Considering a restoration

[bgsengine]

Thinking about making this a Restoration Project.. have not decided yet.. the deck is in really good shape - Usually the cast iron spindle housing on these are busted to pieces, but this one is complete. Wheel Horse 856 with RMR-32 Cross Shaft mower.

[TwoCycle]

That's the best condition resto candidate I've ever seen.

[bgsengine]

It runs great too. starts right up (After charging the battery - It wont hold a charge) , doesn't burn oil, mows great.. just need a lot of work - hubs loose, belts, input pulley loose, needs tires (dry rot) , and a lot of bushings replaced or fabricated for the deck.. new wheel horse decals (Previous owner was a retired Ford tech, he owned that tractor since it was new.. . Thus, the "Ford" labels on it.. LOL! ) Got sources for most of the parts, only issues I may have will be the fabrication (don't have a lathe or end mill.. need to get 'em one of these days..) Its been well cared for - thing is older than I am. Although if someone came along and offered me $350 cash as-is, I'd sell it in a minute.

Other thing keeping me from starting in on it is, a matter of available time.

[fixer5000]

my younger brother has one of those up in vt that he still uses. actually i think it is older than yours brian

[bgsengine]

my younger brother has one of those up in vt that he still uses. actually i think it is older than yours brian

Could be - Easy way to tell on these particular models is the last digit of the model

856 = 8 HP built in 1956 853 = 8 HP built in 1953 .. you get the idea

[Buckshot 1]

my younger brother has one of those up in vt that he still uses. actually i think it is older than yours brian

Could be - Easy way to tell on these particular models is the last digit of the model

856 = 8 HP built in 1956 853 = 8 HP built in 1953 .. you get the idea

Incorrect, 856, 8HP, 5= electric start, built in 1966. There was no 853, there is a 753. If there is a 0 (zero) in the model number, such as x0x, that would be a recoil start only no electric.

[bgsengine]

my younger brother has one of those up in vt that he still uses. actually i think it is older than yours brian

Could be - Easy way to tell on these particular models is the last digit of the model

856 = 8 HP built in 1956 853 = 8 HP built in 1953 .. you get the idea

Incorrect, 856, 8HP, 5= electric start, built in 1966. There was no 853, there is a 753. If there is a 0 (zero) in the model number, such as x0x, that would be a recoil start only no electric.

OK memory's foggy - My bad - got the wrong decade... (or I just typoed it without thinking it out, can't recall, but I KNEW it was 60's not sure why I typed 56,53, etc.)
but the basic idea is there .. Used to work on them all the time way back when I worked at a WheelHorse dealer .. 20 years back I probably would have spotted this same error.... and I knew the 753 , it must have been a typo on my part, what with all the 8's and 6's I'd just typed..

[Buckshot 1]

BGS, I kinda fiqured that it was either brain fade or a typo. In my estimation Wheel Horse Lawn and garden tractors are the easiest to work on that was before Toro got in the game. There are still plenty of parts available new/used. On the model I.D. tag, if it starts with a 1= lawn tractor, 2= garden tractor. I am in the process of restoring a 656, along with building a rat rod out of a lawn ranger (lawn tractor). Good luck on witch ever way you decide to go on the 856.

[motorhead64]

If this has the hi=lo transmission, you can use it for pulling houses off foundations. I have an old B60 7 horse that I saved from the boneyard..built of American steel and will creep at idle and pull as much as a truck. MH

[Buckshot 1]

MH, 856 did not have a twin stick trans, but you are correct, with a twin stick in compond low they will move about anything, if they have the traction. My 656 I converted to a twin stick trans and it is amazing with the 6HP engine and when I am in compound low, what I could move. Yes, they were built out of American steel in S. Bend, IN.