[joemckna]

I picked up an older Sears GT/18 yesterday. I've been looking for one of these to start as a project for quite sometime and finally found one at the right price. The seller was a stand up guy and used to be a Sears tech.

I started pulling this tractor apart yesterday with the guys. Biggest problem we've been having is locating parts. I have not been able to find Onan engine parts anywhere on-line. I was hoping they'd be as easy to find as Briggs parts for the older Suburbans, but not the case.

Most of the items I need are pretty standard. I'm going to need a number of electrical parts. A lot of these parts are rusted and are shot since the tractor was left out. I managed to replace the starter silenoid with one that I matched when I went down to advanced auto. I also have a bad ignition coil. I haven't been able to locate one anywhere.

I'm sure I'll need more parts as I go along. Anyone know where to pick up Onan engine parts? On a side note, where can I find a set of decals for this tractor?

I'm going to pick up a manual from a seller on e-Bay, but does anyone have any more break down-shop manual diagrams for this tractor? Any other literature for this tractor along those lines that would help as I'm restoring it.

As always, thanks!

Joe

 

[glenn27]

Goood looking find!!

here are a few sites I used a while back to get info on older Sears stuff....

http://www.jacques.lacasse.com/GardenTractor/Links/Links.htm

and

http://www.searstractor.com/

and

http://www.geocities.com/sware56920/


Engine will be brand specific..Any Cummins Truck dealer can get Onan literature/parts....

glenn

 

[Justin]

If you type the tractor part number into the sears parts website it will give you some info, electrical, mech. diagrams etc. May be able to get some part numbers there and take them to Napa for the parts or equivalents.

 

[Small Fry]

I have a shift plate decal I bought from "drtork" on ebay. I was going to use it but parted out the tractor a while back.

If he don't have any more I'll sell you the one I have, if you want.

Onan parts = $$$$$

Those were nice tractors but, the only thing worse then the fiberglass nose is that plastic dash. Becarfull, they are hard to find and break easy.

Your going to like that Onan Twin.... Smooooooth.

 

[Tractor-Holic]

I've used Kohler 12V twin's coils on Onans in a pinch,like the one a KT-181 would have (the cast iron ones that look a lot like an Onan)...some guys I know have used a typical car coil and made a custom "Y" spliced plug wire to fire both plugs off one coil,others simply "doubled up" two car coils and used one for each cylinder..as far as I know both cylinders fire at the same time on an Onan,so you dont really need two coils,OR one with a double tower for two coil wires..I suspect they are made that way on purpose to keep the prices of a replacement coil high,myself..

I have seen OEM Onan coils at small engine swap meets and on E-bay,I think Napa may still be able to get them also--and dont overlook places that fix generators or recreational vehicles,they use lots of Onans on gernerators..if you need internal engine parts,better hit the lottery first though--!..

There is at least 3 Onans on CL in the Boston and "South Coast MA" listings today..seems like you rarely see one for sale,then a bunch come out of the woodwork all at once!..I think they were listed for 450-500 bucks,one was leass,I forget how much..

 

[Vmax]

I'd pull the ford/new holland seat and ebay that puppy, it will help fund some of your project.

 

[onanparts.com]

I picked up an older Sears GT/18 yesterday. I've been looking for one of these to start as a project for quite sometime and finally found one at the right price. The seller was a stand up guy and used to be a Sears tech.

I started pulling this tractor apart yesterday with the guys. Biggest problem we've been having is locating parts. I have not been able to find Onan engine parts anywhere on-line. I was hoping they'd be as easy to find as Briggs parts for the older Suburbans, but not the case.

Just have to know where to look....

What's the Onan model number and spec on the engine ID plate?

TJ

 

[Sergeant]

Here's a Place for getting some older Parts for your Sears http://www.outdoordistributors.com/parts.html :thThumbsU

 

[joemckna]

Here's a Place for getting some older Parts for your Sears http://www.outdoordistributors.com/parts.html :thThumbsU

You guys are slowly but surely pointing me in the right direction. I've never been lead the wrong way since I've been a member here when I needed information.

