New Jacobsen owner!!

[ckill1]

Ok, members wise in the ways of old GTs...:fing32: I just bought a Late 60s-early 70s Jacobsen Chief. 10 horse Kohler(I think), 42 inch deck(really heavy!) 4 mismatched tires, with a cracked and badly repaired front grill housing. It starts up first turn of the key, runs well and seems to have a good deal of power for its size. Only paid 200 for it as is, and it came with a newer husky wagon to boot! First off, how'd I do for my first GT purchase? Second, now I want to restore this thing! I need it to haul stuff aroung the place, and mow around the house, but I'd like to fix her up, maybe get some implements for her(snow blade?) and really make her look nice. I already downloaded the owners manual and parts manual here, but wheres the best place to find parts? How about paint colors & such? stickers? Sorry for all the ?s at once, but im afraid this might get kinda addictive, and my wife gets worried every time I get a new hobby & join a new forum. Thanks in advance for the answers, & I will post pics when I get home.
Chris

[Dad0850]

Welcome to the forum, ckill1! :Welcome1: Glad to have you with us! It sounds to me like you got a pretty good deal. If you get a chance, post some pics! :wwp:

[Caseman2]

I just sold a snow blade for one of them on ebay.

I don't know what the guys used for paint but we used either Chevy engine hot paint, or Case/Ingersoll Power Red for the orange, and any white thats sitting on the shelf - for the white, it really depends on how white you want it.

[ckill1]

Thanks, fellas for the info & the welcome...

How about parts, ebay a good place? Anyone specialize in these tractors? The serial # is 53088 6706, and that makes it a chief 1200, right? Anyone know the date of manufacture or where I could find it? If Im going to buy used parts, expecially off ebay, I'd like to make sure it fits.

To get going, I really only need a muffler and 4 new tires, but Id like to find out as much about these things as i can.

thanks again,

Chris

[jakeman]

Chris congrats on the "new" tractor.

According to the numbers you gave you have a 1970 Chief 800, 8hp, gear drive.

Ebay is a good source and a local New Holland dealer should have some parts but at a hefty cost.

If you want it to be original, Jacobsen is still in business and carries the proper paint but it is expensive. You can also have it custom mixed at an auto paint store, again expensive. I have used AG specialty coatings Flambeau red #54580 and it comes pretty close to original. I also used Almond for the white sections as the original color isn't really white.

Alot of people just use one of the cheap round mufflers, 1" pipe thread I believe, as the original mufflers are hard to find - at least for my 14hp 1450 Super Chief.

Jacobsen made tractors in the 60's and 70's for Ford, Oliver, Minneapolis-Moline and White so most parts from these are interchangeable.

The best place for more info on these is here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jacobsen_Ford_Garden_Tractors/

[ckill1]

Jakeman-

Thanks for the info and the reply. I was thinking I saw on the owners manual available here that my serial #s indicated it was a chief 1200, thanks for setting that straight! Are these gts worthy of restoring? It seems pretty stoutly built. By searching for jacobsen chief on e-bay I found many parts available for a chief 1000 & 1200, will these fit my tractor? I will try to get the codes from the engine and post these with some pics in the next couple days...again, thanks for the info!

Chris

[jakeman]

Chris, it depends on which parts you need. I never tried to swap parts from other size tractors myself as I always kept a parts tractor of the same size. I believe alot of the sheet metal should interchange as well as the steering systems. I have parts manuals for the 1000's, 1200's, and 1450's and there are differences in some parts. I don't have any manuals for the 800 so I can't compare any for you. If you had the 800 parts list I could check them against what I have.

I believe your engine should be a K181 if original.

I think these tractors are worth restoring if you have the time and don't mind searching for some parts. I have been using my 1450's for 25 years and love their reliability. I didn't keep them going as "show" tractors as I use them year round.

The Ford/Jacobsen group I mentioned has a CD available with a bunch of manuals and info for these old tractors. It also has tons of pics, links, a database w/ parts suppliers and many members willing share their knowledge.
You do have to join to have access to the info and if you do, make sure to read the rules and abide by them - Joe runs a tight ship over there - which is a good thing!

Look forward to seeing those pics.

Good luck w/ your project.

