Sears ST/16 with a Predator (now Kohler)engine

[Rustyoldjunk]

That's great to read Kenny !
As for the brake band you probably will have to drop the rear to work on it.
It is very,very tight up inside the rear frame.
On a good note,the first time dropping a Suburban rear may be a little slow but after you have had one out and back in its a pretty easy and fast job the next time.

 

[larrybl]

I always run into trouble with trans axle bolts that are steel into cast aluminum. If you get them out, use anti seze.

 

[KennyP]

I have taken one of these rears out of a later model before. Definitely be soaking the bolts with something before trying to remove them. Wonder if heating the bolt heads then letting them cool would help?

 

[SupplySergeant]

I have taken one of these rears out of a later model before. Definitely be soaking the bolts with something before trying to remove them. Wonder if heating the bolt heads then letting them cool would help?

Probably would, aluminum expands nearly 3 times as much as steel, so if you got the whole area really hot, without melting the aluminum, it would likely break the corrosion. Personally, I use Kroil on these kinds of things, but that stuff is pricey!

 

[KennyP]

Probably would, aluminum expands nearly 3 times as much as steel, so if you got the whole area really hot, without melting the aluminum, it would likely break the corrosion. Personally, I use Kroil on these kinds of things, but that stuff is pricey!

My torch won't get hot enough to melt the aluminum. And no Kroil here.

 

[olcowhand]

Kroil is awesome, but as Josh said...pricey. I have a little bit left in a spray can that a friend left when I let him use my lift to repair his truck. Back in the dairy days we'd buy it in a gallon can. Can't remember the cost, but it was HIGH! I mostly use PB Blaster now, but I save what little Kroil I have left for the really stubborn jobs.

 

[SimplyRad]

When the factory closed I got a gallon of Kroil and haven't used much of it in the last 30 years.

 

[Rustyoldjunk]

On most of the Suburbans that I pulled the rears out of the bolts have came right out without issue.

 

[KennyP]

Got the rear end out. Band material was wore out. Ordered new from McMaster-Carr:

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

I got 2 feet so I would have extra when needed! Pics later!

 

[KennyP]

Here's the pics:




Once I had the band holder cleaned of rivets, I wire brushed it and put a coat of Rust Reformer on it! Waiting for parts now!

 

[CRF6179]

I'd say someone got their moneys' worth out of that original lining.

 

[KennyP]

I'd say someone got their moneys' worth out of that original lining.

I think it got ran with the parking brake on numerous times.

 

[secondtry]

Yep if you forget the parking brake the original engine would barely notice. I had to make it a habit to set the brake every time I got of and release every time I got on. Did all the bolts come out good.
Don

 

[larrybl]

I added a dash light to the Roper to indicate the brake was on.

 

[KennyP]

Yep if you forget the parking brake the original engine would barely notice. I had to make it a habit to set the brake every time I got of and release every time I got on. Did all the bolts come out good.
Don

Have one stripped hole, a 5/16-18 for the guard over the drive pulley. Have a heli-coil set on the way for it.

 

[secondtry]

When I installed a new belt I did a test run before re installing that guard. I fiddled and fussed with the belt adjustment for a long time. It didn"t want to disengage completely. When I finally reinstalled the guard it straightened right out. The guard being close to the belt helps to stop the belt when disengaged.
Don

 

[larrybl]

The Craftsman II with the horizontal Briggs are like this also.

 

[KennyP]

Set the rear end up to drain the oil. Let that drain most of the morning, then put in the new.


Then I worked on the exhaust. May be ugly, but I don't have to cut the hood!

 

[olcowhand]

I don't think it's ugly, plus always better if you don't have to start chopping tin work. That hood would be hard to chop anyway as there's not much metal there with the louvers.

 

[4getgto]

Set the rear end up to drain the oil. Let that drain most of the morning, then put in the new.
View attachment 31233 View attachment 31232

Then I worked on the exhaust. May be ugly, but I don't have to cut the hood!
View attachment 31231 View attachment 31230 View attachment 31229

Might very well be first time the oil was ever changed...
45+ years on mine and I never did it even when I bought it...(always inside which helps).