GT 14 key

[fullchoke 22]

Hello,

I'm new here, and just brought a GT14 home. It came from an estate, and there was no key. Is it like many other tractors where 1 or 2 keys fit them all? It hasn't run in awhile, but only has 826 hours on the meter if it works. I'm going to have many other questions, once I get started working on it, after I find a key. 

My biggest concern is the prior owner was installing a sickle bar mower on it that looks to be mostly(3/4 maybe?) complete.

This little tractor looks like a very solid, and heavy duty built garden tractor. 

Appreciate any help!

Thanks

 

Edited November 7, 2021 by fullchoke
not much

[ebinmaine 67,596]

 

 

I'm not familiar with the GT14 but maybe @953 nut or @Oldskool could help you out.  

[Oldskool 6,644]

Welcome to the group. Alot of useful info here.. Some great people as well..  That's going to be a great tractor.  The sickle bar is going to be a cool factor.. I have one on mine.. Here is my key. 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,046]

Two different switches used on the GT-14

Click on the picture in each link for more

Magneto ignition 1969-1971

Battery ignition 1972-1973 - The online parts lists are not correct

 

[fullchoke 22]

Mine is a 1-0500 GT-14 serial #755823.  Can I buy just the key? If so, is a new key available?

I bought a used 1971 John deere tractor last summer and I went to the dealer for a new key. I just picked this little tractor yesterday, and know next to nothing. Glad I found this forum! Thanks for the welcome, appreciate the help!

It looks like most of the interest on these tractors is in the eastern half if the US. I'm out in Oregon. I never saw one before, I ran across this one.

Thanks again

Edited November 7, 2021 by fullchoke

[8ntruck 7,016]

to the forum.  Keep asking questions.  Somebody here has probably seen and solved whatever problem you are working on.

 

I'vs only got two Wheel Horses.  They both use the same key that @Oldskool pictured.  In fact, the primary key I use is stamped 'John Deere' 

Edited November 10, 2021 by 8ntruck

[WheelHorse520H 708]

The key that goes to my 520 is the same as a go kart that I had and they both look exactly like the one @Oldskool posted. Welcome to RedSquare. You’ll probably have more knowledge here than you’ll ever need…but if you do it’s here.

If it were me, I would just buy a new key switch, because they come with keys and it won’t be corroded. 

[Oldskool 6,644]

1 hour ago, fullchoke said:

Mine is a 1-0500 GT-14 serial #755823.  Can I buy just the key? If so, is a new key available?

I bought a used 1971 John deere tractor last summer and I went to the dealer for a new key. I just picked this little tractor yesterday, and know next to nothing. Glad I found this forum! Thanks for the welcome, appreciate the help!

It looks like most of the interest on these tractors is in the eastern half if the US. I'm out in Oregon. I never saw one before, I ran across this one.

Thanks again

I get my keys at the local Napa. They have them in stock.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,046]

Original key was part number 7262 replaced by 62-7770 and still available from Toro.

https://www.partstree.com/parts/toro-62-7770/

[Oldskool 6,644]

Also try a Google search. Stens #430-009.

 

Your local TSC probably has them as well.

[oliver2-44 9,759]

GT14 is a great Red Wheelhorse Workhorse

 

Edited November 7, 2021 by oliver2-44

[squonk 41,150]

I think the early GT doesn't use the universal Indak key

[fullchoke 22]

There is a Lawn and Garden store near me. I'll see if they can tell me what key I need.

I saw the picture request. The tractor is indoors, but not in a very photogenic location. When I get it running, I will take it out for some pictures. I need to show the sickle bar experts to find out what I need to do to complete it. It has a Haban 405 F unit, not installed, and no pulley, plus the bar is not attached, being the main concerns. I know it's about impossible to tell what I have without pictures. I will get them asap.

Thanks

[fullchoke 22]

I ordered a new key, and it should be here in a week. I'll have a new battery in it by then also. I have looked on line for a sickle bar attached to a GT14 but the links to pictures are all dead. The model 405 Haban wasn't meant for a GT14 I've found, so mine is a custom built job. Being the original owner isn't around anymore, the parts were scattered, and nobody knew what went where. Many parts are missing. I have determined this from an online manual for the Haban 405. If anyone has parts for a 405, I need a few, one being the driveshaft that attaches to the bar. I could possibly have one made, if I knew the dimensions. The torsion spring assembly is MIA also, and pictures and the drawings don't show me enough to be able to figure out how that works either. I think this will be a project.

It would be interesting to see a Haban Sickle bar on a GT14. It looks like the way the bar works is common to all models, it is how they attach to the machine that is unique to the Haban models. Mine has the customized machine attachment pretty much complete, The bar attachment, to the housing and the raising/lowering of it is my main uncertainty at this point. I don't think much if any fab work is needed, just parts.

 

Thanks 

Edited November 10, 2021 by fullchoke

[Oldskool 6,644]

2 hours ago, fullchoke said:

I ordered a new key, and it should be here in a week. I'll have a new battery in it by then also. I have looked on line for a sickle bar attached to a GT14 but the links to pictures are all dead. The model 405 Haban wasn't meant for a GT14 I've found, so mine is a custom built job. Being the original owner isn't around anymore, the parts were scattered, and nobody knew what went where. Many parts are missing. I have determined this from an online manual for the Haban 405. If anyone has parts for a 405, I need a few, one being the driveshaft that attaches to the bar. I could possibly have one made, if I knew the dimensions. The torsion spring assembly is MIA also, and pictures and the drawings don't show me enough to be able to figure out how that works either. I think this will be a project.

