And more junk.

[chieffan]

That is the same engine I put in Carolyn's cub several years ago. Good strong running engine. The fuel tank on hers is under the seat and down the back. Fuel line runs inside the left frame so routed it around the front of the engine at the frame level and then brought it up to the carb. The mice love those two air openings in the top engine cover and the air intake.

 

[MFDAC]

Those Murray’s used to be pretty good machines. Might be worth a little TLC. Not to sure about the newer ones. Hope you start to feel better.

jhn9840
John

Thanks John, slow but sure, feel a little better every day! I'm kind of impressed with this little LT. Will explain below.

Good to hear that you’re feeling better. Be careful with that Ibuprofen as it’s hard on your guts.

Yeah that's what I've been told, but it is all that works, Chris. Down to about 1800 mg per day.

My grandfather cut grass with a late 80s Murray for probably 17 years….after he passed my grandmother paid someone to cut the grass and sold the tractor. I bet someone got many more years of use from it.

I've got a late 80's one in the back yard. That thing had survived abuse from several different owners, including me. I got it non running. When I got the MF12G I gave it to my father in law. He gave it to the family ranchers out on the rez, cutting prairie grass then it even got passed around to others in the family then back to the FIL, before he called me and told me to come get it. They moved to a house in town where the owner cuts the grass. Engine still runs good but the belt mechanisms are all wore out. Will put that engine in something some day.

That is the same engine I put in Carolyn's cub several years ago. Good strong running engine. The fuel tank on hers is under the seat and down the back. Fuel line runs inside the left frame so routed it around the front of the engine at the frame level and then brought it up to the carb. The mice love those two air openings in the top engine cover and the air intake.

No mouse issues here. Diana has 2 feral cats over there and they seem to control the rodents. One of them likes sitting on that Murray.

Got it running well today. New fuel line, filter and carb adjustment got it running without the choke on a bit. Didn't take the carb off.
Drove it around out in the yard mowing a bit to make sure it runs well under load.

Raised it up to access the blades and much to my surprise the deck spindles are greaseable.



The front wheel hubs and axle spindles also have zirks. Blades are in good shape but I pulled them and faced off the cutting edge anyway.




Underside of the deck looks to be in good shape.


That is a floating deck with a anti scalp roller. Wish the GT5000 deck was a floater.



The Hydro.


Didn't find that exact number searching for an air filter but found one that measures pretty close after converting MM to inches.


Tractor data says this tractor was built in 1994. No good way to tell by the date code. TD also says it should be a 18 HP, not 16. The pics there look just like this tractor.


All in all, it looks to be in pretty nice shape for 31 years old. Probably never spent much time inside either. One thing that all tractor manufacturers should do is build seats like these old Murrays! The one on the junked one out back is still perfect, think I put it on the JD110, and this seat is also still perfect too!

I will probably go ahead and change the oil, even though it is clean it's overfull.

DAC

 

[chieffan]

The deck under my 782 is a floating deck. Carries on the subframe with anti scalp wheels hit and miss on the ground. Noisy mower to run and that deck is always slapping the subframe up an down a bit. The 54" deck under the Cub 1862 carries on the four corner rollers plus has the anti scalp rollers in the center front and back. Both do a good job of mowing and are set to the same height.

 

[olcowhand]

Check that oil for smell of fuel. That engine likely has a vacuum fuel pump on side of carb, and if a pinhole in it, fuel goes into oil.
I have a Murray to work on, but a big 17.5 single cylinder. I like your engine type.

 

[MFDAC]

The deck under my 782 is a floating deck. Carries on the subframe with anti scalp wheels hit and miss on the ground. Noisy mower to run and that deck is always slapping the subframe up an down a bit. The 54" deck under the Cub 1862 carries on the four corner rollers plus has the anti scalp rollers in the center front and back. Both do a good job of mowing and are set to the same height.

Floating decks do a far superior job of mowing over rigid ones in my experience, Rog. The GT5000 does well but I really have to pay attention to the rolls in the yard. The MF12G can do any terrain.

Check that oil for smell of fuel. That engine likely has a vacuum fuel pump on side of carb, and if a pinhole in it, fuel goes into oil.
I have a Murray to work on, but a big 17.5 single cylinder. I like your engine type.

Thanks Daniel. I ordered a carb kit to get the fuel pump diaphragms. I can't really smell it, because the shop smells like old gas. Too wet to open the overhead door to air things out.

