Fixing Up a FREE 1975 Sears Lawn Tractor From Craigslist
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- I attempt to fix up and start a 1975 Sears lawn tractor that I got for free on Craigslist.
OTC compression tester: amzn.to/330Hpw1
Compact, powerful impact wrench: amzn.to/2ZYJvcG
Grease gun that I use: amzn.to/3gxdNJY
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My neighbor had a 1972 sears mower similar to this one he used it all the way up until he passed away in 2018. The family gave it to us because it hadn’t ran in a couple years because the last few years they payed someone to mow their lawn. But me and my father got it running again and it was real special how happy the family was to see that old lawn mower still in service 50 years later. Therefor I would say those were some long lasting engines!
This fix was a great example of irony. I watched you repair a very complicated Range Rover timing chain and in this video it looked like a tire change was more challenging! Good job.
Riding lawn mower tires are harder to change than regular tires. My local shop charges $20 for changing full size truck tires and $30 for riding mower tires. Also - when I have tire off -
I thoroughly clean - wire brush and paint the inside of the rim with product called Xtra Seal Bead Sealant. Good video!
I had a Craftsman 1975 16 HP Onan engine tractor. I used a 12" plow and a 36" disk, with a 48" sickle bar mower to farm 3 acres. Best garden tractor I ever had.
I have a 1976 with Onan engine, 12" plow and 36" disk. I don't use it much anymore - just use my rear tine tiller. They are tough made!
I wonder how much a lawn tractor would cost today if they made it to the same quality standards of this machine?
An epoxy tip: use a Post It note pad and a toothpick. I keep a pad and toothpicks with my JB Weld. There is always a fresh mixing board and mixers that way and the toothpicks are also excellent applicators! I always enjoy your videos. I would have likely dipped into my expletive reserve with that tire.
Good tip! And yeah, there was plenty of swearing...luckily it's not audible with the music and time lapse 😂
Its a proven fact that the smaller the tire the more aggrevating they are ...i can change a 27.00 R49 haul truck tire faster than i can a dang lawnmower tire
I know, right? These put up a much bigger fight than I expected! 😂
you are right james G the smaller tires are the worts ones
Hey Waldo, great vid. I had a craftsman mower just like that back in the day. Those smaller tires can be a bear to deal with. Your backhoe loader is a great help. I have used the bucket to seperate beads from the rim. Also, if you set something under the rim, you can hold it steady with the bucket or an outrigger while you fight the tire back on thee rim. Hope this can help you in the future.
Thanks for the tips! Having a backhoe/loader really comes in handy, huh? 😂
Great job on that sweet old mower. Little tire trick- put some dish soap on the bead and it’ll slide on and off super easy. I’d change oil, spark plug, air and fuel filters next. Spoil her a little. Also recheck compression. After putting the oil in and running it, if it had a stuck or sticky ring it may have loosened it up. Keep these awesome vids coming!!!
Thanks, Pete! Yeah, I should check the compression after an oil change when the engine is warm. It seems like the hesitation starting is largely due to the choke position and possibly carb tuning issues, so I may not have to worry about the compression at all
You know what I like about Your videos, your videos are honest , your video titles are honest. Seems like a lot of TH-camrs make fake videos with misleading titles but everything about you seems real and I like that keep up the good work. Even though I probably couldn't do half of what you're doing I still enjoy watching your videos
I kept saying to my computer "get a Sawsall, cut the tire off" and you finally heard me. Hahaha
love the lawn tractor videos better than the trucks videos thanks
Man I use a metal car ramp to break beads on tires. Set the ramp up close to the bed and rim as you can get and then ease your truck up on the ramp it’s breaks them most of the time really easy.
Great video, Waldo. For carb cleaning and tuning, check out Mustie1 on youtube. Might give you some ideas. 👍
Thanks, Greg! Yeah, I've seen one or two of his videos...he knows his stuff!
I watch your channel often andI just stumbled across this video about the Sears Craftsman LT-10E mower. When I was just barely a teenager my father, who passed a few years ago, bought on of these. We were not the richest folks in the world so this was a big deal to have a new riding mower and these units were true Cadillacs at that time. We had it for many years in Ohio until we moved to Florida and no longer needed it having a normal family home and lot. Lots of good times and memories with that little machine. THANK YOU Waldo for sharing.