It would be interesting to see a Haban Sickle bar on a GT14. It looks like the way the bar works is common to all models, it is how they attach to the machine that is unique to the Haban models. Mine has the customized machine attachment pretty much complete, The bar attachment, to the housing and the raising/lowering of it is my main uncertainty at this point. I don't think much if any fab work is needed, just parts.

 

Thanks 

I can get you some pics and info.

[Oldskool 6,644]

This is my link.

 

 

[fullchoke 22]

Thanks Oldskool for the link. Your machine looks really nice! I'm trying to wrap my head around how mine is going to work. I don't think it is going to run like yours does. I think it will have to be manually raised and lowered. I have nothing toward the front of the tractor. Every time I look at mine, I think I understand how it will generally work then I get back to the house, and question myself as to what I saw. I've dismantled a bit of mine to get the sheetmetal off to be straightened. I'm going to compare what I have to yours tomorrow. The lightbulb has not come on in my head yet.

 

Thanks again

[Oldskool 6,644]

You mentioned yours is a 405. Mine is also a 405. I believe they were for Bolens tractors. It's the same basic mower. I had to build my mounting brackets and find a 90 degree gear box.

 

If you could post up pics of what you have that would be helpful.

[fullchoke 22]

Mine has the 90 degree gearbox mounted. One of my concerns is that everything was mounted on 3/8 plate steel and then bolted to the bottom of the footpads. That bar way out on the end of the plate has quite a bit of leverage. That along with the vibration may put too much stress on those footpads. Especially traveling around with the blade up. That plate is bolted to both footrests. 

The tractor also came with 2 mower decks, one has blades, 1 none. Parts may be missing there too, but are probably much easier to find than Haban parts. I'm thinking about removing the sickle bar mounting and see what I need to put the mower deck back on. The sickle bar is really cool but a little less practical for me than the rotary mower. I have a brush hog on the back of a JD855 so I probably won't use it much for mowing other than for fun. 

Since I won't have the tractor running for awhile, I've moved stuff around for some pictures. I will get them up very soon.

Thanks 

Edited November 10, 2021 by fullchoke

[fullchoke 22]

The 3rd and 4th picture shows most of the missing parts locations. There is only a clamp on the end of the bar. I removed the belt tensioner that would have been in photo#2, because the sheetmetal needed straightening and it was in the way of removal.

 

Thanks

[Oldskool 6,644]

Ya that looks very different then mine for sure.

 

It looks like it wouldn't be any more involved there then if you wanted to try and hook that up to the 3pt hitch.

About the same amount of fab work either way.

 

If I hadn't ended up with the help I recieved with mone I may have mounted mine on the back.

[953 nut 55,307]

The GT-14 is a great model , mine has a front end loader. If equipped with the original ignition switch you will find that it has four positions , Off, run/accessory, run and start. If the PTO switch is left ON when shut down you will not be able to use the starter until you turn it off. If it has the breakerless ignition be sure that voltage doesn't get to it.

[fullchoke 22]

It has a tiller for the back, so the sickle mower on the rear isn't an option. I had to remove the tiller so the tractor would fit in the back of my shorty van for the trip home. It is still in there. There are no issues with the tiller. 

What do you think about the strain on the foot rests? Does yours shake the tractor much? Is there a sweet spot RPM wise that it will cut good and run smooth? Even tho our machines are mounted much differently, that off center rotation is where I would expect all the vibs to come from. We had a sickle bar mower on a Ford 8n when I was a kid, and I remember that thing running smooth at a high cutting speed and not cutting to well, but shaking hard if run slow, and it seemed to cut best on the slow side when shaking. Besides the vibration, and shaking, the strain on the frame carrying it around when not mowing is also a concern. 

I seem to be talking myself into removing the sickle bar and trying to get a mower deck on it instead. I think that is what I will do, at least until I find the needed parts to complete the sickle bar.

Thanks

Edited November 11, 2021 by fullchoke
,

[fullchoke 22]

Hi 953,

Mine has the points ignition. They might need some cleaning up. I will check for spark, when I get my new key. I think it was parked mostly indoors, so I'm hopeful it won't take too much to get it started. I'm too lazy to remove the tank, but I will flush it with fresh gas, remove the spark plug, give it a shot of oil and run the starter with the plug out. I also like to run a little 2 stroke mix at first to give it a little extra lube. Then I mix it 100 to one for regular use. That will keep the gas fresher between longer periods of non-use. I don't know how long it has been sitting so I will treat it like it was sitting a long time. The battery has a 2012 date on it, and it is taking a charge so I don't think it has had much use after 2012 or it wouldn't do that.

[Oldskool 6,644]

My sickle does shake some yes.

Not really a sweet spot,no....

If you have a deck for it I would think that is your best option. 

Having a tiller for yours is a plus.

I wouldn't be concerned with the strain on the frame. @953 nut is running a loader on his. Those GTs are built tough.