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

The South American River company says that the box w/ the deck rebuild parts should arrive tomorrow. What a Royal PIA it was to find the correct model of my garden tractor. Apparently, the tag on the rear of the chassis that says " model number" and "serial number" doesn't actually mean anything. The model number kept coming back as a leaf catcher attachment.

It took about an hour to find a mower that matched the description of mine on the all tractor data site, then once I visually verified that the tractor described was the one that I own, I could look at the PDF of the owners manual and get some P/N's for the spindles and belt, ect then match that to one of the many listings for the deck rebuild kits.

917 27320 is what the tag says on the chassis as the model number, the 917 27308 is what actually got me some useful information. It would seem that my tractor is from 2000. It's only a year newer than my 4runner ( and not as rusty).

 

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Its a jungle out there. shopping is the same.

 

When you see a 917. starting a Sears part number it indicates the unit was made by AYP (American Yard Products)/Roper/David Bradley which is owned by Electrolux who also owns Husqvarna.

I believe this should be your tractor:
https://www.searspartsdirect.com/mo...man-917273220-front-engine-lawn-tractor-parts

 

We got home from Jacksonville Mayo Clinic at 1AM on Thur morning, I got in bed by 2AM after unpacking all the medical infusion boxes on our porch and getting the TPN in the fridge. Started the wife's first 14hr long TPN/lipid infusion at 10AM or so. While the TPN was warming up I built an IV pole out of an extendable paint roller handle and the roller with 2 wood blocks screwed to a rolling stool base lol. Tupperware container screwed to the blocks and zip tied to the pole to hold the $2500 IV pump.



Started the next one today at 5PM so I can help her unhook and flush tomorrow morning before I go to work. My weekend to work, UGH!

My grass was overgrown and I finish mowed the top 2 acres Thur night and started brushhogging the bottom 4 with the Yanmar and Swisher.




Got about 3 acres in and:

All of a sudden I heard such a clatter
I jumped off the seat
I thought it was my bladder

It wasn't. I turned and had smoke boiling out from under the hog, sparks flying and rumbling like it was mowing rocks. Superman stretched over the back of the seat and shut off the blades. When I got up top I straddled my garage ramp with it to get a view. The spindle had blown up.



I found a complete one on Amazon for $150 shipped and went ahead and got it coming. I bought the Swisher well used and have used it for 6 years so I feel this was inevitable with non-greasable bearings. I will remove the inner bearing seals and install a zerk in the new spindle housing. At least I got the top hogged, it's what is visible from the front of the house down to ~ 300yards.



When smoke was boiling out from under the hog and sparks were flying out I had the realization that if it caught fire I had no way to put it out. Could be a disaster in a dry field. I was 400yds from the house. I will mount an extinguisher on the tractor before mowing again.

 

Damn that sucks. We’re thinking about you and your wife and you can gather some strength from us. Seat time is very good therapy and hope you get it up and running soon. Thoughts for the wife you guys got this

 

Thanks for all of the information and the link, but that isn't my garden tractor. Mine is much older.

 

Thanks. This is just the start though. After 4 weeks of infusions we see if the surgeons feel like she is healthy enough for surgery to remove a section of kinked bowel.

 

The offer still stands. You’re a good man. My wife saved me from either being in prison or dead in a ditch. I can only hope I have the strength to prevail what your going through right now if the challenge presents itself. Anyways. Keep sharing we got you

 

Prayers for wife & you too.

 

With Sears often the picture at the top of the page is not the same model as the actual diagrams.
If you look closely at the diagrams I believe it is your model.




Definitely an AYP built tractor, the heavier models used the same angled rear hitch plate clear back into the 70's.

 

Hope everything goes well.