[ckill1]

Sorry for the delay in replying, had a long stretch at work...got the serial #s of the engine, right-leg side the numbers are: 2038122 on top of: 47238B. That still make it an 8hp kohler 181?

Working on getting it re-wired now, Im going to need all the belts for this thing, as the drive belt on left leg side, from clutch to transaxle looks to be pretty worn, the engine belt, and the belt for the 42-inch mower deck. Where's the best place to find these? Also need the battery box and the bolts that hold the battery cover down. The bolts that attatch the belt covers on the deck are missing as well.

I think the mower belt part # is 328967, don't have the parts #s for the others, sorry.

How about a vertical stack muffler? Anybody know a source for a tractor-type stack muffler with a 1" pipe-thread end?

thanks for the help,
Chris

[ckill1]

Jakeman-

Im also confused about my model #. I downloaded the owners manual available from this site and it lists my #53088 as a chief 1200. Any guess for the disparity with your info?

thanks again,
Chris

[jakeman]

Prod. # Start End
Model S/N S/N Year HP Trans.

53088 5326 1022519708 Gear Chief 800

Chris, this info is from the Jac/Ford Yahoo group and this is right from the chart. Could be wrong I guess.

I have no idea about the #'s on your engine. My Kohler K321's have the actual model # PRINTED in the top left side of the plate and then the serial # and spec # STAMPED in the plate.

Kohler has lots of info on their site:

http://www.kohlerengines.com/onlinecatalog/classic_engn_families.jsp

The deck belt is an "A" type belt. Take your belts to an industrial belt supply store and have them match them up for you. The original drive belt for your tractor should be #342660. I use an A-137 or an A-139 for my 42" decks. The decks have room for adjustment as far as belt size goes. The idler pulley has 2 positions, 1 for a new belt and 1 for a worn belt and some people use longer or smaller tensioning springs to compensate for belt length issues. Be careful not to put a belt that is too small or a spring that is too tight as this will cause 1 side of the deck to lift while mowing causing an uneven cut. The deck belt # you have is the correct one. The last time I priced it at New Holland it was over $50 - the last one I bought at the belt supply was about $15.

Be careful with the belt cover bolt holes. With the deck being alum. these holes tend to strip out. I believe the original bolts were 5/16-18. If you find that the holes are stripped out you can do a couple of things - simply thread longer bolts thru the deck and put nylock nuts on them being careful not to make the bolts too long that they hit the blades - this is a little bit of a pain as you have to reach up under the deck to hold the nuts while removing the deck covers. You could drill and tap the holes to the next larger size or you could install Helicoils in the deck to the original size.

Everyone seems to be looking for battery covers. Sometimes you'll see them on Ebay. They wouldn't be too hard to fabricate. I could send you pics or dimensions if you want them. The original cover hold down bolts are long (1/4-20, I believe) carriage bolts. 1/4" all-thread can be used instead.

Tractor supply sells some stack/ muffler set-ups you may be able to adapt to your Jake.

[ckill1]

Thanks for the info Jakeman. I didn't doubt you, just didnt understand the discrepencies. i got my info from the owners manual reprinted from this site, so I don't know whats right or not. I will just take my belts to a TSC or other belt supply place (where do I look for an industrial belt supply place?) and try to match 'em up.
I will try to get some pics of the tractor and engine posted, and maybe that will clear up any confusion. Its a damn big engine for an 8-horse.
I actually have the battery cover, its in good shape, but the battery is sitting on a 1x6 in the frame! I will try to figure something out there, and thanks for the info on the deck, will figure something out.

Thanks again,
Chris

[jakeman]

Chris, Could someone have replaced the original engine with another?

I buy my belts at a place called Bearings and Drives Unlimited. Seems that most Indus. bearing supplies carry belts too. Check the yellow pages.

The battery sits on a piece of plywood bolted to the frame. That plywood is oversize - about the same width of the battery but longer so the long bolts simply fasten to the plywood near the ends. You'll need another piece of 1/2" plywood for the top to protect the terminals from shorting out on the metal bat. box. The top piece of ply should be approx. 8 1/4" long and 5" wide with 1/2" x 1/2" holes centered to accept the bolts. On the bottom of the ply fasten a 3/4" thick piece of wood 8" long by 1 1/2" wide along 1 edge - this will keep the ply level when sitting on top of the terminals. Sounds alot more complicated than it is.

