Li'l Red 1

Got it split open.  Only 2 bolts busted but they came out with very little coaxing.  I'll get some new ones later when I button it back up.

All gears are in A1 shape and no input pulley play.



After having my MST open and comparing it to this.  It's pretty obvious the 820 is a much stronger trans.

You've got quite the find there!  I assume you're converting this one to oil.  Are you going to install a grease fitting for the input shaft bearings?

I'll have to look closer at the input shaft but...

Top bearing is a sealed one. The other what appears 2 bearings in the shaft are somewhat sealed off by a cup as well.  I would fear a grease fitting should I get it in the wrong spot would be more detrimental to the stability than good.

Then again, I will need to tear into that part and look again.  I agree if done right it will help keep it from seizing in the future.

The Grease looks DIGUSTING!!
Throw it out, and mod it to Gear Oil! AND DO'NT FORGET TO DOC LOCK IT!!

Yeah the grease is half baked it looks like. It looks like dark chocolate frosting with the same consistency. I think a little water got in it at one time contaminating the grease.

Yeah, it will be doc locked and converted to oil still. All my other Heavy duty and light duty trans "came with 80/90" filled in them. This one will go to that as well. I need to buy an axle and a hub. I think I have everything else. I already have the drill bits to open the shaft on the bull gear hubs. I have checked the 3 sealed bearings on the transaxle and they are all mint condition. 100% smooth. I just need to check on the internal to the input thrust bearing and the needle bearing.

The other needle bearings are also mint and free spinning.

MightyRaze wrote:

Yeah the grease is half baked it looks like.  It looks like dark chocolate frosting with the same consistency.  I think a little water got in it at one time contaminating the grease.

Yeah, it will be doc locked and converted to oil still.  All my other Heavy duty and light duty trans "came with 80/90" filled in them.  This one will go to that as well.  I need to buy an axle and a hub.  I think I have everything else.  I already have the drill bits to open the shaft on the bull gear hubs.  I have checked the 3 sealed bearings on the transaxle and they are all mint condition.  100% smooth.  I just need to check on the internal to the input thrust bearing and the needle bearing.

The other needle bearings are also mint and free spinning.

Excited to see the 820 built!
Really cool, that it is still in so mint shape!

Red trying to play in the snow. Ground under still squishy so I was getting lots of traction. Wanted to flip. Red was also being cold finicky at first .

That oppy sounds great!

I also realized this was my first start after new fuel tank and new fuel line. It was a little fuel starved at first.

Nice 820, when I opened my first one it had mix of avocado and oenut butter looking substance in it,along with a little water. Gears cleaned up nicely and I just rebuilt it after it was submerged in the creek awhile ago.

820 looks good. I guess in the later ones they started putting real grease in, that's how my second 820 was.

Fun in the snow. Got 4ish inches here, but its that slushy swill that you cant get traction in.

Yeah it was pretty slushy.

Got the 820 cleaned. Now for Santa to bring me a new 1" live axle.

Looking good. How are you gonna bore out the axle carrier?

I keep forgetting I gotta put the doc locker together for Mutt lol. Could've made a live axle by now had I remembered.

Plan on using what I have available.  I have drill bits and a drill press at my in-laws,  I plan in clamping it down and taking my time.

now I see why guys like them

The Gears n stuff look good!

Hopefully it works well, drilling them out!

It worked well in all gears before tear down. Nice thing, the mower is fine now. Should I totally screw it up no loss to the tractor, just the $30 on the transmission.

be careful drilling, As Im sure your aware drill bits always drill a slightly larger hole than they are, 1 inch drill bit in a perfect world drills a 1.007 hole, which would be fine for what your trying to do, but most holes end up bigger, especially if the drill bit isnt perfectly sharp or has a tiny knick or scratch in it or has been resharpened incorrectly, how ridged and worn the drill press your using is also plays a part. Id hate to see you ruin the parts you have, I know your very careful but Ive ruined alot of parts by forgetting to drill undersized or not having a good bit and having it cut uneven. If you want to do it yourself Id get a 31/32 bit and a 1 inch reamer, or consider having a machine shop bore it for you. Just My 2 cents.

I agree with@"Creepycrawler" totally.  If you want this done the right way, try to find a small machine tool shop in town and have them ream it to 1.000.

I'm not doing anything until I have the axle.

No updates, still waiting to purchase an axle. I was going to try and see if I could source one local cheaper but having no luck.

In other news, I do plan on a new coil as the old one on Red is starting to fray. Noticed that the last time I had the tins off. Could be some of my hard start issues. Maybe weak spark

When I take the tins off, I plan on checking the valves and adjusting as necessary. I think it may be just about time to take off a .001. Give the engine a little refreshing. Lastly, give it a good yearly carb cleaning, plugs and fuel filter.

Decided to try and get some play tonight in the wet snow that is falling.

Never could get red to start.  
That about all you could get MTD to do @AllisKidD21?

I decided to get Kal out and give it a go.  Good news... Kal gets awesome traction... Bad news... Kal gets awesome traction.   Couldn't get it to slip for donuts.

I really like the video but you and AllisKidD21 have the worst luck trying to get these oppys to start. Kal didn’t sound too smooth either but that could be the microphone.

I'm surprised it started...LOL As I mentioned part way through the video I had my fuel shut off turned off. Once the bowl filled back up when I was in the ditch, it ran much better. I put the phone down and tried to tear it up with Kal, but it acted almost like normal dry conditions. Oh well.