Restoring a 1968 raider 12?

[LennieM 59]

Hi all! New member from Sweden here.

Picked up what i think is a Raider 12 just the other day.

It had not been running for many years but some new fuel and a new sparkplug and battery and it fired right up!

It is meant to be used mostly for snow-blowing and plowing, but after looking around i really felt like it deserves a restoration (didnt think they where this popular mostly bought it because it looked cool and something for my 3y old son to ride around the yard on)

 

After some test runs in the snow i am really impressed by the little beast.

The son was happy too!

So after trying it out we took it to the garage and started taking it apart...

Did get the motor of and the frame off the axle and put some paintstripper on the frame but have no pics of that.

Did order some 3 ribbed front tires and tractor type rear tires to make it look more like a tractor than a lawn-mower.

Will try to post pictures as the restoration progresses if you guys find it interesting.

[ebinmaine 68,878]

Good morning Lennie and...

 

 to  !!

 

 

You've got a great find there.

You have already figured out that these tractors are pretty impressive and capable little machines... And very easy to repair and reassemble.

The more you use it the more impressed you will become.

 

Post all the pics you can. We love them here.

 

[953 nut 56,168]

We always like to see fathers bringing up children becoming a part of the  project.             It looks like you are working with a very nice complete  tractor.                       

[Pullstart 63,201]

 to  @LennieM!  

 

Great tractor project, and you’ve got some fine help in the garage!  My kids enjoy their Wheelhorse tractors too!  Here’s some inspiration from the left side of the pond...  The little one in the fuzzy pink outfit isn’t mine, she was just riding along for the day.

 

 

[LennieM 59]

Cool! Thank you all!

The tractor is almost complete i think. 

Dont think i will be using the muffler that is on it hopefully i will find something better looking...

I currently have some parts that i have had the paint stripped off and are currently in a bath of cictric acid to remove all rust.

Looking forward to paint some primer and paint.

The rims will be Wimbeldon white but the body i have choosen Ral 3000.

Might not be a perfect match but we did happen to have some 2K paint leftover of ral3000 and i cant tell the difference and it will save a couple of $$$.

Also i did notice that there is no solenoid for the starter just a real big button under the hood to start but that will be a later problem to look into.

got some paint on the engine fancover with Ral 3000 does it look terrible?

 

[Ed Kennell 39,192]

27 minutes ago, pullstart said:

 to  @LennieM!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                  What's the story on the walnuts?

 

[Pullstart 63,201]

5 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

 

 

Gathering them to toss out back.  We shelled them in the driveway and had a go at burying them randomly in the field.  Trying to create a habitat for animals from whatever “seeds” we can out of 6 or so acres.  The grass we started with yielded those two bucks last fall, it should only get better from there.  

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,036]

25 minutes ago, LennieM said:

Cool! Thank you all!

The tractor is almost complete i think. 

Dont think i will be using the muffler that is on it hopefully i will find something better looking...

I currently have some parts that i have had the paint stripped off and are currently in a bath of cictric acid to remove all rust.

Looking forward to paint some primer and paint.

The rims will be Wimbeldon white but the body i have choosen Ral 3000.

Might not be a perfect match but we did happen to have some 2K paint leftover of ral3000 and i cant tell the difference and it will save a couple of $$$.

Also i did notice that there is no solenoid for the starter just a real big button under the hood to start but that will be a later problem to look into.

got some paint on the engine fancover with Ral 3000 does it look terrible?

 

 

That paint looks great if you ask me. I use International Harvester Red for my restorations and that color looks just about identical.

 

Mike

[Ed Kennell 39,192]

 to the Lennie.                of the project and your helper.

 

                   Raider 12.....one of the greatest   tractors.

 

 

[KC9KAS 4,741]

@LennieM  to 

[Guest 88vic]

I also have a 68 Raider 12, it sat outside in a field for 15 plus years. I saved it from going to the crusher. Replaced a couple parts on the engine and she fires and runs on her own !   Will be painting it soon. Just curious what your serial number is, id like to see how close it is to mine. 

[520HC 208]

Another 68 Raider 12

[LennieM 59]

Made some progress today not much but its something.

Waiting for new wheelbearings they got stuck in customs.

[LennieM 59]

Not that much has happend during the last week (whole family caught the flu) 

but did mount the tires today and replaced the bearings.

And i did get some paint brushed on the gearbox.

The keyway was not in the best shape so that will be welded up and shaped back to its original shape.

[LennieM 59]

Here are some pictures of my tub with citric acid and water for removing rust.

The citric acid powder you can buy here in sweden in food stores but i bought it from a company on the internet who sell bigger quantities i bought 5 kilograms and mixed that with 50liters of water and will let the parts be in there for about 24 hours then the rust should be gone.

Here is a footstep before picture..

i did put it in first but thought it might be good to have pictures so thats why its wet..

i will post the finished process in about 24 hours or so..

[LennieM 59]

not quite done yet ill leave it in for another 24h...

Much better than it was to begin with but still some rust in the corners.

[LennieM 59]

So took out the parts today and it was a little better so its good enough not that much different than last picture so i wont post another picture....

Will be bolting the frame to the gearbox soon and the front axel too so i can mount my new tires and the painted rims to see how it looks.

[LennieM 59]

Started to put some togheter today and i think it will be lookin cool when finished..

Should have taken the time to take some more pictures before disasembling..,

Hopefully there is a spare part catalog or such on the forum to take a peek into...

[Digger 66 3,488]

Welcome aboard .

I have your tractors little brother 

 

[ebinmaine 68,878]

1 hour ago, LennieM said:

Should have taken the time to take some more pictures before disasembling..,

Hopefully there is a spare part catalog or such on the forum to take a peek into...

No worries there Lennie

 

There's plenty of documentation and also many of us have whole Tractors and are willing to help you locate parts or assemblies when and if you need it.

 

[LennieM 59]

Cool tractor there Digger66 !

what size are those rear tires?

Im planning on 23x8.5 - 12 but is it possible to fit taller tires without cutting out the fenders?

[Digger 66 3,488]

27 minutes ago, LennieM said:

Cool tractor there Digger66 ! Thank you !

what size are those rear tires? Yes 23 X 8.5 X 12 . Stock size .

Im planning on 23x8.5 - 12 but is it possible to fit taller tires without cutting out the fenders? I have no idea , I went with the stock dims hoping nothing would need to be cut and nothing did 

 

[LennieM 59]

Took quite a bit of power to get the steering wheel of the steering shaft...

Was just about ready to give up when made a big bang and finally got loose.

Now it is just these 2 parts and the hood left until its time to put everything togheter...

[953 nut 56,168]

On 3/9/2019 at 10:45 AM, LennieM said:

Started to put some togheter today and i think it will be lookin cool when finished..

Should have taken the time to take some more pictures before disasembling..,

Hopefully there is a spare part catalog or such on the forum to take a peek into...

This should do the job.

The pulley you have on the transmission was used on the automatic transmission tractors and is much larger. With that pulley your  will move rather slowly.

That is quite a nice puller you have there!         

[LennieM 59]

Ok i did not know about the pulley it seemed to move fast enough for me when i tested it but then i dont know how fast these would travel but i would say it moves as fast or faster than all other lawn mowers i have been riding.

The puller is really nice, you can tighten the arms to keep them from sliding out and that helps allt.