Craftsman Sweeper, made by Parker.

[sscotsman 171]

So I have been looking for a used sweeper for a few years now..I have done some reading on them, and have discovered that everyone recommends Parker sweepers as "the best"..So earlier today im driving around, and I see a craftsman sweeper out at the curb at a house near me..I pull in, ask if its for sale or just "out at the curb to be gotten rid of"..it was free! doesn't work..So I plunked it in the bed of the truck and brought it home..

upon closer inspection, one wheel is locked up, but I also discovered it's a Parker! I dont know what is wrong with with it yet, but assuming I can get it running, I think its a great find!

Its Craftsman model 426.240951

I dont see a Parker model number on it.

Anyone have any idea how old it is?

What a similar "Parker branded" model number might be?

anyone know where I might be able to find a manual?

and..Did Parker ever make any sweepers for Wheel Horse?

The number 71-05-L must be a part number, because the other side has a similar number but with "R" instead of "L"..Left and Right presumably..

So I dont see a Parker model number..

any information appreciated!

If I can fix the stuck wheel and get it working, I will probably tear it down and restore it, and repaint..

thanks!

Scot

[Wyattrrp 59]

Scot

I bought a Parker sweeper about 1985-90, not sure of the year but it looks very similar to this one. I will take a look at my manuals and see if I have a date and will take a few pics of mine. I know I took the wheels off and thsy have a small round pin (Cylinder) perhaps 1/8th inch diameter by 1/2 inch long that engages the sweeping arm when wheels move forward and that small cylinder moves out of the way when backing up so the brushed stop and you can pull it back freely. I had ti stick when the oil gor thick and dirty. Just cleaned it and it works fine engaging and releasing.

Wyattrrp

[sscotsman 171]

Thanks Wyatt!

anything you can come up with would be appreciated..

Scot

[TT-(Moderator) 1,145]

I am pretty sure that's a Parker Arlington sweeper. manual (.pdf)

The Parker Trailette seemed to be the sweeper offered in the "official" allied attachments through Wheel Horse dealers.

Lambert made the WH branded sweepers.

[varosd 1,185]

Damn Scot! Free! that beats my $25 Parker sweeper from the flea market! looks like it will clean up nicely. mine is diassembled and hanging in the garage for the Autumn leaves. Parker has a pretty good website with free manual downloads. parts still available. I like how yours can be pushed and towed!

[sscotsman 171]

I am pretty sure that's a Parker Arlington sweeper. manual (.pdf)

The Parker Trailette seemed to be the sweeper offered in the "official" allied attachments through Wheel Horse dealers.

Lambert made the WH branded sweepers.

awesome! thanks Terry! that manual will be very handy..

Damn Scot! Free! that beats my $25 Parker sweeper from the flea market! looks like it will clean up nicely. mine is diassembled and hanging in the garage for the Autumn leaves. Parker has a pretty good website with free manual downloads. parts still available. I like how yours can be pushed and towed!

yeah, I noticed the "push" aspect of my new sweeper, and wondered if it might technically be a "push" model that someone just rigged with a DIY tractor hitch..

but then while googling about for info earlier today, I came across a photo of another craftsman sweeper (cant find the photo now!) that showed the same type of hitch..so I think its OEM for Craftsman/Parkers of this vintage..

thanks,

Scot

[marvairplanes 34]

I am pretty sure that's a Parker Arlington sweeper. manual (.pdf)

The Parker Trailette seemed to be the sweeper offered in the "official" allied attachments through Wheel Horse dealers.

Lambert made the WH branded sweepers.

Terry,

Is that the same LAMBERT who manufactured the FARMETTE Garden tractor?

Marv

[TT-(Moderator) 1,145]

Terry,

Is that the same LAMBERT who manufactured the FARMETTE Garden tractor?

Marv

I'm fairly certain that it's not the same Lambert, Marv.

Mid West Products in Philipsburg, OH is who handles Lambert trailers, sweepers, etc. now.

[sscotsman 171]

Attemptiing to find out when my Parker was made..

I noticed my sweeper says "Springfield, Ohio" on it..(hey, is that where the Simpsons live?

Then the manual Terry provided says "Parker, Division of Kwik Products Inc. Phoenix AZ"

So I googled about looking for a history of the Parker company and found this:

Company History

Minuteman is a combination of four companies:

Minuteman International - Addison, IL

- Purchased American Cleaning Company in 1981

- Manufactured in 50,000 square foot facility

- Began at $4.5 million - today over $85 million in sales(20 yr. span)

- Jerome Rau became President/CEO in 1981

- Expanded the Addison facility to 100,000 square feet

- Expanded focus to commercial equipment in the late 1980's

- Opened Minuteman Canada in 1984

- Began trading on the NASDAQ in 1987

- Built 50,000 square feet Hampshire, IL facility in 1992

- Changed name to Minuteman International, Inc. in 1994

- Expanded Hampshire, IL facility to 100,000 square feet in 1995

- ISO 9001 Certification: Addison 1995 - Hampshire 1996

- Introduced new color scheme in 1996

- Opened Minuteman Europe B.V. in the Netherlands in 1997

- Acquired PowerBoss on November 24th, 1998.

