If you’re a gearhead, chances are that you surround yourself with different machines, tools, gadgets, and equipment. Some of that stuff has probably been around you for a while, rescued you from a jam, or come in handy at the perfect time to get work done. We’re also betting in that group of stuff is something that you’ve used a million times, never had to worry about, and always seems to work. That’s where we got the idea for this question.

What’s your most trusty mechanical companion?

I’ll start by answering my own question, which is admittedly tacky, but what the hell.

My trusty piece of machinery is the pictured lawn tractor. It is a 1980 Wheel Horse B-115 that I acquired for the princely cost of one case of bottled spring water. It would have been free, but the case of water was in the way. From the time I was a kid I always wanted a riding mower. Once I bought a house and had a yard, I legitimately needed one. Of course, being a new homeowner also meant being broke, so I was cruising CraigsList for a fixer upper. A co-worker spotted an ad for a $50.00 tractor and off we went. Finding the machine under a tarp, missing the front axle, and sporting lots of bent brackets underneath, we offered zero dollars and the offer was accepted. I straightened the bent bits, bought some hardware, and reinstalled the front axle. After spinning in a new spark plug and hitting the key, I was in hog heaven on my new tractor. 

That’s all I have ever done. Aside from airing up the tires in the Spring and adding fuel every three cuts, this thing has been awesome. Shamefully, I’ve never changed the oil, but the little Briggs doesn’t seem to mind, and topping off with fresh stuff every now and again may count as an oil change every year and a half or so.

It is just there. It works every time I need it to and it was the first “cool thing” I scored after buying my house (with my wife). When I finally build a shop, this little tractor gets first dibs on a full resto. It’s deserved.

So that’s my story. What’s your most trusted piece of equipment, tool, gadget, etc?

Here’s a few more photos of the Wheel Horse