Garden tractor acquisition

[kevm14]

I got the wrong carb to intake manifold gasket. The one I got is for a plastic intake.

NONE of the parts listings have a part number for the other one even though they seem to show it on the diagram. Even Kohler's website. That's crazy. However I think I found the P/N. It is 24-041-17-S. Good lord that was difficult.

https://www.partstree.com/models/ch20-6 ... -system-7/

I think I need part #114 on this diagram. But it isn't even listed. Like I said, I think I found the number but I had to dig through Kohler gasket listings to find one that looked right. I think it does cross to a CH V-twin but I have no clue why it had to be a wild goose chase.

[kevm14]

Here's my dad driving it.

[kevm14]

Bill helped me get the snow cab on. Went pretty well. I got some new hardware for a few items.

The windshield wiper arm scrapes on the plastic roof. I spaced the wiper down with some foam and that seemed to help. But the last couple inches of travel on the left side it lifts off the windshield. Not the best but the wiper does clearly work so maybe I just won't need it very often. That circled area needed to be tucked under the windshield before installing so I had to remove it and fix that. But I got it. Now there's no more gap.

Here's Henry taking it for a spin.

Kept working on the starting issue. Ended up somehow breaking the PTO switch and it stopped passing the solenoid signal!!! So I ordered both a PTO switch and the cruise switch. I'll throw those on and see what kind of results I got. After that I guess I'll chase the harness some more.

[kevm14]

Bill helped me scrap some stuff including the parts machine that came with the Deutz. It was like a base model 5212.5 (only thing lower would have been a single cylinder 5212). 5 speed manual, 2 blade 36" deck. I harvested some stuff from it but eventually stopped needing it so it needed to go. Still a little sad. It was not that hard to lift into the truck.

I made $44 from all of my scrap which, aside from the lawn tractor, was a bunch of other steel like rotors and the old UMI spherical bearing rear lower control arms from my Caprice, rear shocks from my E55, front shocks from my STS, aluminum upper and lower control arms from my STS, and aluminum upper control arms from my E55.

Yes we pulled the front wheels because they were still good and fit my other two smaller machines. I also kept the steering wheel for some reason.

[kevm14]

Kept working on the starting issue. Ended up somehow breaking the PTO switch and it stopped passing the solenoid signal!!! So I ordered both a PTO switch and the cruise switch. I'll throw those on and see what kind of results I got. After that I guess I'll chase the harness some more.

https://youtu.be/252prqBtDIg

Did the cruise switch but it didn't fix the issue. The issue is in the wiring somehow. Ended up jumping out the entire cruise harness at the front plug and that seems to have fixed it. I broke the PTO switch while testing so I have one of those on the way. Man, I bought some unnecessary parts for this job.

[kevm14]

First snow. Very heavy stuff. Mixed results.

https://youtu.be/a2RJHa5yBrc

Needs impeller flaps ASAP so I hope that helps a lot.

[kevm14]

Did the impeller flaps. Making a video. Video done: https://youtu.be/f8cJJXtFULA

Also noticed the upper chute is bent inwards which may also contribute to some clogging. Straightened it out.

Trying bungies at the rear to hold the tarp across the base of the windshield. Still using wood at the bottom and in the front.

[kevm14]

This guy posted a video about snow removal with a Simplicity XL single stage. He also has a 2 stage and someone asked for his thoughts on both in the comments and I thought this was interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyjD2AX6HHM

Paul Cavallaro I really like both of them. In northern il we get both heavy wet snow fall and fluffy snow. Generally speaking average snowfalls are 3-6” and maybe one big storm a year 8-12”. The single stage with the 27hp Kawi that I’m using in this video is my choice of tractor of northern Illinois. In northern wi where we have our cabin we get fluffy light snow mostly lake effect and seeing how we go weeks between visits the 2 stage with the diesel is much needed. The 2 stage is much slower to use. It can throw the snow twice as far as the single stage. The 2 stage doesn’t handle wet snow as good as the single stage. But if big muscle is needed the 2stage is unstoppable.

It's a little confusing but my takeaway is if you live at the property with the tractor and use it for each storm, the single stage is faster. But if you have to move a lot of snow (and throw it far) the 2 stage is more useful.

[kevm14]

Applied some silicone spray to the chute. That's even a recommended usage of this product.

Between that, bending the upper chute back to a more open position and the rubber impeller flaps this ought to make a world of difference. The next storm is going to be a big one but it will also be very powdery so not apples to apples.

[kevm14]

Blizzard (winter storm Bobby).

https://youtu.be/vS4ut_8QUrE

Definitely a satisfying result after the last storm.