What are you currently working on??

[MFDAC]

Thanks to Eric, @1967Craftsman's I was able to decipher the serial number tag on that 12 hp Murray LT. Tag is faded so bad that it looked blank. Out in the bright sun I could see it had number on it but still couldn't make all of it out. I took a picture of it and then zoomed in on the pc. No problem reading it then!


Brought it back in the shop, pinched the fuel line and put a shut off in. I had bought the wrong air filter for the Gardenway that I repaired for a friend and sure enough, it fits this tractor! Got lucky there. The old one was so bad that bright sun couldn't show through it. Forgot pictures of that stuff.
I raised it up put a jack under the deck to support it, then took the cobbled up bolts out of the front deck mount. Built a 1/2" rod to replace them like it had originally.


Digging around in my belt collection, I actually found the deck belt that I replaced probably 11 years ago. I had wrote on the cardboard "Murray deck". It may be the right belt after all that is on the tractor. Getting the deck in place is what it needed---I hope---LOL!
It doesn't look too bad under the deck, but I will pull the blades, check and sharpen them I think a chunk may be broken out of one of the blades though. It had been welded on before. I don't remember if it was me! Welded it back up again, put a jam nut on the adjuster so it wasn't swiveling on the rod, and put it back on.


Took the deck idler off, and straightened it and I noticed the rod that engages the the deck was sawed half way through, rubbing on the idler pulley.


I used a lifting cable to grab the tractor today so the dang thing don't fall on me again---LOL! Noel, it wasn't real bad obviously, one of those deals that peels the skin back a ways. Kept a big bandaid on it today so I could do something without tearing it open again.

DAC

 

[Propane1]

Those tractors had trouble with the front axle coming loose or worn bad, can’t quite remember , but when it did that the deck would lower on the front which would make the belt come off the deck. Some thing like that any way. Was twenty years ago when son and I were at those. Bought one for parts for son at that time. So can’t remember so well after twenty years. Son was twelve at the time.
Good that you can still do stuff Doug,

Noel

 

[Sawdust]

Got a few honey do things done yesterday. Carol loves the old galvanized watering cans and the various sizes of wash tubs. I repaired a hole in the bottom of one of the watering cans, repaired the handle on a another one. This folk art flag I made her over 40 years ago needed one of the trim pieces tacked.

 

[MFDAC]

Those tractors had trouble with the front axle coming loose or worn bad, can’t quite remember , but when it did that the deck would lower on the front which would make the belt come off the deck. Some thing like that any way. Was twenty years ago when son and I were at those. Bought one for parts for son at that time. So can’t remember so well after twenty years. Son was twelve at the time.
Good that you can still do stuff Doug,

Noel

Thanks, Noel! I kept the bandage off it today to let it get air. Little injuries like this seem to heal faster when they are out in the air with my experience at least. I'll check that front axle. I'm hoping that the cobbled up and missing bolt in the front mount is the main problem for now. 20 years ago is way too long to remember details like that---LOL!

Got a few honey do things done yesterday. Carol loves the old galvanized watering cans and the various sizes of wash tubs. I repaired a hole in the bottom of one of the watering cans, repaired the handle on a another one. This folk art flag I made her over 40 years ago needed one of the trim pieces tacked.
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Looks like your wife likes the same kind of rustic stuff that mine does, Jim! That flag has held up great for being 40+ years old! Nice work!

Stuff I did today after mowing. When I got my trailer, it had no spare tire. PO thought it may be kind of difficult to find one, but not impossible. I had thought I found a mounted one at Northern Hydraulics, but when I went to order it was on backorder with no knowledge of when one may be in stock to ship. I ended up ordering a wheel from one ebay store, and a tire from another. Then I orderd a 31" belt for the MF12G. Did some searching for an aftermarket A/C system for one of my old trucks and put in a quote inquiry at the company I want to go with. Gonna be big money.

Now sitting here looking at TF!

DAC

 

[MFDAC]

I gave the shop a bit of a cleaning, mainly throwing away boxes and cardboard that had accumulated and sweeping up cottonwood that blew in when it was so nice and cool outside Saturday.

I went to town to Ace Hardware as I seem to have a shortage of 3/8" nuts, flat and split washers. Bought a box of each and it was 28 bucks. I should have went up to Runnings and bought by the pound but I hate driving in that part of town. Time, gas and hassle would probably make it not worth it anyway. There's a Wal-mart right there and it is always mobbed.

Draining the oil on that 12HP B/S IC in the Murray Lawn Tractor. It is also one of those asinine designs where oil pours across part of the frame. Going to let it drip overnight and tomorrow. Then I will clean the pipe threads and loctite a nipple into the block that will let it dump into a pan.

DAC

 

[esbbent]

Worked on the MF7 over the past couple of weeks. Having a difficult time finding the correct points for the engine. After ordering the incorrect ones twice i went to partstree with the full Tecumseh engine model number and found what i hope are the correct points. Engine is a Techumseh H70 but it has a stator built in the same holder as the magneto coil. Crossing my fingers these are the corret points this time.