I've got a 16.5 single cylinder I/C B/S out back. was running great when I got it but went to start it last fall and no go. Kind of acts like a stuck valve. That's what was wrong with my Murray with a 12HP I/C B/S when I got it years ago. Need to see what's wrong with it one of these days.

I pulled the cover off of the fuel pump to compare the kits on Amazon and of course to fuel stared flowing. Clipped a clamp on the fuel line on the tank side of the filter to stop the flow. It did but a leak started up under the tank! I didn't replace that portion of the line like a dummy! It was a slow drip so was able to get the tank pulled (pain in the @$$) and dump the remaining gas into a can. Pretty dang ugly!


Didn't want to come out of that hole without the steering wheel pulled but managed to wiggle it out with the dash unscrewed. Going to put a fuel shutoff in the new line too!

I was going to order her a new gas cap too but 23 bucks seems too high to me.

That was about it for today.

DAC

 

[cjet69]

Floating decks do a far superior job of mowing over rigid ones in my experience, Rog. The GT5000 does well but I really have to pay attention to the rolls in the yard. The MF12G can do any terrain.


Thanks Daniel. I ordered a carb kit to get the fuel pump diaphragms. I can't really smell it, because the shop smells like old gas. Too wet to open the overhead door to air things out.

I've got a 16.5 single cylinder I/C B/S out back. was running great when I got it but went to start it last fall and no go. Kind of acts like a stuck valve. That's what was wrong with my Murray with a 12HP I/C B/S when I got it years ago. Need to see what's wrong with it one of these days.
View attachment 94466
I pulled the cover off of the fuel pump to compare the kits on Amazon and of course to fuel stared flowing. Clipped a clamp on the fuel line on the tank side of the filter to stop the flow. It did but a leak started up under the tank! I didn't replace that portion of the line like a dummy! It was a slow drip so was able to get the tank pulled (pain in the @$$) and dump the remaining gas into a can. Pretty dang ugly!
View attachment 94467

Didn't want to come out of that hole without the steering wheel pulled but managed to wiggle it out with the dash unscrewed. Going to put a fuel shutoff in the new line too!

I was going to order her a new gas cap too but 23 bucks seems too high to me.

That was about it for today.

DAC

Just spray some Flex-Seal on the fuel line and your good to go.

 

[MFDAC]

Got Diana's Murray ready to go this afternoon. Put the new fuel pump diaphragm in it and did some repairs on the hood pivot. That plastic nose was actually what the hood would pivot on to open. The mounts had been broken off a long time ago and her dad cobbled a metal bracket into it. I just pulled the bracket tighter and bolted it down so the hood sits on the dash pretty well now. Was too late in the day to go do any mowing with it. Cool and windy outside anyway. Ran it in the shop and set off the CO detector.


While working on it I noticed the RF tire on the MF12G was flat again. Noticed a chunk of wood in the bead.


Raised it up with the bridge crane and sprayed soapy water on it. Not leaking, but that was wedged in there tight enough I couldn't pull it out with fingers. Sprayed down the rest of the tire. Found one obvious leak.




Wiped the area off and could see something stuck in the tire.


I couldn't pull it out. Seemed to be wood also. Just shredded up. Just punched it on through and went to put a plug in. My glue tube was empty, so I gooped some seal all on it and plugged the hole. Seems to be holding.




Let the air out and pried the tire bead enough to pull the wood out of the rim.


Will probably end up with a tube in it. These are the original 50 year old tires so they have served well! Probably should consider new I suppose.

DAC

 

[Toomanytoys84]

Id just tube them unless they are falling apart!

 

[MFDAC]

Id just tube them unless they are falling apart!

Probably will Aaron, I'm too cheap to buy new---LOL!

DAC

 

[Toomanytoys84]

Probably will Aaron, I'm too cheap to buy new---LOL!

DAC

Tractor tires are expensive. Last set of ag tires and front tires I bought for a cub I spent more money on those than I did my car tires at the time! Sadly the tires that were on it were so dry rotted they were just peeling apart. All the other cubs have original tires with or without tubes.

 

[MFDAC]

Tractor tires are expensive. Last set of ag tires and front tires I bought for a cub I spent more money on those than I did my car tires at the time! Sadly the tires that were on it were so dry rotted they were just peeling apart. All the other cubs have original tires with or without tubes.

