Got ahold of a SNAPPER

[TeamCheap]

I just got home with a new to me old snapper.

I was told the engine is seized and he couldnt find parts for it, its a briggs twin 12.5 horizontal.

The tractor is pretty cool and has a 6 speed trans and hi/lo as well (so 12 speed overall) and a mowing deck.

It has been well taken care of from the looks of it although the hood has what looks like cable rub marks (character lines) he bought it used like that he told me.

I'll get pics ASAP if there is any interests in pics.

 

[cheezy1]

It cant be well taken care of if the motor is seized:laugh:

 

[jeep2003]

well worst case senario you can bolt in a single theyre a dime a dozen

 

[TeamCheap]

It was well taken care of but used to mow a large area I'd say he got his use out of it, he bought it used so who knows how it was kept before that.

I have to find the year it was made but i'm guessing late 60's early 70's.

Either it was kept inside all its life or more likely repainted and some point either way I'm pretty happy with it for the price.

I'll get a better look at in the daylight friday.

 

[TeamCheap]

YEAH after looking at it in daylight I see its a TOTAL rag.:doah:

I'm guessing by the damage to the hood, steering wheel and deck lift arm it might have fallen off a truck or trailer.

Starting to wonder if it has a vari-drive with hi/lo gearbox.(I hope not)

I think I paid to much for it.:doah::doah:


After looking at some other pictures of it I am totally positive its a vari-drive, that makes me very sad.

 

[cheezy1]

Need I even say it?:shrug: Old school tractor motors usually outlast the chassis if properly maintained. The rear end or drive components fail. Start hitting Craigslist cause there are tons of parts and motors in this area usually.

 

[jeep2003]

he probrobly rolled it over and didnt shut it off before it siezed up

 

[cheezy1]

That would cause a hydralock condition...shouldn't seize it up...normally.

 

[TeamCheap]

My preliminary inspection as I unloaded it told me a bit more.

Well its NOT seized and the crank shaft appears to be one although it may have a broken connecting rod, just cant tell right now but more than likely its all in the electric PTO clutch.

When I try to rotate the flywheel it only moves as much as the PTO clutch will move back and forth which isnt much.

This has just been a NO-tools (except for me) quickee-looksee as I unloaded it.

I'm a bit disappointed in it being a vari-drive type rather than having a real transmission. ohh well for the price its fine.

 

[The Restore Kid]

It's probably like 1980.. The nice thing about the briggs is you can just look at the code number on the motor for a year, if it's the right engine... Being a Snapper, they should be able to run the numbers on the tractor and tell ya..

It's an iron bore.. If it won't turn over, there's good damn chance it's just froze up.. :shrug: It mighta thrown a rod..

Nobody has noticed it is a twin cylinder :laugh:

I got one HELL of a nice 18 horse twin I'll sell ya dirt cheap..

 

[TeamCheap]

yeah it probably is more of an 80's model because of how its made, i think your right.

I did mention in the first post it was a twin but maybe no one really payed attention :shrug:

I have a nasty vert 14hp twin that might have some useful parts possibly i havnt really played around with these twin cylinder engines much to know what fits what i also have a vert 18 twin that runs decent.

I got other stuff to do before I can really tear into this but it has me very curious as to what happened to it.

 

[The Restore Kid]

Man those flathead twins are tough bastards.. I still say stuck valve or piston.. Shoot it full of WD and rock the flywheel.. It'll come loose..

16 and 18 19, the twin flatheads are all (about) the same engine.. I know they changed the basic design of the carb a few times.. There's like no main fuel metering, and the newer ones don't have any.. And the newer to older carb is just totally different machine.. Like none of the carb parts interchange, but the carb itself will just bolt off and bolt on.. The older carbs seam to run better for sure..

Most none of the single to twin stuff interchanges.. Maybe like valves from a 12 into an 18, but that's about it as far as like carbs and starters and flywheels and stuff..

OPE and charging shit probably.. Like lighting coils and stuff, say the tractor is a two wire system, and ya end up putting a single wire motor into the tractor, it's a lot easier to just change the lighting coil.. :shrug:

I dunno.. If you already have a good running twin, plus the motor in the tractor, I'm sure you'll figure it out.. :laugh:

 

[TeamCheap]

Well I got it into the garage along with my trailer that needs work (lights/boards) so sunday I'll dig into it a little after I get the trailer out and have lots of room.

 

[TeamCheap]

I'm so cheap!

I had some new trailer lights laying around and thought I'd use them on my trailer, they actually have real light bulb sockets but the whole light fixture itself is to big to fit into the spot for lights on my trailer.:doah:
So being cheap I DIDNT buy new lights I just used the light sockets from the new lights and stuffed them into the old light fixtures.

It looks like it will work fine unless it melts the lenz but I'm willing to take that risk and test it out :lol:

The big thing for me is to be able to use die-electric grease on some area's and silicone sealant on others to keep out water and keep the corrosion down.

The original light fixtures had those very very cheezy copper strips inside with the fast production stick the wire thru the hole in the back of the lights crap.

I'll solder it all up soon and seal it with a dab of sealant and then heat-skrink the solder connection.(should last until I'm dead)

I didnt get too work on the snapper today to busy with the trailer that is in my way.

 

[joekd]

Too bad you aren't closer to me, getting ready to throw out a 12.5 briggs block as soon as I pull the starter off (brand new)

 

[TeamCheap]

Thanks.
I'll be OK though I have enough stuff laying around here as it is.

I still think the engine will be fine it seems to be a clutch issue right now.

Once I get this trailer out of there I'll have room to tear into it.

I like getting free tractors and so far this is one of the better ones.

I almost took my brothers little craftsman but didnt really want to mess with it and in a few seconds I figured out what was wrong with it, it had spit out the key from the right axle at the wheel.
He had tried to give it away 3 times before I seen it and had several other people look at it and they all thought the trans was blown.:laugh:

The funny thing was he had all the parts(key and big washer) he needed right in his garage to fix it so at around 10- 10:30P.M. we had it fixed.
(he was so happy as it was his father in-laws tractor)

 

[jeep2003]

dont pass up a tractor with a bad transaxle. they are very easy to drop and split open and fix. Usually the one part you need is outrageously expensive but iv had good luck cobbleing them back together with spares. but more often its just something simple like you said. also iv seen quite a few where the top input bearing gets toasted and wont allow the gears to enguage.

 

[TeamCheap]

In the case of my brothers it was a simple fix and it was 150 miles from my house and my trailer was full of toys at the time plus the fact I have several tractors laying around here already.

I usually dont get to them before the other guy does but when I can I move on them sort of why I'm working on my trailer as it has been neglected and needs to be freshened up.
Lights fixed, new boards and the winch added to help drag stuff up on it.

I still have one tractor project planned and once its done I'll clear out most of the extra parts i have.

 

[TeamCheap]

Heres a picture of the clutch that is just beyond its service point.

Here is a picture of its nostrils (dual exhuast)

No its not seized just as I thought but i havnt got it to turn over either I doubt it has a starter :lol:

I spent more time on the trailer today messing with the lights and cutting the new deck boards.(damn it gets dark early now)

This engine is begging to be put on a mini VW sandrail style Go-kart.

 

[jeep2003]

iv got a clutch like that if you need one