Greetings from Waterdown, Ontario, Canada

2448 Views 16 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Hugh-SS/16, Nov 4, 2010

AlfredE

Discussion Starter · Oct 28, 2010

I am a brand new member.
I just bought a used Sears Craftsman 15 hp garden tractor/lawn mower and the serial number plate is missing.
It is at least 10 years old and has a Briggs and Stratton engine.
I am looking for some help in identifying the model.
I needs some parts for it and without a model and serial number Sears can not help me.

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

cgreencorn1

· #2 · Oct 28, 2010

Welcome from PEI.

Jim_WV

· #3 · Oct 28, 2010

Welcome Alfred, good to have you aboard here with us and best wishes in your quest for information. Gonna be tough to figure out what you got without any identifying numbers on the machine. Perhaps a picture or two of it might help the guys in an ID for you :fing32:.

Fcubman

· #4 · Oct 29, 2010

:MTF_wel2:

AlfredE

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 29, 2010

Jim_WV said:
Welcome Alfred, good to have you aboard here with us and best wishes in your quest for information. Gonna be tough to figure out what you got without any identifying numbers on the machine. Perhaps a picture or two of it might help the guys in an ID for you :fing32:.

Hi Jim,
Thanks for your welcome message.
I am attaching three photos of the Sears Garden Tractor. I am hoping someone can recognize the model based on the description and engine info.
I need a fuel tank and a wiring harness. I don't know if these two items are the same for various models or if they are proprietary to the engine type.
I will photograph the fuel tank in case someone can recognize that.
Thanks in advance for any information.

See less See more

3

mcavvie

· #6 · Oct 29, 2010

Welcome aboard Alfred from New Brunswick.

Ken N Tx

· #7 · Oct 29, 2010

:Welcome1: :OHCAN

Enjoy all of the many Forums here on MTF..

Don't forget to register what Province the you are in!! Click here

See less See more

wayneb

· #8 · Oct 29, 2010

Welcome to the forum from London Ontario!!!

2Tractor

· #9 · Oct 29, 2010

Looks just like a 917.257644 I have... here is the manual:

http://www.managemylife.com/mmh/lis_pdf/OWNM/L0801039.pdf

You don't need a brand new muffler, do you?

raying:

Rob

See less See more

oatville

· #10 · Oct 29, 2010 (Edited)

AlfredE said:
Hi Jim,
Thanks for your welcome message.
I am attaching three photos of the Sears Garden Tractor. I am hoping someone can recognize the model based on the description and engine info.
I need a fuel tank and a wiring harness. I don't know if these two items are the same for various models or if they are proprietary to the engine type.
I will photograph the fuel tank in case someone can recognize that.
Thanks in advance for any information.

You have a Craftsman Garden Tractor. Not to be confused with a Sears Garden tractor.

Craftsman is the "modern" Garden tractor and basically very similiar (Vertical shaft engine, Aluminum Transaxle 12 inch rear rims ) the type you see sold in stores today.

Sears is the "old" style with some say are stronger built, have cast Iron Transaxles, larger wheels and most important distinguishing feature a Horizontal shaft Engine ( what, you thought I was going to say rust? ).

In future always refer to your Garden Tractor as a Craftsman so we're all on the same page when discussing attachments, problems, etc. etc.

Very nice tractor by the way, you have the "Box frame Craftsman" the newer "step through frames" are said to be weaker, experience flexing.

I should add, if the rear wheels bolt on like a car rim, it's genarally always a Garden Tractor ( can pull ground engaging attachments ). But if the rear rims are not bolt on and held on by a clip or a single bolt in the center than you likely have a Lawn Tractor. :thanku:

See less See more

Onan18

· #11 · Oct 29, 2010

AlfredE,

That to me looks like a LT1000 Lawn Tractor, not a Garden Tractor. While it is true that a lot of older GT's had single cylinder engines, think Wheel Horse, Sears, Snapper, John Deere, Cub Cadet, Bolens, I cannot think of any GT built from the early eighties on, with the exception of the Wheel Horse Classic Series, that had a single cylinder engine. All other GT's went to opposed twins and later V-Twins. The reason is a twin will run smoother and have a better torque curve than a single. Also, all GT's that had singles were Horizontal shaft that I can think of. Don't get me wrong, I am not knocking your machine. The LT1000 is a great little tractor, I have had several. They do a great job mowing the lawn and I know a lot of people use them for snow duty. I live in the south, no snow in Georgia. They just will not handle ground engaging attachments as said before, think moldboard, cultivator, sub-soiler, middle buster, etc...