Also Waldo if it only runs on half choke, the carb is too lean. This could be caused by float position, or jets dirty. You may be able to adjust carb screws to get it to riches up. Also I love your little French voice telling the time passage. Lol
Good point, I’ll try adjusting the fuel screw outwards for more fuel 👍
@@WaldosWorld.
Check out some of Mustie1's videos on his channel.
He does really good tutorials about rebuilding carbs.
Usually saying "we're going in"
He has a demeanor similar to yours with a serious dose making fun of himself.
I think you'll enjoy watching him if you have the time.
The bottom fitting in the carb that holds the bowl on usually has a tiny pinhole in the side that gets plugged, poke it out with wire. its usually that if it runs and then dies.
My grandfather had 2 of those. They took about anything you could throw at them. I cut down grass taller than the mower itself before.
Sorry Waldo but I had to laugh at your struggle with the tire.. But I went through the same struggle. Dish washing liquid soap makes a good lube for tire work.
That's okay, I'm glad to be your source of entertainment! 😂
Sears would be very proud of you and your mechanical efforts, you've allowed that mower to last longer than Sears did
Um....you can still buy things from Sear's
Your pronouncing it wrong! Its not “cardboardeater” ... its “carbratraitor”. Otherwise, nice work!
If it ain’t cheaply made in China ... it ain’t bein’ made!
You did good work getting this up and running. This machine will last you a lifetime with that Tecumseh engine. They often get a bad name, but I find that they are excellent small engines if they are cared for. As you might know, you can still look up most parts on the Sears Parts Direct website just by using the model # stamped on the tag at the back of the unit. I suspect that it is is a "917" model prefix. Sears also had units produced for them under the "131" model prefix, that was Rally. The "917" models in 1975 would have been made by Roper for Sears. Eventually "131" and "917" were combined into "Rally Roper" and eventually, they became American Yard Products. At one time, the facility in McCrae, Georgia was the largest factory of its' kind and was spinning out all sorts of variants of units for different customers. American Yard Products also went by Electrolux, Electrolux Outdoor Products, among other names. Once you have the part # in hand from the parts list, you can shop that part # online or locally to source it, and see if it is still available or superseded. In the case of your tensioner pulley, you did the next best thing to buying new. You made it new again.
I believe today, whatever OEM product support is still available would be through "HOP" or Husqvarna Outdoor Products who makes units at their plant in South Carolina if I remember right. If it's a "502" prefix model, Murray made it for Sears. The first three digits of a Sears model # denote the source code and who actually made it for Sears. There are various lists online that denote what these codes are.
As other said, it uses a standard Indak key which can be bought online just about anywhere and Stens, Oregon and Rotary (the "Big Three" of the small engine aftermarket) all offer them in their line. HOP might even still be able to send you a copy of the original owner's manual. While most times, you can figure things out with some common sense, it does help to have the manual, as some of these models had some quirks and unique features at the time which when you read the manual you'll say, "Oh, so that's what that is and how it works". Also, the reference for parts is easily found as back then Sears insisted that their vendors always include a full exploded view and parts list with their products. Over time, most folks were able to save money and figure out who was making a given product for Sears and go there for parts versus paying the Sears markup. For instance, most appliance repair parts and repair people knew that many Kenmore appliances were made by Whirlpool for them under the "110" model prefix, among others and knew to go to that source for parts. Most vendors that supplied product to Sears still will support them even today, even if they haven't supplied product to them for years. I've had very good luck going back to the OEM even on Sears products made for them some 50 years ago.
When you had trouble with the tire, I was saying to myself, "Why doesn't he just cut off the old one with a reciprocating saw in pieces and just lift it out of the way?" LOL. Of course that doesn't make installing the new one easy, but it does take half of the job and make it easier.
I hope you'll keep this one and run it for many years, just doing simple TLC like oil changes, filter changes and keeping it in good running order. I think you'll find it to be a good backup. I find equipment at the curb all the time and with very little effort and money, they are up and running again with no issues and I've been running them for years and years.
Thank you, and thank you for the comment!
@@WaldosWorld It's always good to see old equipment up and running again. After you shot this video, I wound up picking up a 1984 vintage Sears Craftsman engine analyzer from someone online that had no use for it. It's never been used, probably never been turned on and had all the attachments. It was missing only the owner's manual which I found quickly online, so it's now 100% complete.
I was getting frustrated early in the video. Was that a teaser or what? Take the carb off, out it back on, take it off ,put it back on again. Hey! Did you clean out the gas tank?Anysay you ended up doing a good job. I gave you a "Like" . I will be back for more lol
Thanks for the like!
