My first Wheel Horse OHV 315/8

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,327]

  Picked this us yesterday off a member here on the square.

  Newest WH that has even been in my garage! Not sure what year yet, still need to run the numbers.
  Included a sweet 48” deck that I will most likely sell as it won’t fit thru my shed door , and a 48” plow that is not as nice but usable.

  Pics of course….

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Always have read good things about them.  

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,327]

Yikes! Newer than I thought.

  73450 2002 315-8 Garden Tractor 8 Speed Kohler CH15S-44533 s/n: 22

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Forget now, what is the last year W-H name was used on a Toro tractor?

[pfrederi 17,741]

Interesting to see the Electric PTO (Usually covered up).. That is a modern style (easy to fond) can you take a couple of close ups on how it is mounted.  Would be great if we could figure out how to use that newer style on the older WHs.

[ebinmaine 67,596]

31 minutes ago, AMC RULES said:

Forget now, what is the last year W-H name was used on a Toro tractor?

2007?

 

 

@Sparky good find there. 

[Skwerl58 704]

Nice tractor and great find. Lots of interesting stuff on this tractor. The pto, tires, cup holder and muffler shield are what I noticed. Some of the newer stuff doesn't do much for me but this one has changed my view of the later stuff.

[EB-80/8inPA 1,655]

That red exhaust shroud is bangin.

[ebinmaine 67,596]

15 minutes ago, Skwerl58 said:

muffler shield

 

4 minutes ago, EB-80/8inPA said:

That red exhaust shroud is bangin.

 

 

Agreed. 

It adds a subtle but very nice touch. 

[Pullstart 62,906]

Cool find!  Funny question about badging… and a little off topic… but Kohler is a very integral part of so many Wheel Horses.  How do they have an engines division and a plumbing/fixtures division?  Like imagine Wheel Horse also selling refrigerators or toilets…?

[bds1984 1,435]

I've had mine for five years now and has been a great performer.  Compared to my C165, it is much quieter, uses less fuel, and very smooth running.  I was a little skeptical of low-end power when I first got it, but it performed quite well in mowing through some thick overgrowth by the tree line out back.  

 

Well....  Ford had Philco electronics and refrigerators and GM had Frigidaire at one time so it isn't that unheard of for companies to branch out.

[AMC RULES 37,130]

You gotta diversify your portfolio Kevin.

Believe it or not...

in a roundabout way, there are these refridgerators in our W-H history.

 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,327]

  This one hasn’t seen much use lately so once I thawed out the throttle cable, checked fluids and aired up one front tire it was off to the woods to be broken in! 
  No roughhousing, just a nice slow ride on the trails. Stream is frozen up good so I rolled right over without an issue . 
  Ran well. Only thing I don’t like and will probably eliminate is the clutch damper shock thingy. Super annoying and it operated real slow today, temps are in the single digits here. 

[Maxwell-8 4,277]

1 hour ago, Sparky said:

73450 2002 315-8 Garden Tractor 8 Speed Kohler CH15S-44533 s/n: 22

nice find! 

2002, That is even newer then me! 

 

Are those the stock rim colors?

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,327]

3 minutes ago, Maxwell-8 said:

 

Are those the stock rim colors?

Nope. Been repainted a darker gray..,and I really like it! 

[AMC RULES 37,130]

It is a nice look.  

[peter lena 8,634]

 

@Sparky ,nice looking unit ,have a question about that electric PTO , have you ever tried to or thought about   the lubrication on that outer bearing set up? typically they have squealing violent start , most of the ones I have seen have similar rusty dust on that outer bearing. wonder if a specific , hi temp anti sling polyurea grease , would make that an easier start ?  just looking , pete

[8ntruck 7,016]

1 hour ago, Pullstart said:

Cool find!  Funny question about badging… and a little off topic… but Kohler is a very integral part of so many Wheel Horses.  How do they have an engines division and a plumbing/fixtures division?  Like imagine Wheel Horse also selling refrigerators or toilets…?

Motor Wheel was a wheel supplier to the automotive industry.  In addition to wheels for cars, light trucks, and semi trucks, they also made Reo lawn mowers and snow throwers (that was pre Wheel Horse for Reo), brake drums for cars, light and heavy trucks, brake drums for DC-3's, railroad hand brake wheels, wheels for the motorized 'hand cars' for railroads, exhaust pipes, and air conditioners and furnaces through the DuoTherm brand.

[edgro 677]

4 hours ago, Pullstart said:

Cool find!  Funny question about badging… and a little off topic… but Kohler is a very integral part of so many Wheel Horses.  How do they have an engines division and a plumbing/fixtures division?  Like imagine Wheel Horse also selling refrigerators or toilets…?

I once watched how its made for toilets , and its quite a process, but it also made sense then that making cast iron engine blocks could be done by the same workers/ engineers/ mold makers

[JCM 9,177]

Hopefully you and that 315 will be married until at least the 10th of September so you can haul that up to the M & G for a nice ride over the river and through the woods. Perfect tires for the event. Good luck with it Mike.

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,327]

Trail ride videos.
Please let me know if they are viewable, thanks! Shot using my I-phone

 

[kpinnc 12,087]

7 hours ago, peter lena said:

@Sparky ,nice looking unit ,have a question about that electric PTO , have you ever tried to or thought about   the lubrication on that outer bearing set up?

 

Looks great Mike! I agree on the wheel color too. Nice contrast!

 

I was thinking along with what Pete says, and wanted to add my $.02:

 

Definitely check out the soft start clutch controllers if you plan to use any powered toys with it. It gets rid of that jolt when the clutch is engaged. Saves belts and operator nerves.

 

https://www.gdimeters.com/products.cfm?Page=Products&Product=SoftStart Clutch Controller

Edited January 16, 2022 by kpinnc

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,327]

22 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

 

Definitely check out the soft start clutch controllers if you plan to use any powered toys with it. It gets rid of that jolt when the clutch is engaged. Saves belts and operator nerves.

 

https://www.gdimeters.com/products.cfm?Page=Products&Product=SoftStart Clutch Controller

Interesting…my Craftsman GT3000 has an electric clutch. I throttle to 1/2 or just below 1/2 before I “hit the switch” for the PTO. It does engage hard still.

[kpinnc 12,087]

Just now, Sparky said:

Interesting…my Craftsman GT3000 has an electric clutch. I throttle to 1/2 or just below 1/2 before I “hit the switch” for the PTO. It does engage hard still.

 

My Scag previously was a little underpowered prior to being upgraded, so it had to be almost wide open to engage without choking down. The controller fixed that. It has one lead that coils the spark plug wire so it knows how rapidly to engage the clutch based on RPMs. It engages with pulses so it doesn't have as much shock to the belts. Sounds almost like an old sewing machine instead of two hammers hitting together. But it does lock down fully after a second or two.

[peter lena 8,634]

@kpinnc thanks for the detailing on that , as I  said most of those I  have seen and herd , are like a instant screaming wreck , I don't have one , but if I did , it would be as smooth as possible. my regular clutch pto drive starts so easily , its like nothing , the detailing on function and lubrication , makes a huge difference, hope to get snow , more likely , heavy rain / wind, pete