Simplicity Tractors Refurb Thread.

[Fawteen]

Thought I'd do a "blog" sort of thread on the two Simplicity tractors I bought.

The 3416S is by far the closer to being ready to use of the two.

I made up some new battery cables as the old ones were...ummm..."crude". Popped a known good battery in it and it started pretty easily and ran okay. The carb has what is apparently the standard B&S Large Flo Updraft leak. Fuel leaks out around the emulsion tube. There's a couple of theories on the best way to fix that, I'll try the o-ring fix first.

Treated the seat pan with phosphoric acid and primed it, made a new base for the seat as the mounting holes were all torn out and the seat was flopping around on 2 bolts. Supposed to be 4.

Changed the oil twice as the first batch was REALLY nasty, checked the gear oil in the bevel gear case and transaxle, lubed everything and drove it around for a while. All that's left is to figure out that carb leak and replace some fasteners in the steering linkage with the proper ones.

Next big project on the 3416 will be figuring out and mounting the sickle bar. Fortunately, I have the books for that.

 

[Fawteen]

This morning I looked at the other tractor, the 7116H(ydro)

The more I look, the more I find. If you can believe the hour meter, it has 24xx hours on it which is a lot for a lawn tractor, not to mention a B&S engine.

Wiring is a huge mess, I'll have to start pretty much from scratch. What I assume is the rectifier has been hacked with bare twisted connections. I'll be surprised if it works at all. Battery cables and starter solenoid wiring appear to have been cobbled together with whatever was laying around.

Carb is in a box in pieces but at least I've identified a parts source. Fuel tank rattling around loose, but I have what I think are the hold-downs in one of the boxes of pieces-parts.

None of the tires hold air, the front ones are complete trash. Pulled the front rims/hubs off to facilitate changing tires and found the outer bearing missing completely on one, and the other three growling pretty bad. Fortunately, commonly available. Left kingpin/spindle assembly hacked together with keys mangled.

Did a little pre-treatment with phosphoric acid on the battery box and seat pan.

First goal is to get the engine running. If it's pooched, there's no point in messing with the rest of it until I figure out a re-power. I do want to "save" it as it has a hydro trans and hydraulic lift.

 

[Fawteen]

Peeled what remained of the tires off the front wheels. I was amazed that my Horror Fright tire tool popped them right off. I was prepared for a struggle, had some new arrangements of verbal lubrication all rehearsed and ready to go too.

Knocked the bearings - pretty sure they used to be bearings - out of the hubs, scrubbed the wheels down good with mineral spirits and I'll toss them in the sandblaster tomorrow. Bearings readily available, I'll order them when I know the tractor is worth saving.

Apparently the previous owner(s) got up close and personal with the proverbial hard place. Repeatedly. After sandblasting, I'll break out the Smoke Wrench and do what I can about straightening the rim.

Fed-UPS dropped off two new Chineseum tires this afternoon. I ordered tubes as well but they're supposed to be tubeless so I'll pull some new valves in and try that first