GasketCase's SEARS Swamper LT [2018 Build-Off Entry]

I've decided to enter my 1973-1974 (<--I believe) Sears LT 10  




My current ideas/plans for the SEARS Swamper

* wire wheel the entire body until I achieve a desired look then clear coat to preserve.

* Create a new wiring harness

* Install gauge cluster ( amps & voltage )

* Install safety tether

* Fabricate a new steering design

* Replace and Relocate small fuel tank to large fuel tank

* Install the B&S 18 HP twin oppy

* Drain, Clean, and Lock then 600 series transaxle.

* Paint specific Components to Stand out

* Possibly add a separate vacuum fuel pump . (Heard that oppys stock pump can dump into crankcase.)

* Find larger and more aggressive for front and rear. For the meantime, i may cut the rear tires since front are already cut.

* Install 8" Led bar and incorporate it into the grill.

Pretty decent list to start with . I guarantee I'll have more ideas like we always do lol



*Accepted MightyRaze 6/6/2018


--------------Merged with previous thread--------------------


I Haven't posted in awhile , but I recently aquired a sears LT 10/36 from what the hood says. The Model number 536.255212 and the code number was a little difficult to read but I think it said 8118 . (After I wrote down the numbers, I proceeded to wipe the dirt off the label and ended up wiping it all away with just my hand ! ) I can't seem to find a any good information on it for identifying what date it was made. Tractordata.Com states it as a 1974 to 1975. since that's the only years they provide on tractordata. Here's a couple of pictures. By the way, I removed what I believe is a tecumseh engine but I could be wrong . I couldn't find any ID numbers on engine either.




So, for anyone that knows or could help me I.D this awesome looking tractor and also Id like to see everybody's opinion if I should lower it and go with maybe a rat rod look? Or go ahead and lift it up and use it for a offroader. Let me know what you guys think (I'm always open to ideas) and if anyone has any info on this , it would be greatly appreciated

That's a sweet looking little tractor! I couldn't tell ya the year or anything but it definitely appears to have a Peerless 600 transaxle.

Why does this "sears" look so much like a Dynamark or my Bradford Monte Carlo?!!! crazy

Can we get some more pics? What trans and a pic of the engine?

I couldn’t begin to help ya ID it, but based on looks 74-75 seems right

The Transaxle is indeed a peerless 600 3 spd w/ reverse. I'll have to get a picture in the morning of the engine. I found the ignition / pick up coil to be mounted under the flywheel . I found one of the magnets to have separated from inside flywheel. So I saw original location and glued it back in its spot. The engine has compression, so I'm assuming the magnet dislodging was the issue . I have not tried to start it yet . It also has a adjustable main jet on bottom of carburetor bowl with a screw . Looks pretty neat but when I looked inside the bowl it wasnt too pretty. Rusty float pin , so I can't remove float without breaking it.

Also I'm thinking of throwing my spare 18 hp oppy twin on the sears . If I don't, I have my backyard modified 12.5 flattie on my 6 wheel mower build at the moment.

Ooh, an opposed would be neat for sure!

It's on my MTD yard machine but Im tempted to just see what the oppy could do on a smaller tractor .

I need to do the separate fuel pump on the oppy though. I have a brand new one ready to throw on it. Just been spending majority of the time on the 6 wheel mower.

So what would you guys do in reference to chassis build. Should I make it a race/speed mower or off road it? It had a pretty strong frame but Idk if the short wheelbase will have a negative effect on offroad . Unless I widen the front axle and throw the wide tires I have on the rear.

Will it fit???  LOL

MightyRaze wrote:

Will it fit???  LOL

I Will make it fit , my good sir ! Haha

Also here's some pictures of what engine was on it, when I aquire it. Don't want to state it as the original because Im not sure . The block is about half the size of a 12 hp flattie block .

Which one is exhaust and which valve is intake? Briggs exhaust was on the bottom, Tecumseh exhaust was on the top. That’s how I tell them apart at a glance

Really? Let me zip off the bolts real quick and Ill find out. I'll take a picture too.

Exhaust is on top so Its a tecumseh. Which tractor data says that the 1974 - 1975 came with a 10 hp tecumseh .

That looks like a sears Tecumseh engine, should have a 143 or something number on it.  I would quickly throw it to the bottom of a lake if I were you, but give it a shot.  I had one in this tractor before I ditched it, the timing is very difficult to set if you mess with the points etc. Good luck cool tractor.

I cant tell if its the same engine because you are missing the starter etc. but the plastic fins on the flywheel are the same...

Neat looking little tractor. I would maybe go for a Rat Rod type mower, the patina/paint work sorta lend itself towards that.

@mrshaft696 thank you for your advice haha. I was going to just throw it out cause it seems to be losing compression through exhaust. Further, found out that the exhaust valve must of been open all this time and made it have a rusty exhaust valve seat. And also it has 4 bolt holes where I would assumed a starter would go. Do you have any opinions on customizing it for street or offroad? The cutting deck was rotted beyond belief, so no chance of restoring it .

@MatthewD thank you for your input . Your the first one that has noticed my question for every bodies advice haha

sears does still show the parts for it....
https://www.searspartsdirect.com/model-number/536255212/0247/1509200.html?searchType=modelSearch&q=536.255212&searchTerm=536.255212


I would just get some bigger tires on the back, an engine & a seat that isn't better than what ya got then run it...

I think these tractors look best with minimal mods tbh. Does the opposed fit without cutting the hood? I'd try to avoid cutting up that lovely hood.

MatthewD wrote:

I think these tractors look best with minimal mods tbh. Does the opposed fit without cutting the hood? I'd try to avoid cutting up that lovely hood.

I bet it will fit, but the factory exhaust will stick out the front, so it would have to be changed....

Hmm the biggest tires I have are 23x9.50x12 but the rims are for 1 inch axles instead of 3/4 . So I guess I'll have to go with the 22x10x8 I have on my craftsman. And I'll steal the front rims while I'm at it. This was my first build , I never finished cutting the tires and rubber cementing the pieces back on for more tread depth. (takes forever even with harbor freight multi tool) . Fronts are finished though.

Now on the engine fitment. I'm pretty sure from just looking at it by eye , it will fit but @mrshaft696 is right with the exhaust. Good thing I have extra pipe laying around to build a nice dual exhaust or maybe a 2 to 1 depending if I like the sound of the dual or not.

I agree with mrshaft, I had one of these little Tecumseh 10hps and the timing was impossible to set. Had a strong spark but no matter how I set the points it would only backfire or not fire at all, then I tried a nova point replacer module and that didn't help anything either. An oppy would make this a sweet little death trap .

@Biggs mowers now that you said death trap I'm totally set on the oppy being put on the sears now. Lol . I greatly appreciate the advice everyone , I shall use the tecumseh as my new boat anchor this upcoming scallop season lol

Since Ive already made this thread for info , I suppose I should use it for a build thread for it too . I wouldn't want to make two threads with the sears.

GasketCase wrote:

I greatly appreciate the advice everyone , I shall use the tecumseh as my new boat anchor this upcoming scallop season lol

LOL I love that! Yeah I've been saying forever that Tecumsehs are crap, I remember one guy who had great compression, spark, and starter fluid sprayed into the spark plug hole, and it still wouldn't fire.

I like the rat rod idea.  Keep the body work the way it is.  Build it so you can rip around like a basic go-kart.