Stepney 2,354 #1 Posted September 21, 2020 (edited) Turning back the pages, about 4 years ago I saw this tractor in a front yard, by chance on a side yard some ways from home. Knocked on the door .. (Remember when you could just knock on a door without constant worry?) but nobody was home. On another trip, late in the winter, I saw the fellow outside and stopped in. This Ranger was out front still, up to the hood in snow. Asked the fellow the story, and he said it was operable, but only in 3,1, and reverse. And that it had a Tecumseh with some recent work done at the time. Came to say I collected WH tractors, and was curious about this one. Said if I could move it out, he'd think of a number.. Funny old guy.. anyway, dug a path from the road to the end of the yard, it actually started and made it about half way out of the place before the rear end quit moving. Gave up on that, fellow said to come back in the spring. When I came back after the thaw, it was gone and the guy had moved away. Two years ago now, sold a little Dynamark to a kid who wanted to make a racer, he saw my WH's and mentioned he had a '701' with the wrong wheels and motor, needed new hubs.. said I had nothing in 1" and to try here or Ebay.. he went on his way and never saw him again.. till now. Long story short, he wrote saying he'd found some WH parts in a Bolens lot he bought. Knew I like the WH machines. Offered me the remains of a PTO leaf vac. Also 'the 701' we had talked about. Sent a picture.. and it was the very same Ranger. After some chatter, he says he got it from the fellow when he had moved through some relative. Belt cover, deck, fenders, and battery box were lost in transit. He says he put new hubs on, got it going, and one by one the gears all failed.. and that it never started right. Well I got it for a great price, and dragged it home.. dropped the trans .. water. Literally got no oil. Not a drop. Just one Chevy hubcap worth of rusty water. The gear shift end was caked in about 1/4" deep scale rust. Grimy old carb, no air cleaner present. Recoil not working. What else to do but throw a jerry can on the old carb line?? Jumped the solenoid and after a hand-choke it lit right off and runs really nice.. albeit in a cloud of smoke. Filled the transmission with diesel.. and after some whacking, got all gears back and working silently. SO.. both these guys managed to get the machine running somehow, and never even questioned why it never would go into gear.. best I can figure is it simply seized up a little more each run. The kid I got it from says it did its last few jobs running in reverse only.. Sad really.. but it does have NOS hubs on both rear axles. Going to place a wanted ad for the various missing bits.. have a few small Teccy's I may combine into one to get it running better... Welp.. there's your reading exercise for the day. Thats the story. Tag says it's an L157. Edited September 21, 2020 by Stepney 2 10 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 72,993 #2 Posted September 21, 2020 Adorable little creatures those rangers... What are the fenders you need? I have that set from a '64 horse.. You have belt guards you can modify if needed? 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 28,594 #3 Posted September 21, 2020 Great story! Great save! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 67,043 #4 Posted September 21, 2020 Wow, crazy how things come around! That Tecky looks like a giant under that hood! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stepney 2,354 #5 Posted September 21, 2020 Originally they had these little fenders. But a set off a 64 may be made to work..? Belt guard looks like a regular short frame to me, but again I've never actually played with one.. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 72,993 #6 Posted September 21, 2020 I've got several spare pieces of sheet metal as you know. Next time you pop around either take some measurements or bring that little beast up to the house and you can experiment with it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
305 380 #7 Posted September 21, 2020 nice save on the Lawn Ranger..... i adore them and can't believe that for a few seconds i considered selling mine! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
71_Bronco 1,072 #8 Posted September 21, 2020 Definitely going to need the seat pan style as posted prior. I have a '62 with the tool-box and fenders (like the RJ's had), but the center section is totally different. Glad to see it finally home where it belongs. Here's my '62 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tractorhead 9,212 #9 Posted September 21, 2020 Great Story and a well saving on that Nice Worker. sadly that this machine was so raped in it‘s past, but now it is in good Hands they take Care of it and all turned to good. Thanks for share that Story. Nothing beats a machine with a nice Story about it‘s History. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites