Help Identify

[kpinnc 12,083]

42 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

I was able to find a needs-a-lot-of-work 854

 

Round hoods here seem to be crazy rare. In 20+ years, I have seen very few. Of those, none of the owners were looking to get rid of them. So, I've been cobbling one little by little for a long time.

 

I think what needs to be clarified is what exactly constitutes a garden tractor. In my mind, anything as rugged as a Ranger is a garden tractor. Figure in the attachments and even more so. When I hear lawnmower, I think stamped steel frame, usually vertical shaft mated to a cheap pot metal Peerless style transmission.

 

So in my mind at least, a Ranger is just a smaller garden tractor. It has the towing power to push a plow, drag a cultivator, run a snowblower, and yes turn a mower deck. 

 

I did not mean to hijack a thread. If I seemed like a jerk with my comments, that was not my intention. 

 

Edit: it took me YEARS to get my wife to stop calling my tractors "lawnmowers". Hence the trigger response! 

Edited February 24, 2022 by kpinnc

[kpinnc 12,083]

1 hour ago, Pullstart said:

Ignore?  Yeah. No.  

 

 

I'll eventually get back to it. That project has been on the back burner for years. 

[Maxwell-8 4,277]

3 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

 

Round hoods here seem to be crazy rare. In 20+ years, I have seen very few. Of those, none of the owners were looking to get rid of them. So, I've been cobbling one little by little for a long time.

 

I think what needs to be clarified is what exactly constitutes a garden tractor. In my mind, anything as rugged as a Ranger is a garden tractor. Figure in the attachments and even more so. When I hear lawnmower, I think stamped steel frame, usually vertical shaft mated to a cheap pot metal Peerless style transmission.

 

So in my mind at least, a Ranger is just a smaller garden tractor. It has the towing power to push a plow, drag a cultivator, run a snowblower, and yes turn a mower deck. 

 

I did not mean to hijack a thread. If I seemed like a jerk with my comments, that was not my intention. 

The Basic Differences Between a Riding Mower, Lawn Tractor, Lawn & Garden Tractor, Garden Tractor, and Compact Tractor

 

A "Riding Mower" usually have a small horsepower (up to 8hp) single cylinder gas engine which is positioned toward the front, midway or rear of the frame, with the operator in the middle or at the rear. These have a light gauge stamped steel front axle and frame; 4" or 5" diameter wheels on the front, and either 6" or 8" wheels on the rear; engine to V-belt-driven aluminum case/housing transmission with a roller chain to an integrated 3/4" axle and differential or a variable speed rubber disc drive. The mower deck is positioned midway and usually have one blade. Most of these are obsolete and have not been manufactured for many years. Certain older riding mowers are considered a collector's item nowadays.

 

A "Lawn Tractor" resembles the traditional farm tractor. (Do not confuse these with the traditional riding mower, which is smaller.) Anyway, most lawn tractors have a small- to medium-horsepower single cylinder engine, which is positioned toward the front of the frame, with the operator at the rear. These have a light gauge stamped steel front axle and frame; 6" diameter wheels on the front, and either 8" or 10" wheels on the rear. The rear wheels are usually fastened to the 3/4" drive axle with a keyed sleeve hub with a snap ring or bolt and flat washer. The early lawn tractors are manual shift/V-belt driven to an aluminum case/housing transaxle, and the newer ones are hydrostatically driven with an aluminum case/housing transaxle. The mower deck is positioned midway and usually have two blades. The traditional "zero turn mowers" are considered a "lawn mower," and not a lawn tractor.

 

A "Lawn & Garden Tractor" is one step larger than the lawn tractor. These have either a single- or twin-cylinder gas engine, which is positioned toward the front of the frame, with the operator at the rear. These have a heavy gauge stamped steel front axle and frame; 8" diameter wheels on the front, and 12" wheels on the rear. The rear wheels are usually fastened to a 1" drive axle with a keyed sleeve hub and held in place with an external snap ring. These are either hydrostatically-driven or manual shift/V-belt-driven to an aluminum case/housing transaxle, and the mower deck is positioned midway having either two or three blades. 

