Alright... What exactly do I have?

[Boombastic86 0]

I've already introduced myself in the other forum, but I'll admit, I'm going to be a huge noob to the Wheel Horse scene.  The tractor I have was a little project of my dad's that he had picked up years ago, but ended up having heart problems and never got to it.  As a kid I had a Toro 920 that I had completely rebuilt and painted as one of those "first projects" to get me interested in mowers.  Other than that and dabbling with the Jacobsen I have to keep it in usable condition, I'm pretty clueless when it comes to Horses.

 

I know so far that the one I have has a Kohler K91.  It has a recoil starter as well, so I'm taking a guess that it's a Suburban 400?  The main problem with this one is that the recoil starter is shot on it.  Tinkering with it and messing with the springs I've gotten it to go from a free spinning mess to something that actually grabs and will turn the starter cup, but it will either recoil the rope minimally, or not at all.  After rooting through it the better part of 3 times today, my final assessment is that it's shot and that I'll have to somehow find a replacement, which apparently is easier said than done.  That being said, identifying exactly what year and model this is would be my first shot at actually figuring out just what I can do in terms of getting to the point of even being able to TRY to start it.

 

[Jake Kuhn 1,554]

That is a 1961 suburban 401. The 400 only has a few differences. A 400 has different throttle cables, different foot rests (which were a option), a different clutch pedal, and the hood stand is a little different as it doesn't have holes for the throttle cables to run through like your 401 has. That 401 is in really decent shape!

 

What type of recoil do you have on yours, could you take a picture so we know which one?

[Boombastic86 0]

Thanks!  I'd tried to do some research so I knew the year range of what it was, but no idea of the differences between the models themselves.

 

 

As for the recoil, this was a shot I snapped earlier today before the storms started rolling in.  I apologize if it's not the best shot, and I'd eventually just put it back together the way I'd found it, which is the way my dad bought it.

[Jake Kuhn 1,554]

If that is what I think it is that is part of a factory electric start setup! But I could be wrong. One of the tractornut brothers has 2 of those setups, he will probably respond to this thread.

[KC9KAS 4,741]

  That is a nice looking "Nut Roaster" you have there. Thanks for the photos.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,029]

May be one of these starters

 

Garry

[Boombastic86 0]

Hmm, I suppose that'd account for the extra set of armatures that I couldn't quite account for.  Yippee, it's just starting to sound expensive now. 

[tractornut86 620]

Yea what you have is a electric start that was optional for a 401.. My 401 has one and i also found a new old stock one in the box..Your best bet is to find another recoil b/c you wont be able to find parts.

[Boombastic86 0]

So far I've been having trouble just looking for a recoil in general as most everything I've seen online says it's been discontinued.  Any routes of going about fixing this?  I grabbed some of the parts from an old Briggs recoil but it doesn't solve the entire problem.  Best way for me to fix it I think is to outright replace the recoil with a new (or new to me) unit.

[Zeek 2,286]

Yea what you have is a electric start that was optional for a 401.. My 401 has one and i also found a new old stock one in the box..Your best bet is to find another recoil b/c you wont be able to find parts.

 

Thanks for posting that, I never saw one before or even knew they existed

[Shuboxlover 478]

Sure would like myself a suburban or an RJ....  

 

Nice tractor there!!!

[groundhog47 347]

Now that is a good/neat find and  , this is a great place with all levels of expertise. Great manual resource section and classified section.

[AMC RULES 37,126]

Great picts here guys.    

[VinsRJ 721]

Really nice fine, any Kohler K90-91 recoil will work, just make sure you ahve the correct starter cup for the crank.

 

Even a later model Techumseh recoil and cup will work.

Edited May 29, 2013 by VinsRJ

[tractornut86 620]

Just like VinsRJ said recoils to fit are pretty common but the problem i run into is finding the right cup. either they are to long, to short, or different size hole and pain to get it centered. the correct vintage is a Fairbanks Morse recoil. if nothing else i have some nos rope starts to fit.

[mid60's 93]

As far as starting it goes, you can take the recoil off and use an electric drill with a socket on the flywheel nut to crank the engine. Works best for me on a first time start. Not near as tired when it fires. Nice tractor and good luck.

Larry

[SousaKerry 501]

As far as starting it goes, you can take the recoil off and use an electric drill with a socket on the flywheel nut to crank the engine. Works best for me on a first time start. Not near as tired when it fires.

 

Just make sure you don't use a drill with a brake or your arm may go for a ride(without your body) when you release the trigger

 

 

Ask around you may be able to find a junk K-90/91 parts engine with the parts you need, the classifieds here are a great place to look

Edited May 29, 2013 by SousaKerry

[horsesaver98 18]

That is a nice little horse u got there