OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Ride-On Mowers Resto Notes: Murray ... with Overhead Foxtails

Sorry I lied, I haven't really got overhead foxtails (yet) but it is iPhone compatible, automatic, runs on unleaded and is VERY shiny!.

My latest finished project...

It started with this


The original 15hp engine was run without oil after its first service, BANG!! then a 12.5hp was grafted in and blew smoke like a Metalica gig so the mower was replaced with a new John Deere and this one was consigned to the hay shed for 8 years. That's when I got it. My intention was to sort the 12hp out but thought I'd try one of those cheap clone engines, I had nothing to lose so I began preparing. My neighbor who loves to come over and help (he's never done anything mechanical and just loves it) was excited so I said "let's do something special"

So, we ended up with this..



I'll show you what we did and how we did it.
In the next few days.

It joins the collection of refurbed and restored that I already have so this was not my first rodeo.


Of course you can't do good mower stuff without proper supervision and management. Meet the boss and her sidekick....

We stripped it down to the chassis.
photographing each stage to help with re-assembly and to indentify faults or things that could be improved.
Of course all work was correctly supervised by our talented management team.

And of course our stoic management team insisted on safety precautions.

Being the cool, funky, groovy bosses they are. They insisted on cool tunes all the time. Also being modern, forward thinking, technologically aware management also had to have bluetooth for the phone and FM for the footy. To go with the SD card player.




To use this whilst mowing the lawn could be considered ridiculous so it had to be switched so that you can park and enjoy a beer and tunes when you've finished all that mowing.

More soon.
I need to sort through a LOT of photos and maybe take some more.
Stay tuned.

Bill

I'll walk through the rebuild and note some issues and problems we had and how we solved them. Also maybe show some potential conveniences you all could add.
There are still a few things I'd like to do.
The stereo now has a knob and we have an AUX input and a cigarette lighter 12v socket.
I'd like to do a sunshade (don't laugh I'm follicly challenged, bald).
A Caterham style side pipe, for the look.
An hour meter and a rear light.
Please ask any questions but try to keep on mission, divergent dialogues we should move away to more relevant threads.
I'd like to keep this going with the rebuild stream.
Thank you for reading, join my journey.

To be honest, we did very little. Just solved problems that our upgrades presented us with and did a stereo and some upgraded wiring.
I am sure that the wiring solutions will be the biggest boon to our fans as it seems to be one of the most common issues presented on the forums.
When we get there We'll go off to another thread and see about that but DO NOT do wiring questions here. I'll ignore them and when you repeat them in the correct forum I'll delay the reply because you insulted me by ignoring this simple request.
Are we all on the same page?
Thanks.
If your questions belong in repair, I'll set up a linked thread, if it's about paint, welding or premature ejaculation then I'll give a brief synopsis and a link if I have it.
It's a timeline to rebuild a mower and some nice bits of info, keep it on topic.
Luv you guys
we should have a party
B

My management team completely authorised the previous statement.
But will not testify to my sanity.
You can't win them all.



WOOF !!

Did you get that?




Thanks

Back to the mower...
One of the immediate issues was the engine.
It was not tapped so you have to have a 7/16 UNC tap.
No worries, we did that.
If you are new. Try to ensure you begin the tap as close as possible to square. (I'm actually lying here, it must be perfect) Singer oil or WD at all times. Try and flush the tap. Rotate through about 60 degrees and backpedal about 120 degrees and repeat. This needs touch, be slow and patient. I use a large drill press for normal threading but the locations here demand a steady hand.
When you've done this for each then thread a blt of a bolt in to pat yourself on the back.
I did well and all were perfect. It's hard to send "feel" on the internet but that's as good as I'd venture, but be square and be gentle.

then set the engine into the mount.
Easy, but get used to it.
you may mount-unmount assemblies several times to check clearances and adjustments. Don't assume that when you put it in it's final.
Final happens after many checks and balances.
An old chassis will have flexed, and distorted.
Here is my most vital advise.
Relax, do not hurry, think about the machine. It should do it's job effortlessly for years so if it is not smooth and has to move..
IT'S WRONG.
Go back and re work the assembly.

I'm impressed, very nice work there.

I'll add some pics soon but let's just move on.
The pulley...
I'll give my details but you'll find almost identical issues in all vertical shaft engines.
they are a 1" shaft (25.4mm) and have a keyway (we'll get to that spec soon)
Then onto a pulley hub.
Typically the upper hub is for drive and the lower is the "PTO" or power take off which drives the blades assembly.

Now, to your deck..


Does it spin nice and clean?
Yep... Move on
No... We have a problem. Fix it? Repair it or replace it?
Your call but we were OK
So we move to our belts..
I'll do spindles elsewhere so leave it for now.
We did all new belts and we'll do the threading and setting soon. If you need new ones, order them now. Typically a drive belt will outlast about 4 deck belts so keep a spare deck belt on hand.

If you weren't so ugly I'd think that a compliment

We took all of the abutments and after seeing obvious faults made corrections.
One was the mounts of the dash turret to the base.
Everyone pushes a mower by the steering wheel ???
Well, you do, don't you?
This broke the lower folds in in the turret assembly.
Not good for the factory design but not a big ask from our super management team..



who made the snap decision to weld some re-enforced brackets in there

Watch for our next highly charged episode where we weld new mounts to the turret, veiw our new engine and discover that the hood won't fit. I'm so excited i could just pee.

WOW!!

OK, we're back whoo Hoo!
We stripped the mower to just the chassis, verified all the pulley's and levers were good and stripped the steering, and most of the connections. (the previous pic shows the front end partially broken down) As it was original only to be e rebuild we didn't completely dis-assemble the chassis. It was in very good condition and would have been a waste. We did of course take to it with a toothbrush and many miscellaneous cleaning implements to make sure it was as clean as the rest of unit.
Many hours and much frustration.
Any shafts were slid out and tested, if needed greased, cleaned, lubed or spaced with the correct washers for good tolerance and minimum play.