Scored me a new lawn mower

[69camfrk]

This thing has been sitting unused at my cousins house for who knows how long. I had fired it up last winter so I knew it ran. It's an older Craftsman with a twin cylinder Briggs and a 42" deck. It needed one new rear tire, battery, and the cable that engages the blades fixed among other things.

I've had to change a few tires, and I know they are a pain in the ass of magnificent proportion. I don't think the original right rear tire had ever been off the axle and the assembly was NOT going to come off with any tools I have. So, I'm like screw it, I have dish soap, a pry bar, I'm gonna make it happen with rim on the mower. Old tire comes off easy enough, new tire was a pretty big pain in the ass to get on the rim, but I got it there with the help of my oldest son. But, all you gearheads know, that said tire has to be seated on the bead. I knew it wasn't going on by normal as in the correct tools method, so yes, I broke out the starting fluid. I sprayed it good and full of ether, took the trusty propane torch, lit that sucker off and BAM on the bead it goes. I know that is some redneck shit, but it sho does work!!:seasix: Now it is once again a grass cuttin' mofo!

Oh, obligatory pics of "new" mower



http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j17/69camfrk/003_zps28af55dd.jpg

[StaticCling]

A wise man once said...

"If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem"

[island14]

After channeling my inner Red.....

[Fasglas]

Ether Tire Mounting Explosion - YouTube

[69camfrk]

Oh, obligatory pics of "new" mower.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j17/69camfrk/002_zps7ec429a7.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j17/69camfrk/003_zps28af55dd.jpg[/quote]

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j17/69camfrk/001_zps475485ba.jpg

[69camfrk]

Sorry about the air refueling pics. No clue what is up with photobucket. Tried three damn times to make them go away.

[69camfrk]

Ether Tire Mounting Explosion - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-3U-TRkJx8)

Ya gotta know the right amount of ether!!:rofl:

[island14]

Remember how Tim the tool man would grunt when he saw a cool tool? :island14:

:seasix:

[simpleman68]

Nice "new" mower man :cool:

I first heard about the bead sealer from an old timer at the hardware store. They used a little cap of gasoline and let the lit vapors do the trick.
He also warned us about judicious use of gas. :Jeff '79:

Motor has plenty of power to pull a cart around the yard too.
Hell, you could fab up a snow blade... not that you need one. :lol:
Scott

[LATB]

Looks like a good score :seasix:
[c6] Whatcha-hav-ta-giv-fer-it? [c6]

[island14]

Nice "new" mower man :cool:


:iagree:

I almost wish I had grass to mow instead of sand for a yard... :lol:

[island14]

By the way, lately we have been getting a little bit of rain so what little grass I have is starting to get green again..

[Jobaka]

Ether Tire Mounting Explosion - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-3U-TRkJx8)

:funny: :funny: :funny: Fk'n awesome.

[Jeff '79]

Wow! Way to go!
Boy, I wish that I knew of that ether bead setting method when I was 14yrs old....:Jeff '79:

Nice score... Your cousin is gonna want it back now.:drivingskid:

[69camfrk]

Looks like a good score :seasix:
[c6] Whatcha-hav-ta-giv-fer-it? [c6]

$100 I was unsure what all I would have to do to it, so that was all I would go on it. My cousin's wife wanted it gone anyway.

[Bill]

You could have tried using a load strap to squeeze the center of the tire. Sometimes that works to help seal the bead. Probably not as fun as using ether, though.

[69camfrk]

:iagree:

I almost wish I had grass to mow instead of sand for a yard... :lol:

Do we need to take up a collection and send you a new rake??:D

[simpleman68]

$100 I was unsure what all I would have to do to it, so that was all I would go on it. My cousin's wife wanted it gone anyway.

:cool: Sweeeeeet
Scott

[69camfrk]

You could have tried using a load strap to squeeze the center of the tire. Sometimes that works to help seal the bead. Probably not as fun as using ether, though.

I shall not tell a lie, it took me 3 try's to get the explosion just right. Oldest son stood by with the fire extinguisher. Should have made some video! Well, maybe not!:shots:

[The Cripp]

A wise man once said...

"If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem"

:lol: :seasix:

[carlton_fritz]

Kerry has that same model.

[lspencer534]

A Craftsman, I think, is just like a Poulan, or vice versa. (:D) Good mowers and engine, and I think even better than a John Deere. I bought my Poulan 42" mower 3 years ago, and except for bending a blade one due to a tree root, it's been dependable. Paid only $900, but they're >$1200 now.

Non-commercial mowers are a shot in the dark. John Deeres are pricey and IMO not worth the money. Mine lasted 4 seasons, then started burning oil badly, and the deck had to be replaced due to a weak design. That cost $300 with me installing it. I've had better luck with Murrays than with JD. I ran a 38" Murray for 9 years mowing 6 acres every week before it was worn out.

[Jeff '79]

My Craftsman is a Husquervarna.
The Kohler V-Twin 18.5 hp runs smooth as silk.
I just changed the oil, air filter, gas filter, oil filter, spark plug and the 5 deck wheels today, and leveled the deck, after 156 hours and 4 years of use.. The parts cost $50, thank you Red for the parts website.
I put 5W-30 synthetic in it and it runs cool as a cucumber.
Other than the cup holder being on the chute side, I'm very happy with the Craftsman. :seasix:

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af113/jeff79/07128990000.jpg

[78SA]

I have one like that. Paid $300 for it and only had to change a steering rod thingy. Yours looks better. :lol:

[JRD77VET]

Congrats on your "new" lawn mower :cert:

Nice "new" mower man :cool:

I first heard about the bead sealer from an old timer at the hardware store. They used a little cap of gasoline and let the lit vapors do the trick.
He also warned us about judicious use of gas. :Jeff '79:

