed is 9 mph, compared to the 165 at 7 mph. I'm not sure just what good that does, it's just a statistic.

I do know I have days ahead of me cleaning, repairing, and trying to replace irreplaceable parts for this MF 16. With night time temps dropping below freezing this week, I kind-a gotta hurry. This of course isn't all the parts, but it's a bunch of them.

[slim67 2,735]

I like the philosophy “ stick with what works” or “ keep it simple,stupid”. It seems Wheel Horse is pretty standardized and easy to fix.

[Maxwell-8 4,276]

I am currently working on a new to me Bolens G10.

 

A relative complex tractor. For example you can't push the tractor in neutral , because of a screw gear, driving the final gear. so there is a pin in the back you got to try and get out every time you have to move it. clutch is more complicated, an engine swap would be quite a bit harder, but no so hard as in a Cub Cadet.... (which they only can run a specific low oil pan Kohler K301.

 

When I got it:

 

 

Currently: 

 

 

 

Wheel Horses are so modulair, simple but strongly built, attachments can be rather easy be made at home.

Engine swaps are a breeze compared to other machines. from a small 212cc predator to a 24hp Honda V-twin.

[Mike'sHorseBarn 2,998]

2 hours ago, Gregor said:

Actually, tearing it down isn't too hard. Putting it back together again, can be a challenge. 

 

 

That's how I feel about anything non wheel horse. Especially old cub cadets and their weird obsession with putting everything together with roll pins. Cub Cadets now to me are keep them original only, not more tear down restorations lol

 

I've had two massey's over the years and never cared much for them, but I had an 8 and a 12. Never had a Kohler powered one like the 14 and 16, but if I could snag one someday for a decent price, I would definitely do it.

[Maxwell-8 4,276]

57 minutes ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

Especially old cub cadets and their weird obsession with putting everything together with roll pins

You should see my bolens, shafts are sticking out of the gearbox, secured by roll pins, so are the axles. brakes, together with roll pins. clutch system, countless amount of roll-pins.

I am not doing a restauration on that haha

 

I think Wheel Horses and sears/ropers are the easiest to work on.

[ebinmaine 67,553]

7 hours ago, Gregor said:

simplistic design of a Wheel Horse

That my friend is EXACTLY why Trina and I have Wheel Horse tractors.

 

We're both frugal and practical minded people. Her much more so than I am.

Our horses are here to work for us.

They need to be simple, reliable, rugged, easy to repair and maintain.

 

There are several specific models across the various brands that I like the aesthetics of but it isn't very likely at all but I'll ever own any of them simply because of the extremely practical and simple nature of these Horses. 

[Snoopy11 5,714]

7 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

That my friend is EXACTLY why Trina and I have Wheel Horse tractors.

 

We're both frugal and practical minded people. Her much more so than I am.

Our horses are here to work for us.

They need to be simple, reliable, rugged, easy to repair and maintain.

 

There are several specific models across the various brands that I like the aesthetics of but it isn't very likely at all but I'll ever own any of them simply because of the extremely practical and simple nature of these Horses. 

Everything that my John Deere project is not...

 

Just sayin' 

 

 

Don

[D_Mac 8,619]

Had the Case out today. I really can't say anything bad about this tractor but yes I wish it was a Wheel Horse. It lives up to its nickname. What I like most about it, that you don't find on a Wheel Horse is the ability to pass your legs and feet between the seat and dash tower. You can step through the middle. As you get older the easier it is to get on and off makes a big difference. 

[Handy Don 12,233]

1 hour ago, D_Mac said:

Had the Case out today. ...

 

Is that a pedal to step on to raise the blower?

Also, I'm wondering how the blower did with the leaves. Any pictures? 

Edited November 9, 2021 by Handy Don

[D_Mac 8,619]

44 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Is that a pedal to step on to raise the blower?

Also, I'm wondering how the blower did with the leaves. Any pictures? 

Ha ! I didn't try it on a leaf pile. To raise and lower the blower you use the handle to the right of the steering wheel. It's hydraulic lift. The only pedal is the brake on the left side. Tractor also has mower deck.