old sears with a sickle bar

[WHNJ701 4,165]

I finally got this thing home.  anybody know anything about them?  the tech engine is seized.  tractor is solid and decent sheet metal.  other plus is the sickle bar is in great shape and looks complete.  has a homemade cultivator too. weights and chains.

 

not sure what to do with it??

really don't have a use for it.  I think someone on here adapted a similar style mower to a wheelhorse.

[c-series don 8,688]

Can we see pictures of the sickle bar? 

[WHNJ701 4,165]

found a tag on it have check that out.  I put a piece drain pipe on it, don't need the kids or a deer  getting stuck on it playing in the yard

[Pullstart 62,834]

I have a Sears Suburban 12 but know nothing about it.  I do know the engine rolls over by hand!  If you are heading to the big show in June and need anything off mine... let me know.  It was free.  I don’t need a thing for parts... so long as I’m not using them for a project 

 

I have yanked the fenders and seat, S/G belt guard and planned to pull the S/G.  That might be all I take...

[Ed Kennell 38,131]

That should be an easy mount to a Wheel Horse .

[Stepney 2,325]

The sickle is pretty easy to adapt and to be very honest, a much better design then the WH.

That said .. the Suburban is a very stout little tractor. I'd love to find one around here. They rank just under a WH in my opinion, and mainly only due to the lack of a real PTO clutch. The Teccy was a good engine is maintained..

Pretty sure that's a '67-8 Standard 12hp. The Supers had a different front end.

 

[peter lena 8,608]

jabelman, looks like a good pick up , that tractor could be saved with a harbor freight engine, or resto mod it. or part it out, that sickle bar i think is the prize of your pick up, agree with ed on the w/h fit .i would soak it down with the penetrating oil of your choice , to start to recover that metal finish and help get things moving, really get after drive transfer pulley box with a good heavy grease , like lucas red and tacky . good luck with your project, pete

[c-series don 8,688]

I agree with Ed, looks like you could mount that to a Wheel Horse relatively easy. Looks like routing the belt through the front mule drive to the center drive pulley on the sickle bar would be pretty simple. Oh wait that’s the easy part, then you have to fabricate the mount! 

[ZXT 2,401]

Quick question - the tractor looks completely serviceable, why not put a Kohler on it and use it as it is? Sears made a good tractor.. it would be a shame to part it out. 

[Razorback 1,035]

In the Sears model number information:  917.253120         Sears Sickle Bar Mower

[Stepney 2,325]

12 minutes ago, ZXT said:

Quick question - the tractor looks completely serviceable, why not put a Kohler on it and use it as it is? Sears made a good tractor.. it would be a shame to part it out. 

Big block K doesn't fit too easily but a K181 is nearly a direct swap. 

[ZXT 2,401]

3 minutes ago, Stepney said:

Big block K doesn't fit too easily but a K181 is nearly a direct swap. 

Is it an oil pan issue? Assuming it's a HH120, which is the same thing used in Horses, I'm not sure what else would cause interference.

[Stepney 2,325]

12 minutes ago, ZXT said:

Is it an oil pan issue? Assuming it's a HH120, which is the same thing used in Horses, I'm not sure what else would cause interference.

Just the actual size. An HH120 is quite a bit smaller than a K301/241 Kohler. The K181 is a closer physical size if your trying to retain all the body work. Shallow pan big blocks do fit but you have to trim a lot of sheet metal. 

[WHNJ701 4,165]

I am really not sure what to do with it.  I have way to many tractors and projects.  

I was thinking about a harbor freight engine as much as I don't like them, just to make it a runner.  I agree it's to complete and straight to part out. the transaxle seems fine and rolls and shifts.  would a k181 be enough to power it?  this is a heavy machine.  I was able to get the manual for the sickle bar.  I have to check too if it will fit my david bradley suburban.  

[Pullstart 62,834]

18 hours ago, jabelman said:

I am really not sure what to do with it.  I have way to many tractors and projects.  

I was thinking about a harbor freight engine as much as I don't like them, just to make it a runner.  I agree it's to complete and straight to part out. the transaxle seems fine and rolls and shifts.  would a k181 be enough to power it?  this is a heavy machine.  I was able to get the manual for the sickle bar.  I have to check too if it will fit my david bradley suburban.  

 

Ask @ebinmaine how much weight an 8 horse will push along.  I’ve got a feeling it’ll do just fine for a heavy machine 

[ebinmaine 67,420]

5 minutes ago, pullstart said:

 

Ask @ebinmaine how much weight an 8 horse will push along.  I’ve got a feeling it’ll do just fine for a heavy machine 

Oh yeah. No worries there.

 

Thanks for calling me in on that Kevin. I didn't see that question before.

Patriot horse is an 8. Both of Trina's are eights. She has no desire whatsoever to have anything bigger than that.

it's important to note that we do not do any ground engagement type work with hours.

if you were going to cut grass, use a snowblower or maybe a tiller, I might want something a little bigger butt for pretty much anything else a k181 should be more than adequate.

 

[WHNJ701 4,165]

been doing some research on this one, tracked all the manuals down and came up with a game plan, going to pull the hh120 out and stick a predator into it for now.  the patina is awesome on it.  I cleaned up a spot on the fender.  so it will get scuffed, buffed and oiled.  the rims will get painted.  and of course get the sickle bar going.  it's way to nice and solid and complete to part out. should make a nice little project, just what I need another one in the collection.

Edited February 8, 2020 by jabelman

[WHNJ701 4,165]

well its looking pretty sad now all ripped apart.  found a you tube about to flip and remount the clutch.  I got to go harbor freight and get a 301cc engine like the one he used in his in the video.  that old hh120 is one heavy engine!  as it turned out it wasn't seized, the starter Gen was. maybe someday the original may get back into it but would still need alot of attention.  some of the sheet metal is inside now getting ready to get scuffed and buffed.