Lawn and GardenPerformance profile
Wheel Horse C-81
The Wheel Horse C-81 is a compact lawn and garden tractor made from 1978 to 1979. It's perfect for small yards and gardens. This tractor has a 2-wheel drive system and manual steering, making it easy to control. It uses a belt-driven gear transmission with 6 forward gears and 2 reverse gears, giving you plenty of options for different tasks. The C-81 is powered by a Kohler K181S engine. This engine is air-cooled and runs on gasoline. It has one cylinder and a very small engine size compared to other tractors. The engine can produce 8 horsepower at 3600 rpm, which is a very high speed. The tractor is quite light, weighing 540 pounds. It's small too, measuring 65 inches long, 35.8 inches wide, and 40.9 inches tall. The C-81 has lawn/turf tires, an open operator station, and an electric starter. It also comes with a sleeve hitch and an independent PTO with a mechanical clutch, making it versatile for different attachments.
ManufacturerWheel HorsePower8 hpEngine1-cylTransBelt-driven gear type
Image not recorded
Quick specs
- Category
- Lawn and Garden
- Engine Power Output
- 8hp
- Operating Weight
- 540 lb
- Transmission
- Belt-driven gear type
At a glance
How the C-81 compares
vs. Lawn and Garden medianDistribution
Engine Power (hp)
Across all Lawn and Garden tractors
8 hp · 4th
This model
4
Median 18 hp
28
This modelLawn and Garden tractorsMediann = 380
The C-81 ranks at the 4th percentile for engine power among recorded lawn and garden tractors.
Overview
About the Wheel Horse C-81
The Wheel Horse C-81 is a compact lawn and garden tractor made from 1978 to 1979. It's perfect for small yards and gardens. This tractor has a 2-wheel drive system and manual steering, making it easy to control. It uses a belt-driven gear transmission with 6 forward gears and 2 reverse gears, giving you plenty of options for different tasks. The C-81 is powered by a Kohler K181S engine. This engine is air-cooled and runs on gasoline. It has one cylinder and a very small engine size compared to other tractors. The engine can produce 8 horsepower at 3600 rpm, which is a very high speed. The tractor is quite light, weighing 540 pounds. It's small too, measuring 65 inches long, 35.8 inches wide, and 40.9 inches tall. The C-81 has lawn/turf tires, an open operator station, and an electric starter. It also comes with a sleeve hitch and an independent PTO with a mechanical clutch, making it versatile for different attachments.
Full specifications
Every recorded spec
General
| Manufacturer | Wheel Horse |
|---|---|
| Model | C-81 |
| Category | Lawn and Garden tractor |
| Type | 4x2 2WD |
| Years built | 1978–1979 |
| Operating weight | 540lb |
Engine
| Make | Kohler |
|---|---|
| Model | K181S |
| Power | 8hp |
| Cylinders | 1 |
| Displacement | 18.6ci |
| Bore | 2.95in |
| Stroke | 2.76in |
Transmission
| Type | Belt-driven gear type |
|---|---|
| Forward gears | 6 |
| Reverse gears | 2 |
Chassis & drive
| Chassis | 4x2 2WD |
|---|---|
| Drive | 2WD |
| Steering | Manual |
| Cab | Open |
Power take-off
| Rear PTO | Independent with mechanical clutch |
|---|
Dimensions
| Length | 65in |
|---|---|
| Width | 35.8in |
| Height | 40.9in |
| Operating weight | 540lb |
Head to head
C-81 vs. Lawn and Garden median
How the Wheel Horse C-81 compares to other Lawn and Garden tractors
| Spec | This model | Lawn and Garden median | Difference | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Power | 8 hp | 18 hp | -56% | 4th |
| Engine Displacement | 18.6 ci | 41.1 ci | -55% | 2nd |
| Cylinders | 1 | 2 | -50% | 17th |
| Forward Gears | 6 | 6 | at median | 50th |
| Operating Weight | 540 lb | 738 lb | -27% | 25th |
| Length | 65 in | 71.7 in | -9% | 13th |
| Width | 35.8 in | 43.3 in | -17% | 15th |
| Height | 40.9 in | 42.9 in | -5% | 21st |
Medians and percentiles are computed from the lawn and garden tractors in our database with a recorded value for each spec (sample sizes 152–380 models).
Compare to tractors with similar specs
Commonly compared Wheel Horse tractors
| Tractor | Engine Power | Operating Weight | Years | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheel Horse B-80 | 8 hp | 538 lb | 1974–1977 | Compare → |
| Wheel Horse 702 | 7 hp | 414 lb | 1962+ | Compare → |
| Wheel Horse 310-8 | 10 hp | 527 lb | 1985–1993 | Compare → |
| Wheel Horse Raider 10 | 10 hp | 573 lb | 1970–1975 | Compare → |
| Wheel Horse 312-8 | 12 hp | 547 lb | 1985–1997 | Compare → |
Commonly compared tractors with similar horsepower from other brands
| Tractor | Engine Power | Operating Weight | Years | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cub Cadet 800 | 8 hp | 584 lb | 1974–1975 | Compare → |
| Cub Cadet 86 | 8 hp | — | 1971–1974 | Compare → |
| Lanz HM8 | 8 hp | 2,760 lb | — | Compare → |
| Toro 11902 | 8 hp | — | 1983–1990 | Compare → |
| Toro 8-25 56123 | 8 hp | 304 lb | 1989–1990 | Compare → |
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FAQ
Common questions
What years was the Wheel Horse C-81 manufactured?
Production of the Wheel Horse C-81 ran from 1978 through 1979.
What type of transmission does the Wheel Horse C-81 have?
The Wheel Horse C-81 uses a Belt-driven gear type transmission offering 6 forward gears.
How powerful is the Wheel Horse C-81?
The Wheel Horse C-81 has an engine power output of 8 hp. It is powered by a 1-cylinder engine displacing 18.6 ci.
What is the working weight of the Wheel Horse C-81?
The operating weight of the Wheel Horse C-81 is approximately 540 lb.
What routine service does the Wheel Horse C-81 need?
Regular maintenance for the Wheel Horse C-81 includes checking and changing engine oil, hydraulic fluid, and filters, plus routine inspections as recommended in the owner's manual. Always follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule for specific intervals and procedures.