Tractors, Mowers, Chippers, Trailers, Chainsaws, Generators, Driveway Erosion Control, ETC.

Mowin' along, singin' a song -- and suddenly the zero turn sounds like a helicopter.

I have had this 15 years, this is probably muffler #5. It is a 17 hp single cylinder, I believe an 18 hp twin would be easier on the muffler.

 

Time for

 

That's wild. I've never had a muffler go bad on a rider in 21 years of mowing 2-4 acres a week.

 

I use this in town, sort of have an obligation to the neighbors to keep it muffled down.

 

My old 14 hp Ford/Jacobsen mowers are all 40 - 50 years old with the original mufflers. I have a early 90's Craftsman with a Magnum 18 twin still original.
I really think the big single cylinder engine knocks them apart, this is #5 or 6 in 15 years. Not going to complain, it is a $10 fix.

 

I had a Kohler 16HP single with 700hrs on it, factory muff. That's really weird that it eats them.

And for your neighbors:

https://youtu.be/beXPpObKWFo

 

I need that mower!

Your 16 hp was a flat head? This is the 17 hp Courage single, probably has a higher compression ratio than the old K series, Magnum and Command engines.
The zero turn only mows, it spends just about all it's hours at full throttle, regular tractors spend more time at part throttle doing other jobs.

 

Mine was Kohler CV16S-61514 in a 1996 Wheelhorse 266H.

 

Same tractor as my New Holland LS 35. The NH has a the Command 15 hp, I really like the tractor and the engine - it does use a fair bit of oil however. $100 non-runner from a yard sale, naturally I spent about $450 more to get mowing with it.
Story of most of my projects.

 

The K61 hydro in mine didn't like my hills and barfed hydro oil everywhere as the hydro overheated and overflowed the expansion tank. Parts for that thing(as you found out) are expensive.

 

Most of my part costs were the 4 new tires and battery. The deck needed both idlers, belt and all spindle bearings. Ultimately I may need to replace the spindles, the blades have spun on 2 of them and chewed up the threaded ends. On the positive Messicks has the parts in stock if it comes to that.

I changed the hydro oil, probably was original as it looked nasty. I used Mobil 1 5W-50, the level in the expansion tank will climb about 1-1/2" after 2+ hours of running.

 

When did the thread title get "trailer," added to it? Or was it there all along?

 

I added it the other day

 

Cool! You're in my church now!

 

Brother joe and I looking to go halves ona dump trailer….

 

So you take half a dump, and he takes the other?

 

My buddy who runs the powdercoat business, he and his dad went in thirds on one recently with him. I should have tried to go in fourths

 

Who has the 3/4 ton truck to drag the thing?

 

Probably 6x12….. he’ll pick the size and I’ll come up with half the figure… we’ll see what the wait time is

 

Started another utility trailer today. I'm making this one wide enough to haul a 60" ZT. I thought my last trailer was wide enough. Who knew a damn 60" ZT was actually 62.5" wide?!

I also used a drop spindle axle to get the bed closer to the ground. Should make it easier to load a mower.