That tire held air overnight but is probably destined to be tubed in the near future.

I took Diana's Murray back to her place today and mowed the small west yard. Seemed to do a good job. Too bad it sits outside. I might go ahead and put the carb kit in it too at some point. The gas could be getting in the oil due to a leaky needle. I shut off the fuel valve and let it run out of gas. Going to cut off a few tree limbs for her too, Maybe Friday. Sounds like rain tomorrow.

Came back to the shop and lowered the lift to work on the MF1450. Some of you may remember that the machinist at my former workplace built a solid driveshaft to replace the wobbly Lovejoy coupling that was on it.


I need to do some dirtwork in the front yard where the waterline was dug in last winter, and the three point will make it easier. Went in pretty well but still couldn't line up a couple of bolt holes. It dawned on me to look at the carrier bearing mount. Sure enough it is slotted. I loosened it up and it moved into place on it's own. of course tightening the last bolt the ratchet slipped and I sliced my left arm! This old pile of $h!t has more jagged metal on it than any tractor I have ever worked on! Seems like every time I work on it I draw blood---LOL! Decided that was enough for today. Maybe will start it tomorrow and see if there is less vibration.


I'm thinking about drilling a zirk into that shaft to grease the splines from the inside out. Will have to build a shield over it as grease will sling right up into my face! Can't afford to buy a used original plastic tunnel cover. They sell at ridiculous prices on epay. Probably have to do it like the dash. I had to build it out of 1/8" aluminum.


hopefully more tomorrow.

DAC

 

[MFDAC]

Had errands to run in town but finally got some shop time this afternoon.

Speaking of crumbling tires, like Aaron mentioned, the MF1450 is darn close! Raised the lift up to the first lock. it was pretty obvious the fronts were flat.






The rears still had air in them and look slightly better. Put 12psi in all of them and none exploded in my face---yet! I have a nice set of rears the same size but no fronts. Those extra rears came off a Kubota ZT at my former job. they had to replace one front tire and for some reason they replaced them all and threw them in the tire pile to take to the dump. I don't think any of these tires would survive replacing the tubes.

Used floor jacks to roll the rear off the lift then was able to roll it off.


Still 2 more tractors on the lift. I should sell the JD110 and attachments. That K181 is such a nice running engine that I kinda hate too---LOL! Cant see the little MTD660 LT behind the JD.

Had to open the overhead door to get the MF1450 out far enough to raise the lift. was able to do it fast enough it didn't get too wet in the rain.


Had already checked the oil and gas and put the battery in so went ahead and started it up while the door was open. Drive shaft looks to be spinning very true and it does have much less vibration thankfully. Hopefully the spines will last longer with this drive shaft.



I need to do something about this muffler discharge. Point it down or back maybe.


Dug out the scarifier that I built to fit the Cub Cadet blade in the MF8E a long time ago.


Want to adapt it to this drag I built for the 3 point maybe building it where it can flip up after pulling a couple of pins. Still in the thought process.


Too wet to go get that thing out of the weeds in the back yard right now. Thought I might mow tomorrow but it still might be too wet!

DAC

 

[Toomanytoys84]

The set of cub tires looked like your MF tires. I threw a tube in them and they slowly disintegrated around the tube! The AG tires weren’t as bad but they had huge splits in them.

My BMW tires did the same. I put them on in 2010. But didn’t drive it much. They had huge dry rot cracks and were as hard as anything. I drive it around a little on back roads shaking it down and they had zero grip it was like being on ice.

 

[MFDAC]

The set of cub tires looked like your MF tires. I threw a tube in them and they slowly disintegrated around the tube! The AG tires weren’t as bad but they had huge splits in them.

My BMW tires did the same. I put them on in 2010. But didn’t drive it much. They had huge dry rot cracks and were as hard as anything. I drive it around a little on back roads shaking it down and they had zero grip it was like being on ice.

I can't imagine that the tires on the MF1450 could survive getting the beads broke and partially dismounted to put tubes in, Aaron!

My '55 GMC has a set of "Primewell" el cheapo Chinese tires on it, as well as our son's '83 C-10 that I use for a dump runner. Both trucks got them mounted 12 years ago, and sit outside pretty much all of the time. Surprisingly that still look very good, no real weather cracks yet! They have probably gotten harder than the hubs of he!! by now but still hold air perfectly and go down the road nice. Of course old trucks are driven very differently than a BMW---LOL!

