Leaderboard

Picked this lawn ranger up a few months ago and right away my youngest claimed it as his! Being all original we stared cleaning and buffing it up. We just have a few things to button up but for the most part it’s done. We did a makeshift muffler to keep the noise down being right in town lol. He was excited to take it for a few laps around town. FB3CA92C-1526-49E2-89A2-3FF456044131.mov D0676C82-8D93-4955-9852-853793D1A035.mp4

Found yet another use for the Horse. First year I didn't have to drag a deer over 100 yards uphill with a rope!

Every year, America’s manufacturing sector opens its doors to celebrate Manufacturing Day on the first Friday of October, falling on October 3 this year. For those interested in making things with mind and machines, it is a day that begins a month of inspirational experiences. This year also, America’s manufacturing sector is gearing up to celebrate the manufacturing sector’s contribution to the United States’ economic power.

One day early.

44F and 3mph East wind t 7AM

Excellent! Good to get you kids involved with your hobby, and liking it, when they are young. I see a few Calendar shots there...... Am I all wet, or is that a classic @Pullstart picture-perfect pose??? Right down to the Flippety-Flops.

If you don't find a recoil H60, a Kohler K181 fits nicely without nearly as many carb issues... That body style Ranger is a sharp little tractor. Much more "tractor" than it's size would lead you to believe.

Almost finished overhauling the 48-inch side-discharge mower deck for the GT18. Here's what I've done so far, more or less: Degreased and pressure washed the deck, inside and out...three times. Sanded areas of rust and flaking paint. Welded three small cracks that were just getting started. Straightened one of the anti-scalp wheel mounting brackets. Primed the underside with three coats of rusty metal primer and primer-sealer. Primed and painted the top. One of the spindle body castings was broken and another was corroded, so I replaced all three castings with new aftermarket ones. Tossed out the other parts that came with the new aftermarket spindles, due to quality and correctness issues. Installed new OEM Toro bearings in the spindles. Re-installed the original OEM bearing spacer sleeves. Installed one new Toro OEM spindle shaft, one good used Toro shaft, and re-installed one of the original spindle shafts. Installed new bolts/nuts of the correct sizes and types for the pulleys, blades, spindle mounts, and various brackets. Upgraded the plastic washer and bushing set for the sliding idler pulley bracket to a bronze bushing and UHMW polyethylene washers, which should be low-friction and impact resistant. Welded new axles (shoulder bolts) onto the anti-scalp wheel adjusting plates (as previously posted). Miscellaneous other repairs. I still need to install the new blades, a few more fasteners, and the chute, and it should be ready to mow. I haven't decided if I'm going to fab up some sheet metal to make a couple of belt/pulley guards. Before: Mostly done:

Broke 400 miles with today’s ride! I’ve pedaled (no battery power here!) 402 miles to be exact so far this season. Was a chilly start, I warmed up once I had a couple miles under my belt.

I got to watch part of this process on a 312 axle. As is so often the case, observing someone having the needed skills and tooling and carefully doing the multi-step setup and preparation was fascinating. Seeing the machine taking off a couple of thousandths on each pass was almost hypnotic! Thrust bearings (standard on the swept 520-H) noticeably eased our steering effort. Importantly, while that axle was being overhauled, I discovered that one spindle’s lever arm was bent. How'd it happen? I don’t know, but that surely contributed to the wonky steering.

Only flat on the bottom!

Everything coated with POR-15. Greased the deck wheels and lubed the rollers.

That’s amazing! Great work, and I love the “Look at this, Dad!” In the video! Proud boy! Proud dad!

That’s a 1964 model 34R…the only year with that combination of hood and rear fenders. Model 34R is the Tecumseh 6hp manual pull start model . The electric start model 34E would have had the electric start Tecumseh 6hp engine….pretty much the only difference between the 1964 model lawn rangers…

@wallfish rides in the cart…,his stuff is always outa gas or the battery is toast

I bought new Craftsman tool boxes last year, after discovering that used ones are always beat up, and then discovering that new ones are still made in the USA! In the same factory where they've been made for 50+ years.

@Pullstart and a ramset. What could possibly go wrong?

Guys, My local parts dealer came through late this afternoon and found the misplaced module I ordered on Tuesday. All the parts and switches are reinstalled along with the new module. The tractor started immediately when I turned the ignition key. It is running great. It took me longer than expected to reinstall the metal engine shroud. Below are two pictures of the problem. I spent probably over an hour removing the grass all around the head of the engine using a vacuum. I had not noticed the engine overheating but with all the grass and straw removed it should run cooler, Thanks to all for the advice. John A

I know one problem is the ignition switch has at least one terminal corroded off (never saw that before) But I will pull the harness out and go through it all.

