Look familiar? I'm about to tear into this old warrior - everything is there, but can anyone tell me more about the dual shaft Briggs motors? This has a horizontal power take off shaft just above the deck, coming out of the aluminum crankcase, that powers the drive contraption. I've never seen this before and would like to know what I'm getting into before I break it...
I think this was from the late 1970s - perhaps early 80s. It belonged to my late father in law, who was as crusty and frugal as they come, but who also knew his industrial equipment. He would opt for simple, unadorned and high quality every time.
I'll file that one away for when its my turn later this summer...Dude. I should have done that forever ago. Rolls with one finger pushing it now. Night and day difference.
I started tearing my Bob Cat mower down today and find that even though it looked pretty rough, everything seems to be there and is intact. The wheel bearings were dry and the rear two bearings probably need replacing; half a tube of grease later they are rolling nicely. One drive unit bearing is gritty and needs replacing; the other looks ok. The hardware on this thing is great - a little penetrating oil and everything loosened right up. When I removed the grass chute I could see the label on the mower itself - built by Wisconsin Engine Company; the last digits of the stamped number are 12615, the first few destroyed by where the chute wore through the id tag. I didn't know Wisconsin made these things!
The Briggs motor numbers are 110988 0401-01 78042104. This engine has an auxiliary PTO shaft perpendicular to the main drive shaft. Looks like it dates from 1978, but the Wisconsin Engine label confuses me a little. Any numbers wizards want to weigh in and help me track this down to ground?
They do. The front wheel bearings are in pretty good shape. The rear wheels pretty much let me pump as much grease through as I wanted - the seals are shot. Whether that means the bearing is shot as well, I just don't know. I assume it does. I've found replacement bearings for about five bucks per wheel on ebay, so I may spring for a pair and use them to learn how to press bearings.The front should have roller bearings as well. At least mine does. I disassembled the wheels, was able to clean out the grease caked in there in a solvent tank. Then hand packed and reassembled, then greased via zerk fittings in front axle shafts, and on rears via zerks on inside of wheel.
They do. The front wheel bearings are in pretty good shape. The rear wheels pretty much let me pump as much grease through as I wanted - the seals are shot. Whether that means the bearing is shot as well, I just don't know. I assume it does. I've found replacement bearings for about five bucks per wheel on ebay, so I may spring for a pair and use them to learn how to press bearings.
The solid rear tires are split as well, but seem otherwise intact. For now I'll simply run four quarter inch bolts through each sidewall and bolt 'em back together. It's a three dollar fix. Hope to fiddle with the intake valve this weekend. It would be a hoot to get this little guy running without doing major surgery; my respect for it grows a little each time I mess with the thing.
A buddy of mine found one exactly like yours!! Same model #. He's pretty proud of it but his too needs ALOT of work. After he restores it and gets it running do you have any idea what its worth?:drink:So about a week ago, I saw what appeared to be a mower with a cast aluminum deck, pop up on Craigslist, just south of me. Ad stated it may have a bad head gasket, but ran, and pushed itself, and was otherwise complete. I called, left a message, and then missed his call back. It ended up working out, as I went and picked it up today, and it appears to run and mow just fine. The neatest part is the sticker of where it was bought, business is long gone, but the mower has lived in this area its whole life, and was maintained very well, excepting some surface rust obscuring the engine model/type/code line. STICKER PIC AT BOTTOM.
Without further ado, I present:
It's a keeper, I'm afraid, to The Boss's chagrin, but will prove useful, so I don't feel bad. I had never seen one with a cast aluminum deck, nor could I find any information about them on the interwebs. The only two I could find were both posted/owned by same guy, and he really didn't know much either. Now to give it a full tune-up, and eventually paint! Any body here pick out any identifying features chime in! I couldn't find a model no. on it anywhere, but full daylight inspection may help with that. ENJOY!!!:drink: