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My Son's 1976 Hesston H-200 Front Runner

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18K views 33 replies 22 participants last post by  Dave Bowman  
#1 ·
Back in the early 70's I sold the Hesston Front Runner mowers made in Hesston Kansas. My son just purchased one I sold which came with 48" mower, vac system, Snothrower, blade and steel cab. Has the manuals, shields complete done to the mower deflector shield and mulch plate. After a minor tune up and rebuild of the fuel pump it runs!
 

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#3 ·
That looks like a great machine! I've never seen one of those before. I think it's great that he now has one that you originally sold...kind of a legacy piece for him! I also love that it came with all the great attachments. That should be a useful tractor for him for years to come!
 
#5 ·
In thinking about this tractor and GTTALK, If enough are interested, when I get time, we could scan the parts-operator manual and it could be posted here for others to review. Yesterday after brunch we got out old pictures...found pic when we sold these as well as a picture of me and A.J.Foyt taken at the early days of EXPO when Bolen had him as a spokesman. It is signed!!
 
#6 ·
That's cool. I saw a few of those when I lived near there in Newton, Ks. Hesston was big then. Lots of folks worked at the plant.
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
hello i am a new member of gttalk, scanned the ads and found some very usefull information but was excited to see your pics and artical on the hesston tractor, i bought one recently and am looking for any info i can find to restore mine. no one up here in canada has seen one of these and there is no info at all i cant even find model numbers, it has a 23 hp kohler all hydro, for a 70's machine it was way ahead of its time. mine has a 60 inch mower deck and a vac-sweeper. i have no mounting hardware for the vac ,just 1/2 the pto sticking out, if you happen to have a few minutes and a pic of the mounting hardward could you please send it to me, any other info would be great as i want to get this baby back as close to original, any leads on attachments would be great especially a snowblower my email is mtaylor at 295.ca thank you for your time
 
#13 ·
farmer john,
Hello fellow Canadian,and welcome to the forum.Glad to have you with us.
If you'd like,ad yourself to our Member Map.
 
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#18 ·
HEY... another member with a ... tractor(?) mower(?) blower(?) tiller() thing !
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Up here, the Hesstons were VERY popular with cities. They were used to mow / broom / blow the boulevards and sidewalks.

Congrats and I think you'll have LOTS of fun and get a bunch of work done, too. WIN WIN !
 
#24 ·
If any of you guys are interested in the back half of a Hesston Front Runner, here's a great deal on a Snapper 1855 that has it in the package.....now if the full Front Runner was there along with the Snapper for $425, that'd be a GREAT deal and I'd most likely be on my way to grab them!

https://mattoon.craigslist.org/grd/d/1855-snappermassey-lawn/6556504231.html

00C0C_4jXpOcNm3Ds_1200x900.jpg


And I was reading this on Youtube comment for a Hesston Front Runner video:

"Contact Larry Estes at Estes Design Manufacturing in Indianapolis. He is the man who designed the Front Runner series for Hesston Corporation."

https://www.estesdm.com
 
#25 ·
My apologies or dredging up an old topic.

I bought a Hesston Front Runner last fall and am in the process of getting it running and working.

I have looked for the manual which was attached to this thread but have not had success in finding it.

I would greatly appreciate it if someone could either show me where it is on the forum because my search abilities are poor or if you have the manual PDF that you share it with me.

Many thanks and have a great day.

Karl
 
#26 ·
My apologies or dredging up an old topic.

I bought a Hesston Front Runner last fall and am in the process of getting it running and working.

I have looked for the manual which was attached to this thread but have not had success in finding it.

I would greatly appreciate it if someone could either show me where it is on the forum because my search abilities are poor or if you have the manual PDF that you share it with me.

Many thanks and have a great day.

Karl
I think this is a link to the manual you are seeking.

https://gardentractortalk.com/forums/files/file/3818-om-hesston-front-runner/
 
#27 ·
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#29 ·
Thank you, clearly my searching ability needs work in addition to the work the tractor needs :)

Greatly appreciated.

Karl
The search issue was the name change!