A _what_ swap!? Oh, you said "Cummins swap". I misheard you at first.😄
Back when things were built simple and made to last. No efi or computer bs.
That might be the most redneck tire change I have ever seen. Excellent!
That tire segment was painful to watch...those front tire/wheels can be a pita. I found a piece of metal rod or even an extra tire tool that has the same diameter as the axle when run through the hub and secured horizontally in the jaws of my workmate will hold the tire assembly secure when pressed up against the workmates work surface. With the wheel properly secured, the tire will usually pry off easily. Also makes mounting the new tire a breeze.
Nice tip! 👍
You can temporarily wrap that fuse in tin foil and reuse that fuse ✌️👍
That's a good tip! 👍
@@WaldosWorld it's also a good way to start an electrical fire. The fuse is rated to blow at a specific amperage . what is the tinfoil amperage rated at?
Wow that brings back memories. My dad had one a long time ago! I remember mowing with it when I was kid and taking care of it.
My brother said it wasn't good and electronic ignition or something kept going out so dad got rid of it.
Hey Waldo nice video. You have incredible patience. I would have thrown that front tire and rim with frustration but you persevered. Haha. Good work. Looking for to a Dino vid. Keep the videos coming.
Thanks, Scott! Yeah, that tire was very frustrating. There was definitely some swearing that didn’t make it into the final cut 😂
First time stumbling across this video you seem like a giant on that mower but awesome vid
My friend's step-pepper had one of these and if there's one thing I remember from him working on it, it's to not use marinara sauce instead of oil.
Good video Waldo, I have a 1997 snowblower with a Tecumseh 8hp engine that sounds the exact same on start up and running and the carb is almost the same ,LOL , just goes to show youth the more things change the more they remain the same in some areas of life, I think i need a carb kit for my snowblower to along with an inner tube to fix 1 tire, 👍
Yeah, in my research, it seems like the Tecumseh carburetors largely stayed the same for quite a few years!
Turn the jet on bottom of bowl all the way in then out bout a turn n half....then try 2 turns.
Lean plug looks great ill use it looks in plug whole even tho he can se e nothing but valves looks great down there oml 🤦
Look at the old tractor go ! A real gem, great work !
Thanks, Scott!! 👍
We had that same garden tractor mower for about 10 years until we moved. Worked excellently.
I feel a little bad saying this but I chuckled a bit when you hit the wheel with the sledge! lol
Sweet little unit... Man those gotta be rare. I've only seen a handful. I had a 1977 MW that was a 4spd Rare Heavy duty as hell like a 2-Stroke Detroit heavy!!! My Neighbour has a GE Electric lawn mower which are Very rare for a fact.
Hey Waldo,that mower is so vintage!! Show it some love and give it a new seat and paint job!!!!😉👍🤘🤘
Do U know what size the drive belt is
Terrible music, could not watch any longer listening to it…..
Which one
Which one!!!!
Europe comment
would of been easier to just put a tube in it
Cuts better them my new Lawnmower
doesnt that needle clip to the bowl?
Awesome video! I love doing the same thing.
You have a new sub! 🦅🇺🇸
Thank you for the sub!
@@WaldosWorld You're welcome. Looking forward to more videos.
Having done these small tires by hand myself. Was great to watch someone else struggle with this so much like myself LOL
That old carb is a piece of cake to fix, dont be intimidated by it. You need to adjust the main jet , its the screw on the center of the bowl on the bottom !
Haha cardboardeaters and I don’t always get along, but this one does seem to be relatively simple. I probably need to screw it outwards for a bit more fuel
What a feeling taking something from A to Z. Nice video.
Does the carburetor not have any adjustments on it? Did you
Yeah, I tried adjusting it quite a bit, but I wonder if maybe it's still a bit dirty or something
This guy hates old carbujators and loves diesels... a man after my own heart!! 😂
Yeah, diesel really is a superior fuel! One of these days I'll have a diesel mower...
watching you change that tyre was hillarious :D
i worked on gocart track, so i changed a lot of those tyres by hand, if you have more than one lawnmower, you should invest in one of those tyre changing tools, its really cheap, and it would make your live easier 👍
Nice!! So satifying to get something for free and get it running with a little effort and cost. Nice work! Looking forward to Dynahoe too!
Thanks for watching ‘til the end! 😉
Good job on the pulley Waldo ! I was yelling into the computer to take it apart and fix it !😊🌵
Yeah, I’m really glad I decided to take it apart. I still often learn new things, and that was one of them! 👌
I kept looking all over the video for him, kept hearing his voice, but couldn't find him, anyone else have this issue?
