Found my unicorn....sort of

[Sailman 1,291]

Always thought a C-160 Auto would be the cats meow but ones I found were ridden hard and put up wet. Just landed the "unicorn"! Whoo Hoo! Drove 4 hours to Charlotte to pick it up. Original owner since 1975. He passed years ago and it sat in his shed. Local guy cut the widows lawn for a year with his zero turn and she gave him the C-160. All original including the wheel horse tires. 730 hours, hydro lift, slot hitch, original seat with arm rests, mower deck. I did use plenty of elbow grease / 3M compound and wax to preserve that original finish. I know everyone here loves pictures so attached a few below. I am always amazed at the restorations folks here do but for me, an original worker is just fine!

[Wheel Horse 3D 3,795]

Beautiful! Love the Autos! Dug is  c141.

Edited November 20, 2021 by Wheel Horse 3D

[Sailman 1,291]

Very nice! And with the FEL....that IS the cats meow!

[ri702bill 8,328]

Indeed! Cecil and Elmer envisioned "Working Girls", not "Prom Queens"  - did you ever notice they just sound happier when they are working instead of being on parade??

Bill

Edited November 21, 2021 by ri702bill

[Wheelhorse616 4]

Do any of y'all of a 312-8, I can't figure out where the ground wire behind the starter solenoid connects to, thanks.

 

[WheelHorse520H 708]

@Sailman nice find, I like original workers with a bit of patina so I don’t feel too bad if it gets a ding here or there. After all they were built to be used and used they are.

@Wheelhorse616, welcome. If you haven’t already I recommend starting a new thread in the electrical section. Year and model of the tractor are great info for us (312-8 was made for a couple years and they vary a bit) if you don’t know the year the ID number can tell you what year. On your tractor I believe it is under the seat.

[Moparfanforever 851]

Nice find on the C160 and a fine job shining it up !!

[wfrpalm 218]

That is a nice looking tractor.

 

[rjg854 11,382]

Looks great just the way it is, mine isn't near that pretty.

[ebinmaine 67,596]

3 hours ago, Sailman said:

C-160 Auto

VERY nice!!

 

 

 

Looks like you've got the cousin to my latest find...

 

 

 

 

 

[Snoopy11 5,714]

1 minute ago, ebinmaine said:

my latest find

Video...? 

 

Don

[Snoopy11 5,714]

@Sailman & @ebinmaine...

 

 We are not worthy 

 

 

Don

[ebinmaine 67,596]

34 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said:

Video...? 

 

Don

 

Here's @JCM Jim out for a cruise...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[WheelHorse_of_course 99]

Nice! While it makes me too sad to change my sig, I no longer have nay horse because I live in a town house.

[Wheel Horse 3D 3,795]

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

VERY nice!!

 

 

 

Looks like you've got the cousin to my latest find...

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs says you can just send that ol nag thats ready for the glue factory down to her! Seein as you have so many critters to care for already. Lol

[kpinnc 12,087]

THAT was in Charlotte? I'm both happy for you, and ticked that I missed it! 

 

Congrats on a very nice find!

 

[c-series don 8,720]

@ebinmaine Wow Eric that C-160 really cleaned up nicely. What a great find. I’m glad to see it’s in good hands! Some say that’s the best Wheel Horse ever built. I like the fact that the rockshaft is exposed making it easy to install the snowplow lift bar or mower lift chain. Also like the slightly higher than the later C-series motion control lever, it’s only an inch or two but it’s more comfortable to operate. 

[ebinmaine 67,596]

1 hour ago, c-series don said:

Wow Eric that C-160 really cleaned up nicely. What a great find. I’m glad to see it’s in good hands! Some say that’s the best Wheel Horse ever built

Much appreciated Don. 

 

I'd agree. They sure are a beast at working.  

 

Seems @Sailman and I had some great luck finding these.  

[Sailman 1,291]

@ebinmaine that's a fine looking filly you got there too!! Just good to know these tractors will be preserved with many more years of service. Pass em on down to the next generation.

[ebinmaine 67,596]

53 minutes ago, Sailman said:

these tractors will be preserved with many more years of service

That's a great way to phrase what Trina and I do for our own tractors. 

 

We've restored 4, bought this one mostly done... So now we have 5 runners in the fleet. (3 hers, 2 mine).  

This C160 Automatic will be finished up to my satisfaction and put to work plowing our large dooryard this winter. 

Oversized tires all the way around. 250+ lbs of fluid weight. Another 180 or more steel weight. 61" wide plow. 

Should be a fine Belgian grade Horse. 

 

 

[Darb1964 1,043]

Havent had time to do much with mine yet. Picked it up this spring, after working a few bugs out of it I put it in the barn. I have a two stage snow blower I just picked up, thinking about putting it on the 161. 

Deer season has stalled horse play.

[Darb1964 1,043]

C-160 I mean.

[kpinnc 12,087]

One day, I'm gonna have a C-160 or a Kohler powered 416-8. 

 

If I have to build one, I'm cool with that too. All I need is a K341... 

[ebinmaine 67,596]

5 hours ago, kpinnc said:

One day, I'm gonna have a C-160 or a Kohler powered 416-8. 

 

If I have to build one, I'm cool with that too. All I need is a K341... 

  Did I mention I have 4 C160s?

 

 

 

 

 

Seriously though, don't discount a '74 C160 with a Tecumseh engine. They're pretty rare and certainly have a unique look with the hood open. 

I have 2, a runner and a project one here. 

The one that runs sounds great! Starts right up and wants to work. 

 

I haven't driven it around yet. Looking forward to doing so. 

 

The 2 common issues with the older Tecumseh engines have been solved with modern easily available parts. 

Ignition and carb.  

 

 

[Darb1964 1,043]

9 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

  Did I mention I have 4 C160s?

 

 

 

 

 

Seriously though, don't discount a '74 C160 with a Tecumseh engine. They're pretty rare and certainly have a unique look with the hood open. 

I have 2, a runner and a project one here. 

The one that runs sounds great! Starts right up and wants to work. 

 

I haven't driven it around yet. Looking forward to doing so. 

 

The 2 common issues with the older Tecumseh engines have been solved with modern easily available parts. 

Ignition and carb.  

 

 

I looked at one with a Briggs motor, plastic hood and seat pan, I couldn't see it all that good because it was buried. Owner was going to get back to me when he gets it pulled out. Haven't heard from him.