The one I’ve been looking for

[Sodaking27 777]

Christmas came early. I’ve been looking for a GT1800 for some time. Finally was able to score one. Not perfect, but it’s got potential. The engine is not correct and is toast. The person I got it from bought the tractor for the engine. He swapped it with the bad engine from his GT1642. Rear rims are not correct and the drive pulley is not correct. Now comes the re-power decision. Predator 22, Kohler M16… And the fun begins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,565]

15 minutes ago, Sodaking27 said:

Now comes the re-power decision. **********, Kohler M16…

 

KOHLER. 

 

Hands down. Not even a decision.  

 

Toss a little paint at it and you're good to go!

 

[Achto 27,597]

1 hour ago, Sodaking27 said:

Predator 22, Kohler M16… And the fun begins.

 

I like the Kohler idea!! Didn't they come with a Briggs though? Nothing wrong with those old Briggs opposed engines.

[SPINJIM 1,981]

Kohler KT18 Magnum if you can find one.  Keep it a twin.

[JCM 9,174]

Nice straight tractor with good tins on it. Good bones for a refurb or full blown resto like @Horse Newbie  Kohler twin would be sweet.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,596]

[peter lena 8,632]

@Sodaking27  agree with the kohler set up , or a honda twin , also notice the opportunity  to enhance your pto lever start? usually sloppy fit , add washers and grease lubricant , to firm up and make it  solid / smooth . looks like a good bones unit , bens tractors , has done a lot of honda swaps , might check him out . thorough baseline  see what you have , looks good , pete

[The Freightliner Guy 1,327]

2 hours ago, Sodaking27 said:

Christmas came early. I’ve been looking for a GT1800 for some time. Finally was able to score one. Not perfect, but it’s got potential. The engine is not correct and is toast. The person I got it from bought the tractor for the engine. He swapped it with the bad engine from his GT1642. Rear rims are not correct and the drive pulley is not correct. Now comes the re-power decision. Predator 22, Kohler M16… And the fun begins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought the fenders were plastic but it doesn’t look like it also beautiful horse you got 

[Horse Newbie 7,071]

1 hour ago, JCM said:

Nice straight tractor with good tins on it. Good bones for a refurb or full blown resto like @Horse Newbie  Kohler twin would be sweet.

Thank you @JCM for the kind words. I would not say what I did to my 1984 Work Horse GT-1600 was a full blown restoration but it was close… considering how the word “restoration “ can be interpreted.

I did what was necessary to get it to a dependable useable condition. The 16 hp Briggs Twin seems strong so I’m happy…

[Pullstart 62,905]

31 minutes ago, The Freightliner Guy said:

I thought the fenders were plastic but it doesn’t look like it also beautiful horse you got 

The black hoods had a raised plastic fender pan, but any that look low profile like this are steel 

[JoeM 7,874]

Originally having the Briggs and no powder coat, wonder what the difference was in price. The hydro/trans was the same and that has the hydraulic lift.

For me I like the metal being painted much easier to prep. 

That machine looks nice and will clean up great. 

Can the old briggs be re-ringed or is it a knocking.

 

[Sodaking27 777]

27 minutes ago, JoeM said:

Originally having the Briggs and no powder coat, wonder what the difference was in price. The hydro/trans was the same and that has the hydraulic lift.

For me I like the metal being painted much easier to prep. 

That machine looks nice and will clean up great. 

Can the old briggs be re-ringed or is it a knocking.

 

The Briggs currently on the tractor is a 16 HP. I was informed it has a lot of oil blow by on the rear cylinder. I just got the lead on an 18 HP Briggs Twin that I will be looking at next week. I know it’s missing the flywheel. I’d like to stay with an 18 HP if I’m going to have to rebuild a Briggs. 

[JoeM 7,874]

2 hours ago, Sodaking27 said:

I’d like to stay with an 18 HP

It will put it back to original. 

 

All in all I like the briggs engines. I had a couple of the 16 hp vanguard v twins that we super smooth and powerful. They have a ball bearing on the output shaft and pressurized oil. Makes a nice fit for WH PTO

Not sure if those opposing engines had sleeves and thrust washer or bearings.

I'm sure someone here will know. 

