What engine would you replace it with

[TinkerJack]

I just purchased a project tractor that I intend to re-furbish and sell: it's a Yard Man with 18hp Briggs and Stratton Vanguard... Overall the unit is in nice shape, with hydrostatic transmission and 3point hitch on the back, with good sheet metal and working hydraulics (I'm told) but with a bad engine. The machine comes with about 8 different implements (plow, harrow, discs, mower deck, sprayer, etc). I was hoping to rebuild that Briggs engine, but when I opened it up I saw that it makes no economic sense to try to make it work, so I'm moving on to Plan B: engine swap. I'm tossing an idea of repowering it with either:

1) Harbor Freight Predator v-twin 670cc (around 20hp) that I can source for around $500-600 here, or
2) Genuine Honda GX690, which I could get for about $1,300 if the stars alight right

I would like to know what this tractor with all those implements might fetch me when I'm ready to sell it, what may be the sales price range, assuming I get it all in working order. Mostly trying to decide if going with the Premium Honda engine will be worth it at the end.

 

[T.R.K.]

A picture of the mower would be nice.
As far as I know, the Yard Man name has been owned by MTD for at least the last 16 years. Even MTD's best offerings are cheap. A genuine 'Yard Man' garden tractor may be a totally different story. Except for it's age, as parts may be hard to get for a genuine Yard Man tractor.

 

[da.bees]

I can't see the Honda engine fetching $600 more than the HF engine. If you were rebuilding for your own use it might be worth the extra expense. I would be looking for a $200 lawn tractor with good engine.

 

[TinkerJack]

I can't see the Honda engine fetching $600 more than the HF engine. If you were rebuilding for your own use it might be worth the extra expense. I would be looking for a $200 lawn tractor with good engine.

It's hard to find a garden tractor with a Horizontal Shaft engine... but it's worth a shot.

 

[da.bees]

I was thinking vertical shaft. Horizontal shafts in decent shape are far and few between.

 

[TinkerJack]

I was thinking vertical shaft. Horizontal shafts in decent shape are far and few between.

That's my experience so far... searching hard, finding very little...

 

[Kevinwterry]

Id like to see this tractor as well. As far as your two current options id go with the hf predator. I have a couple of the smaller ones and they are direct honda knockoffs. Not sure how long they will last, but the one i stuck on the rototiller fires first pull every year. Also, look outside of garden tractors for engines. I buy random stuff to reuse the engine on something else. Think old generators, rototillers, ect.

 

[TinkerJack]

Well, I should have posted it in my first post on top, but didn't have photos; Got some now, but unfortunately the machine is now in pieces being refurbished, but here they are:

 

[TinkerJack]

The back wheels on this thing stand about 28in tall. The mower deck is very heavy and is PTO driven, I cannot lift it by myself and the blade attachment is very heavy also, just on the edge of my strength to carry. There is no plastic on this thing which is nice. Yard-Man 144-998-401 is what it says on the label body.

 

[Kevinwterry]

That thing is awesome!!

What didn't look good on the engine you have?

 

[TinkerJack]

The twin that was there broke the connecting rod and it scored the crank shaft, busted the engine back cover, sheared off a chunk of cylinder wall and shattered the cam shaft. It was beyond repair.

 

[Duner Wi]

I would be looking for a. used Briggs Vangard like the original. Might take awhile to find but most of depreciation is already out of your find. There is a FB group for the up-market MTD built 900 series. Tractor data says tractor alone was $5,000.00 in mid 1990s. Have fun.

 

[TinkerJack]

I would be looking for a. used Briggs Vangard like the original. Might take awhile to find but most of depreciation is already out of your find. There is a FB group for the up-market MTD built 900 series. Tractor data says tractor alone was $5,000.00 in mid 1990s. Have fun.

Can you give me a bit more information for your reasoning for the Vanguard (I have a lead on one). The people I bought it from did tell me they paid $5K in 1994.

 

[Duner Wi]

Can you give me a bit more information for your reasoning for the Vanguard (I have a lead on one). The people I bought it from did tell me they paid $5K in 1994.

Being as this is a money making deal I think having a Briggs Vangard wound have more value. I would want my good running Briggs for small amount of money. Some times same mower can have more than one engine option. I would stay within those options. This is just my opinion for better selling price.

 

[Texgasser1]

I wish I could get a predator 670 that cheap. Around here they are between 8-1000

 

[TinkerJack]

I wish I could get a predator 670 that cheap. Around here they are between 8-1000

Well, me too... it sold before I could make an offer, so that option is out the window anyway.

 

[Don B.]

Not me... Not interested in any predator engines

 

[Kevinwterry]

Not me... Not interested in any predator engines

Your about 4 months late to the original posters issues. Anyways, predator engines from harbor freight work fine. I haven't had an issue yet. They are direct honda knockoffs. I own a pressure washer, trash water pump, and i bought 2 engines to replace a go cart engine and I put one on my rototiller. All work fine.. how long will they last? Who knows. They are cheap.

 

[Don B.]

I know it was an older post what's the big deal?
It's still a current situation for many.

 

[Don B.]

I'm glad you like them. And that they work for you. I've had a couple of Honduh engines that haven't worked so well for me.so why do I want a clone of something that hasn't been good for me?
That is not to mention the sheer willingness to buy Chinese. Not like there's enough other products in our lives for which we have no damn choice. And so many people are so willing to make that choice when we have them.... I don't live there, am not from there, never been there, and don't like the idea they are basically taking over our lives whether we like it or not so when I do have any say so I say*NO"