See less See more

AlfredE

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 31, 2010

2Tractor said:
Looks just like a 917.257644 I have... here is the manual:

http://www.managemylife.com/mmh/lis_pdf/OWNM/L0801039.pdf

You don't need a brand new muffler, do you? raying:

Rob

Thanks 2Tractor for the manual. It does appear to be the same or at least very close.
I should be able to get a fuel tank and a wiring harness for it from the parts list.
I don't know if I need a muffler for it or not, I have not had it running yet.
I will certainly keep you in mind if I can use it.
Thanks again.

See less See more

AlfredE

Discussion Starter · #13 · Oct 31, 2010

oatville said:
You have a Craftsman Garden Tractor. Not to be confused with a Sears Garden tractor.

Craftsman is the "modern" Garden tractor and basically very similiar (Vertical shaft engine, Aluminum Transaxle 12 inch rear rims ) the type you see sold in stores today.

Sears is the "old" style with some say are stronger built, have cast Iron Transaxles, larger wheels and most important distinguishing feature a Horizontal shaft Engine ( what, you thought I was going to say rust? ).

In future always refer to your Garden Tractor as a Craftsman so we're all on the same page when discussing attachments, problems, etc. etc.

Very nice tractor by the way, you have the "Box frame Craftsman" the newer "step through frames" are said to be weaker, experience flexing.

I should add, if the rear wheels bolt on like a car rim, it's genarally always a Garden Tractor ( can pull ground engaging attachments ). But if the rear rims are not bolt on and held on by a clip or a single bolt in the center than you likely have a Lawn Tractor. :thanku:

Thanks Oatville for the information.
As you can see, I am a rookie with garden tractors.
I do apprciate the information though.
With the help of another member 2Tractor, for a manual, I think I will be able to get a fuel tank and wiring harness for it.
I will see in the next day or so.
Thanks again for all your info.

See less See more

AlfredE

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 31, 2010

Onan18 said:
AlfredE,

That to me looks like a LT1000 Lawn Tractor, not a Garden Tractor. While it is true that a lot of older GT's had single cylinder engines, think Wheel Horse, Sears, Snapper, John Deere, Cub Cadet, Bolens, I cannot think of any GT built from the early eighties on, with the exception of the Wheel Horse Classic Series, that had a single cylinder engine. All other GT's went to opposed twins and later V-Twins. The reason is a twin will run smoother and have a better torque curve than a single. Also, all GT's that had singles were Horizontal shaft that I can think of. Don't get me wrong, I am not knocking your machine. The LT1000 is a great little tractor, I have had several. They do a great job mowing the lawn and I know a lot of people use them for snow duty. I live in the south, no snow in Georgia. They just will not handle ground engaging attachments as said before, think moldboard, cultivator, sub-soiler, middle buster, etc...

Thankyou Onan 18 for the info.
This forum is very helpful and very informative.
I think I have the info I need to get it running.
I will post a message when I do.
Thank you all.
Regards
AlfredE

See less See more

GT_80

· #15 · Nov 4, 2010

:Welcome: That is a great little machine you have there! A lot tougher than many of the lawn tractors today. Those Briggs Gold motors are good strong motors!

Below (in my signature) are the Old Sears Horizontal Garden Tractors that Oatville referred to.

ray the sears man

· #16 · Nov 4, 2010 (Edited)

best of luck with it

Hugh-SS/16

· #17 · Nov 4, 2010

oatville said:
You have a Craftsman Garden Tractor. Not to be confused with a Sears Garden tractor.

Craftsman is the "modern" Garden tractor and basically very similiar (Vertical shaft engine, Aluminum Transaxle 12 inch rear rims ) the type you see sold in stores today.

Sears is the "old" style with some say are stronger built, have cast Iron Transaxles, larger wheels and most important distinguishing feature a Horizontal shaft Engine ( what, you thought I was going to say rust? ).

In future always refer to your Garden Tractor as a Craftsman so we're all on the same page when discussing attachments, problems, etc. etc.

Very nice tractor by the way, you have the "Box frame Craftsman" the newer "step through frames" are said to be weaker, experience flexing.

I should add, if the rear wheels bolt on like a car rim, it's genarally always a Garden Tractor ( can pull ground engaging attachments ). But if the rear rims are not bolt on and held on by a clip or a single bolt in the center than you likely have a Lawn Tractor. :thanku:

for the sake of clarification, i'd like to point a few things out.

first off, you have a lawn tractor. it has 8" rear rims on a 3/4" keyed axle, which means that outside of a light snow plow, or tow behind implements (aerator, roller, sweeper, etc) it is not designed to be worked hard. it does not have a step-thru frame, below is a picture of one that does. you have a mid 90's tractor, a 94 i would guess, and it has been correctly identified as a heavy duty one, relative to most lawn tractors. it looks to be in nice shape, and that is a very solid little 15hp Briggs as well.
:trink39:

See less See more

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.