Anyone else here into vintage lawn mowers?

[Mustang Kid]

I have just recently been getting into my old riding lawn mower. Had it for about 10 years, used to ride it around as a kid until it wouldn't start anymore. My dad said it wasn't getting spark and that we would take it to have it fixed, which never happened.
Working on my truck I've had to stare at it quite a lot. Finally decided I would do something with it! Researched and found that it's kinda unusual, could only find one other one on google (found by a guy on facebook), and figure that it's from the late 60's-early 70's.

Replaced the magneto, made some adjustments, new gas, troubleshooting, and finally got it running! Needs some carb and throttle work for it to run right. But now that I know it still will run I'm going to start taking it apart to restore!

Then at school I have taken it upon myself to give an old john deere mower new paint before it is sold at a dinner auction that the teacher is putting on. Currently have most of it sanded to bare metal for it's new primer and paint this week. Couldn't get it started though, guess it has motor issues but I think it's the starter.

[83rsturbo]

I got a 71 John Deere 140 that I haven't run in years

[smitty54]

I've got an 85 Snapper rear engine rider that I still use every year.

[jay87lx]

I have a nut and bolt resto going on my 1968 Jacobsen Supercheif

http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=145499

[Travis T]

I have a completely restored 1963 Jacobsen Chief 800 I mow with. I'll post pictures tomorrow.

[Zap's 85 GT]

I used to have a sweet 1965 Alice Chalmers B-12 lawn tractor. Until my brother in law got ahold and grenaded the rear differential.

[Mustang Kid]

Some great mowers guys!

Jay I read your whole thread, much inspiration for my resto!
I think I'm gonna sign up over there

[84lx351w]

I have a nut and bolt resto going on my 1968 Jacobsen Supercheif

http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=145499

That is a nice build you have going on there. I love old tractors, but I have never thought of doing an old lawnmower...hmmm...might have a cheaper build in the works someday. Keep up the good work!

Adam

[Ray Dog]

It's more of a garden tractor,but I have one of Baird's Beavers. I'm guessing it's an early 60's
I got it from my first father-in-law.
The woman who own's the company I work for bought The Baird Company about the time I was hired.
Their main product then and now is eyelet transfer presses. I was involved in wiring and programing
the first press built under her ownership.

[Travis T]

Mytractorforum.com is a neat site I've visited often. Nice to see someone saving another old Jake. This is my Jacobsen I bought to put to work. Had dual rear tires on it when I got it, everything completely sandblasted and painted, all rebuilt, new bushings, all stainless steel bolts. Paid $1k for it, it cuts grass better with that 8 hp engine than my 21 horse Craftsman did, and it does a beautiful job with the yard.

[grabbergreen84]

^Nice rig!^ I could definitely see myself restoring an old lawn tractor for use - especially, long before I would ever buy a modern one.

My favorites, however, are road tractors.

[Travis T]

I figured a new John Deere was more than twice what I paid and this one has no plastic on it anywhere (even the steering wheel is a steel bar) and it also has grease fittings everywhere. I thought I'd use it until I got a bigger yard and then clean and repaint it and sell it to the next guy. No way I'll ever tear it up. It's actually a retired show tractor haha. The guy I bought it from had done 30 something tractors over by the time he did this one.

[85GT-79FJ40]

Wow Travis that is a cool mower. I have a 4-5 year old John Deere myself and it's got lots of plastic, stamped sheetmetal frame, sealed transmission, etc. I think I paid about 2 grand for it. So far it's been great but I doubt it will ever be worthy of any kind of restoration. If I get another 5 years out of it I'll be surprised considering the terrain I mow.

[dburdyshaw]

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome.

[Chris Wood]

I have thought many times about a wheel horse, I would love one.
I currently cut grass with a John Deere L110, a buddy of mine was bragging about his new zero turn and how he didn't need the Deere any more, he popped off that he would sell it, I tossed him a Benjamin and HE TOOK IT. Been using it for 3 years, I have $250 in it (new rear tires and a battery).
I had a Murray, I referred to it as the BIC lighter of the lawn mower world, once it breaks, throw it away.

[Travis T]

Found some pictures of mine last night from when I brought it home. It has $600 worth of new tires on it.

[SVT1]

Cool thread!

That JD 111 brings back fond memories of when I was a high school punk back in 1989 and mowed a cemetery for extra cash. They had a JD 111 that leaked gas from the float bowl all the time and the dang thing become engulfed in flames one day as we were using it to vacuum up a huge amount of dry leaves! Dry leaves plus marinating in 87 octane plus a hot exhaust spells FIRE! lol

[jay87lx]

I have kinda taken a break on mine as I am searching for a set of white wall tires like my tractor came stock with, I have also all 4 chrome hubcap but have since found they are being reproduced now.
Once I put tires on it I will have a rolling chassis

[306gt]

I have a 1985 Mastercut riding mower I use every summer. I bought it 10 years ago for $100.00. It runs mint. I bought a 5 year old craftsman mower a couple of years ago to replace my Mastercut and that thing was junk compared to my Mastercut. I ended up selling the Craftsman and tuned up the old one and fixed all the little things wrong with it. I'll keep this one for a long time as it is a very good machine.

[Mustang Kid]

I got the JD painted and looking nice. Was going to try and buy it from my teacher but he doesn't want to sell it yet, but I get first dibs. My mower is leaking a bunch of oil if it's slightly tilted to one side, and not out of the dipstick tube.

I found a '69 John Deere Patio Series lawn tractor on craigslist for $400. I kinda want it knowing that they are worth a couple grand restored. I also have been looking for an older lawn tractor to restore that would be more of a challenge than my lawnflite. Could easily do the body work and paint at my new job. There are a couple older lawn tractors on cl but they don't have decks with them.

http://eugene.craigslist.org/grd/4406904501.html

[84specialed]

Time to revive this old thread! Here's pics of my 78 Sears 18/6 I just picked up, and a few of some of my others.

[Travis T]

Those old Sears tractors are neat. After four summers I finally had to work on mine. Had to replace a deck drive belt because of something stupid I did. Other than that, it's been perfect.

[84specialed]

Yeah, I love the Sears. The onan runs really smooth. I'm building a loader for it, figure that'll be fun to play around with lol. I'm in love with you're Jacobsen Travis!

[Travis T]

Thanks. It is pretty cool but if I had more than a third of an acre I don't think that 36" deck would be practical. Only complaint is a huge turning circle but that's a minor one to me.

[cb650]

There was a classic tractor fever episode on mowers.