WILL IT START ? - Wheel Horse C-120

[@vagabond96h]

Wheel Horse was part of American Motors in the 70's. They should get credit for not altering the excellent quality built into those machines. My mom and stepdad wore out one of them and bought another on their small farm with a large yard in Indiana .

[@henrytomlinson3634]

Don't paint it just love it and use it, it sounds great and it's made so well. All the best from Henry

[@joestone2068]

Leave it the way it is the patina looks great. I have these old tractors and I love them.

[@zman3534]

I live in the central U.S my dad and now myself have owned and maintained the same Wheel Horse since 1972. It's a Charger 12, like yours only hydrostatic, with a hydraulic lift in the center and rear both. It used the Brinly line of attachments. Breaking plow, disk, cultivator etc. Ours also has a dozer blade(with down pressure, it'll lift the front wheels off the ground) a snowblower, belly blade in addition to the grass mower. Personally I'd just pressure wash it give a good going over it and enjoy. If you plan on making a show tractor then yes I'd sand it all down and go back that way. Enjoy.

[@dennisspiehs4593]

Restore is not a re-paint as you call it just clean it up good it’s a real beauty you have got a real good deal on that congratulations

[@edkeniston4786]

Those K301’s were good engines! All cast iron, could bore them .060” over, the crank is meaty enough to turn, just good dependable engines. When you give it some maintenance, just remember that is a points ignition system, carburator side of engine, out put shaft end, there is a tin cover with a set of points under it. Love your work.

[@Mudsuitable]

When I was a pup my old man and I built a solid axle go cart with a 12 hp kohler, that thing ripped an absolute beast! Sweet Tractor!!!

[@fredcurrent1843]

Made in South Bend, Indiana USA great tractor.

[@kirklemcke3754]

Love the original look

[@CommanderKratticus_II]

Beautiful little bugger. She runs like a dream. Give her a good wash and let that patina shine.

[@iaingibbs9589]

Well, it was worth watching the video. Just to see the look on your face as it fired up. The land and then looks like a best bet

[@pigpenz2]

35 year old Honda 38/13 here love it use it as a tractor on the smallholding- wonderful old beauty

[@tgs2251]

Love those Kohler engines, they’re pretty much bomb proof. Howard used used to use them on their 350 rotovators, and they’d work their socks off all day long day after day. As for the wheel horse, I don’t think I’d worry about paint, it’s fine as is.

[@DoctaMidNite]

Lamb oil and lawns. Cool tractor!

[@stuartrance277]

Great video , these tractors are greatly underated, but not by the people who own one , they know what they have got 👍😊If it was me , would clean up , wash , do the service items & Prolan , keep it in its original working clothes 😊👍😊😊👍👍

[@cheechU38K]

Purring like a kitten 🐱keep her elle naturelle 😻

[@robbanshotrodgarage5171]

That is a neat tractor to just putter around and having a laugh👍

[@Will45ACP]

Wellsir, I vote for a damn good clean and sheep grease for the old girl. It will look great and smell....distinctive. They only get to look that good with original paint once and if it has stood up well this long best to leave alone. Thanks for posting this, never knew Wheelhorse were built that heavy and appreciate machinery made well. That old Kohler is the sweetest gas utility engine have ever heard...just smooth, even sound and a great exhaust note. Music!

[@Felixdhreviews]

We’ve got two of these one for cutting the grass and one for fun. Brilliant piece of kit.

[@paulg9483]

Good to have you back your Lordship, I think the Wheelhorse deserves to keep her current patina a good clean and preserve. 👌👌👌

[@angel4hire]

I'm so glad I found you through Matt @DieselCreek. My vote, seal it and save the rustic nature.

[@pauldixon3089]

Good wash, full service, a grease round and spray with prolan. Looks good as she stands👍

[@justinphillips6136]

This just made me want to get my old wheel horse back in the garage and up and running for spring.

[@lordcaptainvonthrust3rd]

Do it And film it And then show us 👍

[@beakittelscherz5419]

I like the UK Ghostbusters style cleaning ..🧽 Sweet mini tractor.. didn't see that fat sound coming🤓 Awesome 😎I want to have one of those Cycle Cars with this Motor in it..

[@jamessmith7691]

I have a dozen w/hs well built . It has a full bunch of attachments from front to rear. If you need deck bearings get them cross matched for a fraction of the price in places. You can use an air hose and shoot from the inside out to do the paper element for a quick fix. I sprained my back trying to unstick mine, my fault. I looked it up and the book said upwards of 500 lbs. Good video !

