I bought a 1961 used Wheelhorse lawn tractor when I was 15 years old. It came with the mower deck, a snow blower, , snow plow and those round disks used to turn soil. I loved working on it, years later I took my children for rides on it, cleared the sidewalks of snow for all my neighbors, and just made great memories. The tractor and I are both 62 years old and, it still runs.

I'm from the UK and this is a very nostalgic tractor for me! I grew up in a small cottage in the woods, and my dad used to coppice the woodland around the house. We used exactly the same tractor with a trailer to get the logs out and I used to drive it in and out. My Dad would set me off (I couldn't reach the clutch 😂) and my Mum would stop me at the other end and help get the logs out! I loved my childhood!

When a video like this asks if it will run I assume the answer is going to be ..."YES!"

When I was 12 years old (1968), I had the job of cutting our 3/4 acre yard with a 19” 3 hp Briggs and Stratton push mower. What a dreaded weekly summer chore! One Saturday Dad took me out to our local Wheel Horse dealer and bought one. I will never forget that day of liberation. Thanks for the memory!

The round sticker on the battery is your manufacture date. E is the 5th month. 6 is three last digit of the year. Yours is either May of 2016 or 2006. Probably '16

Hope you, Roscoe, meatball and the gang are doing well

Matt cracks me up with his child like enthusiasm when he gets things going. I look forward to it every time.

CONGRATULATIONS, Matt! Once again, you've saved a piece of equipment from destruction!

Just when I needed something to watch for breakfast, our man provides.

That is a great tractor! I am a wheelhorse guy and own 7 of them at this time. I was thrilled to see you working on this one. These tractors are timeless and I plow my driveway out each year and mow with mine. I live in the snowbelt of Western New York state and that tractor has no problem dealing with all the snow we get. I get replacement seats for mine at Northern Tool, if you are thinking about replacing that one.

Matt for me there’s nothing more cathartic than mowing grass on a riding mower be it a zero turn Cub Cadet or your Wheel Horse it’s just a relaxing time. Your channel is number one in my book.

When I hooked up with the lady who would become my future wife, her tractor was a 1976 Wheel Horse 316-8. It's remarkable how similar that model was to your new baby. The PTO, the deck lift, Kohler engine, seat - all the same. I remember the starter was intermittent like yours, too. That Kohler (K?) eventually got donated to a log splitter project (which, in turn was replaced by a Honda 20-hp V-twin). The engine-less tractor is attempting to become one with the dirt in one of the back fields as I write this.

21:40 Love it! That's what you get from properly draining the fuel system before storage! No varnish or gum to block things up, no crap left in the tank.. +1 to previous owner 👍

Man I love when you just work on some small garden tractors!

I remember the early videos with lawn mower tractors and small engines in an auto garage, I'm glad Matt hasn't forgotten them either, a hug ,brother!

That's a nice machine, and it's in great condition for it's age. She's got some life left in her, and deserves a spit shine and a poor man's refresh.

Hi matt I've been a subscriber from.near on day one and diesel creek has brought me so much joy over the years and helped me with my mental health alot just the other day my little girl who has ASD and adhd watched one of your videos and went calm and silent I asked her what was the matter she replied nothing daddy I like his voice and how he repairs things like you and that warmed my heart to no end she finds it so hard to calm down and relax due to her needs she goes quiet and very inquisitive when she helps me with my mechanical and electrical repair work thank you for all the hard work you put into your videos and the joy and comfort it brings us all keep em coming matt god bless you mate

We need more Rosco! It was great to see him close up and your interaction with him.

I enjoy when you work on the “simpler” items. This is something I may find myself working on someday.

Well... that "find" scrubbed up real pretty, AND sound like a new one too!

What a machine! Very nice! Ag tires, 16hp, good seat, nice paint. Deck even look good. You've got good friends Matt.😊

This brings back great memories for me. My grandparents had a farm in Ridgeview, South Dakota, going back as far as my German great-grandparents that immigrated through Ellis Island in the late 1800's. My grandparents had a 80's Wheel Horse mower that I drove the hell out of every 6-12 months when we visited from Denver throughout the 80's and early 90's. Glad to see this gem!

