Lawn ranger 32e hood question

[mdpjeeper 0]

I'm restoring my lawn ranger. Someone had drilled and bolted the bottom mount on the front of hood. I know this isn't how it is supposed to be. Anyone have a pic of the bottom mount so I can see how it is supposed to be attached?

[MikesRJ 552]

The hood used three thumb screws. One in the front and two on either side of the rear. Here is a 33E/R manual which is the same hood arrangement as the 32E/R. The image you are looking for is on page 5 of the manual.

http://www.mywheelhorse.com/graphics/file/..._OM-IPL_135.pdf

Haasman35, here on the square, makes and sells the hood thumb-screws (I believe but may be wrong). I'm sure they will chime in shortly if I am mistaken. Here's the link: http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/index.php?showtopic=12592

[TT-(Moderator) 1,145]

I'm pretty sure the bottom mount was originally spot-welded to the hood.

If I get energetic tomorrow after work, I'll see if I can get you a picture. (if no one else beats me to it)

[sorekiwi 761]

I cant find a picture right now either. I can take one if you need it.

The little right angle piece is spot welded to the bottom the hood. This area was prone to rust and cracks so they are usually pretty ugly down there. That bracket origionally had threads tapped in it too, but by now the threads are usually long gone. I weld a nut on the back side.

I dont have a pristine example, but let me know if you want pictures of what I do have.

[sorekiwi 761]

Just found this one, its not exactly what you want, but you can kinda see how the "L" bracket sits. The bracket is broken in this picture, it should have a round hole with some steel below it!

[MikesRJ 552]

Here's a blow-up of Mikes picture. Perhaps TT can get a better shot of his hood. It looks like it was spot welded on the inside to me as well, but I don't have one and certainly couldn't say for sure with any authority. If that is the case, removing the original and fabricating a new one would be pretty simple. Spot weld it back in place and you're in business again.

[sorekiwi 761]

Just to clarify, the bracket is on the outside of the hood, ie the bottom. Its made from a lot thicker material than the hood itself, maybe 1/8"?

I think I just welded mine back on with a couple of beads on the edges, I'll have to have a look later (and possibly take a pic if I'm not ashamed of what I see!!). On my Ranger I ended up having to replace most of the sheetmetal out of the bottom of the hood section because of the rust and cracks. I saved the bracket and welded it back on to the new sheetmetal.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,145]

I didn't pull the hood off of one of my '62 tractors, but I did get some pictures of a spare "service" hood.

[sorekiwi 761]

I didn't pull the hood off of one of my '62 tractors, but I did get some pictures of a spare "service" hood.

I've never seen a bracket like that Terry.

All of mine have been a lot narrower than that. The "wrap around" would really help with the cracking problems.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,145]

The hood in my pictures is an updated replacement hood - possibly from the 70's.

Although it will fit all aluminum tank models, it's actually the one inch longer version for use on the 754/854 models with the thick air filter assembly. (I'm guessing that all "service" hoods were intentionally manufactured as such so one part would cover all models.)

Notice the lack of the indentation for the decal:

The larger bottom mount was probably a redesign by the engineering department to correct the separation of the spot welds on previous hoods. :omg:

[Kelly 1,030]

I noticed the bracket sticks off the back edge of the hood, most are flush or close, but with the 1" longer top section they had to move the lower mount to still fit the frame, I noticed that on my 854 hood and another long hood I have on a franken tractor.

I thought they turned the mount around to get the spacing correct, but Mikes is the same, I need to go look again.