[Chevy_Trucks]

Is there somewhere or does anyone here know how to decode these 2 things?

 

[stripmine]

Could you be a little more specific? Is this from a tractor? an engine? an attachment? What brand are you talking about?

Could you post the numbers? that would help a lot.

Dave

 

[Chevy_Trucks]

Could you be a little more specific? Is this from a tractor? an engine? an attachment? What brand are you talking about?

Could you post the numbers? that would help a lot.

Dave

Oh yeah sorry, it will be from off of the Sears tractor. I'll try to get the numbers but it is dark out.

 

[Hugh-SS/16]

Yeah if you post them, we can help date it. Usually pretty easy

 

[Chevy_Trucks]

Alright here it is
Model#
917.25742
Serial#
3633

 

[Hugh-SS/16]

Its a 73-74 ST/16

 

[Chevy_Trucks]

Its a 73-74 ST/16

Thanks, can you tell me how you decoded it? Also this is not the original hood is it?

 

[Brad-RT/13]

The easiest way to decode a Sears is by the the vintage sears garden tractor site. All the or most of the suburbans and customs are listed there from 1959 (i think) to 1980. And no that hood is not original. your hood and grill is from a 1969-70 sears suburban 12 or SS/12. The original was a two peice hood. The upper grill was made of fiberglass. Which is probably why your has been replaced, They broke over time. Here is a photo of what yours looked like from the factory. - Brad

 

[searstractorfan]

Hey that things a 74, not a 73... that should be the model # for 74...and also it has 3 spoke wheel, and yellow sticker on dash..74 was the first year for that scheme..

 

[Chevy_Trucks]

The easiest way to decode a Sears is by the the vintage sears garden tractor site. All the or most of the suburbans and customs are listed there from 1959 (i think) to 1980. And no that hood is not original. your hood and grill is from a 1969-70 sears suburban 12 or SS/12. The original was a two peice hood. The upper grill was made of fiberglass. Which is probably why your has been replaced, They broke over time. Here is a photo of what yours looked like from the factory. - Brad

Okay thanks a lot, so what are my chances of being able to hunt down one of these hoods? And why didn't they make them from metal?

 

[Chevy_Trucks]

Hey that things a 74, not a 73... that should be the model # for 74...and also it has 3 spoke wheel, and yellow sticker on dash..74 was the first year for that scheme..

Okay thanks, I just wanted to verify that it was a 74 since you all are so knowledgeable on these tractors.

 

[TAHOE99]

If you look at the picture 73searstractor posted, the yellow lower grill was metal, the black was fiberglass. They either broke off the hinge tabs or they broke on each side of the hinge area completely off. I have one from my 77 I have to fix. You can find complete ones, but most people selling know what they got and they can be expensive. There was a couple on ebay for $200 plus.

 

[searstractorfan]

Ive got 2 of the lower grill, its aluminum...get broke too, but not as often as that fiberglass top peice....i cant help u with the hood or nose, but I can help u with the lower grill..

 

[Brad-RT/13]

Okay thanks a lot, so what are my chances of being able to hunt down one of these hoods? And why didn't they make them from metal?

I wish I knew the answer to that, I think we all do. I have absolutely no idea why Roper made the grills out of fiberglass. I know they didn't do it to save weight lol! They probably did it because it was most likely cheaper. The grill on my '74 roper is aluminum along with the dash. They probably did it to save costomers money. That tractor originaly cost $1619.98, The top dog SS/16 cost $1969.98. No attachments included. - Brad

 

[Chevy_Trucks]

I wish I knew the answer to that, I think we all do. I have absolutely no idea why Roper made the grills out of fiberglass. I know they didn't do it to save weight lol! They probably did it because it was most likely cheaper. The grill on my '74 roper is aluminum along with the dash. They probably did it to save costomers money. That tractor originaly cost $1619.98, The top dog SS/16 cost $1969.98. No attachments included. - Brad

Whoa that's crazy, I can now say I own some that cost over $1,000.:thThumbsU

 

[Small Fry]

Some of the sears grils were aluminum but not many. I'm guessing fiberglass was cheaper ?

 

[Chevy_Trucks]

Some of the sears grils were aluminum but not many. I'm guessing fiberglass was cheaper ?

Yeah fiberglass would have been cheaper.

 

[Hugh-SS/16]

Ive never seen an alum. Sears nose SF, where have you seen one?

 

[Chevy_Trucks]

I have never seen one, but I know I have heard many people talk about them.

 

[Tractor-Holic]

My '67 SS-12 has a cast aluminum grille....I think GT-80's "Jolene" might too...looks just like mine does...