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Discussion starter · #21 ·
I took a look at the Suburban 10 yesterday. I did get some pics but need to downsize them to post.....they are coming. The tractor itself, 917.25111, looks very good for 42 years old. There are missing items, most notably the carb, although he says it's "around somewhere" so hopeully I'll get it. It does need a muffler and of course some TLC. The three-point comes with it, as well as a cultivator plow. The sickle bar is gone :( I had to offer some green to get the dozer blade because he had last-minute thoughts about keeping it. He figured it would mount onto a '72 Custom 10E that he also has (maybe one for the future for me).

I will be picking everything up this coming weekend. In the mean time, If anyone knows of a snow blade for sale that will fit onto a 1972 917.25070 10E let me know as they might very well be interested.
 
The guy I bought one of my Compacts from said his dad has a plow setup he'd bought for his Compact,that he might be willing to part with...
I'll ask him to see how much,if I see him again,he works a lot ,so weekends are the only time I might be able to catch up with him..

I have a plow setup for the "newer" silver Craftsman tractors from the '80's I might rig up to use for one of my Compacts..adapting plows isn't that difficult really,especially to tractors like these that had real frames, and lots of room to bolt brackets onto...I got one dozer blade with the two Suburbans,and one deck--suposedly all the brackets too,I haven't tried attaching either yet,I HOPE everything is there!..

Mower decks for a Custom or Compact are very scarce around here,I guess they all rotted away or simply got tossed for some reason..

I've contemplated using a junked push mower body as a deck for one of mine--but mine might just be used as yard mules, most likely..selling them is a lot easier if thery have a mower deck,but most folks here wouldn't by a recoil start only tractor period,no matter whats on it for attachments anyway..so for what I paid for the Compacts,I might as well just keep them..
I think they look cool,like "Mini-Suburbans!"..
 
Well hopefully he can find the carb,nothing worst than having to find Tecumseh parts.Too bad you weren't closer ,I have the plow rigging for a custom.A little green is not too bad for what you got.
 
Discussion starter · #24 ·
I have a friend of a friend who owns a small engine parts and repair place. He's a resourceful guy. Online too http://www.m-and-d.com/ He's had many old used parts in the past, and some NOS parts too. The guy started out in his garage and now supplies North America.

How far, Tommy? I do have some shipping resources.
 
Don't look too bad,mower deck don't seem rusted out.Looks to be a good project,bet you can't wait to get it home.
 
I Belive i have a plow laying around for a suburban not sur what year, I will try to take some p[ics tomarrow and post them, the only prob is that i live in nepa
 
Discussion starter · #33 ·
I have been scouring ebay and CL for parts. Got a belt guard. I'm almost certain I will need to find a few more parts. I did run across a site that has a crossover/compatible list for some of the parts.

The tractor was kept under cover. It was removed for pictures. The engine still turns by hand. My plan is to err on the side of caution presuming anything can be in need of attention.
 
Peteleft,I do not think the plow for the Compact I knew of will fit,after seeing it--the Compact has holes drilled in the front axle (that is different than a Suburban is)--and brackets on the chassis to bolt the plow frame too,while the Suburban uses a "U" channel shaped peice that slides into the front of the frame to mount the plow,and welded tabs on the front axle..completely different setup AND plow blade!..looks to small to be used on a Suburban,not wide enough !.

You'd be better off adapting a plow from some other Sears or any other brand,unless you can find a Suburban plow setup locally..it's not a hard tractor to adapt things like that too really..I'd like to add hydraulics to mine by using a GM P/S pump to lift the plow and 3 point hitch,maybe make a loader someday too..

Yours is in about the same shape as my two 12HP ones are,and the same color!..I bought a new Muffler for one of mine at Lowe's for 5.99,an "Arnold" brand,that looks very similar to the stock OEM one!..took some doing to get a pipe elbow to screw into the engine ,the threads were full of carbon hard as coal from being run "open headers" so long!--..

I had to use lots of diesel fuel and penetrant to get the pipe fitting in,a turn at a time,unscrew it,back and forth--couldn't find a 1" pipe tap for less than 50 bucks here,nor anyone to borrow one from,so I decided to be brave and hope I could get that fitting in without cracking the block,it's very thin there!--no bolt holes in those HH Tecumsehs for a bolt on muffler either,so if you lose the pipe threads, your boned..but it eventually went in all the way no problem..

Carbs seemed to be a big pain on these engines,that and the solid state ignition,both can be hard to find and costly if either go south--one of mine refuses to idle,only if I set the idle speed above 1500 rpm will it run at idle,anything lower it shuts off..and I've cleaned the carb thouroghly too,and it was clean to start with --adjusting the idle mixture screw makes no difference no matter where you set it,so I assume the carb has a defect in the idle curcuit,like so many Tecumseh's do..I'll have to live with it..

Isn't it amazing how well these things held up over 40+ years,especially after being left outside?..mine all have all 4 original tires,they are cracked,but hold air OK so far,only one front tire is junk on one Compact out of all of them!--and the paint has held up remarkably well too,there is some surface rust on the tractors and hood but no rot--the deck and plow could use sandblasting though--but for being left out in the harsh climate here that long,they have held up very well..
 
Discussion starter · #37 ·
Thanks, Fry, I'll keep you in mind if I find I'm in need of parts. It's very generous of you to be willing to part with things that can no longer be commercially purchased.

Trac, I have been searching for a plow for the tractor the former owner is keeping. '72 Custom 10. Yes the mount is different than the 'Burb. He and I both think that modifying another plow may not be to difficult. I just wasn't going to let him chop up the plow that was for the Suburban.

I am going to be stripping the chassis down and thorughly cleaning it, possibly stripping all the paint. My plans are to get rust-inhibitive epoxy primer that is rated "near bullet-proof" from work. Stuff aint cheap, but I feel better with a quality base coat on the metal. First though, I want to get it up and running, to be sure what it needs- parts and maintainence.

Worst part is going to be finding the time. The house needs paint, deck stained, yard cleaned for the spring, planter beds.....the list goes on. Two hours a week are going to be hard enough to find to cut the grass. Times are tough for all, ourselves included, so my wife and I decided to drop using a sitter due to funds, or lack-there-of. We have three, two of which are still in diapers. My Lady is a home health RN for seniors and switched her schedule to watching the kids daytime while I'm at work then we switch during evening hours. Seems like we hardly see each other any more. To top it all of, she sees patients on the weekends too since evening hours don't allow for enough time to see everyone during the week. At least we're still collecting paychecks as so many we know are not.
 
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