New to me JcPenny GT aka MTD990

cjet69 said:
Congrats Mark. Welcome to the 990 owners club. I have an MTD 990. Its a little rougher and older than your JCP.

How's the weather over there? Its been really smokey here until today. Finally clearing out.
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Thanks! I'm very excited! Nice 990! Has the steering wheel been replace? Maybe we can get together in the future to compare and admire each other tractors!?

The smoke blew in today with the wind but it should be less tomorrow. It was very bad on Sunday. You could easily look at the Sun without burning your eyes.
 
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Mark 149 J. said:
Thanks! I'm very excited! Nice 990! Has the steering wheel been replace? Maybe we can get together in the future to compare and admire each other tractors!?

The smoke blew in today with the wind but it should be less tomorrow. It was very bad on Sunday. You could easily look at the Sun without burning your eyes.
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Steering wheel was replaced at some point with a chrome automotive wheel. Its Gotta be worth a couple more horsepower.
 
Mark 149 J. said:
Looks good! Same paint color and scheme and they also listed the CC's of the engine. I find that kind of odd when no other GT's had that. What year is yours? I'm assuming Jc's changed to simplicity later own.
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The Simplicity's were a '74 offering, from what I'm told. So far, every JCP 494 I have tracked down, has the same Briggs engine build date...5/28/74. The production is said to have been limited to 500 units. I have grabbed about 10 serial numbers so far, and they fall between 1100 and 1490. Simplicity started serial numbers at 1000 on all but the Homelite branded tractors, so this seems to hold water so far.

Based on the JCP catalogs, they offered tractors from various manufacturers, simultaneously (Wards did the same). The 494 is an equivalent to the Simplicity Baron...the base/economy model Simplicity garden tractor. I'm thinking your 990 is one of the more 'premium' JCP tractors. Hydro, more power, more options. I'm betting yours and mine were offered simultaneously.
 
MiSimpleTractor said:
The Simplicity's were a '74 offering, from what I'm told. So far, every JCP 494 I have tracked down, has the same Briggs engine build date...5/28/74. The production is said to have been limited to 500 units. I have grabbed about 10 serial numbers so far, and they fall between 1100 and 1490. Simplicity started serial numbers at 1000 on all but the Homelite branded tractors, so this seems to hold water so far.

Based on the JCP catalogs, they offered tractors from various manufacturers, simultaneously (Wards did the same). The 494 is an equivalent to the Simplicity Baron...the base/economy model Simplicity garden tractor. I'm thinking your 990 is one of the more 'premium' JCP tractors. Hydro, more power, more options. I'm betting yours and mine were offered simultaneously.
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Thanks for that information!
It makes sense they would offer tractors at different levels. I also have JCP sockets and ratchets plus some screwdrivers that my dad had.
 
Removed the mower deck (very easy), greased the pivot point for the front axle, steering gear shaft, replaced a grease zerk on the left steering knuckle shaft, and lubed the brake pedal shaft and linkage. They were all dry as a bone.
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I also need to service the the rear hydro fluid and filter. If you have any recommendation for oil and filter (The filter almost hits the mowing deck
linkage. Here is whats on it now.
20180824_214452.jpg
 
Hi looking at the pictures again its interesting in that the transaxle looks very similar to the one that is in my Power King 1218 the 1218 has 12" wheels and 5 lug rims but has the hi-lo range the mountin lugs on the axle housings etc, what hydro is used in the MTD/ JC Penny? In the Power King its an Eaton model 11
 
Shorty said:
Good looking tractor. I find it interesting that it is a 4 lug wheel and it appears to be a larger rim. 15" or larger? Fun times with a new tractor.
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Thanks!
They are 15" rims but I didn't think anything of it being 4 bolts vs. 5. I know the hubs on these tractors can slide out farther and completely off the axle by loosening a set screw.
 
MNGB said:
Hi looking at the pictures again its interesting in that the transaxle looks very similar to the one that is in my Power King 1218 the 1218 has 12" wheels and 5 lug rims but has the hi-lo range the mountin lugs on the axle housings etc, what hydro is used in the MTD/ JC Penny? In the Power King its an Eaton model 11
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It has the Peerless 2503.
 
I was looking through the manual and they recommend SAE 20 with zinc for the hydro. Is this what the other 990 owners use? If so, where can you find it other then ordering it online? Would 5W-20 work?
I did find the proper filter size listed as well.
Thanks for any help!
 
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Mark 149 J. said:
Removed the mower deck (very easy), greased the pivot point for the front axle, steering gear shaft, replaced a grease zerk on the left steering knuckle shaft, and lubed the brake pedal shaft and linkage. They were all dry as a bone.
View attachment 4639View attachment 4643View attachment 4642View attachment 4638View attachment 4641
I also need to service the the rear hydro fluid and filter. If you have any recommendation for oil and filter (The filter almost hits the mowing deck
linkage. Here is whats on it now.
View attachment 4640
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I use fram ph16 on mine. It's not as long but fatter.
 
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