[Horse Newbie 7,071]

I’m almost 100% sure that my 16 hp Briggs twin on the 1984 Work Horse has bearings on the  PTO side. I need to look back at the thread on it… I seem to remember some discussion on that…

[c-series don 8,718]

I agree, if you can you should put it basically to original. I bought my Work Horse GT-1800 brand new in 1984. I used it commercially to mow for 8 years. Also rototilled many gardens and plowed my some of my lawn customers driveways. I’d love to know how many hours are on it, there’s no hour meter but it’s got to be well over 2000 hrs. All I ever did was change the oil excessively. This is why I’m a big fan of this series of Briggs engines. A few years ago I gave mine a well deserved restoration. @Sodaking27 I’ll be following this thread to see how you make out with yours! It’s nice to see another Work Horse saved. Here’s mine. 

[c-series don 8,718]

17 minutes ago, Horse Newbie said:

I’m almost 100% sure that my 16 hp Briggs twin on the 1984 Work Horse has bearings on the  PTO side. I need to look back at the thread on it… I seem to remember some discussion on that…

Yes you are correct about the bearings, that’s for the side thrust load on the crank shaft. 

[Horse Newbie 7,071]

@Sodaking27,

Here is my 1984 Work Horse GT-1600.

I think it is sweet… especially with the rear ags and the 5 ribs on the front.

That high back seat doesn’t bother me either. I also added taillights where the rear reflectors were.

I’m following this thread also… can’t wait to see how yours turns out !

[EB-80/8inPA 1,652]

4 minutes ago, Horse Newbie said:

That high back seat doesn’t bother me either.

Is that a seat, or a throne?

[Horse Newbie 7,071]

@EB-80/8inPA,

When the tractor is sitting there , it is a seat…

when I sit in it, it is a throne…

 

[ebinmaine 67,565]

17 minutes ago, EB-80/8inPA said:

Is that a seat, or a throne?

YES

 

 

9 minutes ago, Horse Newbie said:

@EB-80/8inPA,

When the tractor is sitting there , it is a seat…

when I sit in it, it is a throne…

 

 

 

Well played Sir. Well played.  

[davem1111 2,030]

8 hours ago, peter lena said:

@Sodaking27  agree with the kohler set up , or a honda twin , also notice the opportunity  to enhance your pto lever start? usually sloppy fit , add washers and grease lubricant , to firm up and make it  solid / smooth . looks like a good bones unit , bens tractors , has done a lot of honda swaps , might check him out . thorough baseline  see what you have , looks good , pete

 

My GT-1848 had been repowered by a PO with the Honda GX610. I like the engine but not that they cut the hood so the "stock" muffler would fit. I'm in the process of putting a stack on, repairing the hood, and repainting the beast. Already bought some Smoke Gray paint...

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,596]

1 hour ago, Horse Newbie said:

 

when I sit in it, it is a throne…

 

 

[WHGuy413 2,693]

My grandfathers 1848 found me from an unexpected person. It runs but I feel like it may only be firing on 1 cylinder and when I went to move it the other day wouldn’t start (hasn’t been started in 11 months so this isn’t shocking). I’ve been thinking if I can’t figure it out I may repower it. This thread was helpful.

[bds1984 1,435]

If votes counted, I'd vote for the 18 HP Briggs although I do love the sound of a 16 HP single Kohler.  I grew up with a couple Briggs and they were pretty tough.  I can about 95% assure you that the 16 HP Briggs does NOT have the proper bearings on the crank to support the WH PTO right out of the box.  WH used a thrust bearing plate on the back side of the PTO for support whereas the vast majority of Briggs 18 HP twins have ball bearings like most of our Kohler engines do.  But, to be sure, look for a 4 in the 5th character on the model number which signifies ball bearings on the crank.
On a side note, I am kind of leaning towards the gray/black color scheme over the red when it comes time for a repaint of my 520H.  It's grown on me enough that I really like it enough to change up the color palette .  The WorkHorses of horse newbie's and c series Don are a fine looking machines.  

[Sodaking27 777]

3 hours ago, bds1984 said:

On a side note, I am kind of leaning towards the gray/black color scheme over the red when it comes time for a repaint of my 520H.  It's grown on me enough that I really like it enough to change up the color palette .  The WorkHorses of horse newbie's and c series Don are a fine looking machines.  

Thanks for the info. Yes there is something about the gray and black that just makes them stand out. Horsenewbie’s and CSeriesDon have outstanding looking WorkHorses for sure.