I bought my house Jan 2022 and there was an 1987 Deutz Allis 1918 series tractor sunk in the ground in my back yard from the previous owner. He said it had been there for at least 8 years. The engine was seized, tires flat and the mowing deck had too many holes to be saved but through watching videos like yours I decided to try to get it running. I unseized the motor with some Kroil in the cylinder and after a tune up of plugs, oil, filters, ect, it is the best running, sounding and starting mower I own. It is the oldest of my three and I will never get rid of it. Hydraulic steer, trans, deck height, ect. Front and rear driveshafts for implements. Really nice unit. I would post a picture if I knew how. Love the old stuff.

Nothing beats a wheel horse.

I LOVE your energy and excitement when an engine fires off!! It's part of why I like watching your channel.

Maybe a blade sharpening, a check of the belts and idler pulleys before dad gets it? A suicide knob for the steering wheel too 🙂 Enjoyed the video as always! I buy and sell commercial mowing equipment as a side hustle so I enjoyed this one extra 😎

Howdyyawl from the land down under.Well Matt, youve got a real little gem there Your Dad will like it. Keep him busy. 😊

It’s amazing what some people throw away. I get stuff from people from work occasionally and get it running. It’s a good feeling.

Well done. Nice that you’re helping out your dad.

Way to be a good son Matt. Im sure your Dad is gonna love it!

when Matt gets enthusiastic and pleased with a fix, I get permasmile like back in the 70s

What a lovely wee tractor your a lucky man for getting it for nothing please keep the great videos coming friend from Scotland 😊

I bought a used one very similar to this one 17 years ago. Excellent piece of equipment, always starts right up and I love the “thump” of the Kohler engine. I believe given the opportunity it would climb a tree !

Yeeeeeyyy !!!! Is time to sit down and just see what Matt is doing Good morning ☀️

Lol. That is why I love working on small engines. It is my passion, because they are just so simple to work on. My mom's tiller started acting up the other day. I removed, disassembled, cleaned, and reinstalled the carburetor in 14 minutes. Small engines are just cheap and easy. You don't have to be rich to pursue it as a hobby. I have enough projects right now to last a year or so, and I got all of them for free. It's a great way to spend your spare time.

I've never seen an abandoned machine so eager to get back to work. She took a whiff of that gas and was ready to go. Shame it was almost scrapped, it didn't even need any parts

Hey Matt, it’s been great watching the channel progress. Here’s a thing that you may have not considered re cleaning stuff before working on it, it’s clear that you like any good pro, can deal with it as you find it so no real gain in wasting time blasting it off. From a watchers perspective however, it sometimes makes it difficult to see what is what when things are covered in oil and mud and …. Know what I mean. Time is precious, do what you’ve got to do, I’m looking forward to you getting the overhead crane installed in the shop.

Hey Matt, another great video! For batteries one thing I learned in auto parts is how to read date codes. That battery you have there has an 'E6' label on the top. This would translate to May 2016 which would be just on par for how long you said it was sitting. They basically go with the alphabet being the month; A=1, B=2,etc and the 2nd character is the year using the last digit, making this one 2016. Hope this helps someone out there.

My first garden machine was a mid-70s WH garden tractor, that my dad bought so he’d be able to off-load the mowing and snow-blowing of our 1 acre property, to his 8 yr old son lol - besides the coolness of being the only one of my peers whose family had color TVs, in-ground pool, garage door openers and other “new for the time tech”, he sold me on it b/c I could use it to make bank mowing lawns and plowing/snow-blowing neighbor’s driveways during the winters, wherein we averaged 200” of snow each calendar year (late Oct through late March)…he had that tractor until the day he died, in 1988….

That is a cool rider! Don't know if Slime is the same as Fix-A-Flat, but I could hear the voice of Chicanic ranting about "This "QUICK FIX" will destroy your mower! DON'T FALL FOR IT or it will cost you BIG later!" in the second half of the video.

Brings back a lot of memories my grandfather work for Wheelhorse plant in South Bend Indiana. I grew up with one at home. That mower was a real workhorse. We did everything with it from clearing the land to build a house to raise gardens, or hauling things around.