That poor tire rim didn't deserve that much abuse 😢
I just love tinkering with and fixing older riders. They were built to last!
if i lived near you, id just give you a tire for that as i do have a vintage sears wheel and tire, and it does hold air!
Thanks, that's nice of you!
Where’s waldo 😂
A squirt of oil before checking compression can always help. As for the key, it's a standard Indak key for the old ones.
Hey if you want to up the compression without doing a rebuild use some engine restore when you do an oil change. I have used it with tested actual results so I definitely recommend
Thanks for the tip! That actually could make good content for a video 🤔
Waldo's World yes that would be awesome, add another testimonial to the engine restore with perhaps a before and after test!
A trick I use when breaking the bead on tires it to use the backhoe outrigger like you did with driving over the sidewall, and for really stubborn beads I use the rear bucket and push down with a tooth at the intersection of the tire and rim. Last week a friend stopped over on the hottest day of the week and asked me to help remove tires from the scrap rims, I asked my son (7 years old) to run the backhoe and help with breaking the beads.
Friend was blown away he could run the machine so well, it was like a well oiled machine. I will try and grab the video off my security camera and upload tomorrow on my Channel
Oh wow, that's cool the your son is so good with a backhoe! Also thanks for the tip! 👍
What a cool mower to tinker on and fix up
I'm 7 minutes in, and hoping the music goes away soon. It's definitely hard to hear what you're saying, and distracting. Otherwise, enjoying the video.
Great job in bringing that old riding-lawnmower back to life!
It's always amazing what you can do with a little bit of work on a well built machine.
I really admire your can do attitude, and your careful explanations on the repair process.
Well done!
Those electric bead breakers are awesome tools, when it comes to old stubborn tires. 👍
Yeah, it might be time to invest in a bead breaking solution 😂
We use a floor jack to break beads on our farm. Not one of the wheeled ones, but the ones with a flat end and a "hook". We put the "hook" under a tractor and the flat side on the tire, while someone stands on the tire to keep it from moving, the other person starts pumping the jack and the weight of the tractor pops the bead with ease
Motorcycle KICKSTAND leaning onto TIRE will break bead.
I’ve got a 73 st16 that I’m in the process of putting a Yanmar l70 on & it’s great. I had a predator on it for a while, but it died. Can you please lose the stupid music I want to hear you talk about the mower not the stupid f$&@$&@ music. 100psi for a lawn mower engine is abt normal. Some engines have a compression release like the cast iron Kohlers from the 60s-80s. They won’t read more than 65psi even if they’ve been rebuilt.
Dawn is your best friend when removing any tire...
Most people break a bead with a jackall no need to swing a bead axe for semi tires or run the rim over with your truck.
My dad (RIP) cursed the day he sold his Craftsman lawn tractor for a Wheel Horse (aka, the Piece of Shit). He cursed basically every time he used the POS Wheel Horse. What a junky tractor even though it was bigger and allegedly more powerful.
a cold engine needs a richer mixture. the choke allow infinite adjustment of the mixture. pulling it out richens it, and pushing back in leans is it. the choke needs to be pulled out enough to start the engine when cold and LEFT THERE until it begins to warm up. and only then GRADUALLY pushed back in as the engine warms up. this process can take up to two minutes! it's not a matter of OFF and ON.
Hey can you give me lessons on how to weld a rubber tire? I never new it was possible 😏
I don't know how TH-cam certify their mechanics but obviously you need to get a proper training, that said for a mechanic myself..sorry mate..
straight air blow gun sets the bead easier than the fill probe you used and soap to lube the rim.
Nice vid anyway.
Waldo. I love your videos. Been watching them almost everyday. Can I request to please turn down the background music , it sometimes drowning out your voice.
People always bash Chinese products but they keep buying them. Wonder why they don't buy American?.
You oughta consider getting an old IH Cub Cadet garden tractor.. Built like tanks! Plus you already have IH stuff. 😉
Ok. The background music at the beginning was WAAAAAY to loud. Could barely hear you speaking
I appreciate the feedback!
can't watch anymore...geez! put the base of the jack on the edge of the tire and the lifting end on something very substantial. then, start jacking....