Didn't get any shop time today after all due to having company twice and needing to mow our yard.

DAC

 

[oldedeeres]

It kind of shook me up seeing "In Memory of Kenny P". He was such a good friend to us all.

 

[MFDAC]

It kind of shook me up seeing "In Memory of Kenny P". He was such a good friend to us all.

Sorry if it made you sad, Lorna. I got that air cleaner housing from Kenny not long before he passed away. Traded him some stickers he never got to use for it. He was a great friend to everybody on every forum he participated on!

DAC

 

[MFDAC]

Didn't get a lot done the last 2 days, besides helping Loree with some flowers she bought. Went down the road in the '55 to fill gas cans. There was a guy there gassing up an all original '38 DeSoto! Original paint wasn't in great shape but it was a real nice old car. I was kicking myself in the @$$ for not bringing my phone to get a picture for Chris! The guy offered to trade straight across for the GMC but I had to decline. Pretty attached to it now. I was going to take the '72 GMC and put some gas in it. Turned over great but wouldn't fire. Figured the HEI coil was bad. Put the trickle charger on it overnight and was going to look for a coil today after a spark check. Took the charger off this morning and it fired off instantly! The HEI doesn't work unless the voltage is over 12V. Even though it cranked well the voltage must not have been adequate for ignition. Been a couple months since it was started and that battery is over 10 years old.

I had to air up a tire on the garden trailer and took it to a couple old wooden planters and shoveled the dirt out of them and into the trailer. More tire problems came up! That cart tire was flat again after an hour or so! Pulled the loaded trailer over to the shop jacked it up and pulled the wheel.



Got the tube out and didn't see an obvious leak until the soapy water started to sheet off.




Dried it off and marked the hole. Of course my patch kit is old and the glue was dried up. Was done for the day then. Figured I could run down the road to Dollar General this morning and get a bicycle patch kit. Nope, all they had was plug kits with no glue.

Didn't want to go clear into town since I have to run around in town tomorrow. Time to do a redneck fix. Cleaned the area on the tube like normal and gooped seal all on the patch and tube. Put weight on the patch for a few minutes and then stitched it like normal. Mounted it back up and put it on the trailer. Been holding without leaking several hours. Probably won't last but it was worth a try.

The battery in the MF1450 has a weak cell. Drops to about 10.5 V overnight. Was new in 2019. I had taken the JD110 battery off the maintainer a couple days ago and it was still holding over 12.5V so it went in the 1450. Will pick up a new battery maybe tomorrow.

DAC

 

[MFDAC]

Only went to a doc appt this morning. Later this week will probably go to Runnings. Got home and got a bite to eat for lunch and started in on the white wringer washing machine. Got the agitator out but broke it. Put a ratchet strap under it up and around a board and pulled it up. Tried to keep it on the fins of the agitator but it broke anyway. There was a pop, pieces went flying in the tub but the agitator was loose too.




It has weird bolts holding the gearbox in so I figured it better go to the shop.


Fired up the MF1450 and used the drag to haul it in. That battery I put in it yesterday wouldn't do the trick either, so had to boost it.


Took the motor out first. It's a "Packard GM". Might have to put a new cord on it to see if it runs. Unbolted the gearbox from the wringer drive while it was upside down too.




Turned it upright and decided vise grips are the only thing I have that might get ahold of those boltheads. 2 were pretty tight but using a channel lock on the vise grips broke them loose.


Took it back outside and leveled it on some concrete paver pieces. Put the wringer back on. Left those corners a little high since that thing is heavy.


Even found one of Loree's pots that might work. It is 2 piece.



Cleaned the gravel out of the aluminum one and thankfully the agitator is already gone! Might have to cut or grind bolts to remove that gearbox. Can't take the wringer drive off as it is one of the legs too.


I have a meeting tomorrow night at 5:30 so probably won't be on.

DAC

 

[chieffan]

I ran into those same kind of bolts on an old Bolin snow caster. Found the socket set for them on eBay, Kobalt brand. Only item I have used that set on.

 

[MFDAC]

I ran into those same kind of bolts on an old Bolin snow caster. Found the socket set for them on eBay, Kobalt brand. Only item I have used that set on.

I figured the "Maytag repairman" was the only one that has access to those sockets, Rog---LOL!

DAC