The 1/4" bolts should be between 9" - 10", longer is ok since you can cut the extra off. I use wing nuts to hold the cover on. I think they originally used acorn nuts.

Here's a couple of pics:

[Caseman2]

[QUOTE=jakeman;529110]Chris, Could someone have replaced the original engine with another?

I believe Jakeman is correct, that can't be the stock engine, or the hood/decal has been changed, but that is most unlikely.

Jakeman correct me if I'm wrong, I have a 1000 that is a 10hp and a 1200 that is a 12hp.

[jakeman]

caseman2, you are right with the models/hp for the Jacobsens. Mine are 1450 Super Chiefs which are 14hp and I believe the "50" is for a hydro model.

When Chris posts some pics we'll see what he has.

[Caseman2]

caseman2, you are right with the models/hp for the Jacobsens. Mine are 1450 Super Chiefs which are 14hp and I believe the "50" is for a hydro model.

When Chris posts some pics we'll see what he has.

Jakeman are you sure about the "50" designation? Both my 1000 and 1200 are hydro's, is it possible your's may be a special edition or possibly a later edition/upgrade of a 1400, or was a 1400 even built?

Mine are also Super Chiefs.

[jakeman]

No, not sure at all. I read somewhere that in the Jacobsen/Ford line of tractors that they used the"50" to differentiate the hydros from the gear models but I'm not sure which models this refers to.

I never saw a 1400 model and from what I can tell they only made the 14hp as hydros - maybe that's why its 1450? The manuals for the 1450 don't even mention a gear drive. I have some owners manuals and parts lists for the different angle frame models and it seems that a 1000 gear drive is simply a 1000 and a 1000 hydro is a 1000 Super Chief, and the same goes for the 1200's. The serial #'s are different between the gear and hydros also.

Just did a little research and found what I was talking about:

Prod# start End Year HP Trans.
Model S/N S/N


53201 1601 ??? 1977 10 Gear 1000 Tractor
53217 1601 ??? 1977 12 Gear 1200 Tractor
53218 1601 ??? 1977 ? ?
53276 1601 ??? 1977 12 Hydro 1250 Tractor
53301 1601 ??? 1977 14 Hydro 1450 Tractor
53332 1601 ??? 1977 16 Hydro 1650 Tractor

I knew I saw this somewhere - just applies to the later tube frame models.

[Caseman2]

You are probaly onto something - a 1000 and 1200 is gear driven, the 1000 and 1200 hydros were probaly "Super Chief's".

[ckill1]

I am off all day Wednsday and I will try to get some pics taken/posted. Anything in particular you want to see? i will take pics of engine, frame/tin, and what i have stripped/painted already. Thanks alot for your help guys...

By the way, are there snow blades available for this tractor? Where would be my best source for one?

thanks again,
chris

[Caseman2]

I just sold one on ebay for the 1200.

Keep an eye out there under Ford and Jacobsen.

[jakeman]

I've been seeing alot of activity lately on Ebay for these tractors. Craigslist is another option along with checking the local classifieds.

I believe the plows all mounted the same on the angle frame models so it shouldn't matter which model it comes from, just make sure its from an angle frame and not a tube frame model.

As far as pics are concerned, I'd really like to see what engine is in there, cause as far as sheet metal is concerned they all pretty much look alike. In fact yours should look like the one in my avatar.

[ckill1]

It looks exactly like the one in your avitar, right down to the hole in the hood! I have seen a lot of parts on ebay lately, as well. Most are for 1000s and 1200s though and I dont know what will fit. footrests, deck levers, hubs...all parts it would be nice to have copies of in case of breakage, but do they fit? I dont know...
Chris

[Caseman2]

What you need to do is get pics up for us so we can see what you have.

But like Jakeman said these angle frames are mostly identical, as far as I can tell the only difference between the 1000 and 1200 I have is 2hp?

