75th Anniversary Project

[Chris727 2,016]

This tractor has been done for a while now but I'm just now getting around to posting about it. I thought you might like seeing a warmer weather project. Picked up this 75th Sovereign back in 2010.

The triad was pretty tired and would barely run. After consulting with Al Eden, it was estimated that I likely needed a timing gear/belt update and the compression was low enough it wasn't worth investing in the kit. I ran across a heck of a buy on a then three-year-old 18hp Command locally for $125. I didn't get to test it then but it turned out to run like new after cleaning the carb thoroughly.

It needed a few converions parts:

Blower Cover, Flywheel Fan and spacer studs, Grass chopper screen, Rocker cover without fuel pump, Vacuum fuel pump, and Wiring connectors.

The fan came off a parted out craftsman on eBay and the rest of the parts came new from Kohler. The engine was corroded some as it sat out on a piece of stationary equipment. I brushed it and cleaned it up with some scotch bright.

Primed and painted with 2000 degree primer and paint:

The paint was a perfect match.Assembled and ready to test-fit.

Everything fit right. Next I removed the allen head pipe plug to install a 90 degree pipe fitting for the fuel pump vacuum line.

I had found this fuel pump on a B&S intek which was thrown in the scrap bin at work. The blower cover already had the mounting holes for the pump.

Next I had to sort through this wiring loom mess on the engine and adapt it to the tractor. I wanted to keep the oil sentry active. I just sat down one day and studied Al's instructions which I believe Bill (PhanDad) provided to me. I also studied the Kohler and Simplicity diagrams. I managed to hook everything up properly somehow.

Here is the connector required to interface with the tractor harness:

I ran it not tied in place for a while but last year decided to mount the connector to the engine. There were a couple holes on the tinwork that worked perfectly for mounting the connector.

I'm still not completely satisfied with the wire routing but this was as good as it would get for the time being.

I had the Triad muffler modified but it sat too far to the right and prevented the hood from closing. I called around to several dealers and found a reasonable deal on a new OEM muffler that someone had ordered but never picked up. Unfortunately the muffler did not fit this engine quite correctly as the casting was different than on the original Simplicity spec. engine. I would have had to grind the casting (above the tape) to be flush with the boss behind it. Instead I notched the attaching plate on the muffler.

The headlight eyebrows were bent badly and rusted. I found some that fit a motorcycle on eBay and the worked good.

I also replaced the seat with a same style Michigan Forklift seat from eBay. I did not replace the armrests as they are $150 + and get in the way.Here is the mostly finished product. Still need to match the front tires and have a dent to massage out of the fender deck. Need to replace a few decals and make the sidepipe operational once again.

Edited January 3, 2018 by Chris727

[fishnwiz 3,290]

Super nice rehab job and great story line. Another great save by one of our AWESOME membership. Atta boy Chris!

[720nut 4,225]

Nice save very sharp tractor. Question: where did you find chrome wheels?

[Talntedmrgreen 1,978]

Great work and writeup Chris! Thanks for taking the time. I gotta tell you though...I LOVED the oem armrests for these seats, and the way they fold, they are completely out of the way when unused. Unlike B series armrests, these are positioned where they are very comfortable to use. I think they are NLA?

quote:Originally posted by 720nut

Question: where did you find chrome wheels?

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id="quote">Lloyd, these wheels were the variety that came on the 75th anniversary machines. They pop up occasionally from parted machines.

[yukon 331]

excellent job.

[Brettw 1,130]

Very nice! Now, since it has no mower deck and is missing some new decals, I think you should sell it to me for $275.00 I'll even pick it up so you don't have to deliver it too.)

[Mike 0]

nice job, where did you find the seat, I'm looking for one, I to like the armrests, I bought a nos set on ebay

[Mike_H 92]

Where do you guys find these killer deals on engines? I'd JUMP at a 150 dollar command!

[gwiseman 1,678]

Sitting here wishing I could be in the shop. This is what I needed Chris. Good write up!

[CarlH 419]

Originally posted by gwiseman:

Sitting here wishing I could be in the shop. This is what I needed Chris. Good write up!

the shop. } In the mean time, you are welcome to join me in mine.