[@davida.p.9911]

Purrs like a kitten!! 😁 Sounds great and drives great.....mows great! Excellent work!! I think it should be preserved. So i vote for the Prolan. 👌

[@nigelbeiley6668]

Lovely piece of machinery, pressure wash and prolan ❤😊

[@fredblogs3303]

Put the biggest smile on my face when she fired up 😁….. I say keep her original it looks in lovely condition 👍

[@SomeGuysSawShop]

Those old wheel horse tractors are pretty neat little tractors, and I’d leave it how it is I like that original paint

[@davidt898]

Don't respray it Kurt, good clean and Prolan, keep that nice original working clothes look. Looking forward to you fettling a bit more on this little tractor

[@Michael-hg6ky]

Give it a ProLan shine and let it live as it has for the last 50 years. I have a C100 that I have used every year for the past 28 years and it is the only lawn tractor tough enough to mow the open field around our house. They are fantastic, super tough and reliable. I will look forward to see what you do with this beauty, they are becoming rare and need to be preserved, used and appreciated. Great video.

[@billbarnes1043]

Years ago I had the 16hp big brother to that one with the mower deck, roto tiller and snow plow. It was a real workhorse!

[@stevenclaeys6252]

Wash, clean & kote it. Let the old girl show her age with pride ! Thank you for another great video. Stay safe out there. Cheers

[@BCII]

Hit it with the lamb oil and call it good mate! Cheers from the states! 🍻🇺🇸

[@mikebrunner1577]

Personally, that machine is worth the work to respray and keep. Wonderful little tractor.

[@justinsnyder711]

They are a beast of a machine. Neat to see one across the pond. Enjoy it Lord Muck.

[@paulhewer6584]

As much as I'd like to see the video of you painting her up to look new again I think it's better to oil her up and leave as is. She suits the used look.

[@AlexLindley-u5f]

Its the Mower Deck that is the achilles heel !!!!!!!!!! - they Rot out from Grass Juice !!. Fantastic Tractor though - had a New one in 76 - Best Garden Tractor ever made. Though Kubota is the next level up equipment wise

[@robertbowen2129]

Just wash keep it has it was cracking little bit of kit 👏🏻

[@wildefox1478]

Cool old tractor, I say just prolan it to preserve the patina, didn't take much to get that old beast running again! I collect old chainsaws and I never restore them, I just clean them up, get them running and leave them in their original patina to show the work they've done.

[@brycesefonte9093]

Love the patina, Prolan for me.

[@robertbirt5093]

Wash and Prolan, keep original. Great video, fantastic old machines

[@KT-dm8en]

These tractors are pretty much garden tanks and were designed to last a lifetime. Unlike todays offerings.

[@raymondojala2277]

Just give a good cleaning with the proland

[@stewartwalls8210]

Sort out the dents and deck then paint it.

[@GeorgeBracht]

Muck Great Vid! Keep it original. I have a ‘76 C 120 8 speed my parents bought new from a Chevy/ Wheel Horse dealer in Adams, Wisconsin Still runs great. I use it for my trail mower

[@michaelguerin56]

Prolan every day of the week. Perfect treatment for this great little vehicle. Also, a great way to get around a show. You would look like a total prat if you drove around on a golf cart OR a quad and … the mini-Matador should be left to the young fella😁. Cheers from NZ🇳🇿. Have a good year. P.S. The Prolan will counteract the smell of old cut grass residue.

[@charleshart6992]

I like to see both types of tractor restoration ie. complete restoration or retained patina - this tractor is in such good condition it would look great with new paint and decals!

[@StevenPotts-ij9ue]

A good clean up and then prolan

[@Risenfoenyx]

Keep it in working clothes ,good grease up ,new belts ,good to go .. Great video ,enjoyed it 👍🏻

[@whitestream5233]

Excellent little tractor the Wheel Horse, and the Kohler engines are very good. Well engineered bit of kit and that one look a good buy for its condition . I think it looks good as is with the Prolan and it keeps it nice and original. I like little tractors as they are very handy in tight spaces and can do some work. All the best Mucker.

[@williamnewsome7811]

I'm new to the channel from the US. Love the content. Keep it up , keep the history... #deaselcreek fan led me to you...

[@jayyoung5423]

Cheers Mucker, over the pond we love these tractors ..thanks for the Collie bit...love those dogs...all dogs actually, peace.

[@mrcrazy6278]

They can go through thick brambles taller than us. And mulch them down.. great work horses and I believe the 6 speed version is more common. That looks a great example.. We had an 8 speed one, it was the first vehicle I ever drove.

[@AndrewHCann]

Excellent day Lord Muck :) also well made plus say start up super and my cousin Dave has one! He got lawn deck , blade for snow plow or dirt bade on back with arms 3 point hitch and plus tiller for ground turn over for garden work for yummy human foods ! Plus wheel weights and tire chains too also Kohler USA motor gas one on his to! Also Lord Muck give tune up plus bath and use respray solution on after dries up too! If want know my cousin Dave use 89 octane with 5 % Ethonal fuel or 91 octane that 0 % Ethonal in plus grey bottle of STP Total Treatment fuel injection and carb cleaner every year plus month uses it , fuel filter changes , spark plugs , air and oil change ever 3 months of 10w30 engine oil no synthetic type to belts 2 times year! He get belts from TORO lawn tractor or farm company sells old farm tractor supplies like called COOP !

