equipment guy 55 #1 Posted February 28, 2022 Hi all, I’m asking this same question on Simple Tractor’s. I am in need of 2 small loader tractors to handle firewood chores at my place, and at my son’s home. price point seems to put me in the 1990’s- maybe early 2000,s. Garden tractor series that I am considering are Wheel Horse XI, Simplicity Legacy, and Ariens GT. Which do you prefer, and why? Safety is top priority, and I think power steering is a must, as well as available implements for other tasks. I just bought an XI with loader, but no power steering. However, I don’t think it will be ideal for the terrain it will be used on without power steering. It is a donor FEL though. I will probably just set the XI up with the mower deck, and sell it to help fund some of this endeavor… Thanks for your help, Ryan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,905 #2 Posted February 28, 2022 Hi Ryan, that Xi in my opinion is quite the beast for a loader. Having loaded tires and wheel weights may help with stability on your terrain. Could you play around with front tire options and pressures to see if you can steer it any easier with a load on it? Make sure to check out the front axle pivot though. It wears more than you think without much notice until you Jack up the front end. https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/topic/92609-xi-series-front-axle-pivot-repair/ 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,298 #3 Posted February 28, 2022 A weight box at the rear of the tractor will help steering effort considerably. By having weight behind the rear wheels it transfers some of the weight off of the front axle. Running higher tire pressure in the front tires is also very helpful, I keep mine at 30 psi. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #4 Posted February 28, 2022 Thank you! It is very well built. I removed the sheet metal this weekend, and pressure washed it, I have rear wheels off, and it raised up to have better access for the pressure washing. It is clean as a whistle now. Everything looks excellent. My saying is it was preserved in dirt. I will check the axle pivot, when I get it back on its feet… IT is in need of new tires, and I will load them with we fluid, and I have wheel weights I can use. I like using un sprung weight. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,905 #5 Posted February 28, 2022 (edited) I’d love to see some of your loader. The one I repaired the front axle on is an ongoing loader project as well. https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/topic/68968-ark-500-loader-rebuild-on-a-522xi/?page=6&tab=comments#comment-896001 Edited February 28, 2022 by Pullstart 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #6 Posted February 28, 2022 Rear weight box does make sense with the extra leverage. Tractor came with a Kwik Way weight box. Also I need to replace tires, and I have a pair of 16x6.50-8 tri rib tire that are very heavy duty, and would do well with extra pressure in them I think. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #7 Posted February 28, 2022 This is the picture I was sent from the previous owner when I inquired about it. I will take some pics of it today… 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,905 #8 Posted February 28, 2022 Are those duals, or just the widest single rear tires ever? nice looking rig! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #9 Posted February 28, 2022 Widest ever 23x25-12. 😂 it’s actually the Kwik Way dual wheel kit as suggested in the brochure for the loader. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,905 #10 Posted February 28, 2022 Make sure the outer tires have no or lower air pressure. They aren’t designed to stress the axles, just add stability. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,601 #11 Posted February 28, 2022 1 hour ago, equipment guy said: I have a pair of 16x6.50-8 tri rib tire that are very heavy duty, and would do well with extra pressure in them Three rib tires always makes them steer easier in my opinion. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #12 Posted February 28, 2022 I figured it was just a safety thing. They won’t work out in the tight spaces I need to access. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #13 Posted February 28, 2022 I had these tri ribs on a older Cub Cadet, and they worked great in the woods on leaves, and loose ground. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chestnut 315 #14 Posted February 28, 2022 2 hours ago, 953 nut said: A weight box at the rear of the tractor will help steering effort considerably. By having weight behind the rear wheels it transfers some of the weight off of the front axle. Running higher tire pressure in the front tires is also very helpful, I keep mine at 30 psi. I second that. The filled tires and wheel weights are good, but weight in the weight box actually takes some weight off the front tires. Think of it as a lever with the rear axle as the pivot. Same way that loader is a lever with the pivot at the front axle. Without that weight off the back it was easy to lift the rear wheels off the ground carrying something heavy in the loader. I keep at least 300 pounds in the weight box of the 520H. When I had less the steering was much heavier and the rear wheels always wanted to spin. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #15 Posted February 28, 2022 Yup, the leverage works wonders. This was my ballast this past summer. Now the tires are loaded with Rim Guard, and I have a weight box with about 400 pounds of miscellaneous cast iron weights in it. Bare tractor was very tippy… 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #16 Posted February 28, 2022 Here are a few pictures of the tractor cleaned up. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #17 Posted February 28, 2022 More pics. I guess I can’t post more now. I will try later. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oliver2-44 9,759 #18 Posted February 28, 2022 What are you doing in my paint booth….I wish. Tell us about it 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pacer 3,173 #19 Posted February 28, 2022 2 minutes ago, oliver2-44 said: .I wish. Tell us about it Whoa!! NICE lookin tractor! But, like @oliver2-44 ..... a REAL paint booth! Covet, covet....... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RED-Z06 2,221 #20 Posted February 28, 2022 Its hard to find loaders for old iron...im looking at a Little Buck Loader for my Deere 420, it has power steering thankfully, and 3 spools of hydraulics 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #21 Posted February 28, 2022 That’s what I do for a real job, when I’m not tinkering with tractors, cutting wood, or gardening…😁 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #22 Posted February 28, 2022 I have seen the little Buck loaders on line, seem pretty nice to me since you have a JD perfect. Power steering is nice. I’m getting too old to wrestle these around in tight places. Extra hydraulic spools should have been standard on most of these garden tractors, or at least a power beyond port, in my opinion… Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RED-Z06 2,221 #23 Posted February 28, 2022 Just now, equipment guy said: I have seen the little Buck loaders on line, seem pretty nice to me since you have a JD perfect. Power steering is nice. I’m getting too old to wrestle these around in tight places. Extra hydraulic spools should have been standard on most of these garden tractors, or at least a power beyond port, in my opinion… Never understood why WH didnt do more, extra spools, standard power steering, 26x12x12 and 18x8.50x8 tires. My 416 would be awesome with hydro outlets...but even the 520...they just added gauges 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #24 Posted February 28, 2022 My first Wheel Horse was a 520H that was given to me with a broken connecting rod and a popped out valve seat. I rebuilt it put a cab on it, and gave it to my father. He used it year round until he passed in 2020. I went through it mechanically again last summer. Steering, electrical etc… Yes, imagine split brakes, differential lock, rear 540, 3 point, and a couple sets of hydraulic remotes on a 523DXI… 🤔 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #25 Posted February 28, 2022 This is my shop, and my dad’s 520H. 2 stage blower on it now. Spray booth is behind the big door. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
