Red-Painted Step Child

[dtallon 320]

My latest acquisition isn't a Horse, but I think you could say it's related by marriage... It's a 1968 5HP Toro "Deluxe" riding mower.  I thought it was unique because it is so tiny.  It was one of those typical "too good to pass up" deals.  It doesn't run, but it looks like it did in the not too distant past.  At first I thought it was pretty clean & original other than the deck being taken off and some floor boards fabricated, but as I look it over closer and find a few (and only a few) pictures on the internet, somebody put some time into it at some point.  The kids are exited about getting this one running to ride around on, so stay tuned.  

 

 

[jellyghost 378]

The bull emblem and the scoop on the hood are awesome.

[JERSEYHAWG / Glenn 4,498]

Cool little son of a bug.

 

Glenn

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,473]

Must be this one

Garry

[953 nut 59,918]

8 hours ago, dtallon said:

Toro "Deluxe"

             I guess the standard version wouldn't have had that "KOOL" hood scoop!           

[WheelHorseNut 222]

What a cool find!  I'm curious -- how comfortable that thing is with the steering shaft at that angle and height?

[Fun Engineer 859]

That will be a great one for your kids. Nice find. 

[857 horse 2,588]

This is too cool.....and yes Richard.....That scoop makes it !!!!!!This is THE show scooter...!!!!!

 

            Howard857 Horse in VA

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,362]

I have actually helped work on one of those Toro's. The pull cord thru the dash is the strange part and the solid tires on the front can make for a rough ride. Some guy dropped it off at my neighbors to be repaired , no note or nothing to let anyone know anything about the owner. My neighbor was about 82 when this happened. The owner shows up about a week later asks " IS it fixed " . My neighbor looked him said "what the hell is it and why did you dump this piece of junk in my yard. I thought the guy was going to have a stroke. My neighbor looked at him and said it can't be fixed , see that big hole in the motor . You need to check your oil.  We left the guy in the yard and went into the house. Never saw the guy again. My neighbor put a used motor on it and we played with it all spring and sold it that summer for about $200.00.  

[AMC RULES 37,196]

 Awesome  

[PeacemakerJack 10,743]

It's a "Pocket Tractor"!  

cool!

[dtallon 320]

I was joking with my neighbor about the hood scoop as well.  I'm sure it adds at least a 1/4 hp to that Briggs... The steering wheel is a little high.  It's not original, although if I didn't find pictures of an original one I wouldn't have been able to tell.  I may cut it down to the original height.  The steering wheel on it is identical to the 2-spoke wheel on my 854.  

 

A new spark plug was all it took to get it running on starting fluid, but it took a few times of pulling the carb on and off and cleaning out gunk before I finally traced a fuel problem down to a plugged passage at the idle adjustment screw.  Once I got it running, it surprised me by pulling a wheelie in 3rd gear!  Needless to say, the "clutch" is a little touchy.  It gave my neighbor a good laugh though.  

 

After me and the boys made some hot laps around the yard, we used it to haul a load of rotten jack-o-lanterns down to the dead end to dump. Other than getting a new air filter element for it, we'll call this project done for now.  I've got some extra little 13x5.00-6 lug tires than may find their way on the rears for tractor show season next year.  Think they make tri-ribs that small for the front...

Edited November 7, 2016 by dtallon