Lawn Tractorlopnik

"MM54" (mm54mk2) 09/04/2017 at 20:29 • Filed to: Tractorlopnik

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Nearly a decade ago (yikes) when my grandfather passed away, amongst other things, I inherited one of his tractors. I would shortly find out that wasn’t meant seriously, as it ended up at my uncle’s under the guise of “what would you do with it?” - I recently was informed it quit running, and was mine if I wanted it.

This past weekend, rented trailer in tow, my dad and I went to get it from my uncle’s and take it to my dad’s place (only a few miles; it’s another 100-ish to make it to my house) as a stepping-stone for me to get it home. This was a success, and while it’s as far as every from my house, it’s somewhere I know that A) I can go get it when I have the chance and B) it won’t ‘disappear’ again.

This is a Speedex 1622, which features a 16HP single-cylinder briggs engine, a large (I think 60 inch?) mowing deck, and a hydraulic system with both controls deck height as well as a ball hitch on the rear (and hydraulic drive!). Back in the day, I used this on occasion to mow my grandfather’s field, and he used it for various lawn-and-garden tasks. It has one flat tire (front left, audibly hisses air back out) and doesn’t run.

Initial diagnostic was an empty fuel tank that smells like varnish (easily remedied with some fresh gas) and no spark. After some poking around, I discovered no power going to the ignition. Thinking the ignition switch has just failed, I jumpered power to it and was greeted with fireworks, so something is shorted (and burnt up the switch, because who needs fuses?). The problem is that, for whatever reason, the ignition system is hidden behind the engine cowling, which would require removal of the engine to remove.

I have an old/good ignition coil from the Chevelle sitting around, next time I’m in town I intend to wire it up and verify that’s all it needs, then bring it to my place to either rig it together or decide to pull the engine out to try and fix it properly.

Bonus news: Put 300 miles on the RX-7 this weekend with all the running around + family picnic-going, which was swell. No (new) issues to report.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > MM54 09/04/2017 at 20:50

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Gotta love when family takes your shit. My Great Grandfather owned a Gulf Station, and when he passed, my Grandmother was left the sign to it. Her nephew stole it. So as far as we know, the sign was sold off.

MM54 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 09/04/2017 at 21:04

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After my grandparents died, we moved into their house. When I left for my first semester of college, I had a lot of tools in his old detached garage/barn, some inherited, some my own. A lot of them ‘disappeared’ by the time I got back. Naturally, my mother had no idea about any of it, yet at least one uncle I talked to had mentioned he was told he could borrow/have anything out there by her...

Chariotoflove > MM54 09/04/2017 at 21:05

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It is your holy mission to get that thing purring like a kitten and make sure your uncle knows it.

TheRealBicycleBuck > MM54 09/04/2017 at 22:20

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Our family has taken to using trusts. My grandmother had five kids (and four husbands!), so the best way to protect her assets was to put everything into a trust. When one of my cousins wanted her house, the trust sold it to him at fair market value and the proceeds were split between her kids. All of her other possessions were assigned a value and if anyone wanted it, the value was deducted from their portion of the trust. There’s still some things of value to be sold, but at least we know they will be dealt with fairly.

shop-teacher > MM54 09/04/2017 at 22:48

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That’s one seriously cool tractor!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > MM54 09/05/2017 at 09:20

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We’ve just moved to a new place on 10 acres, and one of my wife’s uncles has offered to give us their old Ford tractor (has sat for some time, but runs, with brush hog and other attachments). Pretty sweet housewarming gift! Hopefully we can figure out a way to go get it before long.