Hmm... Time to reboot or thin the herd.

I have started to get quite the collection of tractors 9 to be exact.  I think after this year's build-off I am going to do some reconsidering and maybe reboot some machines.

1.)  2006 Craftsman LT1000, Main mower (leave the same, maybe a fresh coat of paint?)
2.)  1975 Sears Suburban ST/16 with Lifan 15hp Repower. Main Garden, Backup mower. (It will need a fresh coat of paint in the future)
3.)  1989 Murray Widebody, Li'l Red, Primary mudNfun tractor.
4.)  1990 Craftsman II (Sasquatch Build-off 2017) It was a fun build but served no purpose.  (already starting to part out to other tractors) 
5.)  1982 Murray GT, (KAL Build-off 2018) Current build.  No comments at this time. 
6.)  1994 Craftsman LT4000 AWS.  Reinstall exhaust nipples and stock muffler.  Figure out why the trans slips and sell to brother. 
7.)  1977 Sears Suburban Hydo, Currently does not run, but may do something radical with it.  Onan took a dump.
8.)  2001 TroyBilt, Daughter's ride.  Plan to upgrade engine and pulley swap trans.
9.)  1974 Sears LT10/36 (scrapping build, parting out)

Not sure how I ended up with all this...  It just kind of happened.  Also, with so many tractors, you can get a sense of burn out and being overwhelmed.  Plus you have to store it somewhere.

Honestly this collection makes total sense looking at it.  Here's my thoughts.

1) main mower: keep her maintained
2) garden tractor:  keep her maintained, nice machine to have around for pulling and mowing
3)mudnfun:  yeah this is a cool tractor for fun but I think KAL is superior, maybe give to a family member or sell?
4) part it out, lots of good parts you could incorporate into more important projects
5) Kal: awesome mudnfun machine, could be used for ocassional work too, she's a keeper!
6)fix and get rid of it!
7)park is outside
8)gotta have something fun for the kids to ride, maybe waterproof it and store it outside to make more room for more important tractors or maybe get rid of it and make Lil red your daughter's new ride?
9)park it outside

Crazy_Carl wrote:

Honestly this collection makes total sense looking at it.  Here's my thoughts.

1) main mower: keep her maintained
2) garden tractor:  keep her maintained, nice machine to have around for pulling and mowing
3)mudnfun:  yeah this is a cool tractor for fun but I think KAL is superior, maybe give to a family member or sell?
4) part it out, lots of good parts you could incorporate into more important projects
5) Kal: awesome mudnfun machine, could be used for ocassional work too, she's a keeper!
6)fix and get rid of it!
7)park is outside
8)gotta have something fun for the kids to ride, maybe waterproof it and store it outside to make more room for more important tractors or maybe get rid of it and make Lil red your daughter's new ride?
9)park it outside

1) yep, just did my annual valve adjustment, oil and air filter.  New drive and mower belts and a new idler.  Works great!
2) definately... Just did annual valve adjustment oil and filter. may need to look into a deck bearing rebuild.  I may need a press for that. (dreading)
3) I'll keep Red.  Contemplated letting the daughter take it over.  Uncertain.
4) Thats the plan.
5) I'll have to see how Kal comes out.  Definate superior frontend and transaxle.  The other parts are still in the air.
6) definately
7) It's stuck in the shed.  It is a hydro and the release is broke.  I had to drive it in there on the starter.  I'd rather not leave out due to the fiberglass hood cowel.
8.) It's such a hodgepodge machine.  LOL, works great for what it is, but last ride had an issue with throwing a belt.
9) It sits outside today.

Small part of me is thinking of ditching the hydo in the 77 suburban and slamming it down making a rat rod.  LOL.

Also another side of me is a little depressed because of the dog.

I'd swap a non-steering 930 into the AWS and put the rear trans on the front.
Oh, and it's *herd. Sorry, lol.

I gotta say, I'd be sad to see the old Sasquatch go. But I can see where you're coming from about it.

I haven't heard the latest on the dog.  Doesn't sound good

That sounds like a good future build-off plan for the 77

I could see keeping lil red as your mudnfun tractor for yourself.  It's been a good machine for you and having two mudnfun machines is nice.  While one is being worked on you can ride the other.

