[Capstan]

I am the proud owner of a Craftsman LT 12 (I think) With a 12 Horse OHV Tecumseh engine in it..

This is not the actual picture, As the seller removed the add before I could snag the picture off of it..

It looks identical down to the condition but without the "Craftsman II" Thing... I guess it's just a "Craftsman I" :dunno:

It runs fine, The transmission works, The blades cut.. and one of the tires slowly leaks air..

Bought it for $75

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it, Maybe clean up/Do basic maintenance and sell or use at friends farm/around the yard..

-Stan

 

[Capstan]

Daang, that thing looks like brand new, Kori!! Congrats!

I remember when I first got mine, it's one very special feeling!

That's not the one I'm Getting (I did say that I'm pretty sure?)
However, The one I'm getting is just like that except it has some surface rust on the mower deck and slightly different stickers on the sides of the hood.

-Stan

 

[Capstan]

Well, I got it..
Quickly filled the tyres with air and drove it onto the trailer..

It's kind of rough, but I plan to use it (Including getting attachments) So Apart from some maintenance, New seat and maybe some belts.. it's staying how it is..
However, I may repaint it completely sometime if the mood hits me.. But I despise painting so That's Unlikely at best.

And Finally, Here are some pictures.

Roofing cement to fix leaky tyres!

6 Speed Manual.

My Minuscule battery I hope to start it with...

That's all the photos I took tonight, More tomorrow methinks

-Stan

 

[Capstan]

Well, Took it out for a run and mow today and found out a few things.

It's going to need new front wheels.. These are so dry rotted they have cracked again and are leaking again..

The deck now works better after freeing up the belt Tensioner.

It burns oil... quite a bit from the looks of things.. Right now it's like a fairly thick haze..

-Stan

 

[Capstan]

You did good, Capstan, really good...far better than I with the "Massey Ferguson" 85 for nearly $200....A year later, all I had was a better name ....and one dollar.....
Why paint....just wax the **** out of her...it will be more honest...

Thanks Earthworm,
I'll Most likely just wax the hood and fenders, But I really need to paint the deck.. I really don't want that to rust out on me.

Oh, And by the by... Video!

-Stan

 

[Capstan]

Welcome to the dark side Stan!! BWAAA!!!
The first tractor........ of MANY!! LOL
Seriously, nice little tractor! You did good! Enjoy it and sell it if you wish! Use it to learn some more if you wish! The Engine is a easy swap for you, Tecumseh engines would be hard to find parts I would think?! Not sure!

Hey Thanks Mate!
I really was rambling in that video... That's what 4 hours sleep will do to you.

I hope to find a nice 11-15 Horse Briggs flathead I/C (Preferably) to chuck on it..
However, The Tecumseh seems to start easy and runs quite well despite it's smoking habit.. Which seems to have lessened.

-Stan

 

[Capstan]

:ditto: You said it Austin! I really like the metal Hood and fenders.. None of that plastic to fade and break..

But then there's rust... :ROFL

 

[Capstan]

Thanks for the walk around Kori, inner tubes would save you a few bucks on the front wheels, especially if the tread is still thick and the dry rot isn't too bad.

There are inner tubes?!?!? :bag:

I assumed all the tires were tubeless.. I've been trying to patch the cracks with construction adhesive!

I'll have to look into that, The dry rot is there but it's not awful yet (Just cracks) so maybe...

Wheels with rims are only about $20 each From TSC, so I'm most likely going to go with that option.. But I'll keep the old ones and see what I can do.

-Stan

 

[Capstan]

I think you are in for some sticker shock..... You might be thinking of wheel barrow tires. $40 and up is what I believe you will be looking at and that's not including the rim! But, if you can get wheels and rims that cheap, I'd say go for it. Tubes are @ $12 and up +-. Just cut the valve stem off the rim and break the bead and work the tube in. You may want to make sure you don't have anything sticking in the tire though so it won't poke through the tube. AND, hopefully someone didn't slime the tire or you'll be in for a nasty clean up.

I've taken apart tires before and they have all been like this

But maybe that's just me? Are there ones with tubes?

-Stan

 

[Capstan]

Really Freaking scared!

Alright Guys.. Bad news.

I took it out for a quick test drive today after freeing up the transmission belt tensioner and while I was driving it I suddenly lost control and smashed into my garage door... (Many Expletives used here)

I didn't damage the tractor, But I smashed the heck out of the door..

The issue was due to the steering linkage popping out of it's hole in the steering assembly due to loosing the nut off of the bottom..

The tractor will be easily repaired but the door is one heck of a big problem.. Until I completely repair it, The tractor stays where It it.

On to a different subject then!

I put 8oz of SLIME Into each tire and it did nothing.. not even slowed the leaks..

The tires are Rooted... and I'm getting new ones Most likely with the rim.. I don't care how much money I'd be saving putting tubes in these or buying more slime and patch kits..

Tires steer the tractor and I just can't take risks of anything else happening

Sorry for the long rant guys.

-Kori

 

[Capstan]

Bummer, sorry to hear the news.

But ditto everyone else, your tires can be used if you run inner tubes, it's the same thing as a bicycle tire. FWIW, the tire itself would no longer be holding the air so it would not be escaping through the cracks.

But, there is nothing wrong with replacing them with new ones if that's what you prefer to do.

I may still do that, I want to built a small wooden trailer and may keep the tires for that..