- Gregory Rau became President/CEO in 2000

Multi-Clean - Shoreview, MN (purchased in 1984)

- Began in 1934

- Began in manufacturing chemicals 1946

- Multi-Clean cleaning solutions

- Incorporated Multi-Clean cleaning equipment into Minuteman Line

- Moved operation to new Shoreview facility in 1990

- Manufactured in 35,000 square foot facility

Parker Sweeper (purchased in 1991)

- Complete line of outdoor turf and lawnsweeping equipment

- Began in 1884

- Operated in Springfield, Ohio

- Moved to Hampshire, IL in 1994

PowerBoss (purchased in 1998)

- Complete line of industrial and commercial ride-on sweepers and scrubbers

- Operated in Aberdeen, North Carolina

- Branch locations in Taylor, Michigan and Villa Park, Illinois

source: http://www.abbysguid.../15619-0-1.html

Then some other info:

http://tinyurl.com/c3zwwpn

http://www.parkerswe...ompany-inc.aspx

http://www.parkerswe...ires_Parker.pdf

All this info summarized:

1. "Original" Parker Company - Springfield, Ohio, 1884 to 1991.

2. Parker owned by "Minuteman International" from 1991 to 2007, production moved from the original Springfield, OH facility to Hampshire, IL in 1994.

3. Parker owned by "Kwik Products Inc." from 2007 to 2009, Production moved to Phoenix AZ, presumably in 2007.

4. Parker owned by Ariens! from 2009 to present, Ariens moved Parker production to one of its facilities in Auburn, Nebraska.

(Wow, its amazing what you can piece together with the help of the internet!

Which means my sweeper is most likely older than 1994, since it says Springfield, OH..

Which makes it an "original" Parker..

Scot

[Wyattrrp 59]

Scott

Sorry I took so long but it seems that you have quite a bit of info already. I searched and am ammazed I can not find the manual to my Parker as I never throw them out for a piece of equipment. It is probably in a safe place with 20 other manuals and 2 yrs from now I will come across it when searching for a non-related item !!!!.

I bought it perhaps about '85 is my guess. Mine is like yours and I dont think it is an Arlington as it does not have the dump feature as shown in the manual.pdf sent by Terry and does not have the cross bar in the middle of the basket area. It hangs on 2 wood dowels across the bottom and top of the plastic leaf collection basket. Attached are a couple photos of mine. Looking at the manual Terry sent, the pinions seem very similar to mine except the Arlington calls for plastic tubes and rollers and I do not recall the tubes, just the steel rollers that pinch in the pinion to make the brushes turn when moving forward and they release when moving backward. Mine got jammed due to dirt and thick oil. Cleaned the rollers / pinions and it worked fine. Mine has a tow bar similar to Terry's and can be pushed by hand but that is WORK! Much nicer when riding on a Horse. Good luck on your Freebie.

Wyatt

[sscotsman 171]

awesome! thanks for the pics Wyatt!

yep, they look very similar..

now I know what the "Parker version" looks like, and is called..thanks!

Scot

[sscotsman 171]

Wyatt,

how do you remove the wheels on yours?

I removed everything on the outer edge of the axle (cotter pin, washers, frame, etc)..

there is no nut to remove, and the wheel is still firmly attached..cant see anything else to loosen or remove..

thanks!

Scot

[Wyattrrp 59]

Scott

I do not recall any secret that would stop the wheel from coming off if you simply remove the cotter pin then washers etc. In the manual diagram they show washers inner and outer, but I am thinking maybe the shaft had some rust holding the wheel on or maybe the pinion is in a position to pinch the axle so it wont easily release. Spray some PBlaster penetrating oil in there and let is soak is all I can offer. Googling Parkerette PA-7939 which is my model I came up with another manual of a similar but different mode PA-5920. Similarly it shows washers after the cotter pin, nothing to unbolt.

Attached is the manual I found. It still is bugging me that I don't have mine amongst the 35 or so in my draw of manuals in the workshop. I have a power drill manual from 1956 my dad passed to me (along with the manual) but no Parker literature.

Wyatt PA-5920.pdf

[sscotsman 171]

Thanks Wyatt,

I will keep hammering it!

Scot