Yah, time to thin the heard I guess. Make some shelves in the garage or shed for storage of parts. Keep the parts off the floor so they don't rust or corrode any in storage and grease any exposed bare metal shafts. I would see what I could do for the one that cuts the grass, maybe a stronger motor or transaxle if you got them. Since the one you cut the grass is the one mostly used, I would suggest fixing that one up with the best parts for reliability and durability. Wouldn't hurt to have a one link on it, extra big gas tank with a gauge, or a good bumper for pushing debree out of the way to cut the grass under it. Or maybe a pull string start for when the battery is dead. Sucks just having to charge the battery to cut the grass.

You never know when you will need to pull your wife's car up the driveway, or jump start your truck when it's parked the wrong way to where you can't get the cables to reach from your other car. I was just thinking about hooking up a small alternator to my riding mower I cut the grass with, just so I have a way to jump start something in the yard. Happens more then you expect and they are usually parked the wrong way too.

Double W Cross Ranch wrote:

I'd swap a non-steering 930 into the AWS and put the rear trans on the front.
Oh, and it's *herd. Sorry, lol.

Hey, I am working on 2 hrs sleep last night. 

Crazy_Carl wrote:

I haven't heard the latest on the dog.  Doesn't sound good

That sounds like a good future build-off plan for the 77

I could see keeping lil red as your mudnfun tractor for yourself.  It's been a good machine for you and having two mudnfun machines is nice.  While one is being worked on you can ride the other.

Yeah it isn't good.  About 2 months after his surgery his cancer came back at least 10 fold.  All over his body.  Just in the past 3 weeks they have grown at a rate faster than the original.  Unfortunately there is not much that can be done for this type of cancer.  It's cut it out and hope to get it all.  (not doing that all over his body inside and out)  Also, chemo only has a .02% success rate.  Yeah ".02"

So long story short we have pampered him until he either passes or we have to help nature along should his quality of life go to pot.  Wife and I feel the later is coming and quickly.

I had hoped that maybe a friend may want to go riding sometime, but so far my "local" friends are not into the hobby or interested.  Still keeping Red regardless.

Man, that sucks.... Really sorry to hear about the doggie Mighty.

I feel your pain, I went through the same thing twice. Just love him and you will know when it's time.

Oooh, that's sad.  I'm sorry for you, your wife, and your dogs.  But the good Lord knows best.

Bummer buddy

Quote :

6.)  1994 Craftsman LT4000 AWS.  Reinstall exhaust nipples and stock muffler.  Figure out why the trans slips and sell to brother.

After some events going on.  I have decided to part the old LT4k out.  My dad needs an engine so I will take it over there.

I also need some other parts for the LT1000.  Some springs I would like to put on Kal.  

Maybe, just maybe..... Convert the trans and maybe a 4x4 Lil'Red in the future?  That's an interesting idea.

YES!!!! Definitely a 4x4 build, whatever you want to do it to.

I wouldn't do a 4x4 build. That's way too much work to make reliable. You gotta have a really stiff frame to hold up to a transaxle on either end. Better off just selling the AWS trans for a ridiculous price on ebay, lol.

I'm with Richie on this one.  Sell it to W to make a big profit.  It could pay for all the parts for your 2019 build off rig.

Crazy_Carl wrote:

I'm with Richie on this one.  Sell it to W to make a big profit.  It could pay for all the parts for your 2019 build off rig.

LOL...I don't even have that kind of money to begin with.  But I'm not advanced enough to build a 4x4 mower.

HAHA... I've already started pulling it apart. It's an outside park now.

Sad to see the old aardvark torn apart. That’s the only other one I’ve seen that’s the same as my CQ started

CraftsmanQuad19 wrote:

Sad to see the old aardvark torn apart. That’s the only other one I’ve seen that’s the same as my CQ started

@ConfederaSears has one, except it has an AWS MST in it.

It starts to get pretty nuts after you get over 10. I usually go for the path of least resistance & finish up whatever costs the least and has the least amount of work to do. Get it done, off the list and out of the garage. I have at lest 15 now, I cant even make a list like that without walking outside to be sure at this point....