 

A "Garden Tractor" is heavier built than the lawn and garden tractor. These have either a [larger horsepower] single, twin or three cylinder gas or diesel engine, which is usually positioned front of the frame (with the exception of the Gravely, which have a rear-mounted engine, but is still considered a garden tractor), with the operator at the rear. All garden tractors also have a solid cast iron front axle and a heavy gauge welded-together steel rail frame. These are driven by a driveshaft or belt-drive connected to a hydrostatically-driven  cast iron transaxle, or have a disc-clutch/driveshaft/ belt-drive connected to a manual-shift cast iron case/housing (IH-built Cub Cadet, Wheel Horse) or an aluminum case/housing (MTD-built Cub Cadet, Sears) transaxle. And these have 8" diameter wheels on the front, with 12" wheels on the rear. The rear wheels are fastened to axle flanges by automotive-style lug bolts or studs and tapered nuts. The mower deck is positioned midway and have either two or three blades. Garden tractors work best for heavy yard and garden use, and for competition pulling.

 

A "Compact Tractor" is larger than a garden tractor, but not as large as a traditional farm tractor. most of the time diesel, think on Kubota's or such

[kpinnc 12,083]

4 minutes ago, Maxwell-8 said:

All garden tractors also have a solid cast iron front axle and a heavy gauge welded-together steel rail frame. These are driven by a driveshaft or belt-drive connected to a hydrostatically-driven  cast iron transaxle, or have a disc-clutch/driveshaft/ belt-drive connected to a manual-shift cast iron case/housing

 

Check.

Check.

Check, and 

Check! ...at least in my world. 

 

[cschannuth 3,816]

On 2/22/2022 at 9:57 AM, Pullstart said:

I’m confused, why is this a lawn mower vs garden tractor?  Unidrive transmission, same angle iron frame, cast front axle… just like my 502 or any short frame.  Smaller tires yes, but that wouldn’t classify it as light duty.

As far as I can tell it’s every bit as heavy duty as it’s bigger brothers from the 60s. I guess the three lug rear hubs would be lighter but it’s a pretty tough little machine.  The one I got is from Denny Clarke and he put a six speed in it and it is my go to tractor. He also swapped a pulley on it so it goes 8 mph in high gear. It’s a blast and very comfortable to drive. My boys love it and they were both 6’5”. 

[Handy Don 12,235]

48 minutes ago, cschannuth said:

As far as I can tell it’s every bit as heavy duty as it’s bigger brothers from the 60s. I guess the three lug rear hubs would be lighter but it’s a pretty tough little machine.  The one I got is from Denny Clarke and he put a six speed in it and it is my go to tractor. He also swapped a pulley on it so it goes 8 mph in high gear. It’s a blast and very comfortable to drive. My boys love it and they were both 6’5”. 

I don't think anyone here doubts the toughness of even the base LRs, but not every buyer has the skill/$$ to change out the transmission, swap the drive pulley, raise & replace the seat, and add running boards (and swap in a Kohler?).

IMHO, that is no longer an LR. It's great WH hybrid!

[cschannuth 3,816]

1 hour ago, Handy Don said:

I don't think anyone here doubts the toughness of even the base LRs, but not every buyer has the skill/$$ to change out the transmission, swap the drive pulley, raise & replace the seat, and add running boards (and swap in a Kohler?).

IMHO, that is no longer an LR. It's great WH hybrid!

you’re absolutely right. I’ve never had anything except for a Denny Clarke version of this machine so I probably shouldn’t comment on an original. I was surprised how stout this little tractor is though.

[Cllishof 1]

I can ride rope hammer and paint do things with my hands that most men can’t! Brooks and Dunn