Wheel Horse 312-8 garden tractor

[OutdoorEnvy]

Hey folks!  Here is a 1985 Wheel Horse 312-8 I picked up a while back.  Did some major tune up/maintenance work but she's looking and running great for a 35 year oldish machine.  Nothing was broke when I got it but it needed lots of refreshing.  It's got a good old Kohler 12hp K301s engine.  Had a 42" side discharge deck in really good shape with it.  Just this week I found a snow plow blade for it.  It's got lots of surface rust but I can clean it up and paint it before winter.  Anyways...here's the tractor:

Day I brought it home



After refreshing





Here's the plow put on!



I will trying to accumulate sleeve hitch attachments as good deals come available.

So anyone else have a Wheel Horse or other brand garden tractor to share on?  I'd love to see and hear about it!    So post it up!!!

[Moe M.]

  Thanks for sharing,  I am always amazed at how long those old tractor last and still run strong,  we have a late '80's era Craftsman with a 20 hp. Kohler engine, it's done our snow plowing for the last 8 years, it was well used when we bought it but it's given great service,  it's starting to get tired,  so my son picked up an '86 Bolens with the same Kohler 20hp. engine,  it comes with a wider plow, mower deck, and harrow,  all hydraulic.
  He took it all apart and rebuilt the front end,  put in new rear axles, hydraulic lines and wheels, brakes, tires, and starter,  now he's got the engine out of it and assembling the parts to rebuild it,  it wasn't supposed to be a total restoration,  but that's the way it's going.

[wsdstan]

Thanks OE.  Don't see many of them around where I live.  My neighbor in Colorado had one but didn't use it much.  Your unit looks to be in good shape and perfect for mowing long runs along my driveway.     Amazing that it is in good shape after 35 years.  Glad it works well for you.

I looked them up and did not know that Toro bought them 1986 and used the name until 2007.

[OutdoorEnvy]

Thanks guys!  That Bolens your son is restoring Moe is a solid machine well worth the effort.  He'll have a solid rig for 40 more years when he's done!  All hydro is really nice too. 

So Moe are going to keep the craftsman going as long as it can?  Or will it be retired?  Your son may have the rebuild process done when he's done with his.  It really is the deal where they just don't make like they used to. 

[OutdoorEnvy]

Thanks OE.  Don't see many of them around where I live.  My neighbor in Colorado had one but didn't use it much.  Your unit looks to be in good shape and perfect for mowing long runs along my driveway.     Amazing that it is in good shape after 35 years.  Glad it works well for you.

I looked them up and did not know that Toro bought them 1986 and used the name until 2007.

Yeah Toro took over and in 1987 the kohler switched from the K series to the Magnum "M" series.  They are really good as it's basically the same engine just went to electronic ignition with the flywheel, instead of the points and condenser on the K series.  Any of them good and worth the effort to save. 

[crashdive123]

Looks like you did a great job freshening it up.  Hope it gives you another 35 years of service.

[Moe M.]

Thanks guys!  That Bolens your son is restoring Moe is a solid machine well worth the effort.  He'll have a solid rig for 40 more years when he's done!  All hydro is really nice too. 

So Moe are going to keep the craftsman going as long as it can?  Or will it be retired?  Your son may have the rebuild process done when he's done with his.  It really is the deal where they just don't make like they used to.

 At this point we aren't sure what we'll do with the Craftman,  it's been a solid machine,  allot better than I expected, I bought it from a guy in CT. for $500.00 bucks delivered to our yard,  I was thinking of buying a newer machine but bought this one thinking I'd get a season out of it to give me time to find a nice late model used tractor,  but the thing was like the Energizer Bunny,  it just wouldn't quit.
 The problem is the engine is pretty tired and all of the working parts are worn, the frame attachment holes and bushings are all egged out, and I don't know if we can get parts or if it's even worth it,  the Bolens is almost finished, but I like to have a spare,  up here in southern New England we have seasons with very little snow, and others when we get clobbered,  we have a decent snow blower, but the tractor does the heavy work, if it breaks down and you don't have something to fall back on your in trouble.
 My other thought would be to use what ever money we'd have to spend on repairing the Craftsman might be better spent looking for another oldy but goody that's in better all around shape as a spare.   

[OutdoorEnvy]

My other thought would be to use what ever money we'd have to spend on repairing the Craftsman might be better spent looking for another oldy but goody that's in better all around shape as a spare.   

That may be the way to go...With it still summer you'd have some time here to keep an eye out for a good one.  You're in an area where they should pop up with some regularity.  Keep me updated if you have any luck.  It would be interesting to hear what you come across. 

[Moe M.]

My other thought would be to use what ever money we'd have to spend on repairing the Craftsman might be better spent looking for another oldy but goody that's in better all around shape as a spare.   

That may be the way to go...With it still summer you'd have some time here to keep an eye out for a good one.  You're in an area where they should pop up with some regularity.  Keep me updated if you have any luck.  It would be interesting to hear what you come across.

  Will do. 

[OutdoorEnvy]

Rigged up for some ground leveling!

[wsdstan]

Do you flip that bar with the teeth over to dig in to the ground?  Do you add weight to the unit?

[OutdoorEnvy]

Do you flip that bar with the teeth over to dig in to the ground?  Do you add weight to the unit?

You can.  Depends on what you want to do.  I'll just be smoothing out some loose sand and dirt and removing the excess to fill low spots.  If you were wanting to rip up ground to level, like ruts, you would want the teeth down.  It's a pretty versatile tool.  Can be a box blade, grader blade, snow plow, etc.  The sides can come off and it has 4 positions and rotates 180 degrees... It's a Brinly box blade, sleeve hitch version.

Edit: Meant to add you can add weight.  You can do up to two 50lb cinder blocks.  I haven't needed that really.  There's a little tray you can mount off the back if you want to add the blocks.  I bet it weighs around 75-100lbs itself.

[wsdstan]

Thanks.  That is a pretty darn handy tractor. 

[OutdoorEnvy]

Had about 6 inches of snow a month back and got to put the plow to work!