Murraymountain's Lawn Tractor Repairs

Okay, little update here. The wiring is almost jerry rigged. I'll do a video on how everything works tomorrow. It's actually quite funny how it works. Anyway, I just need tubes for the left tires, a toggle switch and light bulbs so I can wire up some front lights, and maybe a drive belt. After that, well, we wait on the deck. Oh yeah, the PTO half works. It has a very weak click, but it does work. Might take it off and clean it up.

On another note, we found out what was wrong with the 19 HP "junk" motor. I'll post that in the Scat Rat update.

Well I forgot to take a video. I'll try to remember. Anyway, the wiring's done.



I bent the belt guides in some to make sure the belt doesn't come off the engine pulley. Also pulled the left wheels in preparation of tubes. Once I get those, I'm puttin' 'er to work until I get a deck.

FINALLY! First sale of the year: My brother's MTD...



$350. I get $30 because I paid for the tubes.

Bring on the sales!

Okay, supposed to have the Yard Machine sold tomorrow. $500, and a Craftsman T1200. Now that's a deal! We'll see what we end up with in the morning...

Okay, Yard Machine is gone. $500.




And a Craftsman T1200...




With a broken deck...



It just needs the norm. And a new deck. That's why I have a spare. Anyway, it apparently has a new starter and solenoid, but it does need a carb. Hopefully the Yard Machine doesn't get abused as hard as this one was.

That's standard for those MTD decks. I've had to weld mine back together so many times.

Oh uh, not a PowerMore engine!

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

That's standard for those MTD decks. I've had to weld mine back together so many times.

Yeah probably. I'm just gonna scrap this one though. It's worse then just that. I have a spare I can swap everything over to.

AllisKidD21 wrote:

Oh uh, not a PowerMore engine!

Mhmm. The good ol' PowerLess engine. I don't mind working on them as much as you do though. This one runs fine. If the choke wasn't broke on the carb, then it would only need a tune up. They're okay engines. Not that I would use them on a mower I'm building, (unless it's something like the stamped frame), but for MTD type crap, they fit right in. I mean, it could be better, but it's still money in the bank.



Anyway, I got a decent little machine here. I would say I could get $750 for it all fixed up. Tomorrow I'm gonna switch everything over to the new deck. As for the tractor, it is captain slow. I use reverse a lot because it's faster. Anyway, it needs a carburetor, full tune up, one headlight assembly for the left side, a front tire, switch everything to the new deck, and is in severe need of a bath. But in the meantime, the deck is already off so I couldn't resist...




Yes, I had to offroad it. It did surprisingly well for being 100% stock. This is probably the steepest hill climb we have. The stock T1200 is holding it's own in the top 3 of the hill climb. The picture does the actual steepness no justice.





And this is also the first tractor to climb a tree. I've yet to do this with a widebody.



Anyway, tomorrow I'm gonna get it mowing. Should be an easy flip!

The one thing you gotta appreciate with the MTDs is the decks have been the same garbage shell for the past 20 years, so they're easy to swap or find parts for.

The older decks were stronger, but the way these mount is way better. I say you lose either way with an MTD lawn tractor. But no one knows the difference between AYP and Murray and MTD so when it comes to selling them it doesn't matter to me.


Okay. New deck is on, carburetor is fixed, and steering is all slicked up. We now need to buy a tune up kit for the CrapperMore, the pulley covers, a matching front tire, and the left light assembly. Oh, and a freakin pressure wash.

Okay, I'm now waiting on my pulley covers, light lens, and air filter to arrive. I need to get a new hose for the pressure washer so I can pressure wash it, and I need to get a front wheel and a light bulb. Then I need to sell it.




The Wizard is getting a new old rear wheel, and a new old front tire. Also, I think I found a deck for it at the junkyard. It's in pretty decent shape too.

Okay, got my front tire on. Now I need a full deck, and a rear wheel. (Yes it's being used as storage just like everything else.)

Horizontal surfaces of any type are my worst enemy. They just collect everything.

I know right? I just can't never tell what is and what isn't a table.... They all amount to the same thing don't they?....

Anyway, little update here. First off, I said I was gonna do a video on how the GT6000's electricals work. The motor turns over with the key anytime there's a battery in it, but it doesn't start until you connect a main power wire to the second amp meter and turn on the lights because the float is hooked up to that switch. So you have to have the lights on anytime it runs or it will shut off. And the way to shut it off is to simply turn off the lights (which turns off the float). The kill doesn't work, so I shut it off by disconnecting the float. Here's the video. Pretty neat eh?

Anyway, I just put the battery on charge tonight...



Poor charger. Always getting abused.

The pulley covers for the MTD/Craftsman came in. Gonna put 'em on tomorrow. Hopefully that takes care of the belt throwing.



Now it needs a good deep clean... Maybe an ozone machine? It still need the headlight lens that just won't come in (gotta love it when you have to order from Partstree... It just makes me so happy.), a front wheel, a light bulb and the air filter... First one to put $750 in my hand gets it.

And then we have the real Craftsman (not that piece of crap MTD thingy)... Someone was apparently coming to pick it up today. Last we heard is that he needed to find a truck... Since then he's just vanished like most respectful people do. I had plenty of better things to do today than wash the Craftsman just so it can get covered in dirt and pollen again. When someone tells me they're gonna do something, I expect them to do it. I'm sick of these type of people. Hopefully he texts back tomorrow and says that he's got the truck and maybe, just maybe, he'll make it far enough to pick it up.   Anyway, it's still mowing perfectly. It eats up the oil since the fuel pump is hooked up to the fill tube, but it doesn't starve at all.




