Horseboy 0 #1 Posted July 1, 2011 I recently bought a home and now Im looking for a tough garden tractor. A buddys dad owned a nice 500 series when I was younger, I tried to purchase it buts its been long gone. Tomorrow Im hopefully going to pick up an 857 model. Its complete aside from the original 8hp Kohler. Its got a pull start 8hp on it. I will post pics hopefully soon. Then I will pick brains to get this thing back to its original condition. Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
horsefeathers 15 #2 Posted July 1, 2011 Go get'em Horseboy!!! HORSEFEATHERS! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kelly 1,033 #4 Posted July 1, 2011 welcome, and a 857 is a good all around tractor, depending on what you want to do with it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Horseboy 0 #11 Posted July 3, 2011 Ive had it since friday. But for the life of me cannot get it to run. It has an old 8 horse briggs with recoil start. I can get it to puff smoke but not actually run. I had fuel leaking past the carb(which I know next to nothing about). I removed it and cleaned it a bit, put it back on and same thing......It soaks the plug and wont fire. After the coil in the pullstarted uncoiled for the second time I said F-my life and parked it. Whats a good replacement engine If I cant find the original Kohler? I just want to get it running for this season, right now Im push mowing an acre. Im young but it still sucks.... Any Ideas? LOL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jdog_kustoms 82 #12 Posted July 3, 2011 sounds like the float has a hole in it and filling with gas of the float needle is not working but you are just flodding it out thats why it wont start you need a little carb work and will probelly run great Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Horseboy 0 #13 Posted July 4, 2011 I've been browsing for a bit but Im pulling the engine. I got a guy down the road that has a lawnmower salvage yard 600 tractors deep. Before I found my trusty steed I went there looking for something vintage, he has twin 725 simplicitys but was asking 450.....Im hoping he has an engine for a decent price....... thanks, -Sean Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trollmeister 0 #14 Posted July 4, 2011 Sean - Not to say don't pull the engine, but I feel a small amount of carb repair and this horse will be off an running ! IMHO, a whole lot cheaper, quicker and much easier than pulling the engine . . George Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Forest Road 594 #15 Posted July 4, 2011 Carb kits usually run $20 +/-. If you got a puff puff out of it you have compression. Try A good thorough scrubbing of the carb. Get some help if you don't know what you're doing. How old is the gas in the tank? Drain it and start fresh. I always change the fuel lines and filter on every machine I take in. Look in the fuel tank for residue. You might have to clean it out. Rust and varnish from old fuel???? Don't give up just yet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tunahead72 2,551 #16 Posted July 4, 2011 I just want to get it running for this season, right now Im push mowing an acre. Im young but it still sucks.... Friendly words from an old guy -- it gets worse , but don't let your impatience do your thinking for you. Sometimes you need to just walk away from the whole situation and scratch your head a little (more than once if necessary). Seriously, I'm with jdog_kustoms and trollmeister and Cole's dad here. I wouldn't give up on this machine yet, it may just be that a good carb cleaning/kit/float and some fresh fuel will solve your problem (definitely put a filter in the line if it doesn't have one already). I don't know anything about the old Briggs engines, but there are guys here who do, and lots of them are willing to help you out. And pulling the carb again and having a closer look is a whole lot quicker and cheaper than pulling the Briggs, going down to the salvage yard, finding another engine that fits and MIGHT run, paying lots of money, bringing it back to your place and installing it on your tractor, and then possibly going through the whole "won't run" process again. I don't know about the starter problem, what's it doing exactly? Good luck with this, hope you stick with it! -------- And to you and trollmeister (good on you for jumping right in to help!). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcb857 161 #17 Posted July 4, 2011 :D My first Wheel Horse was a 857 and would not trade it for anything. :woohoo: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Horseboy 0 #18 Posted July 5, 2011 Im going today to get another carb, and a rebuild kit. I did a bit of research and got some info I needed. The carb is a two piece flo-jet. I guess their known to leak even after a rebuild...Due to warped bowls, a bad needle seat, or a bad seal between the nozzle and the body. So im gonna grab one and a kit and I should be golden. Like I said in my previous post it will blow smoke, just seems to be flooding bad. -Sean Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
corn53 4 #19 Posted July 5, 2011 Please let us know how u make out!!! Good luck with u`r new !!! :woohoo: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shorts 182 #20 Posted July 7, 2011 It helps to have your location in your header or signature so that we can point you to help in your neighborhood, some of us oldtimers enjoy sharing knowledge and have even been known to lend a hand if your in the neighborhood. your carb problem should be cured with a rebuild kit and a new float. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Horseboy 0 #21 Posted July 9, 2011 Success! I cleaned/rebuilt the carb, replaced the inline filter and she idles. Throttle is more like an on/off switch. Full throttle it will idle, no throttle.....dies. Maybe just a little carb adjustment. I still have some fuel in the intake but it idles and only dies when I shut the throttle. Once i get the intake on with the air cleaner assembly and theres a vaccume hose just hanging? Wish I had more time to play with it but I gtg to work. -Sean Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
