Garden tractor acquisition

Mower trouble? Are 2-cycle engines the bane of your existence?
kevm14
Posts: 15350
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

Did this yesterday late afternoon. Pretty simple. I did have to pull the deck out of the way to get my drill in there, but that's really easy.

Freshly enlarged 1/2" hole in steering rack arm. These Harbor Freight drill bits are great by the way. I filed both sides smooth. Came out nice.
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Accoutrements. I discovered my right angle drill will not accept a 1/2" drill bit. I think it is 3/8" max. There was no way to use the regular drill without moving the deck out of the way, and the directions said to do that anyway.
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Undrilled front steering arm.
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Some side by side comparisons. The new link really is nice. The main part seems the same but everything on the ends is beefier, and separately replaceable. I feel better having dropped the money on this because I got an upgraded part. 1/2" studs....they are huge. That's like a lug stud diameter.
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Installed at steering rack arm. Can I also point out how unrusty this tractor actually is?
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Check out how close the nut comes to the axle. But it clears! If it didn't it looks like I could have bent the arm a little but this is how it came from the factory.
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Even better, it was adjusted DAMN close from the factory. I only had to spin the front link in one revolution to center the steering wheel. They actually put effort into this.
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Steering feels nice and direct. The only thing I may still do is tweak the clock angle on the link up at the steering rack side to make sure neither of the joints bind through the entire sweep of the steering. That would be a sure way to wear them out prematurely.
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kevm14
Posts: 15350
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

Tried to squirt some grease into the steering drag link on the Deutz as well as the tie rods. Probably better than leaving them dry.

Changed oil to Delo 400 LE 5W-40 full synthetic (CJ-4/SM, so the older ratings). We'll see how this goes. The API SN 15W-40 in my Simplicity may still be consuming. If so, that indicates the SN rating is the issue more than CK-4. At least according to my hypothesis (which could be wrong).

Installed the block off plates on the hood to restrict cooling (and probably moisture intake) per the manual.
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Bought some Slime for off-road use. Hopefully I get to that today. I at least want to Slime the one that is leaking fairly significantly (it hasn't gone flat on me yet so I guess it could be worse).

The charging system is working properly. After maybe 5 minutes of running it was already up to 14.3V and charging at over 2A.
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I also need to install the tire chains. If they seem to scratch up the driveway, I'll look into something else like the rubber-based product that Bill uses.
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bill25
Posts: 2583
Joined: Thu Oct 31, 2013 2:20 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by bill25 »

I would definitely recommend the rubber ones. Chains will scratch if the wheels slip.
bill25
Posts: 2583
Joined: Thu Oct 31, 2013 2:20 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by bill25 »

Let me know if you see any deals if you buy 2 sets as I would probably be in for a set for the Scotts.
kevm14
Posts: 15350
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

I slimed the front tires with 8oz each. I hope it is not too cold to distribute properly. I did remove them and do it inside so I could at least try sloshing to get some in the bead area on both sides. So time will tell on that one. I may need to add another 8oz (and remove them again) to get the bead area coated.

The tire chains, however, were a fail. It turns out the machine came with 4 chains, and one pair appeared heavier duty. The lighter duty ones looked like the ones shown in the manual. However, I could not get them installed. The tires were too large. I aired them down to 6 psi and I still couldn't get them on. So I got out the rustier but heavier ones. I was able to attach them. But, they clearly are made for like the 18" tires or something. This is ridiculous. They seem fine for 10" width tires. So I wonder if such an option existed. To the manual!

I don't see anything other than 20" tall but I do see 8" options. Not sure if that is width or wheel diameter. A little confused.

I guess he ran with one of these chain pairs...but it seems dumb to run with such a wide gap and it didn't really seem "happy" like that. I feel like some parts of the chain would get hooked or drag on the transaxle. Just don't like it.

So I need to figure out if I am going to buy chains, or the rubber-based things that Bill uses.

Side note, it looks like the minimum wheelbase on a tractor is related to the circumference of the rear tires. Or it's just a coincidence.
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kevm14
Posts: 15350
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

This sucks. Everything is expensive. eBay is cheaper than Amazon at least.

Here are the rubber ones that Bill likes:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/TERRA-GRIP-TRA ... AOSwjU9Z0B~~

$100. I suspect chains work better (their marketing shows that the chains are inferior but they showed it on everything but snow) but maybe I should take a chance on these. They will be much easier on the driveway anyway. Metal chains are half the price on eBay.
Chains:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Link-TIRE-CH ... Swo4pYk0Fa

I don't know which size to get.
https://www.mowersdirect.com/TerraKing-90003/p9702.html

This says
Use for tractors with 10-inch rim size
Fits tire sizes 22x9.5x12 and 20x10x8 Turf Saver
OK neither of those are my size....this seems to match the eBay one at least. And I do have 10" wheels.

The smaller one is this:
https://www.mowersdirect.com/TerraKing-90002/p9701.html
Use for tractors with 8-inch rim size
Fits tire sizes 20x9x8, 20x10x8 and 20x10x10
OK I need 20x10x10 but I don't have 8" wheels. I think this is probably an error. I will get the bigger one if only because erring on the bigger side seems like a better idea given what I just went through with the damn chains.
kevm14
Posts: 15350
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

So I think I will down-size to a 78" belt for the hydro drive. Even the 79" one is too long; it fell off the engagement pullies again. It is supposed to take an 80". Strange. And aside from this obvious functional deficiency (please, can I lay in the snow to push a belt back on??), it also means the brake pedal comes back past upright and really doesn't leave much toe room for a boot under the pedal. This would also be highly annoying. So if I take another inch off the belt, I am hoping the pedal lands about straight up when engaged. I will need to double check the brake rod adjustment nut to make sure the brakes aren't partially applied since this changes the "off brakes" setting.

This will be somewhat annoying as I have to drop the blower belt first since it is on the bottom pulley. Hopefully I can route this with the blower and hitch frame installed...
kevm14
Posts: 15350
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

Video of the terra-grips. He likes them.
https://youtu.be/qaSatbGFxAs

He does mention the wheel weights.

This guy, however, does not like them.
https://youtu.be/OVviUTfavKY

But he is trying to use them on an uneven surface and says on a flat driveway they work fine.
kevm14
Posts: 15350
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

Some Husqvarna weights:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0053 ... _qh_dp_hza

Very handy Q&A:
center to center bolts is 4 3/4 inches, overall outside width 11 inches
Right, I need to go measure my holes. I don't REALLY want to drill holes in my wheels if I don't need to.

Also, the thing with wheel weights is, there is no downside to using them. In fact I'd leave them on there. This may be a modest-sounding 62 lbs but since they are wheel weights, there is zero additional load on the axle/bearings. It also does not change the front end weight - just adds traction weight.

If the spacing fits I may try these. It's that or I find something and adapt it. Seems like I could stack up a bunch of metal lifting weights, drill holes in the right places, and just bolt those on, too. I just don't have anything like that kicking around.
kevm14
Posts: 15350
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: Garden tractor acquisition

Post by kevm14 »

I guess this would be the fallback plan for weights.
https://providence.craigslist.org/spo/d ... 73569.html

Just find the right diameter, drill and through bolt. I could stack them, too.
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