My brother is still working on the good ol' YM. It never fails to fail. Right now it won't start if you shut off and it's still hot, it idles too high, the deck needs a spring, and it seems to need a lot of WD40 (the one thing we just can't get enough of). He just bought brand new belts for it which he put on today and he's still waiting on the belt keeper for the deck belt on the engine pulley. If we only would've bit the bullet and bought a $90 starter.



I'm not gonna say it will be worth it, but the pay off is gonna be pretty nice when he sells it.

Okay, the Yard Machine is for sale again. I don't know if there's anything left to break on it now.

Husqvarna messed up a blade, pulley and some type of spring? Well, it's all fixed now. Ol' Smokey... He seriously needs rings.

JD, well, enough said.

Brothers Craftsman needs a fuel filter and a tube for the rear tire. It also got a new seat. Gettin fancy.

My Craftsman is still for sale. $350 firm.

My MTD/Craftsman....... The Pulley covers didn't work, so I uh, severely changed their appearance and formation...



A little more sucky to the eye, but I doubt that belt's gonna fall off.

I got my light assembly in...




So now everything except matching up the front tire is done. I honestly can't afford a tire and I don't think anyone really cares so you know what.......... $850 OBO takes it. It is now for sale.




The Wizard is alive. I got a rear wheel for it, charged up the battery, and took 'er fer a spin...



I drove up to get the mail with it and I didn't know it was in 5th. I was like, "this thing is freakin slow!".... Then I hit 6th thinking it was 4th.... Oops. Anyway, the belt killed itself, so I towed it back to the shop and parked it. Today we just happened to have one that fit perfectly in the belt stash. Also replaced the engine pulley because it was too rusty. Anyway, she peels out now. I've been doin wheelies and spinnin the tires all day. I definitely like this rig. I'm not putting this one up for sale, but if someone offered me the right price, I'd sell it. But for now, it's not for sale and I don't plan on selling it. It's alota fun for being stock.





Anyway, a deck is on the way as soon as something sells.

And a little group shot because we can.

Finally got around to posting the Craftsman T1200 mud test...



Yes, the YT is up.

Okay, finally got the LT1000 sold! $360 (extra $10 for the gas it took to deliver it).

All cleaned up and about to load it... It actually went to a waterfront property. Solenoid wanted to be stupid even though I already replaced it. I love Kohler wiring harnesses!

Okay, nothing much to do right now since stuff is either waiting on parts or at the shop... So I tackled the scrap pile. It was actually pretty darn big. We have about 400 pounds of scrap in all and that's not including everything else. So I sorted it all out in particular piles. The scrap metal goes back where everything originally was. We have about 50-75 lbs. of engine parts (not including the other 2 motors), 3 transmissions plus 3 case halves, about 25 lbs of deck parts, about 50 lbs of random brackets, and probably 100-125 lbs of other random parts. Plus 200 lbs. of scrap metal, 100 lbs of (15) wheels and tires, and 100 lbs of (2) decks. Anyway, now I'm waiting on shelving to put everything in to.





For some unknown reason I also decided to put the Parts Machine back together somewhat... It's as back together as it's gonna get. Back to the parts yard it goes...



Anyway, hoping to go see a guy who has about 8 mowers this week. If we can get that one under our belt, we won't be going on any more picks this year!

Alrighty, little Wizard update here...



She was having a fuel starvation issue when going uphill. The pulse line for the fuel pump was folded in on itself, so I replaced it with a better newer more straighter one. It cleaned up the up the issue a bit, but it's still not 100%. I'm just gonna run some Seafoam in it and call it good. In the meantime...



I killed the starter gear. What can you expect from a plastic gear that's been sun beaten for the past 10 years? Well, it seems like an easy fix, but if that's what you think, you've never worked on a Vanguard V-twin. The easiest way to do it and in some cases the only way, is to pop off the flywheel. PITIFUL. Anyway, my brother got it fixed, but the clip popped off and caused it all to go flying up under there somewheres. I'll get it all fixed, but man, it's gonna be a pain. Anyway, this project will be fully functional within 2 weeks if I can catch the junkyard owner. So yeah, this thing will be finished until I restore it if I ever restore it. That'll be a relief!

Yep, now I killed the PowerMore's starter gear.... What's going on here?! If I can't find this tiny little gear anywhere then I have to buy a $90 starter.

Haven't seen these guys in a while...



The JD still needs a bunch of work. I don't even know what all it needs.

The Husqvarna has been out of commission for a while... The steering was screwed up. It's been sitting for 2 months waiting on a new drag link at the least, but I somehow fixed it. We'll see how long she lasts.

Well, I have someone interested in the T1200, so I was forced to bite the bullet and buy the starter.






And I just got ripped off by the fab shop. I'm gonna go from $300 to $0 in one week. That's an issue if I don't sell the T1200.

That sux.

Sure does. Especially since it only needed 1 gear. The starter itself still works fine.

That style not have the ability to change just the gear?

I don't believe so. The only separate starter related part that I know they sell is the mount piece thingy...

This piece...




I had texted the original owner to see if he still had the original starter and he didn't so yeah. Hopefully this lady buys it.