Matt great video , I been watching you for a long time now. You are the big reason I am doing small engine school. I'm in bad health and recently lost my leg but im able to do online school for now. I hope you see this. I have learned alot from you. Thank you and Mrs Diesel creek for everything. Much love and respect from here in Kentucky ❤

The original tractor followers came out in full force for this one

Wow the paint is Amazing after that bath Just wow super shiny didnt exspect it to look thst good after the cleaning Matt 5:17 @Diesel Creek

Growing up, Wheel Horse was the go-to garden tractor. I grew up about five blocks from Elmer Pond's place and knew both he and his wife, The house in which I grew up had been purchased from him by my grandparents in about 1930. For awhile his grandkids lived a block away. The first machines that I recall were the ones with a four horse Kohler. Rather overworked with the mower deck. There was a gentleman by the name of Yates that lived a couple of blocks away. He worked for Wheel Horse and seemed to always be upgrading to the newest and best.

Matt: now that the solenoid is in it should start Tractor: hehe Matt: turns key Tractor: “makes no sound” Matt: uhh what da heck

Looks Like you Can kick your Pops Off the Zero Turn Now 😂43:09 great video as always Matt @Diesel Creek

Bought my 520H Toro WheelHorse in August 1990.. running it hard every since- grass in the summer- snow in the winter!❤

Apparently the previous owner ran all the fuel out before they stored it. I've gotten a few that sat for years started right up. And if you use good gas it helps also. Thanks for the video 👍🇺🇸

As a wheelhorse fanboy and collector I’m looking forward to watching this. The 4 is for the 400 series. They had a 200-500 series. The lawn tractor video you did was one of my favorites. It was my exact first mower when I was 8 years old. My dad had a 312-8 growing up, my grandfather had several different horses throughout the years. I currently have a 520 hydro and a newer 520 lxi which are both beast in the garden tractor world.

Yes sir, they dont build em like that anymore. Excellent job making sure that one will live on many more years!

Love that Slime. I kept my lawn tractor going for over 15 years on original tires by just adding Slime.

Before my uncle sold his house and moved, he had a 3 wheel horses laying around. Only one working, but he was parting out the other two. You'd be surprised at how much you can get off the parts alone. Really worth holding onto imo, they're great machines.

They make a cone type tool that allows you to pop a valve stem in from the outside without breaking the bead. It has saved me a couple time.

19:47 This is why we need the californian jerry can design. Look how much you spilled out with that 50yo can ! Think of the planet !

I'd have cleaned up that rim and painted it before putting the new valve stem in. The tractor has proved she's worth it.

What a great tractor. And to think it was going to get scrapped! Love those old tractors. I have a 69 Cub Cadet 125 (my favorite. Looking for another one.) and four Sears Suburbans. two SS-12 68 and 71, and one SS-14. Just picked up a nice 65 Suburban. People ask me why I keep buying them, I say "Why not!"

It's too cute how excited you get when the engines actually start!! You're like a kid at Christmas!! God bless you and your family! ❤️🙏👍

I had a 60s-era Wheel Horse garden tractor when I was a kid. Had the Chevron AG tires in the back just like this one. I had so much fun riding around with that thing.

You should send the "giver" 500 bucks for being such a nice guy and delivering it.👍

Hey Matt, I noticed the mini-splits wrapped in the background ... one thing I've wanted to mention, heating the shop with the radiant floor alone is a slow process. Consider adding unitary heaters as well. The floor will do a great job if the bay doors are kept closed, but as soon as you open one all the warm air is going to blow out and the floor alone will take a long time to warm the space back up again. A unit heater or two by the doors will help break the chill and give the floor time to re-heat the space again. Also a big ass fan will help push the warm air back down to the floor.

Last summer, I'd about had enough of big box store riders. So, I bought a '76 C-120 off of FB Marketplace. The old K series Kohler runs great, and it mows incredibly well. It will likely outlive me. I've had it dealing with poorly built and engineered modern junk. Great find, wonderful video as always, Matt.

Ahhhh, nothing better than mowing the gravel!

Well done Matt. That tractor is just like new.😂.

That unit looks really nice, and seems to be great at moving grass. That thing is worth those parts you bought!

