Cascade Crew

blue89 · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 8:48 pm Post subject: lawn tractors

Anyone else have an old lawn tractor? I have an 84 ish MTD with an 11 horse briggs, continuously variable belt drive tranny, 32" deck, and a passion for requiring my attention this year. So far I've replaced the primary drive belt, the blade belt, $30 in steel to rebuild the deck, cleaned out the carb, new fuel lines, new coil, and tomorrow it gets new tires because one decided to crack the sidewall. Ugh. Still cheaper than buying a new one.

chevymad · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 8:55 pm Post subject:

I've got a 77 wheelhorse with a 16hp Kohler. Its a hydrostat tractor. I built the top of the deck out of a piece of 3/16s steel a couple years ago. Used alot of a chevy hood this year patching the rest. Just added some new oregon gator blades.. It's a rear discharge deck so its never had a good cut. Reading the wheelhorse forums I found out the other guys are mounting 2 sets of blades at a 90* angle from each other. So I just did that and the cut is much nicer.

blue89 · Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 8:18 am Post subject:

I wish mine was hydrostatic. I was thinking of hooking up a power steering pump to my belt drive to power a dog lure machine. Hehe.

Where do you find parts? I'm having to guess on belt sizes. Also, do you have anything handy for carburetors? I have a side draft that is puking fuel and a muffler that is shot. would be nice to rebuild the carb but if I can find a motorcycle carb that would the thing to do.

iansane · Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 8:53 am Post subject:

I have a craftsman riding lawn mower if that counts? Thing sucks. Time bomb Kohler motor.

blue89 · Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 10:06 am Post subject:

Never do anything to it? I'm going to have to do a new ignition switch, headlight rewire, and maybe paint some rust.

iansane · Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 1:57 pm Post subject:

I replaced the headgaskets and went from bolts to studs. Popped another gasket and it's sitting right now until I get enough time to put new headgaskets on it. I'm going to do that, clean the thing up as much as possible and sell it. I have a lawn the size of three thirdgens, I don't need a riding mower. Smile

chevymad · Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 5:24 pm Post subject:

Alot of regular type parts are available at napa. Gaskets, carb kits, pistons, rings etc. They didnt sell many wheelhorse brand tractors on this side of the country so anything specific I end up buying off of ebay. There's also several enthusiast websites just for them. I need a new muffler myself.. But can't bring myself to paying the $160 !! the direct fit one costs. At some point I'm just going to have to make something. I see other wheelhorse people using a Gravely muffler and building a stack.

When toro bought wheelhorse they kept the manuals on file. All I had to do was ask and they made copies for me.

I can't believe the attachments they made for this thing. Gang reels 20ft wide, generators, tillers, blades, you name it. I'd like to build a generator outfit for it. The original mounted on the front and then just ran off the pto. A 16hp gen set would be killer.. just drive it to where I need it and plug in.

blue89 · Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 8:15 pm Post subject:

Converted to studs, good idea! I'll remember to do that later. I thought I had a burnt valve last time. I get a lot of reversion at the carb for some reason. Still runs though.

PRO driven generator? So awesome. I'm going to look this up. I was going to use some than wall tube and make my own long tube exhaust. Don't you have room to route it and do a glass pack?

Okay, a 77 wheel horse is awesome! Looks like my mtd but way cooler. So the horizontal shaft engine drives a pump? Mine is vertical shaft that has a blade and drive pulley.

chevymad · Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 9:03 pm Post subject:

Belt runs back under the seat.. drives a huge pump with cooling fins mounted on the hydraulic trans axle. This thing has live hydraulics for lifting the deck etc.. Exhaust comes out between the belt drive, the carb, and the grille. So its a dance to keep from melting things. Here's a vid of the small generator. I've seen old pics of a larger one with front mounted plug ins for my tractor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpnVfR21OqQ

blue89 · Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 11:04 am Post subject:

Does it have a hydraulic blade drive?

chevymad · Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 7:22 pm Post subject:

No, mines a C model and the hydraulics arent rated high enough. The D model tractors did use hydro for alot of things, not blades though. On the motor there is one shiv that constantly runs the pump, then 2 shivs that are different size that are clutch activated. The belt runs from those through 2 pulleys up front then down to the center blade of the deck. Deck has 3 blades.

blue89 · Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 6:54 am Post subject:

I guess belts are more efficient? I just got my new tires yesterday and spent 2.5 hours mowing. Ugh. Went from a 16x7.5-8 to an 18x8-8. No rubbing! I hit a root though and shoved my rebuilt deck lip into the blades. Good thing I added all that reinforcement cause now I can't bend it back. Sigh. I muscled through It and got it finished. Sparks flying, lol. Poor mower.

SlackerTA · Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 8:17 am Post subject:

I know pretty much nothing about mowers but after following this thread I'm suddenly very curious. I live in an apartment so I don't need to mow but I'm enjoying the conversation. Carry on, gentlemen. Thumbs up

blue89 · Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 7:39 pm Post subject:

Haha. I wish I had the time to trick mine out. Ever look at all the hop up kits does a briggs engine? It's crazy. I just got the exhaust off, gonna look at welding up a tuned exhaust.

chevymad · Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 8:42 pm Post subject:

Back east they use tractors like mine in pulling contests. They've actually boosted the hp of the 16hp kohler as high as 65hp! Shocked

blue89 · Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 5:24 pm Post subject:

That's motorcycle power weight ratios! Lol. I like it. I wish mine had a pressurized oiling system. I'll post a pic of mine after I figure it out how to do it...

Figured it out. Tell me if you can see it.

chevymad · Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 9:57 pm Post subject:

Yup.. see it. The kohler I have is splash oiled.. but its cast iron block and the crank uses roller bearings. The cam is on a centrifigal advance.. this works as a compression release. There's also a balance shaft, but mine was broke, i guess most wear out before the engine. Standard practice is just to leave it out, which I did.