New Lawn Ranger and learned some lessons

[mhlmeader 689]

  Hi folks, picked this up today on my day off from work.  Came with 2 extra decks aswell.  When i looked at it, there was no battery, owner said he had never tried to start it.  It did have decent compression.  

 

  Lesson #1.   Just because it has compression, doesnt mean that the plug threads are not stripped out.  DOH!!!...MONKEY MUFFINS!!!!.   fortunately i had an old parts h50 tecumseh engine.  Swapped out the head, and the gasket still seemed pretty good for now.   

 

Lesson #2.  When checking for spark with the pull starter, make sure you have the ignition switch TURNED ON!  BEFORE, you decide theres no spark, AND pull apaert the flywheel to "inspect" things.  Yup, that was me. Heres my sign!  

 

  In the process of pulling the flywheel, i put my impact gun on the nut, gave a very small quick squeeze, and boom, broke free real easy.   Key word being broke!!  The threaded shaft that the flywheel goes on was infact broken!   But i actually dont think it was me this time.  Or maybe it was.  There was small bolt thru the end of the shaft, and when i put it back together, well i just thread the broken part of the shaft back on, put it back together, snugged it up, and prayed.  

 

The good news is that i did infact get it started, got it running pretty well actually.  Still need a little rebuild kit for the carb.  Wipe off some excess grease. And putt around the yard.  

 

  I realize this is the lawn ranger model, but is there a specific model number for this tractor.? Range of year of manufacture?

 

Anywho, just sharing my day. Mike

 

 

[oldredrider 2,547]

Advice...buy a lottery ticket!

[jellyghost 378]

Great find.  Just being nosey, is that a hit and miss engine collection?

[mhlmeader 689]

26 minutes ago, jellyghost said:

Great find.  Just being nosey, is that a hit and miss engine collection?

  Thankyou, and yes it is, i like to watch them spin")

[Chris G 3,274]

Nice find and love the old hit miss engines as well

[KC9KAS 4,741]

Nice looking Lawn Ranger.

Some boiled linseed oil on that nice patina will be the icing on the cake!

[ebinmaine 63,095]

9 hours ago, mhlmeader said:

.MONKEY MUFFINS!!!!.  

 

Lesson #2.  When checking for spark with the pull starter, make sure you have the ignition switch TURNED ON!  BEFORE, you decide theres no spark, AND pull apaert the flywheel to "inspect" things.  Yup, that was me. Heres my sign!

First of all. Nice find on that horse.

 

Second of all. Monkey muffins????

Must have been extremely serious too have monkey muffins involved.

 

Ignition switch. Spark. Yeah. Good thing I've never done that.

 

 

 

Maybe you could make a thread in the Other Brands section about those hit and miss engines? There's a whole bunch of us that would love to see and hear those and more information about them.

 

 

[mhlmeader 689]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

 

 

Maybe you could make a thread in the Other Brands section about those hit and miss engines? There's a whole bunch of us that would love to see and hear those and more information about them.

 

 

Absolutely. I will do that.

[520hC-120 136]

Nice score!

[ebinmaine 63,095]

5 minutes ago, mhlmeader said:

Absolutely. I will do that.

Super cool man. Thanks. Please be sure to call me into the thread or send me a PM when you do.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 10,491]

Look for an ID plate riveted to the top of the rear hoodstand just below the hood. Should have the model number and serial number stamped into it. Don't know where else it could be.

Some of the model numbers are on this page. 1965 model L-155, 1966 model L-156 and 1967 model L-157 are missing. These 3 are electric start models.

https://www.partstree.com/parts/search/models/?searchTerm=lawn+ranger

The numbers off the engine may identify the tractor.

 

Garry

[953 nut 51,650]

10 hours ago, mhlmeader said:

is there a specific model number for this tractor.? Range of year of manufacture?

There should be a sticker or tag with a model number and serial number on it. Appears to be a 1964 to 1967, but I am no expert on the Lawn Rangers. The steering wheel will probably pin it down. If @Lane Ranger comes along I'm sure he will know.

[mhlmeader 689]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

There should be a sticker or tag with a model number and serial . If @Lane Ranger comes along I'm sure he will know.

Actually i just found that tag this morning. L-156.  

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 10,491]

Click on the fuzzy picture. We do not have an original manual for 1966.

Garry

[Pullstart 59,683]

Such a clean shop...  nice little LR, and thanks for bringing us along on your day long adventure!  We got a lot accomplished!  

[953 nut 51,650]

29 minutes ago, mhlmeader said:

Actually i just found that tag this morning. L-156.  

The 1967 "L-157" is essentially the same tractor, this manual may come in handy.

 

[Lane Ranger 10,492]

It has to be a 1965, 1966 or 1967.  If no tag on left side of tower by lift handle the  need to be looked at closely for metal tags.  Two spoke steering wheel on these models.   Same basic tractor for three years.   The gear driven mower deck may provide clues if they have tags.   RM-115 is 1965, RM-116 is 1966 , etc

 

 

My 1967 has a ST-324 Wheel Horse snowthrower on it that I use almost every winter!

 

  Does not throw the snow thirty feet like more powerful motors but the 6 HP motor does a good job and I do not normally have to shovel the drive!

 

[D. McKinley 2]

Hi sir I have a dumb question about my lawn ranger deck, I removed the spindle cover and it was full of grease, is this correct? I was thinking it's just an access hole to grease the spindle 

[stevasaurus 22,229]

@D. McKinley...you are correct. Under that grease you will find a grease fitting.  It is a little hard to hit when you pull that plug, but that is what is going on.  welcome to Red Square.  Next time, it would be better if you started your own post on a subject, and not add on to one that is over a year old.    You will get more members to see your thread.

 

[D. McKinley 2]

Thanks for the quick response and the point in the right direction 

[Pullstart 59,683]

13 hours ago, D. McKinley said:

Thanks for the quick response and the point in the right direction 

 

 to 

 

Steve will set you in the right direction, he’s a smart cookie with or without his Rock n Rye   If you’re new to Wheelhorse, you’re right around the corner from the best tractor show ever, coming up in June.  Check out this area for more info...

 

https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/forum/13-wheel-horse-collectors-club-show/

 

[953 nut 51,650]

15 hours ago, D. McKinley said:

Hi sir I have a dumb question about my lawn ranger deck,

The only dumb question is the one that isn't asked and results in a major repair because of a lack of maintenance.  One thing we request of our new members,