Wow, nice little unit you've got there, Matt! Once again, I admire your mechanical skill and know how. I'm sure your Dad will be so grateful to have the mower to keep things neat and well-kept. Thanks for showing us your new aquisition!

Save it . These are bulletproof. Tough as nails tractors. We had four of these at our local school district. I will tell you they did not go out for an hour or two once a week. They went out five days a week eight hours for years mowing at our schools. They were used in areas that were too small for our larger equipment to mow. And trust me they held up extremely well. Not only that but the cut was top notch. Because the deck is tall, they gave you a wonderful finished lawn even when mowing in early morning wet conditions. No clumps. Look at all of the cast iron construction all of the grease fittings. Even on the pivot points of the clutch and brake pedals unlike what you will find at Lowes or Home Depot today. They made a rear discharge deck that was used by many cemeterys because they did not blow grass onto headstones instead the grass came out the back or the tractor between the rear tires. a brilliant idea to keep grass out or homeowners flower beds as well. Please save it and treat it well and it will reward you with years of service.

Roscoe is such a good boy !!!!

You must be living right Matt with this find being as good as it is, although I think you’ve developed a pretty keen eye for “ stuff “ that has potential. I feel ya regarding just how good it feels to bring an old critter back to life, not much better to declare “ it’s alive “. Well done once again - pretty cool little machine 👍👍

I had a 416-8 with the Onan twin and a plow. What a great tractor that was. Towed trailers with the wheel weights and chains like a beast.

can't believe the guy was gonna scrap it... best machine ever for FREE

Yes sir! Don’t cheap out on engines oil the most expensive part of your vehicle depends on it You made out good on this little tractor

Great simple video of saving a nice old Garden tractor Matt👍🏻

Another great save Matt. When you started mowing I couldn’t help but see the new lights on the workshop, they look really cool mate.

After reading some of the comments, i must admit that wether is lucky or fortunate to just be able to mower any grass or lawn would leave a memorable experience U never forget. I'ved never owned such machines in my lifetime so i don't get to experience it. Living in west valley, Arizona in a community setting, the only grass U see are fakes..no one owns lawn mower here, but surely enjoy reading every comments. Thanks for sharing.

“Beautiful isn’t the first word that comes to mind…” Those people thinking that can speak for themselves. Grew up on a GT-14 Wheel Horse and models like that 416 and IH Cub Cadets (not to be confused with the MTD ones) were all over my neighborhood. I hate that I don’t see many of those old ponies around anymore but I’m glad to see it when they get saved from the scrapper.

Hello from Australia. Love the vids Matt

Rotella T5 is the best. I use it in all my small engines (Honda, Briggs Vanguard, etc). Works fantastic and they don't burn oil at all. Great video, enjoyed watching you bring this good old mower back to life.

Love that Wheel Horse, Matt! Major soft spot for them. About 1958 my dad bought an RJ58 model for our rural 12 acres in Ohio Township NW of Pittsburgh. He got it from a WH dealer over on Babcock Boulevard. Our property was hilly and he didn't get a mower deck with it but did get a snow blade for our long hilly driveway. He dug a trail up into our woods and we used the Wheel Horse to pull logs down to the house to cut up for firewood. And I nearly drove the wheels off of it as a 12 year old wishing I could drive a car, so it was my "car" for a few years all over our property. It's only drawback, those early models had a "mid engine" that was just ahead of the gear shift necessitating a big chunk of cast iron bolted ahead of the front of the hood and front axle to keep the front wheels on the ground unless you wanted to pay the big bucks to refill them with liquid when you'd get a flat. Fast forward to my Army hitch in '71. When my dad passed away and my mom needed to sell the property our neighbor bought the Wheel Horse from us and made a custom two gang rotary mower brush hog set up for their wooded lawn area. Years later when he passed away their family sold their property to a cousin and the Wheel Horse went along with the estate. No doubt it's still running today. I'd love to have your Wheel Horse but the shipping to Colorado would be a killer! And the downside about it, it's likely a 48 or 54" deck and that won't fit through my TUFF shed doorway. My old Craftsman lawn tractor has a 42" deck and I have to lift the discharge chute vertical to get it in the door so the WH would be a no-go. Hope your dad gets a lot of use out of it. It should run for years into the future! By the way, on Pinterest I found a Wheel Horse group that posts beautiful photos of restored early models.

