Ol' Sears - 1975 Sears Suburban ST/16

Updated shopping list.

• Paint (Still need the lighter paint for hood dash.  Keeping it almond)
  
• New tube of RTV
  
• 1/4 hardline for fuel and return to go between the tank and engine (oni it's way)
  
• Fuel filter
  
• Change oil, engine and trans
  
• One tire, going back to turf savers on rear.  (on it's way)
  
• Shifter boot for trans (On it's way)
  
• Tie rod ends.  1/2 -20 (researching)
  
• 1/4 drain tube and cap.
  

Looking good! When you get my mind set on something you seem to work pretty quick!

Well painting is on hold now for a few days.  Rainy and in the 60's now after being in the 100's just a week ago.  Love weather swings.  I was hoping to get the fenders back on before the transaxle.  It's only about a hundred times easier without the transaxle.  LOL  Fenders=not painted.

In other news, fuel lines ran and the gas tank reinstalled.  I guess I could also reinstall the seat at this point.  Oh and a gas cap.  The one I bought for Dirty Rat was like $20 with the guage in it.  Same supplier for the same cap is $49.99 now!!!!  Aye...

Parts that I ordered last week came in today!

My hardline... It was harder to install than I figured.  LOL  Forgot about the steering brace under the frame.  Also under the frame, I found a cracked weld in the engine portion of the frame.  Not sure if it happened during the spill or if it has been there.  Just going to pretend I didn't see that.



Fuel grommet for the fuel return line I am installing.



Here is the fuel return installed!



Here is the engine side of the lines.  

If we get some sun tomorrow, I'll try to get the fenders painted.  I'd hate for them to be paint run city.

Looking minty as always! You’ve got a way with the paint cans

Half decent day today!  Got some more done.  I am on hold until I can get some paint this weekend so I can touch up the dash so I can start rewiring.

It's a roller again.




I do have the deck hangers painted, I will probably install those later tonight or tomorrow.

Realized I could do some wiring and drop in the engine while I am waiting to get some paint hopefully tomorrow sometime.

Looks like a lot but not really that much.

Just a little more today.  Hopefully my shifter boot comes in tomorrow.

Well, she's looking a bit more complete.  Footboards are back on, as well as the clutch/brake rod and connectors.




While connecting up the clutch rod, I accidentally snagged the pto engage safety and re-broke the connector off.  I had soldered it on once before.  I lost the pin, so I soldered a new connector on and reinforced it with some JBWeld this time.



Now for the final pieces of the "main" tractor.  Hood and nose cone.  I separated them once more.  It is time to make some repairs to my old nose-cone repair from over 7 years ago.  This time a nice layer of epoxy should be good.  Cleanup and repaint it when repairs are done.  Grill pieces are ready.  





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Little know fact.  This is actually the original nose cone to The Dirty Rat when I got it about 7 years ago.  LOL, The one on TDR is one off Ebay I found about 6 years ago.  The original to this tractor was smashed to pieces back about 81 from an unloading mishap flipping the tractor.  

OH, and I got my transaxle shift boot today and the shifter is reinstalled.

Tractor pretty complete!  

I know I already tore into the deck earlier this year, I decided to do it again.  Sheesh... My goal is to make the tractor look as close to what it did originally. (minus the yellow paint instead of aztec gold i think was the color)

My Dad when the tractor was brand new in 1975.

Tractor looks like new! Excellent paint job

Thanks!

The deck bolts are pretty rotten. Need to replace most. Hard to find a 3/4" length 5/16 carriage bolt in the local stores. They seem to stop at 1". Online I go.

You did a great job!

Brianator wrote:

You did a great job!

THANKS!  Wait until the final reveal.     Hoping to be there this weekend.  I need one more can of paint though.

Heim upgrade complete on the outer tie rods.  Inners still have the ball joints.  They fit better.





These are both the original tie rod, rods to the tractor.

Good day in the tractor front. Just need one more can of paint to finish what is left of the deck. Scissor lift and pulley guide/brake.



Not so good otherwise. Had a hail storm come through. Baseball sized. Truck and Car took a some pretty good hits. As ell as the front of the camper. Sheesh..

Should have all the painting completed today. YAY. Hopefully I can get ya'll some good pix of it this weekend!

Painting complete and minus the blades, the deck is back together.

Hardware replaced in this refresh from the deck.



Hope to get the deck on tomorrow at lunch and maybe a picture or two!

Well here it is!

Not bad for a 48 y/o garden tractor!









I'm going to hold off on the 3-point for now.

MAN!!! That thing turned out great

It looks like new I love it!

Used it today to mow the front yard. Mowed like a dream! I noticed on the parts breakdown, there is a shim that is suppose to be installed on one of the mandrels. I didn't have that shim. I used a couple washers and now it no longer cuts a slice in the grass.

Paint looks immaculate! She’s looking amazing Mighty!

Well, I have mowed 3 times now.  I installed a new muffler.  Man does it sound good, much better than I had.



So far no leaks, I have about 2 hours on it since refresh.  I'm sure you'll see some dirt and scratches now.  I put an oring on the pcv tube.  So far it has actually worked in not letting oil by.



The other leaks are stopped as well.

I did notice I lost a bolt for the recoil.  I don't have metric bolts so I tapped it for a 1/4 inch bolt.  I have a handful about 1/2 inch long.









Easy fix.  I also put on some lock washers in there.  The mower mows better than it has ever mowed.  Very happy with it.

Great stuff! You did a great job bringing it back last time and a even nicer job this time around!