1974 Dynamark 8/36 restoration questions.

Hello. I just joined the forum and have some questions about a tractor I am getting this week. It is a 1974 or possibly 1975 Dynamark 8/36. It has a blown engine and is very, very rusty. am just wondering if anyone else on here has one or has seen one before. Also what is the origanl colors supposed to be? Once I put my 11 HP Briggs on it I would like to repaint it the factory colors. I am not going to make it a off roader or make it faster, this will be a trailer puller and brush mower unless I restore it, then it will be a trailer queen.

Never seen one like that, very cool.

Obviously the grille, dash and rims were white cause they still are. Try looking under the tractor or under the hood. Usually they retain paint longer. Might be able to get your color there.

Thanks! I belive this model has a cigerette lighter and a couple gueges. It one of the oldest Dynamarks I have ever seen. I can get a few more similar to this but newer for about $25 each at a old lawn mower graveyard a few miles away. I got this one because it is the oldest. It should be delivered on Sunday so when I get it I will get more photos

Thats a nice old tractor, its got classic lines, and probably tough as nails too.

i got identical fenders and dash sitting out side my shop lol cool looking little tractors mine was originally pull start but had a battery for the lights even had a sticker that said recharge after a days use lol mine was white & red

Thats a nice looking tractor you have there! I love old Dynamarks. They really are my favorite mowers. Here's a Thread that has quite a few pics and some info on some Dynamarks if you haven't already checked it out. I would say that it was probably red with a white grill and wheels. Can't wait to see the progress on it!

TennesseeCowboy wrote:

Thats a nice looking tractor you have there! I love old Dynamarks. They really are my favorite mowers. Here's a Thread that has quite a few pics and some info on some Dynamarks if you haven't already checked it out. I would say that it was probably red with a white grill and wheels. Can't wait to see the progress on it!

Thanks for the link to that thread. I have seen pics of that tractor (the first one on another site but it didnt have many photos and info. I am a huge fan of Dynamarks and an even larger fan of Murrays. I have been buying and sellin mowers for almost 3 years and I have had 35 of them, all riding mowers. I have had everything from a 1967 IH Cub Cadet 102 to a 2002 Murray MER. This is my very first Dynamark and I am super excited about it. I have always wanted one because I have heard that these are tough as nails.

Its a really addicting hobby! lol. More like a passion! haha. And yes, even the newer Dynamark thats in my profile picture is super tough.

almost like the one i have but mines a 77 only diff is mine has a plastic grill and diff hood. An had a 10hp but same frame/axle/body/fenders/dash/steering lol

Ive had various years of Dynamarks - even had a RER ( shoulda kept it) . Ive had a blue one ( not sure if it was a Petty special or not) , also had an early rider with a white plastic grille, black white and red paint - rest have been black chassis/deck , black plastic grille and red sheetmetal paint.


My one with the white grille i think was an early 80's or late 70's - it had a rear discharge deck, tecumseh 10HP ( which was odd - had points and a voltage regulator - had no posts to retrofit a magneto tho) - i regret getting rid of that one too.

I know the chassis was black, deck was red , fenders/dash were black and hood was red.

Pretty much all really old tractors had cigarette lighters - that was back in the day when 'dad mowed while smoking a cigar' - my 69 wheelhorse raider 10 has one in the dash.


Ive kept all my dynamarks original - even down to factory paint and surface rust.

Got my Dynamark today

Does anyyone know where the battery is supposed to go?

Looks like theres a spot for it next to the gas tank. Either there, or behind the steering column.

I like the gas gauge. Lighter is missing though. Fortunately, I know where to get one cheap. http://www.ebay.com/itm/121040110641?var=420110687658

the battery on mine was next to the gas tank

Does it take a special battery? I tried putting mine next to the gas tank but it was to big.

do you have a regular lawn and garden battery? also did u put it in sideways or across?

I have a regualar lawn and garden battery. Huskee 420 amp from TSC. I tried it both sidways and across. It is to tall and to wide

The PO said the engine was blown but it turns and has compression. There is no sign of a oil leak and its full of oil. The valves appear to work fine. I dont know why he said it was blown but I am going to try and rebuild this engine. I want to restore the engine and the mower deck and transaxle to brand new condition but I want to leave the frame and body alone. It took over 3 decades for it to acheve this unique look so I want to keep it that way. What I want is a rusty old almost 40 year old lawn mower that runs, drives, and mows like new

98Murray wrote:

Does it take a special battery? I tried putting mine next to the gas tank but it was to big.

Too big high or too big wide?

It looks like it was repaired with some wood. Try replacing it with some flat stock if it is.

If its still too big, probably took an ATV battery.

Yea I think they put a small ATV style battery on this model. A regular lawn and garden tractor battery is just too tall

Try one of those motorcycle batteries - they come in pretty small sizes - the kind you need to add acid to.

Cant hurt to crack open the original motor n see if anythings broke - if you want a near original - youd need to locate a same year replacement motor .

The older briggs motors have surprised me plenty, i have a couple actually older then i am and couple about 20 years old , still running, still original ( cept tune ups/oil changes).

I took the 1992 Briggs 11 horse out of the Wizard mower and dropped it into the Dynamark. I got it all wired up and now the Dynamark lives! I had to remove the grille because it would not work with the 11 horse. The hood is still hinged and still operates like normal its just missing a peice. The clutch barely works and I am missing the brake arm so I have no brakes. The seat is also not bolted on so it makes driving it difficult. Tomarrow or Wednesday I am going to finish the wiring and bolt on the seat and fix my brakes. All the gears work and it drives pretty good. I am missing the belt keepers so the belt did come off one time when I clutched it all the way in. It looks kinda ugly but I kinda like it.

Why wont the grille fit? The exhaust?

The grille is very close to the sparkplug and it wont work with the exaust. I could have taken out the plastic peice for the sparkplug issue but my exaust still wouldnt work

i think it is red and i also think i saw one before for scrap