*OOOHHH MAN .. TIRES ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS .. HAHA*
*1 THING .. USE **#SOAP** WATER ... WHEN GETTING THE TIRE "OF"......*
*.... (**25:34**) .... WRONG SIDE !! "USE TOOL FROM ..OUTSIDE... THE TIRE"....*
*...AND USE JUST "SOAP WATER" WHEN YOU ..."CAN"..*
*WHEN YOU USE .."SOAP WATER" !! YOU ALL MOST "NOT" NEED TOOLS"*
*IT WILL BE SO "EASY" TO FIX THIS "TIRES" .. YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE IT*
*IS JUST FUN .. AND TAKES LESS THEN ..5 MIN... TO TAKE ANY..TIRE OF*
*AND EVEN "FASTER TO "PUT" ON AGAIN ..*
*YOU KNOW ..DO NOT PUT YOUR "FINGERS" BY THE .. "RIM / TIRE"... WHEN AIR "UP" !!!*
*SOMETIMES **#BANG** !! AND "TIRE" JUMP TO "PLACE"... HARD AND LOUD.. (NO FINGERS)*
*GOOD LUCK MISTER ....*
Hi Waldo I’m loving your videos. This video is one of my favourites Nick from Adelaide. 2:26pm
Waldo look up online 1975 Sears Cub Cadet Lawn mower parts because thats the model of the lawn mower
Very resourceful fixing that pulley, now changing that tire was pathetic 😀
Model 2517 if I recall a very good LT sold hundreds for 899.00
Jbweld "waterweld" putty can be used with petroleum!
Nice trick with the ratchet strap! I'm gonna file that one away!
I have never (until now) seen anyone put a wheel back on the vehicle before mounting the next tire. I hope he bought a new carburetor float bowl while he bought the other parts. Ron W4BIN
Ok so for those who don't know I'll save you some sweat and tears. Ya know the way the rim is shaped skinnier on the inside than it is on the outside. Stick the bead of the tire in that narrower part or the wheel when you're trying to get her off and on. That skinny little grove on the wheel. As for breaking the bead, if you can kinda wiggle a spoon in to get it started you're lucky. If not resort to violence or buy proper tools.
NOW , you know WHY a tire store won't mess with mower tires !!!!!!!!!!!!
Dont put your face on level with the rim when filling tires.... I saw a split rim break a guy's leg one time.
Small mower tires like those need put into a bucket of VERY hot water to soften up. Does make a difference.
the carbs. on these were junk where the hole is in the bowl the had a spring loaded drain plug to drain bad gas or water out. they were made to run on leaded gas. they would not run right off unleaded. we had a 7 hp that was a sears had nothing but trouble with it worse mower we ever owned. they had 3 grades of mower back then the sears was the cheap one, craftman was next and the had a good mower that had onan or briggs engines. they were made by diff. companies and sears put there mane on them. i wish you luck.i still have the thing if you need parts. take care, be safe and well.
Thanks, that was very interesting to follow your diagnosis and actions.
Waldo....Waldo.....do you live in an area where there are no tire stores at all? WAY too much effort on the tire son. Otherwise it is an awesome video! New subscriber since you did such a great job on the old classic mower
Thank you! Yeah, a tire shop would have been WAY easier 😂
Put a bolt in your vise and but the rim on the bolt and take a nut and some washers/spacers and tighten the rim down. Easier to take the tire off.
You didn't say if the carburetor was adjusted . It's is adjustable on the bottom and maybe on the side as well.
@25:37 I'm wondering??? I've not had that much trouble taking the tire off but... Putting on the new one was a bear. I wound up using the teaspoon of gas and a match trick to get the new tire to seat. I am curious to see what you do.
Ah here, i love it when you add the Laurel & Hardy music along with the Chop Saw to remove the tyre 😂😂
We had that same model rider. It only lasted for two years. I was twelve or thirteen and sort of a daredevil-scientist. One day while mowing the ditch I decided to try to do a wheelie. So I drove up the ditch bank in third gear, when I got to the road edge I clutched the mower letting it roll down into the ditch and I popped the clutch and the rest was history. Pieces of the cast iron grill were scattered around and the hood was crushed along with the steering wheel. That got my ass tanned. Dad replaced it with a 15” push mower with a tiny 2 stroke. Our yard was almost acres. Boy did I learn something in the name of science
On a side note....... yes the deck was engaged and I didn’t get killed but very well could have.
Wow, that's quite the story! I imagine you were the one who had to mow the lawn with the push mower?
Yes I was the one. I got away with a good amount of stupid but that was the straw lol
There's another Fry.