Looks decent to me. Not the prettiest but runs nice.

You and your technical terms......

I love my ramset tool! BANG! POW! RIGHT IN THE KISSER!

I received a new knee for my birthday, got home just last night!! Not everyone gets 3 knee replacements!!!

Measure with a ruler, mark it with chalk and cut it with a torch!

I think I know where I'm sending my next axle to for repairs... VERY nice setup!

Welcome to the forum. We’re glad you found us. The ’95 520-H was at or near the end of production for that model. 20hp with plenty of torque (though it can be thirsty). The Eaton hydro and Unidrive transaxle are rock solid. The “swept” front axle angles forward and wider than pre-92 (?) models. Has 1” spindles and heavier wheel bearings. It’s designed to allow room for a 60” mower deck and for better stability with an FEL. Gear reduction steering (twice as many turns lock-to-lock for easier steering with loads) The hydrostatic forward/revers motion control is column-mounted. To me, though, USD 5,000, even for a well-maintained, 800 hour unit with Kwik-way in excellent condition is a bit ambitious. You didn’t mention a mower deck or other implements. In my New York Metro area the ask would be more like $4,000. Adding an excellent condition 60” deck would be another 500-700. Things I would check: - records, especially of oil & filter changes on the engine and transmission - any sign of “surging” in the engine (i.e. revving up and down on its own) - make sure that once warmed up it runs without any choke at all - a foam rubber gasket installed around the engine oil filter (absolutely critical for proper flow of cooling air) - oil levels and condition in the engine and the transaxle - echoing @Achto suggestion--with the bucket low against something immovable, and the front wheels just barely off the ground, can the tractor spin the rear wheels?

Cut it twice and it was still short

I use the milling machine to fix a front axle, with an upgrade or two. First setup is to drill / ream the pivot thru hole and install sleeve bearings from each side. I also face the the outer ends of the bore to be smooth and square to the bore. Play is taken up with shims at assembly. Second setup - I use the pivot hole to help hold the axle square for machining. As the underside of the axle wears, there is excess vertical movement. I remove material on the bottom to allow using either a flange bearing or the thrust washer / bearing stack and only leave .010 to .015 vertical movement. Next, the spindles them selves may have spots that are excessively worn - those get TIG welded up and filed for a proper fit. There should be just a bit of preload on the wheel ball bearings to immobilize the inner races so they do not spin on the shaft. Shim accordingly. Reinstall axle and install a new set of adjustable Heim rod end tierods. This allows you the center the steering wheel and get proper 1/8" toe-in alignment. Finished product is better than new....

Hello fellow Wheel Horse Nuts, Can anyone help me Identify this Lawn ranger? Year / Model Number? Serial Number A-72440, Going to restore it and want to try to get it accurate. Thank You in advance Eric in western Pa.

Happy Birthday @RandyLittrell, we are glad you were born.

This is what I have in my notes for the engine: Oil filter Onan 122-0800 NAPA Gold 1762 (1764 had the wrench end) Fleetguard LF3339 • ⁃ Wix 51762 (4.5”) For the transmission: Wix 51410 or Napa 1410 because it does not have a by-pass valve

Tides go in and tides go out... seems the tide is coming back in... we'll see...

See ya tomorrow morning

Oh.. I don't think so

I measure once, cut twice, trim a bit, sometimes need to stuff another piece in there for filler...

Yes I got lucky. That is just a preliminary setting to get it running. I will fine tune it later after I run some fresh fuel through it.

One right, one left, one spare?!

Hard to find good quality old-time items still made here new. Sad that Corporate America sold it's soul years ago to save a few bucks & put a smile on the Shareholder's greedy faces... Offshoreing Production was only a short term benefit.....

always enjoy Pete's perspective and insights even if i have read them previously ! Repetition is the best teacher!

Great Job!!!

This a first for me, this chiiinaa carb weeps fuel out of top of carb. I had stuck it on awhile back and it runs out ok but I have a couple Carter n carbs that I rebuilt this week so one of these will be going on the 857 along with the rebuilt fuel pump ready for another 50years of service.

I worked as an Assembler years ago for a local company that built valves for the Chemical, Petroleum, and Nuclear Industries. Once built, they would be hydro tested - tap water inside pressurized to usually 5000 PSI. Amazing how many were leak free at 4500 PSI, but failed at 5000.

That is fantastic! Thank you for sharing

Made it past 72 hours!! Plan is to begin feeding slowly tomorrow morning after 5. That'll be 80 hours plus. I wanna wait til the morning so I can see a more accurate number of lbs lost.

Friday night at the beach down the road from my house