17GTH-L project

[TimJr 206]

I picked this '92/'93 17GTH-L up a couple of years ago, but just got it running this summer. I bought it non-running, with known BGB problems.

It was a good enough deal to take a chance on it. It came with 2 decks. One was only a few years old and in excellent shape. The original deck needs bearings, but is in good shape. The Briggs engine was a repower before I bought it. I had to clean up some of the hack wiring and fuel lines from the original installation.The naked trucker mudflap ladies were just a bonus.......

[TimJr 206]

After a little metal massaging and welding up the usual fender deck cracks, the fenders looked much better. The original paint was a little faded, but this is a work tractor, not a show tractor.

[TimJr 206]

After sitting for over a year, the fuel system was skunked. This is what happens when fuel evaporates in your float bowl.

I also cleaned up the wiring and fuel line.

[TimJr 206]

After some research on the engine, I found that the numbers meant it was originally a propane engine. The place that sold it as a repower put a gasoline carb on it. It is a tapered crank, so it must have been for a generator. It also shows by the type number that it originally had an oil filter. So I did some cross searching and found out that I could swap an oil filter base over from a 14hp vertical Vanguard I had access to for parts. I had to notch the frame slightly to clear the filter, but it was worth the effort and won't compromise the frame strength enough to worry about. I have the low oil pressure sending unit hooked up to the ignition as a low oil pressure shut off switch now.

[TimJr 206]

So, then I tore the whole back half off the tractor to fix leaks and other problems. I wanted to reseal the transaxle, and while it was apart I wanted to shim it up better and get rid of the excess end play on the axle tube and brake shaft. I replaced all the keys - starting to show wear. I also found the hydro output pinion gear in bad shape. Anyone else ever see this? The other gears were just fine.

[TimJr 206]

Now into the BGB. It had some unusual slop in it. There was more endplay on the cross shaft than I wanted. Turns out the pulley on the RH side was worn into and not holding things tight. Plus, it had some weird backlash in the gears. There was some real free backlash that wasn't all that bad, but then if you turned things a little harder, the shaft would turn a little more. So, I figured a key for one of the gears must be bad. Well, the keys, the shafts and both gears were all worn from the keys chucking. I think the culprit was a stone wedged into the hydro input pulley. It would have caused the belt to jump severely when the belt passed the stone, and probably led to the constant shockload beating on the keys. This is where the good deal turned into just a fair deal with what I had to spend on BGB parts.

I didn't have access to a press for the bearings. I am not a big fan of beating bearings in with a hammer, so I came up with a way to pull things together with large bolts.

I am not real impressed with Briggs & Stratton/Simplicity over this. The package clearly says Made in USA. Look at the bearing, where it says China on it. Must be they meant the package was made in the USA.

[TimJr 206]

On its way back together.

[Chris727 2,024]

Wow, Nice work and attention to detail. I have seen the same issues on occasion with "the green & yellow" brand parts.

[yukon 331]

nice job tim.

[Talntedmrgreen 1,980]

Very nice...thanks for taking the time to bring us along!

[720nut 4,225]

very nice unit thanks for sharing

[Mike_H 92]

Good Work! I love seeing others putting their time and money into these old things...Makes me feel a little less crazy...

[TimJr 206]

One last pic - back together and running. I am going to start a new thread on how I had never noticed some differences between some of these tractors until I had 2 of them side by side.

I gave the tractor to my dad so we could semi-retire a 7016 that he has had for a number of years and is showing age. The hydraulic lift and hydro trans will make things much easier on him.I wish I had more time and especially an actual workspace to get around to fixing up more of my tractors that I have stored around the country side since I no longer have room at home. The house we used to live in had space for a few extra tractors but not where I am at now.

[tadams 989]

Maybe the bag was made in the USA.

Tom

[PhanDad 3,622]

Great work and thanks for sharing all the pics.

My repower and "refresh" of the rest of my GTH-L 12 years ago pales in comparison.

[Simplicity7013H 95]

Very nice work and attention to detail. Good jobdOd

[FlashandFlare 0]

That muffler has a interesting look to it.

[TimJr 206]

Yeah, the muffler is not so high tech. It must have been part of the "conversion kit" the previous owner had installed. It looks almost homemade.... It is a little loud too, but it is out in the country so it isn't going to bother a neighbor too bad. The outlet of the muffler is a mess, but wasn't a big concern. I am not a big fan of bendy tube exhaust, but it worked for the original installer.....

[fishnwiz 3,290]

Looks like a lot of work to me! Nice job!