I picked up this GT18 off of Craigslist today. It's a 917.257112. It looked a lot better in the pictures than it does in person but I got it for a fair price. It would fire but not run when I was looking it over at the owner's house. After I got it home I was able to get it to run but only with the choke fully engaged. My experience with automobile carbs tells me that this would likely be a vacuum leak. The engine was almost completely out of oil (obviously not a good sign). One of the odd things I found is that someone used bicycle sprockets for washers between the rear hubs and transaxle. The hood hinge is severely broken. I need to do some research to see what other folks have done to repair their hoods. I don't have the mowing deck but the previous owner stated that he does have it and will give it to me in the next week or so. Someone has also added an electric fuel pump. I'm not sure I like this and may revert back to mechanical. I know nothing about this particular model so I'm not really sure how the stock pump works or where it would be located.
Sears GT18
bbrennan
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I picked up this GT18 off of Craigslist today. It's a 917.257112. It looked a lot better in the pictures than it does in person but I got it for a fair price. It would fire but not run when I was looking it over at the owner's house. After I got it home I was able to get it to run but only with the choke fully engaged. My experience with automobile carbs tells me that this would likely be a vacuum leak. The engine was almost completely out of oil (obviously not a good sign). One of the odd things I found is that someone used bicycle sprockets for washers between the rear hubs and transaxle. The hood hinge is severely broken. I need to do some research to see what other folks have done to repair their hoods. I don't have the mowing deck but the previous owner stated that he does have it and will give it to me in the next week or so. Someone has also added an electric fuel pump. I'm not sure I like this and may revert back to mechanical. I know nothing about this particular model so I'm not really sure how the stock pump works or where it would be located.
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Looks like an interesting tractor to work on in your spare time. Now I am wondering if the PO used the sprocket to power some homemade device with the tractor wheels off of the ground.
It sounds like a good oil & filter change and a carb cleaning with carb rebuild would be a good place to start. I would look for oil leaks because of the low oil level. Running some Sea Foam might help also.
It sounds like a good oil & filter change and a carb cleaning with carb rebuild would be a good place to start. I would look for oil leaks because of the low oil level. Running some Sea Foam might help also.
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17,793 Posts
sea foam
carb clean
new fuel line + filter
clean gas tank
brass float if necessary
new oil
fresh gas
new plugs
new plug wires
that should be all it needs to run like a watch!
carb clean
new fuel line + filter
clean gas tank
brass float if necessary
new oil
fresh gas
new plugs
new plug wires
that should be all it needs to run like a watch!
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7,134 Posts
Don't forget a new air filer with element.
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oh and a good way to repair the hood hinge (aka nose cone) is just a piece of a flat stock bolted across. ugly but effective
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17,793 Posts
stock pump is actually on the side of the carb. it is a diaphragm pump that runs off of the engine vacuum.
i can snap some pics from my GT tomorrow
i can snap some pics from my GT tomorrow
Ok, great. I'd like to see the pics. I have a rectangular box on the side of the carb with two ports. One is not connected to anything (the upper port). The other port (the lower port) is connected to the fuel line. It would also be really helpful if you can get of pic of the where the vacuum line is routed to.
Another thing...where the heck is the oil filter? Is it hiding under one of the metal covers?
Another thing...where the heck is the oil filter? Is it hiding under one of the metal covers?
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alright, the two inlets are the on the fuel pump. there should be a silver inlet on the flywheel side of the carburetor. thats the vacuum inlet for the pump. ill grab pics later, its hard to describe without actually showing you
This is the carb that I have. I found this pic on another thread. I didn't have much time to examine the carb yesterday and didn't realize that there are 3 ports, not 2. So, based on your input, I now know what two of the ports are for. Is it safe to assume that the 3rd port is for draining fuel from the pump in the event that it starts to leak internally?
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No one really knows why there is a blocked nipple 
the silver inlet on the left side is for the vacuum line
the silver inlet on the left side is for the vacuum line
I pulled off the top of the carb today and found a bunch of debris inside. I cleaned it out and adjusted the idle mixture and now it runs like a fine Swiss watch. I also removed the rear hubs with the idea that I was going to remove the bicycle sprockets and replace them with bronze washers. To my dismay I found that the sprockets have been welded to the hubs. Silly people.
On a related note, I bought a GT16 today because it had an electric 3pt hitch. I dragged it home, removed the hitch and then sold the tractor for more than I paid. I only made $11 profit but that's the only time that has happened to me. It was a good day.
On a related note, I bought a GT16 today because it had an electric 3pt hitch. I dragged it home, removed the hitch and then sold the tractor for more than I paid. I only made $11 profit but that's the only time that has happened to me. It was a good day.
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nice! electric 3pts are hard to come by
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7,760 Posts
I'd leave that electric fuel pump. The original plastic ones break just looking at them, and cost big bucks.
Electric was good enough for Deere 400's.
Electric was good enough for Deere 400's.
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15,197 Posts
i disagree- electric ones are hard to regulate the fuel. i haven't had much luck with them. the replacement pump kits are around $90 but i have been able to get every one i bought to work
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