Is it parts?

[DoubleT]

Ok, been snowing since thursday night, so I cleaned a hole and got the Big Ten in the garage. After giving it a good looking over, I find this thing is used. Really used. One of the front wheel bearings is wore to nothing. Didn't think a garden tractor could get enough miles to do that.

Anyhow, the numbers painted on it indicate government surplus. All pulleys, idlers, and assciated hardware missing except input shaft pulley of transaxle. Original starter and brackets missing. Another starter, complete with old Mercury snowmachine engine did come with it, and one unknown starter. When pushing tractor with it in gear, you can tell it jumps teeth in the gearbox somewhere. Almost all moving parts of steering is sloppy. Whatever it uses for steering box is terribly bad. Half of steering wheel is bare metal rod.

Good points: All body parts, including lightbar but no lights, are there rust and dent free. Engine appears to be original with a made for AC by B&S sticker on it. It turns freely, but with no way of spinning it to get it started, condition unknown.

Not counting engine, what kind of money would I be looking at to gather the parts, and get this machine in service again? And how hard to find are those parts? Or would it be better to just part it out? I know about what it would be worth to me, but what would the market value of this be after reconditioning?

TIA

[DoubleT]

Hey Tim

While responding to another member that e-mailed me, the sludge between my ears sparked an idea where the parts, and perhaps more tractors may be located only two miles away. A junk yard full of old military surplus. If that is what this one is, there should be more around.

For it being worth "the fun of restoring an old tractor back to running condition", perhaps. But for that kind of fun I also have a 64 VW doublecab pickup, a 70 VW Westfalia camper, an 81 Rabbit car, and...well, you get the idea. Not short on projects around here.

That said, I somehow still think of myself as practical. 6-8k for a new garden tractor? Not for me. I don't even "need" one. But though it might be handy for pushing a little snow, moving these project vehicles around, and other miscellaneous little jobs. I suspect it to be worth making it functional. Which is good enough for me. But to make it pristine, or even nice means more money and a lot more work. I would like it to be nice, but I can't see spending $2000 on something that my family could only get $1000 out of if I kick the bucket when it's done. That's why I ask about costs and values.

Bruce H

[Guest]

Bruce, Most parts are readly available new or used. Best bet on the transaxle would be a boneyard. Any B series would work either as a replacement or for parts to fix yours. Pulleys would be cheaper used but probably available new. As far as steering goes all B series steerings are worthless. Any 12 volt starter/generator will work as long as you can get the pulleys to line up. Anyway I'd say restore it but get yourself a good manual to do it. I have a B10 missing the engine, grill, hood, steering wheel and the fenders are badly bent. The tractor was burned in a shed fire and the transaxle is locked. I hope to have it running by the end of the summer. What is it worth, the fun of restoring an old tractor back to running condition and then using it for many years to come. A new one cost what, 6 to 8K? Tim