roadapples 6,983 #26 Posted February 28, 2022 I'm afraid all those extras would have made Wheel Horse unaffordable for most of us... 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #27 Posted February 28, 2022 Yes, but that is what I want… oh yea, and affordable too! Also complimentary transferable bumper to bumper service, and warranty for life. I’d even pay an extra hundred bucks for that! 👍 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RED-Z06 2,221 #28 Posted February 28, 2022 38 minutes ago, roadapples said: I'm afraid all those extras would have made Wheel Horse unaffordable for most of us... But thats the beauty of a broad market. 300/400/500 series, the big upgrade on the 300 to 400 was hydraulic lift. There was no real upgrade from 400 to 500, beyond 2 to 4hp increase...it was no more capable, they just swept the axle and offered a spendy steering assist kit..and it was allowed to accept a 60" deck. But it was quite a bit more expensive...5500 was retail for a 520H in the mid 90s. My 93 416H was 4750 new. A deere 318 with 2 spools of hydraulics, power steering and split brakes was $5800, and accepted rear pto, 3pt hitch. A 522xi by comparison was $7700 in 1999, and the 523dxi was $9500, which was right on par with Deere 425/445/455D. Just felt like Toro/WH was so stuck on using the 40+ year old frame, steering, trans, and belt drive...that they really capped themselves on capability and couldn't get into the SuperGT market until the XI series but by that time, they were really not offering any advantage over established brands, they were in the market with New Holland, Deere, Simplicity and others that were not newcomers 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #29 Posted February 28, 2022 I think turf products, aka Toro, was a well established lawn care, and commercial grounds keeping equipment company, and they wanted to dabble in the garden tractor market with the accusation of Wheel Horse. I don’t think they fully committed to the venture, or pushed for the top spot. When the market got tough with the compact tractors, and SCUT’s they just went back to doing what they were accustomed to… however, just my opinion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RED-Z06 2,221 #30 Posted February 28, 2022 1 hour ago, equipment guy said: I think turf products, aka Toro, was a well established lawn care, and commercial grounds keeping equipment company, and they wanted to dabble in the garden tractor market with the accusation of Wheel Horse. I don’t think they fully committed to the venture, or pushed for the top spot. When the market got tough with the compact tractors, and SCUT’s they just went back to doing what they were accustomed to… however, just my opinion. Toro really only did turf products well. They bought Exmark to rebadge the Exmark Z as Toro. Bought WH for riding mowers. Bought into ryobi for handheld stuff...after getting into bed with MTD for their Residential mowers. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chestnut 315 #31 Posted February 28, 2022 6 hours ago, pacer said: Whoa!! NICE lookin tractor! But, like @oliver2-44 ..... a REAL paint booth! Covet, covet....... Can I say it on this forum?......green with envy 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roadapples 6,983 #32 Posted February 28, 2022 I rest my case.. this is why I'm using a 45 year old tractor. I couldn't buy a 5- 10,000 dollar tractor today.... 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #33 Posted February 28, 2022 2 hours ago, RED-Z06 said: Toro really only did turf products well. They bought Exmark to rebadge the Exmark Z as Toro. Bought WH for riding mowers. Bought into ryobi for handheld stuff...after getting into bed with MTD for their Residential mowers. Agreed, they have done what is best for business. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #34 Posted February 28, 2022 13 minutes ago, roadapples said: I rest my case.. this is why I'm using a 45 year old tractor. I couldn't buy a 5- 10,000 dollar tractor today.... Up until this year, I have used in combination, a 1941 Allis Chalmers C, 1958 IHC 460, 1969 Cub Cadet 105, and a 1973 Simplicity 4041 Powermax. They all got the job done! now. A days, it’s just me here, and I’m getting older and everything seems to take me longer to do, so I had to invest in some newer equipment, or change my lifestyle, which I didn’t want to do… 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #35 Posted February 28, 2022 Some more pics of new 520XI 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,218 #36 Posted March 1, 2022 On 2/28/2022 at 11:40 AM, equipment guy said: imagine split brakes, differential lock, rear 540, 3 point, and a couple sets of hydraulic remotes on a 523DXI… Yep, and that would've gotten you...a red JD at a non-competitive price point! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,864 #37 Posted March 1, 2022 23 hours ago, RED-Z06 said: Toro really only did turf products well. They bought Exmark to rebadge the Exmark Z as Toro. Bought WH for riding mowers. Bought into ryobi for handheld stuff...after getting into bed with MTD for their Residential mowers. I’m just glad they kept the quality running strong as long as they did 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RED-Z06 2,221 #38 Posted March 1, 2022 39 minutes ago, Pullstart said: I’m just glad they kept the quality running strong as long as they did They did a pretty good job of keeping the 300/400/500 true to their roots but...there were <others>.. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #39 Posted March 1, 2022 2 hours ago, Handy Don said: Yep, and that would've gotten you...a red JD at a non-competitive price point! I grew up an IH guy. I was used to paying for red, or at least anything not green… 🤪 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #40 Posted March 1, 2022 46 minutes ago, Pullstart said: I’m just glad they kept the quality running strong as long as they did Agreed! Earliest I have is a 73 D160, and now I have a 88 520XI, with a couple 520H’s in between. All are very well built! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #41 Posted March 1, 2022 8 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said: They did a pretty good job of keeping the 300/400/500 true to their roots but...there were <others>.. I wonder if a loader and backhoe were available for this? If it has a third function, maybe I could get a grapple rake and pick up my pine needles… 🤔 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RED-Z06 2,221 #42 Posted March 1, 2022 30 minutes ago, equipment guy said: I wonder if a loader and backhoe were available for this? If it has a third function, maybe I could get a grapple rake and pick up my pine needles… 🤔 They were useful as ballast... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #43 Posted March 1, 2022 Yes, and if the grass was wet, and slippery, you could pull yourself across the lawn! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
equipment guy 55 #44 Posted March 2, 2022 On 2/28/2022 at 6:56 AM, Pullstart said: 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/ This morning I jacked up the front end. I wasn’t looking forward to what I would find, as it is a loader tractor… as I lifted it, I kept my eye on the axle, it did not move. Proceeded to move it up, down, snd side to side. Next to no movement in any direction. I think I lucked out! Only movement in the steering system seems to be the steering arms at the top of the spindles ( they need to be tightened ) this manual steering system seems to be superior to the system in the 520H. the more I dig into this tractor, the more I am impressed! 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,864 #45 Posted March 2, 2022 Awesome news! Well since it’s a loader machine, make good use of that feature and the fact that it’s all tight… when you do your front end grease work pm’s, it’s a great idea to lift the front end off the ground with the bucket and let the grease into the actual wear areas. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
