Last fall I acquired what has become one of my favourite toys.
I have been into collecting garden tractors for close to 6 years and a gear head all my life.
A fellow I work with knew a guy who had an old skidsteer that needed a motor.
He was talking about it with him and the guy said it used the same engine as some Sears garden tractors.
Well, my friend picked up on that right away and said " I know a guy that might have a motor for you". Thinking he might help me out and make a sale for me.
Well the guy turned around and said " I just bought a new John Deere something or other with a loader and don't have any interest in the skid steer. Do you think your friend might want to buy it?"
So he inquired into the price and it was well within my regular GT budget, like mid 3 digits! And knowing I had a few spare motors around I decided to jump on it.
I don't have any pictures of when I bought it, but it was squeezed in between two sheds and had been sitting outside for a few years. The bucket was very poorly repaired, and it had a 15hp Chinese motor in it, that didn't even turn over.
I did some research and found out it originally had a 16 hp Tecumseh OHV single (like some Sears).
The engine drives 3 pumps. One hydraulic pump for the loader cylinders and two hydrostatic pumps. One for each side of drive wheels which are connected by a chain.
There were 3 different 1816 models, the 1816, 1816B and C.
The main differences I have found are the engine and drive clutch type.
They use a clutch to engage/disengage the drive pumps. The pump for the loader is always running. The clutch was either centrifugal, manual (like mine) or electric.
I am thankful mine has the manual cable operated clutch as it seem the most simple of the three and easiest to fix.
On the later model 1816 they switched to a Onan twin. B43M I believe.
So, I didn't have any Tecumseh OH160's around, but I did happen to have an Onan B48M 18hp sitting on a bench ready to go into something...
It took me a good week to do the engine swap.
I needed to make a motor adapter plate since the mount was drilled and designed for the Tecumseh.
These machines are very tight and compact and not necessarily fun to work on.
The original design of the machine requires you to pull the engine just to change the belts.
So needless to say I pulled that engine more times than I can remember when I was fitting it all up.
I also spent a good weekend repairing the bucket.
I welded in 3/16 plate on the bottom and reinforced the corners with angle.
Replaced one worn out pivot point on the mount and welded the wear edge.
I am rather pleased with the way it turned out.
I have put a good deal of hours on it and the belts show no sign of wear.
I just used cheap belts from TSC.
There's still a lot of work to do. I would like to replace all the heater hose and extra fittings the PO put on.
Also want to relocate the filter and remove the piece of angle iron he welded on there, crooked.
But it works for now, so I use it.
I have been into collecting garden tractors for close to 6 years and a gear head all my life.
A fellow I work with knew a guy who had an old skidsteer that needed a motor.
He was talking about it with him and the guy said it used the same engine as some Sears garden tractors.
Well, my friend picked up on that right away and said " I know a guy that might have a motor for you". Thinking he might help me out and make a sale for me.
Well the guy turned around and said " I just bought a new John Deere something or other with a loader and don't have any interest in the skid steer. Do you think your friend might want to buy it?"
So he inquired into the price and it was well within my regular GT budget, like mid 3 digits! And knowing I had a few spare motors around I decided to jump on it.
I don't have any pictures of when I bought it, but it was squeezed in between two sheds and had been sitting outside for a few years. The bucket was very poorly repaired, and it had a 15hp Chinese motor in it, that didn't even turn over.
I did some research and found out it originally had a 16 hp Tecumseh OHV single (like some Sears).
The engine drives 3 pumps. One hydraulic pump for the loader cylinders and two hydrostatic pumps. One for each side of drive wheels which are connected by a chain.
There were 3 different 1816 models, the 1816, 1816B and C.
The main differences I have found are the engine and drive clutch type.
They use a clutch to engage/disengage the drive pumps. The pump for the loader is always running. The clutch was either centrifugal, manual (like mine) or electric.
I am thankful mine has the manual cable operated clutch as it seem the most simple of the three and easiest to fix.
On the later model 1816 they switched to a Onan twin. B43M I believe.
So, I didn't have any Tecumseh OH160's around, but I did happen to have an Onan B48M 18hp sitting on a bench ready to go into something...
It took me a good week to do the engine swap.
I needed to make a motor adapter plate since the mount was drilled and designed for the Tecumseh.
These machines are very tight and compact and not necessarily fun to work on.
The original design of the machine requires you to pull the engine just to change the belts.
So needless to say I pulled that engine more times than I can remember when I was fitting it all up.
I also spent a good weekend repairing the bucket.
I welded in 3/16 plate on the bottom and reinforced the corners with angle.
Replaced one worn out pivot point on the mount and welded the wear edge.
I am rather pleased with the way it turned out.
I have put a good deal of hours on it and the belts show no sign of wear.
I just used cheap belts from TSC.
There's still a lot of work to do. I would like to replace all the heater hose and extra fittings the PO put on.
Also want to relocate the filter and remove the piece of angle iron he welded on there, crooked.
But it works for now, so I use it.