After all of the time you've put into this Dave, I think I might load it on the trailer too and have the shop fix it. It could be straight forward (for them) and not be too bad on the labor end.
You know that is how I would do it. You have way enough on your plate without all the aggravation of the tractor not working and septic issues adding to it.
Thanks for that. I don't always know when I'm stressed to the max, and just keep on plugging away. After the septic guys left, it felt like a huge weight was off my shoulders (even though I might not be done with it). The wife actually suggested I just go buy a new tractor as we were driving past a Sears yesterday..... She cwazie. Might be an option depending on what the shop finds. I'll update as I get any info.
"The wife actually suggested I just go buy a new tractor"... that's a shame Dave... to think... she... wait... what? Well, isn't that an interesting development...
You know that is exactly what I did two years ago when my TroyBilt acted up. I had the started rebuilt, new tires, battery, other new parts, It would run, then not run. I tossed my hand up. 7 yr. old tractor and now is only in the way. Stoped in at Sears and come home with a nice red tractor, Red and better. Turns really well. No regrets. The other one sits out there with a tarp on it just waiting for me to get it out of the yard.
Well, there's always a money issue around here, but I need a tractor without a doubt. If the shop wants too much, I may cut my losses and........take more losses by buying a new one. A plain old lawnmower won't cut it. Already started looking @ Sears.com. Gotta be prepared.
Think green or orange.(Husqvarna). They both are doing good things in the riding lawn equipment game. Sears/MTD..... Not so much.
Husky? Really? Hmmm. Green being JD? Some of the comments on Sears machines were less than enthusiastic.
The entry level Sears stuff is really tough to say anything nice about. It's shiny when new. Quiet with the key removed. If you use the Cub for snow removal and wood hauling, understand that it will be tough to replace with an entry-level lawnmower. Deere's D100 series machines cut nice, are very operator friendly and are simple machines to work on. X3 series is quite bit more $ but will last longer doing those extra chores in addition to cutting grass. Husky has a fabulous mower deck that they offer under some of their mid-range tractors. It's the orange, fabricated (welded, not stamped) deck. The tractors have come a long ways in ergonomics too. Last one I sat on, I was surprised at how comfy it was.
Too many dang safety functions on stuff now days- and less than adequate schematics to even trace things down. Most of the entry level lawn tractors are just that mowers- hydro tranny does not stand up to hauling or pushing very well ( nor hilly terrain). Midrange better in the tranny department but just marginally - There might be a couple where they have installed the K56 series tranny- that one is decent- external replaceable filter and you are able to change the trany fluid. JD series D and L are just mowers. Husky,s bottom end is MTD rebadged. The #1 problem with the $700-2000 range is tranny's that start to slip around a 100 hours or so. Even the Simplicity & Snapper units are not immune. Timex( for those to young- takes lickin & keeps on tickin )versions just do not seem to exist any more. Gone are the days of the SunStrand and Vickers units which were near bullet proof.
They're out there. But like you said, not in the sub-$2k category. You want something like the old wheelhouse tractors, IH Cubs, or the Deere 110/112/200/300 series? That kind of machinery starts at about $7k these days. The end-user's needs have to be considered to get them in the right equipment. They make tractors that are just as good as those old garden war horses. But they also make make quality machines that do light tasks for a lot less money.
The ultimate in older equipment was the Simplicity PowerMax units ( also under Allis Chalmers, Montgomery Wards, There might have been a couple other brand names on the same unit) These are what all sub compact tractors are loosely based on. I think even went so far as a diesel version.
Some friends brought over an old lawnmower for us that they no longer use that had been sitting out for a couple years, so they said it probably needs an oil change. No prob., I can change the oil. He started it up very easily, but that's about the only thing that works on it......gotta' pull the plug wire to stop it. Again, no problem, I can do that.....at least it runs. So, he needed a piece of hardwood, and I have lots, so we went into the shop for a couple minutes. When we got back to the mower, it sputtered and died and was smoking some. They left, so I took it out to the shed and checked the oil better. Nothing on the dipstick but a few little drops of foam. I put some oil in and it started right back up so I mowed for a few minutes, then shut it down. Need some oil, and a few minutes to give this thing the once over, but I think I'll at least be able to mow while fixing the tractor.
My back up mower is a 36" craftsman that someone gave me a few years ago. They were going to throw it out. It runs like a champ and has saved me more than a few times.
Same friends told me the gun shop in town also works on small engines and tractors. Might have to pay them a visit.