Not bad at all for free she just a moving Along And the deck works Nice 38:49 @Diesel Creek

Hey Matt, I loved the video on the Wheelhorse mainly because when I was a kid, my Dad owned a couple of them he added three-point hitches (manually operated) that he used to plow, cultivate, and harrow our and several friends', family's, and neighbors' gardens. Although both of ours had Wisconsin engines on them, I remember my Dad showing me that when starting them {especially cold} if they kicked back {ours had rope starters} it was generally a sign that the valve lash needed adjustment. Since then, I've remedied this issue with Wisconsins, Kohlers, Briggs and Strattons, Tecumsehs, and Hondas as well as a couple of Chinese engines. If the valve lash is too great, the intake valve is closing too soon causing excessive compression upon starting and the exhaust opens too late causing more heat buildup in the cylinder. I've encountered many instances where people have replaced perfectly good batteries and starter motors. This could possibly account for the overheated/melted/defective starter solenoid on your unit.

Same here from Aus, a great influence to us views thx a lot for the vids Matt

I'll wager the solenoid is why it was parked up. Definitely worth taking the cutters off & sharpening them up before handing over to your dad.

Those are the best garden tractors! When adjusted and tuned they give the best cut!

Hey Matt, Enjoy each of your shows. Love watching your trucks, tractors and you name it run over your cameras! Its always very entertaining, to say the least. Best wishes to you and your lovely and patient wife. Nice to see you bringing the family pets back into the pictures too! Great job...

I owned a 1987 418c hydro for many years, but had to sell it when I downsized. They are great tractors! I had the plow with wheel weights and chains…what a beast pushing snow!! Used it for grading dirt as well. Tough tractors to kill. Btw, the date code on that battery was that sticker ready got on top. E-6 was May of 16 or 06. Pretty clean, so probably 2016. New shop looks great!

From the smallest gas lawn tractor to the biggest diesel dozer, the starting celebration is the same. 👍🏻😁

SO COOL THE DONOR KNOWS YOU LIKE THE MACHINE TO GIVE IT TO YOUR DAD. 😊

Hey man I just want to say I love your videos and keep up the great work

That looks to be an exceptionally good little tractor. With 16hp, I imagine it would make a useful yard shunter for trailers up to a certain size too. The tow bar on it looks sturdier than what I normally see on little tractors of this kind.

Me and my son pulled a wheelhorse b-60 from 1977 out of a barn a few months ago. We got it running with very little effort and he drove it in our local harvest festival parade last weekend!

Love old garden tractors, became a hobby of mine about 2-3 years ago now. Moved to a neighborhood but I still have my 69 John Deere 140 and my 420. 🤙 Don't want to ever get rid of them lol.

I bought my parents the identical tractor new in 88. Dad used it up until about 2017 when it got difficult for him to get on. The wheel horse still runs great. Good to see you get this one running for your Dad, Matt.

Yes you’re back great to see you again mate love your videos they are great videos mate can’t wait to the next one it amazes me how much you know with all these old machines.

17:36 The oxidation between 2 different metals is called Galvanic Corrosion... It's a MASSIVE Pain in the Assets when it happens... 😄😁😆😅😂🤣

A glorious way to milk starting a lawn mower for 45 minutes Matt you're getting really good at this and understanding the KZfaq algorithm to make yourself the best amount of money good job😊

It’s going to be a good Sunday night. I was starting to get diesel creek withdrawals lol

Cool, thanks for the clarification between yard and garden tractors. My son gave me his Bolens yard tractor because it wasn't running and they moved to a Condo. I rebuilt the carb that hydrolocked it up. Got it running and sold it. Fun working on and making the video to help others. Nikki carbs are weird ones for sure.

I got a '96 Craftsman for free out of the trash. Cleaned the float needle, put air in the tires, and it fired right up. Didn't even have to charge the battery or put fresh gas in it. Still runs just fine. Very similar engine as that Wheel Horse. Sounds exactly the same to the ear.

Looks simpler to fix than a newer hydro-static Cub! Good to see the old iron moving so nicely.