cleb 0 #1 Posted May 26, 2010 just got it home a couple of hours ago I have a video but it's not really doing anything... just wanted to run it some... the tractor is not for the property the video is at my city place... neighbor are probably wondering what the heck... I could not even drive on the lawn with the tiller on... the top link seems too long and with the lift all the way up it's only up 2 inchs... probably going to drill another hole or get an adjustable top link... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whfan74 2,071 #2 Posted May 26, 2010 Nice, clean looking unit you picked up. Have fun with it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gene_S 93 #3 Posted May 26, 2010 Like Scott said nice clean tractor and a nice seat too... Looks like you need the adjustable top link. I've never seen a solid one, must be home made. Seems like alot of D's I see the top link is missing. Nice find cleb!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
catman81056 3 #4 Posted May 26, 2010 Just about any Tractor or farm supply store will have the cat 0 top links, they run $15- $ 20. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleb 0 #5 Posted May 26, 2010 Thanks... as for looks I would liken it to a 10 foot car... it looks very good from 10 feet away... once you get close you can see the paint is not great... The last guy painted it with everything attached... so anything you can't see is not painted... and its a little wavy... for a work tractor it looks very good but I am planning on taking the fenders hood and such off and stripping them and re-painting them when I have time... I'm also in need of the left front (when sitting on the tractor) muffler... the one that's on has a bit of corrosion at the bottom. I am betting the top link was home made... its a hunk of half inch bar... I need to go to tractor supply and get a drawbar for it anyways... Does anyone have a pdf of the owners manual? I got a print out with it of the service procedures book (A-2066) before I scan it does anyone have a PDF of that... any other manuals would be greatly appreciated... Is there anything I should check right away... The steering is nice and tight ( I read somewhere that was one thing to watch out for)... I want to get everything I can done while I have it at my city place before taking it down to my cabin... oh... I though I read somewhere some of these had provisions for an engine oil filter... can this be done to the 18 auto... if so is there a write up somewhere... I would like to add one... thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duff 206 #6 Posted May 26, 2010 Manners....manners..... ! Glad to have you with us, Cleb, and nice tractor you've acquired! Also, really enjoyed your web site with the cabin project. The Horse will be very useful and right at home along with your 8N and IH units. Off-topic, PM me about your guitars - I'm a musician myself (bass player) and would like to know more about your musical tastes! Glad to have you aboard! Duff :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rickv1957 74 #7 Posted May 26, 2010 Hello and Rick,nice tractor! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 23,279 #8 Posted May 26, 2010 That is a beast of a tractor. You will get a ton of use out of it...great video. :wh: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nick 13 #9 Posted May 26, 2010 Nice looking tractor and tiller. The Toro MPV shows a simple bar for the top link on at least the tiller I looked up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lawn Ranger kid 14 #10 Posted May 26, 2010 Nice tractor! Josh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rollerman 290 #11 Posted May 26, 2010 Cleb have a look at the lower 3PH bars. If they both have adjusters on them, you may be able to get the tiller to raise higer by turning in the adjusters. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleb 0 #12 Posted May 27, 2010 thanks everyone...still learning how the tractor works We had the lower links cranked all the way up... while I was at work my father-in-law picked up a cat 0 top link from tractor supply... at first it did not look good... when I got home I looked at it... there is a nut on one end that I removed and that made it an inch shorter... so now with the new top link it's about four inches off the ground... Anyone have a tiller and can tell me how high their's is when all the way up? spent a little time going over the machine & cleaning it up a bit: 1) need one new exhaust (left front) 2) going to replace the spark plug cables as they are very loose at both ends... 3) The right front cylinder shroud that latches on to the cylinder is toast... going to look for a new one... 4) The fronts and undersides of both cylinders have lots of corrosion... going to clean them up somehow... not sure how yet... 5) I want to add an oil filter to the engine... need to research how to go about this The front light housings say speaker on the plastic... thats not right is it?? I had to get the mower deck out of my father-in-law truck so I decidended to mow the front lawn Is the center lift supposed to lift the whole mower deck off the ground... only seems to lift the front of the deck We are also looking for a center blade and snow blower... seems like a great machine so far... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gerry w 2 #13 Posted May 28, 2010 Hi Cleb, I have an 18auto, and with the tiller on it only raises about 4 to 6 inches off the ground. Your rig looks great, and they are Beasts. Some D units had a add on area for a oil filter behind the engine tin on one side. I'm sure folks here with more knowledge then I can tell you which ones and were. There is almost no stopping this rigs if they have a strong hydro unit, that's their weak link. Good luck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleb 0 #14 Posted May 28, 2010 There is almost no stopping this rigs if they have a strong hydro unit, that's their weak link. so whats the week part of the hydro system (hydro pump, hydro motor, valves, etc)... I might just hunt for one on ebay and keep it in reserve... I am trying to get spares for anything that is problematic... from past tractors having a spares coil, condenser, voltage regulator, solenoid comes in handy... might also pick up a set of spindles for the mower deck... just like to be prepared... So are all the hydro units as whiny as mine is in those videos... This is my first hydro tractor... not to sure what they should sound like.... thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gerry w 2 #15 Posted May 28, 2010 There are several members here more versed in the whole D thing then I BUT the spines on the Hydro it'self, where it connects to the motor connector assem., if they are "bad", worn, ground down to allow slipage the rig is dead in the water. (Where's our Maine members? Doug??) There is a terrible noise that happens when this occurs, and the tractor most the most part is done till it's repaired. Finding good hydros seems to be hard to do. (Unless your Rick, he most likely has about 20 somewhere!) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevebo-(Moderator) 8,532 #16 Posted May 29, 2010 Cleb, I have one and had a second 1973 Auto 18 and both the headlight bezels said/say speaker. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rickv1957 74 #17 Posted May 29, 2010 Looks like your 18 auto mows great!,Rick Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleb 0 #18 Posted May 30, 2010 Cleb, I have one and had a second 1973 Auto 18 and both the headlight bezels said/say speaker. thats funny... I was thinking these were a hack job that someone put together when the originals broke... WH must have got a deal on a bunch of speaker shrouds back in the 70's... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleb 0 #19 Posted May 30, 2010 Looks like your 18 auto mows great!,Rick yeah... towards the end it was not cutting well so I figured the blades need to be sharpened... pulled them and sharpened them then noticed that the belt that drives the blades was loose... opened it up and took a look... the belt tensioner was seized up.... so took that apart and wire wheeled the whole thing put a little wheel bearing grease on and bolted it back up and still would not move freely...looked like the nylon brackets compressed a little over the years... so I made up some thin washers that added a little bit of clearance... and bolted it together again.... now it works perfectly.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d180man 5 #20 Posted May 30, 2010 Hi very nice looking D nice find !! :USA: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gwgdog66 23 #21 Posted May 30, 2010 :USA: Sweet looking 18 Auto! The smile on your face at the end of the second video says it all :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linen beige 15 #22 Posted May 30, 2010 Cleb, I have one and had a second 1973 Auto 18 and both the headlight bezels said/say speaker. My 1980 D-160 also has "speaker" written on the headlight bezels. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trouty56 567 #23 Posted May 31, 2010 Is the center lift supposed to lift the whole mower deck off the ground... only seems to lift the front of the deck There is a adjustable j rod that connects to the rear wheel assembly and to the lift assembly. Possibly it is missing. It is a leveler. Don't know for sure though if this is your problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
