Fixing My Wife's New Yard Tractor

[bp fick]

OK, our oldest son got sick of the troubles with his Craftsman DYT 4000 tractor and so, at mom's urging, I picked it up from him. My wife wanted it and wants it to cut grass. OK, except that this tractor has history. Lots of it. While a good machines otherwise, it ate batteries from day one and always needs to be jumped to start, with occasion No Starts. "You can fix it, right?" she asks.

I am going to go completely through this machine. Starting with alternator. Pulled the cowling and flywheel. My little puller worked great. And there it is. Shot!! Burnt to a crisp. No big shock. Have a new voltage regulator and alternator coming Tuesday. New battery, again!! I'm going through the wiring harness inspecting for nicks.

I've already put on a new electric PTO clutch. Impact gun makes life easy. Pulled off the front drag link and straightened. I've got new drive and deck belts ready to install.

Pulled off the valve cover and adjusted the valves. They were perfect, which surprised me, but I loosened and re-set at .004 anyhow. The "book" says adjust every two years. It's an easy task.

I'll post more later as parts arrive and the work progresses.

 

[bp fick]

Once the cowling is removed, the next step is to remove the round debris grill plastic cooling fan. Just a few cap screws.

Then, the flywheel must be pulled. Loosen the big center bolt, install the puller. That little puller is probably 25 years old and cost me no more than $7. With an air gun, easy. Once you pull the flywheel, the circular alternator is held on by 4 little screws. Got a feeling, because of the time involved, I suspect this would be quite pricey to have done at a repair shop or through Sears. I can make a tool list for anyone contemplating this or similar repair.

 

[fbiwrench]

Interesting project. Even more interesting if its not your only mower and the front yard is half mowed....

 

[bp fick]

Here's a photo of my cheapo, oldie puller. It's pulled everything from gears, to steering wheels, to flywheels over the years. That flywheel is very, very thick and heavy iron.

 

[bp fick]

Tool list includes:

Air compressor and gun. Suppose it can/could be done without one, but why?

Standard assortment of box/open end wrenches. SAE/metric. Seems to be a mix, as per usual these days.

Impact sockets, plus basic ratchet wrenches, sockets and extensions. etc.

Torx. Lots of small sizes and couple rather large T-20, T30 size.

Really, nothing most guys don't have in their mechanic tool sets. Nothing over the top odd or unusual at all.

 

[bp fick]

Interesting project. Even more interesting if its not your only mower and the front yard is half mowed....

Ah, yes. The old "stand by", ie, the push mower. Which is precisely why the wife wants this tractor up and running. :laughing:

 

[Bird]

That's an interesting project and I'm sure the rest of it will be, too. I'll look forward to seeing it.

 

[300UGUY]

I have a 1988 Craftsman 18 hp that I bought new. Never adjusted the valves. I did replace the governor and the fuel pump after a belt came loose and tore them up. A fuel line melted, I don't know if age or the new gas got to it. I rebuilt the deck, put new spindles in a few years ago. Parts are easy to get. I really worked that little thing hard, for years it was THE tractor around here. I know what you mean about power tools. After I bought my first impact gun, I thought, why didn't I do this years ago????

 

[bp fick]

I have a 1988 Craftsman 18 hp that I bought new. Never adjusted the valves. I did replace the governor and the fuel pump after a belt came loose and tore them up. A fuel line melted, I don't know if age or the new gas got to it. I rebuilt the deck, put new spindles in a few years ago. Parts are easy to get. I really worked that little thing hard, for years it was THE tractor around here. I know what you mean about power tools. After I bought my first impact gun, I thought, why didn't I do this years ago????

Briggs with overhead valve engine states adjust every 2 years. From what I understand and read on the sites, the surest sign is hard starting.

This engine is so solid, I'd like to keep it going for another 5-6 years, which should be well within its life expectancy.

Here are two great videos, same guy.
YouTube - ‪Lawn Mower Repair Valve Adjustment‬‏
YouTube - ‪Lawn Mower Repair Valve Adjustment V-Twin‬‏

 

[300UGUY]

Briggs with overhead valve engine states adjust every 2 years. From what I understand and read on the sites, the surest sign is hard starting.

This engine is so solid, I'd like to keep it going for another 5-6 years, which should be well within its life expectancy.

Here are two great videos, same guy.
YouTube - ‪Lawn Mower Repair Valve Adjustment‬‏
YouTube - ‪Lawn Mower Repair Valve Adjustment V-Twin‬‏

Maybe I can do that this winter. I also probably owe it a spark plug or 2.