Motor has plenty of power to pull a cart around the yard too.
Hell, you could fab up a snow blade... not that you need one. :lol:
Scott

Although the engine makes good power, the belt drive and transaxle is a weak link for garden tractor uses :yesnod:

[LATB]

My Craftsman is a Husquervarna.
The Kohler V-Twin 18.5 hp runs smooth as silk.
I just changed the oil, air filter, gas filter, oil filter, spark plug and the 5 deck wheels today, and leveled the deck, after 156 hours and 4 years of use.. The parts cost $50, thank you Red for the parts website.
I put 5W-30 synthetic in it and it runs cool as a cucumber.
Other than the cup holder being on the chute side, I'm very happy with the Craftsman. :seasix:

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af113/jeff79/07128990000.jpg

Nice

[simpleman68]

Although the engine makes good power, the belt drive and transaxle is a weak link for garden tractor uses :yesnod:

"Welp, time to find out what she can do" :D
Scott

[CertInsaneC5]

My Craftsman is a Husquervarna.
The Kohler V-Twin 18.5 hp runs smooth as silk.
I just changed the oil, air filter, gas filter, oil filter, spark plug and the 5 deck wheels today, and leveled the deck, after 156 hours and 4 years of use.. The parts cost $50, thank you Red for the parts website.
I put 5W-30 synthetic in it and it runs cool as a cucumber.
Other than the cup holder being on the chute side, I'm very happy with the Craftsman. :seasix:

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af113/jeff79/07128990000.jpg

Have the same one here. Only had mine one year though. Still love it. :cert:

[CertInsaneC5]

"Welp, time to find out what she can do" :D
Scott

TRACTOR PULL!!! :lol:

[Jeff '79]

Have the same one here. Only had mine one year though. Still love it. :cert:

54" cut all day long. :seasix:

[JRD77VET]

"Welp, time to find out what she can do" :D
Scott

TRACTOR PULL!!! :lol:

I'm in. I don't have to worry about something breaking :seasix:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/JRD77VET/cub_125_ls.jpg~original

[Jeff '79]

I'm in. I don't have to worry about something breaking :seasix:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/JRD77VET/cub_125_ls.jpg~original

I'll do the parade laps. Mine is way better looking... :leaving:

[JRD77VET]

I'll do the parade laps. Mine is way better looking... :leaving:

Mine actually does work instead of slightly decreasing laps :lol:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/JRD77VET/house/cub%20cadet/action/DCP_5604.jpg~original

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/JRD77VET/house/cub%20cadet/action/DCP_5596.jpg~original

tfWy8jbj_GY

[Jeff '79]

I'm in. I don't have to worry about something breaking :seasix:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/JRD77VET/cub_125_ls.jpg~original

What year is that bad boy?

[simpleman68]

What year is that bad boy?

It was the model year following this series :leaving:

http://www.motherbedford.com/Scyth01.jpg

[JRD77VET]

What year is that bad boy?

1968 Cub Cadet 125 ( I have two of them both built a month apart, the one in the video has hydraulic lift ) 12 hp with hydrostatic drive.

[simpleman68]

1968 Cub Cadet 125 ( I have two of them both built a month apart, the one in the video has hydraulic lift ) 12 hp with hydrostatic drive.

Can't kill those old Cubs. We used to sell 20 + year old models that weren't exactly loved and very few of them needed much more than basic maintenance items to run right. :yesnod:
Scott

[Jeff '79]

1968 Cub Cadet 125 ( I have two of them both built a month apart, the one in the video has hydraulic lift ) 12 hp with hydrostatic drive.

1968?? Holy crap it was made 5 years after I was born...
I wonder how many motor rebuilds that it's had.

[JRD77VET]

1968?? Holy crap it was made 5 years after I was born...
I wonder how many motor rebuilds that it's had.

The one in the picture is only .010 over bore. Those Kohlers last forever with something resembling maintenance :seasix: Cast iron block with roller bearings. Well overbuilt for the long run.

The 1966 model 122 ( with the dirt blade ) was very abused when I got it. I've seen mosquito foggers put out less smoke. :rofl: I honed the bore after disassembling the engine and it was still within service specs. factory piston kit and new connecting rod made it run like brand new :seasix:

[JRD77VET]

Can't kill those old Cubs. We used to sell 20 + year old models that weren't exactly loved and very few of them needed much more than basic maintenance items to run right. :yesnod:
Scott

:iagree:

[69camfrk]

I'll do the parade laps. Mine is way better looking... :leaving:

Real machine right there!:seasix:

[onedef92]

Looks like a nice mower!

[Fastguy]

Frankenmower approved

[mrvette]

:iagree:

I almost wish I had grass to mow instead of sand for a yard... :lol:

I got the worst of both worlds.....sand from the guy up hill washing into my yard, weeds growing like mad, and the sand is so soft the mower just drags....I even put balloon wheelbarrow tires on the back so it rolls easier....:issues:

[five-oh]

I had to replace my 11 year old John Deere this year too. I was tired of working on the darn thing....bought a brand new zero turn Bad Boy. Welded Steel decks, not stamped, made here in Arkansas, and I opted for the Kawasaki engine... I love the mower, but I still have problems admitting that I'm "getting on a Bad Boy". Why the heck couldn't they have named it the "Bad Girl" or something?!?!:leaving:

[simpleman68]

... I love the mower, but I still have problems admitting that I'm "getting on a Bad Boy". Why the heck couldn't they have named it the "Bad Girl" or something?!?!

:shrug: Looks pretty manly to me.... :D
Scott

http://www.mauldintractorco.com/assets/badboymower.png