Thank you Sergeant :fing32:

 

[joemckna]

Just have to know where to look....

What's the Onan model number and spec on the engine ID plate?

TJ

Sears plate reads: 917257061

Onan engine plate reads: B48M-GA-018/3417A

If you'd like a pic of the plate, I can snap a resolution shot for you.

Based off of your username, I've got a good feeling about this I appreciate it, thanks in advance!

 

[onanparts.com]

The B48M is a good solid Onan engine. Just about anything you might need for it is still available. Check your PM's for a couple of goodies in PDF.

TJ

 

[joemckna]

The B48M is a good solid Onan engine. Just about anything you might need for it is still available. Check your PM's for a couple of goodies in PDF.

TJ

Fantastic! Thank you for the Onan literature, I really appreciate it! I tried the Onan number on Searspartsdirect and it actually came up with a few parts. Does Onanparts.com sell parts for this engine?

I've actually been hunting around for the actual Sears owners manual and the parts lists. Haven't been able to locate it on e-Bay or for download anywhere. Does anyone know where I can pick a hard copy up?

 

[Tractor-Holic]

jHave you tried the "Vintage Sears Tractor" sites??..if you google that,one site that has a lot of manuals on PDF files comes up,"Pannmar" I think is the name of it??..(wish I knew how to "bookmark" sites and post links!)..

 

[onanparts.com]

Fantastic! Thank you for the Onan literature, I really appreciate it! I tried the Onan number on Searspartsdirect and it actually came up with a few parts. Does Onanparts.com sell parts for this engine

Yes I do. Onan stopped making new small opposed twin engines several years ago but never stopped manufacturing the parts to keep them going. Keep in mind that Onan is VERY proud of those parts, but unlike some other major manufacturers of small engines, Onan still has parts available for models that have been out of production for 10, 20, 30+ years!

 

[hotrodzz4]

Your're in va. try Cummins of chesapeake they are an onan dist and they ship.

 

[joemckna]

Thank you Onanparts! Went down to Kinkos a few hours ago, made a bunch of copies and put together a nice, complete shop manual for the tractors Onan engine. I've literally been on-line for two hours looking around for this Sears GT's owners and service manuals. Joined a few Yahoo groups, but kept getting lead back to the same sites. Suprisingly, a few of the groups haven't been active in over two years and didn't even have manuals available for download! Locating manuals seems to be a common problem..

It's a shame that some of those Sears yahoo groups weren't as helpful as some of the Wheelhorse groups that I joined when I was restoring the A-100 not too long ago.

Someone has to have a manual for this tractor as a download. Just need a good illustrated run down. Anything would work better then what Sears has. Push comes to shove, I guess I could use a magnifying glass when I try to print those out off of Sears parts direct lol :banghead3 I've purchased manuals from a seller on e-Bay for a reasonable price in the past for various Suburbans, but I don't see my particular manual listed.



I'll just suck it up and buy them I guess.. I'm interested If someone has both the Sears owners and service manual if they're good copies and are complete.

 

[walter g]

If you have to buy a manual you can get one from Mark's. I believe it was $7.80.

Walter

 

[Small Fry]

GT/18 Garden Tractor 917.257061 (1/24/1978) : 36 pages. Source 4. $3.60

http://www.geocities.com/wjbaker1/manuals.htm

These are not the best copys but they work. You get what you pay for, cheap price, cheap copys. He mails it to you.

Did you ever post your model # ?

Ive used Bill and Mark in the past.

 

[joemckna]

Thanks for the lead small fry, I booked marked Bill's site. Anyone have a link for Mark so that I can see what he has? I also e-mailed two e-bay members that sell Sears manuals to see if they might have both of them (Foxhole and Billyjean).

It would be nice to have both. Parts list for the tractor including illustrated parts breakdowns would be a huge help since I want to start dissassembly.

 

[walter g]

I was sure I put that link in. Oh well here it is. this is to the main page just clink on Sears manuals. http://sears.pammar.net/