[@caffrey9762]

Neighbours ill love that little humdinger 💥 😎, Prolan please & thank you, keep the patina

[@daveburns9775]

Keep it as it is! Looks great.

[@dereham1]

Pro-Lan it, Mucker. Good job, good video.

[@HangingWithHorses]

Minty video m'lud, I got a c121 a few years back to tow a poover around the paddock. I didn't know anything about them, it just happened to be what was available in my area cheapish. Like you, I'm surprisingly impressed with it. There's a couple of videos on my channel if anyone's interested. 👍

[@brianramsey4097]

Enjoy handling a piece of American history it would be a wonderful and glorious thing if America could go back to making our own products and that were made last truly enjoy your channel keep up all the wonderful work that you do thank you

[@retrogear]

Sheep in a can +1 Gees, couldn't Kohler learn a thing or two from what they used to make! Very nice little machine.

[@bobpaterson1845]

Great video Kurt 👍 never had any doubt about it starting 😃 these agri style tyres on the back are over £100 each, one of our club members was a pioneer in getting these little tractors started in horticultural ploughing competitions as you can buya plough called a Brinley that uses the lever for lifting the deck to lift the plough at the back , my preference would be to leave it original every scrape bump dent is part of its history and just so happens originality is my thing, my 1958 is totally original and many people have commented on that 👍 enjoy Lamma 👌

[@richardphelan8414]

Mucker you have a antique there and yes she's a Bute ,I love this older stuff from the 50s and 60s ,good to see you Mucking about with it , this would be a good project to Bring Kim in on to give you a hand ,That fuel line is harder that a bankers heart ,Ya got a runner Mucker ,you need some bloody heat in that shop before you freeze your nickers off, Do a respray

[@gardentractorcollectoruk520H]

Yesss!! I've been watching your channel for years and have been waiting for the moment when you buy a garden tractor. Well done 👍

[@trevorpearson1832]

Thoroughly enjoyed the video, thanks. It looks in really good condition so I would clean it up and then spray it with Prolan. 👍

[@danpaddyandy6150]

“Ticking over like a mouse’s heart” 💓

[@fergalcollins1144]

Very satisfying video again, thanks, I'd polish it up, lovely.

[@jameselderton4414]

Proper solid thing that, Mucka. The ‘Howard Gem’ of ride on tractors 👌 Stick with the prolan and original paint I’d say, its not to shabby as it is.

[@jamessteele7327]

Grew up with Wheel horses..bomb proof and a real work horse

[@johnmilburn5715]

If you can get the decals; respray. If not; Prolan. Either way you are presenting a brilliant machine in its true colours !

[@terryatkinson899]

Kim will nab that and add it to her miniature collection 🤗

[@ohiofarmer1]

I have a 1968 Commando 8 Wheel Horse with an 8 horse Kohler Engine on it that sat for 25 years before I got it I gave $40 American for it clean the carburetor filed the points and it ran that good those Kohler Motors are bulletproof they are the best small engine in my opinion and those wheel horses are awesome How good are they? All OF THE GOOD!! 😂

[@zundappz4]

Hello mucker!! In my opinion its a simple recipe, power wash, service and prolan all over it and have fun with it!! Nice tractor by the way!! Cheers!!

[@fenlandrob6203]

Hi ya Mucker bloody good video of your little tractor! I think you should wash it down and spray it with that sheep oil it’s looks good with that on it. Fenland Rob

[@andrewdayman9420]

Prolan it! Greetings from Australia!!

[@robertmacintyre8065]

Happy NY, Kurt. Prolan it. Keep the patterne. Suits the machine. Great wee tractor & what a good job you did on it. 👌👍

[@LordMuck]

Happy new year Rob !

[@leenewman4344]

Jet wash, polish and preserve that one Mr muck, it looks great as it is!

[@Jerry-bd2zs]

The purest would say restoration but I think it looks better with the patina it has it earned every bit of it I hope this helps

[@fulwell1]

Make it mechanically and functionally spot on - blades sharpened, belts replaced the lot - but keep the patina, clean it up and give it the lanolin treatment

[@christaylor4904]

Brilliant little tractors , overhauled one recently because Dad had one in the seventies. Prolan

[@johnobiro5202]

I’ve been looking for one for ages. Don’t paint it, keep the Patina. Just lanolin it. Good vid Mucker. 👍🔧

[@norman32949]

What a cracking wee machine there Mucker , just a wipe down with the oily rag will do for me. 👌

[@trevorsidley7697]

Nice video Kurt. I picked up a 706 in 1988 and it got a page in Tractor & Machinery a few years back (August 2011) ; Got rid as the deck finally rotted beyond possible repair and the shaft stub mounts in the deck cracked.. Got a Toro but it was nowhere near as good. Apparently the first Wheel Horse models used cut down Ford Model T rear axles. Proper Job.