[johnmonkey 4]

Great story and pics, thanks for sharing. Jh

[Chris727 2,016]

Thank you for the compliments! It means a lot.

Mike, I found the engine on the "Country Store" radio buy/sell show.

Josh, the OEM armrests are the same ones used in a JD 4720 Cab equipped tractor. A complete kit with bracket runs $281.54 or the individual replacement armrests are around $107 each:O.

[Talntedmrgreen 1,978]

quote:Originally posted by Chris727

Josh, the OEM armrests are the same ones used in a JD 4720 Cab equipped tractor. A complete kit with bracket runs $281.54 or the individual replacement armrests are around $107 each:O.

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id="quote">Holy crap! I saved mine when I sold my Sovereign 18...then I put them on the AGCO 2025, and saved them again when I sold that. They don't fit my XL seat, but I'm tempted to make them. I listed them a couple times and had no interest.

[Gary 101]

Great job! Looks like you've got yourself a keeper.

[gwiseman 1,678]

Originally posted by CarlH

quote:

the shop. } In the mean time, you are welcome to join me in mine.

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id="quote">id="quote">Ya got me one that onewah

[Mike 0]

Chris where did you buy just the seat?

[Chris727 2,016]

quote:Originally posted by Mike

Chris where did you buy just the seat?

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id="quote">I bought it on eBay several years ago. I have also seen them in the Northern Tool catalog and they normaly have them in-store for about a hundred bucks but were out of stock when I was there, so I cannot verify 100% if its the same. The original seat for this tractor was gray in color but I could not find one. I like the black better anyway.Here is one of theirs listed on eBay.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Michigan-Seat-Molded-Forklift-Seat-083013171A-/391120379370?hash=item5b10975dea:g:6MAAAOSwgkRVUkL6

[macallis180 296]

That is some HOT ROD! Sure enjoy all the pix on the "rebirth".

[isetta 50]

Chris, I may have missed it but am with Lloyd, is that real or spray can chrome on the wheels?

[Chris727 2,016]

quote:Originally posted by isetta

Chris, I may have missed it but am with Lloyd, is that real or spray can chrome on the wheels?

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id="quote">All of the 75th Anniversary tractors had chrome wheels, chrome tinwork on the engine, chrome lights, and a chrome side-pipe. The previous owner had bought some of those Super Lug tires on rims that Sears used to sell and put them on the tractor. Fortunately they saved the original rear wheels with the turf tires and they were included with the tractor. I just recently had the lug tires swapped over to the original chrome rims. Link to ST article on the 75th model:http://www.simpletractors.com/gallery/75th_anniversary.htm

[Gleaner 0]

I have a brand new one of those never out of crate and never removed the plastic wrap. I'm sure it has turf tires on back and 48" deck. Think I should go to Harley shop to trade it or sell it? Anyone know what one would be worth??

[Chris727 2,016]

quote:Originally posted by Gleaner

I have a brand new one of those never out of crate and never removed the plastic wrap. I'm sure it has turf tires on back and 48" deck. Think I should go to Harley shop to trade it or sell it? Anyone know what one would be worth??

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id="quote">If so then the way I understand it, the tractor would not have been in the parade or serial numbered.

[Gleaner 0]

Not in the parade. The plastic wrap is weathered even though it has never been outside. I'm hoping no rodents have found a home up in there. I also hope the engine is not stuck. On the crate it says Sovereign 1692886 S/N 375. We had another one that just wouldn't sell with the paint scheme so we painted it orange and away it went.

[Talntedmrgreen 1,978]

Originally posted by Chris727

quote:

id="quote">Wonder where that early anniversary prototype went! Thats a chromed out Command in there! Never noticed that before.

[Talntedmrgreen 1,978]

Originally posted by Chris727

quote:

id="quote">Chris, do the factory armrests line up with the holes in the back of that seat? I would also like to know if the material is like that on my XL (recent replacement)...less 'brittle' than the oem Sovereign/early Legacy seats. I have no sears for my armrests to fit. =(