[ckill1]

I hear you Caseman & Jake :hide: I have some good shots I took this eve when I got home from work, I just have to get them uploaded. Since moving out here to God-lost-his-sandals, my internet access is s...l...o...w...but I am trying. :banghead3 :banghead3 :banghead3

Chris

[ckill1]

Damn, the photo manager thingy says my files are too large to attatch! I will try to find a resizer and get to work...:sorry1:

Chris

[ckill1]

Lets try these...
53097

53098

more to follow.

Chris

[ckill1]

My hood...(may keep the flames when I repaint!:sidelaugh )
53099

53100

[ckill1]

And with most of the tin torn down...
53101

let me know if you want shots of anything else. Will keep posted as progress allows.

Chris

[jakeman]

The engine looks right to me, can't figure out the numbers. Did you list all the numbers on the plate?

Did you add the muffler or did you get it that way? I wonder if you will get alot of exhaust in your face and I wouldn't leave it sit outside for long.

Now that you have it stripped it'll be a good time to replace that battery tray.

As far as replacement parts go, if you identify which ones you want/need I can look them up in the parts books and see what will interchange. Remember that the Ford parts will fit too.

If you think you are going to keep this tractor I would suggest looking for a parts tractor of your model like I did. I totally dismantled one and have the parts stored, ready for when I need them.

Looks like your well on your way, let me know if I can help.

[AnotherHickey]

That looks pretty close to my Ford 100 and Ford 120 as far as body, dash, etc. Where in Iowa are you located? I have been looking for any working Ford tractors or parts tractors and they seem to be hard to come by. Keep me in mind if you run across a Ford of this same vintage.

[ckill1]

Hickey-

Im in SW Iowa, halfway between Glenwood and Malvern on Hwy 34. i will keep my eyes peeled.

Jakeman-

Thanks for all the help...I have most of the tin off now and am in the process of grinding, sanding, priming and painting. I believe now I have some manner of frankenstein tractor on my hands. Some repaired(badly) sheet metal, a transplanted grillscreen, bolts and holes that I cant find a use for, this looks to be a fun winter project! The grill surround looks really good polished, i may just seal the cast aluminum and leave it that way! I have the seat pads off and have someone making me new ones, the replacement battery tray is cut, I have tires on the way and am looking for a snow blade. When I removed the seats for replacement, I noticed how rusty the "toolbox" was, so that got ground down and I have coated with bedliner, hoping to stave of further corrosion. I have numerous small parts i still need, so check back for ?s and requests for info...I'm sure I will need all the help I can get.
Pics to follow as I progress...

thanks again,
Chris

[schnitz]

That looks pretty close to my Ford 100 and Ford 120 as far as body, dash, etc. Where in Iowa are you located? I have been looking for any working Ford tractors or parts tractors and they seem to be hard to come by. Keep me in mind if you run across a Ford of this same vintage.

I kinda hate to dig up an older thread, but since I'm in Wisconsin (live in Marathon county, but grew up in Crawford county), and have a Ford 120 that looks almost identical, I thought I'd pop in and let you know that mine is equally difficult to find parts for. At least it was until I "stumbled" across this forum. Looks like I'll be looking for Jacobson parts instead of strictly Ford.


In a while, Chet.

[ckill1]

Well %##!@*&! I was going to post pics of the finished product here for y'alls enjoyment, but then I broke it before I got it out of the garage! Got it all rewired, painted, put back together, replaced some parts, etc., etc. Put the drive belt on and fired it up. Started right away and was running right along. Pushed in on the clutch, put it in gear, started to release and heard...THUD!! and the driveshaft input pully(what was left of it) went spinning across the garage floor:thSick: I am hoping it was cracked before and the added tension of the new belt furthered the damage and it wasnt something I did. Any one got a replacement I can buy? Know where I can get one?? Neither e-bay nor craigslist have been any help so far...Im sick & stuck....
thanks,
Chris

[schnitz]

No help from me, but I sure wish I could help.


In a while, Chet.

[ckill1]

Well, I found a new (used) pulley on e-bay, now just waiting to get it and install. Will post pics of the progress so far...

[Retired VOMA]

OK ... my turn to ask for help. I'm looking at this tractor on Craigslist. Can anyone tell me anything about it ? Year, model, reliability, what to look out for ??

Thanks

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k35/lsc9901/Jake70s.jpg