I just feel safer with brand new tires and tight steering that's all

-Stan

 

[Capstan]

Yeah, don't feel bad, I did something stupid last week too. Had my little Weber Smokey Joe grill sitting out on the patio table with some charcoal lit in the chimney. My buddy called me up and I was talking to him on my cell phone while I was trying to dump the lit charcoal into the grill. A couple pieces fell out and landed on one of my wifes patio chairs and I stood there in shock as they burnt through the cushions. All I could think as I stood there and watched like an idiot is "oh my god, shes going to kill me!" Luckily, it was my birthday that saturday, and sunday was fathers day, so she tried to just let it go, but she was like a tea kettle, I could see the steam coming out of her ears

I watched a neighbor poor almost a full jug of lighter fluid on his charcoal and then throw a lit match from a safe distance..
He had said the charcoal was wet..

Well the barbecue went off like a grenade and shot the charcoal, The grates, and most of the grill all over the yard.. Then the rest tipped over like it was in slow motion..

We laughed until we cried and then he turned to his awestruck wife and said "Next time, We use gas"

I still laugh when I think about it to this day! :ROFL

-Stan

 

[Capstan]

Well, Some updates.

The Good.

I have fixed the front tires with Slime, 8oz in each and it holds air perfectly! :2th: No More need for new tires yet anyway!

Got the blades working perfectly, On when you push the lever, Off when you release it and the blade breaks work too!

The Bad..

The smoking has gotten worse... Much worse.
It's not bad when you are just driving, But when you put the blades on it just begins belching this cloud of white smoke.. and since the muffler is pointing at the ground, it all comes back at you through the hood vents (Ugh.. That stench)

My conclusion.

I'm going to try and swap the engine out with something like an older 8-10 Horse Briggs Flathead engine.. I guess a Kohler or Honda could do also, But I prefer an older Briggs.

Picture of the Briggs style I'm talking about:

-Stan

 

[Capstan]

Not to beat a dead horse, just keep this one in the back of your mind.
http://www.mylawnmowerforum.com/for...-flat-tire-sealant-think-again.html#post11673

Eugh! That's Awful! Slime really does that? It doesn't hold up that well either.. Mowed a neighbors yard today just for fun and to test it out (It needed doing and they didn't mind) and it worked awesome, That's when I found out about the smoking problem... But now the tires seem to have gone flat again.. :dunno:

Eric, I might just be headed up to Hudson sometime this summer.. Not sure though!

I've been looking on craigslist but I can't find anything for a reasonable price... To bad an engine is really expensive to ship..

It's been working great though, I'm looking for a snow blower for it and maybe a cab.. Cant find anything right now though.

-Stan

 

[Capstan]

I saw a Honda Snowblower earlier this week on the Cleve C/L It was very tempting even though I don't need one.
What are you looking for, I will keep an eye out for one.

I'm Looking for a front mounted belt drive one for this model, I found one but it was like 2 hours away and the guy wanted $160 which isn't a bad price but I would be spending almost $30 on gas to get there...

The tires seem to keep fixing themselves and going flat again... I guess you get what you pay for... I am trying to find some old junker to go out and get for a bunch of spare parts and maybe a good Briggs(Doubt it though)..

Eric,
I have to figure out when I might be coming up and then work out where the heck the family I'm visiting is in relation to you is...

I'll tell you one thing though, If I'm coming up there.. I'm getting that engine..

I shipped an engine once and it was torture.

-Stan

 

[Capstan]

I found this one for sale...

Engine swap? Or make this the main machine and take parts off the other one?

 

[Capstan]

I might have to use it
I gave my neighbor the old Montgomery Ward. He came over this afternoon as I was mowing, it don blow'd up!! Sounds like the con rod went, won't turn much. I gave him the Green Craftsman I was gonna sell. Just got done mowing with it. He is happy, I might put the little 8 on it as it had a 12HP of same type!
If not, I bring ya to secret junkyard!

If you have a use for it, go ahead This is a $75 experiment and for god's sake, I doubt I will be coming near you until at least August and anyway, It was a whim that I would be going near there anyway..

I'll look on craigslist, And if that guy from the other add E-Mails me back my tractor is becoming either parts or being resold instantly... He hasn't yet though.

What's the wards look like? Do you have a pic? My neighbor used to have one... it was kinda cool.

-Stan

 

[Capstan]

That's a cool old Wards! I like the front grill..

Go ahead and use that Briggs, But maybe find a slightly nicer tractor first (Providing the engine is perfect etc.)

-Stan

 

[Capstan]

Some annoying news..

The craigslist guy Finally Called me back and told me he took the 'Identical twin" to the dump yesterday...I was Irate... I told him I had called him more than 10 times and he explained "Phone wasn't charged..."

Oh well :ROFL
I can have a good laugh now and keep looking.

-Stan

 

[Capstan]

Sorry to hear about the guy Stan! I have had a lot of issues with Craigslist people. I was going to GIVE a tractor to a guy on there, he posted a wanting free tractor add. He said he was handy, so told him issues with one we did not want anymore. He wrote back asked the same questions I had already told him answers to, then after finding out where we were NEVER WROTE BACK?? God knows I was trying to be good person, was even going to give him new parts to fix it with!!
The guy sounds like the usual ones I deal with, write or call back three or more days after you try, forget they are selling something!

Ugh, Tell me about it.. The people who forget they are selling something are the worst.. I've had a few of them..

Up until recently, Despite being 16 I sounded like a 10 year old (I'm Not kidding :ROFL) and People would yell at me for "Prank calling... You Whippersnapper!" when I called them... Either that or "I'm Sorry Mam" :soap:

I'll keep my eye out for another machine, Hopefully with good front tires and a good Briggs on it... I highly doubt I will be getting up near you until early fall at best, So I'm going to rule out getting an engine from you.. Just put it on something else.

-Stan