18 automatic 48" deck questions

[goatchay 0]

Hi to all,

A few months ago I started to resurrect my dad's 18 Automatic. It's a 1973 I believe. It had been sitting for 10 years or so, due initially to a rusty tank. Anyway, we got it running, runs great actually. He's been using it to pull wagons, etc.

Now I would like to get the deck rebuilt, but I can't seem to find a model number for it. Any help to put me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. I don't know if they made more than one 48" deck? This is a side discharge deck. My dad said that there used to be an aluminum tag on the deck. He put it somewhere years ago, but we can't find it.

I would like to get the tractor mowing again. The deck would need spindles, pulleys, belts.. the whole nine yards. But I'm not sure how to start searching for part numbers without the model number for the deck.

Again, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Chris

[C-Series14 15]

It is a 1973. Tractor VIN could be 1-0600, 1-0601, 1-0610, or 1-0620. Deck VIN is 5-1220 for a 48" deck.

[WH854 45]

Mike should'nt Vin number be like this 1-0600, 1-0601, 1-0610 0r 1-0620

Chas

[goatchay 0]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the quick replies. The tractor VIN is intact, but I'm not sure what it is at the moment. I think it is 1-6010, but I'm not sure. But as far as the deck goes, the only model number is 5-1220? I'll start searching for parts off of that number then. Does anyone have a recommendation for obtaining spindles, blades, etc.? I didn't know if any members here specialized in selling parts. Thanks again. I can get some pics of it next I go over there, if that would be helpful.

Thanks,

Chris

[C-Series14 15]

Mike should'nt Vin number be like this 1-0600, 1-0601, 1-0610 0r 1-0620

Chas

Well !

I will fix that right quick!!!

[goatchay 0]

From what I've been able to find out, it seems that the spindle assemblies are discontinued. Can anyone verify if that's accurate, or if there is a superceded part number, etc. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction with the model number. That was a huge help.

Chris

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,752]

There is a Spindle Chart in the Files of

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wheelhorsetractormanuals5_1/

The manual for the 5-1220 is further down the page.

Garry

[goatchay 0]

Thanks for the tip Garry. I'm still waiting on approval to the group to access the Files, but I'm sure that will be a big help.

I need to get blades also and I'm a little confused about this. On ebay I've seen blades for 48" WH decks and some measure 16", some 16 1/4" and some 16 1/2".

Does anyone know which is correct? I remember when I was a kid cutting on that deck that it always left a little strip between the blades, which I've seen is common according to some other posts that I've read today.

But does any one know what is the exact measurement of the blade that should be used, and is it measured diagonally across the blade or straight across?

I will go through the entire deck setup procedure etc, but I just want to make sure that I'm starting out with the right blades to begin with.

Also, I saw that a fellow member made his own blades and reduced the gap between the blade tips to 1/8" from 1/4" and it solved the problem. Has anyone else ever done this and would it be OK from a safety standpoint, assuming that there is no slop in the spindles?

Thanks again for all of the help.

Chris

[Trouty56 567]

There are a couple different spindle types for the decks from this era I think. There are the regular 3/4 inch shaft and the Double D type. It could be that if the measurement is straight across the blade it would be 16 and diagonally from tip to tip 16 1/4. There is a vendor on this forum "Glenn's Surplus" that has very good prices. He has the blades for the 3/4 center hole.

Click here to see what I mean.