[@wilsonlaidlaw]

That is probably an American Made Wheelhorse like my first little 6HP one (Clinton engine with belt drive dynastart), which was very solidly made. Sadly the bevel gears on the cutter deck wore out and no spares available but I sold it as a run around to someone else. I then bought another 16hp model for the mcuh larger 2 acre lawn at our new house. It turned out to be Spanish made and was rubbish. It fell to bits within 3 years. We replaced it with a John Deere 285 some 38 years ago and that is still running, albeit without its cutter deck which rusted away and again no spares available. We now use an Iseki diesel three cylinder which is a wonderful bit of kit, with hydraulic emptying of the 500L grass hopper.

[@johnharris1636]

Pro-Lan if your lordship would please! I came over from Diesel Creek (I’ve exhausted his videos) and would like to see more of this Wheel Horse!

[@LordMuck]

Have a look through my video library, there's various stuff and things to see 😉

[@johnharris1636]

@@LordMuck Thanks, I’m doing that!

[@mattwyatt2375]

Leave the tin work as is and give her a coat of pro lan , great vid Kurt , nice to see the wheel.horse running and what a cracking tune she makes .

[@jphoffmann9687]

If you haven't done anything to it yet, I'd suggest a deep clean only and then put something on it to preserve the patina.

[@chrislovejoy8249]

Nice little tractor Mucker sounds great should cut some grass when sorted🚜👍

[@simonchambers663]

The Wheel horse is an oily rag restoration all day long Mucker. 👍🏻😎👌🏻🚜

[@paulharrington9795]

Those wheelhorse are brilliant little tractors grandfather owned one for years but I think be better to keep it original and preserve it

[@MarkSmith-vi3gt]

Pro lan all over mucker they are brilliant little machines very much underrated good luck happy new year

[@gchubb]

Amazing little tractor. I do believe that you can get a flexible shaft pto to run a chainsaw attachment and hedge cutter. Connect to the end of the engine pulley. Have fun Mucker

[@57fitter]

Way back at the beginning , I KNEW this was your question. Keep that original paint. Fix any dents and maintain it. Nice paint makes things too damn nice to use.

[@axcs0119]

Need to find yourself a Gravley tow wheel tractor. The nice thing about them is the attachments that were available fit most any of the tractors, they never changed the attachment point.

[@wideyxyz2271]

Pro Lan all the way. That old paintwork tells its life story and looks cool...❤

[@davidhenshaw3509]

Great video, keep her in her overalls and prolan it👍

[@spannerdog123]

Hooray a will it start! Thank you LM.

[@mrtrusty101]

She lives, awesome little old trusty. I’ve got a 1974 simplicity lawn tractor I use to cart my 6x4 trailer around my place. I’ve got chains on the back wheels and she’ll climb and tow some heavy weight lol, it has a gratorblade I’ve attached on the front. The mower deck shit itself many years ago and I’m spewing I didn’t keep it to restore but anyway, she still runs and runs well. It’s a hydraulic drive, actually has a hydraulic pump on the back that drives the wheels and it’s similar to this old girl you got going, very solid unit. I reckon Mucker, you give her just a good clean up as the paint in yours does seem to be not too bad plus it gives it a sense of age. But old mate, it’s up to you, she would look tops if you did repaint it though ❤❤😊😂👍

[@Munter1]

Personally l'd coat it to keep the patina, l used to use one years ago they just keep on going, the only things to go wrong are belts wearing out and deck rotting out, (seam weld patches under the deck not on top) keep pully bearings greased blades sharp job done.

[@89Mechanicman]

I’m a Mower tragic myself, my first “tractor” was a Westwood T1200 when I was 9 years old, which I still have now. I also have a vintage tractor, cars, other stuff but I have a shed in the garden with 5 cylinder mowers, my Westwood T1200 and a Westwood Lawnbug. I love the old mowers, I get them dirt cheap, get them running and usually leave them in the shed. I enjoy the tinkering and getting them going and have had enough not worth sorting that I’ve accumulated enough spares to get them running without spending a penny. As for the wheel horse, wipe it over, get the mechanicals right and use it.

[@TWFTransAmF250Kaw]

I'm still using my 1976 B60. Parts are available. I believe the frame was the same for B60, B80, B100, C120, C160. I had to do some metal work on the mower deck. I agree the quality of tractor is very good.

[@garyz2043]

I love lanolin,sheep grease.I'm Welsh : }