Garden Tractor - Finished

So the little Garden Tractor is finished, and in service. It was taken a part and everything cleaned up and painted. It was in good mechanical conditions so, it did not require a lot of repairs. The paint is International Farmall red. My favorite.

AH

Freebie Tractor

This little tractor was free. I have been watching for a junker to use the front tires and axle to build a cart. I spotted this one next to pile of junk behind a house I pass everyday on my commute to work. One day I stopped and inquired about it since it looked like it was on it's way to the scrap yard. Sure enough the guy said it was left behind by the previous home owners. He didn't have any interest in it. And told me I could have it, said it would save him hauling it away. Well how could I resist that sad little face. It's like it was cry out "save me". So I hauled it home happy, I now had tires for the cart. Well as it turns out I just can't leave things alone. It is complete except for the mower deck that was stripped of it's spindles, and blades. It's looks rough with it's rusty hood, and mismatched rear tires. I was looking at it one evening and thought it might be worth seeing if it would run. I pulled carburetor a part and threw it in a can of solvent overnight. After a hour of tinkering and a $2 fuel line it started right up. No smoke, sounds good. I thought well maybe the transmission was bad. Check the fluid and gave it a try. Works fine, runs strong. It runs, and it was free! It doesn't get better than free! Not sure what I'll do with it. Perhaps a project for another day. As if I don't have enough to do already. AH

Garden Tractor Progress -1 Building a Sleeve Hitch for the Garden Tractor

So, here's the sleeve hitch for the Garden Tractor almost complete. Made it from scrap metal, and hardware I had lying around. Cost so far $0. It took twenty one different pieces, cut, bent, drilled , and welded to geSt this far. It will raise and lower with the same lever as the mowing deck. I'm happy with my progress so far. AH

Winter Project - Garden Tractor

Here is one of my many winter projects. I purchased this little garden tractor to help with the yard, and garden chores at the Idaho property. I have been using a old Gravely two-wheeled walk behind tractor to care for the potato patch. It's time consuming, and wears me out. So this is my solution. Finding a decent, cheap Garden Tractor in this area is not easy. There are a lot of riding mowers, but finding a Garden tractor that will do a little more than mow the lawn are harder to find. So this one needs a little work but, is in good running order. It has a 18 hp twin cylinder motor, and a high / low transmission. (Guy talk!) The up side is, I get too spend a little time in the garage this winter. My plans are to build a rear hitch, a cultivator, front bumper, and a set of rear wheel weights. This project has very limited funds, so I will be building with materials I can get for free, or cheap. Once everything is built I will take the tractor apart, and paint it. Hopefully I can be done with it by spring in time to start preparing the soil for the potato patch and garden. So expect to see some up dates to this winter project as it progresses. AH