ENGINE SWAP!!??

[guzzijohn]

I have an '03 Yard Machine 21/46 auto-engine good but the rest needs a lot. Have possibility to acquire similar vintage Craftsman LT 1000 17.5/42 hydro w bad engine. I was assuming they both had MTD origins but surfing says the craftsman is Roper(of course they've been sold to someone else. Digging for mounting bolt patterns show both the single and twin have same pattern but turned 90 degrees?? That is no biggie as I've been wrenching/fabbing all my life. I got the YM free and can swap a freebie chipper for the CM. A v twin/hydro project is enticing. Looking at parts diagrams of chassis shows similarity. Maybe I should just buy all the belts, bearing, idlers, and whatever to fix the YM but? Any guidance from you Tractor Gurus would be appreciated. Thank you, Guzzi John-Champlin,Mn

 

[jaxs]

With a bad engine the Craftsman should be dirt cheap. If tires are good, I'd go for it. Tires are marketable. I've had 2 LT1000s,both had hydro-trans,one had Briggs,other had Tecumseh. I believe engines are interchangeable.

 

[guzzijohn]

Here are a few pix. Derelict chassis, washed LT, blown single, good twin. The very worn Yard Machine had brand new front tires-amazing what people will do. Even though Craftsman isn't exactly a high end machine the difference in quality between the two is marked. Just the front ends-plastic bushing vs metal w zerks. I watched some videos about the hydro and will put the drain in to flush it.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Look at a HF Predator engine. They are getting good reviews and price is right.

Ron

 

[tomplum]

Yep, the twin will go in, easy? Usually both sets of mount holes are in the frame as the HOP is offered with the twin as well. You will have to fab the muffler mounting and hopefully will have clearance in the HOP frame. If not fab those pipes or figure them in the price. Longer throttle control cable, may be some choke mod or add a cable if it had a separate choke cable on the twin. The six pin connectors should be compatible however the single could have had a separate lighting circuit that can be redone. You may need to figure a new stack pulley in the price as the twin is likely a 1.125" shaft VS a 1" in the single.

 

[guzzijohn]

Holes match, exhaust might even fit frame hole, donor cables will work, electrics match, pulleys are same O.D. & height. Thought about cast axle(on C.L. here) if straightening doesn't work out. I'll see about mounting the bigger tank too. Ok guys I'm an old newbie! What do HF & HOP mean? Must be secret tractor talk!!??:confused3:

 

[tomplum]

Watch the pulley close as the MTD pulleys match their special cut belts. HF = Harbor Freight and HOP = Husqvarna Outdoor Products. HOP is the end result. IE Roper to AYP (American Yard Products) then HOP.

 

[guzzijohn]

Should've guessed the HF but House of Pancakes?? Just went and got used cast axle($40 w spindles). Nice guy- very up on the saga of machine histories-i.e. B&S moving to the Peoples Paradise circa '05. Now we know why late model Inteks blow up.

 

[Ken]

Recently had a L125 jd mower with 22 hp twin engine 500+ hours.begin to bend push rods . then blow smoke and burn oil . removed and installed twin Kohler 16 hp engine from a Toro walk behind mower unknown hours but the deck was worn out.
Now the Kohler runs good and bolt pattern same as jd noticed that engine is stronger than 22 hp engine . instead of lugging down in tall grass the governor on Kohler will increase to continue mowing.

Only problem is the red color engine on a green tractor.
ken

 

[guzzijohn]

Was that an Intek? The fellow I met said US vs Chinese Inteks different internally. I'm going to keep surfing about Inteks, I did see other mentions of bent push rods- gotta be ****** material!