 

[Sawdust]

Lights are not working on Hoopdy. If you remember this was repowered so the light circuit was disregarded for some reason. The light switch is on the ignition, once it starts you turn the key back a notch to turn lights on. I found the wire that feeds the lights by taking the switch out and checking which tab feeds the light wire when switch is on. The light wire follows the same wire leading to the voltage Regulator in the plastic conduit but it has been cut off. The other wire continues to to the VR. There is only one wire coming off the VR that leads to the switch. I found a manual for the tractor but will print it tomorrow to see the wiring diagram. I may simplify this by running my own wire from the battery through a fuse back into the tab that feeds the lights. This way the lights will work as they should by turning the ignition switch to lights. By the way the wire coming from the VR starts out as red, spliced into a black wire then spliced once again to orange which is the factory color into the switch. Not using factory colors while wiring is one of my pet peeves.

 

[Propane1]

Just a mid season do, thought I had bad wheel bearings in the left front wheel. Found a note to check it from last year. But they are not really to bad. Not sure what I was thinking when I did the note.
Anyway, maysell do a check over and clean the deck while I have it up on the hoist.

Noel

 

[Propane1]

And maysell do this one too. MF 16, greased her up and cleaned the grass outta her.
Strangely, the Ford deck was full of grass. So wet in places that it looked like, that if you squeezed it with your hand, water would run out.
MF 16 deck had 1/2 or less the grass the Ford had. And it was dry. Both tractors cut wet grass last Saturday at the same time.
Why one wet and the other dry. Both 3 blade, 48” decks.

Noel

 

[grnspot110]

Decided to adapt my front de-thatcher to fit the back of the '61 Cub Lo Boy. Took the X580 brackets off, turned the wheels to the back instead of the front & used parts of the 314 brackets. Plan to lift it with an electric actuator that is on order.

 

[Sawdust]

Well the Hoopdy has lights now. Not a bad wire search once I went online and downloaded the manual. I got rid of the plastic suitcase wire fasteners. I soldered the right color wires back on and made the proper connections. I added some new plastic conduit. After I taped up the three conduits running together I realized I had some large shrink tubing that I had leftover from when I ran 220 to my shop from the house. That would have worked good. Anyway it’s all done and works great.


I had help for most of the day in various places on the shop.

 

[Propane1]

Well the Hoopdy has lights now. Not a bad wire search once I went online and downloaded the manual. I got rid of the plastic suitcase wire fasteners. I soldered the right color wires back on and made the proper connections. I added some new plastic conduit. After I taped up the three conduits running together I realized I had some large shrink tubing that I had leftover from when I ran 220 to my shop from the house. That would have worked good. Anyway it’s all done and works great.
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I had help for most of the day in various places on the shop.
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You cat you.


Noel

 

[MFDAC]

Noel showing off the hoist again! I'm jealous again too---LOL! Maybe the velocity is higher under the MF deck that dried out the grass more?

Nice work on Hoopty, Jim! Reminds me that I want some of that plastic conduit around here, and always forget to order some. Is your "helper" on a free room and meals form of payment? Think you may be overpaying him--- sleeping on the job---LOL!

I installed the pipe nipple on the Murray LT, tonight and started some disassembly on my wife's Bolens/MTD LT to put a new variable speed belt in it. Cords of the old belt were wound around and caught in the variable speed pulley and the idler pulley. Took a while to unwind that stuff working through the battery hole. Just need to pull the transaxle drive pulley then the new belt can go on and reassembly can happen.

DAC

 

[WNYtractortinkerer]

Golf cart engine rebuild pix finally.

My neighbor also brought over a 44" swisher tow behind mower.. What a mess.. Mouse nest in the air box and water got into the cylinder.. Got it freed up and putting it back together.. Gotta cross the fingers on that one..

 

[Sawdust]

Golf cart engine rebuild pix finally.

My neighbor also brought over a 44" swisher tow behind mower.. What a mess.. Mouse nest in the air box and water got into the cylinder.. Got it freed up and putting it back together.. Gotta cross the fingers on that one..

Nice job cleaning that up. I got the same impact wrench and love it.

 

[Propane1]

Noel showing off the hoist again! I'm jealous again too---LOL!

Hehe, I wondered if you’d notice it Doug.
Ya kind strange why one deck full of wet grass and other one not full and dry grass. ???

Noel

 

[WNYtractortinkerer]

I bought a two poster a few years back but have not found the time to install it yet.. I'd have to get all the 'projects' out of the shop first and that just don't seem to happen when work keeps coming in the door! It sure would come in handy! Maybe I'll get to it when I retire??

 

[dodge trucker]

Get it put up and it may well help with the other projects

 

[MFDAC]

If I ever get rich I'm going to get a 4 post lift with a jack kit and wheel kit. My brother in law has 7 of them---not a misprint. He sold me on them but my budget is nowhere near his. Main reason is I have to damm hard of a time getting off the ground after positioning the pads and have to go through that 4 times, maybe more!

The Murray is ready to try mowing with this weekend and the Bolens/MTD just needs the battery put in it and the seat installed. May do the mowing with LT's this weekend rather than the MF12G.

DAC

 

[MFDAC]

Both of those LT's are ready to mow this weekend now. Did a quick mow on the east side of the driveway, using both. The Bolens/MTD is definitley easier to drive and get on and off of with that step through frame. The Murray is faster, and has headlights If I wanted to mow at night---yeah right---LOL! Put them outside to hopefully bring the '55 in for some much needed tlc. I've been diving it pretty much every day but it still needs attention, and an oil change and lube job.

Wheel and tire for my trailer came in today. Thought I was going to have to wait until Saturday to mount it but I actually had a brand new valve stem in my tool box! I'll take it to work tomorrow and see if the tire machine there will hold on to a 9" wheel. Hopefully it will go easy during my lunch break.

DAC